Unusual Bars and Restaurants (book launch)

unusual bars and restaurants

July 4th 2012

Last night I took Audrey to a book launch – Rachel Howard’s Secret London: Unusual Bars and Restaurants.

garden museum

In keeping with the unusual theme, the launch was held in the café at the Garden Museum, a deconsecrated church (St. Mary’s) and burial place of John Tradescant (credited as being, “The first great gardener and plant-hunter in British history”). One would imagine that the museum is in fact still a church and aside from a small sign on the door it’s not signposted.

garden museum interior

The launch was very well attended by an informal and very friendly group of people,

rachel and angelos

some of whom I know from the St. John restaurant in Smithfield (including Rachel’s partner Angelos).

gin and cucumber tea

After saying our hellos, we made for the drinks and were delighted by the gin and cucumber cocktail served in a tea cup, like something from Alice in Wonderland.

veg box

I thought the food presentation was absolutely brilliant, reminding me of weekly organic veg box deliveries in the UK.

beetroot and walnut dip

Among other things, the veg boxes contained an outstanding beetroot, garlic, parsley and walnut dip. Beetroot, combined with the other ingredients gave the dip a savoury, nutty flavour.

warm camembert

The food sensation of the evening was the delicious oven warmed camembert, containing little pieces of garlic and rosemary. The most popular dipping food for the cheese, was a hot baby potato, but the celery, carrots, crisps and radishes were almost as divine when dripping camembert. I will definitely be making this at home!

rustic tomatoes

In keeping with the garden theme, there were rustic vine tomatoes on wooden boards

cream tea

and wonderfully light scones – little cream teas with strawberry jam, cream and a fresh strawberry on top.

chocolate and pistachios

I must confess to forgetting to try the chocolate and pistachios – I did mean to, but the camembert kept calling me back – the next thing I knew, it was all over and we were standing outside…

sorrel and francesco

Sorrel Ferguson did a amazing job with the food (above with Venetian TV historian, Francesco da Mosto).

garden

The Garden Café is in: The Garden Museum, Lambeth Palace Road, SE1 7LB

… the café is vegetarian and I loved the food!