After a brief hiatus in which we went in search of the origins of the Iskender kebab (no, really), Londonist's weekly round-up of all things food and drink returns.
Arriving just in time for the plunging mercury and the clocks falling back is a winter wigwam on the rooftop of the Queen of Hoxton, which opens tonight. It's the second year for the 'wam, which encloses a large portion of the bar's ample roof. Much of the warmth is provided by a large grill positioned in the centre, and there's a bar that serves up mulled wine and hot buttered rum, alongside less thermal tipples. There's also an outdoor section where you can get your snout fix taken care of .The wigwam is open from 5pm till 10pm, Monday-Saturday, until 26 March 2013.
Both Time Out and the Observer Food Monthly revealed their annual award winners over the past fortnight. Some of the notable London establishments to be singled out for praise include Tayyabs (OFM's best cheap eat), the Crown and Anchor in Brixton (TO's best new bar), Zetter Townhouse (best place to drink, according to OFM), Lima London (TO's best Latin American restaurant) and Tramshed (best meat restaurant, reckoned TO's readers)
The frontline of London's burger revolution unexpectedly moved northward last week, when Californian chain In-N-Out opened a pop-up restaurant in the unlikely setting of Hendon. The limited publicity, unassuming location and the fact that it was only open on Tuesday, caused what the Huffington Post described as a "frenzy".
If you missed out on that (and most did) then there's better news from Mother Flipper: the Brockley market burger maestros have established a pop-up restaurant at The Black Heart, Camden. It's open 3-10 Thursday and 12-10.30pm Fridays and Saturdays.
Appropriate for the frigid temperatures expected this weekend, a Swedish Winter Forest Bar opens at the Boiler House in Spitalfields, on Brick Lane. It's organised by cider company Rekorderlig, and involves "beautifully Swedish cider and food pairings in a Scandinavian hideaway". Tickets cost £5 and include taster drinks and a dish.
Finally, a crossover from this morning's Things to do in London post: "Anise bar relaunches in Devonshire Square, near Liverpool Street, tonight. You can claim a free cocktail by saying “Calcutta Cuppa” to the door staff. Just turn up, from 6.30pm"
