Weekend tip: MR PORTER’s Sunday Roast
What do you do when the weather is absolutely dreadful on a Sunday? The same thing they do in England in situations like that: pull up a chair for a classic Sunday Roast. If you love traditional British cuisine, this is news to make you happy: MR PORTER’s Sunday Roast is back. And the good news is that there are vegetarian options on the menu too.
On many Sundays, the menu at fine-dining steakhouse MR PORTER revolved around a genuine British tradition: the Sunday Roast. Every week, this traditional concept brought an afternoon filled with melt-in-the-mouth meat, fish and vegetarian dishes to the top floor of the W Amsterdam hotel (recently named the best hotel in the Netherlands at the World Travel Awards 2021). And for all the fans: that afternoon is back.
And it’s popular, because by around two o’clock the place is packed. Around us are plenty of English people visibly enjoying their ‘English fare’, which tastes just like home. Not British, admittedly, but very much worth mentioning is the delicious house-baked focaccia with a spicy tahini dip that arrives at the table.
Cocktails to start
The traditional Sunday Roast is all about large cuts of meat and spending time with family and friends. And if your family isn’t particularly fun, there’s always plenty to drink. What’s the best way to kick off a Sunday Roast? With a proper Bloody Mary, infused with Wagyu fat at MR PORTER. The flavour is smoky and spicy and, yes, meaty too. Unusual! Prefer to skip the alcohol? Order the virgin Love Potion, a wonderfully fresh and sweet mocktail made with, among other things, fresh raspberries.
Deliciously tender Rib of Beef
The MR PORTER menu features dishes such as Rib of Beef and Pork Belly, but vegetarians haven’t been forgotten either: a pumpkin dish is served during the traditional Sunday Roast on request. But MR PORTER is known for its meat dishes, so we order the Rib of Beef. No regrets: the meat is wonderfully tender and served with golden-brown, crispy roast potatoes and Yorkshire pudding.
Yorkshire pudding
Yorkshire pudding sounds like something sweet and stodgy, but nothing could be further from the truth. This side dish most resembles a giant, hollowed-out mushroom, but is actually baked pancake batter. A perfect Yorkshire pudding—yes, this is one—is crispy on the outside and light and chewy on the inside, and it can only truly be called one if it is at least 10 centimetres tall. And then: drench it in gravy and/or use it to mop up the juices from the roast.
The Sunday Roast is served as standard with extra gravy and various vegetables, such as crispy parsnips, broccoli, roasted carrots and red cabbage with raisins. The roasted cauliflower with cheese sauce is an optional recommendation.
A special dessert
The dessert menu features familiar classics such as cheesecake, chocolate fondant and fresh fruit, as well as original creations like coconut ice cream with Tom Yum caviar and fresh mango. Tom means soup in Thai, while yum is a kind of hot-and-sour salad that people in Thailand are rather fond of. Served on a bed of ice, this dessert combines the sweetness of coconut with the sourness of the Tom Yum caviar. For the acquired taste, as they would say in England. A little strange, but delicious.
Sunday funday
Fancy a proper Sunday Roast too? For reservations, check MR PORTER’s website or call +31 20 811 3399.
Also read:
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- 9 orders that drive chefs completely crazy
- Chefs’ pet peeves: Hawaiian toast without pineapple causes quite a stir
