What

To celebrate British Food Fortnight we were invited along to Balan’s Soho Society to indulge in all things British!

Experience

Everybody loves locally sourced food, other than the fact it is fresher and is better for your local economy- there’s something satisfying about knowing that the radish you are nibbling on was grown just down the road. It also helps when we are lucky enough to have some of the highest quality food produced right at our doorstep. On Thursday evening we were treated to a delicious array of locally sourced food (and drink!) at a newly refurbished Balan’s Soho Society.

We began our feast with Scottish smoked salmon supplied by legendary East London smokehouse Foremans (served with wasabi and said radish). This was followed up with Cornish crab (also from Foremans) – this was a highlight for me – deliciously light and rich all at the same time. We then transitioned from the sea to the land with a mouth-watering Cod fishcake (South Coast fisheries) served with a perfectly poached Woodlands Farm egg on top. The focus then moved to vegetables – served just how I like them – in pastry! The Kent Vegetable and Feta Pide was wonderfully flavoursome, crispy on outside and wholesome in the middle – and yes this did count to my 5 + a day!

The Ginger Pig supplied our next two dishes – succulent Marshland Lamb Noisettes and Yorkshire Longhorn Beef, and it wouldn’t have been a Celebration of British food if the beef wasn’t served with a Yorkshire pud! It was also accompanied by an Onion puree –which gave the dish a subtle sweetness and made it one of the most memorable of the night.

Finally, just as I was feeling as though I had single handily eaten every single morsel of food that had ever been produced in the UK – pudding was served! And unfortunately for my expanding stomach – they had saved the best for last – a Cinnamon and Somerset Cider Apple Doughnut served with Jude’s Peanut Butter Icecream. WOW. God Save the Queen – it was absolutely glorious.

And of course, being a Thursday night in the heart of Soho we didn’t go thirsty either. Starting the night with a Lychee Gimlet – made with King of Soho gin. We then had English bubbles by Coates & Seely to sip on between bites – crisp, light and straight to my head – just the way bubbles should be.

By the end of the night I was well and truly reminded why British food is worth celebrating. Fresh, flavoursome and far too delicious keep to one fortnight.

Cost:

Cocktails £9.5

Entrees £7-£9

Main £11 – £26

Desserts £6