Brixton Cornercopia - July 2012

Brixton Village market is such an exciting place to visit for the variety of interesting cuisines that it offers. There are many places to eat worth exploring including Thai, Italian, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Jamaican, British, Colombian etc...
During this visit to Brixton Village market, I asked my Australian friend to choose the place we could try for lunch as she was visiting me in London (as a Londoner, I have plenty of opportunities to try other places). She chose Brixton Cornercpia which serves British food. During the week, for lunch Brixton Cornercopia has a set menu (£8.50 for any two plates per person, or £11 for any three plates per person). The menu changes on a daily basis and this is what was on offer on the day of our visit:

Menu

My friend ordered Chicken & Pork Terrine as her starter and I ordered crab croquettes. My friend enjoyed her starter very much and I also enjoyed my crab croquettes.

Chicken, Pork + Apricot terrine, wholegrain mustard

Crab Croquettes, Aioli

For the second dish, my friend ordered the salad and I order the red mullet. My friend enjoyed her salad very much. She found the peas and broad-beans very fresh and just loved the poached duck egg (you can see from the picture the egg yolk oozing out!). My Red Mullet dish was also very tasty but the portion was a bit on a small side.

Salad of peas, broad-beans + mint, poached duck egg + pea-shoots

Red Mullet fillet, slow roast tomatoes, saffron

The produces were of top quality and the cooking appeared simple but very competent. The food was very tasty. Service was friendly and efficient. 
This is a very good place to eat British food! On Sundays, they seem to have Sunday roast on the menu which I am very keen to try one day.

Brixton Cornercopia
65 Brixton Village Market
London SW9 8PS


07919 542 233

http://brixtoncornercopia.co.uk/

Royal China (Baker Street) - June 2012

Royal China is simply my favourite Chinese restaurant in London for Dim Sum! My favourite branch of Royal China in London is the Baker Street one as it is spacious and airy unlike the one in Bayswater.
It had been a long time since we last went to Royal China for Dim Sum as I am allergic to prawns and lots of Dim Sum contain prawns. However, in April this year we took my parents to Royal China for Dim Sum when they came to visit us in London. I realised that there were many dishes that I could order which did not contain prawns...this is to my hubby's joy as he simply loves Dim Sum! We recently came back to Royal China in June, just the two of us and this is what we ordered.

Fish Crispy Aubergine

Spinach Crab Meat Dumpling

Scallop Dumpling

Prawn & Chive Dumpling

Fried Squid Paste

Yam Paste

Prawn Cheung Fun

Fried Dough Cheung Fun

Fried Eggs York Buns

Milk & Egg Tart

All the Dim Sum were delicious in different ways so I wouldn't know which one to choose as my favourite! I like them all!
The service is nice, friendly and efficient unlike most of the restaurants in Chinatown where service can be quite abrupt.
The bill came to £51.75 for the two of us, including 13% service and two portions of egg tart to take away.
I love Dim Sum so much that I wouldn't mind eating it every weekend! Too bad, we don't live next door to the restaurant or close enough! Can't wait for our next visit to Royal China for Dim Sum!


Royal China (Baker Street)
24-26 Baket Street
London W1U 7AB


020 7487 4688

http://www2.royalchinagroup.biz/

Almeida - June 2012

Almeida restaurant seems to be the restaurant of choice for us whenever we go to Almeida Theatre! They offer good value set lunch ( 2 courses for £15.95 or 3 courses for £18.95) and the food is good.

On this occasion, this is what was on the set lunch menu:

Set Lunch Menu

For starter my hubby ordered Pork & Peppercorn Rillette, Celeriac Remoulade, Watercress Salad, and I ordered Crayfish and Avocado Salad, Confit Tomato, Creme Fraiche. Both starters were nice, mine is lighter and more summery, while my hubby's starter is more hearty (especially the portion was very generous!)

Pork & Peppercorn Rillette, Celeriac Remoulade, Watercress Salad

Crayfish and Avocado Salad, Confit Tomato, Creme Fraiche

For main course, my hubby ordered South West line caught Pollock, Spiced Mussels, and I ordered Braised Beef Cheek, Pomme Puree, Red Wine Shallot Sauce. The fish skin was nice and crispy, the spiced mussels went well with the fish. The beef cheek was melting in the mouth and the pomme puree very smooth!

South West line caught Pollock, Spiced Mussels

Braised Beef Cheek, Pomme Puree, Red Wine Shallot Sauce

For dessert, my hubby ordered Homemade Ice Cream & Sorbet and I ordered Glazed Passion Fruit Tart, Yoghurt Sorbet. Both desserts were pretty enjoyable.

Homemade Ice Cream & Sorbet

Glazed Passion Fruit Tart, Yoghurt Sorbet

Our lunch at Almeida was very enjoyable. The food is classic but competently cooked. The staffs are always nice and friendly. The service is efficient. The bread at Almeida is also very good!

Almeida restaurant
30 Almeida Street
London N1 1AD


020 7354 4777


http://www.almeida-restaurant.co.uk/