What Dad Cooked

The riverside at Kingston upon Thames has a rich array of pubs, bars and restaurants, all within shouting distance of the bridge and an ancient marketplace. When the sun’s out, they’re all ideal for alfresco drinking and dining. Here are four of the best.   1. Woody’s The owners of Woody’s reckon their bar and kitchen is an extension of their customers’ living rooms: ‘… a place to relax, kick back and put your feet up with whatever rocks your boat’. There’s craft beer, and the food is also known to make waves. 5 Ram Passage, KT1 1HH 2. The Boaters Inn Upriver from the bridge is The Boaters Inn, another independent pub and eatery. Sitting in a leafy park away from the town centre, The Boaters Inn (so called because it’s next to the famous Kingston Rowing Club) provides a cosy vantage point for observing the river’s goings-on. On hot summer days, the park effectively becomes the pub’s beer garden – so pack the blanket and frisbee. If you forget the picnic, The Boaters Inn kitchen and BBQ does takeaway. Canbury Gardens, Lower Ham Road, KT2 5AU 3. The Ram The Ram is famed for its craft brews, real ales and draught tap room. It’s reassuringly traditional, with dark oak furniture, tiles and brass decor, but in summertime head for the long riverside garden. The food mostly follows the traditional format, but look out for off-grid starters such as gambas pil pil (tapas of prawns) and their board sharing platter of global good stuff. 34 High Street, KT1 1HL 4. Stein’s Stepping in

WWF’s Earth Hour – the world’s biggest environmental event – is on Saturday March 25, uniting millions of people in support of saving the planet. The ‘hour’ starts at 8.30pm when lights are switched off in cities around the world. One of the ways you can get involved is by enjoying a candlelit dinner at participating London restaurants. Here are seven that are getting out the matches.   Oxo Tower, South Bank Ash Knotek, WWF - UK             1. Oxo Tower What better place to bask in the glow of a romantic candlelit dinner than at the Oxo Tower? It's not only a London landmark but also a flag-bearer for sustainability (Oxo is a founding member of the Sustainable Restaurant Association). Oxo sees Earth Hour as a chance to celebrate doing its bit to reduce its impact on the planet and will be switching off its lights along with many other buildings on the South Bank.    Twist, Marylebone Twist       2. Twist Twist in Marylebone has planned a special candlelit menu for Earth Hour, inspired by its philosophy of keeping things simple and authentic. Seasonal Italian and Spanish tapas dishes are made with love and prepared with respect for the environment.    The Thomas Cubitt, Belgravia The Thomas Cubitt   3. The Thomas Cubitt This ‘upmarket but down-to-earth’ gastropub in Belgravia will be offering customers a fun night out that will also show off its ethos of sustainability. Expect amazing food, a great atmosphere and good service.    The Rabbit, Chelsea The Rabbit        4

A javelin’s throw from the Olympic Park is where you'll find Well Street Market, the outdoor venue in Hackney that was recently revived thanks to the brilliant crowdfunding efforts of local residents. It brings together fashion, live music and London’s first student ‘makers market’, as well as an impressive selection of food and produce. It's open on the first Saturday of every month so if you haven't swung by yet, here's the grub you should try.  A steak sandwich from Meat in Point   Meat in Point — Image by What Dad Cooked   Argentinian chef Adrian Sandobal runs Meat in Point to share his love of hometown food. The steak sandwich with melted cheese, roasted peppers, rocket and chimichurri sauce is fantástico and the ultimate burger upgrade. The grilled chicken at Cham Cham   Cham Cham — Image by What Dad Cooked   Cham Cham – which means ‘chew’ – is a stall that offers West African street food specials. The grilled marinated chicken and baba ganoush is influenced by early Lebanese traders to Sierra Leone. The wraps by The Piadina Project   The Piadina Project — Image by What Dad Cooked   The Piadina Project is a high-quality wrap concept from founder Jack Padoan. He brings together Italian suppliers and builds on his Italian roots to make great varieties of his piadinas – a thin flatbread from the Emilia Romagna region.   The artisan breads at The Flour Station   The Flour Station — Image by What Dad Cooked   The Flour Station started life in Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen r

There's more to feasting on Chinese New Year than checking into a fancy restaurant (although, that's always nice). Chinatown is full of weird and wonderful foods you can grab for a quick bite, so here are seven you might be tempted to try this weekend. Thousand year-old eggs from 'New Loon Moon' Supermarket, Gerrard St/©What Dad Cooked                       1. Thousand year-old eggs from the New Loon Moon Supermarket Well, they're not actually that old – but this style of preserving eggs has been around since the Ming Dynasty. Curing a duck egg in a mixture of salt, tea and other ingredients for up to 50 days transforms the eggs. The whites turn a beautiful dark amber with a fragrant and jelly-like texture, the yolks are rich and creamy (and green!). Pick up a dozen at New Loon Moon. 9A Gerrard Street, W1D 5PN Racks of duck at Canton, Newport Place / ©What Dad Cooked              2. Barbecue 'duck and offal' from Canton Hanging in the windows of most Chinatown restaurants is one the world’s greatest culinary treasures – roast duck. These bronzed beauties are created after a long, complex (and often secretive) cooking process. But those aren't the only heavenly things to eat on those racks. There's barbecued chicken, pork and cuttlefish, while piled on the lower trays are – as one restaurant puts it – ‘assorted pigs' organs’. One for the gastronomically adventurous. 11 Newport Place, WC2H 7JR  Traditional rice cake from Wonderful Patisserie / ©What Dad Cooked     3. Fish

There was a time when few would have recognised the panettones stacked in London’s Italian delicatessens. But now it’s impossible to do a Christmas shop without tripping over the lovely things. To meet the demand for variety, panettones have been ‘pimped’ with all kinds of fancy additions including booze, creams and chocolate – but we like them ‘classico’ and set out to find the traditional panettones from London’s Italian delis and cafés. Here are seven places where you can get them.  Gastronomica, Borough Market   Gastronomica in Borough Market sells the exclusive Abertengo Tradizionale panettonePhoto © What Dad Cooked     Gastronomica in Borough Market only imports high-quality food from Italy, so their Albertengo Tradizionales should be good. They come with a ‘glassato’ frosted coating of pearled sugar and nuts. The cost of a good traditional panettone may vary widely, but it’s safe to say with panettone, you get what you pay for. These are at the high end, but as the staff say: they’re worth it! 8 Southwark Street, SE1 1TL. I Camisa & Son and Lina Stores, Soho   The Flamigni ‘Milano’ style traditional panettone from I Camisa & Son in Soho. Photo © What Dad Cooked   I Camisa & Son and Lina Stores both sell top-of-the-range panettones. I Camisa stocks the Flamigni, a beautiful traditional cake. The staff say, ‘the more butter, the better'. And the Flamigni is chock-full of it. They sold shedloads last year. Lina favours the trendy-looking Cova Milano Classico and panet

Thanks to global food supplies, we can now eat whatever we want, whenever we want. But if you're all about food that's truly in season, the Spa Terminus area in Bermondsey is home to over 25 food producers running thriving businesses. Here are seven you should visit this month:   Ice Cream Union     Sara’s choice of seasonal ice cream   ICU does artisanal ice creams and sorbets and you can expect new and seasonal flavours to their menu, no matter the weather. Treat yourself to an amazing spiced pumpkin, Christmas pudding or brandy butter ice cream.   Natoora     Seasonal vegetable box   Natoora Delica pumpkins are a seasonal favourite along with cime de rapa and spiky baby artichokes – all fresh in from Italy. Natoora sources from small farmers known for quality and flavour and they supply leading chefs and restaurants including The River Café. They also have a few shops and other outlets around London.   Monmouth Coffee     Coffee is always in season       Monmouth has become a legend on the London coffee scene, with a great range of blends for the winter months. Try the Gititu from Kenya for its rich seasonal taste – it has a hint of cherries, citrus, sweet caramel and cloves.    The London Honey Company     Inspired by the beauty of bees The London Honey Company collects honey from their beehives scattered around London’s rooftops, but they also send their hives to other parts of the UK to make honey of single origin. The latest in stock is made from ling heathe

If you haven't heard, everyone's foraging – from free spirits who are hot on sustainability to Michelin-starred chefs offering weird and wonderful foraged edibles. And contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to own a Barbour or live in the countryside to enjoy nature’s nosh for free. Some of the easiest and most rewarding forages can be harvested right here in town – so here are five of our faves to track down this autumn. 1. Rowan berries  Rowan berries can be found at Hampstead Heath or Victoria Park. Similar to cranberries, rowan berries are small, bright red and come from the mountain ash tree – which are often planted in municipal gardens or landscaped and private gardens. But you can find them growing in places like Hampstead Heath or Victoria Park or other parks and woodlands. They're good for jams and tea or go great with meats. 2. Haws Haws foraged by the River Thames in Ham. Another bright red berry that's good in a jam, you can get haws from the hawthorn tree – but check for small lobed leaves and long sharp thorns! Wimbledon Common has plenty of them but you'll need to get there early to beat the birds. Haws can also be found in Highbury Fields and by the Thames in Ham. 3. Dog Rose Hips Dog rose hips are the red seed pod of the wild rose. There's plenty in hedge-like growth in parks, such as Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park or even near car parks in Richmond. You can use them to make rosehip syrup, a medicinal tonic full of vitamins and goodness.   A photo p

Portobello Road was once famous for its antique market, but it’s actually so much more. On Saturdays the road goes into full selling mode and party swing – you name it, you can find it: crafts, fashions, music, books, collectables, specialist antiques and bric-a-brac. Navigate through haggling crowds and you’ll also find plenty of food.     Popina’s vegetarian stall promises food artistry from the soul Vegan nosh and fresh coconuts  Pitches squeeze into the impossibly busy top end of the road and sprawl everywhere under and around the overpass. You’ll find every imaginable kind of food on sale. Popina has good-looking vegetarian and vegan food, but our pick of the bunch is the jelly nut stall. Coco-traders skillfully hack away at the end of the young coconuts and the final chop exposes a hole big enough to poke a straw through and suck up the delicious coconut milk. It’s a great tonic for £3. Burgers and ramen Boom Burger reminds us that Portobello is in the heart of London’s carnival district. Head here for boom tunes and explosive and vibrant Jamaican flavours. There’s also another branch of Honest Burgers worth checking out, while Electric Diner gets top marks for its Americana atmosphere and menu. As for ramen, Tokotsu is just off Portobello Road, and well worth the price for silky-smooth noodles in a rich and unctuous broth.   R Garcias & Sons – a Spanish grocer with real character       Polpo and paella A cluster of Spanish and Portuguese restaurants and grocers at

Clerkenwell Road is part of a route linking east and west London, yet with its quiet passages and historic square it has the character of an intimate neighbourhood. It’s also home to a variety of foodie venues serving Clerkenwell’s creative community. Here's some of our favourites.   Bea’s of Bloomsbury and Banh Mi Bay on Theobold's Road   Bea’s of Bloomsbury Bea’s ‘cake boutique’ is the original tea room for this booming business. They make all their products on the premises; try their famous cupcakes, or the unique duffin (a cross between a doughnut and muffin). Or, indulge in their afternoon tea – a three-tier extravaganza of scones, cakes, treats and mini-baguettes.  As for Banh Mi Bay just down the road, baguettes come in different shapes and sizes at this Vietnamese restaurant, which has pioneered traditional banh mi baguettes in the UK. The French loaf was introduced to Vietnam during colonial times and has evolved into a light elongated roll with a crispy crust. Order a lemongrass chargrilled steak banh mi – it’s a brilliant twist on a steak sandwich.   Baguettes at Banh Mi Bay     Leather Lane Market This historical market offers a solid mix of street food faves, such as Crosstown Doughnuts, which started trading in the market in 2014. Their doughnuts have since gone viral, but despite their success, the business still has the vibe of a street market start-up.  Crosstown Doughnuts always sell out   Leather Lane is also home to the legendary Grill My Cheese. Th

Seven Dials is a charmed oasis that's not just about shopping – it's home to merchants, artisans and cooks from all over the world. There’s culinary treasure on every street: ibérico ham, English cheese, Sicilian tuna, French macarons, Trappist beer, 20” pizzas, meatballs, escargots – just about anything a foodie could want is right there. Here are six reasons why you should have a wander round.  The Seven Dials monument For the culinary diversity and specialisation I Love Nata is a case in point. It sells two products: coffee and nata (the celebrated Portuguese tarts). We love a good nata, but anyone on a mission to find one of the best in town needn’t go further than this shop. I Love Nata on Endell St - Possibly the best nata outside Portugal  Pierre Hermé, the ‘Picasso of pastry’, sells legendary macarons and chocolates. They look as good as they taste. Pierre Hermé on Monmouth St   For kitchenware and wheat grass On the northern perimeter of the area is Nisbets, a place full of desirable things for the kitchen. It’s mandatory browsing for a foodie. Having made a wish list, walk back into Seven Dials via the juice stall on Earlham Street and buy a shot of nutritious wheat grass – said to be nature’s medicine. If drinking pure chlorophyll doesn’t appeal, just remember it’s supposed to be good for you. Juice Island on Earlham St – wide range of fruit, as well as wheat grass   For the coffee breaks The cramped but convivial Monmouth Coffee shop is a famous Seven Dia

For the price of a ticket to Madame Tussauds, you can have a culinary experience along Marylebone High Street instead – and if you're lucky, you might even see some real-life celebrities. This lively and elegant enclave is a world-famous destination known for its quality independent retailers. So the next time you fancy a quick bite, here's why you should head west.    Tramezzi Italian sandwiches The Cabbages & Frocks market On Saturdays between 11am and 5pm, the Cabbages & Frocks market huddles around the St Marylebone churchyard. The market features an eclectic mix of fashion items, accessories, homeware and food stalls. Sometimes the ‘frocks’ outnumber the ‘cabbages’, but the ‘cabbages’ always includes cakes and coffee as well as a rich variety of international foods.     Breads from German Wholegrain Baker’s Shop   Once you get peckish, head to Tramezzi for Venetian tea sandwiches (grilled white bread sandwiches with a range of tasty fillings); the German Wholegrain Baker’s Shop for a fine selection of rye breads; and for aficionados of Greek patisseries, the P&L Microbakery – they make an excellent galaktoboureko (a refreshing filo pastry and custard tart).      Cheddars at La Fromagerie   La Fromagerie At La Fromagerie you can enjoy, explore and be inspired by the artisan cheeses, charcuterie and other wonderful foods on display. Walk past stacked crates of wild asparagus, artichokes, fresh almonds, and Amalfi lemons and venture into the cheese room for some tastin

Bloggers What Dad Cooked share the best bits of their favourite foodie streets in the capital.  In the shadow of the Shard lies Bermondsey Street and Square – two strips full of restaurants, bars and cafés. We like it for its contradictions: it’s hyper-trendy, but still rough round the edges; über-cool and modern, yet oozing history. Gentrification is running amok but the independents are still hanging on. Here's why you should explore it this weekend.    Erik the moose at Hej Coffee There's excellent coffee Hej Coffee is a welcome bolt-hole from the over-concreted Bermondsey Square. The coffee and the food are excellent at Hej (order the 'viking balls', a WDC favourite), which brilliantly crams its space with scandi decor. This includes the very Swedish sculpture-in-residence Eric the Moose. Cocking a snook can be good for business. Elsewhere, the nearby Watch House is a favourite and sells luxury artisan coffee and food in its converted guardhouse. Further down the road you can order a cup of ‘shit storm’ (that’s coffee by the way) in the controversially named F*ckoffee.   Scarlet Rosita’s stall sells food that is gluten & wheat free, dairy & egg free with no added sugar or fat. Bermondsey Square’s markets are brilliant Bermondsey’s Friday market has always been a magnet for antique traders. They famously set-up at 4am – a tradition harking back to a time when they could legally sell ‘dodgy’ goods before sunrise. On Saturdays the Square hosts a farmer’s market, where