Traditional British Sunday Roast - Comfort Food at its Very Best

 

One of the must-have culinary experiences on my London food list is the traditional British Sunday Roast.

On the basis of reviews and proximity to my hotel, I chose to experience it at the Duke of Wellington on Portobello Road in Notting Hill. It was a great choice.

The food was savory; the atmosphere was warm and welcoming; and the service was great.

The meal comprised West Country Beef Rump with horseradish sauce,  rosemary and garlic roast potatoes, maple roast carrots, charred hispi cabbage, celeriac puree, Yorkshire pudding and gravy - for £23 ($30.82).

Everything was very tasty. I loved the carrots & the cabbage.

The photo is very deceptive. The large bowl-shaped item at the top is Yorkshire Pudding. It's hiding the other generous components of the meal ("Pudding" has a very different meaning in British cuisine from the American use of the word. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorkshire_pudding)

I accompanied the food with a nice glass of Bodega Norton Fince La Colonia Malbec.

Despite being busy, friendly server Jack took the time to answer my food questions & to chat a bit about language differences.

A Delightful Culinary Surprise - from Georgia - the Nation

I had noticed a few doors down from my hotel a cafe/bakery by the name of Entrée. I hadn't paid much attention to it until today, when I felt like a pastry for lunch.

When I arrived, I saw that it said "Tbilisi bakery." That was very intriguing becauseTbilisi is the capital of the nation of Georgia. I had never seen any place offering Georgian cuisine.

Inside, there was a large table where a number of the Georgian baked goods were displayed; and there was a counter where Georgian dishes were displayed.

A woman behind the counter explained the various Georgian dishes to me; and I chose one - Chakhokhbili  -stewed chicken & tomato with fresh herbs. It came with freshly baked Georgian rye bread for £16.10 ($21.57). I confirmed before ordering that it is mild.

Both the stew and the bread were absolutely fantastic. The stew has a very unique flavor.

(The "kh" in the stew's name is pronounced like the Spanish "j.")

It turns out that Entrée is an international family chain headquartered in Georgia with a number of outlets there and three in London.

Windsor Castle Pub - Savory Delights and Great Ambiance

This evening, I had another scrumptious traditional English dinner -  this time, at the Windsor Castle Pub - which has a wonderful atmosphere. It's located on a Notting Hill side street. (Despite the name, it's nowhere near Windsor Castle.)

I started with a Scottish egg - a British specialty of soft boiled egg wrapped in pork sausage meat & coated with bread crumbs, then baked or deep fried. It came with a side of golden beet piccalilli - a mixture of pickles and spices. It was fantastic - £8 ($10.72)

My main dish was a chicken, ham hock, & leek pie, with red wine gravy, mashed potatoes, & Savoy cabbage. It was scrumptious - £19.50 ($26.13)

My drink was Portuguese Post Scriptum Red Wine from the Douro. it was very nice.

My server, Sam (Samantha), was a warm, ebullient professional.

A Great Reunion Lunch at London's Oldest Restaurant – Ruless

 

Having a delicious lunch at Rules, London's oldest restaurant was a very special experience. However sharing that experience with my British friend, Mike, whom I had not seen for 30 years made the experience perfect.

The food was delicious; the interior was very elegant; and the service was excellent. The restaurant was established in 1798.

This photo doesn't begin to capture the beauty of the much larger interior

It was great catching up with Mike and reminiscing while we enjoyed the savory traditional dishes.

I had:

- Steak & kidney pie £25.50 ($34.17)

- Apple & blackberry crumble with custard £10.50 ($14.07)

- 2023 Andrei Brunei "Est-Ouest" Cotes du Rhone - a decent wine.

I guessed correctly that the pie and the dessert would be enough that a side would be unneccessary.

Rules is located in the Covent Garden area; and is an easy walk from Trafalgar Square.

One can easily make reservations online.

Sausage & Mash Lunchtine Energy Replenishment

For lunch, I had another delicious combo - Cumberland sausage & mash - a version of the and the immensely popular bangers & mash comfort fiod. The mash refers to mashed potatoes. In this case it was in a red wine gravy. The dish was terrific. The cost was £16 ($21.44) 

I had it at I'm Notting Hill place called Prince Albert. The name is royal, but the atmosphere is ordinary.

Fish &:Chips + Sticky Toffee Pudding - Taste Treats at the Fish House

 

Fish & Chips + Sticky Toffee Pudding are two wonderful, traditional English dishes that are now partially off my list thanks to a delectable dinner experience at the Fish House. I say partially, because my appetite has been whetted for more after my experience this evening.

Both dishes are extremely popular in Britain, and are on many, many, many menus. I decided that I had to have the fish and chips at a place that specializes in them. So, I chose the Fish House which is a very short walk from my hotel. The choice was a good one. 

For the fish, I chose Cod. Haddock is another popular choice. I'll have to try that next. The cod was wonderful. The chips (French fries) were softer that I like, but that's a matter of taste. The order came with mushy peas, which I haven't had before. They were decent, but  unexciting. I chose the large cut of cod - for £18.99 ($25.45).

For good reason, Sticky Toffee Pudding is an immensely popular item. In researching menus prior to my trip, I found it on many, many menus. It came with a side of ice cream. The two complement one another very well. It has to be very rich in calories. It was £6.89 ($9.23).

I had several nice conversations with the mamager, who added another dish to my list - beef wellington.

Glad there's not a weight scale in my room. 

A Wonderful Dining Experience At the Mitre Pub, Notting Hill

I had planned to have my first London dinner on this visit at a local fish house here in Notting Hill. However, my plans went down the tubes as I was taking a  pre-dinner walk on Holland Park Avenue, a lovely tree-shaded boulevard with huge majestic trees.

I discovered The Mitre, a pub with very nice outdoor dining, in addition to its indoor dining. I took a look at the menu and decided to give it a try. I'm so happy I did. The Maitre d', Aaron, gave me a nice table outside. 

When I asked Aaron for his suggestions for traditional English dishes to try, he pointed out a couple of main dishes, sides, and desserts that fit the bill. I took one of his suggestions for each course. They were perfect.

I had:

- Chicken Pie - the pie of the day for £19.50. it was droolingly scrumptious, but the potatoes and cabbage that came with it were pretty blah. I only took a couple of bites of each.

- Beetroot (beets) & goat's curd, toasted  with toasted kasha (fruit seeds), & lemon & dill dressing for £8.70. it was absolutely fantastic. (Fortunately, I did not realize that the potatoes and cabbage came with the pie. Otherwise I would not have ordered this great side.)

- Strawberry shortbread cheesecake with basil & meringue chantilly cream for £9. It was wonderful.

- A glass of 2024 Domaine Guy Allion Sauvignon blanc, 2024. It was nice.

A great way to start a trip!