Living in Brixton has been nothing short of an extraordinary experience. Nine years ago there was nothing to shout about the area. A few local places to eat and drink that were acceptable and some not so much. Things have changed beyond recognition with the inevitable touches of gentrification that comes with evolution and regeneration.
Brixton has become a foodie destination, rather the tube station getaway into town. My next adventure took place very near the station, easy to find in a narrow, empty street around the corner from the buzzing market street. We found ourselves in front of a bright yellow door and a very welcoming front of the house greeting guests.
We arrived at Beehive Place Kitchen and Bar, where British chef Sam Hodges and Chateau Marmot are having a busy pop-up. Beehive Place is an old spacious Victorian hay loft with Jessica Albarn whose wonderful work covering one wall. Mismatching tables and chairs, bare brickwork, grey painted plastered wall and wood panelling.
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| making cocktails at Beehive Place |
This pop-up is a joint force between highly praised temporary restaurant Chateau Marmot and inspiring chef Sam Hodges, whose impressive CV includes St John and Soho House. The menu is a very British affair. They’re have created a series of one-off dining experiences between November 2014 and March 2015, with a fully licensed bar serving signature cocktails, craft beers and wines from independent suppliers.
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| bar area |
Hot crab apple toddy (£7), Lambs Navy rum, dry cider, crab apple, London honey, pickleback (pickle brine), spices, served warm, very delicious!
including infusions, wild and forage elements. Spirits and very local craft beers (draught and bottled) are available as well as soft drinks. They have researched the
length and breath of the country to find small, ethical, sustainable and niche suppliers to both the bar and restaurant. The
food menu varies every week, so it’s always a surprise in store.
The meal
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| The eating area |
The third course: was a delightful salted baked beetroot from Suffolk, cow’s curd, a tasty garlic grass and olive oil sauce, and grated horseradish from Sussex. Simple and very flavoursome. The wine match was South African, Franschhoek Cellar Semillon, a fresh, pale gold and citrousy and peachy white wine. Smooth and lengthy on the palate
The fourth course: a rich densely-textured, but very tender and juicy meat goose breast from Bedfordshire that was cooked to perfection! Potato, Norfolk Jerusalem artichoke, a sweet and tangy Devonshire cranberry sauce and goosefoot (green foliage). My favourite dish of the evening. Wine pairing was Willunga 100, 2013 from Australia, a Grenache bright red, light body and fine tannings. It was spicy with raspberry aroma.
Dessert: Blickling pear (dessert pear) white, slightly gritty, coarse, juicy flesh with a very sweet flavour, it was served warm, it was a bit hard but the taste was lovely, topped with Kentish cobnut crumble, and a creamy textured and sweet-nutty to the palate clotted cream ice cream. Wine pairing: Rialto, a sweet aromatic and soft Moscato from Veneto, Italy. The Dessert was nice and not too heavy – Perfect finish, if you like pears.
I attended a previous Chateau Marmot dining experience last year and enjoyed immensely, you can read about it here, so I was looking forward to the Brixton dates and again it didn’t disappoint.
This pop up finishes in March 2015 – don’t delay and get a ticket for next year as they are almost fully booked this year!
Cost : dinner of 5 coursers at £35, wine flight from £23, cocktails from £7. Other beverages were available to purchased on the night at very reasonable prices. Highly recommended.
Disclosure: I was a guest of Chateau Marmot, all opinions are my own.
This pop up looks amazing! Local produce is always a good idea.