Potter around The Gardening Society for English feelings, taco fun and foliage.
Last week I tried desperately to tame our back garden, but I fought a rose bush and the rose bush won. With that in mind, going to a pop-up in London called The Gardening Society might seem more for the green fingered, but it's actually for the hungry and the thirsty... and I was both.
Found atop John Lewis in Oxford Street, you may have to stroll past toaster and teacups you can't afford, but The Gardening Society is a calm and green oasis amongst an area of concrete and chaos. Boasting more potted plants and foliage than landscaping landmark B&Q, this rooftop space is decked with cutesy sheds, boasts growing nooks and can be found decked in picnic blankets. It's nice, it's pretty and it's busy, but there's more. Loads more.
The plates are colourful and reflect the natural, herb led ingredients perfectly.
More comes in the shape of Michelin Bib Gourmand winner Foley's as they've come to stock the restaurant with Middle Eastern and Asian flavours with a botanical, British twist. Starting with two cocktails, it's clear that Foley's look to echo their enviroment as a tall glass came with a teasing, matcha twist alongside the 'Rose Rose' that came with a sour and welcome bite, all courtesy of the team behind Background Bars. While the cocktails were beautiful, it's the tacos and starters that have the rooftop talking. Starting with the sweet potato fritters at £8, this mild spice and savoury dish with cured red onions and grilled pineapple was the perfect palette bash before the tacos came along. Sharing between us the 'Tempura Aubergine' with burnt jalapeno, asparagus, kohlrabi, feta and poppy seed at £6 alongside the slow cooked octopus and goan crab, it's clear that the fresh herbs and the twist on taco flavours make these dishes. While the crab bisque added too potent a flavour, the octopus shone with black sesame mayo and crispy shallots before we wolfed down a panna cotta to end all panna cotta's. Milky with bite and sprinkled with lychee, this is a closer that truly reflected the fresh location.
The Foley's restaurant at John Lewis Oxford Street is open from 13th June to 31st July. Opening times for the rooftop are as follows: (Sunday - Wednesday: last entry 8pm) and (Thursday - Saturday: last entry 10pm).
