For me, London is about eating, drinking cocktails and visits to the Continent. On the eating front, I had dinner last night at The Modern Pantry chef/owner Anna Hansen's Soho pop-up restaurant.
What is a pop-up? Good question.
A pop-up is a restaurant, bar, or shop that springs up in unexpected locations, causing a storm, only to disappear just before the hipsters gets bored. Comme des Garçons started the trend with its guerrilla stores.
Anna Hansen is no Comme des Garçons, but she does use traditional and modern ingredients, in both usual and unusual combinations, with great style. Her food has warmth and a desire to please. Thoughtfully prepared dishes with a twist.
I enjoyed my entrée of Jerusalem artichoke, mustard greens, lentil and haloumi salad. The vegetarian main of Inari filled with tofu and walnut, with wattle seed pumpkin, wild rice and soy broth and dessert of Salted tamarind caramel, turkish delight and chill tonka bean truffles.
Another London first for me was the delightful bathroom attendant who enthusiastically addressed my every hand washing need. I wondered if she was also part of the "pop-up" phenomenon...
Whether I was enjoying the lovely fit-out, the beautiful food or gazing into the eyes of my Italian waiter. *Sigh* My first pop-up experience was an enjoyable one.
Until 16 April, The Modern Pantry pops up at Meza, 100 Wardour Street, Soho, London W1F 0TN. The Modern Pantry permanently resides at 47-48 St John’s Square, Clerkenwell, London EC1V 4JJ
*Knife and fork drawing appropriated from www.themodernpantry.co.uk
