In May 2011, I was in London for a workshop with my research school colleagues. One night we decided to go out and eat together (about half of us actually went). Annika picked out a restaurant called Sketch (nearest underground Oxford Circus). I was warned that the reason to go there was the atmosphere and to see the toilets, so my expectations were not that high.
The best word I can think to describe the place is “pretto” (Swedish short form of pretentious) and trying to be artsy with video installations, etc, but it was kind of fun and the food was fine.
We sat in “The Gallery” dining room.
The current video installations were supposed to be something about architecture and nature...
Another attraction here is the bathrooms, so I went to check them out. People seem to be confused about which side of the staircase to go up, but this is obviously some subconscious psychological test about conforming to social norms ;) as one side is backlit with blue lighting and the other with pink. Anyway, each toilet is basically inside some kind of free-standing egg.
Now for the food. As usual I was a sucker for the foie gras although I (rightly) suspected I was choosing the wrong starter. I should have chosen the “Beetroot and raspberry sorbet, mesclun salad, pink radish, French beans, celeriac, carrots, fennel, coriander, raspberries, tomato coulis”.
Foie gras terrine, girolles in vinegar, tamarillo paste, apricot and honeyed pine nuts.
Roast rib-eye, cabbage and shitake mushrooms with coleman’s mustard, tarragon marshmallow “Nantes” style.
Sorry it’s so dark. The marshmallow was very interesting, and they actually did cook the meat properly.
Now for dessert. We ended up playing musical desserts, so I will list them from worst to best.
Stracciatella ice cream, poppy chantilly, fresh mango and lime, raspberry meringue.
Caramel fudge with Maldon salt butter, caramelized dried fruits, pecans and hazelnuts, Caraïbe chocolate cream, dark and milk chocolate.
Limoncello jelly, lemon paste, lemon cream, macaronade, meringue, lemon slice.
Research school colleagues
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