The Food Nomad – Inhales the Big Smoke and get a taste of London Town

15 The Pavement, Clapham Old Town

Tel:  +44 20 7622 4165

When we told our Londoner friends that we went to lunch at Clapham, the first response was “the food must be REALLY good for you to go THAT south!”.  Not knowing much about London cityscape, we ventured to this “rougher’ part of town for what might be, thus far, our best meal in London.  The little diner is both rustic and hipster – a very 90′s neon sign illuminates the bar while “grandmama’s” rustic country plates adorn rustic salvaged wood tables.  Chef Robin Gill, with a resume that reads like the who’s who of top European culinary institutions such as Noma and Le Manior aux Quat’Saisons, crafts innovative cuisine with a decidedly humble undertone.  Most of the produce featured in his seasonal menus are harvested from his rooftop garden, including, several beehives, which he so kindly give us a tour of.  We enjoyed every morsel of our meal, from the creamy butter whipped with smoked bone marrow, to the sweet garden peas with toffee-like beeswax, to the truffled baked brie, to the crispy chicken oysters and luscious summer peach, elderflower and goat cheese mousse – each bite was sublime.  Oh yes, and Chef Robin asked us to say “hi” for him to Chef Nurdin of NUR in Hong Kong, as they perfected their skills together under Raymond Blanc’s guidance at Le Manoir.

The Old Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch High Street

Tel:  +44 20 3011 5911

Possibly the hottest newcomer on the London culinary scene, Lyle’s, situated in hipster-fied Shoreditch, has been receiving plenty of praise in the short time it has been opened.  Headed by Chef James Lowe, who was part of the Young Turks Collective, a group dedicated to using indigenous ingredients and supporting small local producers, Lyle’s is all light wood and glass, with the focus being on what’s on the table.  The menu features some classic British ingredients, such as English garden peas, elderflower and game birds.  Dinner always comes as a set menu, while lunch goers can pick and choose to their preference.  On the night we visited, we feasted on red mullet and tomatoes, wash-rind goat cheese and hazelnuts, and a very peculiar mushroom whimsically named the”puffball”.  Sea asparagus seems to be the ingredient du jour, and we loved breaking off the briny green segments dripping with good butter.  A very personal, cozy experience, with each dish introduced by the very personable and humble Chef James.  This is fine dining without the pomp.

Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate

Tel:  +44 20 3640 7310

For the best view of London, head to the 40th floor of Heron Tower to dine at the highest restaurant in town.  At first glance, the Duck & Waffle sounds like just another whimsically-named British pub,

but after an ear-popping elevator ride, you’ll find yourself in a modern space that’s all glass and steel.  The establishment is divided into two sections: a glitzy bar area with possibly the best view of the

Gerkin, and an inner dining section surrounded on three sides by floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing panoramic views of the Londoncityscape.  The menu draws from both broad European and British influences, and we couldn’t resist the crispy hickory-smoked pig ears, served in a brown paper lunch bag with a wax seal.  The coal-charred aubergine spiced with cumin and garlic smothered very grilled naan was finger-licking good, and the curious spicy ox cheek “doughnut” came rolled in a bronzed coating of smoked paprika sugar.  Of course, we couldn’t leave without trying the signature dish - the duck and waffle.  Fluffy golden waffles crowned with a crispy leg of duck confit, adorned with a velvety-rich duck egg and drizzled with a cascade of mustard maple syrup, this dish isthe ultimate alliance between savoury and sweet, not to mention, a perfect hangover cure!  The restaurant is open 24/7 to come tothe rescue of any midnight cravings.

70 Charlotte Street

Online Booking Only:  http://www.kitchentablelondon.co.uk

Tel:  +44 20 7637 7770

Kitchen Table, the small 19 seater restaurant tucked away at the back of Bubbledogs, delivers a very personal dining experience much like its name - the feeling of dining around someone’s “kitchen table”.  Kitchen table, that is, of one of the most pedigreed chefs in town.  Managed by the same team as Bubbledogs, the popular gourmet hotdogs and champagne joint, husband and wife team James Knappett and Sandia Chang preside over the little amphitheatre of Kitchen Table, hidden at the back beyond the vast queue of hotdog patrons.  Between the two of them, their resume is a roadmap of some of the most critically-acclaimed restaurants in theworld, to the tune of Per Se, Noma, Roganic and The Ledbury.  The menu comprises of 11-14 courses, and is served omakase-style with guests perched on high stools at the edge of the horseshoe counter.  The counter wraps around the central open kitchen, and diners get ringside seats of the drama in the kitchen as the chefs prepare each dish.  The dishes are awe-inspiring, and each represented by one noun of the ingredient that best showcases the overall composition.  The menu changes almost daily, and is largely based on the seasonal ingredients advised by the restaurant’s select, small suppliers.  Dining here allows guests to interact with the chefs, and reminds me of a similar experience at Liberty Private Works in Hong Kong.

63-69 Canonbury Road, Islington

Tel:  +44 20 7354 1144

Smokehouse will definitely give any American BBQ joint a run for its money.  Understatedly quoted by the Evening Standard as “theplace to show us why man discovered fire”, this delicious temple of fire and beasts looks like a contradiction at first glance.  Twinkling fairy lights and simple decor awashed in pale shades of cream and beige adorn the space, and creates the relaxed ambiance of a quaint modern dining space rather than the gritty, often greasy, and most definitely smokey, BBQ man-caves we usually associate with that blissful union between fire and animal protein.  Headed by Chef Neil Rankin, Smokehouse manages to make BBQ “elegant”, with an array of tantalising dishes often adorned with an Asian twist.  We salivated over the Thai chicken livers over toast, the belly-rumble inducing short rib bourguignon, and “The Sphere” smoked ham hock.  Vegetarians may not be overjoyed here, but then again, why invite them and spoil the fun?

127 Ledbury Road

Tel:  +44 20 7792 9090

If fine dining is more to your taste, then a booking at the Ledbury is mandatory.  A former pub re-birthed into a 2-starred Michelin restaurant, the trendy yet subdued venue is tucked away in west London’s well-heeled, fashionable Notting Hill.  Under the guidance of Australian-born chef Brett Graham, who’s repertoire is mainly modern French, with influences from the Pacific Rim and the UK, themenu focuses on local ingredients with an emphasis on game meats, herbs and roots from small suppliers around the British isles.  Quintessential British ingredients like smoked eel and Cumbrian lamb share menu space with more exotic varieties like shiso and shaved kohirabi, while the grilled mackerel remains a favourite amongst regular patrons as well as international visitors.  Recently, thekitchen team welcomed the arrival of former Fat Duck creative director Jocky Petrie.  But don’t worry, the Ledbury will not become a lengthy theatric production, and will remain loyal to the kind of refined, quietly polished menu its patrons have come to love.

 Harrod’s Food Hall - Never mind shopping for clothes, the famed food hall is the ultimate destination for foodies visiting Harrod’s.  Beautiful, mouth-watering displays of English classics like beef Wellington and ham hock pies vie for counter space with flaky cornuts and mille feuilles.  On one side, a sushi kitchen entices visitors, while on the other side, steaming bamboo trays of dim sum whet appetites.  Don’t forget the chocolate & tea emporiums!

Borough Market - London’s most renowned food market, where purveyors of fine foods converge.  Open from Wednesday to Saturdays!

Hawksmoor - For a “proper” Sunday roast, head to this legendary establishment for some rosy roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, all served with generous lashings of bone marrow and gravy.

Gail’s - For a quick, yet satisfying, bite, head to this little chain of cafes and agonise over which delectable pastry to pick from thebountiful displays.  Or, go for a classic English back bacon putty with extra brown sauce!

The English Tea Room at Brown’s Hotel - Indulge in the quintessential British tradition and go for afternoon tea at London’s first ever hotel.  Built in 1837, Brown’s Hotel, and the English Tea Room has welcomed plenty a distinguished guests, and is believed to have served as the inspiration for Agatha Christie’s “At Bertram’s Hotel”.  Warm wood panelling and a crackling fire place, it doesn’t get more English than this!