Pancake Day in London 2017: Ten Quirky Pancakes You Need to TryBy Alicia Grimshaw
As much as we love the age-old combination of sugar and lemon, we do like to mix things up from time to time. If you’re longing for a pancake with a bit of oomph on Shrove Tuesday, we’ve discovered London’s quirkiest pancakes. Don’t be basic this Pancake Day – give these beauties a whirl:
1. For an Indulgent Pancake: Mac & Wild
Order: Battered Mars Bar pancake
The Lowdown: To celebrate Pancake Day this year, Mac & Wild have stuck to their roots and created a very special Scottish delicacy, a battered Mars bar pancake. This delicious dish consists of a crépe filled with luxurious chocolate ganache and gooey caramel. The pancake is then battered and deep-fried to create a wonderfully hot and crunchy outer layer, containing the ganache and caramel deep within. One bite and you’ll be flipping well hooked.
Where: Mac & Wild Fitzrovia: 65 Great Titchfield Street, London W1W 7PS and Mac & Wild City: 9A Devonshire Square, London EC2M 4YN
2. For a Breakfast Pancake: Shane’s on Canalside
Order: Buttermilk and bacon pancake with kale, poached egg and Hollandaise (£7)
The Lowdown: Shane’s on Canalside have brought two well loved things together: eggs Benedict and pancakes for Shrove Tuesday. The team have put their own spin on Pancake Day with their odd, yet tasty flavour combinations. If you’re a breakfast lover, try the buttermilk and bacon pancake with kale, poached egg and Hollandaise, or the veggie special, rosemary pancake with butternut squash, goat’s cheese and sage butter. You can also get bottomless pancakes for a cool £12 – all you can eat with lemon and sugar.
Where: 26 E Bay Ln, London E15 2GW
3. For a Pancake Shake: Burdock
Order: Freak-Pan-Shake (£6)
The Lowdown: For a freakin’ good alternative pancake fix, Burdock on Finsbury Square will be whizzing up all that’s naughty – New York cheesecake, cookie dough, sticky pancake dough and berries, for good measure, into a thick and indulgent Freak-Pan-Shake brimming with everything from fruit to chocolate, and topped with three mini pancakes. Probably best to wear some trousers with a lot of give – you’re going to need it.
Where: Burdock, Montcalm Royal London House Hotel, 22-25 Finsbury Square London, EC2A 1DX
4. For a Potato Pancake: HIX Oyster & Chop House
Order: Devilled kidney pancake (£7.50)
The Lowdown: Renowned for their original take on British classics, HIX restaurants are offering a range of pancake dishes across the group for all of February. If you really want to ditch the classic lemon and sugar for something far more exotic, head to HIX Oyster & Chop House for something deliciously different. The kitchen gang is elevating a British classic, devilled kidney, presenting it atop a boxty bread (mashed potato) pancake.
Where: 36-37, Greenhill Rents, Cowcross Street, London EC1M 6BN
5. For an Indian Pancake: Gunpowder
Order: Chettinad pulled duck served with homemade oothappam (£7.90)
The Lowdown: Pancake Day is every day at Gunpowder. Their chettinad pulled duck served with homemade otha-ppam is bang on. The duck has been slow cooked with mixture of pices, shredded and filled into an otthappam – a street food favourite in South India. The oothappam is pancake-esque, but in miniature form (a sort of Scotch pancake). Served with ribbons of pickled carrot for a flavourful finish. And don’t just come for the duck, make sure you order the lamb chops, and spicy venison and vermicelli doughnut. All three are sensational dishes.
Where: 11 White’s Row, Spitalfields, London E1 7NE
6. For a Decadent Pancake: New Street Grill
Order: Sweetcorn with foie gras and port reduction pancake (£18.50)
The Lowdown: New Street Grill have ditched the banana and chocolate classic combos, and brand new chef Lawrence Keogh has dived straight in with something infinitely more decadent. Lawrence has been trailing a boat load of new pancakes in his kitchen, and the foie gras one came out top. A boozy port reduction pancake forms the base, and is then topped with silky smooth foie gras and sweetcorn.
Where: 16 New St, London EC2M 4TR
7. For a Fish Pancake: Fish Market
Order: Seafood, iced grapes and butter sauce pancake (£15.50)
The Lowdown: Dazzle your taste buds this Shrove Tuesday with the finest seafood pancakes at Fish Market. Totally unique, this is one pancake for the fish fiends. Feast on a medley of sensational seafood, iced grapes and butter sauce. Fruit, fish and lashings of dairy goodness – this pancake is not to be missed. Best eaten with a glass of chilled Savvy B.
Where: 16b New Street, London EC2M 4TR
8. For a Meaty Pancake: Boisdale of Mayfair
Order: 6 oz dry aged sirloin steak, a fried egg and brown sauce (£11)
The Lowdown: This Shrove Tuesday, Boisdale Restaurant’s newest outpost in Mayfair will be putting on a spread of pancake combinations worth getting out of bed for. Delights include, crushed avocado with lemon, chilli and a poached Burford Brown egg, grilled marmalade ham with melted Mayfield Swiss cheese and our pick of the menu, steak, egg and brown sauce. As a bonus, Boisdale of Mayfair will be offering anyone who orders pancakes between 10am-11am a complimentary glass of Prosecco.
Where: 12 N Row, Mayfair, London W1K 7DF
9. For a Cornbread Pancake: Chiltern Firehouse
Order: Smoked salmon with cornbread pancakes and poached eggs
The Lowdown: Chiltern Firehouse, Marylebone are serving up one of their cult dishes taken from the recently released Chiltern Firehouse cookbook. Chef Nuno Mendes’ takes the classic smoked salmon and poached eggs to another level with addition of these light-as-ever cornbread pancakes, imbued with maple syrup, tarragon and truffle paste. These are perfect for those looking for a decadent way to celebrate Shrove Tuesday.
Where: 1 Chiltern St, Marylebone, London W1U 7PA
Photo Credit: © Peden + Monk
10. For a Dosa Pancake: Indi-Go at Boxpark Croydon
Order: Dosa pancakes (£7)
The Lowdown: Not the quirkiest of pancakes, but still. It’s a lot different to Lyle’s Golden Syrup and a handful of berries. Indi-Go at Boxpark Croydon are the dosa dons, banging out fantastic dosa pancakes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can order a plain dosa, or jazz it up with masala potatoes. The dosas can be made vegan friendly, and they’re gluten-free too. Who knew that Croydon had more delights than roundabouts and retail parks.
Where: 99 George St, London CR0 1LD
