When you visit Taste Of London twice, it’s hard to narrow down just five top things consumed in one week.
I generally find food tastes better away from Taste of London. Not that it doesn’t taste good, but I don’t experience in quite the same way as the same food in the restaurant or at home. It’s even true of things I start eating there and finish at home (I almost always travel with tuppaware!). I’m not sure if it’s the crowds or the stress of choosing across a range of options farm more vast than a standard menu, but I do find it quite overwhelming. Because I get major food FOMO, I keep going back, of course! There’s definitely restaurants I have visited because of it and will visit in the future. Salt & Smoke is top of the list of new discoveries to go and enjoy again.
WEEK 12 ending Sunday 17th June 2018 – LONDON
- The first deliciousness actually of the week came courtesy of dinner on Tuesday at The Southbank Centre’s summer popup launch – Jamshed Supperclub. It’s a series of residencies by Masterchef finalists. Everything we were served was gorgeous; from the bread with beetroot miso butter to the red wine ice cream, but my favourite was the herbed ricotta gnudi. The menu will be different for each chef. Tickets are here: www.bit.ly/JamShedSupperClub.
- On Wednesday I was invited to the opening of Taste of London and explored with Felicity Spector. The standout dish for me was the heritage tomato and smoked ricotta salad by Salt & Smoke. I heard later that their lamb flatbread was incredible, too. I did love the best in show dish by Ladies of Restaurants of lamb in betel leaf and Ravneet Gill made a gorgeous passionfruit cheesecake, too.
- On Thursday it was Dram & Smoke who catered for Story PR’s 10th birthday party. Everything was insanely delicious but I could have kept eating the garlic hassleback potatoes forever.
- Back at Taste of London on Saturday with family I also sampled from the producer stands and was seriously impressed by the Royal Flush kombucha by Real Kombucha. It’s deservedly served in lots of Michelin-starred restaurants. They’re working on large bottles which I can’t wait to serve at a dinner party as a non-alcoholic alternative (once the kitchen is done!!). It was incredibly delicate and quite unlike other kombuchas.
- High Mood Food is one of my favourite places to get a nourishing and healthful lunch and they’ve just opened in Old Spitalfields Market, too. I picked up dinner and dessert on the way home yesterday which included Joey’s amazing dairy-free cheesecake. I’ve had versions of it before and every time it’s been outstanding.
As well as four dinners lined up, I’m also visiting Pump Street Bakery on Thursday with chocolate maker Laetitia from Ratio Chocolate in Melbourne. CAN’T WAIT.
I’m hosting a private chocolate evening at Rococo Chocolates in Belgravia on Thursday 19th July at 6.30pm. It’s £10 per person for a glass of bubbles, a mini chocolate tasting and 15% off any purchases. The intention is to raise money for the World Land Trust and all the profits will go to charity. Would love to see you there and I’d be very grateful if you would share the details with friends and colleagues!
I hope you have a great week.