Street Kitchen at Covent Garden

For The London Restaurant Festival, Jun Tanaka and Mark Jankel have joined forces to create Street Kitchen.

They have created a British Seasonal Menu using produce sourced directly from sustainable and organic UK farms and producers.

Street Kitchen at Covent Garden Piazza 4th-14th October 2010, at Spitalfields Market 15th – 18th October 2010.

Street Kitchen Trailer

Street Kitchen Menu

What I Ate

Roasted Carrot and Rosemary Soup & Brioche – A very pleasant soup, it was very rich and creamy. The Carrot brought out a tender sweetness. The Brioche was nice, but I would have much preferred a crusty Sourdough.

Hot Smoked Salmon, Beetroot & Horseradish – Refreshing dish, my Salmon was full of smokey flavour. One piece was cooked perfect, the other more like seared, but it was still good and juicy. I heard on another table their Salmon was a bit dry. The Crushed Potatoes was excellent, very waxy and nutty with just enough firmness. I was annoyed not to have asked what Potatoes they were. Beetroot on the other hand were a bit watery and lacked flavour, but you could still taste they were fresh. The sauce was great, really hit me in a good way.

Braised Beef, Carrots & Celeriac – This was definitely the highlight dish. It was definitely the dish you wanted to eat, especially as the second week the weather turned much colder. The Beef was melt in your mouth and there was so much depth of flavour in that piece of meat. Yummy! I got a bit of fat on one of my pieces, yes please! On another none, felt the taste was more flat and meat drier. Carrots were roasted to just caramelized on the outside and still had some bite on the inside. Celeriac was like a hot thick milkshake, tasted full of creaminess with the Celeriac accenting through. The mild Mustard Sauce just lifted the dish to near perfection.

Roast Butternut Squash & Watercress Salad – Oh man this was good! The Street Kitchen guys were so nice and gave me a taster portion because it was too cold and I wanted the Beef but hadn’t tried the Salad yet. The sauce was just wicked and yet again I was too shy to ask what was in it. I wanted to order a full portion because I really did enjoy it and even though it was cold the Salad had a warming feeling to it, but I had already got too much food. Butternut Squash was perfectly roasted, Crouton slices added a crunchy punch and that zingy sauce was awakening!

Cheesecake, Shortbread & Rhubarb – Do not be fooled, you read Cheesecake, but it sorta ain’t. Googey creamy cheesy bottom layer, crumbled crunchy Shortbread and tart Rhubarb Compote topping. It is very indulgently great and inspired me to make a Cheesecake with a Shortbread base.

Good bits

Mostly everything. Top notch restaurant food in takeaway form and at reasonable prices. Every one is so friendly, and seeing people that would not have considered going to smarter restaurants to eat food like this enjoying it was great. Responsibly sourced produce is always a plus.

Not so good bits

Just that it was cold eating outside due to the time of year. Looking forward to it in the summer.

Would I go again and what would I want on the next visit?

Definitely! Thinking about heading to Spitalfields before it ends to have the salad. Oh and maybe the Cheesecake.