British Charcuterie Day at the Cleveland Arms: A safe haven for meat-eaters this Veganuary

Christmas is over and Dry January and Veganuary have taken a firm hold of the month. But we’re going to let you in on a little secret: in one part of town, the festivities are still in full swing. British Charcuterie Live has teamed up with the Cleveland Arms to celebrate all things meat on Saturday 26^th January. We were lucky enough to be invited to the preview to get a taster of what attendees can expect. The setting could not be more perfect. The venue – set just a few minutes from Paddington – is one of those pubs that oozes both history and charm, thanks to its total transformation under Maria Tamander back in 2014.

With Head Chef Louis Lingwood taking care of all the food, and drinks provided by St Austell brewery and Lea & Sandeman wine merchants, things were looking good. Attendees were given the choice of an all-day a la carte menu or a 5-course set menu. We had the set menu and started off with some Crispy Pork Puffs (a lighter, airier take on the pork scratching), served with apple sauce and Suffolk smoked bacon pastry twists.

Next up was the charcuterie board, boasting a wonderful choice of Mangalitza Air-Dried Ham, Spiced Coppa from Tempus, Venison Salami with cocoa and chilli, Smoked Bath Chaps and cured ham from Suffolk. An absolutely delicious selection all round, but the salami and coppa really are a must-try.

We then had the Chorizo Coddled Egg – cooked just enough to give it that gooey, textured consistency and elegantly set off with the chorizo. After that, it was straight onto some beautifully slow-cooked ham hock, which was served with split peas, black cabbage and green sauce.

The evening came to the perfect end with a home-cooked treacle tart served with Jersey cream and Liberty Fields apple syrup. The food was all accompanied by a wine pairing and a selection of ales. One thing’s for sure: if you come to the Cleveland Arms for British Charcuterie Day, you’ll be leaving with a full belly, brimming with January cheer!

Alex Julie Woods

British Charcuterie Day takes place on 26^th January from 12-9.30pm. To book a spot at The Cleveland Arms, 28 Chilworth Street London W2 6DT, call 020 7706 1759 or visit their website here.