Old Hat Club

We were lucky enough to nab a couple seats at one of London’s top supperclubs a week ago. It only happens once every two months on a Sunday afternoon. And let me just say, it’s a good time. OHC is run by four friends (as the website portends) in their wonderfully appointed Islington row house. Two work in the front-​of-​the-​house roll, and two in the kitchen. Although, it seems that all get their hands dirty in the kitchen at some point in the afternoon.
We were greeted with chilled mulled cider. I wouldn’t have minded it warm, as it was so damn cold outside. Once everyone arrived and sat down for lunch, we started with an Indian street snack of puffed pastry filled with yoghurt and pomegranate seeds — very tasty. The first course was a salmon tartar that Tim (the homeowner and head chef) caught in the River Tweed just the weekend before (sidenote: he carried it on his return BA flight — no liquids, but whole fresh fish are fine). At 19 pounds, it was big enough to feed the 25 or so guests and then some!
After the first course came a wonderfully soothing lamb hot pot of biblical comfort food proportions. The scalloped potatoes were done to perfection, as was the lamb. And the onion purée that accompanied was excellent, too. Dessert was a cross between a crumble and a tart. And like everything else, was very good. Unless you’re a fruit and/​or nut hater as half our table turned out to be. But whatever, more for the rest of us! The meal ended with a Welsh caerphilly, a semi-​hard, mildly aromatic cheese. After cheese came shortbread biscuits. I ate one, and couldn’t take anymore at that point, I was so full!
It really is a gem of a place in the heart of Islington. Tim, Amy, Harry, and Em are the most gracious of hosts. I will definitely be back!