We had quite a few trips to London during our time in Europe. Jesse’s sister was living there, some of our best friends were living there, it’s super accessible from pretty much anywhere in Europe. There are always exciting things happening in the progressive, talented and cultural melting pot that is London’s food scene. No brainer really.
Kricket
We got into London from Nice and raced across town to Brixton to a very exciting project we had heard about – Pop Brixton. Pop is essentially a small mall built out of shipping containers and somewhere in there is Kricket. We were crossing our fingers that we wouldn’t be too late, 3 was pushing it. They were empty, but as luck would have it they were doing a photoshoot and were only too happy to sit us down and feed us a very impressive meal. Kricket is run by a couple young blokes that spent a decent amount of time in India. They’ve taken these flavours from India and created something totally unique – small plates of totally kick ass food. For instance the Keralan fried Chicken, curry leaf mayo and pickled moui and the Kichri – dhal, smoked haddock, egg yolk and pickled cauliflower were stand out. Everything was exceptional. It’s definitely not surprising that these guys rapidly picked up some backing and opened a larger joint with the same delicious concept in Soho.
Hoppers
Sri Lankan street food. Again, super lucky to get a table at what was one of the newest and most popular eateries in the city. A killer way to spend Christmas eve – a bunch of old friends warming up with fiery curries and fine ale. Named after hoppers, a bowl shaped Sri Lankan pancake made of fermented rice flour and coconut milk. Served with or without an egg in the bottom, various chutneys and symbols. They are lots of fun, very tasty and really get the excitement building for the offerings to follow. There’s an assortment of curries, seafood, spit roast meats, vegetables, rice and cocktails. Best on ground went to the hoppers, bone marrow varuval and the spit roast chicken.
Taberna do Mercado
While London friends are working we still have to be fed. Lunch was booked at this hugely popular Portugese restaurant in Spitalfields market. Glad we booked as it was pumping for another busy mid-week lunch service. As I recall we were not starving due to a rather dougnutty breakfast. The sandwiches are famous, but we we settled upon some lighter options. A beautiful mass of fried onions and beans – crispy batter, just cooked beans, sweet onions and mussel juice in the bottom of the bowl for dipping. Next was a velvety stew of pigs trotters, cuttlefish and coriander. Followed up with a few of the best Pastéis de Nata we have ever had and a glass or two of bubbly rose. Taberna do Mercado is comfort food that has been cleverly and perfectly executed.
Smoking Goat
We caught up with some more long lost friends for lunch on New Years Eve. Who knew what the next few days would bring, so stomachs needed lining. Smoking Goat is a Soho dive bar that serves next level Thai BBQ. We had quite a raucous afternoon – catching up on each others lives, drinking prosecco and eating a lip smacking, chilli packing procession of smokey deliciousness. The food was all so good, we could have almost been sitting in Bangkok – if it was 25 degrees warmer. The smoked goats shoulder was insanely good, the menu said it was for 2 people. We could have just ordered that and some rice and all 7 of us would have been quite satisfied. That wasn’t the case though and we ended up eating our way through most of the menu. We were quite prepared to see in 2017.
St. John Restaurant
St. John Restaurant is always very good, the food prepared with the best produce around and very English. Their doughnuts are worth travelling across London for and I would probably go as far as getting a flight from Auckland for the Eccles cakes with Lancashire cheese. Another one of those lunches that two hungry and very in love people take while their friends are at work. On an earlier trip to London we spent the night at St. John’s bring in the New Year. It was a crazy meal followed by an even crazier party.
Brawn
A neighbourhood restaurant in Bethnal Green. Brawn should be on the radar of anyone that is interested in fine wines, with minimal intervention. If you have been following this blog or know us then its no surprise that we are very much in love with these wines. The team at Brawn serve flawless Italianesque food that is the work of a chef who seems inspired to perfect the simple things in life. The food and the wine are a match made somewhere heavenly. The atmosphere is warm and comfortable. I wonder if the people of Bethnal Green know how lucky they are to be able to wander 5 minutes down the road and have walnuts and lardo, a timeless pannacotta or something from Cantina Giardino whenever they please.
Broadway Market
A street that converts into a gigantic market on Saturdays, with some absolute food and produce gems. By far the star of the market though is the bacon butty from Le Swine. A super soft milk and onion bap drizzled in bacon butter, thick english middle bacon, homemade tomato sauce and mushroom ketchup oh and a fried duck egg if you please. This is without doubt the best bacon sandwich on earth.
P. Franco
P. Franco is a very cool natural wine bar in Clapton. They’ve got an off and on license, a comprehensive range of natural wine and a resident chef. The chef cooks a small and ever changing menu from a tiny “kitchen” at the end of the one large, central dining table. A couple of bench-top induction hobs and a chopping board is pretty much all these guys have room for and they are feeding up to about 18 people around the table at any one time. When we ate there it was William Gleave at the helm, formerly of Garagistes in Hobart. The food was great and at the time it had a heavy japanese influence. We had beef tartare with anchovy sauce and buttery fried panko crumb that was sensational. As was a tartare of albacore with grapefruit and grapefruit ponzu. It was so delicious we went through the menu twice…
Lyle’s
We went to Lyle’s as a surprise for Jesse’s birthday, along long with 10 of our very good friends. It’s deceptively simple food, defined completely by the seasons and letting the finest quality produce showcase itself – with a little coaxing from some very skilled minds and hands. As it was Jesse’s birthday the memory is a bit cloudy. The food was a mouth watering sample of late winter in England. A very exciting wine list helped to make this a very fun evening.
