Back to School for Brunch - The Schoolhouse

The Eatery: The Schoolhouse, 139 St John's Hill, London SW11 1TD
The Site: http://www.theschoolhouse.london/
The Companion: a group of pals for hung over Sunday brunch
The Dolla: Around £15 for a main dish and a drink
MCM Rating: 4/5

I fell in love with The Schoolhouse as soon as I spotted they had pancakes on the menu - AS A SIDE. Respect. The Schoolhouse, is a great Clapham gem, easy to walk past but difficult to resist once you've tried it.

The 'schoolhouse' theme is carried through to the decor with comic books, old style school photographs and iconic toys dotted around - personally, I love dining next to Furby.

Mrs Brunch

 

The menu is reminiscent of an old school report with a great selection of dishes, there are twists on classics like 'Mr Benedict - English muffin, soft poached eggs and hollandaise sauce with a choice of Cola Ham, Pulled Pork or Smoked Salmon to go with it  or Schoolhouse specials like the Mrs Brunch - Grilled halloumi, avo, peppers, tomato concasse and mushrooms on poppy & rye with poached egg, rocket and baby spinach - I have these with their Hash Bravas which are delicious.



Santa Fe

My favourite dish is the Sante Fe this is my Saturday morning heaven; ridiculously good Cheddar & Jalapeno cornbread with spicy ratatouille, smashed avocado, poached egg, lime crème fraiche and spicy ketchup.

Schoolhouse serve food throughout the day and even have a Tuck Shop for lighter bites...but their best menu by far is brunch; good size portions and there's a Bottomless option too.  Try it if you feel like something a little different - and DON'T forget the cornbread!



  

Mad City Wanders - Tuscan Travels

Five days in Tuscany and I'm considerably heavier, happier and have reached a new level of foodie enlightenment. I visited the Chianti wine region, Florence, Siena and Lucca. This part of Italy has  Michelin star gems tucked away in the stunning hillsides and equally good small family-run restaurants next door giving them a good run for their money. One evening you'll sample small, delicate dishes that are so incredibly refined, the next, you'll find yourself in a traditional Tuscan osteria eating a large, hearty meal packed with flavour - and usually a lot of meat!

The secret is definitely the pride they have for their creations and the quality of the ingredients - vegetables from their own gardens, olive oil bottled an olive stone's throw away, handmade pasta topped with truffle and delectable desserts.

All of this is accompanied by the local wines which means you always have a smile on your face!

Time to go to Tuscany!

 

Recommended restaurants:

 

Osteria di Passignano, Chianti : http://www.osteriadipassignano.com/en

 

La Torre, Chianti: http://www.castellodelnero.com/dineandwine/torregourmetrestaurant-en.html

 

La Toppa, San Donato: http://www.anticatrattorialatoppa.com/

 

Buca di Sant'Antonio. Lucca: http://www.bucadisantantonio.com/

 

 

The Dairy - The Cream of the Clapham Crop

The Eatery: The Dairy, 15 The Pavement, Clapham Old Town, London SW4 0HY
The Site: http://the-dairy.co.uk/
The Companion: A perfect date night
The Dolla: £45 per person for a delicious tasting menu - great value
MCM Rating: 4.8/5

As a Clapham local, I'd been hearing the buzz around The Dairy for a few months. Michel Roux has famously hailed it as his favourite restaurant in South London and quite rightly. What's not to love about a small, unassuming local restaurant that totally surprises you with sophisticated food and a mean drinks menu?

The seven course tasting menu; an affordable £45 per person, is definitely the way to go if you want to experience The Dairy in all it's glory. Different dishes depending on the day. Served on a mix of heavy stoneware and contrasting pretty china bowls; the food is delicate and refined.

Snacks
The meal kick starts with a flurry of small, delectable dishes, the highlights on our menu were the Homemade sourdough bread with a bone marrow smoked butter, chicken liver mousse, cellar salami  served in a woven bag with the delicious smoky butter smeared over a smooth stone- very Game of Thrones! Followed by Chicken oyster; crispy skin, cellar kimichi, cimi de rapa - my favourite out of the snacks; great creamy flavour and texture added by the crispy chicken skin (every chefs favourite addition as of late).

Sea
Snacks were followed by lovely statement plate of Applewood smoked eel with heritage tomatoes topped with rooftop herbs (they grow their own herbs on their rooftop)! The other seaside plate was The Dairy's smoked trout served with Jersey royal potatoes, sorrel and radish - which I must admit, fell a little flat for me after the eel.

Land
There was a choice of  two meats on offer: 63 day aged White Park beef with comte, artichoke and onion treacle or Blackface lamb rump, smoked aubergine and pressed shoulder topped with miso. The beef was probably the winner here; tender and delicious - loved the artichoke and onion treacle.

Cheese
You pay a little extra to add cheese to your tasting menu, but when they bring over the Truffle Brie de Meaux, fig and walnut toast with rooftop honey, you definitely don't regret the decision so splurge!. A rich little plate with a combination of complimentary and delicious flavours.

Sweet
Finally, there was a unique selection of puddings to choose from including,; Lemon Leaf curd and Salted Carmel and malted barley ice cream!

 To top it all off and to thank you for your custom, they bring over a worn, old biscuit tin filled with warm, mini homemade doughnuts and dollops of sharp, sour apple jelly. A nice touch.

The Dairy definitely knows how to leave a sweet taste in your mouth at the end of the night; a feeling that you've found a little gem on your doorstep. A well thought out, delightful tasting menu, maybe not quite to Michelin standard yet but not a long way off.

Bumpkin - Banging Ribs and Burnt Burgers

The Eatery:Bumpkin South Kensington, 102 Brompton Road, London, SW7 3RD
The Site: http://bumpkinuk.com
The Companion: Great for lunch with a group of pals or the family
The Dolla: Around £35 per head
MCM Rating: 3.8/5

Today I went for a BIG Sunday lunch with the family at Bumpkin . Always good to end a weekend having eaten so much you're no longer able to move. There's a lovely atmosphere at Bumpkin, it has a sort of smart/casual feel that makes you feel instantly relaxed.

Everyone felt like an afternoon full of comfort food so we started off with a plate of ribs to share. This was a pretty generous portion, plenty of meat on the bone and the sauce was tangy, tasty and full of flavour (I kept the little pot of extra sauce for chip-dipping)! Delicious!

For the main course I went for a a burger and that's where it fell a little bit flat; the chips were under-done! More importantly, they wouldn't serve the burger medium-rare but said they would cook it pink, when it arrived  it was far too overcooked for my liking. The good thing was; it came with a fluffy brioche bun, a drizzle of delicious sauce some salad and a gherkin...I love a gherkin.

To finish off this naughty Sunday meal we went for a Sticky Toffee Pudding with Salted Caramel Ice Cream. They gave us another generous portion and this was pretty delicous, only complaint; I would have liked a little bit more of the sauce -I'm greedy like that.

The Verdict: I love the atmosphere here, the service was good and staff were lovely. A good choice for a Sunday lunch. Would be great to try some of their more refined dishes next time and see what they can do with a nice piece of fish or a pork belly. In the meantime Bumpkin, STOP BURNING YOUR BURGERS!

MURAKAMI - Sushi, Sake and Skewers

The Eatery: 63-66 Saint Martin's Lane, London WC2N 4JS
The Site: http://www.murakami-london.co.uk
The Companion: A dinner date
The Dolla: A little on the pricey side..around £100 for a meal for two with a bottle of wine
MCM Rating: 3.5/5

Murakami is a modern Japanese restaurant on St Martin's Lane in Covent Garden. If you peer through the window the buzzing atmosphere and the playful decor makes you want a piece of the action.

A good list of cocktails and good fun picking out your plates with your pals. They also have pre-selected menus for groups if you don't fancy arguing over salmon vs tuna.

The menu's made up of sushi, sashimi, grilled skewers and tempura. Loved the presentation but the food was probably a little more impressive on the eye than it was on the palate. 

Everything was beautifully made and perfectly good sushi but the menu and flavours were lacking a little bit of inventiveness and oomph in comparison to the price.

Bottom line; their logo probably sums it up ' live, life, love...oh and there's some sushi too'! Not the new Nobu but you could try it out if you're looking for somewhere with some good atmosphere and satisfactory sushi!

On the Bab!

The Eatery: 305 Old Street, London, EC1V 9LA
The Site: http://onthebab.com/
The Companion: cheeky date before a few drinks on Old Street!
The Dolla: £15-£20 a head
MCM Rating: 4/5

It's a rare occurrence for me to venture to the depths of East London from nappy valley but when I do I remember why everybody else does! On the Bab serves up tasty Korean street food - it's casual, unassuming and the babs weren't too bad either.

First things first, the drinks menu definitely met the needs of my sad dry Jan! Great selection of teas and non-alcoholic cocktails - the OMG (preserved ginger, honey and lemonade) was awesome. There were also some great Soju (rice liquor) based cocktails that I'll definitely be going back for.

Sweet and Spicy YangYum Chicken with crushed peanuts

Start off with the sweet and spicy YangYum Chicken (the reputation of these wings with crushed peanuts preceded them); genuinely some of the best wings I've had in London. I'd also get a few of the Kun Mandu (pan-fried dumplings) the shrimp filled dumplings were crispy and succulent.

Kimchi Bokeum Bab- Korean style kimchi bacon paella with a fried egg on top

There's a pretty extensive selection of mains to choose from; either bulgogi beef, spicy chicken, spicy pork or vegetable fritters - 'on the rice', 'on the soup noodle' or 'on the bun'.  Each dish we had was full of flavour and had a pretty spicy kick- maybe not the best choice of restaurant if you're not good with spice. I was loving the addition of the perfectly fried egg on top that you eventually mix into your food.

Bibimbab: spicy pork on rice with a fried egg, vegetables mixed with gochujang

It can feel like a bit of a gamble picking from this menu if you don't know a huge amount about Korean food...I felt like a bit of a winner when I got my Traditional Bibimbab with spicy pork, fried egg, vegetables and rice - add some Kimchi if you're hungry and haven't tried it before!

The bottom line: tasty food, staff a little busy and distracted but a good little buzzy gem worth trying.

Bibendum Oyster Bar: Fruits de Mer with the Michelin Man

The Eatery: Bibendum Oyster Bar, Michelin House, 81 Fulham Road, London,SW3 6RD
The Site: http://www.bibendum.co.uk
The Companion: a pal for a lazy leisurely lunch
The Dolla: £15-£20 a head

Bibendum (aka the Michelin Man) has to be the one of London's most iconic places to 'do lunch' or sip on a glass of champagne. The Oyster Bar is my go-to destination for my annual Christmas lunch with my Dad. Timeless, classic yet casual. I love the atmosphere.

If you're looking for 'fishy things'; especially oysters then you need to stop in your tracks at Bibendum.

The Plateau de Fruits de Mer is a good choice if you want to sample lots of different things, I do have my favourites on the menu though; oysters (of course) served with all the appropriate trimmings, tasty garlic prawns and finally Roll Mop Herrings with onion salad and creme fraiche; a special dish I don't allow myself to order anywhere else.

You're surrounded by beautiful ceramic tiles depicting great Michelin races of the past, the staff are lovely and the food and drinks are first class. The epitome of 'an oldie but a goodie' - the Michelin Man always delivers.

Tasty Tip of the Week - 18.10.2014

What: Comptoir Libanais, http://lecomptoir.co.uk
Where: All over! Westfield x2, South Kensington, Kingston and many more dotted around London...
When: Lovely Lebanese lunchtime
Why?: the Middle Eastern food at these canteens and delicatessens is fresh, light and tasty. Tony Kitous of Levant, Pasha and Kenza restaurants brings it again but this time it's uber affordable and available on the high street. I met some lovely ladies at the Westfield Food Fest and sampled some for myself - pretty tasty and perfect for a quick lunch mid-shopping!

The Grub: Hot and Cold Mezzes, Grills, Wraps, Tagines, great Falafels - the list goes on. Definitely try their specials; Halloumi Tortilla or the Sojok Tortilla (Spicy Armenian Sausage - REPRESENT!). If you've got room then there are plenty of cakes and Lebanese pastries. Wash it down with some mint tea or one of their tasty fresh lemonades.

Breakfast at Birdhouse

The Eatery: Birdhouse, 123 St John's Hill, London, SW11 1SZ
The Site: http://www.birdhou.se/   (not a great one I have to admit)
The Companion: great for a cosy breakfast or light lunch with your bezzie
The Dolla: Around £10 for a breakfast plate and a coffee


I promise to blog about a non-Battersea eatery after this but couldn't resist writing about the little ray of sunshine that is; Birdhouse. Birdhouse, is a small un-assuming cafe on St John's Hill, easy to walk past without going in and that's what I'd done for the past year or so. Now I've tried it I'm converted to walking a little further from my flat and the madness of Northcote Road to this calm, cosy cafe with a menu that's a little different from the norm.

First things first, they get the drinks right. Fresh orange juice is surprisingly hard to get hold of these days - they ticked this box for me. The coffee was also top notch and served in cute yellow cups that made me smile.

Slow cooked eggs & Serrano ham on toast with polenta chips and red pepper mayo- with cheeky chorizo added as an extra!

I liked the menu as it was something a little different to the standard cafe serving breakfast, loved the slow cooked eggs & Serrano ham and was impressed by the polenta chips as I've tried several unsuccesful attempts of these before!!

Baked eggs with a chorizo, mushroom, spinach & tomato sauce

 The baked eggs served in a rustic ceramic saucepan with a woolly handle were warming, different and delicious.

The Chavo - smashed avocado with grilled Brindisa chroizo on toast

If you feel like something fractionally lighter then go for The Chavo; smashed avocado with delicious grilled Brindisa chorizo on toast. The avocado needed a little more flavour but the idea was right - might bring my own lime next time!

Lots more on the menu to try including the Bocaditos (the Cuban word for sandwiches) so I'll be heading back for those as breakfast at Birdhouse was definitely a happy way to start my day!

Dip & Flip - Flipping Amazing

The Eatery: Dip & Flip, 87 Battersea Rise, London, SW11 1HW
The Site: http://www.dipandflip.co.uk
The Companion: Buds who like to get stuck in
The Dolla: Cheap as chips for what you're getting: around £15 for a burg, fries and a drink

I've been wanting to recommend this burger/ roast sandwich heaven for quite a while but to be very honest I wasn't sure I wanted everyone knowing about it! Finally I'm ready to share...

When I first heard of the idea of burgers and roast sandwiches dipped in gravy I had my reservations, being a Londoner through and through my view was that gravy should pretty much be served with turkey and nothing else. I have been converted. It's an absolute stroke of genius which has now made all other burgers look pretty inferior in comparison.

You can go for 'The Dip' :thinly sliced roast meat in a freshly baked brioche bun dipped, double dipped or soaked in gravy with with white cabbage slaw OR 'The Flip'; burgers cooked medium-rare on American chrome flat grills and served wit ketchup, mustard, cabbage slaw and pickles - gravy comes on the side ready for you to dip, dip, dip to your heart's content. Both of these options are mouth-wateringly delicious - just can't get enough! A few sides that aren't in the menu above are, Squeezy Cheesy Fries and Cheese Fries with gravy, crispy bacon and green chilli!

Now these guys are pros so they've come up with an excellent variety of options to help you wash down this delightful grub: a range of bourbons, Sambrooks Pump House Pale Ales, bottled craft beers, hard and soft shakes (my personal favourite) and even 'The Pickleback' which is a combination of your choice of bourbon shot chased down with a shot of pickle juice!?! - I'm yet to try one but I'm planning to on my next visit.

If you make it to the end and still find yourself wanting more you definitely won't go hungry, go for a slice of pie; Chocolate Salted Caramel Pie OR Bourbon & Pecan Pie with double cream or you can finish off with a liquid dessert; shots of Strawberry & Ginger Crumb Cheescake or Chocolate Mousse.

At the moment you can normally rock up to this place and not have to queue or book, not sure how long this is going to last so get down to Dip & Flip to experience the gravy phenomenon - turns out northerners really know what they're doing.

Bonnie Gull - the pocket-sized seafood shack

The Eatery: Bonnie Gull Seafood Shack, 21A Foley Street, London, W1W 6DS
The Site: http://www.bonniegullseafoodshack.com
The Companion: Intimate date or cosy catch up with a friend
The Dolla: A meal for two with drinks costs around £130

If you want first-class fresh seafood, cocktails and a relaxed atmosphere look no further than the Bonnie Gull; the self-proclaimed 'seaside restaurant in the city'. You can find a taste of the seaside hiding on cute and quiet Foley Street near Goodge Street Station. It's nice to find a fish restaurant which isn't stuffy or horribly overpriced! When you first arrive and have to figure out how to manoeuvre around this tiny restaurant you do realise it is a very small space, so if intimacy (with all the clientele) isn't what you're looking for give it a miss, personally, I think it's cute as a button.

I'd start off with a seaside cocktail, go for the Bonnie Mary - House Made 'Clamato' Juice, Chase Smoked Vodka and Topped with an Oyster if you're a real seafood lover or a Bonnie Lass - Element 29 Vodka, St Germain Elderflower Liqueur and Peach Bitters if you want something sweeter.

If you're sharing with a friend you could tuck into some 'Pre-Starters' like the Dorset Clams ‘Bulhão Pato’ garnished with coriander and garlic or the Cornish Grade ‘A’ Moules Marinière with Tortano Bread which are plates designed to share. The menu changes daily so you might not spot all of this if you go, we went straight for the Smoked Salmon Blini starter and the trout which was tasty and delicately dressed.

Next, onto the main - scanning the menu I spotted a whole range of well thought-out dishes with a wide variety of ingredients and some really exciting flavours and textures. Our fish was beautifully cooked, take a look at the hake topped with clams and lentils.

If this looks a little TOO fishy for you there's always the Beer Battered North Sea Haddock with Beef Dripping Chunky Chip, Shack Ketchup and Mushy Peas. If your dish doesn't come with a side, definitely consider the Skinny Fries with Rosemary Salt - light and crispy.

To top it all off we went for an English classic; Strawberry Eton Mess. Although this looked pretty impressive, the deconstruction didn't really work for me and there wasn't enough crunchy meringue for my sweet tooth. The basil jelly was an interesting touch though!

All in all though, I loved my experience at the Bonnie Gull,  it was pretty affordable, staff were friendly and the short daily menu was varied and well thought-out; I WAS AS HAPPY AS A CLAM.

Tasty tip of the week 23.06.2014

What: Dub Jam Jerk BBQ + Rum Shack, http://www.dubjam.co.uk/
Where: 20 Bedford Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9HP
When: Lunch or a light, quick dinner with a cocktail
Why?: because the food is tasty, the rum is punchy and the warm welcome and reggae tunes in this tiny restaurant takes you straight to the Caribbean
The Grub:Jamaican Jerk Skewers and Beach Burgers

Tasty Tip of the Week 16.06.2014

What: B.O.B's Lobster http://bobslobster.com/
Where: in a sexy red van under Hungerford Bridge on the Southbank
When: Wed. - Sun.(12-9PM)
Why?: because I can't resist lobster and prosecco. The deck chairs and hammocks with a view of the river are pretty sweet too...
The Grub: Lobster Rolls, Ahi Tuna Tacos, Lobster Mac 'n' Cheese, Crab Rolls

The House Of Ho - Bringing Sexy Back To SoHo

The Eatery: The House of Ho, 57-59 Old Compton St, Soho, London W1D 6HP
The Site: http://www.houseofho.co.uk/
The Companion: Late night dinner with a date or small group of friends
The Dolla: A meal for two with drinks costs around £70

The deviously named 'House of Ho' is located in the heart of Soho on Old Compton Street. It's sleek, fun, sexy and the food isn't bad either! This is definitely a night-time venue, perfect for having a few sharing plates with friends along with some sake and a few too many delectable cocktails. I went for the cocktail of the month; the Ho'rny Devil of course; chilli vodka, lemongrass vodka, coconut water, a dangerously large Vietnamese Devil chilli floating on the top and coconut flakes frosting the rim of the glass.

The menu at House of Ho is split into Light & Raw dishes, Hot & Grilled dishes, Ho’s Dishes, Sides and Dessert. All the plates here are designed to share which adds to the fun and games.

Starting with the Light & Raw dishes the Crab Pomelo Salad is definitely a good option, it's light and fresh and is made up of a variety of different textures.

Crab Pomelo Salad, Vegetable Noodles, Mint, Lemon Oil & Crispy Vietnamese crackers

I also enjoyed the Spicy Salmon Tartar. Beautifully presented and again featuring a good range of different textures on the plate. However, I have to say I was slightly disappointed with the depth of flavours, for me Vietnamese is all about strong fresh flavours and fiery chilli - I found these dishes falling slightly short in this arena.

Spicy Salmon Tartar - Chopped Pistachio, Shiso, Jicama with Asian Vinagrette

If you're feeling like satisfying your guilty pleasures then go for the Spicy Chicken Wings and BBQ Baby Back ribs from the Hot and Spicy section of the menu! Probably give the Hanoi 5 Spice Quail a miss as it was fairly dry and bland!

Now onto the star of the show, mixed reviews on how delicious it might be based on this photograph, but I have to rave about the Shaking Beef one of the 'Ho's Dishes'. Tender, tasty and one of my favourite dishes of recent months - definitely worth giving it a go!

'Shaking Beef', grass-fed, 21 day-aged fillet

PLEASE give it a try with some Morning Glory, in my opinion one of the most delicious Asian vegetables you can find -I'm addicted.

Morning Glory

If you're feeling extra naughty, go for the Molten Marou Chocolate Cake (basically a chocolate fondant) - I couldn't resist.

The verdict - although head chef Bobby Chin owns restaurants in both Saigon and Hanoi, I have to agree with many of the other critics when I say that this is not the most authentic of Vietnamese restaurants, not necessarily always a bad thing, for example the elements of fusion such as ceviche are delicious and give the menu a good range, but for me it lacked the explosions of flavour you tend to expect from Vietnamese cuisine. However, I have to say that I did enjoy the food overall especially the different components that feature on the plates and the sharing element. The drinks have certainly kept me coming back for more and I can confirm that with it's sleek style House of Ho has brought a little bit of sexy back to Soho.


Food photographed by my gurl Amandine Powell