Central London Food Crawl
Featuring, of course, some Savory Little Snacks
Sabrina,
I loved learning about Surinamese food from your Amsterdam guide. I need to try saoto. I’m so glad you had a great time in Amsterdam, and I’m even more glad that you’re now in London! It’s such a joy having you here.
As you know, I have to work this week and cannot adventure during the days with you and Clare. So, instead, here’s a suggestion for a central London walking tour that involves several stops for tasty treats.
Breakfast: Miel Bakery
This little French bakery is tucked away on a side street next to Victoria Park. They have a wide range of sweet and savory pastries, which combine the best of French and British flavors. There are sausage rolls with meltingly buttery pastry, a dense olive oil cake with hazelnuts and rosemary, and croissants marbled with pistachio cream. My favorite is their kouign amann, which has a burnt sugar crust and endless flaky layers.
Once you have your pastries, you can cross the street and stroll in Reagent’s Park. The rose garden is beautiful, and you can also walk past the zoo and watch the giraffes over the fence for free (this is more fun than it sounds).
Lunch: Roti King
This tiny basement serves some of the best Malaysian food in London. They don’t take reservations, and the line to get a spot for dinner snakes down the block. But go for lunch and you should have no problem getting a seat. You can watch the chefs stretch the roti dough into paper thin sheets at a counter in the corner while you wait to order. My favorites are the murtabak, which is roti filled with meat or cheese, and the roti canai, which come with a side of curry or dhal to dip in. The roti is impossibly flaky and buttery. The other dishes are great too – try the beef rendang and the kangkung belacan, which is morning glory greens fried with shrimp paste and sambal.
Savory Little Snack: Great Nepalese
Will you still be hungry after roti king? Surely not. But, on principle, I still had to include a Savory Little Snack. Around the corner from Roti King is Great Nepalese, which serves delicious homemade dumplings called momos. They come 4 to a plate, steamed and covered in a homemade tomato pickle. I like the lamb ones best.
After lunching and snacking, stroll over to the British Museum to get a little history in. I think you would love seeing the Mexico wing, including the Tonindeye Codex, which is a pre-Columbian Mixtec manuscript (check out this great podcast about it).
Another Savory Little Snack? Tarim Uyghur Restaurant
If you still have room for a final snack, Tarim Uyghur Restaurant is just down the road from the British Museum. Pick up a few of their dumplings which come with a spicy, vinegar-y dipping sauce, or a lamb skewer.
A running letter between long distance friends who love to eat
Do you miss your best friend? Are really hungry you right now? If the answer to either of these is yes, you know what to do.