Top 5: Ways to Eat Brunch in London This WeekendBy Alicia Grimshaw
Looking for a feast? Get your stretchy pants on, here’s 5 ways to enjoy brunch in London this weekend:
1. For a Sharing Brunch: Cinnamon Bazaar
What: Cinnamon Bazaar in Covent Garden roll out a special Grand Weekend Brunch Menu on Saturday and Sunday. Available from midday for a minimum of four people, the menu is a carnival of Indian flavours, dishes and that Mithai Chaat dessert.
Eat and Drink: Served family feast style, the menu includes a line-up of Indian small plates such as Chana Kulcha, spiced chickpea and potato filled naan bread; Dahi Bhalla Chaat, chilled lentil dumplings with spiced yoghurt and toasted cumin; Papdi Chaat, crisp wheat, tangy tamarind, yoghurt and chickpea vermicelli; Pepper Fry, curry leaf and cracked black pepper fried shrimp; double-cooked pork belly ‘Koorg’-style with curried yoghurt; old Delhi-style butter chicken curry; and Hyderabadi-style lamb biryani. And there’s Mithai Chaat for pudding.
Where: 28 Maiden Ln, London WC2E 7JS
2. For a Brunch Event: Aster x Jasmine Hemlsey
What: Jasmine Hemsley will be celebrating the launch of her first solo cookbook, East by West, with a soulful brunch in collaboration with Aster restaurant, as part of D&D’s Mindful City campaign. On Sunday (4th February) from 11am-3pm, the bestselling author alongside Aster’s Executive Chef Helena Puolakka will be hosting a four course brunch, with an exclusive talk and signed copy of her newly launched cookbook.
Eat and Drink: Curated by Jasmine herself, guests will be guided through the ancient Ayurvedic practice explored in the book, shining a light on how to look after your welfare and live with a more rewarding lifestyle and diet. The menu will feature a selection of dishes to choose from including golden milk or masala chai; buckwheat banana bread; sunny-side-up eggs with flax crunch, avocado and tomato chutney and a warming teff waffles with turmeric and honey drizzle. Freshly baked treats from Aster’s deli will also be offered throughout the brunch, alongside a selection of herbal teas. Book here.
Where: 150 Victoria St, Westminster, London SW1E 5LB
3. For a New Brunch Menu: Lanes of London
What: Lanes of London has create a new breakfast menu full of decadent dishes and classic morning bites. Newly appointed head chef Craig Burrows has designed the menu, giving big love to British produce sourced from local suppliers.
Eat and Drink: Focusing on seasonal ingredients and flavours, early risers can sit back at breakfast with freshly made coffee and choose from vanilla French toast, berry pancakes, a full English breakfast or lobster and avocado baked eggs. There’s a selection of freshly squeezed juices and smoothies, including the Detox with carrot, celery, ginger, lemon and pineapple, and Booster made with carrot, celery, cucumber, apple, orange and beetroot. If you’re after something stronger order a Bloody Mary, or two.
Where: 140 Park Ln, Mayfair, London W1K 7AA
Photo Credit: Ella Singleton
4. For a South London Brunch: The Habit
What: Committed to bringing great food, wine and local produce to the Nunhead area, The Habit keep it fresh, simple and seasonal with their breakfast offering. This modern British bistro bang out breakfast and brunch favourites on the weekends including coffee from their local Peckham Roastery.
Eat and Drink: Alongside locally roasted coffee, homemade cakes and treats, The Habit’s brunch and lunch menu include classic dishes such as crushed avocado, poached egg and chilli on sourdough; brioche French toast topped with pecans, maple syrup and cream; and the vegan friendly Habit with bubble, sweetcorn fritter, tomato, butter bean hummus and toast. If you need some to curb your hangover try the smoked ham hock hash and sriracha fried duck egg, or the fry up with Cumberland sausage, streaky bacon, chorizo house beans, field mushroom, scrambled eggs and toast.
Where: 60 Nunhead Lane, London SE15 3QE
5. For Yorkshire Pudding Heaven: Oslo
What: Since 2008, the first Sunday in February, which falls this year on the 4th, has marked a very important foodie date in the calendar: British Yorkshire Pudding Day. Paying homage to the iconic British dish, OSLO in Hackney has created special roast dinner-filled Yorkshire Pudding to mark the tenth birthday of this celebration.
Eat and Drink: No-one really knows how far back the original recipe for the humble pud goes but its very safe to say that the ‘dripping’ or ‘batter’ pudding as it was formally named, has been cooked and adapted for centuries. For this special Sunday, OSLO are serving their highly rated traditional roast nestled in a giant home-made Yorkshire pudding. The special dish features British rump roast beef served with roast potatoes cooked in goose fat, parsnips, buttered spring greens, carrots and gravy – all served inside a giant home-made Yorkshire pudding.
