The weekend just past we piled into Palm 2’s new event space for a pop-up lunch by two great friends China and Ben. Palm 2, a local corner shop institution in Clapton, has two spacious second-floor adjoining rooms overlooking Clapton Pond (is it just me, or has the Pond got a lot prettier of late?).
Perfect for a Sunday lunch, it’s a brilliant space to kick back and enjoy the amazing light pouring through the windows while catching up with pals. (Check out what’s on here, everything from ukelele lessons and cookery school to theatre). We arrived early and I got some lovely snaps of the calm before the storm. China and Ben were prepping like mad in the kitchen – the menu had two options for each course (£15 for 2 courses, £20 for 3) – and while the gorgeous desserts were receiving the finishing touches, that’s where I was sneaking little nibbles of the brandy snaps…!
The space soon filled up with lots of friends and friends of friends and it felt like hanging out in someone’s oversized living room. Myles and I went for a starter each – chicken parfait with organic sourdough and mustard watercress (livers from Ginger Pig) and garden pea, broadbean and mint bruschetta. Lemon and paprika roast chicken for the main (sadly, I didn’t get any photos of the pork chorizo & white bean pie and veg alternative creamy cannellini and spring green pie) and for dessert I managed to snaffle Myles’s too and gorged on the most delicious chocolate tart (China, recipe please! Update: China and I will be doing this recipe on the blog soon, so stay tuned!) and rhubarb fool – cue mega sugar crash later…!
As you can see, I took a tonne of photos, the light was just too perfect… Check out China & Ben’s Facebook page and give it a like and chinaandben.co.uk. And find them on Twitter @chinaandben.
Ben prepping pre the madness!
Gus peering out over Clapton Pond
Snaffling brandy snaps station!
Prepping the rhubarb fool
Polly serving up the starters
Chicken liver parfait with organic sourdough and mustard watercress
Garden pea, broadbean & mint bruschetta with lemon dressed leaves
Lemon & paprika roast chicken with braised little gem & roasted vegetables
Dark chocolate & sea salt tart – so delicious!
Rhubarb fool and brandy snap
The lovely China and Ben!
3 responses to “China & Ben’s Sunday Lunch”
my goodness this made me hungry. everything looks delicious and i love the look of the place!
☆☆☆`•.¸.•´ ♥ ☆ ♥ `•.¸.•´ ♥ ☆ ♥ `•.¸.•´ ☆☆☆
thank you for the lovely words lovely lady
Oh wow this looks like it was amazing… Made me want to dive right in! Gus looking so grown up too m x