From toasties to rotis via Brazilian food, brunches and blossom. Here’s our pick of 10 of the best foodie pop-ups and residencies to try in May.
Cheesy does it
You might recognise Morty & Bob’s (or more specifically owners Charlie and Jesse) from Netil Market, but this month sees them step things up a notch as they take on a residency at marketside pub Off Broadway. They’ll be doling out their indulgent cheese toasties made from their own British blend that balances the cheesy trinity of ooze, stringiness and flavour. We’ve tried them more than once and can confirm that they’ve got it covered. Additions to the straight-up toastie at this pop-up include bacon, pulled pork and avocado salsa. Morty & Bob’s are serving all month at Off Broadway, from Weds-Sun 6-10pm.
Emergency brunch
There are few better times to hit the town hard than a Bank Holiday Saturday. The team at The Liquor Store in Dalston know exactly what we’re planning and have brought in reinforcements in the form of a First Aid Rescue Brunch for Sunday 4 May. Andy Bates (aka @eatmypies) has put together a menu that features a breakfast scotch egg, an avocado and egg stack and a French toast, pecan and maple bread and butter pudding. If that sounds appealing now, just imagine just how good it’ll be on a hangover. Bacon infused Old Fashioneds and blue cheese Bloody Marys are also available, but not included in the price. The First Aid Rescue Brunch runs from 11am-5pm on 4 May. Tickets cost £20 and include all food. Book tickets here.
Clapton’s salad days
The cleverly named Dressing Room pop-up is back after its inaugural run last month, hoping to convert more diners to the joys of salad on 7 and 8 May. Described by the team as a “tasty rebuttal to the idea that salads are solely for the health conscious”, the menu looks like it might just do the trick. Included is a salad of glazed duck breast with carrot, barberry, beetroot, watercress, horseradish and walnuts, and another of scallop ceviche, hazelnut, lime, coriander and crispy duck with an earl grey and lemon dressing. There’s plenty of options for veggies, too. In terms of credentials, Tom Sarafian, who’s running it, is chef at Exmouth Market’s Moro. The Dressing Room will pop-up at Palm2 on Lower Clapton Road on 7 and 8 May. Six courses and a cocktail cost £40 (£35 for veggie/vegan). Book here.
Roasting hot: Bacchus Sundays
Hoxton Street’s Bacchus was included on our list of 20 of London’s Best Sunday Roasts, but earlier this year the venue shut up shop. We’re very glad to announce that the roasts are now back with a new line of weekly Sunday pop-ups at Hoxton Street Studios down the road. Visit the Facebook page for up-to-date menus and to book, but if you’ve had a bloody good roast at Bacchus before, rest assured that the chefs, ingredients, recipes and staff are all pretty much the same.
Jimmy Garcia at Four-O-Nine
Having made quite a name for himself on the pop-up and supperclub scene, Jimmy Garcia (of South West Supperclub) is a name to watch and his food is well worth a try. His latest venture this month sees him take over the kitchen of Clapham’s Four-O-Nine restaurant for a night and lay on a seven-course tasting menu complete with ‘food theatre, chef interaction and little surprises’. We’re not sure what all of that equates to, but the menu is pretty tempting. It opens with a smoked salmon sundae with g&t and avocado, and goes on to feature dorset scallop with dried roe, seared venison, and an Eton Mess among other dishes. The meal takes place on Monday 12 May from 7pm and costs £40. Drinks are extra. More details and booking here.
Sakura at Sake No Hana
It’s cherry blossom season in Japan, and over there people go out of their way to appreciate the beauty of the time of year. High-end St James’s Japanese Sake No Hana is doing its bit to bring some of that sentiment to our shores, running a special sakura (cherry blossom) menu this month. Sitting in the restaurant’s bar area, which has been decked out with fake cherry trees, diners can enjoy specially designed cocktails, a seasonal bento box and cherry blossom tea, among other delicately floral treats. There are even cherry blossom macarons to finish. If you like, you could walk through St James’s park to get there and take in some native blossom along the way. A well-proportioned two-tier bento box featuring sushi, sashimi and grilled chicken costs £28. Sakura runs until 19 May. Details and booking here.
Make mine a Brazilian #1
Running since March, this World Cup pop-up that presents food from each of the 12 cities that will play host to a match during the contest kicks off its second strand on 19 May at Oxo Tower Wharf. It will then run nightly until 23 May when the final cities Rio and Salvador will be presented. £35 tickets get you a five-course meal built around dishes local to the chosen city, plus a Caipirinha. Visit the website to book and for more details about the cities and menus.
Make mine a Brazilian #2
Jumping on the Brazilian bandwagon, mouthful of a supperlcub Casa Sabor Salvador da Bahia will run from Thursday 8 May to Saturday 10 May at OZone coffee shop near Old Street. Each evening, a five-course dinner of traditional and modern Brazilian food will be served, with several of the new dishes directly inspired by culinary legend Alex Atala, whose São Paulo restaurant D.O.M was recently voted seventh in the world at the World’s 50 Best awards. Dishes include a palm heart soup, a traditional fish stew and a spiced pork fillet served with plantain purée and pineapple salsa. There’s also the promise of live Brazilian music to complete the package. Dinner costs £39 and starts at 7pm on 8, 9 and 10 May. Five courses, a Caipirinha and an Ozone coffee to finish are included. Wines, beers and more cocktails will also be on sale. Book tickets here.
Riverside roti
From 8-26 May, Marylebone Indian street food restaurant Roti Chai takes up residency at the Southbank Centre’s new Festival Village space, underneath Queen Elizabeth Hall. It will be a bigger and better version of their pop-up at the centre’s Alchemy festival last year and coincides with this year’s festivities. Chaats, chilli chicken buns, rotis and tiffin boxes will feature alongside a chai bar offering spiced teas and coffees, plus Indian-influenced cocktails and lassis. Open 12-10.30pm daily. See more here.
Wimbledon grime
We’re not being derogatory, #GrimeDining is the name chosen for the latest pop-up from The Pickled Fork. A semi-permanent affair running every Wednesday in Wimbledon, the concept uses great produce to replicate fine-dining but with less formality and expense. Tickets include canapés and three-courses, with menus currently featuring intricate numbers such as an asparagus and confit chicken wing terrine served with lemon balm and sea salt shortbread, as well as a braised lamb shoulder ‘brick’ with homemade goat's curd, samphire and cider buttered new potatoes. Tickets cost £30 including all food, with drink to be bought separately. Runs on 7, 14, 21 and 28 May starting at 7.30pm. The events are held at Aston & Magill café near Wimbledon Chase station. Book tickets here.
