Today I’m heading into one of my favourite London areas for lunch at Jacuzzi in High Street Kensington. The traditional Italian trattoria is part of five restaurants spread across London which make up the Big Mamma Group.
This is one of the most beautiful restaurants I’ve eaten in for a very long time. Seriously, you can’t stop yourself from gasping as you walk through the door. Spread over four floors, this huge and hugely elegant space is inspired by the palazzos of Italy with sparkling chandeliers, gleaming marble and tumbling foliage. Vibrant Murano glass adds colour and glamour and there’s an excited buzz in the air as excited guests peruse the extensive menu. This is my sort of lunchtime venue.
What’s on the Menu
You need time to take in all the delights on offer made from the highest quality ingredients selected from across the bountiful Italian countryside. There’s an incredible selection of antipasto, pasta, pizzas and traditional meat and fish dishes. It’s not an easy choice for anyone, like me, who suffers from menu indecision. We’re enjoying fabulous sunshine in London at the moment, so that helped to make my choices easier, it’s time for a summertime lunch.
One of my all-time favourite Italian dishes is vitello tonnato. A somewhat strange-sounding combination of thinly sliced veal and tuna sauce topped with mouth-puckering capers it’s a miraculous dish that I thank the creative (and possibly weird) mind that invented it for every time I eat it. On today’s menu I spotted crocchette di vitello tonnato. A different take on this dish, it’s breaded croquettes that are packed with slow-cooked pulled veal and served with tonnato sauce and big juicy capers. Wow! Croquettes to change the world of croquettes, the creamiest of sauce and luscious capers. A mouthful of heaven.
We also shared a plate of Culatello di Zibello. This beautifully sweet ham is one of Italy’s most luxurious and delicate from the San Nicola area. I adore ham (my favourite museum is the Ham Museum in Madrid) and this is the melt-in-the-mouth sort packed with both sweetness and saltiness.
Mains are served on beautifully colourful plates that I wanted to take home with me. Of course I didn’t do that! This is the girella con ragu di agnello. Home-made twisted pasta with cheesy Parmigiano polenta served with spiced lamb ragu and salsa verde and topped with fresh chilli. A perfect pasta dish.
I ordered the carpaccio which is served with 22-month Parmigiano Reggiano, rocket salad and shaved truffles. An enormous platter was delivered to the table, covered with the thinnest of tender carpaccio slices and with the unmistakeable aroma of truffles. One of my favourite aromas and a plate that tastes so luxurious and indulgent I feel happy even thinking about it now.
Come to think about it, I’m happy thinking about Jacuzzi in general and can’t wait to go back to this stunning setting with its fabulous selection of traditional food all perfectly prepared and beautifully presented. A great addition to London’s restaurantland.
Today’s Full Facts
Big Mamma has five restaurants in London as well as others in Paris, Lille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseille, Monaco, Madrid, Hamburg, Berlin and Munich. Now wouldn’t that make a good itinerary for a culinary tour of Europe? Any excuse. Perhaps I’d better start with the London ones first…anyone wanna come?
Our food today for two people came to £72.
Both white and red wine start from £29 a bottle.
There’s also a tempting selection of cocktails starting from £11.
Jacuzzi is at 94 Kensington High Street, London W8, just across the road from High Street Kensington tube.
