Sketch London 2020 — Earl Grey & Bubble Tea

Oct 28

Oct 28 Sketch London 2020

I am sure you are sick to death of seeing your favourite influencers fake laughing as they sip champagne and enjoy afternoon tea from the millennial pink toned Gallery Room at Sketch London. Well. quite unfortunately for you dear reader, I am not. So here’s a blog post about the time I sat in Sketch fake laughing as I sipped champagne.

Having left London ten years ago I love any excuse to be a complete and utter tourist in my hometown. I had never been to Sketch before and I decided that during the weekdays while everyone was working from home was the perfect time to go out and see it for myself. Sketch opened its doors way back in 2003 but recently its become increasingly popular with influencers and now in turn with us regular folks. Sketch was part of the government Eat Out to Help Out scheme to boost the restaurant industry in the UK which sadly, ended the day I arrived in London. Not the best timing but I suppose it couldn’t be helped. Sketch is divided into many small rooms, each with a different theme and a slightly different menu though the cuisine is described as French Modern. Waiters dress up according to the theme of each room and are incredibly attentive and professional. Sketch actually has 3 michelin stars for the Lecture room and Library part of its restaurant. The room is stunning!

My friend and I wanted to try the Glade room which is enchanted forest style with painted trees, woods like decor and comfortable velvet chairs and gosh, it was absolutely delightful! Unwittingly, I have become a food snob owing to the amount of time I have spent in Italy consuming fresh produce by the ton and drinking the most incredible local wines for a fraction of their international marked up price. Students in Italy really are spoiled I’ll tell you that much! I have heard on several occasions that the food in Sketch can actually be quite disappointing and that the main novelty is just to take pictures of everything whenever you go there. I went with an open mind but honestly my expectations to experience food heaven were set quite low. I noticed some Italian favourites on the menu such as Risotto and lardo di colonnata. I tried to steer clear of anything Italian though my friend did order the Risotto. I went for a Duck on a bed of caramelised cabbage and it was absolutely fantastic. I couldn’t resist and I ordered the Lardo di Colonnata for our starter and it did not disappoint. It was so well presented with coloured cauliflower and cheese. Then, I caved and tried the risotto. It’s probably the best risotto I’ve eaten outside of Italy and the best I’ve had in a restaurant full stop. Finally the staff surprised us in the end with a little cake for my friend who was indeed celebrating her birthday. They came out with a tiny slice of Battenberg cake with icing wishing her a Happy Birthday. I did have a nibble, it’s been a long time since I’ve had something as traditionally British as a Battenberg cake. It was lush.