Minty in the UK: Dinner at Fox & Grapes

I was in the UK for 11 days and after a delayed and long flight, I  made it to my friend’s house in Wimbledon just slightly frazzled, mostly sleep-deprived and very much excited. I was quite starved by the time I downed a cider at her local pub and then walked over to Fox & Grapes. Freshly painted and with a menu revamped by Claude Bosi, a French born chef with a two-starred Michelin restaurant; Hibiscus, this seemed like a good place for me to recharge.

We ordered some wine and a couple of appetizers to share. I immediately was drawn to the ox liver pate. And the snail lasagne seemed like a good bet as well.

Chef Claude has said the menu would be English classics with an emphasis on local products. Our entrees were recognizable as such.

I was really torn about my meal. Would I get the fish and chips with mushy peas? The sausage and mashed potatoes (bangers & mash!) or the pork belly? Fortunately, my table mates got the fish and pork while I happily ordered the sausage.

I was very curious about the mushy peas. They weren’t horrible canned, icky green colored things. But rather, a delicately freshly smashed pea dish. I actually liked it as there was a bit of mint in it. Yum, minty!  (ha, I said minty).

My bangers and mash came neatly coiled up with a delicious red onion gravy. I agreed to eat half and switch for the pork belly which looked amazing.

I’m so glad I swiched. While I liked my bangers & mash, the pork belly with the crispy spring onion was really good. And I had my first taste of black pudding in England.

We couldn’t leave without dessert so we ordered the treacle and pecan tart which I loved. It was just my thing, a little sweet, a little nutty. The blood orange and saffron trifle was also very good. Loved that it was so fluffy.

We rolled out of there and I was glad to have the 20 minute walk back to the house to think about how great my first eating adventure was a pop-up, of sorts. It would bode well for the next 10 days. I would eventually eat at a variety places- blogger favorites, hot new spots, supper clubs and another pop-up along with some random “cheap and cheerful” joints.

I fell asleep dreaming of pork belly and treacle.

The Fox & Grapes

9 Camp Road, Wimbledon, London, SW19 4UN, UK