About Time You Discovered: London’s Best Pumpkin DishesBy Felicity Spector
We love autumn; mellow days, ochre trees, bowls of crumble and custard, and pumpkin all day long. Literally pumpkin all day long. If, like us, you are obsessed with all things squash – here’s where to find some of London’s best pumpkin dishes from breakfast through to dinner and everything in between.
1. For a Breakfast Bite: Butterscotch London
The Lowdown: Head to Butterscotch London for breakfast where Bea Vo has created an epic pumpkin pecan cheesecake croissant: a hand made croissant stuffed with pumpkin cheesecake and topped with toasted pecans. The mere fact that this creation exists had us straight on the central line to White City.
Where: Unit 7, Westworks, White City Place, 195 Wood Lane, London, W12 7FQ
2. For Early Morning Cakes: Jacob the Angel
The Lowdown: From the folks that brought us The Palomar and The Barbary, Jacob the Angel’s breakfast baked goods include a pumpkin muffin with a crunchy spiced crumble topping, and will definitely set you up for the day. Get one of the tahini madeleines for the road.
Where: 16A Neal’s Yard, London WC2H 9DP
The Lowdown: At Luca restaurant, from the team behind the Clove Club – the pasta is utterly flawless – go for the delica pumpkin agnolotti with chestnut and sage for everything that is good about autumn.
Where: 88 St John St, Clerkenwell, London EC1M 4EH
4. For Pasta: Picture Fitzrovia
The Lowdown: Head to Picture in Fitzrovia for a plate of baked squash ravioli with pumpkin seed pesto and pecorino. We could easily order three courses of this.
Where: 110 Great Portland St, Fitzrovia, London W1W 6PQ
5. For Great British Grub: Holborn Dining Room
The Lowdown: There are few things more comforting than a bowl of pumpkin risotto; at the Holborn Dining Room it’s now back on the menu, featuring acorn squash with girolles in a risotto made from spelt. And don’t leave without trying some of Calum Franklin’s excellent desserts. We recommend the apple and blackberry pie with its own jug of custard.
Where: High Holborn, London WC1V 7EN
6. For Cheese and More Cheese:
Where: 23 Catherine St, London WC2B 5JS
The Lowdown: Or get a Michelin starred salad at The Ninth where Jun Tanaka has paired chargrilled delica pumpkin with Fourme d’Ambert and chicory.
Where: 22 Charlotte St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 2NB
The Lowdown: For a luxe lunch or early dinner – La Fromagerie’s new outpost in Bloomsbury is offering a plate of baked pumpkin with truffle cream. Just try and resist the GIANT CHEESE FRIDGE which is handily positioned bang opposite the front door.
Where: 52 Lamb’s Conduit Street, London WC1N 3LL
The Lowdown: For a touch of spice – The Good Egg’s evening menu features roasted Felicia squash with fermented garlic labneh and dukkah.
Where: 93 Stoke Newington Church St, Stoke Newington, London N16 0AS
The Lowdown: At Kricket, the pumpkin in a pool of rich spiced makhani sauce, with fresh paneer and hazelnut crumble is a bowl of hearty, warming goodness.
Where: 12 Denman St, Soho, London W1D 7HH
7. For Cake: Konditor and Cook
And a big high five to Konditor and Cook who’ve created some of their best cakes yet this autumn. We can’t get enough of the new spiced pumpkin cheesecake, which comes as a whole cake (too tempting!) or by the pleasingly large slice. It’s rich, creamy, perfectly spiced and topped with a swirl of cream – it comes in a mini version too. We say, where cheesecake is concerned – go big or go home.
Where: Locations here
