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Welcome back to Insta Stories, a column examining the London restaurant scene through the often-problematic medium of Instagram. This week’s filter is another Gordon Ramsay diffusion line.
News of the week
If last week was all about the full flowering of spring produce in all its glory, this time round things are getting a lot more stodgy and brown. Lent may technically still be in full swing but some of London’s most celebrated bakeries are making every day feel like Good Friday by selling the season’s first hot cross buns — and on Instagram, the reaction to the latest hypebeast baked good has been predictably hyperbolic. From the traditional to the unconventional, there’s something for everyone — and even a handy map to pinpoint the capital’s best. Duck liver pâté serving suggestion optional but almost certainly delicious.
Disruptive innovator of the week
Clapton restaurant Les Nenettes is perhaps better known as “that place you walk past on the way to P Franco”. But its unassuming façade has clearly been disguising a true deviant culinary genius. Presenting: the deep-fried Babybel.
Encouraging trend of the week
But why stop with just (“just”) the cheese? Excitingly, restaurants seem increasingly happy to adopt the Roman approach to frying stuff — basically, anything goes. If words like ‘deep fried pasta bombs’ or ‘lasagna fritta’ aren’t enough to make your heart beat a little bit faster, you may already be dead.
Low-effort Halloween costume of the week
Just add coddled eggs.
High-jeopardy video of the week
The only Duck Dynasty worth watching.
Most sandwich of the week
The ‘stuff between bread’ arms race is well and truly underway, with incumbent champion Max’s facing increasingly tough competition from the likes of The Dusty Knuckle, Monty’s Deli, and the upcoming Sons and Daughters. Does this represent a decisive moment in the conflict?
Iconic symbol of national sovereignty of the week
To be fair, ‘The Full Indo-American-European’ doesn’t have quite the same ring to it
Dish of the week
Eating your greens suddenly got a lot more appealing
Shot of the week
There’s being good enough to win your regional heat on Great British Menu, and then there’s just showing off.