East London is full of hidden treasures and the Regen Rooftop at The Culpeper, Spitalfields is no exception, with its views across the city. Set on top of one of London’s most beautiful pubs, named after 17th century local Nicholas Culpeper, a herbalist, botanist, astrologer and physician. The pub continues such good work today on the rooftop, cultivating its own vegetables, herbs and edible flowers for use in the kitchen and bar. In fact, the team has now gone one step further and purchased their own plot of land in South East London’s Deptford to expand their in-house growing programme at The Culpeper Family Farm.
We began our lunch at Culpeper with a drink in the pub on the ground floor, and why not. Then working our way up past the bistro on the first floor, rooms to stay on the second floor and onto our al fresco lunch spot at Regen Rooftop. It was a beautiful day and we sat on a cheery, bright orange bench, amongst the growing verdant produce.
Head Chef Pawel Ojdowski and his team have created a simple comfort-oriented lunchtime set menu to showcase the exceptional ingredients. You can choose either a meat/fish or vegetarian menu, all cooked over coals on a bespoke London Log Company grill.
To start, a selection of delicious sourdough bread and Two Fields Olive Oil served alongside anti pasta of fennel salad, piperade (a spicy tomato-pepper sauce from the Basque region of France), chard courgettes and sun ripe tomatoes. A refreshing Sundown Spritz paired beautifully with our nibbles.
Next, a choice of Pork steak served with mojo verde; whole mackerel served with lightly pickled beetroot and horseradish cream or roast aubergine with tomato, feta and spiced walnuts. All mains are served with hay-smoked Jersey royals (the most delicious little jacket-style potatoes). The drinks list has a regenerative theme with a focus on Biodynamic winemakers and we chose the 2020 Mathilde Rosé to accompany our beautifully cooked mackerel.
The grilled peach with créme fraiche and a nutty crunch was fresh and flavourful and the perfect, simple ending to the meal.
We loved Regen Rooftop’s set lunch menu, it was fresh, light and delicious. Also, having not to choose all your dishes makes life simple and easy – beyond that, a set menu lends itself to minimising food waste. What’s not to like.
Regen Rooftop Set Lunch Menu is £35 per person.
40 Commercial Street, London E1 6LP
theculpeper.com
@theculpeper