Chef Nicholas Balfe has been turning out some stunning food at his Salon restaurant in Brixton since opening in 2012 - and we're excited to hear about the new 'extended experience' he's come up with for the dinner service.
The six course set menu, with some very inventive snacks thrown in too, will change frequently: on the night we went it was full of truly outstanding dishes.
Highlights from our visit there included some kale tempura fritters (surely the best use of kale yet), a bowl of set pea custard with fresh peas, mint granita and a wild garlic puree, fresh and pickled asparagus with clams and a pool of almond 'nduja ajo blanco, and a beautiful celebration of lemon for dessert: cake, curd, ice cream and biscuit crumb.
Although it's a set menu to be taken by the table the team are happy to accommodate vegetarians or food allergies with suitable alternatives - plus don't forget a plate of the excellent sourdough bread to mop up all those garlicky sauces.
Nicholas describes his food as "seasonal and inventive - with lots of it sourced locally, some from our own neighbourhood", which takes him on urban foraging trips to find the best ingredients from local producers, allotments, community gardens and even hedgerows and parks. The new concept allows him to showcase the very best he can find, "right here, right now".
The Extended menu is available at Salon Brixton, 8 Market Row, Coldharbour Ln, London SW9 8LD on Tuesday-Saturday nights, at £44 per person - and you'll need to book ahead, as places will be limited. As an added incentive, if you book on a Wednesday or Thursday night in July or August, they'll throw in a cocktail on the house. Information and booking details on the Salon website.
