Experimental chefs and a cocktail apothecary at House of Wolf, Islington

Dining at House of Wolf felt like I’d unwittingly fallen down the rabbit-hole of my favourite book, Alice in Wonderland. As if I wasn’t curious enough about the bread rolls suspended from the ceiling, the décor was excitingly surreal: chandeliers of cutlery and innovative taxidermy fight for space amongst elegantly burnished mirrors. The interior design, however, is nothing compared to the food. The kitchen invites different experimental chefs to take up residence each month, and this particular evening was the brain-child of Caroline Hobkinson, as she aimed to explore how taste is affected by blocking one of the other senses. One dish that I definitely won’t forget in a hurry was the salmon sashimi, which we were to inject with smoked whisky using the syringe provided (the smell of the smoky whisky was meant to trick our brains into thinking we were eating smoked salmon).

The ‘Apothecary’ bar was perhaps my favourite part; an intimate space, with generously portioned cocktails served from a bar designed to look like a Victorian pharmacy (see if you can find the raunchily decorated secret room behind the bookcase).

If, like me, you love the naughtiness of being allowed to play with your food, I thoroughly recommend House of Wolf for a night of thoughtful giggles.

Image courtesy of House of Wolf

About the Author

This lovely thing to do in London was kindly shared by Jessamine McHugh, an aspiring writer, obsessed with all things London.