This week we had the pleasure of sampling what was undoubtedly the finest meals we’ve had so far this year. London Bridge’s Boiler & Company is now home to a brand new seven course tasting menu from famed chef Kerth Gumbs and it’s one you’re going to want to book.
The new gastro-centric restaurant and cocktail bar on Southwark Street has signed up Great British Menu Gumbs as Head Chef to bring a taste of the Caribbean to SE1 as each dish draws on his Anguillan heritage along with the global cuisines that make London such a buzzing capital of gastronomy, while each course is perfectly matched with an expertly curated cocktail tasting menu to draw out the best of the flavours.
Local ingredients and international techniques bring to the fore some of the dishes Gumbs served on the Great British Menu, along with new creations. His famous Crab Johnny Cakes with scotch bonnet mayo are phenomenal (and will be available as a bar snack as well), while a delicate beef tartare with sweet potato and oregano proved a favourite; a sublime melt in the mouth morsel of perfection. Chunks of toasted sourdough arrived with a dangerously moreish smoked sour cream butter. The seared scallop with carrots and curried lobster sauce is sensational, delicately sweet, with flavours of coconut and lemongrass poking through. A pre-dessert of soursop with pink peppercorn and rhubarb proved a refreshing palate cleanser while the ducana cake served with salted milk ice-cream and sweet potato foam - inspired by Gumbs’ childhood flavour profiles and memories of cooking conkie dumpling - is the perfect finale.
The menu is available as a fully vegetarian option as well, with the famous Johnny cake made with burnt aubergine, fungi and butternut velouté with ginger and lemongrass, and a gnocchi dish served with bitter leaves and a moreish garlic butter sauce.
As far as tasting menus go, this is one of the best we’ve tried in town; every mouthful is full of the international flavours and personality of Gumbs’ background and the open kitchen, with full views of his expert team painstakingly curating every dish only serves to enhance the experience. At the moment it’s available in two sittings - 5pm and 8pm - though will soon be switching to one 6pm sitting with an à la carte menu available for the rest of the evening. Get yourself a booking, before it’s too late. I promise you won’t regret it.
Photo credit: William Torrillo
