Are you afraid of the dark? Rhubarb isn’t – at this time of year, the shadowier corners of Yorkshire make for the perfect place to grow this punchy English delicacy.
While field-grown rhubarb season occurs in Spring, forced rhubarb – the type grown in the dark that is often more tender in texture – comes into the pink during January.
After months of gorging ourselves silly on rich festive food, this sparky, tart vegetable (no, it’s not a fruit) makes for a refreshing addition to restaurant menus and is unsurprisingly being championed by chefs – and Instagrammers – across the capital.
From puddings to porridge via some pork belly, these are the forced rhubarb dishes to try in London over the coming weeks.
Portland
Portland’s picture perfect Yorkshire rhubarb tart is made with brown butter crème mousseline and served with stem ginger ice cream.
£12, W1, portlandrestaurant.co.uk
Flor
The Borough Market newcomer fills its pastries with both rhubarb compote and poached sticks, before dusting with Tahitian vanilla.
£4, SE1, florlondon.com
La Dame de Pic
Anne-Sophie Pic’s two Michelin-starred restaurant is serving Yorkshire rhubarb sorbet topped with a cherry leaf-flavoured meringue and shiso cream.
£17, EC3, ladamedepiclondon.co.uk
Hill & Szrok
Rhubarb isn’t just for dessert – this Hackney butcher and cookshop serves rhubarb with its roast mangalitsa pork belly.
From £15, E8, hillandszrok.co.uk
26 Grains
Start the day right with a bowl of porridge in Neal’s Yard, topped with rhubarb ginger compote and cardamom granola.
£6.50, WC2, 26grains.com
Quo Vadis
A Soho stalwart championing English flavours, Quo Vadis tops its walnut meringue with rhubarb and lashings of lemon curd.
£8.50, W1, quovadissoho.co.uk
The Quality Chop House
It’s just turned 150 years old, but The Quality Chop House still knows how to wow: this geometric rhubarb tart is flavoured with almond and served with creme fraiche.
£10, 90 Farringdon Road, EC1R 3EA, thequalitychophouse.com
Rochelle Canteen
Pudding queen Margot Henderson serves a simple pleasure of poached rhubarb with yoghurt and granola at her Shoreditch restaurant.
£6.50, 16 Playground Gardens, E2 7FA, arnoldandhenderson.com
