September will forever possess that nostalgic back to school energy that permeated our childhoods. As a true farewell to summer, the clicks that once went to our spritzes and grilled meat recipes now turn to the healthy, portable and time-efficient ones, overnight oats reigning supreme. Otherwise known as a more joyful January, September is the month where routines are restored, stationery purchased, and cortisol lowered. For us, this involved easing into the first roast of the season with a recipe that takes just over an hour, long lunches prevailing over late-night dinners, and a pickle festival, because why not.
The Recipe: Tom Kerridge's Speedy Roast Lamb with Watercress Sauce
We welcome roast season with open arms. However, going out every Sunday for a cut of meat can become quite a pricey habit to get into. For us last minute Sunday lunchers who don't fancy spending their day of rest in the kitchen, Tom Kerridge's speedy roast lamb is a godsend. The king of Sunday lunch himself reckons that roasting a leg of lamb doesn’t have to take hours. Removing the bone and opening out it into one flattish piece means it’ll cook in a fraction of the time. Plus, the music to our ears? You can actually ask your butcher to do it for you!
The Show: Tom Kerridge Sunday Lunch
If you like the look of the speedy lamb, there's plenty more inspiration to take from Tom's entire series of Sunday Lunch menus. We particularly like the Mexican episode, where Tom spices it up with a Mexican street food-inspired Sunday lunch, making a slow-cooked beef brisket with spicy tomato rice, and churros for dessert.
The Chef: Nathaniel Mortley
The chef of the month is none other than Nathaniel Mortley, who has been making waves with his take on Pan-Caribbean cooking, combining the flavours he grew up with in South East London with techniques honed in fine-dining kitchens. His Herne Hill restaurant, 2210 by NattyCanCook, was added to the Michelin Guide and has just been named Best Caribbean Restaurant at the FACT Dining Awards, all before the restaurant has even been open a year.
Last year, we sat down with Nathaniel to talk about his journey and his mission to give Caribbean cuisine the platform it deserves. As he told Food Network: “If I can help show that we deserve this spot… then I’ve achieved what I’m wanting to achieve.” Judging by how things are going, we’d say he’s well on his way.
The Newbie: Le Café LPM
The team behind our Mayfair favourite, La Petite Maison, has opened a new café inside The Lanesborough, bringing a little taste of the Côte d’Azur to Hyde Park Corner.
Le Café LPM is a one-year residency, with a fresh all-day menu, cocktail list and terrace made for those crisp, sunny autumn days. Expect the likes of burrata tartine with tomatoes for lunch, a croque monsieur when you fancy something more substantial, and, of course, a side of frites.
It’s inspired by the French Riviera way of life, one which is about enjoying the simplest parts of the day, unrushed and with good company. The interiors follow suit, with playful splashes of colour inspired by the Côte d’Azur, from bright Mediterranean blues to warm terracotta oranges.
The Restaurant: Dinings SW3
BYOB seems to have become something of a lost art in London restaurants. A place we certainly didn’t expect to find its revival was Dinings SW3, a luxurious omakase restaurant tucked down a mews just a stone’s throw from Harrods. The atmosphere is warm and friendly, but undeniably upscale. Attention is paid to every detail, from the magic coin napkins to allergens being considered with the utmost care. As for the omakase? Just some of the best we’ve had in London.
Our selection started with perfect spheres of sticky, crispy rice topped generously with salmon from Wester Ross in Scotland, before moving to day-boat caught Cornish sea bass carpaccio with truffle, ponzu and ponzu jelly. Each dish was replaced by the next with such elegance and courtesy they began to blend into each other. We looked down and found an amazake soy-marinated black cod in front of us, with shio-koji cured roasted cauliflower, tahini miso and pickled vegetables. We later told our waiter that this was a favourite for us. Finally came the sushi, made with three cuts of tuna ranging from lean to beautifully fatty.
It’s the kind of place that instantly lowers your cortisol levels, where lunch could easily slip into evening, or dinner into late night. Bring a good bottle, settle in and let them take care of the rest. Truly outstanding.
The Brand: BOMBOM
Korean cuisine’s moment has officially turned into a full-time obsession. One which we're guilty of. From bibimbap to kimchi-fried rice, it truly is the gift that keeps on giving, so it's no surprise that our brand of September is one which brings those flavours into our kitchen every day, with ease. BOMBOM was founded in 2022 by Seji Hong, who first started out hosting Korean supper clubs from her Wimbledon flat before turning to homemade sauces during lockdown. It's stocked in Ocado and Selfridges, and the latest launch is a 100% pure sesame oil, slowly roasted for a rich, nutty flavour. Drizzle it over noodles, stir-fries and salads, or use it to give marinades and dipping sauces an extra hit of flavour. Plus, its retro tin looks great on the shelves.
The Event: The Big Brine
Just when we thought London had enough food festivals, along came The Big Brine, an entire weekend dedicated to pickles. Niche? Perhaps, but it was a surprise hit, selling out every session and drawing more than 5,000 people across the weekend. Plus, they really committed to the theme. More than 30 traders were joined by chef demos, hands-on pickling workshops, competitions, DJs and some wonderfully weird creations, from our favourite pickle-flavoured sparkling water, Yew, to dill lip balm. Gizzi Erskine, Jay Morjaria and James Peck were among the chefs getting involved, while Brindisa, Lardo and Gracey’s Pizza created special dishes for the weekend.
Yes, London has an event for truly anything and everything, but this is one we hope to see return.
