The challenge is simple – here are 10 pictures from the toilets of some top London restaurants (mainly from the gents, sorry ladies) – can you guess the bog? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Answers on a postcard. Or just flip the image below upside down. How many did you get right? Let us know by commenting below. No cheating now. Continue reading Guess the bog?
1. The breakfast of champions: a bacon naan and house chai from Dishoom. Sitting on the veranda at their Shoreditch spot is pretty sweet too. 2. New Absurd Bird in Shoreditch serves the most gargantuan chickens I have ever seen. Just make sure you save room for The Dipsy – a tear and share brioche pudding, doused in sugar syrup and served with caramel, custard … Continue reading The best dishes of last week 11.04.16
1. The Pale Blue Door in Dalston, possibly London’s weirdest supper club, is back. Drag queen A Man To Pet kept us entertained with sponge boobies and other unmentionable things, while the eclectic decor and hearty cooking (I like a rhubarb crumble after 3 bottles of wine me) ensured a fun time was had by all. Book here. 2. Arabica Bar and Kitchen in Borough … Continue reading The best dishes of last week 04.04.16
1. To a party thrown by Taste of London at The Grill at The Dorchester (stupendous looking dining room that place) to celebrate what we can expect from Taste 2016. Looks like this year’s foodie festival in Regent’s Park will be almost as big and beautiful as this cake. 2. Perfect simplicity is a wonderful thing and Padella in Borough Market, a new pasta restaurant … Continue reading The best dishes of last week 28.03.16
1. To the Berkeley hotel in Knightsbridge, which is undergoing a massive renovation to the exterior, giving it a fancy new frontage. We treated ourselves to an overnight stay which was simply exquisite, as was this Prêt-á-Portea afternoon tea, enjoyed on our balcony. That place is pure luxury. 2. Koffmann’s at The Berkeley is one of those institutions you don’t hear much about. Our splendid … Continue reading The best dishes of last week 21.03.16
In the second Samphire and Salsify Meets… we talk to Michelle Wade, owner of London’s oldest patisserie, Maison Bertaux. As we caught up over a café au lait and cheese croissant, while sitting in the kooky (to say the least) tea room, it was soon clear that Michelle is one of the unsung greats of the hospitality industry… How did you come about owning Maison … Continue reading Michelle Wade of Maison Bertaux
1. 2* Hélène Darroze at The Connaught has launched a new Sunday roast menu in celebration of the humble chicken. 6 courses of pure luxury including confit egg yolk, chicken consommé with ravioli of Bigorre ham, liver “royale” and this splendid Les Landes chicken breast. Book through their website – it’s a must try. 2. Sosharu is Jason Atherton’s latest opening and it’s in the … Continue reading The best dishes of last week 14.03.16
1. We were treated to an evening of wine tasting at Albion Bankside. To soak up all the plonk (very good plonk at that) this gigantic chicken and ham hock pie was just the sausage. 2. Notting Hill peeps have become very lucky with the addition of a Tonkotsu. These prawn katsu, dunked in their fiery Eat the Bits chilli oil, proved why Tonkotsu is … Continue reading The best dishes of last week 07.03.16
1. To lunch at The Goring‘s Michelin-starred dining room. This glazed lobster omelette with duck fat chips and lobster caesar salad was as rich as the clientele. 2. Chef Adam Rawson (ex Pachamama) put on a 10 course Basque inspired tasting menu at the upstairs of Newman Arms. This pigs ear, cider, apple and chestnut was the best of a fantastic bunch. Book Adam’s next … Continue reading The best dishes of last week 29.02.16
1. I don’t know what took me so long to try Dishoom‘s breakfast as it’s ruddy lovely. This bacon and egg naan, with its crispy Ginger Pig streaky bacon and safron runny yolk, got things off to a good start. 2. Linda Lee’s renovated Koba in Fitzrovia is a cracking space with grills at the table and pull down extractor fans that look like they’re … Continue reading The best dishes of last week 22.02.16
1. Masala Zone in Soho has undergone a rather dashing makeover and they threw a pretty good shindig to celebrate. This was the corn and paneer pakoras, with a spicing most exquisite. 2. Pancake Day! I had a lunch for one at L’Escargot (if only I had friends) and stuffed my face with gruyere and smoked ham crepes followed by this one, stuffed with Nutella … Continue reading The best dishes of last week 15.02.16
1. Chicken hearts at the opening party for Hill & Szrok’s public house in Old Street. If you’ve not heard of these chaps, they have a butchers on Broadway Market and this, their first pub, is set to be a meaty cracker. 2. Talking of pubs, the Galvin Brothers have turned their Café à Vin in Spitalfields into a new pub called Galvin HOP. The … Continue reading The best dishes of last week 01.02.16
1. To lunch at the new Flat Iron in Covent Garden. Steak for a tenner? You can’t beat it really – and the chips are proper lovely too. 2. Alan Yau’s Mayfair beauty, Park Chinois, now serves dim sum at lunch. From a collection of crackers, with a string quintet playing in the background, these wagyu beef puffs (that pastry is just amaze balls) were … Continue reading The best dishes of last week 08.02.16
1. To lunch at Peruvian charmer Andina in Shoreditch, where we ate dishes from the ‘Replenish Menu’. Panca chilli marinated chicken breast with quinoa, carab, pecans and coriander sauce showed post-workout food doesn’t have to be boring. 2. A night of cocktails at Oblix in the Shard. There were whacky creations, including a flashing ‘Kiss the Rainbow’ (see it here), but this American Beauty, with … Continue reading Last week’s best dishes 25.01.16
1. There’s a new Dip & Flip in Tooting and it serves things like this: a cheeseburger topped with slices of roast beef dunked in gravy. Sound good? It tastes it. 2. Shackfuyu in Soho has had a refurb and it’s a dashing space now. We finished a lunch of korean fried wings and sticky fatty lamb ribs with this wonderful kinako French toast and … Continue reading Last week’s best dishes 18.01.16
