thecriticalcouple
  • Home
  • The Food Blog
  • CC Cocktails
  • Wellbeing
  • Other Stuff
  • Contact

The English Pig: straight up in Westminster

28/10/2012

3 Comments

 
Picture
over the road from The English Pig, Millbank
The English Pig, like the Persian phoenix, has been reborn. Previously located in the City, its new incarnation can be found in Westminster's heart of politics, Millbank, and is just a minute's walk from the Houses of Parliament. The venue's old name, The Atrium, gives you a clue as to the key architectural feature of the restaurant which is located inside an office complex, but it does mean that the venue has an 'inside' bar area and an 'under the atrium' outside area for dining. The furniture from the old Pig also seems to have made the journey.

We've known Johnnie for almost two years now and there's never a dull moment, he's always original, and, probably best for the world at large, very much a one off. There's ups and downs where ever he is, including his recent appearance (and disappearance) on Great British Menu, but there's also been a new cookbook, Pig: cooking with a passion for pork, and participation in an extensive TV broadcast in the US, Chef Race.

But time in front of the camera meant time away from the restaurant and the new venture struggled with identity, featuring stints as both a fine dining restaurant and a stab at traditional/molecular fusion, but it never found its footing and the project was almost abandoned less than a year after opening. But with all the filming done, Johnnie Mountain has now returned, and despite his clear love of being in front of the camera, one senses that behind the pass is actually where he's happiest.

His come back has also heralded the return of food more typical of JM, for he is who he is, and 'posh' doesn't really suit the style of a chef who lists 'Mountain's mushy peas' as the side with fish and chips, while 'stonkingly good' mackerel is how old fashioned mackerel is listed on the menu. So it's back to 'good old fare' at the new Pig with mains that include ham, egg and chips, ribeye steak, chilli cheeseburger and lamb shank. There is in fact 14 choices of main course listed on the menu with additional daily specials. 

The latest surprise though is that Johnnie has got excited about fish, having a new fishmonger supplying fresh Cornish fish daily. The result is that on my mini tasting menu of the restaurant, it was mackerel, squid, lobster risotto and fish 'n' chips that formed the core of the menu. Pork is still present on the menu (as you would hope), but it is not, as the old Pig was in its latter days, a pork restaurant. Maybe it will be reborn again as The English Fish.

Either way, the new Pig is rather similar to the old Pig with the experimentation gone, Johnnie back (for now at least) and an extensive menu of comfort style food where there's something for everybody.  
Picture
the inside 'outside' dining room
Picture
Johnnie Mountain back on the pass
Picture
crispy pork crackling snack
Picture
white bean and Parmesan soup with pesto
Picture
'Stonkingly Good' mackerel with pickled red cabbage
Picture
Fresh chargrilled squid
Picture
Cornish Lobster Risotto (Roe & Bisque)
Picture
Fish, Chips & Mountain's Mushy Peas
Picture
21 hour slow roast belly with mustard mash and greens
Picture
Becky and Sarah present dessert
Picture
Lemon tart with raspberries
The English Pig on Urbanspoon
Picture
3 Comments
Alan Spedding ( cumbriafoodie ) link
29/10/2012 08:02:04 am

What a very comforting feed that was , wow. Nice selection to sit down to. Lobster risotto .....fish n chips then on to the Pork...awesome.

Reply
Ozzy link
30/10/2012 04:33:03 am

Shame they are only open during the week. Looks excellent and I remember that belly from when the English Pig was down the road Barbican (although with red cabbage instead of greens).

Reply
Glyn Harrison
30/10/2012 07:48:51 am

Always good fare wherever the Mountain is found, due to go there for a feed soon. Can't wait!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Follow CriticalCouple on Twitter


    Categories

    All
    Bars
    Books
    Burgers
    Drink
    Fish
    Giving
    Hotel
    Places
    Pub
    Restaurants
    Seafood
    Steak
    Whisky
    Wine


    RSS Feed

We're all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. (Oscar Wilde)