London

London is a whirlwind. I visit to see artwork, to see theater, to see markets, and to look for fixtures in the vintage home stores tucked around the sprawling city. Few places pulse with such a strong intensity. And maybe because of this, when it comes to eating and drinking, I am particularly drawn to spaces that create a sense of serenity. Whether it is a garden setting or just a fine-tuned dining room, the most luscious British places have a way of cultivating intimacy, calm, fun, and, of course, delicious food. The past several decades have seen British chefs digging into the culinary traditions that were endangered in the scarcity of the postwar years: heritage breeds of livestock, handcrafted preserves, and a distinct pride in the freshest seasonal produce.