Italian fever is nothing new, but 2016 is geared to set our symptoms aflame with an outbreak of delicious treats under the guise of mozzarella. And if that news doesn’t make you shiver with anticipation, then prepare yourself dear reader, for what Food & Wine have named the “it” cheese of the year: the beautiful burrata, a pocket of cream and curd on the inside, hugged with a sheath of solid mozzarella. By indulging in mozzarella and burrata in these top five London restaurants, your delightful delirium can be cured, at least temporarily…
1. Obicà Mozzarella Bar, St. Paul’s
This flagship is the latest of five London openings, and flung its doors open to the public in March. Its dedication to authenticity is proven by flying in buffalo mozzarella twice a week that’s Denominazione di Origine Protetta, (try saying that three times fast), or Protected Designation of Origin. Basically, this means that their soft cheese came from Campania, a southern region of Italy, and was produced by local farmers using traditional methods. For something a little less traditional, they even have a mozzarella cheesecake on the menu. No, we are not kidding!
2. Berners Tavern
The brainchild of chef Jason Atherton – he of all those Michelin star restaurants in London you’ve been dying to try – Berners Tavern invites you to celebrate their new spring menu. While the current weather doesn’t exactly scream “springtime”, you can huddle in the tavern’s luxurious and chic interior, and get a taste of Italy through the crunch of chargrilled focaccia, topped with burrata, tomatoes, truffles, and honey. AKA, an orgasm in your mouth.
3. Padella Pasta
Borough Market boasts a new culinary jewel in the gastronomical grandiosity of Padella Pasta. To experience rich and flavoursome ingredients with minimal impact on your purse, pitch your tastebuds against their buttery burrata, drizzled with Puglian olive oil. It’s one battle you’ll look forward to losing.
4. Sartoria
Paying homage to the food gods is a constant endeavour, and this all-day Italian eatery honours that with effortless panache. Its modern Italian cuisine is balanced with the humble finesse of its mozzarella, and for true devotees to the malleable cheese, then Sartoria’s glistening opus is definitely its hefty treccia, a two kg plait of mozzarella offered to parties of eight people. Round up your friends and start worshiping.
5. Pont St.
Just a hop and a skip away from Knightsbridge and Sloane Square, Pont St. serves their burrata with seasonal dishes. This cosy neighborhood restaurant now entices with tapenade crostini, or pieces of toasted bread spread with a diabolical layer of black olive paste. This diminutive dish, paired with a gooey serving of burrata, is enough to make you forego eating anything else ever again.