Le Bab: The Weekend Bottomless Lunch

I know bottomless brunches are all the rage. It seems like the entire world loves a good bottomless brunch.  I’m blaming it on Carrie Bradshaw for creating that lust for lazy brunch with free flowing bubbly.  Im a fan of brunch, but not so much a boozy one. I prefer my eggs with coffee and not proscecco. Given the option I’d prefer an early lunch followed by a boozy lunch.  Kudos for the Kings of the Kebab Le Bab for getting into the boozy lunch game.  

The Food

Le Bab is serving up their classic weekend lunch menu as their food offering for the brunch.  I sampled most of the menu and it’s all solid.  Started with the Chicken nuggets, a corriander heavy free range chicken thigh nugget with paprika mayo.  I tell you, never trust someone that does not prefer chicken thigh over the breast.  There is so much flavour in there. These nuggets were delish and could have eaten a couple of portions.   The Lebab Bahjis were insanely moorish.   They take uber tender braised lamb shoulder and beef then stuff them into an onion bhaji, deep fry it and boom… HEAVEN.  They serve it with a  smoked chilli mayo.  Three days later I was STILL dreaming of these little balls of joy!The kebabs are the poshest that you will find whilst maintaining the inherent Kebab qualities. I asked for a suggestion for what to order as they all looked good. I went for the Pork Shawarma, mainly because she said it had a fattier quality to it, and I’m all about the fat.   The free range pork is roasted for 15 hours then topped with pickled kohlrabi, crackling and zhoug mayo.  I don’t know how I can look at another kebab the same now.  I mean seriously.   Le Bab’s side games were on point as well.   The pomegranate & endive salad made for a perfect side with the tartness from the pomegranate and bitter from the endive. With a kebab, you have to have chips, and Le Babs is a posh take on that with double cooked chip and a silky cheese fondue for dipping.  

Le Bab

Le Bab 

Le Bab

The Vibe

The vibe is bright and airy with marble table tops that are bathed in natural sunlight. The cocktails were completely free flowing.  Loved the bloody mary and the Le Bab Spritz. Happily drink them for a couple of hours whilst nibbling this delious food. 

The Verdict

I have to admit this was my first time at Le Bab, I know the shame im bringing on myself there.  Im proud to say that this will certainly not be the last.. bottomless cocktails or not.   Please note that I was a guest of Le Bab for the afternoon.

Top Floor, Kingly CourtCarnaby Street, London, W1B 5PW

https://www.eatlebab.com

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Dining in the Dark at Chino Latino

To celebrate the London Festival of Lights, London Lumiere, Chino Latino invited me to the spectacle of Dining in the Dark.  Thankfully it was not pitch black like the seedy back rooms of Berlin nighclubs..  bot more of a carefully lit affair.   The night showcased #Ginuary and the new Asian Pickle Menu from the restaurant.

The Food

On the night we were treated to a menu featuring Asian Pickles.  From the name Chino Latino you would expect Asian & Latin Flavours.  Menu started off with black bean edamame to nibble. Flavour was really exciting as I normally see edamame as somthing to eat whil you pass the time.  Not really a fan of the slimy black bean sauce on my fingers, but with a little clever manouvering managed to eat them with my chop sticks.   Next up was the Pork Belly and Kimchi Maki. I was really impressed with these nise tight rolls and excellent knife skills. The Salmon and Green Papaya was excelenty presented with fish roe, quail eggs and smoked salmon in abundance. The crispy salmon skin was inspired and stole the show. The last savoury dish was a Bulgogi Rib Eye with Pickled Eryngi Mushroom and Tenderstem Brocolli.  The rib eye was perfectly medium rare though iI could not get the bulgogi reference, was just a nice steak.  Finished with a stunning apple mousse, earlgrey dates and pickeled cucumber.  The dessert was stunning, but i’d expect a really strong apple flavour, but is was more like apple scented. Shame as im a sucker for anything apple.  

Chino Latino

Chino Latino

Chino Latino

The Vibe

The vibe is swanky chilled out hotel chic. The bar was bustling with hotels guests and locals seeking an after-work libation. The restaurant had a mix of guests and prople off the street. Modern design that felt luxurious without being pretensious.

The Verdict

I have to admit I was really surprised and impress with the food.  Hotel restaurants can be a bit more miss than hit.  The sharing menu was great value based on portion size and level of cooking.  I only wish that the dessert had a little more oomph like the rest of the menu. Please note that I was a guest of Chino Latino for the evening.

Park Plaza Riverbank, 18 Albert Embankment, Lambeth, London SE1 7TJ

http://www.chinolatino.eu/london/

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