dining out – The Cultural Exposé

What I’ve been up to… eating all the poké in London (for real)

Matilda — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 07:30:05 +0000

I’m not ashamed to admit I’m a tad late to the poké game: exactly nine months late. But hey, who’s counting? All that matters is that I’ve finally discovered poké in London – and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hooked on this tasty Hawaiian salad bowl, big time. In fact, I don’t think a week’s gone by where I haven’t tucked into a bowl on my lunch break (thanks to a very timely invitation from the guys at Hone Poké on Dean Street). So here are three reasons why you need to get involved with this foodie trend, asap:

Poké is life – fact

Sure, there’s many other things that sustain us on a daily basis – like water and oxygen – but there’s just something about poké that feels like you could eat it for the rest of your days and die quite happily, knowing it was part of your diet. It’s that good.

It’s better than sushi

To break it down, poké is like a combination of all the best bits of sushi with some added extras to become a super salad of all things right in the world. Some call it a natural progression from sushi, and I can see that. Except the marinated raw fish is a very big deal in poké. Now I totally appreciate some of y’all might freak out at the idea of raw fish, but it’s so expertly prepared you’ve got nothing to worry about (and FYI, raw fish in the UK has to to be frozen to death – literally – thanks to EU freezing laws to ensure it’s not dodgy).

There are a few places where you can try poké in London

I had my very first poké bowl from Tombo on D’Arblay Street in Soho. They do a lovely classic one made with salmon or tuna, sesame soy, edamame beans, onions and nori (from £6.95 to takeaway – poké aint cheap y’all!). Or if you want something a bit fancier or made up to your tastes, Honi Poke on Dean Street is a really good shout. I’ve also heard good things about Ahi Poké in Fitzrovia (and they’re planning on opening another branch in Victoria).

Have you tried poké yet? Let me know in the comments!

The post What I’ve been up to… eating all the poké in London (for real) appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

Somewhere you should go… Clerkenwell Grind

Matilda — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 07:39:50 +0000

When I first heard the name ‘Clerkenwell Grind’, I can’t say I was interested. It sounded like coffee was involved, and I don’t tend to have many nice nor necessarily terrible things to say about that beverage (except for the days I’m dog tired and that bitter nectar is the only thing that can fix me). Anyway, I was a bit hasty in my judgement. It turns out that not only is Clerkenwell Grind is a very cool, very reasonably-priced place in an old warehouse building to go for food and cocktails, but you don’t need to love coffee to visit. But if you do, you’ll be pleased to know that, like all of the other Grind branches (there are loads), they’ve nailed that too.

Clerkenwell Grind: one for the hit list

I was invited to try CG a few days after Christmas. Given the timing and its location in the city, the atmosphere was pretty dead that evening – but the excellent food more than made up for it. I had a gorgeous fig starter, followed by a perfectly grilled sea bass with kale on the side. And if I wasn’t on my low-cal diet at the time, I would’ve wrapped up dinner with the lemon cheesecake because there are few things better in life than LEMON CHEESECAKE.

So if you work in the Clerkenwell / Barbican / Old Street areas, Clerkenwell Grind should definitely be on the hit list, if only to let me know what you think of it. I reckon you’ll be impressed. In the meantime, check out pics from my visit below:

Find out more about the Grind restaurants.

The post Somewhere you should go… Clerkenwell Grind appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

Four reasons why should fondue at The Lodge Clapham

Matilda — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 14:05:53 +0000

I’m 16 days into my Dry January / Death to Sugar / Eat More Greens detox diet – but all I can think about is cheese. Well, more precisely, the fondue I had at The Lodge Clapham a few months back. The ski lodge style restaurant knows how to do a good one along with a few other slick dishes – and it’s all courtesy of pop-up king Jimmy Garcia. Here are four reasons why you should visit once you’ve ditched the diet (which I’m so close to doing #prayforme):

It’s different

This cosy 60-seater has nailed the authentic decor – so if you’ve can’t splash out on that holiday to the Swiss alps, at least you can fake it in Clapham (I won’t tell if you don’t).

The food’s really good

The fondue’s the biggie here, but on our visit we were also loving sauteed green beans, the shallot fritters and the plum bakewell for afters.

You’ll get your money’s worth

You can either get a giant pot of fondue with all the trimmings (bread, potatoes, salad) for £24 per person – or there’s the £33 option that comes with a selection of side plates and the satisfaction that you’ll probably need to roll all way home. You’ll be stuffed.

It’s handy for south Londoners

It’s tucked away in a residential area but it’s quite a nice thing to find in a local neighbourhood down south.

Find out more at www.thelodgeclapham.com/jimmys-popup.

The post Four reasons why should fondue at The Lodge Clapham appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

Somewhere you should go… the Chinese Food Festival

Matilda — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 07:23:09 +0000

This weekend I intend to eat all the Dim Sum.

The dumplings.

The rice noodles.

And the pork buns.

Why? Because the Chinese Food Festival is happening. I love Chinese food. And here’s a fest that wants to remind folks of how awesome this legendary cuisine can be. So what’s going down? For three days there will be over 20 stalls and restaurants whipping up authentic dishes, but other highlights include a swanky 10-course Shanghai Supper Club, pro chefs demo’ing their next level skills, a street food competition, a night market and traditional Chinese performances. Just note that the fest doesn’t accept cash, so you’ll need to get your paws on a Food Card you can buy on the day or in advance – it doubles up as a membership card which gives you discounts at various Chinese restaurants in town. Sweet!

The Chinese Food Festival kicks off on Friday, August 19th with an opening ceremony and runs until August 21st. For more details visit www.chinesefoodfestival.com.

The post Somewhere you should go… the Chinese Food Festival appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

Food for thought: books and beautiful bites at St Luke’s Kitchen, The Library

Matilda — Mon, 30 May 2016 07:00:38 +0000

About a few months ago, The Library members club in Covent Garden came up with a novel idea: the launch of a library-themed restaurant, featuring a rotating guest list of London chefs taking residence every six to eight weeks. Of course, it’s wonderful. There’s a book for your perusal when you arrive at your seat in the handsome basement dining room, with the menu of the evening stuck in between the pages. As for the food, pretty plates of European-inspired dishes leans towards fine dining – and when there isn’t a guest chef on the rota, head chef Gavin Lambert holds the fort, which he does exceedingly well. The last residency came from Chetna Makan from the Great British Bake-Off, so keep across www.lib-rary.com/restaurant to find out what’s coming up next this year.

The post Food for thought: books and beautiful bites at St Luke’s Kitchen, The Library appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

What we’ve been up to… Rocket, Holborn

The Cultural Exposé — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 11:27:43 +0000

Rocket is a pizza restaurant in Holborn where everything – from the super-mod interiors to the genius cocktails – goes out of its way to impress.

The USP: For starters, they don’t just do pizza (scan the menu here). And it’s the sort of place that toes the line of fancy fine dining with plenty of creative, tasty dishes to choose from; I never would have imagined a chorizo, halloumi and butterfly king prawns pizza could work, but it did!

Their cocktails don’t miss the mark either and if you want something with a bit of pizzazz, you might want to give the French Passion a whirl – it’s made with Absolut, Chambord, passion fruit purée, pineapple juice and fresh passion fruit and is truly as sexy as it sounds.

Budget: Meal for 2? At least £60 for a starter, mains and cocktails

Good for: File it under date night, ladies night or let’s just get some damn good pizza night.

For more information about Rocket, visit: www.rocketrestaurants.co.uk

Check out some of our insta pics below:

Tonight’s dinner plans… @rocket_holborn

A photo posted by Matilda (@mstillytilda) on May 28, 2015 at 11:06am PDT

Let the carb loading commence! Halloumi, chorizo and butterfly prawn pizza! Geeeeeeez…. #main #foodiesdelight A photo posted by Matilda (@mstillytilda) on May 28, 2015 at 12:01pm PDT

That Key Lime pie life… #dessert #foodiesdelight thank you so much Rocket London!

A photo posted by Matilda (@mstillytilda) on May 28, 2015 at 1:24pm PDT

The post What we’ve been up to… Rocket, Holborn appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

What we’ve been up to… El Pirata

Matilda — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 10:00:34 +0000

In all the years I’ve gone out for tapas, I don’t think I’ve ever been blown away by such a beautiful array of dishes I recently worked my way through during a visit to El Pirata.

Located on the edge of Mayfair, this tiny spanish restaurant has been serving authentic tapas for over 20 years – and being in the game for two decades is clearly a testament to their reputation.

The menu boasts of lamb cutlets, chicken and chorizo, deep fried squid, Iberian ham, wild asparagus, lemon and garlic anchovies, you name it – and everything we tried tasted like the chef wanted you to experience Sunday dinner in his beachfront villa – and that TLC was also apparent in the stylish presentation of the food and warm customer service.

Mind you, If I had to pick one dish deserving of all the plaudits, it’d be the “langostinos al chef” – four grilled prawns served in a rich and tasty tomato and white wine sauce that deserved to be mopped up with copious amounts of bread afterwards.

I was also a big fan of the “calamares con arroz negro” – squid in black rice. As my friend warned, it’s not a dish for date night (our lips were tinted black), but the delicious flavours made it absolutely worth it.

Save the plane ticket to Spain and hit up El Pirata if you fancy genuine tapas that wins on all fronts. For more information visit hwww.elpirata.co.uk – and check out more pics from our recent visit below!

The post What we’ve been up to… El Pirata appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

What we’ve been up to… The Perkin Reveller

Matilda — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 10:00:36 +0000

When people ask me for restaurant tips, I’ll usually ask them to choose a category – First Date, Good For Solo Diners, Great For Birthdays, One for Yo Mama etc. If I was to categorise the Perkin Reveller, I’d probably put it under Venues that Effortlessly Impress. At least that’s how I felt on a recent invite to this classy brasserie that is merely a stone’s throw from the Tower of London and Tower Bridge and serves exceedingly good food.

The Reveller’s location is the obvious draw and as we’re sat inside, we can’t help but feeling like tourists in our own city, especially as we’ve never seen the Bridge from this angle before. The restaurant doesn’t shy away from themes that would impress tourist types either; there’s a medieval vibe going on in the interiors – and the Perkin Reveller‘s name is even a nod to The Canterbury Tales. But thankfully, there’s a balance between the old and the new, with a stunning, sparkly terrace that’s clearly a hit in the summer and a reasonably-priced menu taking quite a modern and stylish approach to fine dining.

For instance, the seasonal leek, white bean and bacon soup is almost too beautiful to eat, but it’s polished off within minutes, and followed by the most perfect steak I’ve had in months. It’s served with wild garlic and hearty sarladaise potatoes, a French classic.

Dessert is just as amazing – and while I imagined yoghurt and apple crumble would be a little awkward on the tastebuds, it’s actually a remarkable combination. Meanwhile, the burnt cambridge cream is pretty much an English twist on creme brûlée but is as authentic as it comes.

It’s always great to come across a restaurant that ticks so many boxes – the pricing won’t make your eyes water either – so there’s no doubt this lovely discovery will be one of my top recommendations for a while. For more information visit www.perkinreveller.co.uk. Check out more pics from our recent visit below!

The post What we’ve been up to… The Perkin Reveller appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

What we’ve been up to… La Tagliata

The Cultural Exposé — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 11:00:09 +0000

Tagliata is an Italian sliced steak dish that tastes so good, it’s hard to believe how simple it is. But ‘simplicity done well’ is the running theme at this new restaurant that opened in the city last year. From the artful interiors to the compact menu, La Tagliata’s approach to no-fuss dining with a touch of class makes a strong first impression. The homemade pasta starters come with either pomodoro, pesto, limone or ragú sauce, but no matter which one you pick, you’ll likely be onto a winner. We go for the flavoursome pesto and ragu, setting the bar for the main attraction.

The tagliata arrives with cherry tomatoes, parmesan and a balsamic reduction, and my choice of shepherd’s potatoes (the alternative is roasted) which has a mouthwatering aroma of garlic. Everything is devoured within minutes. It’s not the biggest portion in the world, but it’s a pretty memorable entrée, leaving us with even higher hopes for the restaurant’s signature tiramisu. Unsurprisingly, it doesn’t disappoint, with a delicate coffee flavour matched perfectly with the cream.

La Tagliata is a great place to visit if you’re after effortlessly fine food for a date or dinner with friends – the wines are great, the service is top and three courses will only set you back £30 – win, win, win we say!

For more details about La Tagliata, visit www.la-tagliata.com

The post What we’ve been up to… La Tagliata appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

Somewhere you should go… The Hackney Pearl

Matilda — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 12:04:41 +0000

It’s a big call for non-Hackney Wickians to venture out to this local East End haunt – yet if you do, you’ll be glad you did. The Hackney Pearl comes with the artsy vibe of the neighbourhood it inhabits, offering plenty of interior eye candy and quirky details only hipsters do so well. The menu is just as creative, with a varied selection of standard, seasonal fare and other unique concoctions. But above all else, the food is incredibly well-made and tasty. On a recent invite for Sunday brunch, we enjoyed freshly made focaccia that practically melted in the mouth, followed by an excellent Norfolk chicken with roast tomatoes and mograbiah . The latter is a sort-of pearly, couscous grain that has been delicately cooked in butter and it’s delicious. Desserts are good too, if not modest for the price. Chocolate-covered pears are over in few spoonfuls, while the sliver of custard tart was a bit of tease, especially as it was so yummy. That said, it’s a testament to the quality of The Hackney Pearl that we wanted more – and to be fair, once we downed a couple of their stunning orange and cardamon mimosas, all was soon forgiven.

The brunch menu changes frequently and expect to spend around £50 for two people including starter, drinks and desserts – but for more information about The Hackney Pearl, visit: www.thehackneypearl.com. Check out our pics from our recent visit below.

The post Somewhere you should go… The Hackney Pearl appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.