Failed vegan, flakey vegetarian, I'm sorry cute, little fluffy bundles, you just taste too damn good to forego, and I have painstakingly endeavoured to do so on several occasions.
Firmly giving into temptation, I have to say, I would travel to the end of the world for a decent steak or burger, so when I was invited along to try a set menu boasting the best meat on the planet, from the amazing and highly exclusive José Gordón, I hopped, skipped and jumped at the chance, to get my carnivorous jaws stuck into high quality produce.
The Worlds End Market , located on the Kings Road, Chelsea, in a beautiful grade two listed building, has collaborated with José Gordón, to bring lucky dinners a culinary, Spanish, meat experience like non other. The venue itself has a smart/casual vibe, with a handful of tables, a bar area, large windows making full use of natural lighting and Ninth Seal artworks hanging throughout.
Another striking edition to the venue is the open kitchen, and the meat market set to the side, reminding me of Novikov in Mayfair.
Staff are smartly dressed, polite and welcoming, setting off a feeling of professionalism, yet familiarity of being a regular at the establishment, even though it was my first visit.
Once seated, and menus at the ready, our innovative cocktail maker made a bold decision of informing us he would be grabbing the 'Bull by the horns', taking control of what cocktails we shall be receiving, with a full explanation of each along the culinary journey. Being a woman who knows what she wants, and holding a strong aversion towards surprises, this was a tad nerve wracking, but mostly, unnecessarily so.
First up, an espresso martini (of course) but with a twist. Homemade vanilla syrup, shaken with one crushed cardamom, finished with a strawberry and violet mist, decorated beautifully with a single strawberry and edible pearl. For my palate, the cardamom was a tad over powering, but I can see the imaginative appeal, with the spice complimenting the strength of the coffee.
Starters quickly followed. A large portion (perfect for sharing) 72 hour slow roasted, premium Ox Tongue, cooked and charcoal grilled, served with olive oil and salt, topped with mini gherkins and a requested side order of bread.
Premium Ox, Steak Tartar, served with two crusty slices of bread. Usually, I would avoid such dishes, as I am not a huge fan of raw meats, but the flavours were so perfectly balanced that I found myself almost finishing the whole plate. You can taste the difference, lightly seasoned, not hindering the natural flavours. Flavoursome quality, forever changing how I feel about steak tartar, in the most positive way.
Cocktail number two arrives *yay*. Another innovative spin on a classic, which is my favourite of the night. A simple Daiquiri, based on a light rum, shaken with a sprig of lemon thyme, a float of Malbec wine, served in a frozen 'pony' glass, decorated beautifully. Sweet, without giving an unwanted toothache, and refreshing, complimenting the flavours of the salty, consumed starters.
Now for the Pièce de résistance, the mouthwatering delight I have been excited for since arriving and browsing the menu, "the best burger in the world". El Capricho Burger, 100 days matured Ox, onion jam, smoked applewood cheese, salad, homemade sauce, with a side order of fries, which I requested to be substituted with the Parmesan truffle oil fries. (Truffle is another of my favourites.)
My plate was empty, which speaks volumes on how delicious this beautifully cooked, bun filled offering was. The meat was juicy, cooked to perfection, (though I would have liked it slightly pinker), moorish, each bite exploding with flavours that I haven't experienced with any other burger. The smokiness of the applewood cheese working its magic along side the tartness of the onion jam, every last ingredient coming together in harmonious indulgence, to create a burger very much deserving of the hype of being dubbed "the best in the world"
The fries were fresh and crispy, with a healthy amount of Parmesan, but I was unable to taste the truffle, which was a disappointment.
Drum roll for the next cocktail, "a wonderful world", a gin sour on Tanquarey 10, infused with dry hibiscus flowers, combined with liquor 43, homemade peach syrups, shaken with egg whites, and a splash of dry white wine, which was to be enjoyed upstairs in a hidden little gem, The Old fashioned Bar, and what a beautiful added edition this cosy den was.
Much like a warm and welcoming living room, with a working fireplace, and a beautiful bar decked out with premium whiskeys, a view of the kings road, and a stunning little roof top terrace, this is a Chelsea champion, hidden away in a beautifully preserved building offering, a bit of everything, including a themed basement area, which I shall save for another review.
Feeling like the Christopher Columbus of Chelsea, my culinary journey was over. Meats from Spain, cocktails with travelled influenced flavours. Much like Phileas Fogg, I travelled the world, but in much less time, and without leaving the comfort of the Kings Road. A discerning carnivores playground, The Worlds End Market, should be your new burger hang out, with a gourmet twist.
An error has occurred! Please try again in a few minutes