Salt & Honey, the sweet yet savoury sibling of Fulham’s Manuka Kitchen, begins its soft launch today. Unfortunately, for those who’ve rested on their laurels (read: have been sunning themselves in a park with copious amounts of rosé), it’s already fully booked this week. You’ll have to wait until next Tuesday to get a reservation so clearly, the phrase ‘bees to a honey pot’ has never rung more true.
Manuka Kitchen (below) has won legions of west London fans since opening in 2012, with a contemporary international menu from New Zealand-born head chef Tyler Martin combining British ingredients with Kiwi flair; you can expect more of the same as Martin fires up the stoves at this Bayswater offshoot. Starters include lemongrass with manuka honey-cured salmon or fennel-cured beef with burrata and avocado oil, while a main course of Wagyu beef Bolognese with rocket pesto is at the top of Square Meal’s must-eat list (it’s a long list). There’s also market fish with truffle mash, clams and oyster mushrooms, or mussels with white beans in a paprika stock. There is (of course) manuka honey and saffron brûlée for dessert, salted caramel pannacotta, set lemon crème or a cheese board with brandy apricots, but we’ll be making a beeline (sorry) for the bitter chocolate and manuka honey truffles. We’re sure Salt & Honey will draw plenty of interest from the cosmopolitan Connaught Village set.
There has been a bit of an Australasian invasion in the foodie world of late. Aussie chef Skye Gyngell set the Down Under ball rolling when she opened Spring restaurant in October last year, while Farm Girl Café (below) brought the laidback Aussie lifestyle to Notting Hill in June. We’re also eagerly awaiting more Antipodean goodness from Kiwi-raised Anna Hansen, whose City branch of The Modern Pantry will open in September, bringing New Zealand-influenced cuisine and a new world wine list to Finsbury Square.
Fingers crossed Salt & Honey leaves a sweet taste in our mouth…
This article was published 22 July 2015