Top 5: Ways to Eat Brunch in London This WeekendBy Alicia Grimshaw
Looking for some brunch inspiration? Here’s 5 cracking brunch spots you need to visit in the capital this weekend.
Wherever you’re brunching this weekend, may your Bloody Marys be spicy, and your eggs yolky. Have a good’un, people.
1. For a New Brunch Spot: Lupins
What: Lupins is the latest addition to the exciting foodie hub, Flat Iron Square near London Bridge. This laid-back all day eatery focuses on sourcing the best seasonal British ingredients, and flavouring dishes with a splash of sunshine. Their new brunch menu is brimming with classic brunch dishes, with a Lupins twist.
Eat and Drink: Relax and sip on a Lupins’ signature Grapefruit Mimosa or Bloody Mary, and tuck into a tempting collection of their modern British small plates and snacks. The changing menu consists of delights such as baked eggs with Merguez sausages, smoked aubergine and feta; rolled pork belly eggs Benedict; and grilled mackerel on toast with pickled fennel.And to get your week off to a boozy start, there’s a happy hour on during brunch hours, where you can grab a house wine, beer or cocktail at just £4 a glass.
Where: 66 Union St, London SE1 1SG
2. For a New Sunday Lunch Menu: The Lacy Nook
What: Hot weather and Sunday roasts don’t mix; it’s far too warm to enjoy duck fat roasties and lashings of gravy when you’re sweating your life away. We’ve found a Sunday lunch alternative, full of light, tasty and satisfying dishes. Stoke Newington’s Balkan-influenced The Lacy Nook has just launched a brand new Sunday lunch menu, with home-style dishes inspired by the owners’ native Macedonia. The menu features a selection of mezze, plus BBQ meats and you can order individual items, or spend £25 for the whole nine yards.
Eat and Drink: The new menu includes dishes such as the bread basket served with malidzano (green pepper and aubergine spread) and kajmak; Beets and goat’s cheese, topped with pistachios and orange dressing; charred aubergine with walnuts, parsley, garlic and sour cream; and stuffed tomato with egg, Wooky cheddar, spinach and basil. And the veggie dishes continue with the balsamic soy roasted garlic mushrooms and thyme; potato salad, eggs, spring onion and mayo-mustard; and red kidney beans with onion, mint and feta. Missing meat? The BBQ menu features pork sausages, pork rib, chicken, and beef cevapi.
Where: 8 Cazenove Rd, Cazenove, London N16 6BD
What: Ditching the classic Sunday lunch fare for something different, Head Chef Chris Denney has created an experimental offering that sees him test out potential new additions to the 108 Garage menu, available every Sunday.
Eat and Drink: Due to the experimental nature of the menu, dishes change from week to week. If you’re looking for something more than avocado on toast and poached eggs – get down there, stat. The Sunday Experiment comprises of ten different plates, from which diners can choose six for a total price of £35 a head.
Where: 108 Golborne Rd, London W10 5PS
4. For a French Inspired Brunch: Hush
What: Sunday is set to have some sunshine, and that can only mean one thing: brunch alfresco. And Hush’s courtyard is where you should all be heading. The space has been transformed into the French Rivera inspired by the glamour, sophistication and elegance of the Côte d’Azur.
Eat and Drink: Against a backdrop of coastal-inspired sophistication – think plenty of stripes, white table clothes, vintage bicycles, lemon trees, nautical artefacts and hurricane lamps, feast on a range of fresh French bread with sundried tomato tapenade and slow roasted tomato dips; fresh and succulent Fine de Claire oysters; langoustines; lobster mayonnaise and the piece de resistance, a glorious plateau de fruits de mer (a massive seafood dish). Finish with Hush’s irresistible strawberry glory – fresh strawberries drizzled in Modena balsamic with a champagne pastry cream, all accompanied by, what else but, a glass of chilled Taittinger.
Where: Lancashire Court, 8 Brook St, Mayfair, London W1S 1EY
5. For a Scandi Brunch: Dalloway Terrace
What: The Dalloway Terrace Scandinavian Summer Brunch is a celebration of Nordic cuisine in collaboration with acclaimed chef and author, Signe Johansen (available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for the duration of The Evening Standard’s London Food Month).
Eat and Drink: The collaboration menu consists of a Nordic Bloody Mary Kettle One Vodka on arrival to be enjoyed with Scandi favourites house-cured gravlaks and assorted pickles. The nibbles are then followed by a 3-course meal designed to bring out the ‘Scandi in you’, utilising carefully adapted recipes from several of Signe’s bestselling books. Highlights from the set menu include such spelt banana pancakes topped with seasonal berries, Greek yoghurt and cinnamon, as well as crispy cod cheeks served with dill salsa, seasonal salad and greens. To finish, midsummer almond torte topped with lemon and elderflower glaze, seasonal berries and edible flowers.
Where: 16-22 Great Russell St, Fitzrovia, London WC1B 3NN
One for luck…
6. For New Brunch Bites: Nordic Bakery
What: Nordic Bakery is a beautiful, calm oasis that wafts of freshly baked cinnamon buns, and the sweet smell is enough to make you forget all your mid-week stresses. To coincide with midsummer, Nordic Bakery has launched new brunch specials.
Eat and Drink: The brunch menu features new sweet and savoury bites that are too delicious to miss. The Tuulihattu – two beautiful mini choux pastries filled with either salmon and cream or ham and cheese. ‘Tuulihattu’ is a classic Finnish choux pastry (meaning ‘wind hat’) taking its name from the shape and the hollow airy centre that is created in this light, buttery pastry. For something sweet, try the mini blueberry tarts made with crème fraiche and sour cream for extra tanginess, topped generously with blueberries.
Where: Locations here
