The Modern Pantry – It Beats Mine

I’ve been hearing about The Modern Pantry for a while now and it’s been on my long list of ‘restaurants to check out’, but I didn’t realise it had been around quite as long as three years – until our waiter confirmed its lengthy existence this evening. Still, better late than never….

The Modern Pantry: What’s The Deal? I love Clerkenwell on a warm Friday evening, hundreds of cool looking creative types spill out of the pubs clutching their pints and there’s a buzz of excitement in the London air. The Modern Pantry is found in Clerkenwell’s coolest corner – set back on the cobble-stoned St John’s Square and neighbouring the newly-opened Zetter townhouse.

The Modern Pantry, The Food: Canadian born and raised in New Zealand, female chef Anna Hansen sure does know what to do with her vegetables despite being brought up in the land of a thousand sheep and trained under purveyor of all things meaty Fergus Henderson.

We dined in the downstairs café and stuck to vegetables only for the evening. We shared Hansen’s trademark fritters – lemon roast fennel, feta & parsley with golden & plum wine compote; a gorgeous gooey and Asian-tinged smokey grilled aubergine with chilli, yuzu soy dressing, crispy shallots and Thai basil, and a salad of roast golden beetroot, miso lentil, broad beans, pickled chantenay carrots, ricotta and spiced seeds all from the small plates/starters menu.

We also split a beautifully presented main dish of Amchur roast parsnip, cauliflower, spinach & Manouri briq cheese, with cashew cream, mango tamarillo and mint salsa.

The Modern Pantry, Toilet Watch: Light, spacious and airy and featuring a large pink mirror. Thumbs up.

The Modern Pantry, The Final Word: Treat your veggie friends to a meal here and watch them weep with joy.

The Modern Pantry, Check It Out: www.themodernpantry.co.uk