London Food And Drink News: 2 October 2014

Ben O' Norum
By Ben O' Norum Last edited 113 months ago
London Food And Drink News: 2 October 2014

Bubba Gump comes to town

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

Inside this week: rabbits, goats and Gumps

Got the Gump

Forrest Gump-inspired US seafood chain Bubba Gump has arrived in London, after more than a year of speculation. It opened yesterday in Piccadilly’s not-all-that-foodie Trocadero. Prawns (or shrimp, as the menu calls them) in various guises are the core of the offering, with ribs, steaks and lobster also available. The menu is littered with Forrest Gump references, and fans will be pleased to hear that there’s a shop selling merchandise right above the dining area. One to add to the list of London’s strange restaurants, perhaps...

Dinner designs

The winners of the annual Restaurant and Bar Design Awards have been announced, and London has blown the competition out of the water. Award highlights include Christopher’s in Covent Garden scooping the gong for best designed bar or restaurant in a heritage building, Mayfair’s Mr Fogg’s winning the best standalone bar title, Tap On The Line in Richmond being named best designed pub, and Hutong in the Shard scooping the prize for best lighting. The award for best London restaurant went to Beagle in Haggerston.

Stylish sandwiches

Sticking to design, Tom Dixon has been responsible for the looks of many a London restaurant and bar, including Barbecoa, Dock Kitchen and the newly launched Mondrian London hotel on the South Bank. Now he’s gone a step further, with the launch of his own sandwich shop in Harrods. Tom Dixon Sandwich will be open 10am - 8pm daily from 7 October, serving sandwiches including goat’s cheese, pear and candied walnuts on ciabatta, and the London Porker, consisting of bbq hog roast, apple coleslaw and English mustard in a crusty roll. Much like Dixon’s furniture, they don’t come cheap; these two cost £11.90 and £12.90 respectively.

Smoking hot

Thai barbecue restaurant Smoking Goat opens on Denmark Street later this month, with a chef from Peckham’s The Begging Bowl at the helm. The menu features roast duck, whole chilli crab and smoked lamb belly rubbed with fermented shrimp, among other classic and interpretive Thai creations. The drinks list features an exclusive brew from One Mile End brewery, and there are also plans for music until late.

Boxing out

Street food stall Hotbox, who have appeared at many Street Feast events, will be opening a permanent restaurant in Spitalfields next month. The barbecue-focused menu will include beef short ribs, wagyu brisket rolls and pork belly tacos, along with sides such as smoked mac ‘n’ cheese and bone marrow gravy and mash. An adjoining bar downstairs called 46 & Mercy will serve craft beers and cocktails, with an emphasis on bourbon.

Rabbiting on

Just opened in Chelsea is Rabbit, a new restaurant from the three brothers behind Notting Hill’s The Shed, one of whom is a chef, one a restaurateur and the other a farmer. It shares the original’s fondness for carefully sourced produced, nose-to-tail cooking and seasonal eating.

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 02 October 2014