Here's the meal that I had at the The Holly Bush in Hampstead. It was a quaint vibe. The path to get there had small alleyways with stairs and ivy covered walls.
Here's the order:
-Roasted vegetable & feta pithivier with roast potatoes, maple carrots, squash mash, cauliflower cheese, seasonal greens & gravy
-BBQ aubergine with roasted onion, tahini dressing, pomegranate, sea beets & toasted buckwheat
-La Capitana Merlot, Cachapoal, Chile
-Musar Jeune, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
The merlot had a nice pomegranate color. It was kinda sweet with cherry undertones. The finish was a bit hot with an oaky aroma.
The red blend was similarly sweet but with strong tannins. The finish was a little spicy but it wasn't hot. Really happy to have tried a Lebanese wine. This one probably would have been perfect with the roasted lamb.
Because eggplants are in season right now, I ordered the aubergine starter. I like the pomegranate texture in food. This was my first time trying toasted buckwheat, which I will consider using in my next salad. It was also my first time trying sea beets. I thought it was just really good-tasting spinach without that strong iron-y taste.
My first time trying a pithivier, which was basically a soft-core shepherd's pie. The mushrooms tasted fresh and cooked just right where they maintain their meaty texture. And the rest of the sides were seasoned to bring out the true taste of the veggie blended with strong herbal/spices. The gravy was so good I couldn't help myself from pouring some on everything.
I'm craving something spicy. Might try to find that out here. But so, I hear the Italian food is awesome in London...
