From Chiltern Firehouse to Can Carlitos, here are the best things the CODE team ate this week

The Crown, Chiswick

Harcourt Inns took over this enviable corner spot on Chiswick High Road in early 2019. Since then The Crown has been offering a blend of British classics with the lightest of Mediterranean touches. Who knew fried courgette flowers with aged feta and truffle honey could lead so perfectly into a crispy pork belly roast with charcutiere sauce? In their spacious, summery back courtyard with a glass of chilled, crisp white wine we had to finish with the dessert special – lightly poached nectarines, candied fig leaf and crushed pistachio. Seasonal, simple, delicious.
Sam Selwood, accounts manager

The InterContinental

Perhaps because we all share a common understanding of the essential contents, it’s a pleasure to sample the little touches and tweaks made to afternoon tea at places like The InterContinental Park Lane. Rolls filled with Scottish lobster and saffron aioli, the touch of truffle in the honey roast ham sandwiches, the last minute addition of an egg sandwich when my mum noticed her favourite was absent from the menu (can’t take her anywhere). The most delicious seasonal cakes, homemade rhubarb jam – I’ll stop now before the obligatory mention of the old jam/cream debate!
Sam Selwood, accounts manager

Chiltern Firehouse

Despite the hideous weather in London, the courtyard at Chiltern Firehouse still makes for an enjoyable location for a leisurely Sunday lunch. A spicy Bloody Mary and some snacks including fried chicken and crudites was a nice way to ease into the meal and then that rare thing in the sky called the sun made an appearance just as the rosé was poured to accompany a pizza and a New York style brunch dish of bavette with two fried eggs.
Adam Hyman, founder

Can Carlitos, Formentera

A long weekend in Formentera found me at one of my all-time favourite restaurants, Can Carlitos, by the very inventive Nandu Jubany. A 10-course feast is served to your table as you watch one of the most beautiful sunsets you’ve ever seen. Menu highlights include the above homemade croquette’s, their version of patatas bravas, and an almighty paella that takes up the entire space of your table. This is all washed down nicely with their signature champagne sangria that contains an entire bottle of Ruinart. Anyway, back to reality…
Henry Southan, editorial intern

Al Mare

The Jumeirah Carlton in Knightsbridge has undergone a refurbishment and the Rib Room has gone and in place is a swanky new Italian restaurant that goes by the name of Al Mare. The interiors remind me of a cross between JK Place and the colour scheme you’d find on a yacht docked off the Costa Smeralda in Sardinia. Antipasti include vitello tonnato – a must order on any menu – and fritto misto. Agnolotti with guinea fowl and parmesan was delicate yet rich in flavour, which was followed by a hearty veal chop. 
Adam Hyman, founder

The Pasta Man x Norma

Our resident pasta master at 180 Strand happens to be Mateo Zielonka himself, so when he goes to Norma for a night, what is there to do but follow? Thus, we attended the first of a series of supper clubs that are due to take place over the next few months. Led by culinary director Ben Tish, the initiative plans to celebrate Sicily through a selection of Italian ingredients and wines (not to mention winter truffles!). At Norma, we took our seats around the coloured tiles of little Sicily and ate dish after dish, with the grand finale of crab chitarra and girolle parpadelle to greet us at the mountaintop.
Céire Carey, team assistant

Pizzeria Mozza

One of the first restaurants I went to when I first visited LA was Nancy Silverton’s Pizzeria Mozza. Fast forward about 10 years and the chef restaurateur has just opened the doors to her first London restaurant. Pizzeria Mozza in London is located in what you might call a slightly tricky location – at the top end of Regent Street opposite the Langham – neither Marylebone, Fitzrovia or Soho but the food and the room both do enough to draw people the short walk up from Oxford Circus. I can see this being a regular haunt for me when I want a decent pizza and a nice bottle of Italian red.
Adam Hyman, founder

To read more reviews from the CODE team, click here