Legendary chef Massimo Bottura contemplates a dish of roasted bone marrow and parsley salad at St. John restaurant. A signature dish, the restaurant goes through 20-30 kilograms of marrow bones daily.
Meet the meat —
Legendary chef Massimo Bottura contemplates a dish of roasted bone marrow and parsley salad at St. John restaurant. A signature dish, the restaurant goes through 20-30 kilograms of marrow bones daily.
CNN
The Hope pub, opposite Smithfield Market, opens early to cater to all-night meat traders. It's also a favorite for other London night shift workers, sometimes serving breakfast time beers to journalists and off-duty medics.
Breakfast bar —
The Hope pub, opposite Smithfield Market, opens early to cater to all-night meat traders. It's also a favorite for other London night shift workers, sometimes serving breakfast time beers to journalists and off-duty medics.
Barry Neild/CNN
Smithfield Market in London opens at 2 a.m. and works through the night. Most of the work is finished by 7 a.m.
Smithfield Market —
Smithfield Market in London opens at 2 a.m. and works through the night. Most of the work is finished by 7 a.m.
Courtesy Sophia Chalmer
Guided tours of Smithfield are available once every month. It's an early start though and places need to be booked in advance.
Historic halls —
Guided tours of Smithfield are available once every month. It's an early start though and places need to be booked in advance.
Getty Images
Smithfield Market now benefits from modern refrigeration. Back in 1860 its location on a hill helped bring a steady supply of fresh air.
Cool spot —
Smithfield Market now benefits from modern refrigeration. Back in 1860 its location on a hill helped bring a steady supply of fresh air.
Getty Images
The last of London's great central markets, Smithfield has at times been under threat from developers hungry to use its prime real estate.
Prime meat, prime real estate —
The last of London's great central markets, Smithfield has at times been under threat from developers hungry to use its prime real estate.
Getty Images
Chefs Fergus Henderson (left) and Massimo Bottura read up on the history of London's Smithfield Market. The current building was constructed in the 1860s but the site has been used for meat trading for centuries.
Market forces —
Chefs Fergus Henderson (left) and Massimo Bottura read up on the history of London's Smithfield Market. The current building was constructed in the 1860s but the site has been used for meat trading for centuries.
Courtesy Sophie Chalmers
Chefs at St. John restaurant prepare for lunch service. The restaurant, based in an old smoke house, was awarded a Michelin star in 2012.
St. John restaurant kitchen —
Chefs at St. John restaurant prepare for lunch service. The restaurant, based in an old smoke house, was awarded a Michelin star in 2012.
Courtesy Sophia Chalmer
St. John restaurant was opened in 1995 by Fergus Henderson and Trevor Gulliver, offering "nose-to-tail dining." Massimo Bottura opened his Osteria Francescana restaurant in Modena, Italy, in the same year.
'Nose-to-tail dining' —
St. John restaurant was opened in 1995 by Fergus Henderson and Trevor Gulliver, offering "nose-to-tail dining." Massimo Bottura opened his Osteria Francescana restaurant in Modena, Italy, in the same year.
Courtesy StefanJohnson/St John
Chris Gillard (right), head chef at St. John, prepares bone marrow on toast, the restaurant's signature dish, for Henderson (left) and Bottura.
Signature dish —
Chris Gillard (right), head chef at St. John, prepares bone marrow on toast, the restaurant's signature dish, for Henderson (left) and Bottura.
Courtesy Sopha Chalmers
The glutinous bone marrow is spooned onto the toast and covered with parsley, diced shallots, capers and a dressing of lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil. It's tastier than it looks.
Finished product —
The glutinous bone marrow is spooned onto the toast and covered with parsley, diced shallots, capers and a dressing of lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil. It's tastier than it looks.
Courtesy Sophia Chalmers
Massimo Bottura introduces Fergus Henderson to the joys of a Maserati Quattroporte S, from his hometown of Modena.
Two chefs and a Maserati —
Massimo Bottura introduces Fergus Henderson to the joys of a Maserati Quattroporte S, from his hometown of Modena.
Barry Neild/CNN