The Modern Pantry

Brunch at The Modern Pantry


Compared to some of the other great cities of the world, when it comes to brunch London is still catching up. Fortunately, the places that do do brunch, do it well and The Modern Pantry is no exception.


The food at the Modern Pantry is fresh and very well prepared. When your food arrives, you can see and taste that each item on the plate has been lovingly and individually prepared and despite this, the service was fast - perfect when you're terribly hungover and can't wait to eat (ehem).  

Vigin Mary and le Menu

Admittedly, ever since the first time I visited the Modern Pantry, I've stayed loyal to the first dish I tried, i.e. I can't tell you about anything else on the menu except the eggs with smoked streaky bacon, slow-roasted tomatoes, buttered mushrooms and toast. I've varied the eggs on occasion and sometimes added some...Vegemite (sorry Marmite, they just don't serve you here) to my crispy buttered toast. The thing is, when you've found something you can't fault, why choose anything else and risk not enjoying it quite so much? Each item is packed full of flavour.

Two poached eggs with smoked streaky bacon, slow-roasted tomatoes, buttered mushrooms and toast

It doesn't matter how you have the eggs cooked, the dish never leaves you feeling dirty and greasy compared to say a full English at a greasy spoon.

As above but with fried eggs. Wait, is that...is that Vegemite in the background!? Traitor.

One thing to mention on hot beverages - the hot chocolate was disappointing, too much cocoa powder and not enough milk so it was extremely bitter. The waitress defended it by saying the bitterness was due to the fact that "the chocolate used is of such high quality". Errrr!!!?? Insulting! I've been making hot chocolate with cocoa powder for donkey's years and I've also experimented with quantities so I KNOW when it's not been prepared correctly. Anyway, she agreed to substitute it for tea, which was also pretty sub-optimal but it could've been worse I suppose. Could've been continental Lipton. 


The Modern Pantry, 48 St. John's Square, London, EC1V 4JJ, Tel: 020 7553 9210

Marmite and Butter...

... on Crumpets


It's the way the butter melts though the soft spongey holes and moistens it throughout while the Marmite follows. Possibly the best way to enjoy Marmite? 

Ladurée

Sweet Stuff 


Now for someone who doesn't like sweet stuff to not only like sweet stuff but to eat 8 portions of it within 20 minutes really says something. For those of you who haven't heard of Ladurée, it is renowned for its Macrons - small, round meringue-based cakes made with egg whites, icing sugar, granulated sugar, almond powder or ground almond, crisp on the outside, with smooth soft ganache in the middle. Heavenly.

Coconut, pear and chestnut, praline, pistachio, rose petal, cinnamon,  caramel with salted butter and almond marshmallow

Established in Paris, their flagship store is on the Champs-Elysées. It's best for breakfast or afternoon tea. It doesn't come cheap but it's worth it for the Parisian tea room experience.

Flagship entrance

Macarons at Ladurée Paris

Other treats at the famous tea room

Christmas window displays

However, for those of you who do not have the luxury of being able to travel to Paris, there are Ladurée stores in London at Harrods and more recently, in Covent Garden. If you worry that you won't get the same experience as you would in Paris, have no fear - you will get the same experience, complete with rudeness. Sadly, despite my love of their Macarons, the bad attitude of the staff left a bitter taste. I think someone should tell them they they work behind a counter.


On that note, I think it might be about time to try Pierre Hermé at Selfridges.


Ladurée, 1 The Market  Covent Garden, London WC2E 8RA, Tel: 020 7240 0706

Hel Yes

Finnish Pop-Up Restaurant


If there's one thing that's fascinated me since I first learnt of them, it's the pop-up restaurant/tea room/bar culture that has been emerging in London. 


Hel Yes opened for 14 days in September 2010. This pop-up was particularly unique because it was the first Finnish-themed pop-up I'd encountered and having spent my Birthday in Stockholm and Swedish Lapland a few months beforehand, I was keen to revisit Nordic cuisine.

Entrance to the secret Shoreditch location

The Menu

Bread and salted butter

Sea Bass Tartare with Archipelago Bread (the black cubes)

Lamb Neck Stew with Dill

As with many of the pop-ups, if it's not in some random stranger's house, it's in a disused, often-dilapidated warehouse. Usually in Shoreditch. This one was no different but that was no bad thing - it had character, customised with swedish alpine-themed displays consisting of raw tree branches, antlers and reindeer fur.

The chefs at work in the open plan kitchen area, surrounded by locally foraged vegetables and herbs such as wood sorrel, chickweed, polypody root and Finnish lingonberries 

Hel Yes, Londonewcastle Depot, 1-3 Wenlock Road, N1 7SL

Sherlock Holmes Museum

Sherlock Holmes Museum

Having watched all of Season 1 and Season 2 of Sherlock on BBC1, it seemed essential to visit 221B Baker Street, the "home" of Sherlock, Watson and Mrs Hudson. At £6 per adult, it is probably one of the cheapest attractions you will find it London and the best thing? It doesn't disappoint. 

Gun hidden in a book

Voodoo Mummy. Obviously.

Could this be...The Hound?

Now just need to read the books!

Muzeul Sherlock Holmes, 221B, Baker Street, London NW1 6XE NW1 6XE, Tel: 020 7935 8866

Il Bordello

Best Italian in London

Il Bordello is my favourite Italian restaurant of all time and this is coming from someone who has been to Italy. A lot. Don't be put off by the name by the way, which is Italian for "the brothel". Hmmm... 

What do I love about Il Bordello? The authenticity and quality of the food, the value for money and the buzzing atmosphere. The (sometimes moody) Italian waiters aren't too bad either! They have two sittings each night, one at 7pm and the other at 9pm.

Starters...are LARGE! Two dishes are often sufficient to share - between five adults! Well, that's if you want to fit in the rest of the meal.

Bruscetta and Garlic Pizza

Main courses are difficult to choose from because everything is so delicious. The best thing is that if you're torn between pasta and any of the mains, why choose when you have the option of ordering the pasta in half portions so you can order it as a side dish - see below. Amazing!

Tagliata di Manzo con Rucola (huge piece of sliced sirloin steak with rosemary, garlic, extra virgin olive oil and rocket) with a side of Spaghetti Puttanesca (tomato sauce with capers, anchovies, garlic, chillies and olives)

Meal for three. Main picture: Calamari Fritti with salad with a side of Orecchiette alla Barrese (artichoke, aubergine, mincemeat and tomato)

Calves Livers

Desserts. Now, I would post a picture of the amazing desserts that they serve at Il Bordello but the reason I can't is, er, because in the past we have pretty much inhaled them as soon as they've arrived. Photos have always been an after thought. Much like the feeling of guilt when you've done something you shouldn't have but thoroughly enjoyed it while you did. Anyway, I recommend you try, in order of preference, the Tiramisu (coffee and marsala wine-soaked sponge finger biscuits, layered with whipped cream and mascarpone and finished with chocolate sauce), the Panna Cotta (like smooth, creamy jelly) or the Profiteroles (little puffs of choux pastry filled with cream and topped with chocolatey mousse). 

Coffees. Don't stop at dessert - if you still have room (and if not, do it anyway), a great way to nearly finish off the meal is with a liqueur coffee - Baileys or Amaretto.

Drinks! The red and white Vino della Casa (house wines) are excellent but if you want a beer, you should go for the Peroni. Now, note when I said coffee I mentioned "nearly  finish". To finally finish, try the Limoncello - a little shot of cold Italian lemony liqueur. 

It's always wise to book a table at Il Bordello in advance but in the event that you don't and can't get a table, ask about their sister restaurant, La Figa (Italian for, ehem, according to Google Translate, "her pussy" - meow?). It's just down the road in Limehouse and has exactly the same menu and clearly in keeping with the same theme but with quite a different feel - it's in a bigger space so less of the buzz.

Il Bordello, 81 Wapping High St  City of London E1W 2YN, Tel: 020 7481 9950

La Figa, The Mosaic, 45 Narrow Street, London, E14 8DN, Tel: 020 7790 0077