Gourmet burgers. Buttermilk-fried chicken. And posh ‘dogs. They’ve all had their turn. And now it’s the turn of sustainable gourmet sandwiches thanks to Street Kitchen at Broadgate Circle, the first permanent shop from street food stalwarts Mark Jankel (The Food Initiative) and Jun Tanaka (formerly of Pearl). Open for lunch and dinner (7am-9pm) Monday through Friday, everything from the ingredients to the interiors at Street Kitchen is in-line with Street Kitchen’s ecologically-sound ethos, enabling the chefs to offer what they call ‘slow food, fast’ – an entirely new proposition on London’s grab-and-go dining scene.
GOURMET ON-THE-GO
The shop – offering the same brand of natural and organic food that Street Kitchen has been serving to Londoners for the last three years – specialises in signature 24-inch sandwiches (£4-7) served ‘by-the-inch’ and measured against bespoke boards inlaid with vintage yardsticks for quirky ‘cut-to-size’ ordering. Made using a selection of beautiful breads sourced from specialist bakers across the capital – focaccia, pitta, challah, rye, brioche – fillings include charred organic broccoli with free-range eggs, smoky mustard mayo, pickled red onions and Old Winchester cheese; and rare roast beef with caramelised onions, watercress, pickled cucumber and horseradish. Also available throughout the day are hot sandwiches such as roast chicken with tarragon mayo, smoked salmon with pickled red cabbage and lamb meatballs with tomato compote and spiced yoghurt. Two hotto-trot specials – salt beef and lobster rolls – are exclusive to the evenings and pair perfectly with a cool collection of locally-brewed craft beers from the likes of Camden Town Brewery and London Fields Brewery as well as a tight edit of sprightly English sparklings. Enjoy inside against a sleek backdrop of all-natural materials – think marble deli-style counter, herringbone floors and vibrant pops of red and grey – or take it outdoors and enjoy on one of two terraces as the sun sets over another busy day in the city. The perfect after-work wind-down.
SIDES SHOWS… BUT BY NO MEANS SIDELINES
Accompanying the sandwiches is a range of light and healthy, farm-to-fork salad boxes – both large and small (£3; £5) – packed with seasonal British ingredients such as home-smoked salmon with sweet pickled vegetables and dill dressing; spiced aubergine with hummus, roast cauliflower and pomegranate; beef and broccoli with pickled carrot and soy and sesame dressing; and goats’ cheese with sweet red onion, butternut squash and marjoram. Low in calories, they are ideal for those watching their waistlines as we hurtle headfirst into summer.
BREAKFAST… REALLY IS TH E MOST IMPORTANT MEAL O F TH E DAY
As any Londoner knows, breakfast has never been bigger. Swing by en-route to the office for the likes of filled brioche with home-smoked bacon or bacon and free-range egg, slathered in Stokes ketchup and homemade onion chutney. For something a little more adventurous, shakshuka (eggs poached in tomato sauce) is served in either a pita or pot and is sure to heal hungover heads. Lighter bites include a yoghurt or porridge pot topped with apple and cinnamon, granola or rhubarb compote.
WAKE UP, LONDON
Coffee is something of a culture at the shop with dedicated barista Joe Reed manning a La Marzocco coffee machine that sits up-front and centre in the open kitchen. Artisan blends by AllPress ensure springs-in-steps from morning ‘til night with beans roasted daily together with a selection of luxe leaves from the likes of Mangajo Green Teas and Equal Exchange. Prefer something a bit softer to set you up for the day? Drinks from Karma Cola and juices by Chegworth Valley should hit the spot.
SANDWICHES WITH SOUL
Foodie fans will have already tried the bistro bites served from the chefs’ two Airstream kitchens in the City and a Hatch in Battersea, but the Street Kitchen shop will fast become the go-to spot for sandwiches in the City. Served fast but made fairly, sustainability and seasonality sings in every sandwich.
Street Kitchen
42 Broadgate Circle, EC2M 2QS
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