Chef Dara Klein of Tiella Loves Etles’ Big Plate Chicken and Sunday Nights at Cadet

A Bengali sweets and breakfast spot in my neighbourhood. Coming here is a Monday morning ritual for me – the owner extends so much hospitality and warmth on every visit, always bringing new fried snacks and sweets for us to try. The aloo papri chaat is wonderful, as well as the pani puri. My usual order is the Deshi Nasta, a small meat bhuna with two paratha, which is best washed down with a strong, heady cup of chai. It’s the best midday breakfast following my weekly lay-in, and I’m so grateful to live around the corner.

551 Roman Road, E3 5EL

Another Monday night staple, Afghan Grill makes me feel so nurtured and replenished which is usually what I’m looking for when I eat out on my nights off. The mixed grill is perfection, but don’t miss the Kabuli pilau – a mountain of superbly cooked rice, hiding tender slow cooked lamb and raisins. The charsi chicken Karahi is also excellent. It’s always buzzing, and the staff are joyous. Really don’t go past this place.

Potter & Reid is an absolute oasis in Spitalfields. I come here when I need some calm! The coffee is excellent, thanks to the owners’ background at Allpress. Chef Eleni Thomas presents an ever-changing, seasonal menu that is equal parts decadence and simplicity.

When I leave it too long in between visits, I start to seriously crave the food at Dim Sum Duck. Some of the best cheung fun I’ve ever had, along with exemplary dim sum and soups! I’m eternally grateful for their treatment of greens, served with a powerful hit of garlic. I’m seriously overdue another visit.

The big plate chicken at Etles is a dish I often lay in bed late at night thinking about. There’s a massive textural similarity between their hand-pulled noodles and sagne ‘ncannulate, the pasta that’s typical from my region in Puglia. The spiced beef tongue is also excellent, as well as the lamb tugur dumplings. I believe the restaurant is family owned and operated, which is very much the feeling you get when you go there. Beautiful tapestries hang on the wall and it exudes a warmth that is second to none.

The Palm Tree is the perfect pub. You won’t find much food except for bags of crisps, but the love I have for this pub is immense. A portal to another time, The Palm Tree is a treasure in East London, and one of my favourite places for a drink on days off. If you go on Sunday nights you’ll catch the Palm Tree Trio, a jazz band that will warm your heart. It’s cash only and bring your conversational skills because you’ll want to chat with the staff and the locals. Heaven!

If it’s Sunday night, you’ll find me here. I have so much love for what the whole team is doing, Cadet is so exciting and most of London already knows it! Treat yourself to most of the blackboard and drink whatever they recommend. I usually show up and leave it to them. There’s a reason most chefs congregate here at the end of a long week. Food, exceptional, wine, exceptional, atmosphere, perfect!