Come February, collect spherical effervescent bowls for the Lunar New Yr, boozily brunch for Mardi Gras and go low-key, however nonetheless loved-up, for Valentine’s Day. In case you’re craving conviviality and meals that looks like a heat hug, right here’s find out how to get your fill…
HOT-POT HAPPENINGS FOR THE LUNAR NEW YEAR
10 February
It’s the yr of the wooden dragon, you’re draped in gold (the auspicious search for 2024), and plump scarlet envelopes sign good instances forward. Might you’re feeling any luckier? Effectively, sure, as a result of hot-pot brunches are again at lives-up-to-its-name Superfly restaurant (with its neon glow and TV wall taking part in classic adverts) at Beijing hideaway the Opposite House.
Right here, winter’s warded off in as firecracker a mode because the legendary scourge of the Lunar New Yr, the Nian monster. Chopsticks frantic as desk chatter add to clamorous flavours in broths each mushroomy and umami-rich, or full of chillies that add a roundhouse kick – dunking in pickled cabbage and crunchy shoots, hunks of pork gut and knuckle and different morsels, making a dish that evolves over dinner. Pair with ingot-resembling – if not completely conventional – Huge Mac-inspired dumplings for a pinch extra prosperity.
Or carry the sharing-caring power you wish to take into the brand new yr to Jing Yaa Tang, the lodge’s connoisseur providing, the place chef Li Dong provides Peking duck a Michelin-star mien. Aged for 45 days, smoked over jujube wooden and roasted until its pores and skin is lacquered and crackled, it’s the star in a soothing saucing and pancake-packing ritual.
And dine in comparable type at…
King’s Joy, Beijing
Set throughout from Lama Temple, eaters of all persuasions could declare the vegetarian tasting menus right here a equally spiritual expertise. As much as 14 artfully plated programs, plus a nightly harpist, unhumble the components to the purpose of deserved self-importance.
Mei Ume, London
This Metropolis eatery celebrates in theatrical type, with lion and fan dancers, and embraces the custom of the prosperity-toss salad (the upper the ingredient is thrown, the luckier); however is famend year-round for its dim-sum, Peking duck and lobster.
Honey’s, Brooklyn
This ‘neverending hot-pot’ occasion in Brooklyn is a really sociable affair: bookings are for teams of 4 to eight, and issues get much less ceremonious and extra magically messy the dunk-ier and drunker (on potent baijiu cocktails) you get.
LAIDBACK BRUNCHING FOR MARDI GRAS
13 February
Jubilance comes as straightforward because the livin’ at New Orleans’ Mardi Gras celebrations. How are you going to not get caught up within the purple, gold and inexperienced costumery; masked ‘krewes’ manning carnivalesque floats; many musical interludes; and pleasant affrays over thrown beads, trinkets and prized coconuts tossed by the Zulu org? However, earlier than you bling up like a New Jersey mafioso and go into sensory overload, take a – much less jazzy – beat over brunch.
It’s testomony to New Orleans’ culinary rep that James Beard-winning cooks abound; the Columns lodge has a complete staff of them, so it’s supreme for leisurely brunching at a view-blessed level on the parade route (3811 St Charles Ave, comfortably away from the crowded French Quarter). Join over homey gumbo bowls, on the mimosa and Bloody Mary stations, and whereas digging the plastic child out of an unnaturally hued King’s Cake, as ever-buoyant guitarist and host of the digital Have a Nice Day present Joshua Starkman provides the affair extra love nonetheless.
And, over within the Marigny, Hôtel Peter and Paul additionally enjoys an excellent vantage level and has brunch picks we‘d rock up for with out the promise of free beads: Gulf shrimp slick with pineapple-chilli purée, grits in chorizo gravy, salmon and smoked tomatillo toast… And cocktails with a woozy quantity of bourbon and rye.
And dine in comparable type at…
Ace Hotel New Orleans
There’s rather a lot occurring on the NOLA outpost of the super-cool Ace group: Southern brunching with an Italian accent at Josephine Estelle osteria, drag reveals, oyster and cocktail slurping at completely satisfied hour, and pitch-perfect music programming on the Three Keys gig venue.
Louie, London
It’s in Covent Backyard (fittingly near Ronnie Scott’s), however Louie speaks in an intoxicating drawl by way of its Southern-French menu, (assume buttery lobster and razor clams in oyster custard), and the jaunty musical inclinations of its Alligator Bar – seeya there later…
Henry, Hong Kong
Whereas cherry-picking dishes from throughout the US’s southern seaboard, Henry steakhouse has the Mardi Gras spirit(s) infused by way of its boozy menu, with whisky-aged steaks, sherry-slugged lobster bisque, and Irish coffees with tonka-bean sweetness.
GO MEAT-FREE OVER MASOPUST
13 February
Platters of bread-and-bacon dumplings, goulash thick sufficient to face a spoon in, porcine offal of mysterious origin, and molasses-dark beer: Czech delicacies is, at instances, extra a type of gravitational drive than ‘comfy’.
As Lent looms, Masopust (the nation’s tackle Mardi Gras) drives residents right into a sausage frenzy, and carnivores are catered for by the likes of the Emblem Hotel’s George Prime Steak. However, vegetarian and vegan delicacies has made enormous strides right here for the reason that days bowls of sweetcorn or peas had been typically the choice to pork knuckle and blood soup. And so you may ethically have a good time the season with ease.
Spots such because the named-on-the-nose Vegan’s Restaurant, set in a Sixteenth-century constructing under Prague Fort (dishes pictured above), and Lehká Hlava (on the Vltava’s proper financial institution) even do meat-free takes on trad dishes, corresponding to svíčková (‘steak’ with dumplings, cream and berries) or goulash, whereas Satsang reworks mac and cheese, burgers and all types of curries for purely plant-based decadence.
And dine in comparable type at…
Palo Verde simply exterior the Previous City
On this leafy, coolly calm eating house (all dusky pink and rugged wooden), you may feast ethically on warming soups, stacked seitan bagels and tofu noodle bowls – all vegan.
Belzepub in Žižkov
Whereas wearing hues the Darkish Lord would give a spiky thumbs as much as, the eats on this low-key vegan haunt are extra saintly: NoFish and potato salad, domestically beloved utopenci (pickled ‘sausage’ and onions), and plant-based barbecue ribs.
Pastva in Smíchov
Set a stumble from the Staropramen tasting room, Pastva has an industrial-chic eating room and a menu the meat-abstaining can take solace in, with pumpkin and smoked tofu pies; spinach, basil and walnut risotto; and lentil lasagna.
LOVED-UP LUNCHING FOR VALENTINE’S DAY
14 February
Come Valentine’s Day subsequent Wednesday, would you relatively be sat reverse one another at a prim white-clothed desk, peering awkwardly round a candelabra and decoding cutleries; or cosily physique to physique, snuggled right into a banquette, surrounded by white-noise chatter, awaiting one thing belt-loosening?
London’s pub-roast scene is on a roll, getting a connoisseur zhuzh whereas retaining parts Herculean and never tinkering with the classics. Take the Bull & Last by Hampstead Heath (see header picture) – the type of place the place you might arrive mud-spattered after a canine stroll to dine, or gown as much as share a slab of North Essex shorthorn prime rib, or aubergine Wellington with confit tomato (menus change steadily), then snoozily head upstairs for a soak within the Faraday suite’s freestanding bathtub tub earlier than mattress.
Or decide a Sunday both aspect of Valentine’s and pitch up on the Princess Royal, Notting Hill to feed one another oysters from the uncooked bar earlier than tucking into lemon-y, thyme-infused rooster, beneficiant slices of porchetta, or gnocchi swimming in gorgonzola cream. Earlier than a royally good sleep (or not, because the case could also be…) in bedrooms delivered to life with sample and color.
And dine in comparable type at…
Shoreditch House, London
This clubby spot – with a much-loved rooftop pool – lures in East London’s inventive crowd, and impresses with its of-the-minute happenings and signature vintage-leaning stylish, but it surely’s not too cool for an old-school roast with all of the trimmings and plant-based choices too.
Boys Hall, Kent
With eating helmed by Shane Pearson – whose London eatery Blacklock has typically been hailed as a roast-master, but additionally confirmed his veg-pertise with the worldly small plates at Caravan – elevates their providing with neighbouring-farm-sourced components and fireplace cooking.
The Pig at the South Downs, West Sussex
These buttery greens, honeyed carrots, and parsnips with a caramel-ly crunch style all the higher when you already know they’re from a kitchen backyard simply steps away. It’s what the Pigs had been constructed on, they usually nonetheless do all of it very properly, whether or not your centrepiece is chargrilled hispi cabbage or beef fillet from Trenchmore Farm.
However wait, there’s extra culinary excellence to have a good time in our gourmet getaways assortment.
