You have to really admire the work that Clare Smyth has done for the UK food industry, her commitment to local, sustainable produce and food artistry. Having spent years running a three michelin starred establishment (Gordon Ramsay’s 3 eponymous restaurant), and being the first female chef to do so, Clare Smyth is now showcasing her talents at Core serving excellent modern British cuisine.
Though it’s been over 6 months since my visit, the entire meal remains very fresh in my mind and still remains my favourite dining experience for the whole year. And at the time I’m writing this, Core has just been awarded 2 Michelin stars as of 1 October 2018 (yesterday) – absolutely well deserved.
Now, back back to the visit.
After entering the front door you will arrive at a small but rather handsome bar, which is open to all visitors – great for locals to pop by for a drink and nibbles. You then walk past the semi-open kitchen, separated by a glass wall, where you will get a glimpse of the magic at work before entering the beautiful dining room. With its white walls, mid-century furniture and muted colour scheme – the restaurant is elegant but evokes the relaxed, cosy cottage atmosphere that fits perfectly within it’s Notting Hill surroundings.
You probably can’t tell from the photos, but there’s a lot of attention to detail here, from the menus, the florals on the table and the bespoke plates which really bring the dishes to life. When it came to choosing the menu, it’s refreshing to see that there’s more than just a long degustation menu. You can choose from a 3 course a la carte (£65 for lunch, £85 for dinner), a reduced tasting menu for £95 or a full tasting menu £115. All menus come with a selection of a rather extravagant amuse bouche (4 pieces), a pre-dessert/palate cleanser and petit fours so if don’t go for the full tasting menu, don’t worry – you won’t be losing out!
Highlights from the full tasting menu
Amuse bouche. Crispy smoked duck wing with burnt orange, Périgord truffle gougères
I would definitely order another round of these if I could. I won’t spoil the surprise by revealing all as it comes out in a rather spectacular fashion however the airy, decadent truffle gougères were sensational.
Isle of Mull Scallop, cooked over wood
You can never go wrong with plump, fresh scallops and these were no exception. Visually, this dish encapsulated the spirit of Core perfectly. Served on a bed of foliage, to me it just naturally speaks of elegance without a hint of pretension. A stunning dish.
Potato and Roe. Dulse beurre blanc, herring and trout roe
Without doubt the most beautifully dressed potato dish I’ve seen. The potato provided the perfect canvas for the deliciously creamy beurre blanc and roe – you’ll want to mop up all the sauce and flavours on this dish.
Skate. Morecambe bay shrimps, Swiss chard, brown butter
I only wish that this dish didn’t come out directly after the scallop and potato dishes above as it would be the third dish in the row to have more of a creamy, buttery sauce. That aside however, I found this dish very well executed. The skate perfectly cooked and the brown butter was delicious, not too salty nor did it overpower the dish.
Pink grapefruit, lemon verbena
And for the final dessert and highlight, a refreshing, silky lemon verbena sorbet was a great way to end the meal. The little meringue discs were a nice touch, and complemented the tartness from the sorbet perfectly.
Core by Clare Smyth
92 Kensington Park Rd
London W11 2PN
For reservations, head to their Website
Disclaimer: Some dishes may have changed slightly since this visit to reflect seasonal ingredients. Prices are correct at the date of publishing.