chef Anna Haugh-Kelly in charge was a slight mission to get to but I would
gladly accept that mission again. The embossed ‘London House’ in the brickwork
on the roof made it seem like it had been here for a good many years but in
reality it’s only two months young. The small entrance is lined with candles
which invites you into the dimly lit lounge and it’s magnificent copper topped
bar.
Proceedings were kicked off with an extremely mature cocktail
named ‘Into The Dark’ (Zacapa 23
Rum, Vermouth, Maple Syrup, Baked Orange and Bitters) which in hindsight should
have been taken post dinner in the drawing room with a large Cuban but I’ll know
for next time. However, the baseball sized ice cube did keep my nose cool and
sober for the duration of the drink!
and shortly a little bag of warm freshly baked bread was delivered. The
choice on the 3 course prix fixe menu for£35 was nice and varied but the piggy
in ‘Pigs Head Croquette, Quails Eggs,
Pickled Carrot & Caper Mayonnaise’ jumped out at me so my choice was
made. Three chunky croquettes of soft shredded pig were nestled in a curly
endive and beetroot salad with lovely soft runny quails eggs perched on top. The
yolk from the eggs were a perfect condiment for the croquettes, I didn’t feel
the caper mayonnaise went as well with them. Delicious first course.
Puree with Pressed Lamb Hotpot’. The saddle, beautifully soft and pink, was
presented atop roasted carrots although the fat could have been cooked slightly
longer to ensure it was more crisped and not flabby. The garlic puree was a
fantastic green green grass colour but had only a subtle flavour so the flavour
of the lamb shone through. The element I loved the best was the square of
hotpot. Perfect layers of potato, onion, carrot and shredded lamb that tasted
like it had been dipped in a bath of lamb gravy, so much flavour.
Tart, Lavender Ice Cream and Honeycomb Caramel’ that I had spotted on the
menu earlier. I would normally go for British cheeses but I was hankering after
something sweet and this ticked all the boxes. The sheen on the tart made me
think an edible polish had been used in the kitchen as it seemed to twinkle
under the lights. I was expecting a heavy and claggy filling but it was
surprisingly light in texture although with a rich flavour. A hard feat to
achieve. The exceptional element on this plate was the lavender ice cream. So
perfectly balanced with the floral taste but not sickly. A great British
flavouring.
friendly staff who presented us with the cork and label of the exquisite wine
we’d been drinking, the interesting and varied menu of outstanding value to the
personal touch of being presented with a ‘Happy Birthday’ plate from an
overheard conversation by the wine waiter.
This Little Piggy Approves as I’m sure the local who sat knitting
at the bar all night does aswell.