Dinner on offer at The White Swan with CityMunch

26-07-2016 Local Black Bookapp, British, City of London, CityMunch, deal, discount, gastropub, London, offer, pub, recommendation, Restaurant, review, The White SwanLeave a comment

Dining out in London can be quite an expensive habit. Especially if you do it as often as I do.

Of course, there are always some offers out there, but seriously, who has time to scroll through picture-heavy Facebook pages or billions of tweets to be rewarded with ‘faffy’ discounts (half price SIDES? Are you kidding me?).

I don’t know about you, but I’d rather know what’s available around me in real-time, thank you very much. And thanks goodness there’s an app for that!

Let me introduce: CityMunch.

With hundreds of restaurants and offers to choose from, CityMunch is a savvy foodie’s best friend!

Indeed, CityMunch offers the latest real-time dining discounts (of up to 50%!) all in one place, can be use with any group size…

And the discount is a straight forward amount off of your food bill! Hurray!

You also have access to restaurant information, directions, sample menu & more all in one place!

And best of all, it’s absolutely FREE to use! Download the free app here: iPhone / Android

Great deals at great places?! I say yes PLEASE!

Especially when said place is as much of a gem as The White Swan!

Located at the heart of the City of London, right between Chancery Lane & Covent Garden, The White Swan is a little gem of a gastropub and, through CityMunch, you get 50% off the food every evening.

The menu focuses on a handful of classics with a little bit of a twist, and at half price, it’s an absolute bargain!

Things started on a high with homemade sourdough bread & butter.

Soft, chewy bread, melty butter & a generous sprinkle of salt flakes… it doesn’t take much more to make this French girl happy!

… but that was only the beginning!

Torched Cornish mackerel with pickled carrot

The White Swan gastropub | Cake + Whisky

A beutifully fresh starter where the crunchy, sweet-pickled carrots highlighted the oily flesh of the mackerel.

And that crispy torched skin!

Our second starter, Roast Norfolk quail with Scotch egg & pickled onion, was even better.

Succulent, melt-in-the-mouth quail leg, with a beautifully crafted mini quail Scotch egg & a super rih, meaty sauce…

Needless to say it didn’t take long to polish the whole lot off!

… and then the same thing happened with mains!

Milk-fed Herdwick lamb, Jersey royal croquette, nettle & sorrel puree

Soft braised leg of lamb, perfectly grilled cutlet, rich gravy and just a touch of mint… it was a true gastropub classic and an absolute triumph.

45 day-aged Cumbrian Shorthorn steak with chips & Béarnaise

And a side of Spring greens with bacon.

All washed down with a little bit of wine…

And followed by the dreamiest of desserts!

Buttermilk pannacotta with strawberry & basil

A silky smooth, just-set panna cotta, served with a lovely strawberry syrup, fresh strawberries and mini basil leaves…

Basically Summer on a plate!

Last but not least, the chef’s speciality: Treacle tart & frozen lemon yoghurt

Crumbly pastry, and the most intricate of fillings, with both gooey and crunchy bits thanks to an elaborate thrice-cooked processed…

A real wonder and one you must make sure you try out for yourself very soon (alongside with pretty much everything else on The White Swan’s menu)!

Just make sure you use CityMunch to book & you’ll get 50% off your bill if you visit for dinner (from 6PM)… So what are you waiting for?

PIN FOR LATER:

Disclaimer: I dined as a guest of CityMunch but all love of nettle & basic dessert fan-girling my own.

The Pig & Butcher, Islington

03-06-2016 Local Black Bookangel, British, gastropub, Highbury & Islington, Islington, London, pub, Restaurant, review, roast, Sunday Roast, The Pig & Butcher3 Comments

There are so many restaurants in London that, even if you tried hard and ate out for every single meal for the rest of your life, you wouldn’t manage to taste it all. (Fact, we did the maths!)

I for sure never will at least. For one, I certainly don’t have the endurance to eat out for breakfast, lunch and dinner every single day. And then, repeat visits are killing the game.

And the fact is, there are places I love and simply can’t keep out of. Top of my list is The Pig & Butcher.

Located at the heart of buzzy Islington, with a homely, farm-meets-flee-market atmosphere, good food and good people, The Pig & Butcher is pretty much the perfect local.

The Pig & Butcher, Islington | Cake + Whisky

All the markers of a good gastropub are there, starting with a brilliant wine list.

There are candles in jam jar, beautiful fabric napkins, raw wood tables…

And a daily-changing menu highlighting the best of what’s in season!

At the moment, that means the first aubergines of the year, slightly smoked, then shredded and served with melt-in-the-mouth piperade, bocconcini (baby mozza balls!) and wild garlic pesto.

Summer on a plate and an absolute triumph!

Whole grilled sole is a regular feature on The Pig & Butcher’s menu and a dish I can never resist.

This time, it came with steamed wild asparagus, sweet Jersey Royals, crispy peas and a brown butter sauce.

Simplicity at its very, very best.

But the roasts are what took The Pig & Butcher to the rank of legend amongst Islington residents.

The slow roasted pulled pork shoulder is the perfect example of everything a beautiful Sunday roast should be.

The Pig & Butcher, Islington | Cake + Whisky

Moist, succulent meat, tangy apple sauce, tender vegetables, stunning roasties, silky-smooth gravy and a Yorkshire pudding as big as my head… And crackling!

This face means it’s a winner!

Difficult as it might be, try to save some room for pudding…

Lemon posset, Earl Grey jelly & blackberries.

Silky smooth, super light and tart, it’s one of those puddings you simply cannot stop eating.

Absolutely irresistible.

Crispy raspberry pancake & dark chocolate mousse.

Simple yet decadent, it’s the perfect illustration of the sort of food The Pig & Butcher excels at.

Beautiful, ingredient-driven dishes, that let carefully-sourced ingredients shine through and through.

I’ve been so many time I stopped counting. I went with friends, I went with family, and I highly recommend you do the same.

It’s really popular amongst locals, which means you definitely want to book beforehands (if you hurry, you might even be able to make it for this weekend!).

Happy Sundays ahead!

The Pig & Butcher, 80 Liverpool Road, Islington, London N1 0QD

The Smokehouse, Islington

23-02-2016 Local Black Bookgastropub, Islington, London, pub, recommendation, Restaurant, review, SmokehouseLeave a comment

I must admit that when it comes to eating out, I’m a pretty lucky girl.

I live in the most exciting city in the world in terms of food, in one of the best neighbourhood as far as small, independent restaurants are concerned, and with the best restaurant buddy I could have hoped for. (#blessed, exactly)

I am more than willing to admit than London in general and Islington in particular have spoiled me, and possibly have ruined me for any other restaurant out there.

But then when there’s a gem like The Smokehouse less than 5 min. away from mine, can you really blame me?

The Smokehouse opened its doors in August 2013 to much critical acclaim. Evening Standard’s Fay Maschler and Grace Dent, Guardian’s Marina O’Loughtin… They all love it.

The Smokehouse, Islington | Cake + Whisky

And with good reason. The Smokehouse is an absolute neighbourhood gem.

Complete with wooden tables, blue-and-white old-fashioned tea towels for napkins and just the right dose of blackboards and hunting trophies.

Rustic-chic at its very best.

The Smokehouse, Islington | Cake + Whisky

You can either book ahead, or grab a seat (and a few nibbles) at the bar while you wait for a table.

And if they happen to serve Bloody Marys on the day you visit, make sure you get one of those as well.

They come with a bit of a twist (pickle juice on my last visit, chicken roast distillate another time we went…) and are the best I’ve ever tried.

The menu is of the short variety.

Which is just as well as we can never decide and usually settle for one of each.

The Lamb neck tacos, chipotle aioli and green sauce are soft, juicy and incredibly more-ish.

Little nibbles of perfection.

Promise me you’ll get them? (then we can spend hours raving about how good they are on Twitter?)

The Chopped brisket roll, served alongside some gochujang mayo is equally splendid.

A giant, golten croquette…

Hidden the softest, moistest meat in its centre.

A meat lover’s dream come true.

The Smokehouse, Islington | Cake + Whisky

Plates after plates of delicious, smokey creations filled the table.

Prawn toast, smoked bone marrow, kimchi onions is a rich and unexpected combination, lifted by the perfectly balanced, sweet and sour kimchi.

The Smokehouse, Islington | Cake + Whisky

But the dish I could have time and time again? This little brunch number.

Pulled pork & smoked nduja hash, fried egg & BBQ sauce.

Smoky and spicy and meaty all at once: the absolute brunch dream dish.

And with some serious #yolkporn thrown in on top.

The Smokehouse, Islington | Cake + Whisky

Even better with a bowl full of caramel roast potatoes on the side.

And yes, in case you are wondering, it IS salted caramel coated potato roasties. #gamechanger

Sticky toffee pudding is my favourite traditional British dessert.

Even better if it comes with some bourbon caramel & milk ice cream.

Traditional dishes with just a little bit of a modern twist and a touch of multicultural spice here and there, in a cosy, family-friendly atmosphere, what more could I possibly ask for?

The fact that the Smokehouse is right next door is just added bonus for me, but if I were to move away, I’m pretty sure those tacos alone would bring me back to Islington every other weekend.

Smokehouse, 63-69 Canonbury Rd, London N1 2DG

Radicals and Victuallers

04-09-2015 Local Black BookAmerican, Angel station, breakfast, British, brownies, brunch, hotdog, Islington, London, mac & cheese, pub, Radical & Victuallers, Restaurant, review3 Comments

Four-day weeks are always so confusing to me. I’m not sure what exactly my brain is so confused about, but I seem to never know which day it is, and for some reason, they seem longer than regular weeks (#nonsense).

But there definitely are silver linings to them. First of all, you get an extra day of weekend. Also, the next weekend is one day closer to the beginning than it is on regular weeks.

Which in my (admittedly food-obsessed) brain only means one thing: I’m one day closer to brunch day yay!

Obviously, the discovery of the little gem that is Radicals and Victuallers makes things even more exciting on that point…

Continue reading “Radicals and Victuallers” →

Cake and Whisky

Life in London and other almost-grown-up tales

Menu

pub

Dinner on offer at The White Swan with CityMunch

The Pig & Butcher, Islington

The Smokehouse, Islington

Radicals and Victuallers