The other weekend over a sunny Sabbatum lunchtime my friend Edward together with I were invited along to accept luncheon at John Doe inwards Westbourne Park. Not a business office of town either of us know real well, nosotros wandered or therefore the weekend marketplace position for a flake earlier sitting downwards for a lovely bottle of Portuguese white vino together with a 3 degree repast cooked without gas; the chefs at John Doe fix everything using the estrus from either woods or charcoal, going dorsum to traditional cooking techniques, but taking inspiration from footing cuisine.
We settle downwards at the bar inwards front end of the opened upward kitchen alongside a delicious bottle of Portuguese white vino (second bottle downwards on the menu) to chat to the chef most their cooking techniques; how using either charcoal pieces or compounded pieces affects the cooking temperature, together with most how when they purpose woods logs they ever soak them for amend control. Sometimes they likewise seat orangish inwards the soaking liquid, but to add together a picayune flake of extra flavor to the smoke. H5N1 useful tip for adjacent years barbecue.
To boot off proceedings I ordered the Grilled Octopus alongside Chickpeas together with Aioli. Bloody hell this was a skilful dish. I watched my octopus acquire grilled guide onto the transcend shelf of the woods fired oven, together with and therefore assembled into this beautiful plate. It was deliciously tender, non chewy inwards the slightest together with some of the best octopus I've had inwards a while. The chickpeas were likewise beautiful together with tender alongside a wonderful flavor (soaked yesteryear a pro). The rich aioli together with the sharp, herby dressing the octopus was tossed inwards finished the dish off perfectly.
Edward had the Griolles alongside the Duck Egg together with Pane Fritto. As good every bit looking keen on the plate, it genuinely packed a skilful amount of umami flavour, together with yous honestly did non lose out yesteryear ordering a veggie dish. I had a seize alongside teeth at the beginning, together with when he said he was most to finish, did I desire whatsoever to a greater extent than at inaugural of all I told him he could complete his ain dish - together with therefore I idea amend of it together with swooped inwards for a concluding bit. I may lodge this 1 adjacent time!
While I did non accept lodge envy every bit my ain nutrient was therefore delicious, 1 affair that I may last ordering adjacent fourth dimension is the perfectly cooked together with total of flavor Roe Deer Steak (so difficult to acquire right, together with this 1 was spot on) served alongside os essence (topped alongside herbs together with staff of life crumbs), a punchy dressed watercress together with caper salad, together with some of the best french fries I've had inwards ages on the side. If yous desire a skilful steak, this 1 is faultless.
However, every bit I said I was inwards no agency jealous every bit my principal was pretty vivid also. Coal baked crab claws. Buttered rice. H5N1 perfectly balanced Keralan Curry. Yogurt alongside herbs together with chilli oil. The type of perfect Malaysian agency flatbread I learned to brand in conclusion yr but accept non tried since. Loads of fresh coriander. It all went together therefore beautifully, it was a truthful pleasance to eat. If yous dearest crab, together with yous dearest light, fragrant curries, this 1 is for you. The flavor combination was therefore spot on.
We pretty much fancied all of the desserts, therefore nosotros decided to acquire 2 to share. This is the Demerara meringue (flavoured alongside orange) served alongside whipped cream, roasted plums together with a crumbling of amaretto biscuit on top. H5N1 pleasance to eat; the orangish gives it that picayune flake that makes yous think.
We likewise ordered a warm piece of the Fig together with Almond Tart, served alongside Normandy creme fraiche. I must tell the seize alongside teeth of this I had was delicious, but it must accept had the thumbs upward from Edward every bit most of it vanished piece I was attacking the meringue! Always a skilful recommendation, though.
Because it was his favourite from the menu, the chef likewise brought us a taster of the chocolate terrine served alongside unmarried cream together with finely chopped pistachios. Rich, dense, unadulterated chocolate, together with perfect for whatsoever total chocolate lover, whatsoever of the 3 desserts nosotros had would perfectly circular upward the meal.
We both really, genuinely enjoyed our lunch; John Doe is the perfect spot for a prissy luncheon for but the 2 of yous on a Sun drenched Autumn afternoon. I know brunch is the affair to exercise at the weekend, but actually, it is places similar this that convey skilful erstwhile traditional luncheon dorsum into vogue.