The Quo Vadis chef recommends a restaurant “at the pinnacle of everything”, as well as a heavenly dessert shop and a great Italian deli in Soho
EATING OUT
St John
26 St John St, London EC1M 4AY; www.stjohnrestaurant.com
“The absolute pinnacle of everything, great produce cooked beautifully simply. I go here when I need away from the hustle and bustle. Those extraordinary white walls, that amazing interior. The menu is always inspiring to read and the kitchen delivers. Look at what it spawned – the wild world we are in now. It’s the godfather of so much.” – Jeremy
The Clove Club
Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old St, London EC1V 9LT; www.thecloveclub.com
“Three young men doing something utterly singular. I adore them. The burnt clementine ice is otherworldly (I always judge restaurants by their puddings). It’s cut through the middle and inside is this granita of burnt clementine and you just think, How? What? Who? It tastes only of itself, unlike anything else, it’s divine.”
Gujarati Rasoi
Broadway Market, London E8; www.gujaratirasoi.com (open Saturdays)
The owners of this Gujarati food stall on Broadway Market also run a restaurant on Bradbury Street in Dalston. “Ten or 11 years they’ve been at Broadway Market. They haven’t changed the menu yet. Glorious takeaway vegetarian food.”
Baguettes from the Pavilion bakery
BUYING IN
I Camisa
61 Old Compton St, London W1D 6HS; www.icamisa.co.uk
“Great sausages and pasta… We buy our sausages from Camisa for the QV breakfast.” – Jeremy
Leila’s Shop
15-17 Calvert Ave, London E2 7JP; Facebook
A food shop in Shoreditch with a café next door. “Leila knows her stuff – everything she buys is so considered and tastes great, wonderful linen too. It’s a joy going there.”
Maison Bertaux
28 Greek St, London W1D 5DQ; www.maisonbertaux.com
“When in need, get yourself a coffee religieuse: a large choux pastry ball (iced with coffee and filled with chocolate) topped with a small choux pastry ball also known as a nun’s head (iced with chocolate and filled with coffee custard cream). It’s divine.”
Pavilion Bakery
18 Broadway Market, London E8 4QJ; www.pavilion-cafe.com
“Very nice people, they always smile. Lovely little sourdoughs and the baguettes [pictured above] are brilliant.”