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JOURNEYS magazine
Volume III, 2016
By Joe Boone
GREAT EATS:
London
roasted pork belly with Persian spiked
roasted sweet potato, braised red
cabbage, sour cherry and hijiki relish.
For a perfect ending to any meal, enjoy
one of their refreshing sorbets.
You only need to take one look at
London’s tallest skyscraper, The Shard
to know that good things also come in
large packages. The Shard is an iconic
symbol of wealth and power and the
restaurants that call it home are
equally as impressive. Perched on its
33rd floor sits
Hutong,
a contemporary
Asian restaurant that lives up to all
expectations. Needless to say, the view
from its dining room is absolutely
spectacular and its stylish interior
boasts hand-carved dark woods, rich
furnishings and red lanterns. Hutong’s
signature dish is its crispy Mongolian-
style barbecue rack of lamb. Other
amazing culinary creations include
Roasted Peking Duck and the Red
Lantern — a huge bowl of deep-fried
soft shell crabs with Sichuan dried
chili. Not for the budget-conscious,
Hutong also offers a full dim sum menu
during lunchtime.
London is known for its great culinary
scene and with over 17,000 restaurants
to choose from, it’s no wonder the
average Londoner dines out four times
each week. Although well-known
restaurants like Corrigans Mayfair,
Murano and Rules (London’s oldest
restaurant — founded in 1798) are on
the top of most foodies bucket list,
there are hundreds of other great
dining venues worth experiencing.
10 Greek Street
is a classic example. A
favorite of locals, this small bistro in
Soho offers innovative contemporary
European fare, an excellent wine list
and friendly staff. Affordably priced, its
chalkboard menu changes daily,
featuring a short list of seasonal
delights like whole grilled sea bass
served with asparagus, new potatoes,
capers and samphire lemon butter;
spring lamb with baby vegetables,
peas, mint and grilled hispi cabbage;
and spiced spatchock spring chicken
atop wild rice, broad beans, almonds,
za’atar and purple sprouting broccoli.
Try the small plates menu and own-
made desserts for sharing.
Should your palette crave Italian,
check out another Soho favorite,
Bocca di Lupo.
Reasonably priced,
Bocca specializes in food and wine
from all across Italy’s 20 regions and
has received various awards and
accolades for its stripped-down,
honest regional Italian cuisine. If they
can make something themselves, they
do — gelati, breads, sausages, salame,
pickles, mostarda and pasta. The rest
is carefully sourced from Italy. Don’t
miss the radish, celeriac, pomegranate
and pecorino salad with truffle
dressing — it’s a Bocca classic.
For some of the best Indian food in
London at ultra-reasonable prices,
head over to Boundary Street in
Shoreditch and try
Dishoom
. Modelled
after the cafés of Bombay, Dishoom is
known for a brilliant mix of modern
Indian dishes like Chicken Tikka, Lamb
Biryani, Masala Prawns and their house
special, Lamb Raan, a slow-marinated,
spice-laden delight. Open for breakfast,
lunch and dinner, their morning menu
includes a spicy array of signature
breakfast dishes that have attracted a
loyal following.
If al fresco dining is more your style,
The Modern Pantry
in Clerkenwell is
perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner or
afternoon tea. Particularly appealing
in the summer when you can sit
outdoors in serene St John’s Square,
the restaurant’s menu is an enticing
fusion of dishes from around the globe.
Try the New Caledonian Prawn
Omelette with spring onions, coriander
and smoked chilli sambal, or the slow
Foodie insider tip:
If you’re looking for a great value in
dining, many of the Michelin-star
restaurants in London offer set menus
at lunchtime for under £30!
