Rachel Khoo's Kitchen Notebook: London

Rachel discovers the ways London’s food scene is pulling in the crowds and thinks about some crowd-pleasing food she can create in her own kitchen. She joins the party at a foodie gathering with a festival atmosphere in east London, and discovers the simple secret to the success of a legendary 24-hour bagel shop that she’s loved since she was a student. At home she puts a twist on chilli and tortillas for friends to tuck into, creates some simple colourful canapés perfect for a party and creates a sophisticated jelly for grown-ups.

From gourmet burgers to high-end patisserie, London is awash with delicious fast food. Rachel samples a selection of the capital’s exciting fast food, and demonstrates how such treats can be effortless to cook at home. She meets Lisa, whose popular hot Taiwanese sandwiches bring back memories of Rachel’s own childhood. And in south London, Rachel gets into the kitchen with Trinidadian cook Brian to create some intense flavours for his Caribbean Jerk Chicken. Back in her kitchen, Rachel creates a twist on an icon of fast food and shows us how to create breakfast, lunch and dinner from one quick bread recipe.

Rachel explores London’s love affair with the East and reflects how this mirrors her own European and Asian family mix. Reviving a favourite childhood tradition with some friends, Rachel selects lunch from Dim Sum trollies in China Town. She also joins Andrew, a young chef in west London, who teaches her a spectacular noodle pulling technique. Back in her kitchen, Rachel shows us how to use up leftover meat from a roast in an Asian bun, makes her favourite Malaysian dessert with a traditional British twist and cooks an intensely flavoured chicken dish from her mum that captures the fusion of East meets West.

London’s transport systems are iconic and ingrained on the Londoner’s psyche, not just as an essential part of life but part of the capital’s identity – and it’s London on the move that inspires Rachel’s cooking this time. She’s the guest at an unusual supper club where the food served up in a tube carriage, and she rolls her sleeves up to make sausage and mash for some hungry taxi drivers in one of London’s historic cab shelters. Back in her kitchen, Rachel creates a posh packed lunch and a healthy soup for busy people on the move, plus a sweet and colourful homage to the London Underground.