Taste of London Festival 2016, London – Review

This is the fourth year I’ve blogged about Taste of London and my fifth time attending. Sure this post may be a month past the event, however, there were many dishes tasted at this year’s Taste of London that just needs to be shared. Taste of London is my favourite day of the foodie calendar and tends to hit the stalls as hard as possible to try out as many award-winning dishes, gather up new flavours, ideas and trends. And generally being super greedy!

FoodNerd at Taste of London

Now I do take this whole eating malarkey rather seriously and that’s why I have the super nerdy list I created with all the restaurants menus and pre-select what dishes I need to try out. Yes, it’s in a plastic wallet and yes that is a spare pen to tick off the dishes tried. Yes, my friend laughed at me for having it hence the picture to send to our other friends but when you have so many dishes to try, you need to mean business.

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Our first stop was a strong one by The Cinnamon Club with a Smoked Romney Marsh lamb fillet & galouti kebab mille-feuille. Meltingly tender lamb, packing a punch of flavour and spice without masking the natural beauty of the lamb. Delicate shards of pastry making up the savoury mille-feuille. The combination of the dips of cooling and heat worked so well to complete the dish.

The Cinnamon Club Smoked Romney Marsh Lamb Fillet

Next was a stop to ROKA, who I had some magnificent lamb chops from them a few years ago so needed to try some more of their treats. We went for the Rock shrimp tempura & chilli mayonnaise. Simply done, but perfectly carried out. Plump juicy shrimp in the lightest tempura batter, slathered in lightly fiery mayo. Delicious!

ROKA Rock shrimp tempura & chilli mayonnaise

Our next stop was a new place for me to try out, Mirror Room at Rosewood London. Their dish of Grilled White Asparagus with Buckwheat praline, really intrigued me on the menu, I just knew I needed to try it! The plump tender flesh, almost milky asparagus paired with a nutty butter and earthy praline, lightly pickled sweet onion. A beautiful dish full of rich flavours and textures.

Mirror Room Grilled White Asparagus with Buckwheat praline

It wouldn’t be Taste of London without me having a bao bun. Since my first taste of those ridiculously fluffy clouds like buns, I’ve been obsessed with having more! Chai Wu had a classy bun on their menu with Roast Duck with garlic truffle oil. The earthy depth of the truffle oil, with punchy garlic and smokey flesh served on those oh so delicious cloud buns made for my perfect annual bao treat.

Chai Wu Roast Duck with garlic truffle oil

Molé Taco Bar won the award for the most awesome decorated stand at Taste this year. I just loved the Mexican skulls and Frida Kahlo graffiti. Just so cool and vibrant.

Molé Taco Bar Mexican SkullFrida Kahlo graffitiAfter admiring their decorations we finally decided on the fried buttermilk chicken taco with serrano mayo, lettuce, micro coriander. Authentic soft corn tacos with juicy chicken with a light crunchy crust with freshness from the mayo and coriander. Perfect to be eaten in the London sunshine.
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Probably my savoury dish of the day was from Kurobuta . Sticky Miso Grilled Aubergine with Candied Walnuts. Beyond dreamy, the combination of the meaty savouriness from the miso with the meaty aubergine, the earthy sweetness and crunch from the walnuts was just on point. One to try and fail recreating at home!

Kurobuta . Sticky Miso Grilled Aubergine with Candied Walnuts

This year the desserts were a tad thin on the ground compared to the other years. Last year, Amesta with Arzak Instruction had the stand out dish for me with a super sexy Roasted Pineapple Ice Cream with Toasted Milk. Well this year, they outdid themselves with Trofun ‘The Big Truffle’. Being such a chocolate fan, this was all my dreams coming true in a globe like cocoa dusted truffle. A cold chocolate sauce poured over the candy floss shell just blew my mind at the time as I couldn’t understand how the shell melted but the sauce was cold and a citrus orange hit. Melting away to heavenly to even more chocolatey goodness. One to make a trip to the restaurant to try again.  Just perfect.
IMG_0198The face of pure enjoyment!
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Once again a brilliant day with champagne sipped and many dishes enjoyed and just builds excitement to next year’s Taste of London! See you there!

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