The London culinary scene is just phenomenal. I was on a journey to dine at some of the best Michelin restaurants in London. I found it extremely difficult to choose where exactly to start on documenting all the amazing food I was able to experience…so I’ll begin at the end.
My final Michelin starred dining experience in the UK was at Core by Clare Smyth. At the time of my dining experience in December, the restaurant held an incredible two Michelin stars. They have recently – and most deservedly – achieved three Michelin stars for 2021, making them the newest addition to an exclusive club of four to receive the coveted accolade in London. Clare Smyth is also the first and only British female chef in the UK to receive this honour.
It was also one of the best dining experiences I had during my time in London.
Michelin Stars: ★★ at the time of dining, but currently holds ★★★
I was lucky enough to secure a reservation for early December in the short period after London emerged from Lockdown 2.0 and just before we were sadly plunged into Tier 3 restrictions. Let me tell you, that waiting list is long! My original reservation was in mid-November (we all know how that month turned out) and that booking was made in September. I made it my mission to try to nab a spot before I went back to Australia so I was absolutely over the moon to have succeeded, with a lot of help from the lovely reservations team at Core.
As it was the start of the winter season, the restaurant was decorated for Christmas! It was stunning, and just such a delight to see after emerging from a lonely lockdown.
I was very warmly greeted by the staff and also by the chefs (and Clare Smyth!) as I walked past the kitchen to the dining area. I was solo dining on this occasion so I’m not sure if this played a part, but I was seated at a table in prime position right in front of the Christmas tree! Very chuffed, indeed. As you will soon learn, I absolutely adore Christmas! I can also say that I was made to feel extremely comfortable as a solo diner, something that I very greatly appreciated.
Now, on to the food!
Core offers an a la carte menu as well as two set menus; Core Classics (£145) & Core Seasons (£165). I chose the Core Seasons menu. Each option comes with a top and tail of incredible bite-sized appetisers to begin and finish off your dining experience. Don’t even get me started on the bread! You’ll be treated to bread made from a 19-year old starter and served with virgin butter from Somerset. I was told that the starter was actually a gift and that the team at Core have been dutifully caring for it since they received it.
The struggle between conserving stomach space for the meal to come and wolfing down this amazing bread was extremely challenging.
The dishes on the Winter Core Seasons menu included:
The Beginning
~ foie gras parfait & madeira
~ crispy smoked chicken wing, beer, honey & thyme
~ jellied eel, toasted seaweed and malt vinegar
~ black truffle gougére
Steamed Colchester Crab
~ sabayon, consommé, caviar
Cep Tart
~ white truffle and Fluffetts Farm egg yolk
Cornish Sea Bass
~ cockles, clams, coastal herbs and lovage
‘Cheese and Onion’
~ alliums, aged Cheddar and onion broth
Lobster and Spelt (substitute for ‘Beef and Oyster’)
~ Fenland celery, caviar and Selim pepper
‘The other carrot’
‘Core-teaser’
~ chocolate, malt, hazelnut
The End
~ ‘Sauternes and Banyuls’ wine gums
~ warm chocolate & clementine tart
The food was absolutely heavenly. The best way that I can summarise it is that everything tasted like an enhanced version of the star ingredient; the crab was how crab should taste…and more, the truffle was an explosion of truffle-ly goodness, and familiar warm, comforting winter flavours were given a perfect Michelin-starred treatment.
The team were also incredibly intuitive when taking me through the menu. My hesitation at the oyster part of the ‘Beef and Oyster’ dish was noted and they offered to swap the dish with another on the a la carte menu. For this, I chose Lobster and Spelt.
Can I pick a favourite? It’s a really tough choice. If you twist my arm, I would say that it has to be the stunning opener, Steamed Cornish Crab. I was in heaven from the first spoonful of that crab sabayon *chef’s kiss*. A fabulous first impression. Notable mentions to the Jellied Eel and black truffle gougére at the very beginning of the meal – I could have probably eaten dozens more of each!
The most beautiful presentation goes to the ‘Cheese and Onion’. No description needed; just refer to the image for literal artwork on a plate. How did they even get cheese into those delicate onion layers? Culinary magic!
In more recent news for Sydney, her first Australian restaurant has found a home on level 26 at the Crown Sydney, called Oncore by Clare Smyth, with views of Sydney Harbour and the Sydney Opera House. The opening date is currently slated for July 2021 (so very soon!) and I’m excited to see what they’ll bring across the pond down under.
Have you experienced Michelin magic at Core by Clare Smyth? Will you be dining at Oncore when it opens in Sydney?
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More information on Core by Clare Smyth.
More information on Oncore by Clare Smyth.
Where:
Core by Clare Smyth
92 Kensington Park Road,
London W11 2PN
