Looking for a brunch date? You want someone confident, yet relaxed and with individual style. A menu of flowing conversation which satisfies your hunger. Lives local and is free this weekend. I’d like to introduce you to Mr Buckley. He’s a real charmer and rather delicious, you’ll see.

A little too hip for his Hackney Road neighbours, Mr Buckley’s is a welcome revere from the chicken shops and offies which line this busy street. And just a short stroll from Columbia Rd a perfect brunch, sheltering you from the throng.

Dishing up an all day brunch menu, he really does know how to impress a girl. And the calibre is a lot higher than your typical London lad. Perhaps the lobster, crab and asparagus eggs benedict is just showing off. He had me at lobster.

If you’re looking for something a little more robust, perhaps your nursing the effects of the night before. This is where Mr Buckley really comes into his own, a true gentleman. Tell me a potato and courgette rosti, bacon, avocado and a poached egg isn’t what you have been searching for.

Ok so Mr Buckley is pretty much your dream date, right? Just in case you are still a little unsure whether or not to jump right in, let me seal the deal. Two words. Bloody madison. Say hello to bacon infused bourbon, tomato juice, lemon juice and chipotle spices. Not your type? Well maybe you and Mr Buckley were never going to work out after all. He’s mine.

Mr Buckley’s: 277 Hackney Road, London, E2 8NA

The latest offering from renowned chef Angela Hartnett is a collaboration with Luke Holder at the gorgeous Lime Wood estate in Hampshire. It would be difficult not to love this place, set amongst the idyllic New Forest, it is like stepping into an aristocratic country club.

A menu flourished with Angela’s passion for Italian cuisine, seasonal British and the forest surroundings, accompanied by an impressive wine list. You have the option of leaving your menu in the hands of the chefs, a concept I like when you are going to be treated with dishes which don’t appear on the menu. However it seemed that here is was just going to be a selection of what you see in front of you.

Before I start on the food, let’s talk about those plates. Gorgeous and so fitting for the country garden surrounds.

Only at this time of year do you get to taste the deliciousness of morels, so I don’t pass up the opportunity. With farfalle, wild garlic and a buttery reduction it was perfect in its simplicity.

Another seasonal treat is white asparagus, slightly sweeter than its green cousin it is quite the elegant stalk. This pairing with shrimp and brown butter was pretty exquisite. Salty, sweet, silky and crunchy; a perfectly balanced journey with each mouthful.

The main event was meat. Quite a substantial amount of meat. Rib eye for two complete with smoked bone marrow. Slightly over cooked by my medium rare standards but was still juicy and the bone marrow delicious.

Dessert became non negotiable as soon as I discovered the delectable dessert wine selection. I am such a sucker for sticky! And why have one dessert and one glass of wine when you can share two of each. First up was a tarty lemon posset, lemon curd and lemon sorbet topped with salty oats. Such an awesome combination the sour and the salty was divine. Paired with a French riesling it was all over far too quickly. 
The final offering was a smooth vanilla tart with rum soaked prunes. Rich and creamy with deliciously drunken fruit, it was washed down with a more full-bodied Spanish muscat. Like drinking nectar from the gods.

By this stage we were pretty content and jolly, so it was time to retire to the lounge bar for a digestif.

The whole experience at Hartnett Holder & Co is very pleasant indeed, gorgeous setting, attentive service and fresh seasonal food. The bill is a little higher than what I would expect to pay outside of London but it makes for a special treat.

Hartnett Holder & Co: Lime Wood, Beaulieu Rd, Lyndhurst, Hampshire SO43 7FZ England

Radishes, sesame & gochuchang

From the lads behind Upstairs at The Ten Bells, The Clove Club is their latest and first permanent London fixture. Located in the historic Shoreditch Town Hall, they have fitted out a front bar and a separate dining room. It’s ambitious, youthful and everyone’s talking about it.

A much larger dining room and open kitchen makes the experience a little less intimate than their Ten Bells gaff, nevertheless the open space, high ceilings, wooden tables and blue tiles give an almost boarding school diner feel that works. The acoustics need a little tweaking, or maybe I am just getting old!

Buttermilk chicken & pine salt

An eight course set menu is presented which ticks all the boxes, seasonal, interesting and sounds delicious. It’s so nice to just sit down and be fed. No tricky menu decisions, no food envy at the table, just a continuous flow of deliciously executed food morsels.

Kicking off with the prettiest of pink radishes with a chilli mayo dipping and black sesame. Crunchy and with peppery leaves they were rather delightful. A signature dish followed, Colonel Sanders step aside. Crispy battered buttermilk chicken with secret (pine salt) herbs and spices. It was just a shame there was only one heavenly piece each. Last of the sharing starters was thin lashings of smoked duck ham. Something I hadn’t ever come across but would like to meet again.

Mackerel, pickled rhubarb & Tokyo turnip

Beautifully plated, sashimi mackerel with the whitest of turnip slithers and of course what every dish is missing, pickled rhubarb! I could have done with a little more pickle but perhaps I am a little greedy!

Grilled squid, tarragon and green radishes

My pick of the mains, the squid was perfectly cooked and absolutely divine with the tarragon puree. Fragrant, salty and damn delicious. And green radishes…where can I source these, so pretty.

Rib of beef, ramson & potato

Mmmm beef. I think this dish silenced the table. A juicy portion of beef with very pungent wild garlic dollops and crispy potato cigars. Excuse me whilst I wipe the drool from my keyboard.

Blood orange, sheep’s milk mousse & wild fennel

This is honestly the best desert I have eaten in a long time. It was totally unexpected and so fricking good. A wild fennel granita gave it a very vegetative flavour, the dish on a whole was quite savoury. The sheep’s milk mousse was creamy and sublime and the crispy milk wafers added a textural crunch. Blood orange ribbons were quite fun and with segments of the fruit tucked in giving the dish a tart squeeze. It really was amazing. Could even be served as a starter.

And finally a second desert. Who doesn’t love a menu with two deserts! A salty caramel ice cream with barley and oats. Again an interesting mix of sweet and savoury which totally worked.

Eight courses, all beautifully executed and seriously tasty. The experience doesn’t leave you feeling as though you need to be rolled out of the restaurant but pleasantly content and reminiscent of all the delicious goodness you have just consumed. And at £47 I think it is amazing value.

The Clove Club: Shoreditch Town Hall 380 Old Street, London, EC1V 9LT

Obama, Bill Cosby, Sarkozy, Oprah and now Lady Rhubarb, all have something in common. We have all scoffed the famous chili at the Washington landmark which is Ben’s Chili Bowl. For over 53 years this american diner has been unchanged, the counter, booths and the homemade chili. And it all works just fine.

Really there is no need for a menu. I’ve come for the chili so it has to be Ben’s Original Chili Half Smoke. A mixed pork and beef sausage grilled and served on a warm steamed bun with mustard, onions and spicy chili sauce. It’s Bill Cosby’s favourite! The chili isn’t too spicy  but it’s quite rich and finishing the whole bun is a food challenge, which of course I passed!

For the ultimate chili experience you have to double up with the chili fries. Drenched in chili sauce the soggy fries disgustingly good. And when you thought it was all about the chili, the chocolate thick shake at Ben’s is the best I have ever had. So thick that I left with sore cheeks.

When in Washington a visit to Ben’s must be on the itinerary. A famous landmark and the best chili you will find. You can even visit the gift shop next door and take your little piece of Ben’s home with you.

Ben’s Chili Bowl: 1213 U Street NW Washington DC

I feel slightly violated. There is one dirty burger in the hood. It’s damn dirty and it’s damn good! But let me clarify a very important equation here, the overwhelming enjoyment of this burger directly correlates with the overwhelming degree of ones hangover. And when I shuffled into this shed, in a car park, on a Sunday afternoon I was feeling pretty filthy.

The menu won’t make your already thumping head hurt with tricky decisions. There is only one choice. Cheeseburger. You might have to deliberate over crinkle cut fries or onion rings, but to keep it simple I went with both.

What constitutes a dirty burger? You unwrap the paper to find it swimming in its own filthy juices, buns already separating as it slides towards you with a cheesy grin. Giving it a squirt of tomato sauce, reconstructing the mess between my hands, sucking back my drool, I took my first bite. Turning to my friend with a mouthful of dirtiness I exclaimed, ‘Fuck this is good!’ Soft brioche bun, a thick patty of quality beef with loads of pepper, cooked medium rare, a ton of oozing cheese, lettuce, tomato and the all important pickle.

In between mouthfuls you can scoff a few crunchy crinkle cut fries with lashings of mayo and wash it all down with a chocolate thickshake. I have to warn you that the onion rings are pretty punchy. Red onion slices in think doughnut batter and covered in rock salt. If you can finish the whole serving you are a machine.

Like any hit your state of euphoria is short lived. The meat sweats had already kicked in as a dragged myself back to bed. Feeling dirtier than when I left. But somehow I think I will be back for another fix soon.

Dirty Burger: Around the back – 79 Highgate Rd NW5 1TL

Partridge confit on potato and pea risotto

I have finally dined at The Ledbury. Having lived in London for almost four years now, it has been one restaurant on my must do list since I moved here. And it certainly lives up to its reputation. I was surprised by its obvious lack of stuffiness, rather it exudes elegance and understated class. The staff very friendly and welcoming instantly make you relax into what is a very memorable dining experience.

Boasting two Michelin stars, the food is all class. At the helm of Aussie chef Brett Graham, each dish is as exciting in flavour as it is beautifully presented. I started with a stunning potato and pea risotto with a crispy partridge confit.

Aubergine glazed in black sugar and garlic with spinach shiso

One of the stand out dishes was from the vegetarian menu,  silky aubergines sweetly charred with sugar and garlic with a sharp spinach purée. Subtle Asian flavours really complimented the smokey aubergine.

Brill with black quinoa

A succulent piece of brill was topped with crunchy black quinoa and drizzled with a hint of cream. Slightly sweet in flavour it was absolutely delicious.

Blackberry cheesecake

And then came dessert. We deliberated for some time over our choices, and clearly noticing the difficult decision we had to make, after ordering three, five desserts were presented at our table! Our waiter cheekily saying, we thought you better try all five! A little embarrassed but like kids in a candy store our eyes lit up! And so we gluttonously tucked into our dessert buffet.

I think the squeals of delight at each mouthful were justification enough that we were very pleased with our windfall!

Blackberry cheesecake was a perfect balance of sweet and tart. Smashed up plums, meringue, sorbet and marshmallow was the ugly duckling of the desserts, a confused concoction on the plate but a delight to taste.

Plums and meringue

We dived into a passionfruit soufflé which was at least 3 inches in height and delicately dreamy. A ridiculously rich chocolate torte was the devil’s dessert but perfectly paired with savoury lovage icecream cutting through the sweetness.

Pavé of chocolate with milk pureé and lovage Ice Cream

And of course these delights could not be enjoyed without the perfect dessert wine. A German Riesling with delicious pineapple notes was far too easily consumed.

It is no wonder that The Ledbury has been pronounced London’s best restaurant, it is a sensational experience and one that I hope to enjoy again very soon.

The Ledbury: 127 Ledbury Road, Notting Hill, London W11 2AQ

It’s no secret that Copenhagen is a foodie mecca. And it’s not only the acclaimed restaurant Noma which is sensationalising Nordic cuisine. As it happened Noma was closed for the summer so I was excited to discover where else to eat in this gorgeous city. Because let’s face it sometimes you want to eat without having to wait three months for a reservation.

Baked avocado with almonds

The uber sleek interior of Geist has you questioning if you are perhaps sexy enough to be dining at this restaurant. It’s dark and shiny and the staff are ridiculously good looking. The menu definitely pushes the Nordic gastronomy limits and we were not afraid to dive in whole heartedly. One of the many triumphs was baked avocado with almonds. Why haven’t I thought of this dish, so simple yet so damn good.

Lobster

Grilled mackerel with wilted sorrel and garlic purée was definitely ensuring I wouldn’t be attacked by vampires later that night.  Crab with deliciously sweet cherry tomatoes was a lovely pairing and thin slices of pink liver on top of porcini mushrooms was ridiculously rich but very tasty.

Vanilla icecream on black olives

The crescendo of my evening came with dessert and the ultimate pairing of sweet and salty. Vanilla ice-cream on a bed of crushed black olives and sprinkled with licorice shavings. Sounds bizarre but it really is brilliant!

Geist is definitely excelling in creating a sophisticated dining experience. Sleek surroundings, exceptional service and adventurous food. If you do go there be sure to order coffee, it’s worth it for the playful accompaniment!

Geist: Kongens Nytorv 8  1050 Copenhagen, Denmark

Oysters

Relative new comer to Copenhagen’s restaurant scene is Kødbyens Fiskebar. Located in the meatpacking district, the restaurant is literally in the middle of a car park surrounded by the many sheds of the meat traders. And even more bizarrely it’s a Fish Bar. In keeping with the industrial feel of its surroundings the restaurant is basically a shed, polished concrete floor, white tiled walls and aluminium furnishings. Industrial cool with the clientèle to match.

So it’s all about really fresh seafood, the menu is divided into the raw bar and the hot kitchen. Plump and juicy oysters are a must, four varieties to choose from depending how adventurous you are.

Razor clam

It seemed a bit wrong to order razor clam from Scotland but I’m glad I did! Served on delicate maltbread crisps and with fennel, tarragon and dill it was super fresh and delicious.

Cod with parsley dust

Larger dishes from the hot menu are a choice of three fish varieties all served with carrots, potatoes and some fancy garnishing. The fuss free approach to the interior is definitely not applied to the presentation of the food. The dishes are all such beautifully presented that it does throw you off a little.

Wild dark chocolate

I had already read reviews which stated that dessert was a must, and we were not disappointed. A spectacularly rich chocolate ice cream with a raspberry granita and white chocolate raspberry panna cotta was sublime.

Mutsu Apples

Apples every-way was a stunning dessert, not just visually. A crisp apple sorbet, apple sherbet, apple pure, dried apple slices and raw apple. Add a bit of chocolate, goastmilk and white chocolate marshmallow meringue droplets and you have a very impressive dessert.

Kødbyens Fiskebar is doing something pretty unique in serving really amazing, well constructed food in a very unpretentious relaxed environment. And it really works. They also offer a great selection of wine and you can kick on with some punchy cocktails at the bar.

Kødbyens Fiskebar: Flæsketorvet 100, 1711 København, Denmark

I found a couple of very cute brunch spots in Copenhagen. Tucked away on a trendy side-street in Frederiksberg, Granola is a nostalgic 50′s diner. Freshly brewed coffee, old school milk shakes, ice-cream parlour, extensive breakfast offering and all day open sandwiches, it is a really cute spot.

Chicken and bacon sandwich

We were too late for the breakfast menu but the open sandwiches and salads were delicious and with a glass of freshly squeezed apple and ginger juice it was perfect.

Granola: Værnedamsvej 5  1819 Frederiksberg C, Denmark

Sweet Treat

Over on the hippy island of Christianshavn, Sweet Treat is a gorgeous little find. A little hipster in an effortless way it serves great coffee and a small selection of homemade treats.

Fishball sandwich

The freshly made smørrebrød (open sandwiches) are definitely worth a try, the fish-ball sandwich, with chopped cucumber and homemade remoulade on rye bread is seriously good.

Sweet Treat: Skt. Annæ Gade 3A   1416 København K

Copenhagen, you had me with your waterways, stunning design and ridiculously good looking people and now you have me wanting more with your dining options. I will be back, and maybe next time Noma will have me!

Broad beans and mint

Walking along the steep cobbled lanes of Çukurcuma, an area tucked away from the bustling Istiklal pedestrian mall in the centre of Istanbul, I instantly thought, I could live here. Antique furniture spills out onto the street from the many quirky and colourful shops. Cute cafes where locals  are hanging out and enjoying the cooling afternoon breeze. Orhan Pamuk’s Museum of Innocence is also here, in a 19th-century townhouse, a collection of love and overwhelming obsession in 83 installations.

But the best discovery was Münferit. As if set within the steep hillside the restaurant is almost hidden from the street. A wood panelled ceiling and marble top tables surrounded by glass cabinets filled with the house Raki, the aesthetic is quite Art-Deco. And the vibe is so very cool.

Sitting at just one of four outside tables it was a perfectly balmy summer evening. The menu is modern but with a nod to the best of Turkish cuisine. A mouth-watering selection of meze plates and then more substantial mains, each dish is so well thought out and features some really interesting pairings.

We opted for a selection of the starters with the benefit of sharing. Griddled bread came out first with a punchy anchovy butter. Mashed broad beans with mint and a hint of lemon was fresh and delicious. Smokey aubergines with tahini dressing, such a simple pairing but done so well.

Stuffed artichoke

 A whole artichoke was stuffed with arborio rice drenched in lemon and chopped dill. Again simple perfection. A pungent blue cheese with a slice of pear was wrapped in vine leaves to make a very bitey twist on dolmades.

Turkish white cheese with porcini mushrooms and truffle oil

I knew the next dish was going to be special as soon as it hit the table. The smell was so intoxicating we were  immediately drawn to the paper parcel of delight. Inside was the most glorious arrangement of salty white cheese baked with just a couple of porcini mushrooms and infused with the most intense and incredible truffle oil I have ever tasted. Lathered on crusty bread this cheese was orgasmic! We were a little lost for words, it was beyond amazing. We definitely found ourselves having a little ‘cheese moment’. On several occasions our waiter attempted to take the torn at paper away and we had to firmly assure him that we were so not finished and would be licking the paper clean. It goes down as one of the most intense and sublime taste experiences I have had. This is my umami.

Sage, tahini and salep icecream

By now we were in a state of euphoria. Mainly from the cheese but generally from the whole dining experience. When we were presented with the possibility of dessert I actually didn’t think it could get any better. And yet I was wrong. I don’t even remember looking at the dessert menu, as I think our waiter was quite insistent that there were two we must have. And so we obliged.

Three of the most interesting and incredible icecream flavours arrived at our table. Sage, tahini and salep (our waiter described this as flower dust. I have since looked it up and it is the powdered roots of mountain orchids, he was quite right!). Wow, the sage flavour was so refreshing and not overpowering which I thought it could have been. The tahini was amazing, even the texture was unusual, slightly gritty and the flavour quite savoury but so good. The salep was sweet but delicate. I would like to have a tub of all three in my freezer at all times.

Chocolate brandy profiteroles

And for the finale, with strict instructions to place the whole ball in your mouth at once, resulted in an explosion of gooey chocolate lava with the slightest hint of brandy through a chewy choux pastry. Ahhhhhhmazing!

Throughout the evening the music from the upstairs bar had been gaining momentum. It was the most eclectic playlist of old and new and masterfully sequenced. It was making our toes tap, making us smile and calling us to join the throbbing party above. And so in the most natural of transitions we joined the fashionable and swelling crowd of young scenesters and the night had just begun.

Münferit: Yeni Carşi Caddesi 19, Istanbul

Burrata with aged balsamic

Simple perfection. Squeezed between the offies and take away pizza joints on St Paul’s Rd, Trullo is delightfully understated. Receiving rave reviews since opening in 2010 it quickly became impossible to secure a table. But feeling lucky on a Friday night I confidently strode through the doors and struck gold upon discovering that Trullo now has a whole new downstairs dining area.

Brick walls, polished concrete floors, candlelit tables, it’s very moody and cavernous. The downstairs menu offers a selection of small plates serving the best of Italy in bite sizes. Every dish will get you salivating and priced at around £6 you really can order one of each.

Creamy burrata with a splash of aged balsamic was divine. A stew of chorizo and chickpea topped with aioli and rocket was rich in flavour with just enough spice and salt. Chargrilled leeks with thinly shredded beetroot and baked ricotta was quite simple and the ricotta really made the dish.

Chargrilled leeks with beetroot and baked ricotta

I really don’t think you can go wrong with any of the dishes on the menu. And the small plates are ideal to share making downstairs at Trullo a little less formal than the upstairs restaurant. A great selection of wine and also an impressive cocktail menu if you so choose.

I have been meaning to dine at Trullo since it opened two years ago but now that I have encountered its new downstairs digs I think that I might skip the upstairs affair and definitely return for more. But let’s just keep it between us as I am sure that once word gets out it will soon be impossible to get a table.

Trullo: 300 – 302 St Paul’s Road London, N1 2LH

Pubologi, Gamla Stan, Stockholm

So it would seem that there is a lot more to Swedish cuisine that gravlax and meatballs. In fact Stockholm has become a mecca for fine dining and top chefs who are pushing the boundaries serving creative cuisine all over the city. With six Michelin starred restaurants and two in the world’s top 50, Stockholm has a lot to offer a hungry foodie.

In a cobbled street in Stockholm’s romantic old town, Pubologi is doing something very right. Described as being not a dining room, not a bar and not a traditional pub, but a hybrid of all three. I’m not even sure that it’s that, but it’s very very cool.

It’s tiny, making it feel intimate but relaxed with the main seating being around one long communal bar table. Your menu and cutlery are beneath glass display drawers which light up when pulled out. The service is very friendly and personal with nice touches of fine dining.

Gazpacho to start

The menu is made up of a selection of small dishes which they advise are half portions so that you can choose 2-3 plates to make up a meal. This is my kind of dining. And with a complimentary gazpacho which packed a punch and served in these oh so cute bottles we knew we were in for a treat.

Salt baked beetroot

Salt baked beets and pickled yellow beets served with creamy soft goats cheese was simple and sublime.

White asparagus and pork belly

White asparagus with slow cooked pork belly melted in your mouth and with smoked mayonnaise and crispy fried baby onions it was all over too soon. I’m not really one for culinary foams and I think this dish was gorgeous enough without the added bubbles.

Charcoal grilled whole seabass

A whole grilled seabass was fragrant with thyme, garlic and chilli. The flesh fell away from the bone and was super juicy. Served with accompaniments of crisp fennel, roasted garlic mayonnaise and a seriously salty salsa of tomatoes, anchovies and capers. This dish counts as two plates and is perfect to share.

Hamburger

Hello the perfect hamburger. A pink burger of coarse minced dry aged chuck steak is between a sweet sesame seed brioche bun.  With a slice of Iberico streaky bacon and melted manchego cheese you will be licking your fingers clean. Served with a side of crisp onion rings and a truffle emulsion, this is how a burger should be. And it’s only small, so totally guilt free.

Rhubarb baked in Sambuca

With each plate being half portions you will definitely have room for dessert. Okay so I always have room for dessert and especially when there is rhubarb on the menu! This was more like a work of art, rhubarb baked in Sambuca with tart lemon curd, yoghurt sorbet, cookie crumbles and sweetened garlic wafers. There was a lot going on but it worked so well.

Caramelized nuts with salted caramel ice cream

There are only two choices for dessert so my disclaimer is that we had try both in the name of this review. And how can you pass up a chocolate with caramelized nut mix, lightly salted caramel ice cream, caramelized butter all covered in a frothy milky foam served in a jar. It was sickly sweet but oh so good. I strongly suggest sharing.

If the sensational food at Pubologi isn’t enough the room is also a walk in cellar with the length of two walls lined with a huge selection of wine. At your leisure you can peruse the bottles which range from £10-£500.

Pubologi picked up a very well deserved Bib Gourmand in this years Michelin Guide. The setting is intimate, the service perfect and the food, well you will want to order one of everything. Which is exactly what I am going to do when I return to experience the Menu Todo. The 10 course degustation where you get everything!

Pubologi: Stora Nygatan 20, 111 27 Gamla Stan, Stockholm