Eating

Today I had lunch with R and Baby Diver at Rochelle Canteen. Run by Melanie Arnold and Margot Henderson, the room itself is a converted bike shed with folding glass doors which open onto an old school playground with lots of outside tables for lunches on sunny days. It's a clean, white space with an open kitchen and calm air. Here's today's menu:

Wednesday 20 May 2009

Cauliflower Soup
Kohlrabi, Radish & Sorrel
Asparagus & Butter
Anchovy Toast
Duck Rillette & Cornichons

Roast Chicken & Aioli
Smoked Eel, Beetroot & Boiled Egg
Roast Pork Belly & Butterbeans
Fennel & Berkswell Bake

Green Salad
New Potatoes
Spring Greens

Caramel Ice Cream
Chocolate Pot
Welsh Rarebit

We had the roast chicken, a side of spring greens, followed by caramel ice cream. The simple title roast chicken doesn't do this dish justice. Half a succulent bird, slowly roasted with paprika, tomatoes and potatoes - we sighed out loud when our plates were laid before us. It was simply just the best chicken dish I've had in a long time. The chicken was amazing, and the potatoes were soft and piquant with a depth of flavour from the roasted tomatoes. The aioli was just the right side of garlicky and very creamy. Stunning. The caramel ice cream was so good I dribbled it down my new top.

Rochelle Canteen
Rochelle School
Arnold Circus
London
E2 7ES
020 7729 5677
Open Monday to Friday 9.30am to 4pm
Lunch 12 to 3pm
Closed evenings, weekends and bank holidays
BYO corkage £5