We divided into two groups, mine heading to Kew Gardens, then all met up again for dinner at Chef Emily Roux and husband Diego Ferrari’s Caractère Restaurant. It’s a former pub now one of “The Best Restaurants in Notting Hill” that’s about to receive their first (well-deserved) Michelin star.

Lucky us. We began with three creative passed bites, with the fish bone cracker topped with eel and furikake getting the most raves. The other two included a smoked cod roe tartelette with piment d’Espelette and a charcoal tea pie with soy and smoked whisky.

Once we were seated, I dove into the crusty bread on the table. Heavenly crust! Then we ate her with saffron “Acquerello risotto” with red Sicilian prawn green shiso bisque served with Cotes de Roussillon Blanc, Cuvee Michel Roux Fr. & Chapoutier, 2017, a white wine made from Grenache Blanc, Macabeo and Grenache Gris.

Next, we savored the corn-fed chicken supreme with morels and wild garlic served with Macon-Montbellet “La Bergerie,” Domaine Talmard 2017, a soft white burgundy.

We ended with many bites including, passion fruit jelly, a pecan praline chocolate tart and a warm chocolate mousse with a hazelnut crisp, a brownie and salted caramel served with with Coteaux du Layon “Atomes Crochus” Chateau Tomaze, 2023, a late-harvested Chenin Blanc and much applause for the chef and Jacqui Pickles, one of the Edible London organizers.   

 

Caractère Restaurant
Notting Hill
209 Westbourne Park Rd
London W11 1EA, United Kingdom
+44 20 8181 3850
caractererestaurant.com