The best things we ate and drank in January

Whiskey and Seaweed (Notting Hill) - Roast Chicken

Late last year, the bar at Core by Clare Smyth was transformed into its own entity - Whiskey and Seaweed. A recent trip revealed it to be an excellent whiskey-based bar with many of the bar snacks representing mini versions of the ones served in the main restaurant. We'll have a full Test Drive up soon, but in the meantime feast your eyes on this amazing mini taco that managed to miniaturise an entire roast chicken dinner - it's amazing. 

Bar Des Pres (Mayfair) - Yuzu Galette

The only galette we managed to have in January turned out to be something pretty great - but then Cyril Lignac of Bar Des Pres is well known for his patisserie in Paris. This galette added yuzu for a citrus take on the French cake and it's available in the restaurant until the end of January. 

The Dover (Mayfair) - Quattro formaggi ‘on toast’ with crispy focaccia and black truffle

We came to The Dover knowing little about it, but left proclaiming it to be one of the best new openings in Mayfair in quite some time. We've already been back to the bar and had this dish one more time, an excellent take on quattro formaggi, pared down to a bar snack. If you're curious about the restaurant, it's certainly worth checking out the bar first. 

Faber (Hammersmith) - Chalkstream trout tartare

A signature dish at this new seafood spot in Hammersmith, this featured marinated belly and roe of Hampshire trout topped with thick sashimi cut slices of the trout, topped with nori. This extraordinary British produce is what water activist Fergal Sharkey is fighting for and we are 100% with him.

Daroco (Soho) - Arancini with braised leek, scamorza cheese, spicy peppers & Pecorino 

A Parisian import, Daroco proved itself well able to prove its worth in Soho with an Italian menu that was surprisingly strong, not to mention an incredibly good cocktail list (and downstairs bar). Topping the list for us was this wonderful snack - a quartet of arancini of braised leek and cheese. 

SOLA (Soho) - ALL the snacks

Coming out of a massive refurb that has created an entirely new bar downstairs, the Michelin-starred SOLA is firing on all cylinders at the moment. Nowhere is that clearer than the parade of snacks that comes as part of the extremely good value set menu. We'll reserve particular praise for that mini chicken and waffle on the right. Packed into that is chicken liver parfait fortified with Jack Daniels, sherry vinegar and maple syrup gastrique, roast chicken skin and waffle tuile. 

Ganymede (Belgravia) - Tuna sashimi with whipped avocado, pickled ginger and truffled ponzu dressing

Technically this was a dish we actually ate last year, on New Year's Eve. We were a little late to the party on Ganymede, but we can see how this Belgravia pub and restaurant has become a favourite with locals (and it's also very handy if you're travelling through Victoria station). This was a standout gastropub dish using exceptionally good seafood.

Juno (Notting Hill) - Otoro nigiri

From a standout dinner at new omakase spot Juno, a procession of amazing nigiri included this piece of sushi made with the fattiest bluefin tuna belly and matcha. If you love sushi we can't recommend a dinner here highly enough.

La Cosmo (Malaga) - The Flan

Chef chef Dani Carnero is a powerhouse in Malaga with three restaurants in the southern Spanish city. This is his more informal spot which merited a Bib Gourmand in the current edition of the Spanish Michelin guide. The flan in question may look like a traditional Spanish dessert but it's anything but - served with a fried corn praline it's both sweet and salty and utterly unforgettable.

Restaurante Balausta (Malaga) - Suckling goat

On a recent break in Spain to escape the sub-zero temperatures in London we picked boutique hotel Palacio Soleccio as our base in Malaga. The restaurant there features a menu overseen by Michelin-starred chef José Carlos García who, until recently, was the only chef in the city with a Michelin star. Here, alongside head chef Sergio Solano the duo's menu celebrates local produce and regional specialities like roasted goat shoulder, giving them a contemporary finish. 

LPM (Mayfair) - Warm prawns in olive oil and lemon juice

One of LPM London's best known dishes, just one forkful of this transports you from the London winter to more balmy times down on the Mediterrean. Most of the crudo and seafood we had at a recent lunch here was memorably good, with this a particular standout.

Yauatcha (TBC) - Year of the Dragon pineapple cakes

As Chinese New Year gets closer, Yauatcha can always be relied on for something pretty great. This year, they have pineapple cakes, made with pineapple jam, some emblazoned with a dragon printed onto chocolate. You can order these for delivery across London now.