Redefined Timelines

Beating the bank holiday blues with one of London’s best value tasting menus...

A firm favourite tapas bar situated in the heart of Soho. Copita provides an authentic taste of Spain with a relaxed and intimate ambience. The tapas plates are reasonably priced with standout dishes combining simplistic yet award winning flavours. The ‘Ajo Blanco’ remains a staple dish on the menu and it’s easy to see why – a smooth and creamy white soup made from almonds and garlic, subtle flavours perfect for dipping into with crispy fresh bread.

Teaching the City folk how to eat...

Less is definitely more...

A strong contender in Shoreditch...

Walking upstairs to this boutique style restaurant felt like we were about to eat vast culinary delights in the comfort of our own living room. Cosy and intimate, expect to share a table with other East London foodies. This new restaurant has been set-up by founders of the successful Indian restaurant, Gunpowder, strategically placed across the road to absorb the crowds that form.

The focus of Madame D’s is Himalayan cuisine – the dishes evidently show Nepalese, Tibetan and Chinese influences in this understated and no-thrills venue. Following the theme of Gunpowder, hearty and home cooked style food is served. Whilst the service is friendly and accommodating this new restaurant is evidently having a few teething issues. The oven breaking meant the seabass was cooked in a ‘slightly different way’ – the fish was succulent yet on the slightly overcooked ‘mushy’ side. 

The paneer dish lacked a burst of flavour, disappointing when its dark, rich appearance looked so promising. However, the fried chicken stole the show – juicy and succulent with a perfectly crisp coating that included a coriander flavoured sauce drizzled inside to add vibrancy and intensity.

There’s a real focus here on simplistic ingredients, combined to nourish and vitalise. The brunch menu excites with a varied array of organic produce put together to create an eating experience away from the norm. The slightly pretentious ‘squashdilla’ arrived as a healthy alternative to the standard quesadilla one might expect. Mouth-watering flavours of delicately roasted squash, scrambled tofu and goats cheese pleasantly surprised as an inventive flavour combination. 

They say healthy eating comes at a price – with limited carbs the price certainly starts to stack up when you are tempted by one of the smoothies or cold pressed juices. 

‘Posh Brunching’

Authenticity, charm and elegance. My trip to Seville did not fail to disappoint. Around every corner is a story, from the cobbled streets of the Santa Cruz quarter to the constant glimpses of Seville’s Moorish past. Seville is best experienced via foot, exploring the intertwined streets, elegant architecture and desirable tapas bars. Sevillians are knowns for their wit and sparkle – living in the Andalusian capital with both looks and personality it is easy to see why.

La Brunilda

Seville’s newer gastronomy wave shines behind the big blue door of La Brunilda. Simplistic and modernised tapas dishes are served here as tapas and main sized options. They are not afraid to merge the old and new, keeping traditional flavours and ingredients visible with an added touch of creativity and sophistication. The food here is outstanding so be prepared to que for a spot.

El Rinconcillo

Tourist? They don’t care here - what you see is what you get. Founded in 1670, El Rinconcillo is the oldest tapas bar in Seville. Moorish influences are prominent, featuring dark wooden cupboards and hanging legs of jamon iberico – curiously rough and effortlessly charming. Perched on a barrel in the hustle and bustle of the bar is the best way to enjoy your experience here. Staff chalk up your tapas bill as you sample the delights on offer and with the superb value the chalk bill effortlessly grows. Some would say you come here for a piece of history rather than the food – I would say it satisfies both and does so well.

Adam Handling has finally put his MasterChef fame to good use. From a background in hotel dining, Adam’s trapped desire for the ‘somewhat different’ shines through. Tucked behind Brick Lane you walk into a festival style outdoor area, almost expecting to see a menu full of patty burgers and wings. I was pleasantly surprised to see a trendy and sophisticated dining area, surprisingly full of City folk. The set menu offered surprises left right and centre. The chicken butter and bread got the dinner off on the right foot – butter gently whisked with sticky roasting juices. Whilst I would probably have preferred normal butter to avoid the taste of chicken fat in my mouth, the flavours do leave you wondering what will be served next.

I was greeted with a beautiful and lightly cooked piece of fresh salmon, almost sashimi like with delicately pickled vegetables. Almost too stunning to eat, this first dish showed the complexity in Adam’s dishes with mouth-watering flavours, cooked in various cutting edge ways to enhance creativity and overall depth of flavour. The restaurant obviously prides itself on using the most carefully sourced ingredients with Asian flavours and techniques evident throughout.

The standout and most obscure dish had to be the celeriac with thin sliced apple, truffle, date, egg yolk and cream. The ingredients together sound disastrous but believe me, tasted heavenly – I applaud the risk in textures and flavours that have been taken to create this dish. A definite marmite option for the crowd.

The palate cleanser looked like a piece of art – only for the beetroot fanatics. Again, the dish goes above and beyond in terms of creativity, stepping away from the usual ‘sorbet shot’. Beetroot stained sugar tubes stuffed with beetroot pannacotta and jellied yuzu. A perfect pre-dessert despite the over enthusiastic dusting of beetroot – there’s only so much beetroot one dish can take.

The dinner finished on a high after sampling beautifully cooked cod with salt and vinegar twigs and lamb with a refreshing pea and mint puree. Desserts were as expected – creative and intriguing. Smoking popcorn, boozy flavoured ice creams and the most luxurious forest gateaux. No dish disappointed, each provided its own quirks and experiences. Whilst there is a conflict in the restaurant trying to be part hipster part fine dining, the overall experience is stand-out. A relaxed vibe with service to match. If you are looking for excitement, flavour and colour in your food then The Frog is your destination.