Project 22 : FridayFoodClub meets the modern pantry

On Monday, 7th November I was fortunate enough to attend Project 22 where The Friday Food Club with the modern pantry. Their aim of the evening : provide a great 5 course meal with some vino in London on a Monday night, for £35 – and of course, they never let us down.


As we know I am a late comer to the supper club world. It was by sheer chance that I came across the delightful Lee Behan at FridayFoodClub via twitter. I tweeted Lee over his regular supply of #FoodPorn. I attended my first FridayFoodClub event at his home back in October where Dhruv Baker, masterchef winner 2010 was in the kitchen with up and coming Steve Acton. The evening was one of the highlights of my year; not only was the food and wine both excellent, but having attended on my own, I have subsequently met the most wonderful bunch of foodie friends and I now see them all regularly. For food. And wine.


I was rather excited when the mail went out about his team up with Anna Hansen from the modern pantry. Everyone seems to have eaten at the modern pantry and experienced the infamous sugar cured prawn omelette. Everyone apart from me of course.
On this occasion I decided to include some girlfriends as I wanted them to enjoy the delicious food and experience a truly wonderful inexpensive evening for themselves.


Upon arrival, my friend quickly perused the menu placed in front of us. She quickly reminded me of her allergy to nuts! I had clearly forgotten #badfriend. Lee being the star he is, handled my error with grace and ease and quickly removed all traces of nuts from her future plates (thank you again Lee).


The courses were as follows:


Deep fried quails eggs with a cornish custard cheddar.
This dish was sheer heaven on a plate for me. Quaint quails eggs perfectly deep fried, yellow yoke oozing from the centre over a luscious cheddar custard. I could have eaten a bowlful of the custard alone!

Second course was the brown crab pancake which completely blew me and my taste buds away! Succulent brown crab combined with zingy lime and lemongrass, a sudden kick of spice resting on a thick crispy pancake. There were hints of sweet corn and avocado. Every mouthful teased my palate, like notes in a song, wanting more.

This was quickly followed by the palate cleanser . I loved the different combinations and flavours of the honest roasted beetroot set against the goats cheese taken to another dimension by the macadamia nut and fennel crumb.

The main course consisted of a very dirty wood pigeon served on braised leeks with truffled chips accompanied by pureed chestnuts infused with vanilla . The pigeon served on the bone tasted rich in iron and earthy goodness. I have never eaten wood pigeon before and was surprised how liverish it tasted. For some people the flavours were too much... I loved it!! The truffled chips were a great combination and contrasted against the richness of the bird.

And finally we came the Bomb Alaska - Anna style. Ground pumpkin seed base, with a rose water ice- cream and a tumeric infused meringue … sweet and salty like a marriage made in heaven and the perfect way to end a truly scrumptious evenings.

All I can say readers is make sure you get to the next Project 22 at the modern pantry! There is no where in London you can eat and drink this well for the price.