The 6 Best Things We Ate In April

"Crispy Aromatic Duck (Half) Balham’s got a new Chinese restaurant that’s serving the classics. We’re talking Sichuan dumplings, char siu pork, and old faithful, crispy aromatic duck pancakes. And let us tell you, the duck here is fantastic. It arrives at your table like the ultimate party guest, smelling amazing and glistening, before being ceremoniously carved whilst you pretend you’re not dribbling in public. The pancakes are thick enough to hold a serious dose of duck, hoisin, spring onions, and cucumber, without a single tear. But it’s the duck that’s the real star of the show. The skin is gloriously crispy but the meat is still nice and juicy with that whole melt in the mouth thing going on. You can also opt for a quarter, but when it’s this good, going for a half is a no-brainer." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing, rianne shlebak