Cooksister | Food, Travel, Photography

Food, photos & faraway places

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • About me
    • Contact me
    • Work with me
    • Legal
      • Copyright notice & Disclaimer
      • Disclosure
      • Cookies and Privacy Policy
    • Press and media
    • Cooksister FAQs
  • RECIPES
    • Recipe Index – by course
    • Baking (savoury)
    • Braai/Barbecue
    • Breakfast & brunch
    • Christmas
    • Dessert
    • Drinks
    • Eggs
    • Fish
    • Gluten-free
    • Leftovers
    • Pasta & rice
    • Poultry
    • Pulses
    • Salads
    • Soup
    • South African
    • Starters & light meals
    • Vegan
    • Vegetables
    • Vegetarian
  • RESTAURANTS
    • British Isles restaurants
    • Dubai restaurants
    • France restaurants
    • London restaurants
    • Montenegro restaurants
    • New York restaurants
    • Pop-ups and supperclubs
    • Serbia restaurants
    • Singapore restaurants
    • South Africa restaurants
    • Sweden restaurants
    • Switzerland restaurants
    • USA restaurants
  • TRAVEL
    • All my travel posts
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Canada
      • Dubai
      • Cruise ships
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Grenada
      • Hong Kong
      • Hotel reviews
      • Italy
      • Israel
      • Jersey
      • Mexico
      • Netherlands
      • Norway
      • Portugal
      • Singapore
      • Ski & snow
      • South Africa
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • UK
      • USA
      • Wales
  • PORTFOLIO
    • Freelance writing portfolio
    • Speaking and teaching
    • Photography portfolio
    • Buy my photos
You are here: Home / Restaurants / London restaurants / Chiswell Street Dining Rooms

Chiswell Street Dining Rooms

by Jeanne Horak on June 16, 2013 4 Comments in London restaurants

ChiswellStrTitle © J Horak-Druiff 2013

I must to admit having a bit of a soft spot for the excellent gastropubs operated by the ETM Group, a group founded by brothers Tom and Ed Martin back in 2000 and which now operates 10 venues across central London  smart City gastro pubs, contemporary brasseries/bars, and small neighbourhood pubs. I think they generally strike the right balance between “gastro” and “pub”, and some of their venues (like The Gun on the Docklands) combine good food and wine with outstanding location to guarantee a faultless meal.  I have had the pleasure of dining with them at The Angel & Crown, The Gun, the Cadogan Arms, the White Swan and The Well – so when the decision as to where to host a dinner for Meeta’s food photography workshop in February was left up to me, I needed little persuasion to get in touch with the ETM Group.  The venue we chose was the Chiswell Street Dining Rooms, a stones’ throw away from the venue of the workshop, in the heart of the City of London.  After hearing our group size and requirements, the events manager allocated us a private room in the Montcalm Hotel within whose premises both the Chiswell Street Dining Rooms and its sister restaurant the Jugged Hare are situated (although we were still ordering off the Chiswell Street menu).  When I received the booking form with instructions to staff I knew we had made the right choice when I saw the hilarious warning in red at the top of the form: “These are all photographers who will be taking photos of the food!!!!”

 

ChiswellStrTable © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

ChiswellStrChandelier © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

After a hard days workshopping, it was a pleasure to stroll through the doors of the hotel and be greeted with a board bearing our workshop name and directions to our room, which could hardly have been lovelier – high ceilings, twinkly chandeliers and a beautifully laid table, plus lots of space for us to stash all our bags so that neither diners nor staff would trip over them.  After a restorative glass of wine and a few words of welcome from Meeta, we settled down to enjoy our meal, served by the irrepressible Anton who had been assigned the job of looking after our party for the night. To start, Meeta and I shared the Scottish salmon tartar with soft boiled quail eggs, caviar and iced horseradish and a plate of Longhorn beef fillet carpaccio with black figs and parmesan.  The carpaccio was delicious – what an inspired idea to add torn figs – but the star of the show for me was without a doubt the salmon. The fish itself was yielding and full-flavoured; the quail eggs perfectly soft-boiled; and the ball of what appeared to be creme fraiche turned out to be horseradish sorbet – a delightful twist and completely addictive with the salty salmon. Other guests started with sweetcorn velouté with Dorset crab & sourdough croutons; or Pink Fir potato salad with goat’s cheese, courgettes and a wholegrain vinaigrette.

 

ChiswellStrWine © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

ChiswellStrCarpaccio © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

ChiswellStrSalmon © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

ChiswellStrSalad © J Horak-Druiff 2013

For my main course, I opted for something fishy to balance the richness of the starters, and chose the pan-fried fillet of sea bass with olive oil mashed potato, smoked celeriac remoulade and an orange & rosemary sauce.  This was as pretty as a picture, and I was intrigued by the smoked celeriac remoulads with its real and appealing smoky flavour.  The fish was flaky perfection and the mash was indulgent and smooth – a great dish all round.  Meeta enjoyed her pan-fried Middle White pork fillet and slow roast belly with Jerusalem artichoke purée, fondant potato and apple chutney. Other choices around the table included the Chiswell Street seasonal salad (vegetarian option) and the cep and hedgehog mushroom linguini with shaved parmesan and truffle. We had also ordered a selection of sides which included excellent fried, small green salads, sprouting broccoli, and hispi cabbage with bacon bits, served in truly covetable little copper saucepans.

 

ChiswellStrFish © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

ChiswellStrPork © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

ChiswellStrVegetarian © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

ChiswellStrPasta © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

ChiswellStrChipsSalad © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

ChiswellStrCabbage © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

Long before we had even set foot in the Chiswell Streeet Dining Rooms, Meeta and I had been looking at the menu and she already had her heart set on the salted caramel tart with caramelised bananas – but on the night it had disappeared from the menu.  But as soon as she asked after it, the wonderful Anton disappeared and returned with a portion especially for her.  Full marks for service!  I chose the chocolate roulade with Kirsch cherries which was lighter than it sounded, with a shard of outstanding dark chocolate as decoration, and some seriously boozy cherries to match the rich, dark roulade. Elsewhere around the table, people were enjoying white chocolate parfait with port roasted plums and an almond tuille; a lemon and poppy seed cake with ice-cream and a tuille, and even a special birthday dessert plate for Marie-Louise, our birthday girl.

 

ChiswellStrChocRoulade © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

 

 

ChiswellStrDessertDiptych © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

ChiswellStrWhiteChocParfait © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

ChiswellSteLemonPoppyseed © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

I think it is safe to say that by the time we eventually left, everyone was feeling well-fed, and very well looked after by the staff. The food, facilities and staff on the night were all excellent, but more than that, it had been a pleasure working with staff to arrange the evening and finalise the menu.  They had been very accommodating in terms of special dietary requirements and making sure that there was something for everyone on the limited menu, and no request was too much trouble.  If you are thinking of hosting a group meal in the City, I can’t recommend Chiswell Street Dining Rooms highly enough.  We paid a set price per head for our meal, but if ordering a la carte, most starters range from £6 to £10; mains range from £14 to £29.50; and desserts are all democratically priced at £6.50. They also do great value pre- and post-theatre menus (2 courses for £22 or 3 courses for £27) which are perfect if you’re nipping off to see something at the Barbican, virtually next door.

Other bloggers (coincidentally both South African!) who have enjoyed their meals at Chiswell Street include Michelle and Sam.

 

ChiswellStrChandelierDetail © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

Liked: the outstanding service, the memorable smoked salmon starter
Disliked: nothing
In a nutshell: An attractive setting conveniently located for the Montcalm Hotel for a party, or a dinner of fine food without the fuss of fine dining
Wow factor out of 10: 8

Chiswell Street Dining Rooms
56 Chiswell Street,
London
EC1Y 4SA

Tel: +44 (0)20 7614 0177
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Chiswell Street Dining Room on Urbanspoon

More deliciousness for you!

  • Nobu @ Atlantis The Palm, DubaiNobu @ Atlantis The Palm, Dubai
  • San Lorenzo tasting dinner at Osteria dell’ArancioSan Lorenzo tasting dinner at Osteria dell’Arancio
  • Saturday Snapshots #78Saturday Snapshots #78
  • Trooping the Colour – things to do in LondonTrooping the Colour – things to do in London

Never miss a Cooksister post

If you enjoyed this post, enter your e-mail address here to receive a FREE e-mail update when a new post appears on Cooksister

I love comments almost as much as I love cheese - so if you can't leave me any cheese, please leave me a comment instead!

« Saturday Snapshots #251
Bone-in rib-eye steak sous vide with a pepper sauce »

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Sally - My Custard Pie says

    June 17, 2013 at 2:21 pm

    Looks too elegant to be called a pub !! Definitely gastro.

    Reply
  2. Judit + Corina @WineDineDaily says

    June 17, 2013 at 8:11 pm

    We really enjoyed your review and everything looks very delicious and tempting!
    Cheers,
    J+C

    Reply
  3. Andrew says

    June 18, 2013 at 3:20 pm

    Glad they were pre-warned on the photo front! I imagine all you lot descending en-mass would have been rather intimidating!

    Reply
  4. Simone says

    June 18, 2013 at 10:23 pm

    That looks totally delicious jeanne! I’m collecting addresses of places we want to visit when we go to London next.

    Reply
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Never miss a Cooksister post!

Get my latest recipes delivered by e-mail!

Search over 500 recipes

Recently on Cooksister

  • Perfect broccoli and Stilton soup [keto, low carb, GF]
  • Masalchi by Atul Kochhar – Indian street food in Wembley
  • Barbecued salmon with blood oranges and capers
  • Roasted Brussels sprouts with feta, pomegranate and pine nuts [GF, V]
  • Love Yourself healthy meal delivery [Review]
  • Antillean
  • Festive roast lamb with pomegranate glaze
  • Rustic blood orange and pistachio galettes

Archives by month

Archives by category

Popular posts

Oxtail and red wine potjie
Peppermint Crisp fridge tart - a South African treat
Nigella's Bakewell slices & the Big Bakewell Taste-off
Gem squash 101: how to find them, how to grow them, how to eat them!
Roosterkoek - a South African braai essential
Courgettes stuffed with beef mince and cheese

Featured on

Also available on

September 18-24 is #negroniweek ! And there is no September 18-24 is #negroniweek ! And there is no finer place in London to enjoy a Negroni than the small but perfectly formed @terminisoho . I feel @neleen17 and I have perfected our technique... 😎 And best of all, you can buy their Negronis bottled to enjoy in the comfort of your own home! Where is YOUR favourite place to order Negronis? Let me know in the comments 🍹
Baby it’s HOT outside!!! 🥵 So London has surp Baby it’s HOT outside!!! 🥵 So London has surprised us with a last blast of summer in September - 31C in my garden as we speak! What better way to beat the heat than with a delicious lunchtime salmon poke bowl from @sushikatanae16 - a very welcome addition to the local restaurant scene in E16. Excellent ingredients, pretty plating and a huge portion for £17 (enough for 2 meals for me!). Definitely 5 stars from me! What are you feasting on today? Let me know in the comments 🍱🍣
LONDON TIP: When last were you a tourist in your o LONDON TIP: When last were you a tourist in your own city? We have all seen Thames Clippers speeding up and down the river but have you ever taken a sunset ride on a summer evening? Cheaper than a tourist boat and same gorgeous views 😍 Plus you can use your Oyster card or contact less payment card - no need to buy tickets in advance. Routes and stops available on their website  https://www.thamesclippers.com/plan-your-journey/route-map  #thingstodoinlondon #londondiaries #londonby night  #thamesclipper #uberboat #londonskyline #Londonriver #londontips #londontourist
Happy Cap Classique day! 🍾 Did you know that Happy Cap Classique day! 

🍾 Did you know that Cap Classique is the official term for sparkling wines produced in South Africa? 

🥂 For a wine to be able to describe itself as Cap Classique on the label, it has to follow some rules during the production process - most importantly that it needs to be made using the same traditional bottle-fermented method as Champagne produced in France. 

🍾 The first bottle of Cap Classique was produced by Simonsig estate In 1971.

🥂 Although most early Cap Classiques were made from Chenin Blanc, today they are made using the traditional Champagne grapes Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. 

🍾 Cap Classiques require a minimum of 9 months lees ageing but many producers leave their wines for longer, giving them the same yeasty, biscuitty character as Champagne.

🥂 Pictured is my all time favourite Cap Classique - @grahambeckbubbly - available in the UK from Waitrose,  Sainsbury's, Majestic and Ocado. 

Cheers! 🥂
A sunny afternoon in Soho, lunching with the one a A sunny afternoon in Soho, lunching with the one and only @neleen17 at @bocca_di_lupo. Fabulous sakura negronis to start (obvs!) alongside deep fried, cheese filled zucchini blossoms, stuffed olives and sage & anchovy fritters. Then seabass crudo  and a plate of coppa ham & melon. Finally, chicken escallopini with wild mushrooms,  orechiette with tomato, basil & red onion; and the best borlotti bean salad ever - all washed down with super food-friendly Malabaila Le Tres Roero Arneis. A fabulous meal and already looking forward to my next visit! And then a Turkish ice-cream and a little Soho dance as we walked home 💃. As you do.
Last week I went to the @royalacademyarts Summer E Last week I went to the @royalacademyarts Summer Exhibition,  the world’s oldest open submission exhibition – which means that anyone can enter their work to be considered for inclusion. It’s happened every year since 1769 and showcases a wealth of works on a variety of media from emerging and established artists. All works are for sale and prices range from a couple of hundred pounds to 6-figure sums and the exhibition runs till 20 August.  My favourite was the 3D St Paul's cathedral piece "Hemispheres "made of carbon fibre by @peternewellprice
Which one would you buy if you had an unlimited budget? #thingstodoinlondon
[AD] Have you ever tried Nepalese food before? 🇳🇵🇳🇵🇳🇵 If, like me, you hadn't, then you need to get down to The Gurkhas, a new modern Nepalese restaurant between Oxford Circus and Great Portland Street. Right now you can buy a voucher (valid for a year) giving you a 41% discount on their 6-course menu (see below for what's included) - visit @thegurkhas_restaurant or https://thegurkhasrestaurant.com/ for details.

The restaurant is the brainchild of Nepal-born Shrabaneswor Rai, who hails from a Gurkha family. The Head Chef Joe Allen, whose wife is Nepalese and father-in-law a Gurkha, has created a modern take on Nepalese cuisine using authentic spices and the best British produce. Choose between a 4 (£45), 6 (£65) or 9 (£85) course set menu - we tried the 6 course (plus 2 extra plates from the chef marked*) and we had:
1. Jimbu focaccia with fermented greens gundruk butter 
2. Aloo nimki (spiced potato on crispy cracker)
*3. Bara (lentil pancake, beetroot, fenugreek)
*4. Lamb kachila (lamb tartare with crispy bitter gourd)
5. Kukhura ko jhol  momo (chicken dumplings in spicy tomato sauce)
6. Stone bass sekuwa with heritage tomato atchar 
7. Gorkhali pork secreto on turnip atchar with amala (Indian gooseberry)
8. Khuwa creme caramel with sorrel granita 

Highlights for me were the focaccia; lamb (crispy bitter gourd - who knew?!); stone bass; and pork (stunning quality meat and loved the gooseberries).

Alongside the food we also had 2 amazing cocktails, one with blue butterfly pea powder; and a guava fizz topped with a smoke bubble. With dessert we had Tongba, a fermented millet drink (rather like a less alcoholic sake) served in an eponymous wooden container - a wonderful match with dessert!

The restaurant is named after the famous Gurkha soldiers of Nepal who are known for their bravery and  have been recruited into the British, Nepalese and India armies during various conflicts including WW1 and WW2. They are famed for their bravery and former Indian Army Chief of Staff Field Marshall Sam Manekshaw once said: "If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or he is a Gurkha."
Ever been to Palermo, Sicily? One of my favourite Ever been to Palermo, Sicily? One of my favourite things about this fascinating is the abundance of street markets. The alleys around the ancient Mercato della Vucciria are full of textile shops with the most amazing colourful fabrics - so hard to resist buying them all 😍😍😍 What's your favourite? Mine is right at the end... 🌵 

#palermosicily #sicilytourism #visitpalermo #mercatodellavucciria #textiledesigns #fabricdesigns #colourfulfabrics
Throwback to last week at @tasteoflondon where I h Throwback to last week at @tasteoflondon where I had the pleasure of drinking one of my favourite French summer wines:  @caveormarine ‘s Villemarin Picpoul de Pinet, a crisp and refreshing white wine made from 100% Picpoul grapes in the Languedoc-Rousillon AOC of Picpoul de Pinet, on the coast south of Montpellier. Did you know…
🇫🇷 the name Picpoul literally means “lip stinger”, a reference to this wine’s zingy acidity
🇫🇷 Picpoul was originally better known as a grape used to make Vermouth
🇫🇷 The appellation was granted AOC status in 1985
🇫🇷 The appellation is one of a tiny handful in Languedoc-Rousillon only allowed to make white wines
🇫🇷 65% of Picpoul wine is exported and the UK buys 75% of that!

So how does it taste? There is a lot of grapefruit, green apple and pear on the palate, balanced by a hint of salinity and minerality as a result of the vineyards’ proximity to the ocean - a perfect match for oysters and other seafood! Available for £9.99 per bottle at @majesticwine 

I also sampled:
- @maisonmirabeau rosé in an impressively large bottle
- @chef_francescomazzei ‘s amazing truffle & Parmiggiano pasta
- fabulous @remeogelato pistachio gelato
- @primetimelager gluten-free low calorie beer
- smoked nuts and olives from @belazu_co 

But the best part is always meeting up with fab friends old and new -  @eatcookexplore @thelondonfoodie @drgeraldcoakley @mecca.ibrahim and (briefly!) @elizabethwinegirl
Load More... Follow me on Instagram

Follow Jeanne Horak-Druiff's board Recipes by Cooksister on Pinterest.

Cooksister

The South African Food and Wine Blog Directory

The South African Food and Wine Blog Directory

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Jeanne Horak is a freelance food and travel writer; recipe developer and photographer. South African by birth and Londoner by choice, Jeanne has been writing about food and travel on Cooksister since 2004. She is a popular speaker on food photography and writing has also contributed articles, recipes and photos to a number of online and print publications. Jeanne has also worked with a number of destination marketers to promote their city or region. Please get in touch to work with her Read More…

Latest Recipes

Bowls of broccoli and Stilton soup
Salmon with blood oranges dill and capers
Brussels sprouts with feta and pomegranate
Roast lamb with pomegranate glaze
Blood orange & pistachio galettes
Cauliflower topped steak with melted cheese
Plate of potted smoked salmon with slaw and a glass of champagne
bowls of pistachio pomegranate bircher muesli

SITEMAP

Home

Contact

About me

Recipe Index

Restaurant Index

Copyright & Disclaimer

Cookies & privacy policy




blog counter

© 2004 - 2023 · Jeanne Horak unless otherwise stated - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. You may not reproduce any text, excerpts or images without my prior permission. Site by RTW Labs

Copyright © 2023 · Cooksister on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Cooksister cookie consent
We use cookies to ensure you receive the best experience on our site. If you continue to use this site, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions. Accept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT