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…

Tray roast salad (GF, V option)

22-11-2017 Local Black Bookgluten-free, potato, recipe, roast, salad, sausage, tray roast, vegetarianLeave a comment

Sunday roasts are the most comforting meal in the world.

And, in this weather, they’re pretty much all I want to eat, all day, every day.

Unfortunately, this plan is not quite compatible with health recommendations, eating your 5-a-day and all that.

Unless of course, you take the best bits of a Sunday roast and mix them into a salad… which is exactly how that tray roast salad was born.

This recipe is a winner for a number of reasons:

1. It’s quick, easy and requires minimal input on your side.

2. You can make it for as many or as few as you like – great for solo dinners and hoard-feeding situations alike!

3. It’s gluten free (as long as your sausages are too!) and can easily be made vegetarian/vegan.

4. It includes all the best bits of a roast dinner (hellooooo there, roasties and sausages!), balanced out by a lot of green leaves, all tied together with the most delicious Dijon & balsamic dressing.

Comfort food made healthy, so you don’t have to choose…

Isn’t that what greedy foodie dreams are made of?

Tray roast salad ● Easy dinner recipe ● Cake + Whisky [amd-zlrecipe-recipe:45]

More easy dinner recipes

Italian-style sausage casserole (GF, V option)

Indian-spiced lentil soup (VE)

Spicy Xi’an style noodles (VE)

Tomato-coconut pasta (VE)

‘Eat Like A Brit’ quiz night at Roast restaurant

26-01-2017 Local Black Bookevent, HotJoint, London, quiz, quiz night, Restaurant, roast2 Comments

Anyone that has ever met me will tell you: I can speak about food for hours. Days. Probably even more.

So when Hotjoint invited me* to battle out in an evening of fierce food quizing alongside some of London’s greatest food minds, I simply couldn’t say no.

Coined “Eat Like a Brit”, this evening of drinking, eating and tougher than you’d think culinary questions was held at British restaurant Roast.

Famous for its British-focused, refined cuisine and incredible views over the Borough Market, it’s hard to imagine a venue more suited for a night of mind-fencing and foodie-friend making!

Upon arrival, we were welcomed by this all-nose-no-tail (yet rather charming) chap!

And wine.

Loads and loads of wine!

'Eat Like a Brit' quiz night | Cake + Whisky

After greating a few known faces, being introduced to as many friendly new ones and a healthy dose of animated chatter (‘where have you been eating lately?‘ ‘oh, was that good?‘… You know how it goes!), it was time for us all to check if we knew our Stilton from our Stichelton & our teacakes from our crumpets!

But then again, with the bribe of amazing British-ingredient-led canapés coming alongside each question, getting us started really wasn’t too hard!

There was Rare roast beef, horseradish cream and beer pickles…

Queenie scallops in shell with braised ox cheek and carrot mustard (this one was my fave, and not only because I knew which UK island is famous for its scallops!).

We wandered around the Beef Carpaccio with beetroot and mustard seed yogurt for a while, pondering what ‘beeturia’ was (and secretly hoping we could get our hands on seconds of the canapés!)

Before moving onto Feta & Olive skewers with cucumber and mint…

And finish of beautifully with Bread from BreadAhead Bakery and School.

There was also some Neals Yard cheese and mini pudding, but well…

… my interest was clerly somewhere else!

And by that, I totally mean wondering where the ‘Rhubarb triangle’ was (as well as debating where in London to find the best Mexican food).

In the end, my team didn’t win, but we all went home with plenty of food trivia to wow our friends with. And -more importantly- a few new friends that will actually want to listen/share your dedication and queue for a long while for a plate of Padella‘s pasta!

Want to join the fun next time? All you have to do is email Hotjoint info@hotjoint.co.uk and tell them to keep you in the loop!

*I attended the ‘Eat Like A Brit’ quiz night as a guest of HotJoint but all words, pictures and unconditional love for sourdough my own.

7 best London restaurants for Father’s Day

14-06-2016 Local Black BookBar Kick, Bart's, Bunga Bunga, chocolate, cocktails, dad, Euros 2016, event, Father's Day, Flat iron, football, Il Porco, London, Pig & Butcher, Restaurants, roast, steak, whiskyLeave a comment

I’ve never been Daddy’s little girl but I’ll still take any opportunity to spoil my parents. After all, it’s only fair after all they’ve done and are still doing for me.

Father’s Day is the perfect opportunity to treat the most important man in your life (sorry BF…).

There are billions of ways you can do that of course, but my favourite way to say thank you is with a nice meal out…

1. You can’t go wrong with a classic: Sunday roast at Pig & Butcher

A local favourite for all things British and nose-to-tail, The Pig & Butcher is Islington’s hot spot when it comes to Sunday roast and the perfect place to indulge in dad’s Sunday fave (and maybe a Bloody Mary or two…).

The Pig & Butcher, 80 Liverpool Rd, London N1 0QD

Menus + bookings

2. Too much month left at the end of the money? £10 steak at Flat Iron

Treating dad needn’t cost an arm and leg (+ steak dinner’s a bit of a no-brainer when it comes to spoiling the old man) and Flat Iron £10 steak ticks all the boxes: juicy steak cooked to perfection, for less money that you’d pay for pizza and a free ice cream cone to top it all… what more could you possibly want?

Flat Iron, several London locations

More info

3. Personalised Pies at Mr Fogg’s Tavern

Mr Fogg’s Tavern’s award-winning pies are becoming personal for Father’s Day. The Victorian inspired Pub, Gin Parlour and Salon in Covent Garden will be offering exclusive personalized pies for Dad. Perfect to make it a Father’s Day to remember!

Mr Fogg’s Tavern, 58 St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4EA

Bookings + Personalised pie orders

4. Have your pie & eat it too: Gentlemen’s Afternoon Tea at The Athenaeum

Credit Photo: Hot and Chilli

The Athenaeum Gentlemen’s afternoon tea was designed with those who prefer savoury to sweet treats in mind. Think wild boar sausage rolls, mini steak and ale pies, cheddar and bacon scones… and single malt scotch from the whisky menu!

The Athenaeum, 116 Piccadilly, London W1J 7BJ

More info, menu + bookings

5. Football extravaganza at Bar Kick

Credit Photo: Paul Winch-Furness

Does your dad live & breathe for the Euros football competition right now? Then he’ll love Bar Kick. Not only do they show live football, but there’s also table football tables, an extensive beer menu and a reasonably-priced Euros-inspired menu! The best place to cheer on Euros 2016-host France on Father’s Day!

Bar Kick, 127 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JE

More info + bookings

6. Father’s Day Il Porco Feast at Bunga Bunga

This Father’s Day, spend your dough on Dad at Battersea’s hit Italian-inspired restaurant, bar and karaoke joint Bunga Bunga. On Sunday, 19th June enjoy Il Porco, one of London’s most authentic Italian hog roasts with all the trimmings. Grab your knife and pork this Father’s Day and tuck in!

Bunga Bunga, 37 Battersea Bridge Road, London SW11 3BA

More info + bookings

7. Dad likes the finest things in life? Whisky + chocolate masterclass at Bart’s

Celebrate the day with Dad by sampling top notch whiskies from around the globe and indulge in specialty chocolate pairings from Chelsea’s hidden cocktail bar Barts. Barts’ world-class bar team will provide guests with an hour and a half of tip top tuition about the fine art of whiskey and chocolate pairing, talking through the tasting notes of each variety of whiskey and explaining in detail how each distinctly pairs with the rich flavours of the chocolate.

Barts, Chelsea Cloisters, 87 Sloane Avenue, London SW3 3DW

More info + bookings

How are you treating your dad this Father’s Day? Any fun plans?

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

Cake and Whisky

Life in London and other almost-grown-up tales

Menu

roast

Sunday Roast at The Quality Chop House

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

More restaurant suggestions

Tray roast salad (GF, V option)

More easy dinner recipes

‘Eat Like A Brit’ quiz night at Roast restaurant

7 best London restaurants for Father’s Day

The Pig & Butcher, Islington