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Where do those in the know head when they have time to settle in for a long, lazy breakfast? We asked London’s top chefs which tables they book, plus what they order when they’re there.
TRISTAN WELCH EATS BREAKFAST AT 26 GRAINS
The chef who was once Gordon Ramsay¡¯s right-hand man now dishes up British-focused food at Parker¡¯s Tavern inside smart Cambridge hotel the University Arms
¡®When in London, I eat breakfast at porridge place 26 Grains in Neal¡¯s Yard, Covent Garden. I always order the hazelnut and butter offering ¨C the mix of nutty flavours and creamy grains is to die for.¡¯
ROBIN GILL EATS BREAKFAST AT ST JOHN
South London¡¯s favourite chef trained under Raymond Blanc and Marco Pierre White, and now has a handful of superlative British restaurants of his own
¡®Go to St John in Clerkenwell, a true British restaurant that¡¯s timeless, and order the Welsh rarebit. This spot is as cool now as it was when it opened. I¡¯d spend all day every day here if I could.¡¯
… AS DOES GREG MARCHAND
Using his nickname coined by Jamie Oliver, the chef opened his restaurant Frenchie in Paris in 2009 and followed it up seven years later with a sister spot in London’s Covent Garden
¡®I love St John Bread and Wine for its bacon sandwich with homemade sourdough bread and ketchup. I add plenty of HP Sauce ¨C it¡¯s my perfect hangover cure.¡¯
BEN TISH EATS BREAKFAST AT THE WOLSELEY
The culinary director of slick London hotel The Stafford and chef-patron of Fitzrovia¡¯s cosiest Sicilian joint, Norma
¡®It has to be The Wolseley in Piccadilly. I order two soft-boiled eggs with soldiers, and an Americano. I think it¡¯s impossible to eat breakfast here and then not feel good for the rest of the day. It¡¯s just so opulent ¨C a nod to grander, more classic times.¡¯
… AND SO DOES ADAM BYATT
The chef-patron of Michelin-starred Trinity in Clapham who began his career at Claridge¡¯s at just 16-years-old
¡®I don¡¯t eat breakfast out very often, but I always go to The Wolseley with my mum for her birthday. I¡¯ll order the caramelised pink grapefruit followed by kedgeree and filter coffee with hot milk. Can¡¯t beat it.¡¯
NIEVES BARRAGAN MOHACHO EATS BREAKFAST AT CRISPIN
The Basque Country-born chef won a Michelin star for London¡¯s Barrafina before going on to open elevated tapas spot Sabor near Regent Street ¨C and secure it a star of its own
¡®I¡¯ll occasionally find time on a Sunday to go out for breakfast. I¡¯ll go for something simple or classic like Crispin in Spitalfields, East London, which serves dishes such as poached eggs with brown-butter hollandaise and heritage tomatoes with burrata.¡¯
OLI TEMPLETON EATS BREAKFAST AT ALLPRESS
The co-founder of rotating restaurant Carousel in London¡¯s Marylebone welcomes a line-up of talented chefs into his kitchen year-round
¡®Allpress on Dalston Lane does an amazing smoked salmon and celeriac remoulade toastie with a black coffee. In the summer, it has a great spot for sitting outside in the sunshine.¡¯
ELIZABETH HAIGH EATS BREAKFAST AT GRANGER & CO
The Singapore-born chef started off on ¡®MasterChef¡¯ and went on to win Pidgin in Hackney, London, a Michelin star. Now she cooks homegrown dishes at Mei Mei, nestled in Borough Market¡¯s new dining space
¡®It has to be Granger & Co in Notting Hill. My husband and I had our first date there, so it evokes lovely memories each time we go back. I order the same thing without fail ¨C the full Aussie breakfast. It’s a lighter version of the English breakfast but with delicious hot-smoked salmon. My husband always orders the buttermilk banana hotcakes which we share between us; they¡¯re also a favourite of Riley’s, our two-year-old son. On the way out, we grab a couple of fresh juices and coffees to take away while we walk around the neighbourhood. It¡¯s always a lovely start to the day.¡¯
TOM BROWN EATS BREAKFAST AT PEARL
The ¡®Great British Menu¡¯ star and prot¨¦g¨¦ of Cornwall chef Nathan Outlaw opened his cool East London seafood restaurant Cornerstone in 2018
¡®Pearl is a great little spot right next door to Cornerstone and is my go-to place in Hackney Wick. Before we opened, I was based here nearly every day and loved it. It¡¯s full of locals and they do a class bacon-and-egg bap.¡¯
ALICE NORMAN EATS BREAKFAST AT THE GENERAL STORE
The chef at Italian-inspired Emilia, set in Bonham¡¯s Auction House, cut her teeth at esteemed London spots Kricket, Clipstone and Levan
¡®I head to General Store in Peckham for a cup of coffee and a pastel de nata. They¡¯re made by Diana Neto, who¡¯s the chef at A Portuguese Love Affair in Hackney.¡¯
OLLIE DABBOUS EATS BREAKFAST AT SMITH & WOLLENSKY
The young-gun chef¡¯s eponymous debut gained a Michelin star eight months after opening in 2012. Now he¡¯s at the helm of Hide, a critically acclaimed fine-dining spot in London¡¯s Mayfair
¡®The weekend breakfast offering at Smith & Wollensky near Charing Cross is great. The room is relaxed and the staff are lovely. There¡¯s a fun playlist and it does proper cooking; it¡¯s often very comforting, which is perfect for a Sunday. We always order the butcher burger with mac and cheese and a green salad, washed down with a Sage & Grapefruit Sbagliato cocktail. Just the light option!¡¯
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