Tag Archives: South London

Weekday breakfast at Village East, Bermondsey

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Bermondsey Street is my favourite road in South London for eating out, with Jose’s two Spainish eateries and comfort French food at Casse Croute. Nearby to Borough Market, and close enough to roll home to my flat, it ticks every box! Village East will undoubtably become my new weekday meeting spot now that they are serving breakfast from Monday to Friday.

Village East Breakfast

This neighbourhood restaurant is based in the former textile factory, so the decor is stylishly industrial. I joined a crowd of foodie influencers at the back of the restaurant to try out the new morning menu.

Coffees and juices were ordered all round. The coffee is roasted by Allpress Espresso in Shoreditch and had a lovely nutty taste. I was interested to see the creative choices for smoothies juices, I opted for the ‘In the pink’ made from apple, pink grapefruit juice and agave syrup, a deliciously girly drink and a great way to kick start your metabolism for the day. The ‘Cooler’ was popular amongst my colleagues a refreshing mix of coconut water, apple juice and lime.

Village East Breakfast

The menu is not as varied as the weekend brunch at Village East, and I was a little disappointed to notice some of the sweet recipes have been omitted (Malted waffles with caramelised banana and Buttermilk Pancakes). However, there is a good mix of savoury dishes, from simple Toast with homemade butter and conserves to the full Campfire breakfast with barbecue beans, fried eggs, and slow-roasted pork shoulder. Aware that I was also eating lunch out I asked for the classic Avocado on toast with chilli and coriander. It was light and tasty, though I must admit I was jealous of some of the other food round the table!

More information on Village East breakfast bookings and menu here.

Mr Bao, Peckham

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The bao craze is only just beginning, with more Taiwanese eateries opening up all over the world, particularly in London. I have been lucky enough to try a few of the best bao buns around the world and was excited to be invited recently to try the newest offering at Peckham establishment Mr Bao.

Founders Frank Yeung and Nick Birkett have transformed an old shop on Rye Lane, creating a buzzy restaurant for locals to enjoy fresh and flavoursome Taiwanese cuisine. The menu features a range of bao varieties and Taiwanese snacks as well as traditional teas and quirky cocktails. Where possible produce is bought in from local suppliers, though some specialist ingredients come all the way from Taipei. I was particularly pleased to notice Peckham’s finest Flock + Herd meat featuring on the menu.

I tried a selection of dishes from the menu. My favourites included the classic ‘Mr Bao’, a sweet and indulgent bap filled with slow braised pork, pickles, peanut powder and coriander, and the ‘Bao Diddley’ filled with fried chicken, brined for 24 hours, wasabi mayo, kimchi and coriander, a spicy but tasty option. From the sharing snack list I loved the fresh Tenderstem broccoli with ponzu and the intriguing ‘Smacked cucumber’, lightly pickled to give a subtle and refreshing vegetarian dish.

The cocktails were a tad disappointing, with no garnishes or flourishes they tasted like spirits simply mixed with fruit juice. Instead opt for a ‘Jin Xuan’ tea, which has a light but mellow taste and complements the bold food perfectly. For dessert the ‘Bao S’More’ is the only option, but no one is complaining, a naughty mess of melted marshmallow, dark chocolate and fried bao. At weekends Mr Bao offers a popular brunch menu that includes their decadent bacon bao with maple syrup, which already has a cult following.

I couldn’t be happier to have this bao business on my doorstep… I am sure I will be popping in regularly to satisfy my bao cravings in this new neighbourhood venue.

More information about Mr Bao here.

The Salon, Brixton

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Most of the eateries in Brixton market are rough and ready, take outs and quick eats. The Salon, however, offers some refinement and sophistication despite its shabby chic appearance. This small rustic restaurant serves seasonal plates of food utilising the British produce available in and around South London. Located above the Salon deli, the upstairs kitchen has the ideal larder in which to get the fresh and flavoursome ingredients.

The compulsory set menu eliminates the conundrum of deciding between dishes. Priced at £29 for four courses, the menu is designed for the whole table to enjoy. But before we got involved in our carte du jour, there were aperitifs and snacks to enjoy. I tried the summery and refreshing Rhubarb Gin Fizz, though I would also recommend a bottle of the local Brixton Brewery beer. ‘Nduja Croquettes were the perfect nibbles to accompany our drinks, seriously tasty aromatic balls served with pickled cucumber and a creamy aioli.

Set Menu

Romanesco, Tarragon, Dandelion, Grapefruit

Ham, Egg, Turnip Tops

Swaledale Lamb, Jersey Royals, Seaweed

Rhubarb, Buttermilk, Roasted White Chocolate, Oats

Romanesco is a beautiful green-tinged vegetable from the broccoli / cauliflower family. The subtle taste and hard texture worked well with the tangy citrus grapefruit and the creamy tarragon sauce. It was a light and vibrant starter to awaken the taste buds and alert the palate. Next up was a warming bowl of goodness. This dish felt Asian inspired with a clear broth soup and floating poached egg, charred greenery and tender slow cooked pork. It felt healthy and soothing, with a touch of richness from the egg yolk.

For main course we were treated to a glorious piece of lean lamb with some braised meat presented on a bed of samphire, tiny jersey royals and a powerful green sauce. I couldn’t taste seaweed precisely but the earthy flavours of the vegetables complemented the meat. With the absence of carbohydrates it was a lovely dish that felt substantial but not too heavy. I needed to add a little extra seasoning but aside from that the dish was faultless.

A brief cheese course followed, a showcase of the best British cheeses, soft, hard and blue. I don’t normally favour the sweet and savoury combinations but in this case the homemade red onion chutney was a suitable accompaniment to the indulgent cheeses. Finally a sweet course, and one that I had been excitedly anticipating for the whole meal. A luscious assortment of flavours: poached and puréed rhubarb made the dish a pretty shade of pink, arranged with buttermilk mousse and shards of burnt white chocolate. It was a graceful and airy dessert, and I scraped my plate clean with a big smile on my face.

The Salon was a real delight; innovative and delicious British food in a casually cool setting. Simple dining with a focus on the food, you couldn’t ask for more.

This small eatery is also available for exclusive hire and would be the perfect setting for a special celebration or meal. More information and book here.

More information and book a table at The Salon here.