Earlier on this month I had the pleasure of dining at Spring, in Somerset House. It was all thanks to Hubbub, and the wonderful readers who nominated me to be noted as one of their Sustainable Superheroes – go check out the list, I’m honoured to be amongst the brilliant bloggers shortlisted!
Spring had been on my list of places to visit for quite a while, but I’d never had a swanky enough occasion to make a booking – up until now. Being gifted a dinner for two, I took my boyfriend along for an incredibly pleasant evening dining from their food-waste-based Scratch Menu.
From Scratch
Spring was founded by Skye Gyngell, an acclaimed chef and food writer. Her restaurant looks as pretty as its food tastes, and the same can be said about the daily Scratch Menu that is created using food leftover in the kitchens.
I’ve always thought this was a great idea, but noted that the menu regularly contained meat. I’d previously contacted Spring to ask if they provide vegan or vegetarian options (me being dairy- and meat-free, my boyfriend being vegetarian), and had been told as it was set daily, they didn’t cater to specific diets.
It had been a point of contention for me, but I was happily surprised to find out our menu had been customised especially for our visit. It was really thoughtful and I appreciated the effort that had been taken to cater to us, although I imagine if you visit on any other day it won’t be possible.
Daily delights
On the menu for us was a real array of delights. Being somewhat of a francophile, I was pleased to have a selection of breads for the table and a fine olive oil to dip into, as well as the option to order Toast Ale, made from surplus bread.
To start, we had peas, mint and radish on yesterday’s toasted sourdough. It was a heavy starter that tasted absolutely incredible, and was possibly my favourite dish!
We then had chickpea panisse with stuffed courgette flowers and root vegetables for mains, a good mix of earthy flavours and bursts of sweet onion and garlic.
And finally, a creamy raspberry sorbet made with crushed hazelnut biscuits. The biscuits were so light and flavourful – I wish I knew their recipe!
Spring in my step
All in all, it was a brilliant experience visiting Spring. While our meal was gifted on this occasion, their three-course Scratch Menu is only £20 per person. It’s an incredibly affordable price for the setting, service, and food. I also love the thrill of going on a whim, and you can see their menu in advance each day on Spring’s Twitter. I left feeling light, satisfied, and inspired to come back again soon!
