Soif - Battersea Rise SW11

I have been to Soif twice now - the first time I left it too long to write about it and it has been several weeks since my second visit.  I'm not sure why the delay - because both times I have loved it and usually that means I can't wait to write up a blog post.  Anyway, that's kinda irrelevant - the point is, I really want to make sure to blog about Soif because it's ace.  I am a big fan of Terroirs and I am really keen to try Brawn, so when these guys opened their latest outpost in my corner of SW London I was super excited.  The formula is similar - great, meat-heavy, hearty menus and wine that is natural and free of additives (which in theory makes for easier hangovers - hurrah).  The

 decor is stripped back, lots of wood, blackboard menus, the odd wine barrel - all in all, a lovely, lovely environment to have a chilled dinner with good friends.  On my first visit, the other half and I shared the bavette with red wine shallots and duck-fat potatoes (which was beef-tastic) but on this visit I decided to go with the fish and it was a good move - the roast cod (I know, I know, cod - don't judge) with spiced chickpeas, spinach & a big dollop of alioli was delicious.  One of the highlights of both Terroirs and Soif is the wine list and we had an amazing Aussie Pinot to go with our food.  Even if you aren't a SW London resident (and I do realise that that will never be the case for some of you) make the trip to Soif, it's really, really good.

Terroirs - William IV St WC2

As often happens (at least in terms of blogging about London restaurants) I am kinda late to the party - if you want the latest news and top notch reviews of where to eat well in this town then you should visit the excellent Greedy Diva or Gourmet Chick.  Having said that, my raison d'etre is to share with you the places in this town that I love - food, coffee, architecture, neighbourhoods, whatever really and with that in mind I just had to write about the wonderful, wonderful Terroirs.  Opened around 2 years ago, Terroirs is positioned as a wine bar with food and the wine list is certainly top notch (note picture of delicious Burgundy...) but the food was the highlight for me.  We sat upstairs where the modus operandi is small sharing plates - predominately French in nature but with other Mediterranean influences, including a plate of amazing Jamon de Teruel (from the charcuterie selection) which melted in the mouth.  The pork and pistachio terrrine was my highlight - meaty, vinegary and rich, I could have eaten two!  Other dishes included Potted Shrimps on Toast (amazing), a selection of three wonderful cheeses (including the creamiest goat's cheese I have had in a long time) and another highlight - Cantabrian Anchovies with finely sliced shallots, rustic bread and unsalted butter.  We shared two puddings and one of them was the only bum note for me - the floating island of panacotta, rhubarb and pistachio.  The other one was a perfect end to the meal though -  a wonderfully bitter dark chocolate pot.  We had a great bottle of red from the Languedoc and stumbled out of there with grins on our faces that can only come when all the elements align - food, place, wine and of course company.  A winner people, a winner.