My Plate & Place with… Simon Majumdar

It is a journey that has taken him to all fifty states and to dozens of countries around the world. He was the restaurant critic for Time Out Los Angeles and has written hundreds of articles for such outlets as The Guardian, Foodnetwork.com, and The Times.

He has also written three books: “Eat My Globe” (2009), “Eating for Britain” (2011), and “Fed, White and Blue” (2015). He also publishes a Simon Majumdar Substack. Simon is also a well-recognized television personality, regularly appearing on shows such as Guy Fieri’s Tournament of Champions, Iron Chef America, Supermarket Stakeout, Guy’s Grocery Games, Cutthroat Kitchen, Beat Bobby Flay, The Next Iron Chef (Food Network), The Best Thing I Ever Ate (Food Network and Cooking Channel), and EAT: The Story of Food (Nat Geo).

He is also the creator, writer and host of the hit food history podcast, “Eat My Globe: Things You Didn’t Know You Didn’t Know About Food.”

Simon took time out of his busy schedule to tell us about his favourite things to do in London.

Describe your perfect day in London?

The perfect day in London is always a Sunday for me. Ideally it would be a cold, bright winter’s day.

I would wake up next to my lovely wife in my flat near Old Street where my brother still lives. We would get dressed and walk to Columbia Road Market or Brick Lane. I have been doing this for 25 plus years. We would always buy a bagel from the ‘Two Stores Bagels’. Although, there is always a long line at both now. The Tik-Tok experience. Ho Hum. It is good for them, I guess.

Then, down to Spitalfields Market and into the city. I always buy hot chocolate along the way. We would walk back to Old Street with maybe a pint or two to be enjoyed around the Barbican.

Then, head home where I would cook a roast lunch or dinner with Steely Dan or Keith Jarret playing on the radio or football showing on the television.

Later, we always look for something “charming” on television. We might spend the evening checking to see if Miss Marple or Poirot is on. It usually is somewhere.

I don’t have too many opportunities to go back to London. I now live in Los Angeles. I know that this is not too eventful or exciting. It is however something that makes me feel like London is always home.

Favourite restaurant?

This is a very hard question. I love going to Tayyabs, since Wasim, the owner, is a very good friend. I love St. John, near Smithfield Market where I have been going since the week it opened. I have organized lots of events there when I worked with my brother on Dos Hermanos. 

I love Master’s Superfish near the The Old Vic where I always go for my fish and chips (I am a northerner at heart). It depends on who I am with as much as where I am, if that makes sense.

Best dish in London?

This again is a very hard question to ask. If asked, which, you are, I might say the Eccles Cake & Lancashire Cheese dish at St. John near Smithfield. If you ask me tomorrow, I may have another answer. 

What was the last museum or gallery you visited?

The museum I last went to was closed and was now being turned into flats. That would be The Peek Frean’s biscuit factory in Bermondsey. Does that count? If not, I love going to the Tate Britain and having a look at one of my favourite painters, J.M.W Turner.

Where are the best places to shop?

I don’t shop, except at Waitrose for biscuits and Taylor’s Yorkshire Gold tea. It is SO much more expensive buying them here in Los Angeles.

Preferred bar or pub for a great night out?

I am afraid I am a bit of a curmudgeon. I am not sure what a great night out is, unless it is in a pub like The Wenlock Arms and I am with a friend. Oddly enough, many, many years ago, we took Anthony Bourdain to this pub after he had “escaped” from an event in London. We stayed there for a long time. A very long time.