With sosu kaani and goat’s cheese (Picture: India Whiley-Morton)
Welcome back to The Slice – our exclusive guide to what’s on in London,where we bring you trusted reviews,sneak previews,and amazing deals and discounts.
While it’s not officially Spring yet,it definitely feels like it (did you get to enjoy the 17 degree weather in London today?).
So it’s only right that we went hunting for the most Spring-like menus in the capital.
Our resident food writer Courtney went down to Ottolenghi’s test kitchen and discovered all sorts of fresh goodness like the bright and sweet saffron & orange chicken with fennel.
And it doesn’t end there,have a slow Saturday morning at Workshop Belgravia,and try their shiny new menu.
This week marks the end of Ramadan,and Eid celebrations begin – enjoy some beautifully made food with your loved ones at Syrian restaurant Aram by Imad Alarnab.
Plus: this year hot cross buns have been taken to a new level,with supermarkets putting their own twists on the easter snack – from ‘extremely chocolately’ to black forest.
So this week we’d like to know which you prefer,a classic hot cross bun or a modern twist.
See you next week!
‘The date banoffee is an easy choice’ (Picture: Supplied)By Zineb LazraqHey,foodies! Add us as a Preferred Source
At Metro Food,we're here to bring you all the latest foodie news,delicious recipes,restaurant reviews,and cooking tips. As a loyal reader and a part of our vibrant community,we want to make sure you never miss our articles when searching for stories
Click the button below and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.
Add us as a Preferred Source
From the latest Walkers flavours to the secret McDonald's menu,Metro Food has it all
Located inside the beautiful Somerset House,Aram By Imad is a Syrian restaurant with Levantine influences,in a space that feels both elegant and inviting. Dishes are designed to be shared,though I struggle to do that with the delicious roasted aubergine salad – featuring chickpeas,red pepper confit,roasted garlic and tahini. Sweetness from the roasted aubergine is combined with punchy garlic sauce and pomegranate for some tanginess and crunch.
For a sweet treat at the end,I’m biased towards anything with banana and dates,so the date banoffee is an easy choice. But as we approach the warmer months,the Syrian ice cream,with it’s sticky consistency,is also worth trying.
There’s a generous selection of non-alcoholic drinks,but if you’re struggling to pick,go straight for the Pomegranate Fizz made with cardamom: refreshing with the perfect balance of spice – a flavour combo I hadn’t tried before,but I’m glad I have now. And at the time of writing,bookings are still available on 18 and 19 April to book in your Eid meal and celebrate with your loved ones.
Mezze from £9,salads £10. 229 Strand,Temple,WC2R 1BF. Book here.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Heard. (@heard.burger)
By Lola Christina Alao
Michelin-starred West African restaurant Akoko joins forces with the hyped up Heard Burger for a rich burger that tastes nothing like what you’ve had before. Made with an aged British beef patty seasoned with Aji Akokomi’s special spice blend as well as tamarind jam,sosu kaani (scotch bonnet chilli sauce),yassa-spiced onions and shredded goat’s cheese. The tender,melt in your mouth like butter beef really makes this burger – and if goat’s cheese is your cup of tea,you’ll be in your element here. The sosu kaani (scotch bonnet chilli sauce) is genius but I wanted more of it – I wanted it to be bolder and punchier. They also pay homage to one of Ghana’s favourite street foods with their Kelewele fries,dusted with kelewele salt and a crispy shallot crumb.
The Akoko Burger,£16. Kelewele fries,£6.50. Available until 30 April. Borough and Soho. Book here.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Dining con Grace (@dining_con_grace)
By Patrycja Zaras
When even love can’t make most of us cross the river,commuting over an hour from south to east London – only to endure a 35-minute wait – seems like utter madness. Logma’s regulars must be old-fashioned romantics (or simply devoted foodies?),making the trek for the viral Iranian-Iraqi sandwiches. I try the kofte sandwich and the aubergine sandwich and can attest that both make a delicious brunch option,worth their price tags. Generous,juicy and full of flavour,these sandwiches are messy in the best way possible.
Kofte sandwich from £12,aubergine sandwich from £10 (available from 12:30). 81 Goldsmiths Row,Haggerston,E2 8QR. Just walk in.
‘The Boston Cream is incredibly decadent,filled with burnt custard and whipped cream’ (Picture: Supplied)
Best for: fresh flavours
Spring has arrived at Ottolenghi,with some outstanding new items joining the menu,including Bold Bean Co. black chickpea burgers,kohlrabi,and saffron & orange chicken with fennel. Bright and sweet with aromatic notes,the chicken is a real standout,made even more special thanks to its striking ochre-coloured sauce. For those who prefer something sweet,three new filled buns are the stars of the show. One is inspired by a Boston Cream pie,another is a twist on a classic doughnut with raspberry and pomegranate molasses jam,and the third is citrussy with yuzu and lime curd. I can see the Boston Cream proving popular – it’s incredibly decadent,filled with burnt custard and whipped cream,and topped with dark chocolate,caramelised rice crispies,and a sprinkle of sea salt.
Salads from £7.90,mains from £7.50. Cakes and cookies from £2.90. Find out more.
Review by Courtney Pochin.
Best for: Italian indulgence
The best dishes come from a genuine understanding of their origins at Tortello. From the slow-cooked beef cheeks to the black truffle and ricotta tortelli,the menu crafted by Head Chef Lucio di Basilico never tries too hard,yet every dish feels thoughtfully executed and full of flavour. My highlight is the Orkney crab tortelli with charcoal pasta,langoustine and parsley butter sauce: super fresh,light and balanced. And if I shut my eyes,the taste of the calamarata with prawns,clams and mussels transports me to the Amalfi Coast. Tortello is a dining experience that feels both luxurious and comforting whilst also being surprisingly affordable.
Antipasti from £12,Pasta Fresca from £16,Secondi from £16. Book here.
Review by Alexander O’Loughlin.
Best for: laidback weekends
Get brunch-style dishes like the classic salmon and egg that oozes golden yolks,accented with a salty punch of capers. My oat latte is just the right balance of bitter and creamy,and the sun making a rare appearance and the steady buzz in the air helps too. Though it’s a little tricky to eat,you’ll get a burst of Mediterranean flavour from the goat’s cheese focaccia sandwich,paired with tangy sun blush tomatoes,ultra fresh salsa verde and roasted peppers. There’s a whole range of pastries to choose from,but it would’ve been a mistake to leave without trying the cinnamon bun,which shines with a caramelised crunch perfectly contrasted with a moist centre.
Eggs from £7.50,toasts from 5.75,sandwiches from 12.50. Book here.
Review by Asyia Iftikhar.
Yum! (Picture: Supplied)
There are loads of things that make us smile and a 50% off deal is one of them. Kung Fu Mama is opening their new Canary Wharf branch with 50% off their entire menu. You can grab their cult favourite Taiwanese sun-dried noodles for half the price from 20-27 March by signing up here.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Dishoom Permit Room (@dishoompermitroom)
A brand new menu is coming to Permit Room (from the Dishoom team) and we couldn’t be more excited. Masala Nuts,tamarind-glazed Zingy Hot Wings and more will be joining the line up. Look out for The Slice’s full review coming soon!
Build your own doggy bowls! (Picture: Supplied)
A Paws and Bowls menu has launched at Noodle and Beer Spitalfields – yep,that’s a menu for dogs! The menu will have a ‘build your own’ vibe,with delicious treats from Hide & Seek like duck breast (fancy!). Plus: dessert ‘puppuccinos’ will be on offer for the extra hungry pups. Available 15 March,22 March,29 March and 5 April.
Catch a series of nights of laidback jazz music at St Katherine Docks with live musicians,against the backdrop of the marina’s twinkling yacht lights. From £14. Get your tickets here.
A night to remember… (Picture: Supplied)
Calling all whisky fans! It’s not too late to catch the Glendronach’s listening experience at Equal Parts. On for the rest of March every Thursday,Friday and Saturday from 6-7pm,it’s an event you just have to experience with friends (or else you’re doing it wrong). Get ready for a curated playlist of R&B,soul and trip-hop. Book here.
10. See theatre production Our Town,starring Michael Sheen
‘In the US it’s regarded as a national treasure’ (Picture: Helen Murray)
By Hugh Montgomery
It may be a bit of a cliché to call a piece of art ‘life-affirming’ but that truly applies to Our Town and this new production of the classic American play about life in a small town at the start of the 20th century. You’ll leave the theatre appreciating what you have that much more keenly and wanting to love those close to you that little bit stronger – and what more can you ask for than that? Thornton Wilder’s 1938 drama isn’t that well known over here but in the US it’s regarded as a national treasure. Like most of the best revivals though,this production,which now comes to Kingston after touring Wales,manages to freshen the material up without becoming tricksy.
As for the acting,the little scene-lets of the citizens in action are perfectly pitched by the ensemble cast to stir emotion without feeling mawkish. But it’s in the astonishing final act that Our Town really comes into its own – and knocks you for six. Flicking forward to 1913,it relocates to the town’s graveyard – where,in a stunning tableau,various now-deceased characters are represented by the actors sitting spotlit atop stepladders. Bold and beautiful,this certainly isn’t a production I will forget in a hurry – and it suggests great things lie ahead for Welsh National Theatre. I can’t wait to see what they,and Sheen,do next.
Rose Theatre,Kingston. Tickets from £71.50. Until 28 March. Book here.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
United News - unews.co.za