London's breakfast street
WHYTE AND BROWN Kingly Court
Nothing like starting the day with the chup chup of a Shakshuka . It's true, he's not very English. But the dish takes the name of the place, so it must be one of its specialties. Is about a very typical stew from North Africa and Israel , composed of: cooked tomatoes, red peppers, avocado, feta cheese, poached eggs, onion, coriander and a touch of cayenne. And as if that were not enough, a couple of sourdough toasts to mop up.
During the wait, two businessmen, who look like regulars in the place, break the silence of the morning between laughter and maximum compadre. They just need a coffee and something more classic, toast with bacon and arugula . It looks very good, from afar. However, it is an easier dish to find in the area. We have come for something with the hallmark of the place.
Breakfasts, brunches and afterwork drinks
Tachan! “Watch out, it burns”, the waitress tells me, while she spreads a saucepan on the table that smells wonderful. It smells, this is going to sting and good. I stir and, from a thicket of unpeeled red pepper strips, they come to the surface two suspiciously identical poached eggs . Everything is very good and with a couple of spoonfuls, one already notices the sweat of a spicy digestion. Luck of the red fruit and banana smoothie. I doubt that this is a pairing recommended by the Peñín Guide but it tastes like heaven on a rainy London morning.
There is a menu beyond breakfast. The waitress tells me that the place fills up for lunch and dinner, which is why they offer a takeaway menu. In addition, the weekends lengthen the brunch service given the strong presence of the public.
THE LIFE GODDESS 1st Kingly Street
This is a Carnaby site dedicated exclusively to Greek gastronomy and with Hellenic staff . Good authenticity. One is not opposed to the crossing of cultures in the kitchen, far from it. The problem is that it is more and more common to fall into places that claim to be authentic and then the offer on the plate clashes a bit. There are those who are satisfied with filling their stomachs and there are those who appreciate a good bite. Everything goes in the end.
It is not the case in The Life Goddess . First of all, one of the most popular dishes of the place, is the octopus on a base of aubergine purée with spices . Interesting Greek version of a Galician octopus, but simmered with a splash of red wine. on plate, the chopped tentacle , well salted, goes wonderfully with the accompaniment. And this just to whet your appetite.
Second, the offer goes for eggs and feta cheese . Either in the form of an omelette with green and red peppers or, in a version that is more high in cholesterol, fried eggs with chorizo, peppers, mushrooms and feta cheese . Both are enough to roll out of the premises. The bet is abundant and the site very welcoming.
This place has a mother site in the area of Bloomsbury in which, in addition to a restaurant, there is a shop with products from Greece. Jams, honey, pasta, legumes, oils, olives -¡ from Kalamata !- can be purchased at street level.
Greek gastronomy to start the day
DISHOOM 22 Kingly Street
It is one of the most popular Indian food places in London . There are several times that a server has tried to go without success . Much better with reservation. It is the best of the article and after all, it feels bad not to have asked for more. From the outset, the decoration surprises for good. Elegant, with taste, and Indian allusions -photos, menu, offer, pictures- that claim the validity of the Iranian or Persian coffees . But hadn't we agreed that it was an Indian site?
Yes, he is Indian. Everything responds to the influence of a Persian migratory current that settled in India in the 19th century. Many of these emigrants opened Persian cafes that, over time and unfortunately, have been declining. In their heyday, and as the menu shows, they were places for all audiences: students, dates or families spent the hours.
The menu gives the option of going strong with egg dishes in all its forms or spicy meat. If not, the breakfast menu reserves a specific block of naan -typical Central Asian bread- with various accompaniments: sausage, bacon, eggs . The menu explains how these breads are made manually in a tandoor, a typical oven in Indian cuisine. In addition, it is specified that a good part of the raw material comes from farms. Very good raw material.
naan roll
One of the local's great classics, according to the menu, is the Bun Maska . A simple bun with butter, ideal for spreading on the House Chai (house tea) . In fact, the letter says that this choice is "the easiest thing to find in any cafe in Bombay." All a success to liven up the wait for a bacon naan . Meanwhile, the other tables start the day with naan in other ways.
With the bacon naan already in the mouth, it takes a millisecond to realize that the menu is typically Indian. Tomato jam and chili attest that we could be within four walls of Bombay . But the real star of the dish is the bacon, expressly cured for five days in a mixture of salt and Demerara brown sugar. Magnificent. And finally, a lassie . A yogurt, banana and mango juice. I don't know if I'm desecrating its millenary culture -at the level of stirring a paella- but it fits that well.
An Indian breakfast in the heart of Carnaby
DIRTY BONES Top Floor, Carnaby St, Soho W1B 5PW
let's go dirty . Have you ever had a hamburger with a hat of melted macaroni and cheese and barbecue sauce? if you feel like it, Dirty Bones is your place. this burger mac daddy It is one of the local specialties and it is well worth an opportunity to get dirty. To get started, you just need to let go of the wooden stick that provides balance to the sandwich.
The Impossible Balance Sandwich
The menu is basically meat: hamburgers, hot dogs, ribs, chicken and eggs. All justify the name dirty justly. It is well seen that the sandwich is dripping from the hand when eating. Another of the house brand specialties is free-range chicken in batter with waffles and maple syrup. Or in its sweets section, the banana with caramel.
Battered chicken and waffles
**SHOTGUN 26 Kingly Street**
To go is to ensure the shot and the motto is meat. If one wants to enjoy some ribs Frank Underwood , this is the place. To add insult to injury, one of the dipping sauces is Carolina , state in which the now fictional American president took his first steps.
The pork ribs present themselves. Rib and attack. A weight knife is used to separate each of the pieces, the rest by hand and with a variety of sauces: the aforementioned Carolina, mustard, ketchup or barbecue sauce . My pleasure. It's worth licking your fingers.
good morning ribs
Another suggestion of the place is the brisket , thin cuts of beef brisket in a hamburger sandwich. A traditional dish of Jewish cuisine, perhaps even more tender than ribs.
It tastes bad to leave a comfortable, elegant and quiet place. At the next table, a Machiavellian conversation could easily take place between Doug Stamper, Frank Underwood's right-hand man, and someone whose days are numbered in House of Cards . If there is still any appetite left, the menu features an offer of sweets such as a pineapple donut. The piece is large and it is difficult to finish it after some ribs. On the fingertips the barbecue sauce passes into the icing sugar. My pleasure.
Frank Underwood's Burgers
DETOX KITCHEN 10 Kingly Street
In Carnaby there is also a small Gaul that resists the thrust of the carnaza. Is about Detox Kitchen, a commitment to healthy, green and balanced . Perhaps one of the healthiest porridges in the place will be served. In this case, a base of granola, whole cow's milk -but it can be rice, soy or almonds-, strawberries, blueberries and coconut yogurt. Enter well. Although to fill my stomach more, I let myself be carried away by a smoothie recommended on the blackboard of the place called wake me up and contains blueberries, pineapple, banana, apple, soy yogurt and almond milk.
The mixer is non-stop, it is the soundtrack of the place. People often order a miracle shake to go . Hardly anyone stays on the premises. They are in a hurry. It's a bit of a Starbucks philosophy but with a green vibe. One enjoys seeing the queue as it passes. Two quick tidbits, 90% of the queue is made up of women and one in four wears gym clothes.
The place has a fridge with tupperware prepared to go based on chicken breasts, salmon, sprouts, vegetables and salad. Many colors with a slight predominance of green.
Note for foodies: on July 23, Carnaby Street brings gastronomy to the streets with the celebration of the ** Carnaby Street Eat Festival .* Some thirty locals in the area take to the asphalt to offer their specialties. In addition there are live music performances and talks by gastronomic chefs.
Knife and fork breakfasts on Carnaby Street