The food writer recommends a great Italian steakhouse, a favourite west London patisserie and the places she goes to buy Caribbean produce
EATING OUT
Macellaio
84 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3LQ; 020 7589 5834, www.macellaiorc.com
“I discovered this Italian steak place on Brompton Road the other day. I think it’s been around forever – it used to be called Maxela. It’s very simple inside – there’s a butchers counter as well as the restaurant – but the steak they do is incredible. It doesn’t come with any sauces, just olive oil and seasoning. And they have this really great steak tartare that has gorgonzola bruleed on top of it. It’s so good.” – Shivi
Anges de Sucre
1 Holland Street, London W8 4NA; 020 7937 1998, www.angesdesucre.com
“This is a patisserie on the site of the old Ottolenghi that does amazing macaroons and this really cool thing called a ‘muffle”: it’s like a marshmallow dipped in chocolate and praline. And they do a mean hot chocolate there as well. When people leave a premises they leave some good presence behind, and I knew that whoever followed in Ottolenghi’s footsteps would bring something splendid.”
Bone Daddies
1st Floor, Whole Foods Market, 63-97 Kensington High Street, London W8 5SE; 020 7368 4575, www.bonedaddies.com
Of the many new tonkotsu ramen restaurants in London, Bone Daddies is one of the best. “They have a new place above Whole Foods, which is brilliant. I pretty much live in there. (I also really want to go to Shackfuyu, their Soho pop-up.)”
Roti Masters
26A Saint George’s Walk, Croydon, UK CR0 1YG; 020 8760 0999, www.rotimasters.com
“This is more like a takeaway with a few tables to sit in but they do great roti.”
Bocca di Lupo
12 Archer Street, London W1D 7BB; 020 7734 2223, www.boccadilupo.com
“I do love Bocca di Lupo. They change the menu quite regularly but the thing I love is pasta with nduja – and burrata when they have it. My favourite place to sit is at the bar. And I love Gelupo, their ice cream shop across the road.”
Portland
113 Great Portland Street, London W1W 6QQ; 020 7436 3261, www.portlandrestaurant.co.uk
“This is a new place I tried the other day: it’s very good. They have a peanut and chocolate dessert that’s like a Snickers to the max – it’s the best dessert I’ve had in a while.”
Dishoom
5 Stable Street, London N1C 4AB; 020 7420 9321, www.dishoom.com
“Dishoom is really good – I love their bacon naan.”
Bleecker St Burger
Various locations around London; www.bleeckerburger.co.uk
Luardos
Various locations around London; www.luardos.co.uk
“I love the street food scene in London and these are two of my favourite vendors. The Bleecker Street burger is great. And Luardos do wonderful burritos.”
BUYING IN
Shepherds Bush Market
off Goldhawk Road, London W12 8DE (open Monday to Saturday)
“I tend to go to Shepherds Bush Market for fruit and veg, because there’s really strong Caribbean produce there. It’s very much the place to go in London for Caribbean food.” – Shivi
Sri Thai
56 Shepherds Bush Rd, London W6 7PH; 020 7602 0621
“This is another place in Shepherds Bush I go to, mostly for a herb called chardon béni, also known as culantro – it’s pretty much coriander on drugs and it’s prized among London Caribbeans. They get it in on Fridays and Tuesdays and you’ve got to get there early or you won’t get it.”
Kensington Place Fish Shop
201 Kensington Church St, London W8 7LX; 020 7727 3184, thefishshop
“This is a really good fishmonger attached to the Kensington Place restaurant. There’s a dish I do that calls for crab backs and you can get a tonne of them in there.”
HG Walter butchers
51 Palliser Road, London W14 9EB; 020 7385 6466, www.hgwalter.com
“I have to hop on a tube to get to this butchers near Baron’s Court, but it’s worth the trip. If I’m coming back from central London I’ll drop into Allen’s of Mayfair, they’re brilliant as well. There are so many good butchers in London, we’re spoiled for choice.”
St John Bakery
Druid Street, London SE1 2HQ; 020 7237 5999, www.stjohngroup.uk.com
“The St John doughnuts: my god, they are so good.”