Dining Experience at ‘The Kitchen Table’

Back in January G told me about how he’d planned a surprise dinner and it was going to be the most amazing experience and unlike anything we’ve done before. I obviously got very excited! Then he told me it was in the diary for 6 month’s time…
What restaurant do you have to book 6 months in advance for a Thursday evening?
Well, I can tell you – ‘The Kitchen Table’.
20 seats, a new menu daily, 2 Michelin stars, a famous chef (James Knappett) and a set 16-course menu…This is a one of a kind ‘dining experience, encouraging full interaction with the chefs and showcasing previously unseen kitchen theatre’.
It just so happened that I recently found out I got a new job at work and so my surprise/celebratory dinner came at the perfect time! I met G after work and we had a drink at a bar just off Oxford Street. Our reservation was at 7:30pm which gave us enough time not to rush.
The first challenge was actually finding the restaurant, which turns out to be in a hidden room at the back of another restaurant called Bubbledogs. It was very intriguing, tucked away at the back of a building behind some leather curtains, the small room was cool, dark and intimate. Chefs were hard at work whilst we were shown to our bar-style seating at the far end and I was hooked!
We ordered the 16-course tasting menu (whatever that was, we had no clue as they don’t want you to know!) and a glass of champagne and then waited for the evening to begin…
I opted for the pescatarian option which is what I’ve blogged about, whilst G had meat too. I’ll let the pictures and menu do the talking…
OYSTER
Oyster – apple – fennel pollen – frozen horseradish – celery oil
QUAIL EGG
Quail egg – crispy potato – black garlic – balsamic – onion – chervil
MUSHROOM
Mushroom – sorrel – fermented green strawberry – lovage – pickled watermelon
PARKERHOUSE
Parkerhouse – Isle of Wight tomato butter – wild garlic
MUSSELS
Mussels – tomato – rhubarb – fig leaf oil – watermelon – verbena – flower – hiprose vinegar
MACKEREL
Mackerel – kohlrabi – nori – shiso – ponzu – seaweed – sour cream – attika
SEA TROUT
Sea Trout – girolles – cep – red pickled grapes – chickweed – cream
JUMBO PLAICE
Jumbo Plaice – 48 hour cooked onion – ash – thyme – red tropea – sherry vinegar
PEAS
English Peas – grelots – strawberry – champagne butter – mint oil – fish stock
TURBOT
Turbot cheeks – rose brown butter – carrot
BURRATA
Burrata – cherry – thai basil – olive oil
BEETROOT
Beetroot – sour cream icecream – woodruff – dehydrated beetroot
STRAWBERRY
Strawberry – cotton cake – meadowsweet custard – cooked crème brulee – panna cotta
CANELE
Baked custard – rum – Madagascan vanilla – damson preserve
FUDGE
Fudge – sea salt – white chocolate – caramel
So after all of our incredible courses we were treated to freshly picked tea of our choice (I had mint and lemon balm, and G had dried elderflower!). We then thought we’d top it all of with a small helping of sloe gin!
So there you have it – I’m feeling full just reading that menu through. It was absolutely Out. Of. This. World. Flavours I’d certainly never think could work and dishes I’d perhaps not usually choose all blew my mind! The atmosphere was amazing and if I’m honest G could barely get my attention for the whole meal as I was mesmerised by the art and skill that went into each dish. The experience lasted about 3 and a half hours and I enjoyed every single second. What a TREAT!!!!
I’m still pinching myself to realise that it actually happened!
If you want to find out more visit the website here and if you want to give it a go, make sure you book WELL in advance!!
IH xo
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