London – Page 13 – Scandelights

Lunch at Mishkin’s, Covent Garden

Published on November 17, 2015 by HannaLeave a comment

One of my trusted London restaurants is Opera Tavern on Catherine Street. I’ve been there lots of times and every time I have thought to myself that I need to visit the place next door soon, because it just looks so nice.

Soon seems to be a relative term for me; it took me a few years to actually go but a while back I finally went to Mishkin’s! I had lunch here with my friend Marie-Louise who also works in the area and it was just as nice as I had hoped it would be (company included).

Although part of the Italian restaurant empire Polpo, this is a kind of Jewish deli (at least that’s what it says on their website), so expect things like Reuben sandwiches and salt beef. The whole menu looked great but most irresistible was the mac ‘n cheese with salt beef and mustard, so we ordered one small each and some other nibbles to share. The mac ‘n cheese was really nice with a cheesy layer on top and soft macaroni underneath.

The sliders with lamb, white bean hummus and feta were also great, and perfect in size.

We also shared the cod cheek popcorn which were nice, although a little bland without the tartar sauce.

Now that I’ve finally been here, I will definitely take turns between Mishkin’s and Opera Tavern. Might see you around!

Mishkin’s, 25 Catherine Street, London WC2B 5JS

Dinner at my local

Published on October 31, 2015October 30, 2015 by HannaLeave a comment

After a full on day at the Goodwood Revival we were cold and seriously hungry, and I was really pleased with myself for booking a table at my local pub for dinner. We went there straight from the train and after looking at the menu for two seconds we all settled for steak and ordered three hanger steak, red wine (for mum and me) and cider (for dad).

The hanger steak arrived quickly accompanied by shallot purée, amandine potatoes, girolles, carrots, spinach and jus. It was delicious and just the hearty type of food we craved!

After the maincourse we could relax a bit (I certainly know where my hunger panic comes from…) and ordered two puddings to share. One pretty-as-a-picture lemon meringue pie with lemon jelly and one cheesecake with plum icecream, ginger bread mousse, plums and blackberries. Both were delicious and perfectly executed.

I’m so pleased to have this amazing pub just around the corner. The pub bit is cozy and offers nice snacks and the restaurant bit is just as rustic but with really good food!

The Sands End, 135-137 Stephendale Rd, London SW6 2PR

Eelbrook, Fulham – revisited

Published on October 27, 2015 by HannaLeave a comment

I feel very lucky to have a nice choice of restaurants within walking distance from where I live and Eelbrook is certainly a favourite.

When my parents were visiting they stayed nearby so I thought it a good idea to go here for dinner one evening. And they liked the place just as much as I do, it certainly is a little gem of a restaurant. It’s relaxed and easygoing but with good food!

We started the meal by sharing a few starters. First up was the salad with endive, gorgonzola, perfectly ripe figs and hazelnuts that was really nicely balanced and a joy to eat.

We then had deep-fried courgette flowers stuffed with white crab meat and served with a brown crab meat mayonnaise. Very different to the goat’s cheese filled flowers with honey you usually get but also nice.

The salad with confit trout, capers, pickled cucumber and creme fraiche was also lovely but the rye bread on the side a let down, at least for us Scandinavians

For her maincourse my mum had bream from Dorset with beurre noisette, cauliflower puré, capers and almonds and it was a really lovely dish and the fish was perfectly cooked.

My peppardelle with girolles, marsala cream and hazelnuts was seriously creamy (almost a tad too much) but nice in flavour!

The duck breast dad had was cooked to perfection and served with jus, cherries and sweet potato puré. My parents also ordered a side dish of amandine potatoes and an amazing tarragon mayonnaise.

We were too full for pudding and instead went for a walk, had a drink at a pub before going to bed. Such a nice evening in my neighbourhood.

Eelbrook, New King’s Road, London SW6 4SE

Lovely halloumi wrap for lunch

Published on October 26, 2015 by HannaLeave a comment

I sometimes buy my lunch at Leon, and it’s almost always a halloumi wrap since I seem to have a constant craving for the salty squeaky cheese.

But it only takes a few minutes so make your own wrap so sometimes I do that too, and I must say that my version is even nicer than Leon’s. Sorry, but it’s true!

Halloumi wrap, serves 1

1 flatbread

1 handful lettuce leaves, I used baby spinach

Hellman’s mayonnaise

sweet chilli sauce

6 slices fried halloumi

1/2 avocado, cut into cubes

Mix equal parts mayo and sweet chilli sauce and spread onto the flatbread. Add spinach, halloumi and avocado. Roll up and enjoy a nice lunch!

Dinner at Granger & Co, Notting Hill

Published on October 20, 2015 by HannaLeave a comment

A Friday night after work my friend Caroline and I met up for dinner in Notting Hill. Although living fairly close-by I don’t spend enough time here, so this was a step in the right direction. We hadn’t booked a restaurant so instead tried our luck in the queue at Granger & Co (where it’s first come first serve) and since we we’re happy to sit at the bar we only had to wait for ten minutes. Amazing.

We ordered a cocktail each, celebrating the end of another work week, Caroline with a margarita and I with a perfect bellini.

Then the food followed. Wonderfully crispy Korean fried chicken with tender chicken in the middle for Caroline – so yum, especially as they had a little spice!

I had the grilled squid with rocket and coriander, and of course a little spice. Simple but nice!

Then I had the shrimp burger that I have heard Caroline rave about a few times, and it hit the spot just like I knew it would. Just as satisfying as a beef burger but a little lighter. Can’t wait to have it again.

Caroline’s main course was really drool-worthy though, and even though my burger was great I did have a little food envy of her chicken and pancetta meatballs with pasta and spinach in a lovely soothing broth with heaps of parmesan.

As usual we skipped pudding (we were way too full) and instead headed to a nearby pub for a few more drinks.

Granger & Co, 175 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2SB

Eat brain? (Barrafina, Adelaide Street)

Published on July 22, 2015 by HannaLeave a comment

Barrafina is one of my favourite tapas places in London, both the newer one in Covent Garden (and dangerously close to my office) and the original on Frith Street in Soho. They have also just opened another restaurant on Drury Lane which I can’t wait to try! I really like that the different restaurants sport different (although similar) menus, which makes it feel like two (or now three) free-standing restaurants and not a chain.

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Felicity and I had dinner here the other week and while waiting for our table we had some Txakoli (semi-sparkling wine from the Basque region which I love) and crab croquetas. When seated at the bar we noticed they had jamon croquetas as a special and we just couldn’t resist haveing some more croquetas. The crab ones are yummy but the jamon ones were perfection. Oh wow!

Next up we had smoked salmon with white beans, fennel and a dilly dressing. It was nice but a little too mild in flavour.

The asparagus with romesco sauce was wonderful though, I’ve had it here before and it has always been a great vegetable dish.

The skewes with Iberico ham were also really nice, but I’ve had even better pork in Spain.

We then decided to try the lamb’s brain (!). Once when I came here for lunch a lady dining on her own came here especially for the lamb’s brain and raved about it, so I’ve been dying to try it ever since. And I must say I was pleasantly surprised!

The texture is very soft so frying it until crisp on the outside was a smart move and the bold flavours with lots of acidity cuts through the richness very well, so this dish got top marks from me. But, the texture is still a little strange in the mouth (like very very soft sweetbreads but more jelly like) and it’s so rich I would not have been able to finish the dish on my own. But I would happily go back and share it with someone.

After the savoury dishes we were quite content but you always have room for sorbet, right, so we had a scoop each. Felicity’s mixed berries sorbet was really nice and fruity, the perfect ending to a lovely meal.

My peach sorbet was a bit too sweet and cloy. But apart from that our dinner was fantastic, just like the company.

Barrafina, Adeleide Street, London WC2N 4HZ

Brunch at The Ivy Market Grill, Covent Garden

Published on July 15, 2015 by Hanna1 Comment

Around the same time as The Ivy was refurbished two siblings popped up; the Ivy Chelsea Garden on Kings Road (where it’s near impossible to get a table) and The Ivy Market Grill just by Covent Garden Market.

When Linus and Mirja were visiting at the end of May (where does the time go?!) we went here for Sunday brunch on their last day in town and it was such a nice send off.

The brunch menu is long and has plenty of egg dishes to choose from and everything we had was top notch. We ordered the sourdough for the table not realising it was a whole loaf, still warm. That’s several plus points just there!

Mirja had the vegetarian Full English breakfast consisting of halliumi, eggs, fried mushrooms and tomatoes, avocado and baked beans served in a mini copper pot. Really fresh and a nice breakfast dish!

Linus had the thick pancakes with bacon and maple syrup – that’s just up his street. And they were good. It’s so important that the simple dishes are cooked perfectly, and here they were.

I loved my scrambled eggs with truffle and toasted brioche. Although I make my own scrambled eggs a lot softer, these were still well-made and well seasoned, and the truffle on top was just a delicious pairing!

I will definitely go back here for brunch or breakfast; I like both the ambiance and the menu. Think of The Ivy Market Grill as a low-key alternative to The Wolseley.

The Ivy Market Grill, 1 Henrietta St, London WC2E 8PS

Drinks at Bar Americain, Piccadilly

Published on May 14, 2015 by HannaLeave a comment

Although this is a food blog, I quite often get the question of which bars to go to, so I thought I’d post a few favourites as and when I’ve been.

One favourite where I recently took my visiting friends from home, Daniel and Maria, is Bar Americain, part of Brasserie Zèdel by Piccadilly. Set in a lovely art deco bar it feels like you’re stepping back in time. Especially as the hostess greets you in a flapper dress and the bartenders and waiters wear bow ties. It’s just one of those comfortable not-quiet-but-not-too-loud bars that I like. It’s busy and buzzing but you can carry a conversation without shouting. And sit comfortably while you sip your cocktail.

Bar Américain, 20 Sherwood Street, London W1F 7ED

The Electric Cinema, Notting Hill

Published on May 12, 2015 by Hanna2 Comments

So this is a little embarrassing. Even before I moved to London (so approximately eight years ago) my friend Harry told me about this amazing cinema. He really sold it to me then and yet, it took me until now to finally go. Pathetic.

But better late than never as they say, and The Electric is still going strong. I love the leather arm chairs, foot stools and cashmere blankets. And the bar that also serves food. It’s just fabulous. Don’t make my mistake – just go!

And no, this post is not sponsored in any way. This is just a great cinema.

Electric Cinema, 191 Portobello Road, Notting Hill, London W11 2ED

Dinner at The Shed, Notting Hill

Published on May 11, 2015 by HannaLeave a comment

The Shed is one of those restaurants I wish I had on my doorstep. The ambiance is so laid back you just want to come back again and again. And the food? It’s wonderful!

When I was here with a friend a few weeks ago, we decided to share five dishes – the number of dishes recommended by the staff – and that was, as we say in Sweden, lagom (just right). The first dish was hake with mussels and yellow beets which was nice but not wow, and it could have done with some more seasoning. After that the dishes just got better and better.

The scallops with blood orange, fennel and shallots were lovely and the chopped onions with the blood orange juice made the whole dish – wow!

The veal cigars with slowcooked veal inside a crispy pastry shell served with mayonnaise flavoured with mustard, tarragon and if I’m not completely wrong; horseradish. A really lovely dish!

But the pork with broccoli, celeriac and leek ash was probably my favourite – it was absolutely divine!

But a close second was the lamb with malt potato, artichokes and lovage.

The Shed has actually opened up a restaurant in Chelsea called Rabbit, which is slightly closer to me than Notting Hill, but I do hope Fulham is next!

The Shed, 122 Palace Gardens Terrace, London W8 4RT