My Favourite Restaurants Are The Food of Love

Miss Carrot cropped
The inestimable Miss Carrot

Whether it’s a date (preferably) or with mates (if you must), our inestimable Miss Carrot tells you where to go for food treats on Valentine’s Day.

In my recent column on dining in for Valentine’s, I also promised directions towards East London hottest restaurants on this, the most romantic evening of the year. Whether you are in a relationship or not, I suggest you treat yourself this Sunday. All the restaurants in region are queuing up to show how much they love you!

In the heart of Canary Wharf you will find a beautiful restaurant called Iberica.

They have a special Valentine’s menu. It’s all about tapas when you go Spanish, so how about small plates to share of “seared wild king prawns” or “texture of chocolate”? If this is not going to make your date fall in love with you, then nothing will. Sorry.

cupid

But you might get a second chance with Iberica’s specially made cocktail called “Cupid Arrow” (yes, you read it right). This lovebird in a glass is made with Cava, almonds, honey and frozen strawberries. Mouth watering, isn’t it? But don’t drool, please. Oh, and the honey part – remember honey from my aphrodisiac family collection? http://www.ibericarestaurants.com/menu/iberica-london-menus/

My next recommendation is the lovely Italian diner which goes by the name of “Super Tuscan”, located between Liverpool Street and Whitechapel. This restaurant is one of my favourites because the menu is full of “made for sharing” options. Imagine if you order “fresh pasta noodles” to share? Well, then, “Lady and The Trump” have nothing on you.

Among all their yummy stuff, I also found another favourite of mine – “pappa pomodoro”. Even if your pops is not really who you wish to think of on your date (or maybe you do, but don’t tell me more), this antipasti’s got basil, the green herb guaranteed to get your sex drive going. I rest my case.  http://www.supertuscan.co.uk/menu/

My next carefully picked restaurant is called Crystal Palace Market, and it serves the most amazing oysters imaginable. Oysters have been recognised as an aphrodisiac since Roman times, so go ahead and be like the Latins: treat your Valentine to oysters and a glass of Prosecco. Crystal Palace Market is also offering special Valentine’s cocktails. But my advice, Gentlemen, is don’t go for the hard stuff – in case of increased desire but diminished performance. Instead, remember to keep it bubbly! http://www.thecrystalpalacemarket.com

The next choice is as mysterious as a Valentine really should be (if you’re new to this, please note that you are not supposed to sign the card). It’s a mix between very old-fashioned Iranian dishes with well-known Indian cuisine.

I can now reveal that the restaurant chain I am talking about is Dishoom. Their range of spicy dishes is a good choice for Valentine’s Day, because it makes you hot and comfy. Try the chicken tikka with green chili or the vegetarian dish imaginatively entitled ‘vegetable with sweet peas and carrots’. Yay, carrots!!

One of the Dishoom chain is to be found in fashionable Shoreditch. But whichever one you pick, make sure to book a table – they are all pretty popular.  http://www.dishoom.com/food-drink/

There’s another Spanish restaurant I really like – this time in Hackney. I don’t know for sure why I keep coming back to Spanish cuisine in particular – maybe it’s the whole thing about small portions of food to be shared. Surely a winner when you’re with the one you love (and don’t forget to love the one you’re with). But I also picked this restaurant because of its lovely desserts. What would you make of organic ice cream, clotted cream, salt caramel and chocolate? Sounds good, right?  http://pocotapasbar.com/menus/tapas/

Wherever you go on V-Day and however you spend it, I hope have a suitably aphrodisiac Valentine.

Kindest regards,

Miss Carrot aka Nika Jazaee

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