I’ve written a slow-food and paleo guide to London. But that was a while back. And since London has a constantly changing culinary landscape, I thought my latest trip to town (August 2016) warranted an update.
I’m keeping it simple. And mostly visual. A post packed with images of my favourite meals and links to the best joints I know.
45 Jermyn Street
Oh My Weird Breakfast Goodness! This was quite a revelation. Homemade crumpets with marmite and fried duck eggs, plus pink grapefruit, kale and chia smoothie with a mountain of tumeric… They let me add my own… Somewhat horrified by my enthusiasm.
Farmacy
Curry with extra vegetables for me. My Number One Eating While Travelling Tip is to google places that do a side of veg. And I sub the rice or pasta or…quinoa. Me, I’m a 7-9 cups a day girl! Thank you Camilla for the mindful, gut friendly, dense nutrition eats.
Clean and Lean Cafe
I first came across James Duigan when I was the Editor of Cosmopolitan and he was known for being Elle Macpherson’s PT. He has set himself up as the authority on sensible fitness in the UK and now opened a new cafe, Bodyism by Clean and Lean in Notting Hill. They serve whole milk only, do a great Paleo bread and their bullet-proof coffee is sublime. There’s a really relaxing- but- buzzy vibe to the place.
Silo Brighton
The Jamie Oliver Food Revolution team took me to Silo for a zero waste dinner after so many of my UK mates insisted I visit. Tinkerage sparkling from the only orange wine vineyard in the UK.
We are ox tongue with Babington leeks and lovage, asparagus and then Doug brought out some leftover aquaculture trout belly with the herbs that are grown from the sustainable seafood practice. I drank a natural wine from Turkey that tasted of pine and cumin. Beautiful!
Oscars, Charlotte St Hotel
26 hours on a plane writing the second draft of a book…followed by 7 miles of wandering, two hours of Boris biking and a Reformer Pilates class…calls for an English Sunday roast, orchestrated from “can I get a lot of greens” up.
Hemsley at Selfridges
Looking for ways to get more turmeric in…more orange food. The turmeric tea at Hemsley Cafe Selfridges does the trick.
Tiny Leaf
London’s first zero-waste, organic, vegetarian restaurant. The idea is intelligent dining – educate and raise awareness of the food waste pandemic. Here’s the Tiny Leaf website.
Farm Girl Cafe
My right brain, Jo, and I had a breakfast meeting here. Simple Australian cafe culture. They also have an in-house doctor and apparently make a killer vegan BLT… with coconut bacon. They’re Instagram-famous for their pretty rose lattes.
The Mae Deli
The hugely successful healthy foodie Deliciously Ella opened her first cafe in London, the Mae Deli. On offer are dishes aligned to Ella’s philosophy: plant-based feel good food. I really like that Ella is vego herself but includes meat (purchased as “sides”), acknowledging that for many, healthy means animal protein, too.
Taberna do Mercado
Loved this place – oily fish and offal and all things genuinely Portugese. Check out their menu to get the full feel.
Prawn on The Lawn
A fishmonger and restaurant situated near Islington’s buzzing Upper Street. Established in 2013 by Rick Toogood and his wife Katie, it began as a seafood bar and fishmonger but has now been extended to include a 16-seater basement restaurant, serving only the freshest seafood and tapas-style fish dishes.
The Detox Kitchen
The Detox Kitchen is good for a quick breakfast or lunch fix in bright surrounds.
Honey and Co.
Honey and Co. is a great stop for Middle Eastern fare. And the owners of the place are absolutely lovely.
Lantana Cafe
Owned by Australians, their coffee and menu is top-notch and make you feel like you’re having your weekly brunch after a morning swim at Bondi beach. There are now three Lantana joints around London.
The Wolseley
I enjoyed some Kedgeree here for breakfast. It’s one of my London rituals.
Some extra places I heard fit the real food bill but didn’t get to try myself:
Smoking Goat – A Thai BBQ with rare-breed meats and day-boat fish direct from small production farmers and fishermen.
Hoppers London – This place appeals for its dosas and other fun Indian things.
The Good Egg Co – This place has a Middle Eastern-inspired, seasonal menu and a cocktail called The Pickleback made with house dill pickle brine. I’m intrigued.
Bone Tea – This place does bone broth.
What are your favourite health food tips for London? Share them in the comment section below!
