What dish defines how Londoners are eating now? We asked leaders in the city's food scene to share a recipe that says "London" to them. Helen Goh is Yotam Ottolenghi's longtime collaborator on all things dessert and the co-author of his forthcoming book Sweet.
It was a few months after I had arrived in London. Compared to Melbourne (where I had lived for nearly thirty years), a culinary hub where interesting, affordable food was never far away, the scene in London seemed to me to be dichotomized between high-end, Michelin-type restaurants and me-too chains on the high street. In theory, you could get everything; in practice, you often ended up with nothing.
My husband and I decided to try St. John in Smithfield. I knew that Fergus Henderson had made his name championing nose-to-tail eating, but other than that, didn’t know what to expect. The meal was unexpectedly delicious. Bold, pared back, unpretentious (bone marrow and parsley salad; a single perfectly braised carrot for an entrée) and probably the first meal I had had in London that was like nothing I had ever eaten.
Then it came time to choose dessert.
Now, I usually go for luscious, fruit-based desserts. The description for the Eccles cakes (caramelized currants encased in pastry) didn’t sound very appealing. I didn’t even know what an Eccles cake was. Also, I don’t love cheese, and this was paired with Lancashire. It sounded an odd combination, which was probably the reason I decided to try it. Everything else had been so good, I thought I’d go for it on trust.
The dish was presented unadorned—a puck of pastry, a wedge of Lancashire cheese. The (puff) pastry, oozing dark caramel from its deep slashes on top, was tender and flaky. A thin layer of sugar crust cracked delightfully when I first bit into it—no exaggeration to say this excited me. Inside, buttery currants (or other fruit?), a bit sticky, with that deep caramel flavor. On its own, it was beautiful; complemented by the savory note of the cheese, perfection.
Eccles cake with Lancashire cheese. It takes me straight back to London, to St. John's, and to dish I probably couldn’t have found anywhere else in the world.
| 1 | pound 2 ounces bread flour |
| 2 | teaspoons sea salt |
| 4 1/2 | ounces cold unsalted butter, diced, plus 1 cup cold unsalted butter, divided |
| 1 | cup cold water |
| 2 | teaspoons white wine vinegar |
| 1 | pound 2 ounces bread flour |
| 2 | teaspoons sea salt |
| 4 1/2 | ounces cold unsalted butter, diced, plus 1 cup cold unsalted butter, divided |
| 1 | cup cold water |
| 2 | teaspoons white wine vinegar |
| 1 3/4 | ounces unsalted butter |
| 4 | ounces (scant) dark brown sugar |
| 7 3/4 | ounces currants |
| 1 | teaspoon ground allspice |
| 1 | teaspoon ground nutmeg |
| 3 | egg whites, beaten with a fork |
| Shallow bowl of superfine sugar |
| 1 3/4 | ounces unsalted butter |
| 4 | ounces (scant) dark brown sugar |
| 7 3/4 | ounces currants |
| 1 | teaspoon ground allspice |
| 1 | teaspoon ground nutmeg |
| 3 | egg whites, beaten with a fork |
| Shallow bowl of superfine sugar |
To see the rest of our Food52 Goes to London guide, head here.
Written by: Helen
Popular on Food52
9 Comments
Join The Conversation