5 Things You Need to Eat in London This WeekBy Alicia Grimshaw
We’ve searched high and low for the best food you should be eating this week. We’ll tell you this now: you will not be disappointed. Happy eating, London:
1. For a New Menu: Reform Social and Grill
What: Britain has many national treasures – the Queen, the Crown Jewels, Daniel Craig, and of course Yorkshire Puddings. This month, in celebration of National Yorkshire Pudding Day last week, Reform is going the extra mile to show their appreciation for the best of British culinary gems, the Yorkshire pudding – by adding a very special limited-edition selection to their menu.
Why: The Savoury Yorkshire Platter is a trio of puddings, the first filled with salt beef, horseradish, and water cress, the second with beautifully hot smoked salmon, cream cheese and chives and the third with the best of British Tunsworth cheese and truffle. The Sweet Yorkshire Platter includes the decadent chocolate and caramel yorkie, followed by a sugared doughnut-come-cream-tea-style pudding filled with clotted cream and jam, and a delicious banana and custard Yorkshire pudding to finish. Oh yes.
Where: Mandeville Hotel, Mandeville Place, London, W1U 2BE
What: Osteria, a new restaurant created by Searcys in collaboration with Anthony Demetre, has just opened and it’s an absolute belter. Located at the Barbican Centre, one of the UK’s foremost cultural institutions, the restaurant specialises in bold, ingredient-focussed Italian cooking in the bistronomy style that Demetre has helped to pioneer.
Why: Alongside starters of carpaccio of sea bream, clementine, fennel and chilli; white onion and bread soup, and buratta with artichokes, carrots and hazelnuts, tuck into sharing dishes such as ‘Roman-style’ tripe, and grilled octopus, potatoes and smoked peppers. Homemade pasta dishes such as rigatoni with Sicilian sausage and ricotta gnudi with endive and apple balsamic dressing can also be found on the menu. Signature mains include suckling pig with sage potatoes and slow cooked beef polenta and roast onions. Classic desserts of polenta cake with orange marmalade and zabaione complete the menu.
Where: Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS
3. For a New Pop-Up: Lido Cafe
What: Community restaurant The Lido Cafe, has just launched an exciting new series of evening pop-up dinners, hosting talented London chefs and streetfood traders at its poolside dining space. The kitchen takeovers run every Thursday and Friday night and offer everyone the chance to enjoy a regularly rotating array of diverse cuisines.
Why: During the February takeover, Thai Chef Tem Ban combines the fragrant and rustic elements of traditional Thai streetfood with modern cooking techniques. All made using great quality British produce, dig into small plates such as, deep fried grey mullet and star fruit salad and shredded pig’s ears with burnt sour red chilli sauce. Larger places of free-range chicken Chang Mai curried noodles with pickles and crispy noodle topping, and Hang Lae pork belly curry with ginger and peanuts also feature on the menu. Best washed down with either a watermelon Bellini or the bold Tamarind whiskey sour.
Where: Brockwell Lido, Dulwich Rd, London, SE24 0PA
4. For a New Residency: Capish? x The Hat and Tun
What: Sopranos style Italian-American street food vendor Capish? is popping up at The Hat and Tun in Farringdon for two weeks in February, serving up delicious sloppy joes and meatball subs, Joey Tribbiani style.
Why: From Wednesday 17th – Friday 19th February and the following week, Wednesday 24th – Friday 26th February, Capish? will be serving up their famous meaty sandwiches. The menu features their well-loved bites, including the meatball hero classic NYC sub – a heavenly combination of rare breed beef and pork balls, slowly simmered in home-made marinara sauce, served on a toasted polenta sub and drizzled in signature provolone cheese sauce and grated pecorino Romano. Let’s not forget the Steak ‘Braciole’ Sandwich and deep fried lasagne filled with short rib ragu, béchamel and mozzarella.
Where: 3 Hatton Wall, London EC1N 8HX
5. For a New Late Night Hours: Dirty Bones
What: Dirty Bones has now extended its opening hours and has launched ‘Late Nights’ to showcase its playful cocktails and live DJ sets in both Soho and Kensington. The old skool funk, soul and classic hip-hop tunes now keep playing on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
Why: Cocktails include the Djinn Djinn – Bombay Sapphire, Martini Rosso, fresh grapefruit, rasberries, cucumber and Ting, Mutt’s Nuts, a combination of Woodford Reserve, cinnamon and vanilla infused maple syrup, Angostura bitters, lemon and apple juice. And lastly, Top Dog – Finlandia Vodka, fresh strawberry, Chambord, lemon and Jeio Prosecco. There’s also the DirtyFlatliner, Bolt and Boiler Maker shooters to keep you dancing all night.
Where: Locations here
