LULU LE VAY, SEPT 2017
London prides itself on its diverse culture, the richness of which materializes through the Capital’s smorgasbord of cuisine on offer. Focussing this week on West Indian culture, we highlight some of the best spots to sample some the cuisine’s finest, from traditional dishes to modern re-imaginations.
The Rum Kitchen With restaurants in Brixton, Notting Hill and Kingly Court, the Rum Kitchen serves traditional dishes with a twist, from curried mutton in chilly yogurt and red snapper with spiced plantain, through to haloumi burgers spiced up with scotch bonnet mayonnaise and roasted corn with bacon and jerk lime dressing. They even host rum masterclasses to educate you on not just how to mix cocktails, but to swot up on its history.
Ma Petite Jamaica It’s all going on in this jumping jerk pit and reggae bar in the heart of Camden. Alongside classics such as curried goat and brown stew chicken, you can also try Caribbean fajitas and crayfish mac ‘n’ cheese. The sweet potato and pumpkin fritters with coconut coulis and chilli jam also make it well worth the trip, particularly for happy hour every day between 5pm-7pm.
Turtle Bay As a brand, Turtle Bay have it covered. But for some, might just be too jerk-by-numbers. With restaurants across the UK, from Cheltenham and Bournemouth, to Brixton, Cardiff and Birmingham, this West Indian foodie franchise boasts not only an authentic menu, but has a bustling social media presence and a Reggae 45 series from some of reggae’s finest, such as Don Letts.
Cummin Up For more local and less polished brand vibes, then Cummin Up is definitely worth a visit, even just based on the name alone. With sites in Brighton, Lewisham and New Cross, this Caribbean takeaway, bakery and ‘cultural centre’ also offers catering services for special events. It may not be fancy, but expect authentic food with a smile. They even have their own brand BBQ jerk sauce that can spice up your own Caribbean home cooking.
