3. Cheeseburger, Hawksmoor

London's best burger bar none.  A perfectly grilled, thick, juicy Longhorn beef patty, salty sharp melted Ogleshield cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion and a superlative brioche-like bun.

The proportions are magnificent - perfect heft, utterly satisfying to hold, even better to sink your teeth in to.

Carnal knowledge, yours for £15 including fries.

Hawksmoor, 11 Langley Street, WC2 and157 Commercial Street, E1.

2. Croquetas at Jose, Bermondsey Street, SE1, aka Golden Balls

There are deep fried ham and cheese balls, and there are deep fried ham and cheese balls that move a girl to quote The Bard.*

These perfect golden ham and cheese balls, aka Croquetas de Jamon y Queso, are served at Jose Pizarro's tapas bar, Jose, on Bermondsey Street. 

'A dream, a breath, a froth of fleeting joy.'  That's Shakespeare, not me, but I couldn't have summed it up better myself.  Such lightness!  Magnificent.

Apparently the key is partly in Pizarro's use of olive oil instead of butter in the roux.  There's a recipe for ham croquetas in his book, Seasonal Spanish Food.  I challenge anyone to find a croqueta better this side of Seville.


* (A girl who only has a repertoire of four Shakespeare quotes at her immediate disposal.  To be or not to be doesn't go with tapas...)

1. St John Custard Donuts

Perfection for £2.
Available at St John Bread and Wine in Spitalfields on a Sunday morning, and St John Bakery in Bermondsey on a Saturday morning from 9am.  Interview with the doughnut master here.