The 100 best things to eat and drink in Cambridge (51-100)

To mark the occasion of penning my 100th food column for Cambridge Edition magazine’s 101st issue (it’s a long story involving a missed deadline and a wedding) which was released last summer, I put together a list of the tastiest treats that our city has to offer.

I’m publishing an updated version of the list right here, along with links to all local businesses that are currently still trading amid the chaos of the crisis brought about by Covid-19.

Please, support them in any way you can to ensure that they are all still there when the lockdown is lifted.

(Numbers 1-50 can be read here)

51. Very early morning pizza (or kebab - at that time I’m not particularly fussy) from the fine folks at Grill House (Grill House are currently operating a collection and delivery service through Just Eat)

52. Porchetta & pesto sandwich from Bread & Meat on Bene’t Street (currently taking telephone orders for contactless collection)

53. Cambridge is the sort of place we are lucky enough to have a restaurant on a bus. It’s also brilliant. La Latina’s tostones and empanadas are superb. (The Bustaurante is currently open 5pm-9pm for collection - and delivery)

54. Any one of several hundred Belgian beers at the Cambridge Blue

55. (Now off menu) naga ghost chilli curry at Prana. Rumour has it that they require you to sign a disclaimer nowadays. I don’t remember doing so. (Prana are now operating a takeaway service directly via their website)

56. Bibimbap at Bibimbap House

57. Nameless but delicious (and very cheap) handmade biscuits from Brothers Supermarket, formally Mill Road International Supermarket (Brothers is still fully open and operational, albeit with slightly limited hours. It’s always well stocked and there is never a queue. You need never go to the supermarket again)

58. Cappuccino and cannoli (or a nutella filled doughnut) from Modigliani coffee shop (currently open for takeaway direct from the shop or delivery from Deliveroo)

59. Several ridiculously cheap - and delicious - pints of locally brewed beer at the St. Radegund

60. Seoul Plaza’s homemade kimchi, great with fried rice at any time of the day (Seoul Plaza is still open for business)

61. Coffee and a muffin from either of Bould Brothers Coffee Shops (currently closed but please support them by donating to their crowdfunding campaign)

62. Several (dozen?) samples of free fudge from that fudge shop on Kings Parade

63. Dripping on toast, pork scratchings and warm ale at The Queen’s Head, Newton makes me forget, at least for an hour or so, that social media exists and goes some distance to instilling a sense of peace and tranquility

64. Cherry Box takeaway pizza. Eaten in bed with a glass of Chianti DOCG. A rare, but important, treat (Cherry Box are still trading for takeaway and delivery)

65. Meatless’s  jackfruit shawarma shows what modern vegan food is all about. It is a joy. 

66. 196’s cocktail list is lengthy and comprehensive. I am a man of simple pleasures. One old-fashioned, please (196 are currently offering cocktails for collection and even delivery for large orders)

67. Steamed brioche bun. Beef hot dog. Far too many toppings to eat tidily. Road Dogs ‘Dirty Dog’ is a thing of beauty

68. A little taste of Sweden thanks to Cambridge Cookery School & Cafe’s cardamom and cinnamon buns (currently closed but offering half price vouchers for future classes)

69. Buffalo Joe’s buttermilk fried chicken burger is both big and clever. And very, very delicious. 

70. Apple & Cinnamon cake from Tom’s Cakes

71. An epic dim sum feast from Cafe Oriental on Burleigh Street

72. Taking advantage of Tradizioni’s BYO fee of just £1 and drinking an outrageous bottle of wine alongside a lovely pizza (currently open for takeaway and delivery and offering a 15% discount if you order through their website)

73. Weekly trips to the ‘spice den’ and stocking up on naan bread at Al Amin. Favourite recent discovery? Realising how delicious asafoetida is, despite its truly challenging smell (Al Amin are still open for business and in addition to spices stock fresh produce, dry goods and even a butchery counter)

74. A few years ago I took myself off to Midsummer House and dined solo for several glorious hours. Also glorious? A main course of grouse, girolles, cabbage and elderberries

75. A deep bucket of salted popcorn from the kiosk at The Arts Picturehouse 

76. A slab of thick, heavily topped Sicilian style pizza from Aromi. And a San Pellegrino to wash it down

77. Cream cheese bagel from Indigo Coffee House

78. The distinctive, and enticing smell of barbecued meat on King Street comes from one place, and one place only: Efes.

79. Vivid green and freshly made, Limoncello’s pesto is a far cry from the sludge that comes in jars and masquerades as the real deal. Try it and vow never go back (Limoncello is open for business as usual from their shop on Mill Road and also for delivery via Deliveroo and Just Eat)

80. A proper whiskey sour, upstairs at Novi

81. Another Cambridge institution sadly no longer with us, but the lunch deal at Clowns included some of the best - and most comforting - pasta anywhere

82. There are too many truly good small batch chocolate bars to pick a single one, but I’m slowly making my way through the selection at Culinaris (currently open for collection and delivery)

83. Smoked salmon from River Farm Smokery, sadly no longer smoking in an old RAF base in Bottisham. Thankfully, however,  now called Chapel & Swann and just over the border in Exning (currently available to buy online for home delivery)

84. Hot Number’s bacon sandwich on toasted sourdough. Yes please, I would like some HP Sauce (Hot Numbers coffee is available to buy online direct from their roastery)

85. Sunday morning, June 2015. My first Sunday off work in years. Newspapers, coffee and Bloody Marys at The Kingston Arms. My happy place. 

86. A cracking bottle of Californian Pinot Noir picked up from the wine shop at The Old Bridge in Huntingdon (currently available to buy through their online shop)

87. There are few restaurants where I am happy to order the same thing every time I go. Tiffin Truck’s kale chaat is the exception that proves the rule. Fried kale, yoghurt and pomegranate seeds: together at last in happy harmony (The Tiffin Truck is operating a delivery service via Deliveroo)

88. Thai style barbecued pork on rice from Thaikun at The Quayside

89. Cold Champagne from plastic cups on Jesus Green (The location might be different but Champagne is certainly still available in abundance - awesome local merchant Thorne Wines will deliver straight to your door)

90. The super fresh -  and super delicious -  salad bar at Garden Kitchen

91. Hummus and other assorted mezze from Al Casbah (currently operating a takeaway service through Deliveroo)

92. It may well have taken several years of my life, but the Volcanic Cheesy Chicken at Ji Chicken Shop was well worth it (currently available through Deliveroo)

93. Cobb’s Bakery cheese scones (via Darwin Nurseries Farm Shop)

94. The Tin Kitchen’s halloumi and roasted vegetable filled ciabatta

95. The Al Chile food truck is something of a will-o’-the-wisp on the Cambridge scene but the carnitas burrito I had from there a few years ago means I still keep a beady eye out for them when I’m in the mood for some top notch Mexican food

96. Fried dumplings from Cambridge Market Dim Sum stall

97. Experimental cocktails made, and tasted, at The Cambridge Gin Lab on Green Street  (currently closed but the Cambridge Distillery are offering their entire range for sale at their online store)

98. Cold beers from the fridge at Bacchanalia (currently still open and offering their range for collection and delivery at their two stores. Check their Twitter page for updates)

99. Hastily assembled punt picnic and emergency Pimm’s (assorted suppliers around the city)

100. And finally, a brand new one: it might be coffee and pastries, huevos rancheros or yoghurt, granola, but staff breakfast every Saturday at Vanderlyle is the food memory I look forward to making many more of over the next few years (Although, we aren’t currently operating as a restaurant, we have created Vanderlyle To Go: fresh, healthy and vegetable-based meals delivered straight to your door. We have 60 covers available every day Tuesday-Saturday and they go on sale at 10am a week in advance)