From the Aug/Sept edition of Courier Life in the Courier: Stories of Modern Business magazine:
The brains behind multi-faceted Clerkenwell London, Sara now heads up London agency To Another Level, set up this year. Carter shares her favourite spaces in London to get a bite to eat.
I'm interested in how different spaces can "blend" together when it comes to food and retail venues.
My local fruit and veg store has a takeaway juice bar in the back - I'm convinced people would stay if they put a few tables and chairs in.
On a casual evening I adore my local pub, The Wells in Hampstead. The menu changes occasionally, but largely the favourites remain and these include the goats cheese and beetroot salad and the Chateaubriand.
The ingredients are local and the meat has a traceable provenance - it comes from our local butcher, The Hampstead Butcher.
The dish
This is a recipe I created myself after experimenting with combinations of traditional Indian spices. I'm always looking for new principle ingredients. Dudhi, used here, is a squash-like vegetable. It's got a bland flavour naturally, but it holds its texture and takes on the flavour of the spices.
I've made the dish with lamb on this occasion, but it can also be served vegetarian.
The ingredients
As well as dudhi, which is renowned for its digestive health benefits, smoked garlic is an ingredient I love to use at the moment to add a twist to a dish. The ingredient that I'll never tire of using is turmeric; it's an all-round good-for-you spice.
CARTER'S TOP SPOTS
Margot
I often head for Margot in Covent Garden. The most amazing service awaits, with owners Paulo and Nicholas serving up plates of Italian salami and melt-in-the-mouth pasta. There's so much choice in London yet it's a rare thing when the service and quality of food match.
Curators Coffee
Curators Coffee is on Margaret Street in Soho. When I find myself in that part of town for a meeting this is where I head. For a coffee house, the menu is extensive and there is an additional light and airy space downstairs, which is great for meetings.
Artichoke
My local fruit and veg store in Hampstead, where you pick you own produce. Alphonso mangoes, cavolo nero and avocados are typical examples of the things I get here. Its range of nuts and seeds is really good too. I also like the 'number 6' smoothie from the juice bar.
(Featured in Issue 18 - Courier: stories of modern businesses - Aug/Sept 2017 http://www.courierpaper.com )
