Tag Archives: Roast

Sunday Brunch at Darwin, Sky Garden

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Affectionately known as the Walkie Talkie, 20 Fenchurch Street was completed in late 2014 and the three storey Sky Garden opened in early 2015. This public space is popular with tourists and locals, offering 360 degree uninterrupted views across the city. The Sky Garden is London’s highest public garden and even has an open air terrace for enjoying in the summer heat.

Darwin is an all-day brasserie located on Level 36 with a menu inspired by the very best of British. The kitchen is operated by event caterer Rhubarb who offer a range of tempting dishes using seasonal, home-grown ingredients. On a sunny Sunday morning we visited the impressive building to try the all-day Sunday brunch. After the rigorous security check we zoomed up in the lift to reach the upper floors, a bright arena filled with lush foliage and flowers.

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For £38 per person guests are invited to indulge in the buffet, choose one hot dish and enjoy the milkshake bar and unlimited bloody mary station. The sumptuous buffet table was laid with fresh juice, pastries, fruit, delicatessen items (cheese, meat, salmon), salad and bread. The sweet side features waffles, doughnuts, french toast, cheesecake and miniature crème brulees. Head chef Arnaud Delannay must be extremely busy on Sundays, the restaurant was full with hungry guests and the buffet table seems to magically refill within moments.

With the clouds peering in through the windowed walls and the tiny display of London life happening far down below us it felt very special dining at this height. Overwhelmed with the buffet choice I tried to serve myself modest portions, but it all looked and smelt so good. The fresh and summery asparagus, pea and crumbly goat’s cheese salad was my favourite, lightly seasoned and cooked to perfection. Also tasty were the platter of meats, the heritage tomato salad and the creamy British cheeses. I could have just eaten from this lovely selection but we had mains to come.

Hot dishes on offer include traditional brunch options such as Eggs Benedict, Full English and Pancakes but we decided to go decadent and order one of the Sunday lunch choices. I had Roast Spatchcocked Poussin with watercress and my guest opted for Roast Rib of Beef with Yorkshire pudding and traditional garnish. The plates were delivered promptly and looked divine. I needed extra gravy but aside from that the dishes were faultless, brilliantly cooked meat, with a crispy skin and accompanied by roast potatoes and vegetables. I thought the Roast Beef was a little chewy but the flavour was good.

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We picked at a few of the dessert treats before retiring downstairs to admire the view of our beautiful city.

More information on Darwin’s Sunday brunch and book a table here.

Roast, Borough Market

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Roast really does offer the very best of British. Located smack bang in the centre of Borough Market, they are ideally placed, with the highest quality ingredients available on their doorstep.

It was strange on a drizzly Saturday evening to be wandering through the empty marketplace. There was the odd lone cabbage leaf left unhappily wilting on the floor but really the place was miraculously tidy and clean considering the chaotic scenes just hours earlier.

Up a few floors, Roast overlooks the market and city, a very bright and smart, modern canteen offering a simple but exceptionally well balanced menu of classic (with a twist) dishes.

Unable to resist trying a new cocktail creation, we investigated the ‘seasonal tipples’: an ultra refreshing cucumber and kiwi martini for me and an utterly unique Bohemian Rhapsody for my brother.  The martini was well mixed with Grey Goose lemon vodka and sugar although perhaps the fresh fruit could have been strained slightly more to achieve a smoother texture. The Bohemian Rhapsody was a clever combination of Amaretto liqueur, Yamazaki whisky, fresh apple juice, fresh pomegranate juice, marmalade and caramel syrup – an inventive, attractive and great tasting drink.

Every day Roast offers a special, (a pricier richer dish for hungrier guests), for Saturday dinner it was Beef Wellington. Wishing to sample the high quality meats and vegetables, we both opted for little green starters, especially after munching our way through the basket of crusty bread and wonderfully yellow freshly churned butter.

The plates of steamed Norfolk Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce and Heritage Tomatoes on Toast with Water Celery and Shaved Berkswell Cheese were both beautifully presented – really vibrant and attractive food. The Asparagus was of the highest quality and so it should be for a £12 pricetag. My bruschetta-like starter was amazing, a pile of sweet cherry tomatoes, mature cheese, and torn fresh basil, a Mediterranean delight.

For mains we realised from the sight of dishes on nearby tables, that the portions here are not for the small stomached. I tried Chargrilled Launceston Lamb Neck Fillet with an Organic Spelt, Lemon and Herb Salad and Cucumber Yoghurt. The flavours were fresh and summery, but it arrived a little chilly. It was the perfect cut of meat, highly seasoned and well cooked, crispy round the edges, soft and tender inside. The salad, although there was far too much of it, was a light and healthy accompaniment, ideal for the health conscious. The steak was ginormous. My brother ordered it rare and though it arrived far from rare, the taste was full and succulent with a lovely burnt exterior from the chargrill.

A small dish of Burnt Cream followed in a terracotta dish… the English version of Creme Brulee. A lovely light dessert to finish the meal.

With the Jubilee just gone and the London Olympics only weeks away, it seems an appropriate time to experience the highest quality British food… and you’re unlikely to find it anywhere better than Roast.

Visit the ROAST website here for more information, menus and to book.