About Time: You Tried the New Winter Brunch Menu at Friends of OursBy Alicia Grimshaw
You’ve probably heard us wittering on about Friend Of Ours, but this quaint, independent hotspot really lives up to the hype. Probably London’s worst kept secret, this laid-back, antipodean-style café located a stones throw from Old Street Station is teeming with hungry brunchers at the weekend. But believe us, it’s worth the queue. The team have been busy in the kitchen perfecting their new winter brunch menu, and we think it’s their best one yet. If you’re looking to shake up your brunch routine this weekend, head down to Friend of Ours. Here’s what you need to know:
Friends of Ours: The New Menu
The kitchen gang have made a big effort to ensure the new dishes are less bread heavy, and instead have used different accompaniments with each dish. Any brunch dish that’s basically a dessert gets a yes from us. The apple crumble hotcakes is a modern spin on a comfort food classic, and features ricotta hotcakes topped with poached apple, walnut crumble, salted caramel, and maple creme fraiche.
Don’t leave your vegan pals at home, as the Middle Eastern carrot salad is anything but bland. We’re talking about a hearty bowlful of grains with glazed parsnip, braised cabbage, dukkha, rocket, herbs and smoked aubergine baba ganoush. It’s a flavour explosion – and the thick, and utterly dreamy baba ghanoush steals the show.
Granted, this isn’t your quintessential brunch dish – but the buttermilk fried chicken bap is what every hangover needs. The skin is next level delicious; crispy, crunchy and perfectly seasoned. And the fresh slaw and the generous dollop of chipotle mayo adds some much needed heat to the mix.
If you’re a traditionalist when it comes to your late morning feed, the corn fritters with smashed avocado and sweet harissa sauce is a tower of beauty, and you can’t go wrong with the smashed avocado on organic sourdough pimped up with feta, cherry tomatoes, and red chilli for a spicy bite.
The eggs Benedict rule book has been thrown out of the window, as the team have created something spectacular, and a tastier alternative to the standard bacon, Hollandaise and egg combo. What you’re served is a potato and red cabbage braised hash with slow roasted pork belly, apple cider hollandaise, fresh green apple and 2 poached eggs. The apple cuts through the richness of the Hollandaise sauce, and brings a perfect balance to the dish.
Friends of Ours: The Verdict
Friends of Ours pride themselves on providing great tasting coffee, awesome brunches and freshly-prepared cakes and other sweet bites. Come and see brunch beauty in all its glory this weekend.
