There is nothing that I enjoy more than connecting with ‘foodie folk’ who are as passionate about food, wine and beautiful places as I am. So, you can imagine my absolute delight on meeting Aron Mullis, Head Chef of The Hand in Flowers in Marlow. We went to visit him and what a delightful establishment it is. Owned by Chef Tom Kerridge, this one Michelin Star ‘gastro pub’ is more than what meets the eye… Delicious food is served in an informal space where the emphasis is on comfort and quality of food. The food is distinctive and bold while retaining its simplicity, a style that resonates with our Londolozi food ethos of being ‘simply sophisticated’.
Pork Cracklings – a little appetizer to get the taste buds going! Washed down with their incredible homemade Pear ‘bubbles’ – wish I could have bought 2 cases!
Duck Liver Parfait with Orange Chutney and Toasted Brioche
Spiced Sweetcorn Soup with Spring Onion and Blowtorched Lime
Hand & Flowers Warm Gala Pie with “Matson” Spiced Sauce
Twice cooked fries with a delicious side salad of organic leaves
White Peach Soufflé with Tea Sorbet and Rosemary Custard
Next up was something new and exciting in London –NOPI is part of the famous Ottolenghi dynasty and has recently opened its doors. This Soho based restaurant still celebrates the traditional bold flavours of Ottolenghi, however, NOPI has a slightly different feel to its trademark delis. We ate downstairs in the informal communal dining area, which was a novel experience. Surrounded by all the ingredients used on the menu, it was fun to see the chefs popping out the kitchen to grab a litre of Virgin olive oil or a large tin of olives.
The informal communal dining area with a birds eye view of the kitchen right in the hustle and bustle of it all
Pio Tosini Prosciutto, Beer Piquillo – thinly shaved prosciutto with the sweet tastes of peppers and crisp tartness of the watercress was sublime – my ideal lunch!
Scallops, Apple, nettle and lemon puree – simply fabulous
Pork Shoulder Croquettes, kohlrabi, nashi pear & basil mayonnaise
Their signature – Courgette and manouri fritters with cardamom yoghurt – delicious!
After you’re done grazing through the incredible food, take a bathroom break and be ready to be multiplied! Pretty crazy bathrooms.
I always love meeting up with old friends, so when Dominic called up and suggested lunch at Baraffina, the answer was easy. I used to be Dominic’s private chef in Cape Town before moving to Londolozi, so we had lots of catching up to do. With Dom being an esteemed foodie himself, I knew the restaurant recommendation would not be disappointing. This two Michelin Star Tapas Bar is situated in the heart of Soho and is incredible. Don’t be later than 12h00 though, otherwise you won’t get a table!
Barraffina serves contemporary and traditional dishes from all regions of Spain – expect the freshest seafood and dishes that are prepared in front of you. We trusted Dominic’s suggestions as he knows Barraffina well and were definitely not disappointed.
Barrafina
Pimentos de Padron – a taste sensation extraordinaire!
Baby Grilled Artichokes with Aioli
Chipirones – deep fried calamari with chili and salt
Octopus with Capers – grilled octopus with the smoky aroma of capers
Tuna Tartar
Green Asparagus with Romesco Sauce and Parmesan Shavings – another all time favourite of mine! One of my big foodie inspirations is that of Skye Gyllenhall.
Having moved from Petersham Nursery Café in Richmond– Skye has moved into a beautiful dining space set in the New Wing of the iconic Somerset House. The food is wholesome and produce driven (a lot of the ingredients come from their farm called Fern Yarrow). The interiors are peaceful and artistic with hundreds of paper flowers pasted to the walls and the staff are donned in different shades of green.
An appetizer – Fritto misto of sage flowers – deep fried sage flowers with a squeeze of fresh lemon
Pappardelle with Sage and Crème Fraiche – this for me was so heartwarming and delicious – the pasta perfectly cooked and draped with the subtle flavours of sage and citrus…. As you can imagine, I have recreated this delicious dish at Londolozi!
Pan fried Scallops with green tomatoes, fennel and sweet cicely
Hundreds of handmade paper flowers adorn the grass wall paper walls
In conclusion to my London Food Safari 2015 – I leave you hopefully wanting to get on a plane and experience these wonderful restaurants for yourself. If you have been to any of the past featured restaurants or markets, please let me know as I would love hear all about it.
Written and Photographed by Chef Anna Ridgewell
Rich Laburn is filmmaker, photographer and writer who is based at Londolozi Game Reserve in South Africa. Spending his time capturing scenes of the wild and communicating the beauty of the African bushveld, he runs the Londolozi Blog as a way to entertain and engage people wishing to visit these wild lands.
