My London: Angela Hartnett

The LFM star collects Elizabeth David books, shops at Spa Terminus — and has been known to enjoy a KFC when hungover
Lily Worcester1 June 2017

Home is…

East London, Spitalfields — I’ve lived there for 14 years now. I’ve got a little garden, which is nice, and my partner and I have just got some bees, so we are waiting for our first honey, which should be fantastic.

Where would you recommend for a first date?

I once went on a really unusual date with a choir boy — choir man, rather — at Westminster Cathedral (above). I met him there and he showed me around the whole cathedral. I was there while they were practising and then we went for lunch.

Alamy Stock Photo

Best meal you’ve had?

One recent highlight was Elystan Street, Phil Howard’s place in Chelsea. The food (right) is just delicious. I went for Sunday lunch with friends at one o’clock and we were still there at half past six. That’s a sign of great lunch, that you’re still there five hours later!

Biggest extravagance?

Before Christmas we had people round for supper and had loads of white truffles, so that was quite an extravagant one. It was a great day.

Earliest London memory?

Probably visiting Fortnum & Mason — my grandmother, if she came up to London, would always go there to have Welsh rarebit.

Best thing a cabbie has ever said to you?

I was going to work at The Connaught and I’d been out the night before. I was a bit hungover, so I was eating a KFC sandwich in the back and the driver goes, ‘Gordon’s not going to like that is he Ange!?’ I said, ‘Gordon doesn’t have to know.’

Favourite London shops?

I love La Fromagerie in Marylebone. Patricia Michelson’s produce (below) is incredible; she gets the best of the best. She’s been doing it for more than 20 years now, so she really knows her stuff. Down at Spa Terminus in Bermondsey you’ve also got brilliant shops — there’s The Ham & Cheese Co, which does lovely charcuterie, The Little Bread Pedlar, which does wonderful breads, and then you’ve also got Steve the honey man.

Best place for a nightcap?

If it was after work probably Little House, which is across the road from Murano.

What do you collect?

Elizabeth David cookery books (above); I’ve got first editions of most of them.

Who’s your hero?

Fergus Henderson from St John. His influence on London restaurants is second to none. So many chefs have come out of his kitchen and now run their own restaurant. To me he is a great culinary hero.

Favourite pub?

The Golden Heart (below) around the corner from where I live, run by a lady called Sandra who’s had it for about 40 years. She doesn’t do food, just crisps. It’s a proper old boozer.

Alamy Stock Photo

Who do you call when you want to have fun?

Jason [Atherton] and Marcus [Wareing]. But if you really want a fun night, you go out with Margot Henderson. We usually end up dancing on the tables and drinking too much.

Best piece of advice you have been given?

You’re only as good as your last meal. Gordon always talks about consistency, making sure everything is as it should be.

Angela Hartnett will headline the Night Market at London Food Month. 7-18 June. (londonfoodmonth.co.uk; muranolondon.com)

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in