London Food & Drink News: 12 May 2011

By tikichris Last edited 154 months ago
London Food & Drink News: 12 May 2011


A taste of what’s what in recent and upcoming London food and drink news:

London International Wine Fair & Distil 2011 hits the ExCel London on Tuesday and goes through Thursday. More for those in the trade (entirely for trade actually), with over 20,000 wines “to explore” through tastings, seminars, debates and more, it might be worth connoisseurs making a note to follow. Visit www.2011.londonwinefair.com for details. More open to the masses and promising to be much more quirky but just as quaff-able, the Natural Wine Fair will be at Borough Market from 15-17 May. Check last week's Food & Drink News round up for more info.

Old school Indian resto, Malabar Junction, is celebrating 15 years in Bloomsbury (nestled between TCR and the British Museum on Great Russell St) by hiring a new chef and introducing a new a la carte menu. Service was gentlemanly and with broad smiles on our recent invited visit, and we can vouch that the garlic mogo (cassava mariated in turmeric and tossed with ginger, garlic and herbs into a dry serving, £6) makes a seating in the restaurant's lovely conservatory moreishly worthwhile.

Ever capitalising on the success of others (but in a most delicious way), the foodie thieves of the underground supper club scene, Stolen, are throwing a masquerade night on Friday May 20 from 7.30pm to midnight. The event is BYOB but not BYOM as masks will be provided on arrival. Our past experience with Stolen was memorably tasty. Check their Facebook page for details about the masked meal.

With the opening of the new Benito’s Hat on Great Castle Street near Oxford Circus, the now three-strong chain of London-based Mexican restaurants is promising not only to serve Latin inspired dishes but also to share the visual vibrancy of Mexico with its customers. To celebrate the opening of its new location, a “Hat’s Off to Mexican Street Photography” exhibition is on show now and through the summer featuring photography by a handful of young photographers from Mexico City. The exhibition is the first to be shown in the new resto's downstairs gallery, where exhibitions of artwork are to change on a regular basis.

Hardens is accepting restaurant reviews for its 2012 restaurant guide. The deadline is midnight Monday 16 May. Keep in mind everyone who participates gets a free copy of the guide. Get started here.

Photo/doug88888

Last Updated 12 May 2011