comeflywithmaryCultures and traditions converge in the United Kingdom. Explore the amalgamation of old and new.
Gluttonous Cravings
London
Everyone's a fucking foodie nowadays - me, I'm different - I'm a glutton. I will happily eat shit off the table. I will finish all the bread in the basket and ask for extra butter. I will eat myself into a coma. My hunger pangs are feared by most because I am not a pleasant creature when hungry. That said, I still like good food. Here's what I regularly crave.
Updated 3 years ago
Pasta, in all its forms, is glorious. Padella does it well. New, hip pasta places are cropping up like weeds and many say that Padella is overrated, but I love it. If anything, Padella is my favourite hip pasta place. Don't be deterred by the tourists lining up around the block outside because the food really is good. Why go at lunch hour? Be smart and go early (or late)! Or, you know, go to their sister store Trullo in Islington, which accepts bookings? Their burrata is painfully simple - just olive oil, salt and pepper - but I still happily pay for it. And still think it's the bomb. And their ragu, which I've seen them make once. I cannot get the image of juicy, succulent meat falling off the bone without the least bit of resistance out of my head.
Borough Market, 6 Southwark Street, London, United Kingdom
- https://www.padella.co/
Am I being basic? Maybe, but have you tried their aubergine parmigiana? Also, where else can you get a decent steak for a tenner? Flat Iron is an underused, underappreciated cut, and it's thanks to this (now) chain that it is kinda coming back in vogue - and I couldn't be happier. Good bye, sirloins and ribeyes! They give you a mug full of beefy popcorn when you sit down and a dinky little salad with your steak. They usually do a mousse-y thing for dessert where they just squirt it straight from their Co2 cannister thing into your receptacle, and if you're nice they give you an extra big serve. Makes my day when that happens.
- +44 20 3019 2353
17 Beak St, Carnaby, London W1F 9RW, UK
- https://flatironsteak.co.uk/
Hands down my favourite sausage roll ever. I'm picky with my sausages (innuendo intended). They can't be too herby - as many high end sausages are wont to be; they can't be too fatty, because believe me there *is* such a thing; and they have to be porky enough, as they are after all sausages. This sausage here ticks all my boxes. Encase them in the lightest, butteriest, flakiest pastry; deliver them to me from a beautifully, nerdily decorated hole in the wall; slap on an extortionate price tag (actually ok it's not that bad), and I'm yours. Body and soul, yours. But why do you have to close so early?! Can't I have my sausage after 5pm??
252 High Holborn, Holborn, London WC1V 7EN, Hiniusang Gingharian
I love my dainty Japanese shit. Even better when said dainty Japanese shit is in my local area. They do bang tidy little cakes and a glorious cornflake-crusted, egg mayo-stuffed fried doughnut. Most would say it is indulgent to get both, but life is short so eat that pastry! ...and get a matcha latte while you're at it.
Let me tell you a funny story of what happened here once. I was next in queue to receive my order of oozy beautiful raclette and I was very excited. As the staff was scraping that melted golden glory onto a plate, he asked, "Rosie, you want black pepper on that?" I shouted "YES!" even though my name is not Rosie. The Real Rosie, a co-worker of his at the dairy, smiled at me and said, "Oh sorry for cutting ahead. That is my lunch." Instead of admitting defeat like a loser, I refused to succumb to awkwardness and I said that my name was Rosie too. I said I thought it funny how the cheese guy knew my name but I just responded out of habit. Rosie asked if my name was short for something and I said yes, Rosamund. Wow, she was Rosamund too! What a coincidence, how funny, serendipity, fate etc etc At this point my friend walked back over after her phone call and she clearly, DISTINCTLY called me by my name. Mary. I legged it out of there. I am sad to say I haven't been back since despite craving raclette regularly. Unlike me however, you, dear reader, are unencumbered by your past and can indulge in the mesmerising stretchiness of their cheese.
- +44 7873 484930
1 Stoney St, London SE1 9AA, UK
- http://www.kappacasein.com/
It feels stupid to pay £9 for scrambled eggs because, come on, it's just beaten eggs and milk cooked in 5 minutes in a pan, but how. On. Earth. Is theirs so delicious? Founder Bill Granger says he folds instead of stirs his eggs. I tried that at home but still... Before I figure out their mystique, I guess I'll just have to continue shelling out £9 for that silky marvellous mess!
- +44 20 3848 1060
175 Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill, London W11 2SB, UK
- https://grangerandco.com/
Authentic, unpretentious Thai food is not easy to come by in London. This homey joint does a great job repping my ends and consistently satisfies my chilli needs. You know a Thai place is legit when they have a full page in their menu dedicated JUST to som tam! Their "screaming nun" curry with large rounds of deep fried aubergine is easily my favourite. A little crunchy, a little soft, a little creamy and a lot of spicy - winner!
- +44 20 8746 6888
352 King St, Hammersmith, London W6 0RX, UK
- https://www.101thaikitchen.com/
I discovered Cutter & Squidge 8 years ago when they were only a little stall on Kings Road, so with every new store they open my heart wells with pride seeing how far they've come (even though my actual involvement is zero)! They do these little pastries called "biskies" - half biscuit, half cookie, and filled with all sorts of delicious things. Like a British whoopie pie, if you will. They are adorable and super scrummy. My favourite is the matcha raspberry one. They also do beautiful cakes - just look at their shop front!
- +44 20 7734 2540
20 Brewer St, Soho, London W1F 0SJ, UK
- https://cutterandsquidge.com/
I'm sure you've had cheesecake before, but have you had BRIE cheesecake? Specifically, brie cheesecake with hazelnuts, made by the one and only Albert Adria? Ok, maybe you've been to Tickets in Barcelona and have been lucky enough to try it. But over here you don't need to tackle the notoriously tricky booking system and you can literally take away one cheesecake to eat in the comfort of your own home. Heaven. The cheesecake is gloriously creamy and oh so fragrant, and perfectly balanced between light and indulgent - as in you can eat the whole thing and feel like you've been kissed by angels rather than hating yourself for being a fat shit. A total win in my books. Pro tip: ask nicely for extra biscuits
- +44 20 7406 3310
70 Regent St, Soho, London W1B 4DY, UK
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