5 Things You Need to Eat This Week in LondonBy Alicia Grimshaw
If you’re in need of some foodie inspiration this week – you’ve come to the right place. There’s everything from a new wine bar in EC2, to the most beautiful chicken sandwiches we’ve ever laid our peeper on. Less with the small talk, here’s what you should be eating in the capital this week:
What: From Thursday (9th November), RIGO’ in Parsons Green will be celebrating the autumn truffle season with a menu paying homage to the prized delicacy. Cooking with his uncle’s personally foraged truffles from his hometown of Piedmont, Italy, Executive Chef Gonzalo has created a bespoke four-course truffle menu, inspired by his culinary journey across European kitchens.
Why: Starters will include walnut shells with fontina and black truffle; cream of celery, leek, black truffle with mini French toast, before mains of chestnut tagliatelle with cauliflower; doughnuts with polenta, duck egg and tumin del Mel fondue; and slow cooked cheek of Iberico with walnuts and black truffle. To finish, desserts include olive oil cake with Capri’s lemon curd and rosemary granita, and Porcelana chocolate cake with hazelnut cream. For more truffle love, there’s also the option to add shavings of white truffle to any of the dishes, at an additional cost.
Where: 277 New Kings Road, London, SW6 4RD
Photo Credit: Roberto Savio
What: Bringing fried Taiwanese chicken to North London, Mr Ji is a popping up in Camden for five weeks only from Monday (6th November). Helping to feed London’s obsession with fried chicken, Mr Ji (Ji meaning chicken in Taiwanese) will offer diners a tastier and fresher fast food experience where everything is inspired by the bustling night markets of Taipei.
Why: On the menu, re-interpreted by Head Chef Simon Whiteside (the creative brain behind award-winning Hook in Camden), you’ll find the Big Ji, a large chicken breast, butterflied and flattened, the Half Ji and the Mini Ji’s – bitesize crispy fried chicken thighs, all of which are 100% free range chicken, marinated in a chilli, garlic, ginger and five spice mix then fried in a crisp Taiwanese coating . Mr Ji’s Chicken Tips provide something extra special – think crispy fried chicken wing tips seasoned with seven spice powder. And you must try the Hot and Sour Soup with chicken, zesty mustard greens and pickle.
Where: 63-65 Parkway,Camden Town, London NW1 7PP
What: New opening alert: Inigo is a new sushi handroll grab and go kiosk on Great Windmill Street, Soho – and it’s a right taste sensation. Inigo handrolls combine traditions of sushi with the portability of the sandwich, finished with a quick blow-torch to deliver a delicious and fresh sushi experience.
Why: The menu, consisting of six staple handrolls plus rotating specials, include traditional Japanese flavours such as the spicy tuna handroll with ponzu-marinated tuna, baby gem lettuce, spicy mayo and crushed wasabi peas, as well as unique takes on the handroll with the poke salmon featuring miso-cured salmon, avocado, macadamia nuts and pickled daikon. Inigo also caters to vegetarian and vegan tastes with handrolls such as the miso broccoli with tenderstem broccoli, cucumber, pickled daikon, miso puree and chives.
Where: Unit 1 Ham Yard, 33 Great Windmill Street, London W1D 7LR
Photo Credit: Cat Byers
4. For a New Foodie Deal: Franco Manca
What: To mark its ‘Winter Festa’ celebration, pizza kings Franco Manca are offering hungry Londoners the chance to get a free menu item when ordering a new special. From Monday (6th November) until Wednesday (8th November), the first 50 guests in every pizzeria will receive a complimentary dish or drink on the house.
Why: The new winter menu features new daily changing meat and veg specials that are showcased on each pizzeria’s chalkboard. For meat lovers, try the pizza topped with pork loin fillet from Martina Franca in Southern Italy, buffalo mozzarella, red piennolo from Vesuvio D.O.P, fresh basil and a touch of tomato, or the veg special with smoked buffalo mozzarella, red and yellow piennolo from Vesuvio, escarole with capers and garlic and kalamata black olives.
Where: Locations here
5. For a Another New Opening: Schmaltz
What: Schmaltz have brought their French free-range chicken with a Michelin pizzaz to Broadgate Circle, available every Monday to Friday. Served from a bespoke, Timorous Beasties dandelion print wrapped, fully equipped glossy mobile kitchen, Schmaltz knock up juicy Label Rouge chicken sandwiches, fresh salads and wholesome soups all made with the highest quality protein.
Why: Schmaltz’s teardrop shaped sandwiches are created especially to fit a full, fresh unadulterated superior chicken breast. Highlights from the menu include the chicken schmaltz – roast chicken skin, carrot reduction, pea leaf, parsley sauce and pickled fennel; the Chilli Schmaltz – roast chicken skin, preserved lemon feta, baby kale and wasabi rocket; and the Mushroom Schmaltz – roast chicken skin, mushroom sauce with mushroom duxelles, baby kale and wasabi rocket leaves and parmesan mayonnaise.
Where: Schmaltz Truck, Pitch 4, Broadgate Circle, London EC2M 2QS
One for luck..
6. For a New Watering Hole: The Kitty Hawk
What: Designed for laid back drinks and dining, The Kitty Hawk has become an all-day haven for many since its launch late last year and now turns its attention to night, with the launch of The Back Room Wine Bar. A new wine menu will be introduced each week, tap wines will be on offer for guests who would prefer to help themselves along with small plates to graze on into the night.
Why: Open from 5pm Tuesday to Friday day the space offers a weekly changing wine list serving an delectable mix of old and new-world wines sourced from local merchants by The Kitty Hawk’s very own Wine Guy. And if you’re feeling peckish, a simple but thoughtfully curated menu boasts cheeses and charcuterie, including Kern Cornish and Waterloo, Suffolk
Where: 11, 13 and 14 South Place, London, EC2M 7EB
