EAT THIS, DRINK THIS, WEAR THIS: THE BEST ITALIAN IN LONDON
EAT THIS.
“Pound for pound one of the best meals in London” - Seven Tails Brandy founder , restauranteur Joel Fraser. On a brief check the insanely popular Manteca in Shoreditch still had a handful of coveted tables for Sunday evening. Do not let the suggestion of a counter seat put you off, rather embrace the feverish dance of the kitchen unfold before you like an edgy east London theatre performance. It’s on you to embrace the pace. Await on the edge of tears to find out if your seating is front row and allow relief to wash over you in an awesome wave as you’re guided to your throne in front of the raging grill.
Order this:
Wildfarmed focaccia (ask for this to arrive with your pasta you’ll need it for ‘scarpetta’)
Duck liver parfait
Line caught seabass crudo
Tonnarelli (brown crab cacio e pepe)
Fazzoletti, (duck ragu & add truffle)
Brussel Sprouts if they are on
It’s tempting to get the sirloin, but I’ve resigned steaks to steak restaurants and home cooking only.
DRINK THIS.
Aperitivo, Cynar Negroni
A smokey, silky, bitter couple of mouthfuls to ease you into the action & dodge the panic attack of a very fun kitchen.
Wine, Givry 2018, Domaine des Moirots, Côte Chalonnaise, Burgundy.
Raspberry, red fruits, earthy, leather, mushroom, oaky, buttery. This will help guide what you wear.
WEAR THIS.
Being in Shoreditch, you can expect the crowd to be uniformly underdressed and for those there to enjoy a good bowl of pasta I’d say carry on, undermine yourself all you wish.
Just because you’re in E2, do not let the tail wag the dog.
This is the perfect occasion of high/low to employ an impeccable but informal notch lapel jacket; soft shouldered & unstructured. A simple sweater or t-shirt would ground the outfit and a trouser with a loafer will keep you in place. Accessorise with a roughly stuffed pocket square, leave the watch at home and stack up a couple of bracelets & cuffs.
Your fragrance is Tuscan Leather which point for point matches the berry, earth & leather of your wine.
