The Willows: The Sunday Brunch You Didn’t Know You Needed
For most people in the Western world, Sunday is known to be the day of relaxation, resetting and, most importantly, brunch. Last Sunday, I decided to stick to tradition and I went all the way to Clapham in order to try out The Willows.
Having found out about the existence of this quaint shop from a random advertisement on Instagram, I didn’t quite know what to expect. In the end, I am glad I took a leap of faith. It might not look like much from the outside but the warm atmosphere inside more than makes up for it. I recommend making a reservation though as it can get quite busy.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about The Willows is the concept. Instead of getting a traditional menu, they bring you a list with all of the menu items and a pencil. You can choose the items you prefer and all you have to do is tick the box and they will create a personalized tray for you. As my loyal readers already know, I am a huge fan of customisable orders, so I jumped at the opportunity.
The results definitely did not disappoint. A short while after I placed my order, I got what was probably one of the most aesthetic food trays I have ever seen. Even the pictures I took did not manage to fully capture how mouthwatering that food looked. As per usual, I was accompanied by a friend, so we took advantage of the opportunity and decided to order everything on the menu (OK, almost everything).
I will start with the more traditional options. It goes without saying that eggs should never be absent from a self-respecting brunch, so we decided to order scrambled eggs with caraway bechamel and a balsamic and tomato sauce. The flavour was the perfect cohesion of creamy eggs and slightly tart balsamic, making it the perfect dish to start our brunch. Of course, we had to accompany those with some greasy type of meat, so we opted for the calabrian sausage, drizzled in chipotle hot honey. The honey gave the sausages a sweet aftertaste which paired well with the eggs. Since we wanted something to dip in the yolks, The Willow’s seeded sourdough was a natural choice. Having ordered all of that, we decided that we wanted to act healthy so we also got some avocado on the side. Even though it wasn’t extraordinary, I definitely recommend it to those who want a sense of freshness with their meal.
Moving on with the sweets, we ordered banana bread, maple toffee granola and fig almond chia pudding. Starting strong with the banana bread, I have to admit that I found the whipped ricotta topping a bit unorthodox (probably too sour for my sweet tooth), but the apple blackberry compote and the oat crumble thankfully saved the day. The maple toffee granola was perhaps my favourite sweet dish among the three, since I love toffee and the greek yoghurt balanced the sweetness out wonderfully. Last but not least, their chia pudding is a must-try for healthy food enthusiasts, though it did not impress me particularly.
Ultimately, The Willows might not be exactly the traditional, pancake-and-waffle-loaded brunch you might have in mind for a Sunday morning, but it is a healthier alternative definitely worth trying. So, if you're up for a brunch adventure that’s less ‘syrup-soaked indulgence’ and more ‘artisanal elegance’ The Willows might just be your new Sunday sanctuary - pencil included!
Edited by Matthew Pellow, Food and Drink Editor
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