St. John/Instagram
Sweet, cold, and beefy relief from an impending climate emergency
Welcome back to Insta Stories, a column examining the London restaurant scene through the often-problematic medium of Instagram. This week’s filter is #sponcon.
News of the week
It was hot, apparently, raising an interesting question: fight fire with fire or fire with ice? Overwhelmingly the latter, it turns out.
pfranco_e5
Sardines with Cold White Currant Broth & Fig Leaf Oil. Kitchen Open 6pm.
st.john.restaurant
One of our most enduring regulars reminisced the other day that, when St. JOHN opened 25 years ago, there was neither heating nor air conditioning. In our ancient building with its expansive and rattling panes of glass, winter saw them dine swathed in coats, scarves and gloves. In summer they sweltered, sweating into their pigs’ trotters. It is testament to their loyalty and resilience that we were forgiven, and because of them that St. JOHN still stands today - now thankfully (albeit imperfectly) air conditioned. Indeed, as the extraction in the open kitchen sucks the cold air through the restaurant, even our chefs are finding things more than bearable. Peach sorbet, pink crémant, air conditioning. Two spoons. A companionable way to cool down, a welcome break from the sticky office. . . . . . . . . #stjohnat25 #quartercentury #summerinlondon #crémant #crémantrosé #peachsorbet #sorbet #summereating #seasonaleating #sharingdessert #londonheatwave #stjohnrestaurant #zincbar #pinkandgrey
qualitywinesfarringdon
Dexter Beef Tartare What more to say, it’s well wicked and perfect for the steaming weather outside. Open, see you soon
kitchentable1
Water from the Isle of White tomatoes served ice cold and finished with a oil made from fresh fig leaves #bubbledogskt
kymsrestaurant
We've added a new dessert to our menu that will keep you cool during this #LondonHeatWave – cantaloupe melon with macerated strawberries and coconut ice cream mochi! ☀️ . . . . . #kyms #kymsrestaurant #awong #andrewwong #modernchinese #chinesefood #londonchinese #newopening #newrestaurant #bloombergarcade #chineseclassics #onthetable #heresmyfood #fromabove #onmyplate #restaurantbooking #prettycitylondon #prettylittlelondon #wheretoeat #toplondonrestaurants #tablesituation #storyofmytable #londonfoodguide #eatlondon⠀
chef_chantelle
Send . . . #melting #heatwave #softserve #icecream #tredwells #scorchio #london
smokinggoatbar
Coconut Ice Cream made for us by @hackneygelato with lime, condensed milk and plantain chips. On the menu all week.
Cool behaviour of the week
A day that has now been confirmed as the hottest since records began moved more than the mercury this week, as a series of posts revealed quite how intolerable working conditions in kitchens can be when temperatures start to rise. In a market still struggling to make ends meet, a couple of days of radiant sunshine (and the attendant boost in demand from punters) may have seemed like a godsend, so it’s all the more impressive that some operators took the tough decision to give their team some respite. Even if some motivations weren’t so altruistic…
awongsw1
Who wants to come cook with me today????
nickg67
peg.london
Peg will be closed for lunch service today due to the extreme heat. Cooling off for dinner service, back on at 6pm!!
sambalshiok
To look after my kitchen team in the exceptional heat forecast for tomorrow Thursday 25 July, we will be closed for one night only. Normal services tonight, Friday and Saturday. Please come see us then and in the meantime, stay cool and hydrated
lunchluncheon
FYI LOVELY EVERYONE!!!!! Who’s coming down to get mash up tonight though!!!?????
Pariah of the week
Delete your account like the public expect.
nickg67
the compassion for our kitchen team...!
Entomophobia trigger of the week
The new Pharmakon album cover looks legit.
gremkoska
Lunchtime down in the orchard... Volume up. These are this year’s little worker wasps, laid this Summer by the Autumn-mated queens that hibernated over Winter. And they’re clearly delighted to have discovered the windfalls. While they hunt for other invertebrates (including my bees!) to feed their offspring, they only feed themselves on sugars, such left open pots of jam, cans of fizzy drink, your next mouthful of cake, a melting ice cream clasped in a toddler’s hand, they even like to take a gentle paddle in a half finished bottle of beer. It’s understandable how they’ve become overshadowed by such a bad reputation. But their intentions are by no means spiked by a driven mission to annoy, or worse still sting us. They’re not ‘aggressive’ or ‘out to get you’. They’re just feeding, and often quite unwittingly we do present them with plenty of opportunities to snack. But they do panic if you start flapping your arms about. I’m standing ‘this’ close to them because we’re really not a bother to one another at this moment as they’re so engrossed with their lunch. Of course it’d be a different story if this was actually the lunch I’d planned for myself. #wildstuff #vespulagermanica
Shakespearean caption of the week
Love’s Laboured Puns.
edcumming
The pasta course of Trullo ever did run smooth #pici #pappardelle #ajoblanco #islington #candle
Closure of the week
Farewell, Monty’s Deli, home of one of the best sandwiches in London and a Friday night dinner to die for. RIP(ickles).
felicityspector
Saying a very heartfelt farewell to the beautiful @montys_deli Hoxton today - after a plate of blintzes with @ogusm at their very last service. Plus a few of the wonderful things I’ve enjoyed there since the very first plate of blintzes on (almost) their very first day in April 2017. A huge thank you @obarratt and the rest of the chefs and bakers for all the amazing nosh, and I’m excited for the next chapter for Monty’s... those trademark giant sandwiches and the latkes and eggs can only go from strength to strength. Maybe I can lobby for some one off special blintzes and rugelach to feature too... in the meantime it’s definitely not goodbye. It’s a big rousing l’chaim to the future, and much, much love ... ✨ . . . . . . . . . . . #montysdeli #lastservice #lastschmaltz #matzoball #blintzes #cheeseblintzes #cherries #bagels #chickensoup #rugelach #challah #hoxtonstreet #hoxton #notgoodbye #goodluck #jewishfood #delifood #beautifulcuisines #montys #cheflife #deliciousfood #londonfood #thisislondon #londonisopen #eaterlondon #eathotdinners #timeoutlondon #toplondonrestaurants #topcitybites
rocketandsquash
More sandwich content. This one: a Reuben Special for my last lunch @montys_deli Hoxton restaurant. Sadly the site didn’t work out for Mark, Owen and their team, and they’re back to a markets and tap room offering. I’m glad Monty’s and their salt beef and pastrami sandwiches are not lost forever. But it’s still a real shame on many levels that the restaurant didn’t work out; it’s a beauty of a room and a great offering (A1 pickle too) ... but location, location, location and all that. Go tuck in over the weekend - this Sunday 10am-4pm is their final service.
Haunting still life of the week
Just another beautiful influencer shot, right? WRONG. Look closer: something weird is going on. This is, to put it bluntly, quite a spread: there is certainly enough bread there to feed, oh, at least six people. But there are only two wine glasses, suggesting only two diners. But there are also two full bottles of champagne, which, impressive day drinking for two — unless the other four guests are expected to swill direct from the bottle, in keeping with their broader relegation from the picnic blanket, which has zero space allocated to them. But this is just a minor quibble compared to the burning question surrounding logistics: how on earth does all of that food and those bulky wooden boards fit inside that teensy picnic basket? And, hang on, what about the food offering? Cheese, fine; charcuterie, fine; quiche, seems legit. But are those coronation-chicken-stuffed (?) jacket potatoes with, and just guessing here, a mango chutney dip — and, good lord, are those tomatoes with mayonnaise? And wait — where in the name of all that is holy is the crockery? Did they cut the cheese with the same knife they used to cut the lemon drizzle cake? In which order? WHAT ELSE ARE WE NOT BEING TOLD? Someone get Dan Brown on the line: Coworth Park is hiding some secrets.
emilyjanejohnston
Give me picnics amongst the fields of wild flowers forevermore. @coworthpark #dcmoments #verytandc
Damien Hirst tribute of the week
For the love of hog.
topcuvee
We’ve broken down this beautiful guy and will be utilizing every bit all weekend. Walk ins welcome from 12pm. . . . #topcuvee #butchery #nosetotail #britishpork #freerange #londonrestaurant #meetyourdinner
Train picnic of the week
Almost worthy of Hannibal Lecter.
lunchluncheon
@jamesbridle BOSSING THE TRAIN BUFFET WITH A PRESSED RIBEYE SARNIE AND THE OG RIOJA.
Dish of the week
Weirdly accurate depiction of walking around outside last Thursday.
thelaughingheart_london
Yorkshire Duck Hearts, Sweet Corn & Girolles on the menu this evening. Come & see us until 2am.
Shot of the week
Even more accurate depiction of walking around outside last Thursday.
ottolenghi
Potato and gochujang braised eggs. The third recipe in my Guardian miso column. Link in bio and luscious photo by @louisehagger