April Special: 10 things You Need to Eat in London This WeekBy Alicia Grimshaw
New website, new opportunity to eat all the food. Here’s what you need to be eating in London this week, from Chelsea buns to delicious artichoke dishes – here’s our top picks:
London Eating: New Openings
1. For Salt Beef Sandwiches: Monty’s Deli
What: We’ve loved Monty’s Deli ever since we sank a bite into their epic salt beef sandwiches from their stall at Maltby Street Market. The lads have come a long way since opening their street shack in 2012. On Tuesday (25th April), Monty’s Deli will open the doors to their brand new gaff on Hoxton Street. Let’s all bathe in comforting chicken soup and sandwiches packed with hand carved home-made salt beef and pastrami. Oh yes.
Why: Breakfast will feature fresh hand-rolled bagels, sweet pastries and breads, including the much-loved chocolate babka, baked daily. Available to eat in or take away, the counter will run a ticket-style service during breakfast and lunch, alongside their theatrical slicing bar. For lunchtime, Monty’s full sandwich menu will be available, including their immense Reuben Special with layer upon layer of salt beef, pastrami, pickles and mustard piled between their custom rye bread, and the Mensch for the purists, with its famed fatty meat and mustard. New on the menu will be cold cuts platters of house made meats and pickles, and Seinfeld-style ‘big salads’.
Where: 227 – 229 Hoxton Street, London
2. For British Classics: Bill’s Restaurants
What: Bill’s Restaurants have hop footed it south of the river to open their new joint on Monday (24th April) in the bustling Cardinal Place, Victoria. And to celebrate, the team will be handing out free slices of cake every day of its opening week (24th-28th April) between 3pm and 5pm. You’ll also be able to wash it down with a free cup of either Bill’s Elderflower Pressé or Bill’s Pink Lemonade, both longtime favourites with Bill’s regulars.
Why: Open all day, Bill’s caters for everyone with a range of fresh seasonal dishes and drinks. Enjoy the new ‘Good Food Fast’ menu, with new dishes including mussels with cider cream; ricotta, cheddar and red pepper tart; and chicken pillared. The new spring menu also includes a range of fresh fare with a creative twist, such as dakkochi chicken skewers with spicy Korean barbecue glaze, and macaroni cheese with truffle. And indulgent desserts like the chocolate bombe with brownie chunks, honeycomb and hot salted caramel, and lemon meringue pie cheesecake also feature.
Where: Bill’s, 6 Cathedral Walk, Cardinal Place, Victoria, SW1E 5JE
3. For High End Cuisine: Claude Bosi at Bibendum
What: This is hot, hot news: Claude Bosi at Bibendum is now open. The praised French chef has launched the ground floor seafood and oyster bar and first-floor restaurant in South Kensington’s iconic Michelin building, Bibendum. Claude Bosi at Bibendum retains its grand exterior with its open and welcoming frontage to the all-day dining seafood bar and cafe, with the addition of a flower shop from Hackney florist Grace & Thorn.
Why: The menu in the first-floor restaurant is in Claude’s words, ‘unashamedly fine dining’, but with his recognised contemporary and light-hearted flair. Produce is sourced predominantly from the British Isles as well as France, and Claude is continuing to work with good friends who provide produce such as cheese (from Bernard Antony) and fish for his kitchen; salad is grown in Herefordshire, bread baked at Hedone in West London, and the very best Galician beef. The a la carte features brand new dishes alongside recognisable Hibiscus and Bibendum classics. Delve into oyster omelette, watercress and Oscietra caviar; Galician beef filet “à la Ficelle”; and smoked eels, beef jam and leaves.
Where: Michelin House, 81 Fulham Rd, Chelsea, London SW3 6RD
Photo Credit: Steven Joyce
What: Bad Egg is back – better and boozer than ever. Having re-written the rulebook for weekend bottomless brunch back in 2014, Bad Egg’s recent homecoming heralds bigger flavours during the week, with weekends still firmly in the hands of the bottomless brunch godfathers; with Prosecco on tap, Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas, and their signature soundtrack of old skool hip-hop, reggae and ska.
Why: Inspired by modern American diners, Bad Egg’s menu, available all week, will continue to be so much more than just eggs. New on the menu will be n’duja Croque Monsieur, Bad Egg burrito, and a Snicker bocker glory which is every bit as good as you want it to be. Favorites to make a welcome return include; the cheeseburger hash – smashed cheeseburger, crispy fries and a fried egg; Huevos Rancheros – scrambled eggs, guacamole, salsa, jalapenos, chorizo and cheese fondue; and Chilaquiles – crispy corn tacos, green salsa, chipotle, slow cooked peppers, onions, goats curd and a fried egg.
Where: City Point, 1 Ropemaker Street, London, EC2Y 9AW
London Eating: New Menus
5. For a Mozzarella Menu: Obica
What: One of Italy’s most-loved chefs, Alessandro Borghese, has joined Obicà as Creative Chef to develop a new menu centred on his and the group’s mutual passion for authentic Italian cuisine designed to share amongst friends. Designed to celebrate the eight unique varieties of Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP, and made with the finest ingredients from renowned Italian producers, the new menu features a shed ton of dairy delights.
Why: Dishes from the new menu includes: Crochette di Patate e Cime di Rapa – breadcrumbed potato, turnip greens, anchovies and smoked mozzarella croquettes; Capasanta di Mozzarella – Mozzarella di Bufala, Ciauscolo di Visso IGP and green cabbage; Baccalà Mantecato – whipped salt cod, corn chips and smoked mozzarella; and Zucchine alla Scapece – courgettes, mozzarella di Bufala, and topped with pine nuts.
Where: Locations here
Photo Credit: Tim Atkins
6. For a New Indian Menu: DUM Biryani House
What: Need some spicy loving? Take a trip to DUM Biryani House in Soho for their new extended menu. Founded by Dhruv Mittal in October 2016, the restaurant is named after the cooking method of the biryani, ‘dum’ by steaming rice and meat on a low heat.
Why: Dhruv’s new menu has been expanded to include small plates, snacks and a wider food offering as well as the signature biryanis, with new dishes such as Paya Shorba, a wild garlic flavoured lamb trotter soup served with a saffron pav, and Lukhmi pastries stuffed with guinea fowl and served with a fenugreek chutney. In addition to this are a selection of lighter curries including the Mamsam Pulusu, made with slow-cooked lamb tempered with Andhra spices and Chapala Pulusu, a tomato and tamarind flavoured fish curry. The signature biryanis are perfect as a main or to share, with a choice of whole lamb shank, chicken drumstick or seasonal vegetables, as well as the new Royalla Shrimp special.
Where: DUM Biryani House, 187B Wardour St, Soho, London W1F 8ZB
What: If you’re a plant-powered princess or a meat-free babe, you’re going to love this. Crussh Fit Food and Juice Bars have strengthen its vegan offering with the launch of its largest range yet. New healthpots and other breakfast and lunch options now sit alongside new gluten-free vegan desserts and sweet treats, all of which are made without refined sugar.
Why: For breakfast there’s Croats, a combination of gluten-free oats, carrot, almond milk, almond butter, walnuts, sultana and cinnamon all soaked overnight and topped with coconut shavings. For lunch, there’s the vegan Persian cauliflower cous cous health pot with sumac, pistachios, pomegranate and a roasted red pepper dip; avocado and goji berry chutney bagel; and the vegan nourish box with red and white quinoa, massaged kale, roasted sweet potato, spicy bean salsa, avocado and lime dip. And for pudding, there’s key lime pie with avocado and lime on a cacao and pecan crumb – that’s suitable for coeliacs, vegans, and contains no refined sugars; banoffee pot, a raw banoffee made with banana, dates and almond butter on a pecan and almond crumb; and choc avo mousse made with cacao, avocado, dates and agave.
Where: Locations here
London Eating: New Dishes
8. For Artichokes: Enoteca Turi
What: Enoteca Turi, an upmarket Italian in Sloane Square love artichokes probably more than you. To celebrate Artichoke Fortnight (24th April- 6th May), they have devised a special menu with new head chef Fransecsco Sodano.
Why: The new menu features artichoke heart with burrata, wild garlic sauce and homemade bottarga; maize tagliatelle with artichokes and red Sicilian prawns; and calves sweetbreads, artichoke “alla giudea”, roasted green beans and amaretto sauce. And the artichoke loving doesn’t stop there. Feast on fillet of wild sea bass, artichoke medley, smoked potato, mussel, clam and cherry tomato guazzetto. Lovely stuff.
Where: Enoteca Turi, Slonae Sq, 87 Pimlico Rd, Belgravia, London SW1W 8PH
What: To celebrate the Feast of St. Mark next week, POLPO is bringing one of Italy’s most prized dish, Risi e Bisi to London for one week only. From Monday (24th) the dish will be on the menu at all POLPO locations.
Why: Rise e Bisi is a simple dish that means a lot to Venetians; made with fresh peas and pancetta, the risotto is the main dish enjoyed at the feast to celebrate the city’s patron saint, Saint Mark. On the feast day itself, Tuesday (25th), guests at POLPO will be treated to a sample of the dish when they come into the restaurant. If you also swing by the restaurant, you’ll be able to take the recipe away to try at home.
Where: Locations here
10. For Meaty Dishes: Vinoteca
What: Vinoteca are celebrating Great British Beef Week (apparently it’s a thing) with limited-edition specials until 1st May. All the Head Chefs will be cooking up some top-notch beef dishes, perfect for two people to share, or for one person if you’re feeling hungry.
Why: Championing the Great British Beef Week specials is a tender, slow-cooked Hereford beef cheek served with Jersey Royal potatoes, English asparagus and fennel salad, created by Vinoteca Soho’s talented Head Chef Klaudiusz Wiatrak. Vinoteca Farringdon will serve a grilled Scottish rib of beef with parmesan chips, sprouting broccoli and salmoriglio, and Vinoteca King’s Cross will serve a delicious grilled rib of Hereford beef with confit Jersey Royal potatoes, asparagus and wild garlic pesto.
Where: Locations here
