My Perfect Winter Weekend: Sophie Wyburd
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@coqfighteruk
FRIDAY
My ultimate wintery Friday evening has changed in recent years, and now almost certainly means a night in. I like going to The Ivy House in Nunhead for exactly one pint to celebrate the end of the working week, and ordering a takeaway from there. I track the driver on my phone, and arrive home bang on time for when it arrives. I’m a mega fan of the green chilli cheeseburger from Coqfighter, a Chinese from Wuli Wuli, or The Kevin pizza (leeks and pancetta) from Dinner For One Hundred. I’ll probably start dozing off on the sofa shortly after eating it, with something trashy on the telly. Made in Chelsea, The Kardashians or any TOWIE cast offshoot show are my dream come true.
I watch basically every piece of telly to have ever been made – especially when in winter hibernation mode. I’m a Strictly Come Dancing fanatic and love a bit of reality telly, though I’m enjoying Such Brave Girls at the moment for dark comedy. I’ve also finally got round to watching the Fargo TV adaptation which is brilliant. I’m currently reading A Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell which is beautifully written but pretty dark in its content. I’ve also loved Really Good, Actually and Isaac and the Egg in recent months.
SATURDAY
Saturday mornings are for pottering about my local area. I’ll shimmy on down to Nunhead Green and treat myself to some flowers, and delicious ingredients to cook with. Sopers, Mother Superior and Nisa in Nunhead are some of my favourites, but you could also catch me shopping and socialising in Sainsbury’s. I live in Nunhead and should probably be on the tourism board, if such a thing exists. It possesses a real old-school community charm that is quite hard to find in London these days. The butcher (HA Smith), baker (Ayres), fishmonger (Sopers) and florist (AG Flowers) have all been there forever. Mother Superior sells all my favourite wines and posh deli bits. Nunhead Nisa sells 90% of the things you could ever need. Dinner for One Hundred does spritz for less than a fiver and phenomenal pizzas. The Pyrotechnists Arms hosts karaoke every single night. What more could you want round the corner?
I recently discovered Eric’s in East Dulwich, which is open only on Fridays and Saturdays, and makes incredible bread and pastries. It’s absolutely worth the queue. I don’t really drink coffee unless in an emergency (in which case I’ll hit up Browns of Brockley), but I am likely to treat myself to a bubble tea on the weekend. Ding Tea in New Cross Gate is my usual spot.
I’ll then go and meet my pals for a walk – probably around Nunhead Cemetery, or to stomp a few laps of Peckham Rye. Sydenham Woods and Crystal Palace Park are some other favourites. A gorgeous green Toast jumper and M&S wide-leg jeans have become my new winter uniform. I’m not sure I have ever been comfier while looking so chic in my life. In the winter months, I live in an & Other Stories long black puffer I bought a few years back. It’s like walking around in a heavy-duty sleeping bag.
@ERICSLONDON; @SOPHIEWYBURD; THE CAMBERWELL ARMS; @DINNERFORONEHUNDRED
Post-walk, we’ll probably end up having drinks and Scampi Fries at the pub – The Ivy House, Pyrotechnists Arms and Skehan’s are our favourite haunts. The Prospect of Whitby in Wapping is a great winter pub. I like doing a walk down that stretch of the Thames and hopping from pub to pub. It feels very festive looking at the twinkly lights of London on the river.
This is undoubtedly one of my favourite seasons for eating out and ideally being really looked after in some kind of candlelit, wood-panelled room. Quality Chop House, Caravel, The Camberwell Arms, Bouchon Racine or Bistro Freddie are some of my favourites for hearty, comforting things to eat, beautiful service and impeccable vibes.
SUNDAY
One of my favourite Sunday rituals is catching up on Strictly Come Dancing in the morning with toast and tea, then going for dim sum. We might link up with my parents, and head to Saikei in Greenwich for the best steamed goods in London. It was the first place I ever tried cheung fun about 15 years ago, so it holds a really special place in my heart. If we decide to go out for a roast, The Camberwell Arms is a favourite. They do the best roast chicken and big pots of lamb to share. The pork fat on toast rocks my world.
If we haven’t been out for a roast, I’ll go home to cook something delicious with all the ingredients I bought the day before. It’ll either be a fish pie or a shepherd’s pie for maximum comfort – and we’ll get some friends round to eat it cross legged on the floor while we watch a film. It’s pumpkin season, and I am feeling quite devoted to them. Delicia pumpkins are the girl of the moment for me and are featuring in probably 50% of the meals I cook. Winter is the perfect time to whack the oven on and cook something low and slow. I love making ragus and meaty pies, with the added bonus that the oven warms up the house. Sundays by Sophie Godwin is a dreamy book to cook from on the weekends. It is made for cooking in a leisurely way, pottering around the kitchen with the radio on and a glass of red in your hand.
@SOPHIEWYBURD
THE CAMBERWELL ARMS
My favourite thing about this time of year is cheeseboards. They don’t really have a place in the summer for me, but at this time of year I go feral for mont d’or, gorgonzola and Boursin. Red wine season is upon us, and it feels pretty great. I like a light-bodied red – get me a glass of beaujolais and I’m happy. You’ll also find me having pints of pale ale or Guinness at the pub or being a festive demon and drinking excessive amounts of crémant.
I like soaking up the cosy, festive vibes in London in the build-up to Christmas. But I’m plotting to run away for a few weekends in the depressing January-March spell. This year, it’s looking like Marrakech and Copenhagen, with maybe a little Paris daytrip snuck in for good measure.
On Christmas Eve, we like to do karaoke and bowling as a family. We used to go to Elephant & Castle bowling alley (RIP) for cheap beer and arcade games, and have also spent it at Jiwaja in Kennington, which serves amazing Korean food and karaoke. It is always one of the highlights of my year.
Sophie’s first cookbook, Tucking In, is available to pre-order here. For more of Sophie’s recipes and recommendations, follow her at @SophieWyburd
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