Back at Barrafina

30-03-2018 Local Black BookBarrafina, Covent Garden, London, recommendation, Restaurant, review, Spanish, tapas, Trafalgar Square4 Comments

It’s not the first time I’ve mentioned Barrafina and it won’t be the last.

Because I looooooove tapas and Barrafina is quite simply the best tapas restaurant in London.

The only problem?

How good Barrafina is is London’s worst kept secret.

And of course, there’s no reservations, which means you will have to queue.

Yes, even if it’s late and even on Sundays.

But worry not, for there’s a small selection of nibbles to eat while you wait – including Barrafina’s fantastic croquetas.

That time around, they were squid croquetas, with ink, little pieces of cuttlefish and a potent-but-sublime spicy aioli on top.

100% the way to keep little hangry me happy!

Nibbles, drinks and good company are a great combination to make time fly by.

Before you know it, you’ll be led to your recently-vacated seats…

… for yet more croquetas!

This time, ham croquetas.

Barrafina Adelaide St / London's best tapas restaurant / Where to find a taste of Spain in London / Cake + Whisky

Just as gorgeous as their squid sisters, with a rich, indulgent, creamy ham & cheese filling and the thinest, crispest of exteriors.

If you love croquetas (and let’s be honest, who doesn’t?), you have to have Barrafina’s.

Ham or squid, whatever you pick, you’re in for a whole new ball game!

Since we visited at what was technically brunch time, the classic tortilla was a must order.

… and I can happily report that it is indeed a classic at all times of the week and day!

Potato slices, sauteed in olive oil, then topped with eggs and cooked to golden perfection…

Simplicity at its very best.

Chargrilled artichokes with aioli, dressed in a shallot and chives vinaigrette.

And spectacular Arroz de Marisco.

A bit of a cross between a risotto and a seafood paella, with incredible depth of flavour from a saffroned bisque and topped with just-grilled seafood.

On the sweet side, we couldn’t resist the crema catalana bites.

Basically cheesecake, wrapped in crisp filo pastry, deep-fried and served with a tart berry coulis.

Berry indulgent indeed!

And –of course– a serving of obligatory cinnamon doughnuts with chocolate sauce. Light, almost brioch-y, they are something special in their own right!

Now, the million dollar question – when to go so you don’t have to queue for hours?

We went on a Sunday for a late lunch (around 1pm) and waited around 20 min for a table. Late dinner is also quite a good bet, making it a great post-theatre option, especially on weekdays. But then again, I went a few years back on Easter Sunday and it’s the only time I’ve ever been seated right away…

So if your bank holiday plans allow it, go, go, GO!!

Barrafina, 10 Adelaide St, London WC2N 4HZ

(there’s another Covent Garden branch on Drury Ln, and a Soho one on Dean St, all equaly good and hard to get into)

Where to eat if you can’t get a seat at Barrafina

Dinner at Xu

13-03-2018 Local Black BookAsian, Chinatown, London, Restaurant, review, Taiwanese, XuLeave a comment

Considering my obsession with all things food, you won’t be surprised to hear that recently, I fell down a bit of an Ugly Delicious rabbit hole.

Recently launched on Netflix, the series is all about the interactions between food and culture, and it truly is fascinating. Each episode is better than the next, and it’s probably the best programme about food I’ve watched since Masterchef Australia (back end of April, I’m so excited)!

One particularly interesting episode is the one where David Chang and friends look into the stereotypes around Asian cuisine, often considered unrefined and ‘cheap’ by Westerners.

And though some of the assumptions are offensive on both sides of the board, the premise still rings true, and that despite the fact that China, India and the like actually are masters at matching complex flavours and textures.

Proof (if there ever needed one) can be found at Xu, the latest venture from the incredible successful Bao London team.

Set out in wood-panelled rooms inspired by 1930s Taipei tea rooms, Xu brings the refined flavours of Taiwan to the heart of London.

The menu isn’t especially long but is of the intriguing variety through and through.

From the Xiao Tsui section, we started with the Beef pancakes.

Melt-in-the-mouth shortrib, bone marrow, pickles, spring onion and potato crumbs to be wrapped up in a pancake and devoured.

A DIY, deeply umami affair and a very good one at that.

Dinner at Xu, London / Taiwanese restaurant review / Cake + Whisky

Xian Bing – pipping hot pan-fried aged pork pancakes served with vinegar & chilli oil.

Very porky, with a touch of ginger, the filling reminded me of my favourite pork dumpling recipe, but wrapped up in the crispest, most delicately folded pastry.

A little dangerous to eat but well worth taking the risk!

But the incontested winner of the small plates section were those little Sweet potato & miso taro dumpling beauties.

Served in the most vibrant kow choi chilli dressing, there are a masterpiece of balance and depth of flavour.

So sort of dish you want to order doubles of so you don’t have to share!

The other highlight of our dinner at Xu was the signature Shou Pa chicken dish.

A beautiful plate of marinated chicken with drippings, ginger and spring onion with white pepper and chicken skin topping, it’s the epitome of roast chicken dishes.

The perfectly cooked meat and the sticky jus took me back to Sunday lunch with my parents, but with added layers of flavours thanks to the Asian aromatics.

Dinner at Xu, London / Taiwanese restaurant review / Cake + Whisky

Delicious in its own right, but even better atop some lardo fried rice.

The Mapo tofu was nice and spicy, but paled in comparison.

(It might also have been a classic case of over-ordering, as we enjoyed it much more re-heated the next day…)

We finished things off with almond ice cream and black sesame sauce – a combination both delicate and funky!

And the ultimate proof that Far East cuisine is far more complex and elegant that it’s usually given credit for.

It might not be the ultimate ‘grammable restaurant, but it’s a good one when it comes to substance over style. There are no flower walls, but some truly spectacular dishes to be found and I urge try their chicken ASAP. It’s a game changer.

Ugly? Possibly. Delicious? Absolutely!

Xu, 30 Rupert St, London W1D 6DL

(Xu accepts bookings (miracle!) and when we visited (post-theatre on a weekday) there were plenty of tables available for walk-ins)

Other great restaurants near Xu:

The Palomar

Hot Pot Chinatown

Jen Café

Dinner at Kricket

03-02-2018 Local Black BookIndian, Kricket, London, recommendation, Restaurant, review, small plates, Soho1 Comment

I hate restaurants that don’t take reservations for less than 4 people.

I hate restaurants where the host, when I pop in and ask if they have a table for 2 at 7:15pm, answers they do… at 10:30pm.

And I HATE restaurants that insist on running separate lunch and dinner services so that I can’t have a meal at strange mid-afternoon hours on the weekend.

All of the above are the reasons why I hate loving Kricket so much.

It’s going to make my life so very difficult every time I crave Indian food.

But well, I’ll just have to deal with it all (and take friends down with me so we can book at table!) because the food, the drinks and the atmosphere are all fantastic.

The cocktail list is short but perfect formed, making the on-duty bartender a very busy man (or woman) indeed.

Which you could feel bad about or just embrace with a couple of the truly excellent whisky + orange marmalade cocktails…

Also excellent were the Jerusalem artichokes and pea samosas.

Light, crispy pastry triangles, filled with the most delicious, subtly spiced vegetable filling.

Needless to say, those didn’t last long.

My favourite dish – Pumpkin, makhani sauce, fresh paneer, hazelnut crumble, puffed wild rice.

Served with masala kulcha bread straight from the tandoor.

Charred pumpkin, the best (really, even my Indian boyfriend says so, and he’s had A LOT of butter chicken) butter-tomato sauce, begin to be scooped over some bread…

It was the sort of dish I wish I knew how to make so I could have it every day.

One that hangs around the top of my list of London’s best dishes, too.

Kricket’s signature Keralan fried chicken, served with curry leaf mayonnaise and pickled mouli.

Venison keema.

Warming and gently spiced, and the perfect reminder of why I must add keema to my winter meal rota.

Beautifully cooked duck breast, served with fiery vindaloo sauce and refreshing Brussel sprout and coconut thoran.

Polishing it all off on a sweet note in the form of carrot halwa with chestnut ice cream (delicious but veeeeeeery rich) and gorgeous, posset-like misti doi.

All in all, not a dal plate in sight at Kricket… So, no matter how difficult/irritating getting a table is, it’s worth the patience and hard work.

You know what they they… Keep calm and curry on!

Kricket Soho (the original venue’s in Brixton), 12 Denman St, Soho, London W1D 7HH

More things to eat in Soho

EVERYTHING at Temper

Cake for dinner at Cutter & Squidge

Ramen at Kanada Ya

Chinatown’s best hot pot

You win sum, you dim sum

23-01-2018 Local Black BookChinese, dim sum, dumplings, London, Mayfair Garden, recommendation, Restaurant, reviewLeave a comment

…not quite the traditional saying, but far more appropriate when it comes to dim sum at Mayfair Garden.

Once you’ve made your selection (I advise to take a few friends so you can order EVERYTHING!) and placed your order, sit back, relax and take in the sleek, minimalist decor.

And before you know it…

The table will be covered in a variety of dumpling plates.

Don’t miss out on the classics: plump prawn & chive dumplings, golden prawn spring rolls, gorgeous har gau…

You win some, you dim sum ● Mayfair Garden, London ● Cake + Whisky

… prawn shu mai…

You win some, you dim sum ● Mayfair Garden, London ● Cake + Whisky

… generously-filled deep-fried prawn dumplings…

… superb (and incredible value) king prawn cheung fun…

…and my favourite – golden-fried turnip cakes!

But enough talking – time to dig in!

The menu’s not especially long (perfect for the indecisive kind!), nor is it comprehensive in any way (the lack of chicken feet is apparently a big deal…), but everything on there is pretty special…

The baked venison puffs are exceptional – the best I’ve had in London sofar.

I don’t usually like char sui buns, but Mayfair Garden’s are fluffy, sweet-and-sour pieces of meaty perfection and play in a league of their own!

The Xiaolongbao are as delicate and fiddly as you’d expect…

… and the scallop shu mai is the perfect bite to finish things up with a touch of luxury (and a very full stomach).

But no empty stomach – surprisingly enough, dim sum is very well priced, with most 3-dumpling plates around the £5 pricemark.

See I told you – no matter what you order at Mayfair Garden, you win some, you dim sum!

Mayfair Garden, 8-10 N Audley St, London W1K 6ZD

Starting 2018 as I mean to go on…

02-01-2018 Local Black BookDalston, London, pizza, Pizza Union, recommendation, Restaurant, reviewLeave a comment

… with good friends, pizza and cocktails at Pizza Union!

If I’ve learnt anything from the past year, it’s that the little moments of everyday joy are what it’s all really about.

And pizza definitely makes me very, very happy.

Pizza Union is one of my regular spots when only dough will do.

I love the excellent value for money, the neon-filled decor and the speedy service (hellooooo pizza pager!).

I love the no-nonsense menu: thin, crunchy, super light crust, flavourful tomato sauce, an extensive (and super affordable!) list of extra toppings (all £1, an absolute bargain) and simple but efficient Italian-inspired cocktails.

But more than anything else, I LOOOOOOOOOOVE the Funghi pizza with extra N’Duja on top!

Pizza Union’s new Dalston venue scores just as high as its sibblings on all the above points.

With a few extra ones for the super welcoming team that’s always full of brilliant advice on what toppings to add to your pizza to make it even more delicious.

What do you say? Wanna a pizza that?

Pizza Union Dalston, 14 Kingsland High Street, London E8 2JP (but they have a few other locations as well…)

Sunday Roast at The Quality Chop House

12-12-2017 Local Black BookBritish, Clerkenwell, Exmouth Market, London, recommendation, Restaurant, review, roast, Sunday Roast, The Quality Chop HouseLeave a comment

Sunday roast is a big deal.

Especially when it’s this cold outside.

The best ones are made by your mother, obviously.

But if, like me, you don’t have a roast-proficient mum (and can’t bring yourself to do all the roasting yourself), I know just the place.

Tucked away at the very end of my absolute favourite street in London, The Quality Chop House is a gloriously old school British restaurant with Grade II-Victorian-decor to match!

Get a group of 3-6 together and book yourself a booth.

Order up a bottle of something nice (a lovely Côtes du Rhône in our case)…

And tuck into the delightfully light smoked cod roe with pickled onion while you peruse the menu.

Especially delightful atop the Quality Chop House’s own sourdough, still warm from the oven.

The selection of starters is quite lovely, but on Sunday, it’s all about the roasts…

Belted Galloway beef (sirloin & brisket).

Tamworth pork shoulder with crackling and apple sauce.

(There’s also a vegetarian option and a fish dish on the menu).

All served with all the trimmings and a selection of seasonal vegetables.

And when at the Quality Chop House… add on a side of those confit potatoes.

You simply have to.

Pile everything up high onto your (already heaving) plate, top with a bit more gravy and tuck into your Sunday feast.

Try to save a little bit of room for pudding…

Sticky date sponge with Christmas pudding ice cream and pear, paired with the most exquisite Loupiac I’ve ever had.

Truly the most wonderful way to spend a Sunday!

The Quality Chop House, 88-94 Farringdon Rd, Clerkenwell, London EC1R 3EA

Make sure you book ahead – especially on Sundays!

More restaurant suggestions

My absolute favourite London place

A modern British food champion

For those days when you want it all (now you can!)

When only steak will do…

Hot Pot restaurant, Chinatown

07-12-2017 Local Black BookChinatown, Chinese, hot pot, hotpot, London, Restaurant, review, Thai1 Comment

I had one of the most exciting meal of the year at Hot Pot in Chinatown last week.

It wasn’t at a fancy, expensive restaurant.

But it was something totally new and that I had never done before – and when you eat out as much as I do, that’s something to celebrate!

The first outpost of a 150-something-strong Thai-based franchise, Hot Pot specialises in… well… hot pots.

The ultimate social eating dining concept, hot pot brings family and friends together around a broth-filled pot and a variety of toppings to cook in them.

Once you’ve chosen your broth from the 5 daily-made varieties and a few too many toppings from a 60-something strong list, all you have to do is sit back and relax.

All whilst nibbling on some fantastic Thai-style chicken wings and prawn toast (not pictured but absolutely delicious).

When you’re doing that, the kitchen will get everything ready, pouring, crushing, peeling, chopping and mixing the many many ingredients necessary to craft Hot Pot’s signature broths.

Before you know it, a big steel pot of fragrant broth will appear in the centre of your table, alongside the freshest selection of toppings.

Pork, beef, fish, vegetables…

Moderation was never my strong suit, so we went for quite literally all of them, and I strongly recommend you do the same!

Then it’s time for you to get cooking by adding whatever toppings you fancy into the broth.

Add things one at a time or really go to town and put a little bit of everything inthere at once, there’s really no wrong way to do hot pot.

Plus, the more things you cook in the broth, the more layers of flavour you add to your initial broth, which means the more you eat, the better it gets!

A meal that’s meant to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace, hot pot is all about gathering your favourite people around a table create delicious food memories.

Definitely the hot (pot) place to be this winter!

Hot Pot, 17 Wardour St, London W1D 6PJ

Anglo, Clerkenwell

29-11-2017 Local Black BookAnglo, British, Clerkenwell, London, recommendation, Restaurant, review, tasting menu1 Comment

Back in March, we fell head first, love at first bite style, with Forest Avenue, where we had the best meal of 2017.

The only problem? It’s in Dublin. So not so convenient if you want to pop in and treat yourself.

But, I discovered last weekend, that’s not too much of a problem, because Anglo’s right on my doorstep.

Nestled in the heart of Clerkenwell, Anglo is simple looking but universally acclaimed amongst London’s food critics and connoisseurs.

And with good reasons – our impromptu Saturday night meal was without a doubt the best food we’ve had in ages.

As many have said before, Anglo’s food – a daily-changing 8-course British-made-modern set menu – will not be to everyone’s taste.

Forget the classic ‘meat with two veg’. Here, the food is innovative, even borderline challenging at times but every morcel is absolutely succulent.

The pre-dinner snacks especially so.

Mushroom broth with thin mushroom slices and truffle.

So simple, deeply umami and absolutely brilliant. Starting strong with my favourite dish of the night!

Ika (squid) tartare wrapped in jellied dashi.

Delicate and textural.

Burnt leek tartlet with chive ‘snow’.

A creamy allium-on-allium creation that’s simply too good for words.

Needless to say, I was rather excited to move onto the proper dishes…

Cauliflower with smoked herring roe.

A beautifully saline dish, balanced by the deep, earthy notes of the cauliflower.

Pork belly with coco beans, cranberry and pickled fennel.

A very interesting combination of ingredients which was only let down by undercooked, slightly chalky coco beans.

Seabass with salsify and quince.

Probably the least enjoyable of the lot and the only dish I wouldn’t re-order again should I get the opportunity.

Wild fallow deer with white onion puree, nasturtium oil and meat jus.

Cooked to perfection and absolutely incredible.

Cheese and onion on malt loaf.

Or, as it should be called – cheese on toast on crack.

Very cheesy, veeeeery satisfying and incredibly comforting.

Pine parfait.

A refined take on the After Eight – I’d really love getting a box of those in my Christmas stocking!

Matcha cake with clementine and miso ice cream.

So festive.

And last but not least, lemon thyme granita, crème pât and apple.

Lovely and fresh – the perfect way to end the meal!

All topped off with petits fours (salted caramel truffles and chocolate mousse cubes with raspberry powder and lime).

So yes, a meal at Anglo is a bit of a blow to the Christmas budget.

But it’s worth every penny. The food is stunning and the service attentive without being stuffy.

The perfect spot to make the most of a special occasion with your favourite foodie(s).

Anglo, 30 St Cross St, London EC1N 8UH

Macellaio RC, Bankside

31-10-2017 Local Black BookBankside, italian, London, recommendation, Restaurant, review, steakLeave a comment

Even though most of the recipes I post on this blog happen to be vegetarian/vegan (thank my laziness and love of vegetables for that), I do love a good steak.

Preferably one that’s been seared to rare, smokey perfection by a pro (aka. not me).

In my quest of London’s best, I had heard much praise about the Macellaio RC ‘butchery with tables’ mini group.

Many of my Italian friends had named it as their favourite restaurant in London. No small fate.

In true Italian spirit, Macellaio RC is all about simple dishes made incredible through a dedication to the excellence of Italian produce.

In the franchise founder’s own words, “Macellaio Roberto Costa […] aspires to be a praise to the animal, but above all to the work of the artisan farmers that devote their lives to this passionate world”.

The restaurants themselves, set up as modern, welcoming, warm Italian trattoria, mirrors this objective.

With brick wall, wooden accents, a myriade of trinkets reflecting the diversity of Italian crafts, big windows looking into the ‘meat room’, an open-air Ligurian bakery and a stage dedicated to butchery and carving, the Union Street restaurant looks like a dining theatre dedicated to the cult of good food.

Wanting to make the most of it all, we went for a bit of everything…

Starting with salami and house-made, cloud-like focaccia, drenched in super fruity olive oil.

And a couple of glasses of good Italian wine, of course!

We then tried Macellaio RC Union Street’s specialty – the pissa.

A form of pizza originating from 15th century Genova, the pissa dough is made from very strong flour and risen at cold temperature for 60 to 90 hours, resulting in a super crispy thin crust.

Topped with just a smearing of cream, it’s the perfect little nibble before moving onto the main event.

The meat!

Being a greedy little French girl, I couldn’t resist the tartare.

Served very simply with Tuscan extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, it allows the quality of the Fassona breed beef to shine.

But the true star of the show – Macellaio signature Fiorentina T-Bone steak.

Aged for 6-8 weeks, butchered and grilled in house and served with fluffy triple-cooked chips, it’s a meat lover’s dream come true.

Cooked to perfection, with crispy fat on the edges and deep, smokey-umami flavours…

The rumors were true – London’s best steak is at Macellaio’s!

After that beast of a meal, you might be tempted to skip pudding.

Don’t. Get the basil panna cotta. It’s light and fresh, wonky in all the right ways and an absolute must-try.

Be-leaf me!

Macellaio RC Union Street, Arch 24, 229 Union Street, London SE1 0LR

What else to do/see/eat in Bankside?

A British cocktail masterclass at Hixter Bankside

Exploring London’s Bankside

Padella Pasta

Autumn cocktails at TwoRuba

I dinned as a guest of the restaurant for this visit.

A British cocktail masterclass at Hixter Bankside

24-10-2017 Local Black Bookcocktails, Hixter, London, masterclass, recommendation, Restaurant, review2 Comments

Bankside is one of my favourite parts of London.

Home to the fantastic Borough Market and some of my favourite restaurants in the city, Bankside is a fantastic destination for dinner and weekend meanderings alike.

And in October, things are getting even more exciting along the Lowline with the launch of the Bankside School of Food and Wine!

To celebrate Bankside’s emerging food scene, various venues are holding a range of food and drink workshops.

From doughnut making to butchery classes, chocolate workshops and mixology lessons, there’s a lot to choose from.

But you know me, I’m never one to say no to a good cocktail!

Which is how I found myself in Mark’s Bar at Hixter Bankside for a hands-on British cocktail masterclass.

After a Hix Fix (a delicious mix of cherry liquor and English sparkling wine and the best selling cocktail across all Hix restaurants) on arrival, it was time to get down to cocktail-mixing business!

First things first – a quick refresher on the history of cocktails, must-know techniques used in cocktail making and of course, the provenance of the spirits!

Much like for the food, the approach to cocktail making focuses on local, seasonal ingredients such as Black Cow vodka – the world’s only Pure Milk Vodka™.

Made entirely from the milk of grass grazed cows in West Dorset, it makes for an exceptionally smooth vodka with a unique creamy character.

After eagerly tucking into delicious bar snax (the signature Yorkshire pudding with whipped chicken livers is an absolute must-order!), it was time to recreate some of Mark’s Bar’s renowned cocktails.

First up on the cocktail menu – the Dorset Donkey (a British take on the classic Moscow Mule).

Made with the freshest seasonal produce (blueberries in the summer, blackberries in fall and preserved Morello cherries in the colder months), it’s a great drink to mix for impromptu guests any time of the year.

All you have to do is crush a couple of Morello cherries and sage leaves at the bottom of a highball glass.

Top with 20ml lime juice, 50ml Black Cow vodka, 10ml cherry brandy and 15ml honey or sugar syrup.

Fill the highball glass with ice cubes.

Top with ginger ale.

Garnish with a Morello cherry and 2 sage leaves and you’re all done!

Substitute the sage for orange peel, add a cinnamon stick and you’ll have yourself a smashing Christmas cocktail.

The perfect way to get into the holiday spirits!

Unless of course you’re more of an Espresso martini kind of gal/guy!

I have it on good authority that Mark’s Bar serves one of the best in London.

So might as well learnt from the masters!

It’s actually not that difficult either.

For 1 glass, you’ll need:

50ml Black Cow vodka
50ml fresh ground coffee or a double espresso
35ml honey or sugar syrup
coffee beans to garnish

Pour all the ingredients into the smaller half of a shaker, add cubed ice and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds.

Strain into a champagne coupe and garnish with three coffee beans.

A British cocktail masterclass at Hixter Bankside ● Cake + Whisky

A brew-tiful drink indeed and one well worth learning for yourself!

A inspirational gift or a unique way to celebrate Christmas with colleagues (beats the canapé buffet anyday!), Hixter’s British Cocktail Masterclass will whisky any cocktail lover away! (just remember to book ahead!)

Mark’s Bar at Hixter Bankside, 16 Great Guildford St, London SE1 0HS

*I attended the Hixter cocktail masterclass as a guest of the restaurant and Better Bankside. All words, pictures and love of eau de vie marinated cherries my own.

Cake and Whisky

Life in London and other almost-grown-up tales

Menu

review

Back at Barrafina

Barrafina, 10 Adelaide St, London WC2N 4HZ

Where to eat if you can’t get a seat at Barrafina

Dinner at Xu

Xu, 30 Rupert St, London W1D 6DL

Other great restaurants near Xu:

Dinner at Kricket

Kricket Soho (the original venue’s in Brixton), 12 Denman St, Soho, London W1D 7HH

More things to eat in Soho

You win sum, you dim sum

Mayfair Garden, 8-10 N Audley St, London W1K 6ZD

Starting 2018 as I mean to go on…

Sunday Roast at The Quality Chop House

The Quality Chop House, 88-94 Farringdon Rd, Clerkenwell, London EC1R 3EA

More restaurant suggestions

Hot Pot restaurant, Chinatown

Hot Pot, 17 Wardour St, London W1D 6PJ

Anglo, Clerkenwell

Anglo, 30 St Cross St, London EC1N 8UH

Macellaio RC, Bankside

Macellaio RC Union Street, Arch 24, 229 Union Street, London SE1 0LR

What else to do/see/eat in Bankside?

A British cocktail masterclass at Hixter Bankside

Mark’s Bar at Hixter Bankside, 16 Great Guildford St, London SE1 0HS