Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Acorn House

I was working in Kings Cross today, just 5 minutes from Robert's office. When it became clear I was going to finish early he had the brain-wave of us meeting for a late lunch at Acorn House. I've heard good things about this place, it's a charity, "a trust committed to the training of young adults in the eco friendly restaurant trade" and it turned out to be absolutely unique in a number of ways. It has an amazing ethical stance: they reuse (wormery on the roof for all leftovers), they recycle, they purify their own water, they never use air-freight, they buy seasonal produce from independant suppliers, they have a strict fish purchasing policy, the list goes on and on...

Anyway, it's positioned in a stange part of town, in the ugly old NUJ building (Robert, of course, says he likes it) on a street corner in the middle of the one way system. Once inside, the place itself is contemporary (if a little bland) and the atmosphere very friendly. My seat vibrated every few minutes when a double decker went past.

The monthly seasonal menu is very exciting and so well set out that you can choose to mix and match exactly as you want. The service is properly passionate - our waitress knew everything from the restuarant's coffee policy to where each cheese came from. Anyway, the food was outstanding. I had Nettle and potato risotto with garlic pangrittata and a glass of scrumpy. Rob had the Duck confit with potato al forno and we shared some salads, including spring beetroots and carrots and toasted fennel seeds. It was superb.

"Have the apple pie," our waitrose told me, I'd never normally choose it for lunch but I took her advice. I'm so glad I did. When I'd tasted the first mouthful: crispy, salty, buttery pastry stuffed with cinnamon and vanilla'd apple and a huge dollop of good clotted cream, I was taken aback at just how brilliant it was. Robert had a wedge of fine farmhouse Cheddar with slices of apple and walnut bread. He ate every single bit of his then ploughed into mine.

Total bill: £52.80. And they do take out too. We very nearly found the The Best Restaurant In London today.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nettle and potato risotto?
I said, Nettle and potato risotto?!?

Anonymous said...

Take out?

Are we in America now?

Take away!

Silvana said...

Sorry Grahame! I've just looked at their menu and they correctly call it take-away too. I must stop watching all those aimed-at-women imports on Channel 4.

And Ju, I tell you it was just yummy! Admittedly a bit of a carb fest with the rice, potatoes and fried breadcrumbs but really, go there and try it, you'll love it. Second best restaurant in London!

Rob said...

It's AMAZING!

*pats still full belly*

Clodagh said...

Sounds like the lyrics from a Bob Marley song.

Did you really mean to say 'waitrose' for 'waitress' or was that London talk?

Don't forget am stuck in rural France - so can't pretend to keep up.

Rob said...

Waitrose: Good one! Bloody spell-checker...

Anonymous said...

Sounds fantastic. I'm never near Kings X but I may have to make a detour the next time I'm in town. Where I come a take out is what feckless teenagers buy from the off licence to drink in the park!

Anonymous said...

Sorry to come over all curmudgeonly :)


Love the blog...!

Silvana said...

No, Grahame, I fully agree with your comment - you can tick me off whenever you like. Glad you enjoy blog