London Food And Drink News: 24 July 2014

Ben O' Norum
By Ben O' Norum Last edited 116 months ago
London Food And Drink News: 24 July 2014

The Araki: superstar sushi comes to London

Welcome to our weekly round-up of all that’s happening in London’s food and drink scene.

Inside this week: sushi, steam, sweets and Spitalfields

Superstar sushi

If you’re a foodie in Japan, you’ll know the name Mitsuhiro Araki. The chef is famous for his exquisite high-level sushi, and for holding three Michelin stars at his Tokyo restaurant before shutting it up early last year. Now he’s moved to London where he will open The Araki on Mayfair’s New Burlington Street in the autumn. The restaurant will seat just nine diners at the sushi counter, as well as six more in a private dining room, which leads us to think getting a space might prove tricky.

Soho’s just desserts

Just opened on Greek Street is The Pudding Bar, a long-term pop-up which does exactly what it says on the tin. Its menu skips mains and goes straight to desserts, of which a rotating selection of six will be available at any one time. An Earl Grey panna cotta, choux buns, lemon posset and Eton Mess currently feature, alongside a spot of savoury in the form of an English cheese board. There’s also a decent selection of wines (including dessert wines), and a café area serving teas and coffees.

Street to Spitalfields

The idea of street food stalls progressing into permanent restaurants is not a new one, but it’s pleasing to hear that decidedly epic burger stall Bleecker Street will be settling down in Old Spitalfields Market. The opening may be a way off in 2015, but as of 20 August, the Bleecker Street burger truck will arrive on-site, offering market-goers a taste of what to expect.

Steamy stuff

Dubiously-named Vapore (the twitter handle is @thatsVapore) opened on Baker Street this week, serving almost entirely steamed food. It’s open for breakfast and lunch, and builds its menu around ‘steam baskets’ of fish, seafood, pastas, meats and vegetables which are all cooked to order in a high-powered steamer. Coffees and cold-pressed juices are also available.

A veggie ethos

Casual vegetarian restaurant Ethos will open on Eastcastle Street in Fitzrovia in September. The self-service space will offer internationally-influenced vegetarian dishes alongside fresh juices, coffees and teas.

A new Canvas

Swiss chef Michael Riemenschneider opened Canvas in Marylebone in January, with a ‘build-your-own-tasting-menu’ concept in place of any a la carte options. This restaurant closed a couple of weeks ago, but now a new, larger site has been found for it in Chelsea. The new restaurant will still be based around tasting menus, but will offer diners the opportunity to choose just one or two courses if they wish, reverting somewhat from the original concept. The new Canvas is expected to launch within the next few weeks.

New openings

Earlier this week Lima Floral opened in Covent Garden. It’s the sister-site to Fitzrovia’s Michelin-starred Peruvian restaurant Lima, and includes a piqueos bar serving Pisco-laced drinks and Peruvian small plates as one of its new features. Also open is Silk & Grain, an interesting new venue in the City, specialising in British steaks and barrel-aged cocktails, while Eelbrook launched in Fulham yesterday serving British small plates with European and North African influences. Today sees two big launches: the second restaurant from Pizza Pilgrims opens in Kingly Court, and Wahaca founder Thomasina Miers opens a new Mexican eatery. The Pizza Pilgrims Pizzeria & Friggitoria will serve many of the same signature pizzas as the original Dean Street restaurant, alongside calzones, arancini and other deep-fried Neapolitan snacks. Miers’ DF / Mexico, which is housed in the Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane, fuses Mexican and US influences in dishes that span enchiladas, nachos, grilled cuts of meat and the incredibly burger-like ‘NYC tortas’.

Coming soon

Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings will launch in Clerkenwell in September. The biggest project yet from the company behind Fitzrovia’s Reverend J W Simpson bar and the original Bourne & Hollingsworth speakeasy, it will feature a British brasserie, a relaxed café, a bar area and private rooms, all with a look recalling the ‘faded glamour of a country house’. Also in September, East Asian BBQ restaurant and bar Bó Drake will open on Greek Street. It’s the brainchild of Jan Lee who was previously at Roka, and will include influences from his Chinese heritage, British upbringing and his travels through East Asia. Later in the year, Ecuadorian restaurant Tostado will launch in nearby St Ann’s Court (off Wardour Street). It will specialise in ceviche as well as Ecuadorian soups and stews, while a twist on the English breakfast is also promised.

Talk to us

We still want your help to keep these weekly food & drink news round-ups as relevant, up-to-date, and interesting as possible. Got any top tips, local gems or foodie news? Tried one of the new restaurants we mentioned? Leave a comment below or hit us up at hello@londonist.com. ‘Til next week…

Last Updated 24 July 2014