Editor’s Picks: 10 February Foodie Favourites in LondonBy Alicia Grimshaw
As I was scrolling through my camera roll, I realised that I have eaten some damn good dishes in London this month. So good I thought I would share them with you, dear reader. Apologies for the somewhat amateur photography. From brunch to dinner, here’s my favourite meals I ate this month. Let’s get ordering:
February Favourites: Breakfast/Brunch
Order: Baked egg with merguez sausage, roasted peppers and yogurt
The 411: Here’s the situation – Ask For Janice have recently rolled our their new three course brunch extravaganza and it’s really good. The brunch menu features smaller dishes of their favourite brunch eats, alongside bottomless booze or soft drinks. My pick of the menu is the baked egg – a hearty bowl filled with rich tomato sauce, a yolky egg and topped with a dollop of yogurt. Mop up the eggy dregs with a wedge of their toasted sourdough. Divine.
Where: 50-52 Long Ln, London EC1A 9EJ
Order: Poached eggs with aubergine puree, za’atar, yogurt, merguez sausage and sourdough toast (£11.50)
Where: Locations here
Order: Buttermilk masa pancakes with caramelised banana, toasted pecans and whipped cream (£7)
The 411: Corazon Taqueria has boarded the brunch train – offering Mexican breakfast favourites from their Soho spot on the weekends. The huevos rancheros are a solid choice, because there’s guacamole, eggs and black beans. Dreamy, right? But the masa pancakes with caramelised banana is where the brunch party is at. You’re presented with fluffy pancakes topped with crunchy banana and a good portion of whipped cream. Best washed down with a frozen margarita.
Where: 29 Poland Street, London, W1F 8QR
February Favourites: Lunch
Order: Keema pau (£5.50)
The 411: If you haven’t eaten Dishoom’s bacon and egg naan, you seriously need to reconsider your life choices. However, before I bang on about their breakfasts, their lunch menu is brimming with delicious Indian munch. The black bean daal needs no introduction – think of it as a bowl of buttery goodness. But their keema pau is a new discovery for me, and I can’t get enough of it. The spiced minced lamb and peas is wonderfully rich, and bursting with flavour. The only way to eat this dish is to ditch the cutlery, and dive straight in with their buttered pau buns.
Where: Locations here
Order: Chicken curry tang (£10)
The 411: Tang recently opened and they’ve already caused a fanfare thanks to their fried chicken and tang numbers. This super cosy noodle bar brings the taste of the Far East to Tottenham Court Road with their authentic bowls of tang. There’s only one thing you need to know about: curry chicken tang. Tie your hair back, and slurp your way through an intense curry broth peppered with bean sprouts, fried chicken and fresh lime. You’ll also be surprised to hear that the curry broth is vegan, so you can swap the fried chicken for crispy tofu if you’re all about the plant powered life.
Where: 111 Great Russell St, London, WC1B 3NQ
February Favourites: Dinner
Order: Classic pho with steak and beef brisket (£11)
The 411: Cây Tre will curb your Asian food cravings. All the usual vietnamese suspects appear on the menu; summer rolls, spring rolls, pancakes, crispy squid and stir fried noodles. The phos here are legendary – various cuts of meat swimming in a 24 hour beef bone marrow broth. Keep it simple and order the classic pho, a bowlful of tender beef brisket, steak, and homemade noodles. Throw in beansprouts, fresh chilli and drizzle with a good helping of sriracha sauce for extra bite. Best £11 you can spend on a cold wintery evening in London.
Where: 42-43 Dean St, Soho, London W1D 4PZ
Order: Fondue Moitie-Moitie (£19.90 per person)
The 411: St Moritz is probably the only dedicated cheese fondue restaurant in London. Heck, come to think of it, it’s the only cheese fondue restaurant in the capital. This wooden-cladded Swiss themed restaurant is worlds away from the busting Soho streets outside. Sack off the majority of the menu, and just opt for the cheese fondue. There’s no rules to eating cheese fondue, apart from don’t lose your bread in the sea of cheese, and wait for a crispy layer to form at the bottom of the pan; it’s the best part. I truly believe there is no finer sight in life that an enormous pan of bubbly, boozy, melted cheese.
Where: 161 Wardour St, Soho, London W1F 8WJ
February Favourites: Dessert
Order: Dessert platter (off menu)
The 411: What happens when you can’t decide what dessert to order? You order them all. As the name suggests, Roast Restaurant bang out incredible roasts. Roasts that will even please your mum, and that’s saying something. I’m sorry, but when there’s a peanut butter chocolate mousse cake, a sticky date pudding and an apple crumble on the menu, it’s like someone asking you to choose your favourite child. You just can’t. So go for all three, and bask in all the dessert delights. The sticky date pudding is something else, and the crumble is balance nicely with the sweet custard. And don’t get me started on the peanut butter cake.
Where: The Floral Hall, Borough Market, Stoney St, London SE1 1TL
February Favourites: Drink
Order: Coconut milk cappuccino
The 411: Counter Kitchen markets itself as a ‘mindfulness cafe’, unless I didn’t catch the memo, there’s nothing minfullness about this place. Hit me with those hideous inspirational quotes. They serve food that’s healthy, and wholesome, and they’ve ditched all the processed crap. Their avocado on toast is decent, but don’t go too mad with the add-ons as they can soon add up. The team are serious about coffee and it shows: their cappuccinos are seriously dreamy. Their dairy-free selection of milk is stella, and any coffee made with coconut milk is bound to taste good.
Where: 63 Goswell Rd, London EC1V 7EN
Order: Oat milk cappuccino
The 411: Angelica and I should be brand ambassadors for Melrose & Morgan, we pretty much live in their Primrose Hill branch. Our Monday morning doesn’t start until we’ve met and ordered an oat milk cappuccino from the M&M gang. Their oat milk beauties are deliciously different to the dairy variety, and I’d really recommend you trying one out. Their coffee is best enjoyed with their almond croissant; nutty almond paste encased in layers upon layers of buttery, flaky pastry and topped with almonds. It’s the best way to kick off the week.
Where: Locations here
