Jimmy’s BBQ Pop Up: Review
On a quiet Wednesday summer’s evening, I made my way down to a secret garden for Jimmy’s Pop Up BBQ Club. As I had very little notice about the event tonight, I went in having no expectations or knowledge about what was going to happen tonight. I was seated at a table with five lovely ladies who happily welcomed me to their group and were all too happy to tell me I had seven courses of BBQ splendour to look forward to. Staff informed us how to use the ‘Big Green Egg’ BBQS, situated at the end of our table and while we would be doing the grilling ourselves, they were around to help if needed. A few of the staff members were Australian and knowing us Aussie’s have grown up around BBQ’s, I knew I was in good hands. Two of my new dining companions were put in charge of grilling the meat and vegetable portions on the BBQ, so I was able to sit back and enjoy the evening. It did look like fun though and they had a little competition with the neighbouring table on who was cooking the food on the ‘Big Green Egg’ BBQs the best.
Round 1 consisted of two courses, Charred Peach, Hay Smoked Goats Curd Salad, Mint Oil, Pomegranate, Peashoots, – the peach is glazed and finished on the BBQ and Parisian Heritage Tomato Salad marinated in Sherry Vinegar, Olive Tapenade, Confit Garlic and Braised Fennel finished on the BBQ. Wow, both courses were amazing. Charred Peach and Goats Curd are perfect together and the Olive Tapenade with the Braised Fennel and tomatoes, utterly delicious!
For round two, seafood was on the menu. – A Pickled Salad made of Shallots, Grapes, Mushrooms and a hint of Parsley from the garden topped with Chilli and Lime Monkfish grilled on the BBQ. Having never tried Monkfish before, I must say this was the strangest course on the menu. It was absolutely wonderful though and the flavours from the Pickled Salad were exquisite. Staff at this stage asked diners whether they would like to purchase for an extra £5. This would mean your seven course dinner would now become an eight course dinner. Of course I said yes and without ruining the surprise for the secret course, it was definitely worth purchasing.
Round 3 would be considered the Mains portion of the meal and consisted of Boiled New Potatoes and Rainbow Slaw with Citrus notes accompanied by a hefty, slow cooked Short Rib of Beef with Spicy BBQ Marinade and Indian Spiced Chicken Stick with Raita Dipping Sauce and Home-made Flatbread. The Short Rib of Beef was so tender and the meet just fell off the bone so this would have been my favourite course of the evening. I would have happily also eaten the BBQ Marinade straight from the jar, but that would have been entirely inappropriate. The second course of this round was slightly mediocre when compared with the Short Rib Of Beef but was still so tasty that it didn’t last long on my plate.
Finally desserts consisted of Coffee Pannacotta sprinkled with Toasted Almonds and Homemade Honeycomb finished with a Cinnamon and Sugar coated half Banana caramelised in the skin on the BBQ and Marshmallows and Smores for toasting on the coals. I can’t eat Cinnamon so I skipped this BBQ portion of the menu, but the Coffee Pannacotta was so creamy. Definitely the best Pannacotta I’ve ever eaten and I’m someone who isn’t a huge fan of coffee flavoured desserts. Smores were definitely the perfect way to end a gorgeous summer’s night around a tabletop BBQ. Though, after eight courses though, I was only able to manage to eat one.
This was such a fun night and one that I wished I’d found out about a lot sooner so I could attend again. Unfortunately the BBQ Club Pop Up finishes the end of August and is completely sold out. It really isn’t hard to see why as celebrity chef, Jimmy Garcia is known as the King Of Pop Ups. Luckily Jimmy has another pop-up which has now opened in August 2016 which consists of five courses celebrating the best of the British shores and pastures with a surf and turf menu featuring lobster and Côte de Boeuf. Make sure you book tickets for that event, as it’s bound to sell out fast.
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409 Clapham Road
London
SW9 9BT