i just love meeting people that i click with automatically. it happens so rarely and when it does its just magic. this happened to me a few weeks ago, when i met the uber-talented, hilarious (and slightly bonkers) angelica malin, owner and chief of about time magazine.
a mutual friend introduced us… being a fellow foodie writer and budding entrepreneur, she got me, my goofy jokes and foodie chit chat from the get go.
it also just so happens good and unexpected things happen when i hang out with jelly. it was in our first meeting, sitting in monmouth sipping on our frothy whites when we happened upon a meeting with the owner of chef magazine, peter marshall. bizarre that he should have been sitting on the next table and keen as mustard to take us for lunch to discuss our food writing pursuits. how could we say no?!
we settled on modern pantry, a bright, little hotspot in farringdon, with a fantastic menu to boot. although built into an old town house, the place echoes a very california clean vibe. the white and bleu colour scheme injecting light into the place, complementing the fresh menu.
we started with a selection of olives, nibbles anddeliciousspiced nuts. salty, laced with paprika and a hefty chilli kick.
we went straight on in for main course.
peter went for the tempura battered soft shell crab, with a coconut laksa, vermicelli, rose, pickled daikon and thai basil cress.
jelly went for the pan fried grey mullet, golden beetroot, cauliflower ‘cous cous’, and a spring onion & almond pesto. it was a beautiful dish, with perfectly cooked fish. although, we both agreed, the cous cous was slightly lacking in flavour and seasoning.
i went for the ginger & white wine steamed mussels with saffron aioli. the mussels were plump and beautifully cooked but the liquor was unfortunately a little watery and lacking in flavour. much so was the aioli whose only dominant flavour was strong extra virgin olive oil, no hint of saffron flavour to be found.
we felt that the best way to redeem the meal would have to be pudding. it did not disappoint!
we opted for the cinder toffee affogato with espresso (which was so good i didn’t manage a photo), a raspberry and pink peppercorn sorbet and the olive oil & orange cake, with poached clementine, saffron cream, candied walnuts. the sorbet, fresh, fruity with a delicate peppery hint was doubtedly my favourite.
we opted for the cinder toffee affogato with espresso (which was so good i didn’t manage a photo), a raspberry and pink peppercorn sorbet and the olive oil & orange cake, with poached clementine, saffron cream, candied walnuts. the sorbet, fresh, fruity with a delicate peppery hint was doubtedly my favourite.
the cake haddeliciousflavour, but was slightly dry. the cream was a welcome addition to add rich creaminess.
to top it all off was my creamy, foamy,delicioushoney-sweetened matcha latte. a perfect, anti-oxidant packed, coffee alternative to give me a bit of energy for an afternoon of meetings ahead. this one was a real knock of for the best ones in london, served at the good life eatery in south ken. hands down the best two matcha makers in london.