277 Hackney Rd, London E2 8NA
It’s always a pleasure spending an evening at @thelaughingheart_london . This is a place with such a relaxing and warm vibe created by @charliemellordramatic and his team, with lots of music and a nice selection of low intervention wines. The chef @aj_boon has pampered us with some amazing very intense flavours. We started with a delicious onion and lardo broth and continued with what was for me the dish of the night: the calçots with confit pink fir potato with walnuts was to die for! Such beautiful nutty flavours elevated with the calçot onion. One of my favourite dishes in the last months. Another explosion of flavour were the tonarelli ai agrumi (in a yeast, mandarin and lemon butter sauce). Yes, my Italian friends would say that there was too much sauce. It may not have been done the Italian way but you know what? I don’t care! The flavours were all there and so moreish and delicious! The creaminess with a bit of acidity and beautiful aromas of mandarines and lemon. I could end my evening here just by repeating the tonarelli and the calçot dishes once again. This doesn’t mean that what follows wasn’t good. All the dishes that followed (Monkfush, agretti, artichoke and red wine smoked bone sauce and turnip veloute; Jaggery ice cream, black olive oil cake and coriander; Koji macaron; Smoked almond, date and caper caramel) were cooked well and really delicious, but the first two dishes simply touched my tastebuds with more emotion. Head down to Laughing heart for a fun night with friends and enjoy the great vibes and really delicious food – during the weekend you may also find a party going on in the Cave downstairs where you can also enjoy the beautiful collection of wines and buy some bottle to take home.