Who doesn't love a Sunday roast?
The beloved meal is one of the hallmarks of British culture, with fans from all across the country and from each demographic and background.
It is a tradition that goes back centuries and, perhaps more importantly, is one that can be enjoyed all year round.
And so a Marylebone restaurant has announced it is offering guests a taste of this classic cuisine with its traditional roast dinner.
Food and drink in West London
Priced from £22.95, Hunter 486's two-course Sunday roast features a traditional meal with all the trimmings.
Hunter 486, found in five-star boutique hotel The Arch, says the crowning glory is the use of the stone oven which operates at a very high heat.
But how would you go about recreating the perfect Sunday roast at home and what is the secret to it?
The restaurant's head chef Gary Durrant reveals all with his top tips.
The meat
If you are buying a beef joint, ask your butcher for cod fat (from between the hind legs of the cow) as it is a natural way to baste your meat.
Tie it over the top of the joint to keep it moist and enhance its flavour. To add more flavour to your meat, rub with oil, salt and herbs or place the meat in the pan on top of halved red onions.
A nut roast is the fail-safe veggie option but it doesn’t have to be boring. Top with vegetarian blue cheese or goats cheese for an extra kick, or add mushrooms for a tastier flavour.
The gravy
A roast dinner is not complete without a good helping of gravy. While the meat is resting you can get started on the gravy using the juices in the pan.
Thicken this by mixing one tablespoon of flour and 250ml of stock. If you would really like to impress, fry chopped vegetables in the base of the pan until caramelised.
Add flour, stir and then add red wine before gradually pouring in the stock. For additional flavour add herbs or a little splash of soy sauce.
The potatoes
Some believe that roast potatoes are the star of the show when it comes to a roast, so there can be a lot of pressure to get them right.
To get those potatoes fluffy on the inside and crunchy on the outside, place them in a colander and rattle them around – this will help to make the skin crispy.
The golden rule is that you must cover your spuds in olive oil, butter, goose or duck fat for that wonderful golden colour.
While they are roasting, baste them in the fat every so often to keep them moist and make them extra crunchy. Once cooked, season them with sea salt and black pepper.
The Yorkshire pud
A traditional roast is not complete without Yorkshire puddings regardless of what meat you are cooking.
Yorkshire puddings can be easily made with flour, eggs and milk. I recommend using all milk for a softer and richer batter, and make the batter a day before as it will be lighter and rise better, Mr Durrant said.
If you’re bored of plain Yorkshire puddings try something different by adding some ingredients to the batter.
I like to add a twist to this classic dish by adding mustard for a fiery kick, grated cheddar and chives if you’re a cheese fan, or throw some chopped and fried bacon into the batter mix.
The veg
Similarly to your Yorkshire puddings, you want to add extra flavour to your vegetables. There’s so many simple ways you can make really tasty veg.
I like to cook carrots in butter, fresh orange juice and parsley to enhance the flavour.
If you have a sweet tooth I would recommend making honey-glazed carrots by roasting the carrots in white wine vinegar and honey.
Or you can change things by baking cauliflower with onion, garlic and parmesan, or roast broccoli with cheese and drizzled with lemon.
The restaurant
Named after the 1950s dialling code for Marylebone, Hunter 486 says the restaurant has been designed with an air of nostalgic London glamour fused with contemporary touches.
The restaurant features gleaming leather booths, blown glass chandeliers and statement artwork, plus an adjoining chic Salon de Champagne bar.
The kitchen is open plan, allowing guests to watch the chefs at work among the copper pots and pans suspended from the ceiling.
Large windows allow light to stream through, treating guests to views of the neighbourhood mews, and come the evening, the softly lit restaurant is an intimate and romantic setting for dinner and drinks.
Visit here for more information.
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