You know what you generally hear when you suggest going to an insect-themed supper club?
*Crickets*
But then, when you mention that these insects are cooked up by Seb Holmes, the chef/prodigy behind the critically worshipped Farang (and alum of other Thai dazzlers Smoking Goat & The Begging Bowl), you might begin to pique people’s interest.
Add into the equation the fact that Holmes has run similar insect popups in Hoxton and London Fields, that were both a riotous success, hence the fact that he’s now running them monthly, at his own restaurant, until October – and you’ll begin to win them around.
At this point, it might be a good time to talk about the dishes themselves (there are five courses, such as Insect Miang, a recipe containing soy cricket and worms with flavours of coconut, ginger, chili and betel leaves, or salted cricket and smoked tomato som tam salad) all of which are joined by FourPure beers from Bermondsey, and bespoke cocktails by mixologist Tomas Lenko, of Strongman’s Tipple. His espresso martini has cricket powder and barley vodka. It might even be healthy.
And lastly, if it’s needed, you can always throw the final cherry on top: the whole enterprise is run by Eat Grub, the country’s pre-eminent insect-scarfing experts. In fact, they’re so obsessed with the strangely tasty, nutritionally dense suckers, they’ve published a cookbook of insect recipes and have plans for a permanent venue.
Anything else just wouldn’t be cricket.
NOTE: Eat Grub is taking place on the 25th June, 30th July, 27th August, and 24th September. You can get tickets, right HERE.
Farang | San Daniele, 72 Highbury Park, N5 2XE
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