Nicola "Milly" Millbank - actress, foodie, and Urbanologist now adds "author" to her many hats, and pens a special piece for U, sharing her favourite real food restaurants in London.
It’s not often you find somewhere that does a cracking brunch in London, not least of which if you want to steer away from the inherently frequent fruit salad, eggs benedict and American pancakes of the soggy variety, it’s actually quite a challenge. A fusion of Spanish and Italian dishes make for a delicious contrast. The Chilli Prawns Bruschetta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Morcilla Purée and Manzanilla Sherry is an absolute winner for brunch and worthy of pairing solely with a glass of dry white wine for a light lunch – order this, I beg of you.
Tucked in on D’Arblay Street and boasting a charming interior of exposed brick walls, painted vintage tiles, mismatch up-cycled Parisian bistro furniture and fresh flowers in the window; warm, cosy and absolutely charming. Blanchette is undoubtedly one of the hidden Gems of London with frequently changing small French dishes, all absolutely accomplished and bursting with flavour. My advice? Order the plates in stages and gorge on the chips with béarnaise. The service is friendly, the food fresh and really is absolutely delicious, take my word for it.
Salty / sweet confit duck, waffles and lashings of mustard maple syrup over stunning views of London. Wake up at an ungodly hour and arrive in time to watch the sunrise over the horizon with a cappuccino in hand. You must order the signature Duck and Waffle but there's plenty of other dishes available too. Lunch and Dinner are just as wonderful and Dinner at dusk has a fabulous setting with a view to remember.
Some of the most delicious and unspoilt Sushi. The staff are friendly and accommodating, and if you go, try to get a seat at the bar to watch the masters at work. The attention to detail these chefs put into their food makes you believe you’re eating a work of art, and in my experience, you absolutely are. Order the Signature Paradise Prawns and the Tuna carpaccio with truffle infused ponzu jelly and tuck into their wide selection of beautiful sakis.
Cracking burgers and dog-friendly, slap bang in the centre hustle and bustle of Covent Garden Market. The dogs get biscuits from Bocce’s bakery and a Pooch-ini, a mini tub of frozen vanilla custard, peanut butter sauce and red velvet biscuits whilst humans can pick anything from a classic cheeseburger to an oozy cheesy shroom burger. Not greasy in the slightest and crammed with fresh tomatoes and lettuce this is my go-to for burgers. Top tip - order the Shackstack - a cheese filled mushroom burger and a beef pattie all in one.
About Nicola Millbank:
By day, Nicola ‘Milly’ Millbank is a celebrated television and film actress (Mount Pleasant, Mr Selfridge, Silent Witness), but by night the 27 year old has already made a name for herself as a respected food writer on her popular website, millycookbook.com. Recognised in foodie circles by her nickname, Milly, she has nearly 30,000 followers across several social media platforms and has presented a TV series for UKTV’s, Good Food Channel. Milly is excited to announce her first book, Milly’s Real Food, to be published by HarperCollins. Written in response to the recent trend for elimination diets, Milly’s Real Food will be based on Milly’s one and only food philosophy – everything in moderation! Milly’s Real Food will be published in hardback, priced at £20, on 4th May 2017.
Ideal For
Fans and foodies
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Homestyle Eats in London - Nicola Millbank
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Real food
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