My Plate & Place with… Sebby Holmes

Farang opened in its current location as a residency in 2017, soon becoming a permanent restaurant – and gaining its first coveted Michelin Bib Gourmand within a year. The restaurant has also received the ‘Thai Select’ award from the UK Thai Embassy, certifying authenticity and freshness of ingredients.

Holmes is also Co-Founder of Payst by Farang, a range of fresh curry pastes, dipping and stir fry sauces that he makes with his kitchen team, using the best produce from both Thailand and the UK – with no preservatives or artificial ingredients.

Chef Sebby has shared with us some of his favourite things to do in London.

Describe your perfect day in London?

I live in Enfield, so a perfect day out would be to have a walk around the grounds of Alexandra Palace with my wife. We check out the market, which is there every Sunday, and always make sure to go and see the olive guy; you will leave with a fridge full of mega tasty olives. Then hit the Rose & Crown in Clay Hill for a Sunday Roast and a few pints on the way back. I’d probably end the day by falling asleep on the sofa, with the puppy on my lap.

Favourite restaurant?

This is a difficult question and to be honest, I’m not sure I have one answer. I’ve had so many memorable experiences, all equally as amazing but very different – so kind of incomparable. In England, La Manoir stands out, as does The Clove Club in London and Sambrum Sambrum Thai in Bangkok. Arguably none of these are very casual dining experiences, they all hold Michelin stars, however as I spend a lot of my life in the kitchen, it’s nice to push the boat out when I have time to eat out and experience the best that there is to offer. All of these restaurants offer a tasting menu, created by chefs passionate about using produce local to them and serving it in a way close to their heart. All outstanding in their own way.

Best place for brunch?

Brunch is a strange concept to me. I eat breakfast and lunch, and usually miss dinner as I’m cooking it for others. I rarely feel the need to mix breakfast and lunch, but I always have a great lunch at Brunswick House.

What was the last museum or gallery you visited?

I went to see the Tutankhamun exhibition a while ago at the Saatchi Gallery and it was incredible.

Where are the best places to shop?

For me, I find nothing more exciting than walking the streets of Chinatown and checking out what produce is available. New Loon Moon on Gerrard Street in Soho has a massive fresh section of wonderful Asian produce, with many floors of dry stores to check out. Raya Grocery in Borough Market is also worth checking out for some serious Thai produce.

Preferred bar or pub for a great night out?

I’ll keep it local with this one, as we have some awesome pubs near Farang that the team and I often drink at. If you have all day, get yourself a terraced seat outside in the sunshine at the Faltering Fullback. They also host secret gigs every now and again. If it’s after service and you want a cold one – The Woodbine on Blackstock Road.

Most relaxing place to unwind?

Get your walking boots on, take a packed lunch and get yourself to Epping Forest. It is a 2,400-hectare area of ancient woodland, which straddles the border between Greater London and Essex. You can walk for hours without even bumping into another person.

If you had only one day in London, where would you visit?

Start with a sausage and egg naan and a coffee at Dishoom. I have been wanting to try A Wong for a while now, so I would hit that for lunch as soon as the naan wore off. Walk it off by heading to the top of St Paul’s Cathedral, it’s an absolute mission with 528 steps but totally worth it for the view. End with a stroll around Chinatown, getting stuck into anything that looks good. Then, late night cocktails at Opium.

What is your top London tip?

Farang is closed Sunday through to Tuesday, so our weekend is different to most. Sunday is my Friday, and Monday is my Saturday. Generally, most places are open on those days, so my tip would be to go out on a Sunday or Monday night, skip the queues and eat where you want, at the time you want.

Tell us what you are currently up to?

In between running the restaurant in Highbury and cooking at food festivals in the Cotswolds and with the Thai Embassy in Kings Cross, I am currently organising our next staff trip to Bangkok and putting the finishing touches together to begin writing a ‘Farang at Home’ cookbook. I am also designing some new products for my retail brand, Payst, with any spare time I can get!

For outstanding Thai food in the city, a visit to Farang is a must.