What FoodieClaire Did at Christmas | Lunch Treats at Bam-Bou, Tramshed and Opera Tavern restaurant, London

Such is the nature of my job, now that I am client side working in marketing, I now get taken out all the time. Of course, I’m not complaining. Not at all.

Christmas is a time most are stuffed with food without even trying. Here are some of the fantastic places my lovely suppliers took me too with gratuitous pics to match.

BamBou

A lovely restaurant boasting Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese cuisine tucked away on the cusp of Fitzrovia, London. Apparently they have an amazing bar which I must try to go to one day. The service was appalling and the waiter forgot much of what he was supposed to be doing. I couldn’t snap a lot because of the layout of the restaurant and after all, it was a busy business lunch. The pork belly is a must to try. Also the scallops and pork seen below.

Mark Hix’s Tramshed

Yes, my third visit there in a year, and no cash exchanged from my pocket. Again. I am a lucky girl. Or am I?

My view on their bog standard chicken (just chicken, nothing more) still stands. It’s JUST BLOODY CHICKEN! I do love how frequently they change their starters and sides though. The giant Yorkshire pudding has always been my fave. I was hoping for some of that amazing liver pâté to slather onto it but they were serving it with a cauliflower dip. I was won over again and promptly forgot about the pâté. This was just as good – if not better. SO good. My equally winning dish was the caponata which I made a mental note to recreate at home.

My favourite Yorkshire puddings with a cauliflower dip.

 

Caponata – delicious

I can’t fault Tramshed’s steak. It’s good, really good and cooked well. But seeing as I don’t rate their chicken and I could walk down the road to Hawksmoor for steak, is it worth coming here for starters and to look at Damien Hirst art? You tell me.

Opera Tavern

Saving the motherf*cking best for last. It’s part of the Salt Yard group, which initially left me feeling a bit sceptical. When I visited Salt Yard for a family birthday a couple of years back, I thought it was… alright. Nothing amazing. Opera Tavern didn’t disappoint. We ate like Kings and drank tip top wine like fishes. I’d definitely come back. The highlight? DEFINITELY the scotch eggs. They were so tasty. Scotch eggs outside of any restaurant are a crime in themselves and the only place I would dare to try them usually is the Strongroom pub in Shoreditch, but these were just calling to me and the tips on Foursquare recommended them (HIGHLY value Foursquare recommendations). If you visit, MUST have these and also try the Mini Ibérico Pork and Foie Gras Burger.

Love FoodieClaire x