Sunday Mornings
Filed under: Food in London
Sunday mornings will never be the same again now that we have a new addition to the family. Every morning at precisely seven o’clock a piercing bark emanates from the living room casually reminding us that it’s time to get up. For the first couple of weekends we did everything possible to alleviate the deafening noise – sleeping with earplugs, burying our heads beneath pillows…all to no avail. Now we have reluctantly resigned ourselves to the early wakeup calls. So instead of slothful mornings lying in bed reading the papers we are up at the crack of dawn bounding round Hampstead Heath. This trip is the highlight of our puppy’s social calendar a chance to get acquainted with other furry friends as well as the perfect opportunity to chase, bikes, joggers and most recently strollers.
On the drive home, whilst she smears the leather seats with muddy debris caught between her paws, we typically enter into heated debates concerning breakfast possibilities. Arguments usually erupt because I tend to favour poncy, little, cafes serving restrained, girly, portions as opposed to my husband who wants gutsy, hearty, fare washed down with a pint or two. Last Sunday however we reach an amicable compromise and go to The Peasant, a modern gastro pub located on St Johns Street near Clerkenwell.
The dining room is a quirky, inviting space and the menu is varied enough to satisfy my current dietary fad (a tedious high protein, low carbohydrate eating plan). Because of my limited options I opt for a smoked haddock dish served with a poached egg and buttered spinach. It would not have been my first choice yet it defies expectations. The haddock is flaky, delicate and not overly smoked (although I’m not sure it was a great decision to leave the skin on) and the hollandaise has just the right amount of piquancy to give it some edge. The side of Chorizo also has a pleasurably spicy kick to it. The service is everything it should be – friendly and efficient administered by staff that appear to take a genuine interest in the food and wine on offer.
The true motivation however for returning in the future, is their refreshing policy that permits mutts in their downstairs dining space. I made this exciting discovery just before we were about to depart when from under a table I spied a pair of eyes belonging to a particularly fetching hound. I’m not sure whether Bear (our puppy) is mature enough to possesses the requisite social skills to handle a dining-out experience, however as soon as I’m confident that she won’t leap on everybody in her vicinity I’m sure it might resolve the Sunday morning eating dilemna.
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Gastrochick
Where on St Johns St is it? Always good to know of more decent places to eat in that neck of the woods.
Have you been to Vinoteca yet on St Johns Street, virtually opposite St Johns? The wines by the glass menu is longer than the food menu, which tends towards Italian. Looks great and is supposed to taste equally good - I haven’t been there yet myself.
Comment by Silverbrow 03.15.06 @ 8:59 amSilverbrow
It’s about halfway between Angel and Clerkenwell, near City University. I have only ever eaten downstairs, apparently upstairs is more formal and a different menu during the week. I can also recommend the Island Queen, on Noel Road, a great local pub which happens to serve great fish and chips.
This Vinoteca place you speak of sounds great I will have to check it out, I drive down that street everyday but have never seen it. Is it new?
Comment by GastroChick 03.15.06 @ 9:12 amDog … unbelievably adorable.
Breakfast … sounds unbelievably delicious!
What a way to start the day!
Comment by Ivonne 03.16.06 @ 2:28 amWhat a sweetie!
The pub sounds lovely, I shall visit one of these days 
The dog is adorable and the breakfast sounds delicious. I’ll put the pub on my list for when we visit this summer.
Comment by pmoed 03.20.06 @ 3:07 pmWhat an adorable pup! Your blog is fantastic, I have only just discovered it and am quite taken by it!! If you are at all interested in checking out other food blogs you should look at [this] perhaps, you will find something you like. Take care of that adorable puppy!! Thanks for the posting! 
How adorable she is!
I wish to own one like her when I have my own house
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Such an uplifting post!!! How can anyone resist this face???
Comment by Bea at La Tartine Gourmande 03.14.06 @ 11:59 pm