My 20 eats of 2020
2020. A year I imagine most of us would much rather forget. Eating however has been the one constant that has kept us going. And there have been plenty of unforgettable dishes that warrant continuing this annual tradition of rounding up my top eats over the past 12 months.
With the exception of a short visit back home to KL in January (which felt like another era ago now), this year’s line up sees us hunkering down in London for the most part. With lockdown after lockdown beating up the hospitality industry, I made it a point to escape the home-cooking monotony and revisit my ultimate favourite restaurants in the intermittent months they were allowed to open. Hence the usual suspects like Brawn and 40 Maltby Street making multiple entries in the menu.
There are some new discoveries to be shared too – from outstanding Jollof Rice at longtime Plaistow institution Kate’s Cafe to a most memorable of fine dining meals at Brazilian-Italian newcomer Da Terra. Other bright spots include superb sushi on my doorstep at Sushi Show Shoreditch to the exciting cuisine of new head chefs Marcelo Rodrigues and Ruth Hansom who have taken up the helm at Rubedo and Princess of Shoreditch respectively.
Thinking back to our KL trip in January, we were lucky enough to savour the cooking of two Malaysian legends for the first time – Chef Melba Nunis‘ fabulous Kristang food and the elusive Kei Suk’s Wan Tan Mee in Pudu!
My heart goes out to the hospitality industry in this most difficult of years – I will never take you for granted ever again. Roll on 2021!
~ 2020 ~
20-Course Degustation Menu
—- Starters & Small Plates —-
Prawn Rissóis (@ Rubedo – London)
Iberico Pork ‘Moo Ping’ (@ Anglo Thai – London)
Grilled Squid, Coco Beans, Marjoram & Bottarga (@ Brawn – London)
Octopus Terrine (@ Quality Wines – London)
Nigiri selection (@ Sushi Show – London)
Fried Camarones (@ Sabor – London)
Scallop and Seabass Tartare Rice Bowl (@ Tata Eatery – London)
Curried Lamb Shoulder Bun (@ Eat Lagom – London)
Fried Chicken and Coleslaw Sandwich (@ 40 Maltby Street – London)
—- Mains —-
Troute en Croute (@ 40 Maltby Street – London)
Porco Rosso Pizza (@ ASAP Pizza – London)
Jollof Rice (@ Kate’s Cafe – London)
South Coast Hake, Jerusalem Artichokes & Pickled Grapes (@ Princess of Shoreditch – London)
Red Mullet with Mussels, Fregola, Fennel & Basil (@ Brawn – London)
Feijoada (@ Da Terra – London)
Pigeon Pithivier (@ Casse Croute – London)
Black Sambal Sotong (@ Aunty Melba’s Kristang Supper Club – Kuala Lumpur)
Wan Tan Mee (@ Kei Suk’s, Pudu – Kuala Lumpur)
—- Desserts —-
Brown Butter Honey Custard Tart (@ The Marksman – London)
Sticky Date Pudding (@ 40 Maltby Street – London)
—- Wines, Service & Setting @ Passione Vino – London —-
