London: Tea Time in Wonderland

Going for a shortcut the other day, I walked through the Slow Food Market -  you know, that deli market nestled behind Southbank. Eyes on my watch, I was hurrying on, not really looking at the stalls.

And then I hear the word macaroon. This was enough to distract me. A quick glance: nice sugar lace, unusual colours, Asian touch in the decoration… Well, you either have a sweet tooth or you don’t so a bentasting was in order…

Inspired by both French and Asian currents, Café On was interested by taste alliances, of course, but also by textures. A froggie dish usually is very linear in taste -  same from start to finish. In Japan for example, cooking is more associated to architecture: you would conceive a structure, yummy steps, a construction meant for the tastebuds, building up on aromas. It is the case, for example of the sesame seed macaroon ( one of my many weaknesses) – I expected straightforward, with the usual moist consistence from the almond. Passed the sumptuous grilled note, what a surprise to discover a crunchier chocolate ganache!

Their collection also counts cocktail-inspired macaroons. What will you have? Daiquiri? Cointreau-vanilla?

I tried the Virgin Mary – the softness of tomato is a welcome change from often-too-sugary-flavours such as raspberry. The middle cream even has a hinch of fennel – makes you picture a café terrasse in the sun… Add to this a tricolor effect@ festive and adopted!

A fun idea to give a twist to your usual apéritif time – happy hour!

Café On also prepares cakes and cooking workshops – Follow their Facebook page to know where to find them next…

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