JAM

Last week I was in London for an appointment so I decided to make the most of a trip to the Big Smoke and met a friend for dinner at The Jam Tree in Clapham. 

The Jam Tree is a gastro pub located in Clapham Old Town, about a ten minute walk from Clapham Common high street and underground station. 

Immediately upon entering the restaurant you are greeted by a glass cabinet of jam jars, well, what else?

The restaurant is open plan and spacious, with a large and light dining area featuring a wall of windows that look out onto the street. The decor is modern and vibrant, matching the menu which serves Colonial-inspired dishes. 

A wall divides the dining and drinking area and through a curtain of leaves I could see the bar section with its dimmed lighting and wooden furniture. 

We were asked what fruits tickled our fancy and had cocktails especially made to order by the barman.

Mine was a passion fruit and mango delight.

Whilst he went for a much sweeter strawberry flavor. 

The menu is small but interesting and there is still plenty of variety. 

The dishes on offer are inspired by the flavors of Britain's former colonies- including specialties from South Africa, Canada, India and Malaysia. What you end up with is beautifully presented meals with a splash of color that combine local produce and exotic ingredients. 

I chose a Goan salmon and prawn curry (from Goa).

It was served with Cardamom Rice and Okra, which was my first time trying these little unusual vegetables. I can only describe them as a mixture between a small furry green pepper and some kind of gherkin. 

He went for a five spiced Barbary duck breast with chili-fried pok choi, rice noodles and pomegranate jus. 

The duck was plentiful and rich, expertly cooked and served on a bed of noodles with a sweet sauce and sprinkled pomegranate seeds. 

The menu also offers low-cal salads, steak and a 'Dude Food' section, comprising burgers, ribs and pulled pork.

After another round of cocktails we didn't have room for pudding despite there being a tasty looking dessert menu on offer.

The staff and service were excellent.

They are also a popular destination for brunch, with the menu including the Mexican breakfast dish Huevos Rancheros- eggs, tortilla, sour cream and refried beans- which I used to have all the time in America at my college cafeteria, cooked by a Mexican chef.

Of course our bill was delivered to the table in a jam jar complete with goodies.

If you're looking for a laid back and relaxing restaurant environment serving modern British pub food with a unique colonial twist then you should definitely pay The Jam Tree a visit. 

The perfect destination for dinner with friends or drinks with colleagues; they also have a venue of the Kings Road in Chelsea. 

Go to The Jam Tree for more info.