Sunday, 27 October 2013

The Flying Pig- Dulwich, london

58-60 East Dulwich Road, SE22 9AX

Make a visit to The Flying Pig in Dulwich for big portions of tasty southern comfort food. Feeling fragile on a Sunday, the pulled pork signature sandwich, meaty rack of ribs and side of mac n' cheese were our saviour. For any vegetarians or pescatarians, the menu also includes lighter options like 'The Tree Hugger' bean and lentil burger or the soft shell crab taco. This craft beer pub has 12 kegs and 6 casks on offer, ensuring loads of hops variety at any time. Big comfy leather seats near the front of the pub provide the perfect spot to laze around, content and full from a large lunch.

Friday, 25 October 2013

Beagle- Hoxton, London

397- 400 Geffrye Street, E2 H8Z
http://www.beaglelondon.co.uk/

Beagle sits adjacent to Hoxton overground station and occupies the space of two large railway arches. With the restaurant in the left arch and a bar in the right, the exposed brick, open kitchen, and large low hanging pendant lights create a striking interior that fills up quickly.

The chef's focus on using seasonal produce is reflected in a regularly changing menu with a limited number of high quality dishes. We opted for a very autumnal main; roast partridge with pumpkin, smoked bacon and kale. The veggie option was a creamy polenta dish with squash and wild mushrooms. An ox cheek & pickled walnut pie with buttered black cabbage also passed us on the way to another table and looked amazing...

A repeat visit is definite, even just to make use of the very trendy bar :)


Wednesday, 23 October 2013

The Summer House- Warwick Avenue, London

60 Blomfield Road, W9 2PA
http://www.thesummerhouse.co/

With a prime spot on Regent's Canal, The Summer House is a charming venue for lunch or dinner. Now open all year round due to popular demand, it can be enjoyed as a cosy spot during the winter or for alfresco dining when the roof is pulled back in the summer. Fish and seafood dishes prevail (their fish and chips is a big favourite), however sharing platters, salads and char-grilled steak also feature.

The seafood platter is impressive; a healthy portion of popcorn shrimp, salt & pepper calamari, grilled sardines and Mediterranean king prawns accompanied with sweet chili and tartare dips. The Summer House salad makes healthy eating easy- a colourful plate of chicken, bacon, avocado, egg, Roquefort blue cheese, chives and tomatoes served with a light vinaigrette. Dessert was a creamy cup of Eton Mess- a lovely sweet treat to finish with.

Its canal location influences the nautical interior; white bricks, splashes of duck egg blue, classic stripes and an abundance of shell and boat decorations are on show. Each table is adorned with a bright sunflower and the plants placed throughout bring more nature into the space.


Saturday, 19 October 2013

London Restaurant Festival Tapas Tour

Copita
Fernandez and Wells
Barrica
El Pirata Detapas
Ametsa
El Pirata

http://www.londonrestaurantfestival.com/events/tapas-tour/

Each year, London Restaurant Festival sparks the creation of numerous food events and we were quick to snap up tickets for the tapas tour.

There can't be many better ways to spend a Saturday afternoon than traveling from one London spot to the next, exploring new areas and venues and being greeted with a drink and plate of delicious food in each.                                
 

Both Copita and Fernandez & Wells are small, rustic bars based in Soho which served some  lovely dishes we would happily have had second helpings of;  truffled goats cheese with piquillo pepper and almonds, duck & pear risotto followed by toasted sourdough with 36 month cured jamon iberico.

The staff in Goodge Street's Barrica were particularly friendly and brought us delicious plates of oak grilled butternut squash with blue cheese & almonds.

Next was El Pirata Detapas in Notting Hill where thankfully we got our ham croquetas fix and tried an interesting dish- endive leaves dipped in a valderon foam with walnuts.

Ametsa is located in a hotel next to Hyde Park Corner and was our seafood stop; scorpion fish cake with green olive oil and black ink squid.

We ended in lively El Pirata, a short walk from Green Park with hearty meatballs and risotto & cheese stuffed peppers.                      

One of the best bits was leaving each restaurant with no fuss or bill to pay. It (almost) felt like we ate for free....



Friday, 4 October 2013

Dine Mile High- Notting Hill, London


Dine Mile High is a fun pop up dining experience themed around your flight to an inspiring or exotic destination. For us it was Mozambique, and in addition to the 4 air hostesses and jovial captain who greeted us, an African lady in bright, traditional dress played the role of a nervous passenger when she struck up conversation with us following check in.

Great value for money, our ticket included drinks and canapes in the lounge style bar- huge plates of roast plantain, chicken wings and white bait were passed around as people sipped on prosecco martinis, mint juleps, wine and beers. Called to board our flight, we were then seated at long tables in a separate space and brought four generous courses, also included in the ticket price. 

Prawns marinated in coconut, chilli, peanuts and lime followed by grilled sardines with sweet spicy salsa were light and flavourful dishes ahead of our heavier main; tender spatchcock  poussin with green chilli, cucumber and delicious coriander pilaf.  The macerated pineapple, coconut, mango and passion fruit granita with salted cashew nuts was creamy, sweet and salty all at once but made a scrumptious combination.

Following a chatty and plentiful dinner, when we 'landed at our destination', the bar opened again revealing live music that played for the rest of the night.. The variety of food, interesting transformation of an unused space (our evening was located in an old post office) and enthusiasm from our cabin crew made Dine Mile High a very enjoyable start to the weekend.