Morito, Exmouth Market

Let me begin by saying, as tapas bars go, this one seems lovely, small, independent and all that good stuff. BUT, going with non-vegetarian friends, I tend to think that it is hard to go for tapas. All those forks into different dishes… it is hard to keep veggie and non veggie food distinct. There were a few vegetarian dishes. I had salad and tomato toast, which tasted fresh and enjoyable but (dare I say?) insubstantial. The menu emphasis is more on meat and seafood, which my friends inform me was excellent. Perhaps not one for the veggie trail in London…? However, if you are non-veggie or perhaps eat seafood, this is a great small venue. The service is attentive and generous with the tap water and ice carafe – unusual in London. A word of warning – it is tiny and popular, so worth booking if it is one for you.

For coffee and dessert afterwards, there is a Caravan and Gail’s along the road.

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Itsu: a veggie visitor

As a born and bred vegetarian, the idea of visiting a sushi restaurant has always been off my radar. BUT, I have finally visited one of the Itsu sushi bars and I would definitely go again. I had the 7 veg and rice “potsu”, which is not normally vegetarian. On request, the staff will provide a veggie option by using a vegetarian broth rather than fish sauce/broth. It is super healthy: carrot, beans, pepper, mushrooms and a large volume of brown and wild rice. It was hot, wholesome and a quick lunch. As a City worker, discovering that Itsu is actually veggie-friendly is a revelation.

PS: the website has a really helpful page on dietary/nutritional information.

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Quiche

Following my recent visit to the Tangerine Dream cafe, I thought I might try making a quiche inspired by their classic cheese tart. Mine was much smaller and only have gruyere cheese, without goat’s cheese (which seems generally over used in vegetarian cooking). I blind baked basic pastry (flour, butter, water) for half an hour at 150C fan, topped with a thin layer of roast tomato paste and then covered in a basic mix of three eggs, small carton on single cream and good heap of gruyere cheese. As a garnish, I added some chopped chives. I then baked it for a further 40 minutes. It puffs right up in the oven, settling when it cools. I served it with salad, when the quiche was still warm, but not scalding. Lovely weekday supper enjoyed before the final of the Great British Bake Off = happy Pistachio Plum Girl 🙂

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Tangerine Dream, Chelsea

Oh hoo, I visited a strange and hidden gem over the weekend: the Chelsea Physic Garden. It is tucked away in a quiet back road off Chelsea Hospital Road. When I arrived, I wasn’t even sure it was open! And then, rather like the secret garden, you go through a door in a wall and straight into a beautiful garden. It reminded me a bit of going into a Cambridge college: small from the outside and a green jewel on the inside. It costs about £9 to go in and there are tours of the gardens. It is the second oldest botanic garden in England and was established by the Apothecaries livery company. It is full of medical plants, which seems to have come full circle now that holistic and natural medicines are again of huge interest.

The V&A

One of the loveliest places in London must surely be the Victoria and Albert museum in the museum site in Knightsbridge. It is a strange place: in the process of being renovated half of the museum is modern, inspiring and the other half slightly archaic and very victorian. More than any of the exhibits (as good and eclectic as they may be) my favourite thing is the architecture. As the victorians did best, the building is a monument to craft. There is a central vast courtyard which is tranquil and beyond the courtyard is a cafe in decorative rooms. Plus, (and crucially) the selection of cakes, tea in teapots and salads makes for a decent break from the culture! It is also thought provoking to see the significant pitted bomb damage to the exterior of the V&A on the side of the building facing the science museum.

If you are in London – it is my number one pick!