LONDON-guide – Page 10

Bocca di Lupo, Soho – revisited

Published on December 8, 2014December 8, 2014 by HannaLeave a comment

A few weeks ago we had a leaving dinner for Phuong – another American friend of mine to return to the US of A. While I don’t blame her for choosing sunny California over dreary England, she’ll still be missed!

The venue Phuong chose for her leaving dinner is one of my favourite restaurants in town; understated and cosy Italian Bocca di Lupo in Soho.

We started with some bubbly and the Bocca Prosecco was very good! We also got some bread, grassy olive oil to dip the bread in and some olives while we had a look at the menu.

We then shared quite a lot of starters. First calamari with baby squid which was really good!

Our waiter recommended the crescentine; deep-fried flatbreads, with cream cheese and salmon roe. He wasn’t wrong, they were delicious!

The fried sweetbreads with crispy artichoke I’ve had before and it was just as nice this time. The sweetbreads were nice and soft but with a crispy exterior.

We also had a plate of crudo consiting of tuna tartar with pine nuts, wonderfully sweet marinated prawns and delicious scallops. Especially the prawns were absolutely wonderful!

We then continued with primi and pasta. Again we shared a few dishes. First up was gnocchi with wild garlic pesto and mozzarella. Really nice and the gnocchi were amazing!

The tortelloni with prosciutto and cheesy sauce was also really nice.

But the orecchiette with n’duja, red onions and tomato was the winner – amazing! A nice combination of spicy, creamy and a little acidity.

Finally we shared some roasted pumpkin with parmesan…

… and this absolutely wonderful saltimbocca (the picture does not do it justice) and creamy polenta. We were too full to even consider pudding – but what a feast! Writing about it I’m already longing to go back.

Literally the last night with the gang… 😦

Bocca di Lupo, 12 Archer Street, London W1D 7BB

Dinner at Tredwell’s, Covent Garden

Published on December 1, 2014 by HannaLeave a comment

The Masterchef: The Professionals judge and famous chef Marcus Wareing, known for fine dining, opened the doors to a more casual restaurant in Covent Garden in September that I have been very curious to try since.

Two floors, the interior a flirt with art deco and trendy well-cooked food is certainly a good combination. Especially when located bang in the middle of Central London.

We had a lovely chorizo jam with charred bread as a snack while looking over the menu.

My friend Tom started with slowcooked salmon with spirulina and cauliflower which was really nice and interesting.

I went for a classic dish with a twist; incredibly fluffy chicken liver mousse served in a jam jar over bacon jam (yep, it’s all about meat jam at the moment), with toasted bread. The flavour of the mousse was amazing but it was incredibly rich.

The main courses followed the same rustic no-fuss theme and the confit duck leg with charred cabbage was a show of simplicity. Incredibly tender meat!

I had a gratin with smoked haddock, crab and courgette. It was fresh and although the smoked fish flavour was strong the other flavours came through well too. We both had mash as sides which was nice but nothing special.

The portions were generous and we were pretty full after all that. But then we saw the pudding menu offering soft serve salted caramel ice cream and couldn’t resist. It was quite a milky ice cream (I prefer a creamier texture) but the flavour was nice and the honeycomb a nice touch.

Tredwell’s certainly feels like a restaurant from a team who knows what they’re doing. The decoration is nice and feels luxe although it is a casual restaurant, the food is very on trend (chorizo jam!) and what people want to eat right now as well as perfectly cooked. The waiting staff are all young people in casual uniforms and although the service was good when paid attention to, there was a lot of joking around with the colleagues instead of keeping track of the tables.

With the waiting staff being a bit more on the ball this restaurant is my new favourite casual restaurant in the area. With the close proximity to the West End theatres this is an area overpopulated with boring chain restaurants and Tredwell’s is a most welcome addition.

Tredwell’s, 4a Upper St Martin’s Ln, London WC2H 9NY

Dinner at Yauatcha, Soho

Published on November 26, 2014 by HannaLeave a comment

Sometimes when I meet my friends in groups of four, especially in a bustling restaurant or bar it feels like I’m part of Sex and the City. Partly probably because we talk a lot about men, but also because the surroundings fit. One Michelin-starred Yauatcha could have been in New York, it’s that type of vibe. And sitting there with four Americans, it’s easy to pretend. It was high pace, lots of chatter, cocktails and dim sum.

We ordered quite a few dim sum dishes to share, here some steamed dumplings with pork and prawn and Chinese chives and prawn. I absolutely adore steamed dumplings and these were amazing!

The crispy spring rolls with mushrooms and black truffle was another favourite. The cheung fun to the right was also really good, I think they were filled with pork (char siu).

These pan-fried dumplings with chicken were also really nice. Although my favourites are the steamed dumplings but I like to change it up texture wise too.

The crispy duck rolls were basically Peking duck as dim sum; stuffed with crispy aromatic duck and spring onions and dipped in hoisin sauce. Delicious!

My absolute favourite of the evening was the steamed dumplings with lobster, tobiko caviar, ginger and shallots. So good!

I always order turnip cake when in a Chinese restaurant and this was definitely the best one I’ve ever had. It was soft and almost fluffy and sprinkled with chives.

The others were almost fighting over the squid with chilli, oats and curry leaves but I wasn’t a huge fan. I love squid and it was well-cooked (crispy topping, soft fish) but I think it was the addition of the oats that didn’t appeal to me.

We only had (although quite a lot of it) dim sum, but there are plenty of main courses and puddings to chose from too. The restaurant feels very cosmopolitan and lively and the kitchen definitely deserves its star. The lower ground floor is a bit quieter if one’s not in the mood for the hustle and bustle.

Yauatcha, 15-17 Broadwick St, London W1F 0DL

Dinner at Fera at Claridge’s, Mayfair

Published on November 21, 2014 by Hanna2 Comments

One of my favourite British cooking programs on television is definitely The Great British Menu and after seeing Simon Rogan cook one amazing dish after another I really wanted to try his food. Unfortunately it took until now as Roganic closed, but I am thrilled that he’s opened Fera instead.

Having been to the same restaurant when it was Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s it was wonderful to see the transformation. The ambiance is a lot more modern now with an open kitchen and sleeker design but it’s still a stunning room that works well with the interior of the rest of the hotel.

When it opened Fera only offered a tasting menu, and although it now has an a’la carte as well we preferred the tasting menu consisting of seven courses.

First, we had an lovely amuse bouche with an incredibly light and airy goat’s cheese mousse and pea shoots.

The first course consisted of three bite sized dishes, the first being rabbit with lovage. The rabbit was incredibly tender but the coating crispy and although I’m not a fan of lovage in general but I must say it worked perfectly in this dish!

Next up was mackerel, oyster and seaweed in a wonderful combination which tasted like the sea. Loved the presentation too.

Smoked roe and red cabbage was next (although I had requested mine without cabbage). It was a lovely foam, both thick and light at the same time. Wonderful flavours!

Moving on to larger plates we got to enjoy scallops with parsnip puré and hazelnits which was nice and autumnal.

Raw veal with oyster, Wiltshire truffle, kohlrabi and apple was motley dish. The applepuré, although lovely, was very acidic and didn’t harmonise with the more subtle flavours but I loved the combination of veal, oyster and truffle.

Lobster, kale, lobster cream and crispy pork was delicious. The lobster was perfectly cooked the mild cream lovely in flavour and the pork and kale made it feel very seasonal.

Next up was sea bass, grilled leeks and razor clams. The charred leeks were lovely just like the razor clams but I thought the fish a little bland.

The suckling pig with celeriac, watercress, sprout tops and mead was interesting. One of the pieces of meat was crisp and lovely whereas for the the other one had a bit too much of the soft fat. I love crackling but find soft fat has a strange texture that doesn’t appeal to me. The watercress reduction was amazing though. ‘Very one dimensional, but in a good way’, as Caroline put it.

The first pudding was chocolate malt nitro wuth prune and dandelion. I had mine without prunes and it was utterly delicious, but Caroline thought the prune jam married well with the malty flavour.

The finale was a wonderful creation of baked figs, gingerbread cream, crispy gingerbread and fig leaf yoghurt. Just delicious!

We had coffee and tea after our meal and also received some petit fours. I think we were to full to properly appreciate them though. My favourite was the elderberry meringue but the others (liquorice, hazelnut jelly and ginger) were lovely too.

Our sommelier was very helpful and recommended beautiful wines and when he saw our longing looks to the kitchen when another table got to go in, he offered to show us around. Needless to say we were over the moon! Thank you.

We had a wonderful evening at Fera. We were well looked after, the food was terrific and the atmosphere really nice. I definitely thought some dishes were stronger than others but overall everything was well cooked and utterly delicious.

Fera at Claridge’s, 49 Brook St, London W1K 4HR

Lunch at Goodman, Mayfair

Published on November 11, 2014November 11, 2014 by Hanna1 Comment

There’s steak and then there’s STEAK. Goodman serves the one in capitals; the type of steak that is full of flavour and melts like butter in your mouth.

As you can see, this is proper steak. Perfection.

Good steak is one thing, but the sides are almost as important. Almost. It is so disappointing when you have a nice proper steak cooked to perfection but with average side dishes like slightly soggy chips and an awful sauce. But Goodman has got it; the chunky chips are utterly crispy on the outside and wonderfully fluffy within. The truffle chips I ordered also had a nice truffle taste, from oil, but still.

The spinach was also nice and the portion generous and the mash was velvety and delicious.

And the sauce past the test too. The bernaise sauce was thick and a nice acidity. Det ultimata testet är ändå alltid bearnaisesåsen.

Goodman, 24-26 Maddox St, London W1S 1QH

For more steak, have a look at my Hawksmoor review.

London’s best burger! – lunch at Soho Diner, Soho

Published on November 6, 2014 by Hanna1 Comment

I had my suspicions after my last visit, and after being back once more I can conclude that Soho Diner in my opinion has the best burgers in London. There I said it! It’s quite a big statement but they are so so good. When I dream about a burger it is this once that appears on my retina.

I haven’t tried every single burger in London, but out of the (quite a few) ones I have sampled Soho Diner is the clear winner.

On my last visit I came here with a colleague. We were both starving and went all out ordered quite a lot of (actually a bit too much) food. First a plate of nachos to share which was just as you want them; nice guacemole, delicious salsa, good tortilla chips and nice cheese.

Then it was time for the burgers (my mouth is watering just seeing this picture)!. We both chose a double which illogically has three patties (a single has two) and it was almost too big for me. The last bites I ate out of pure will because it was so so good!

The patties have a nice flavour, are nicely packed and pink in the middle. Extremely juicy. The cheese is just perfectly melted and gooey, the dressing a nice addition that doesn’t overpower the other flavours and the brioche bun sturdy enough not to fall apart and soaks up the juices. This, my friends, is perfection.

The thick fries are incredibly crisp and absolutely delicious too!

Although we were extremely full after that big burger and fries we couldn’t resist the puddings. Max had a chocolate brownie which came out plain, I like the no nonsense approach here, and it was to die for.

I should have known better than ordering a chocolate milkshake but in a weak moment I did. It was perfect too and I was sad I couldn’t finish it.

Soho Diner (Soho Kitchen & Bar),19-21 Old Compton Street, London W1D 5JJ

Dinner at Polpo, Soho

Published on October 16, 2014 by HannaLeave a comment

A few weeks ago my Uni friend Lena was in town and suggested meeting up on a Monday night. We hadn’t seen each other since we were actually at Uni in Lund in Sweden, several years ago, so it was lovely to see her again!

We met after work looked in some shops on Regent Street and Carnaby Street and as we walked past Polpo on Beak Street, we thought why not go there for dinner! It was a 45 minute wait for a table which we spend in the basement bar having a drink and catching up.

We were starving when we sat down and followed the waiter’s suggestion of three dishes each. It was actually too much food for us, but we enjoyed sampling it all.

The first dish (top picture) was a wonderful bruschetta with mozzarella, nectarine and pea shoots. Also the pizza bianco with prosciutto, rocket and parmesan (above) was very good!

We wanted something green to balance all the heavy food and without a simple green leaf salad on the menu we settled for the fennel salad with almonds which was really fresh!

The cuttlefish risotto with ink was absolutely fantastic. The terrible picture (it was dark and I used my iPhone) doesn’t do it justice at all. That and the bruschetta were the highlights of the evening!

The meatballs made from pork and beef in tomato sauce were soft and full of flavour and a reoccurring dish on the menu.

The lamb stew with tomato was also nice, but not as nice as the other dishes.

Polpo describes itself as a Venetian bàcaro; a simple restaurant serving rustic, well-cooked food. And that’s exactly what they do! And they do it very well. It’s cosy, a bit noisy and a nice atmosphere and there are plenty branches to choose from all around London.

Polpo Soho, 41 Beak Street, London W1F 9SB

Sushi Samba, The City – revisited

Published on October 13, 2014October 13, 2014 by HannaLeave a comment

One of my dear American friends, Erin, moved back to her beloved US or A at the end of August. I was away most of that month and I missed her leaving do so to be able to say goodbye properly we squeezed in one last dinner with two more friends, before she left. Since we wanted to give Erin a proper send-off we booked a nice restaurant I have only been to once before, and the other girls not at all; Sushi Samba.

Last time I came here I had a great time and really enjoyed the evening although the level of the food was a bit inconsistent.

We started our meal with a nice bottle of Sancerre and some plantain crisps and dip what we all enjoyed.

The sashimi was lovely too. I had the same as last time; yellowtail sashimi with yuzu and black truffle oil, and it was just as nice this time.

Amy is not a fan of sushi so had some nice beef incredibly crispy calamari – both very good.

We also had some Peruvian corn as a side to share. The kernels are bigger, lighter in colour and a bit chewier than regular corn. The taste also differs; it’s slightly less sweet but still very nice.

I couldn’t help but order the Sasa rolls, a real favourite of mine. They come two per portion so you don’t have to be greedy like me and have one portion to yourself. They are delicious but one per person is totally enough as they are quite filling! But absolutely lovely! Erin loved them too.

The sushi came out last as it takes a while to make but it was definitely worth the wait. Last time here it was actually the sushi that was a bit disappointing but I clearly ordered the wrong thing or the chef was having a bad day, because the sushi we had this time was marvellous! My favourite was the Sushi Samba roll (left) but the Sao Paulo and Yoyogi rolls (all on the platter) were great too!

It literally was our last evening together (sob) so we asked our kind waiter to take a photo of us to remember it by. And then we couldn’t help ourselves and took some silly selfies in front of the amazing lit-up tree on the terrace.

Sushisamba, Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AY

Dinner at Evans & Peel Detective Agency, Earl’s Court

Published on October 8, 2014 by HannaLeave a comment

This place has been around for a while, I know, but my first visit was this summer. Amidst holidays, heavy work loads, birthdays etc. four girls managed to get together for some food and drinks. The place really look like a hardboiled PI’s office in the 30s in America and when stepping into Evans & Peel Detective Agency you’re greeted by a receptionist to whom you present your case. While you wait for the detective to do some background checks you’re welcome to wait in the bar/restaurant – the hidden room behind the reception.

The restaurant is dimly lit with candelabras on every table and the space gives off a prohibition era vibe. We started our evening with a bottle of prosecco, served in coupe glasses and then moved on to some food.

Two of the girls wanted to be healthy and thought salad and chips would even each other out whereas me and Amy couldn’t resist the sliders. We had three to share, a beef each, which was the best, and one chicken so share which was quite good too but not as good as the beef. We also had some chips (very good) and a creamy mac ‘n cheese (yum). The salad actually looked really good with crispy leaves and corn on the cob.

After dinner we settled on cocktails instead of pudding and we all had a different one. Mine was with elderflower and gin (I think), and it was delicious and not too sweet.

I really like this place; the 30s vibe goes through everything, the drinks are fun and different, the food good, the setting great and not to mention what a great idea it is!

Evans & Peel Detective Agency, 310c Earls Court Road W.8, London SW5 9BA

Dinner at Tom’s Kitchen, Chelsea

Published on September 24, 2014 by HannaLeave a comment

This review is actually since May (!) when my dear friends Maria, Daniel and their toddler Otto were in town. It was a lovely Saturday that we spent shopping along the Kings Road, which must have been torture for little Otto so we took him to a playground nearby where he could run around, go on the swings and play with other kids. The playground was absolutely packed with kids, from toddlers to young teens, and the volume high so after an hour or so us grown-ups were exhausted and were extremely happy to go for dinner.

I had booked us a table at Tom’s Kitchen, which I had been wanting to try for a while, because it is a very child-friendly restaurant. And sure thing, as soon as we were seated at the table Otto got a drawing book and crayons, it was also very accessible to the nappy change and place to leave the pram.

We intermediately liked the rustic interior with chunky wooden tables, open kitchen and black and white photos on the wall. The menu is similarly rustic with burgers, charkuterie boards and fish cakes to choose from.

We all had a burger each, with cheese. Daniel and I had the truffle chips (yum!) and Maria the regular chunky chips which were great too. Maria and I shared a caraff of red Rioja and Daniel had a pale ale to drink.

And the burger? It was ginormous and absolutely delicious! For me there are two types of burgers taking over London; the more American patty which is finely ground and thinner and the chunkier ground large patty British burger. This one belongs to the latter category and is the best chunky burger I’ve had. The seasoning was spot on and really enhanced the meat flavour. The bread, chips and condiments were also perfect, and I like it when a restaurant serves homemade ketchup.

The service was great too, although one waitress was a bit too friendly. Once the food was on the table we just wanted to dive right in, not chit-chat, but she was just trying to be nice so nothing to remark on really.

Tom’s Kitchen, 27 Cale Street, Chelsea, London SW3 3QP