Welcome to our weekly round-up of all that’s happening in London’s food and drink scene.
Inside this week: shindigs, supermarkets and Scandinavia
Shindig suppers
London’s two Lantana cafés in Fitzrovia and Shoreditch are popular spots for breakfast, lunch and daytime coffees. The owners now hope to extend that success with the launch of evening dining later this month. The nights will be known as Shindig at Lantana, and will feature menus based on founder Shelagh Ryan’s time in Australia. Dishes to appear on the regularly-changing menus will include barbecue beef ribs, slow-cooked lamb shoulder and prawns with chermoula, while there will always be a surf ‘n’ turf option available.
Every little lunch
Not content with dominating the grocery market and being voted as having the nation’s ugliest building, Tesco also wants a bigger slice of the lunchtime market. It has created a deli-style concept under the brand Fred’s Food Construction, which it has just launched in its Philpot Lane shop in the City, next to the Walkie Talkie. The site allows customers in a hurry to order online and then collect their food, while plans are being put together for delivery as well as an app. The concept will be rolled out to other City and West End sites soon.
Conflict kitchen
A new pop-up will serve food from countries that are currently embroiled in a conflict, with the aim to raise awareness of both their turmoils and their cuisines. Conflict Kitchen will run for three weeks from 11 September at Monikers restaurant in Hoxton Square, serving a different cuisine each week. The foods of Burma, Jordan and Peru will be showcased, while diners will be encouraged to discuss the country’s situation and prospects for peace. The run coincides with the International Day of Peace on 21 September. Tickets cost £35 and can be booked here.
Bar expansions
A new BYOC cocktail bar will open this month in Camden. Following the same concept as at the Covent Garden original, customers will be charged £25 for a two-hour slot and asked to bring their own spirits with them. The bar team will then create bespoke cocktails using these spirits as well as their array of mixers, citrus, herbs, bitters and the likes. The new bar will launch on Camden High Street and will serve a small amount of food in the form of cheese and charcuterie boards. Elsewhere, a fourth Dirty Martini bar will open in October, near Monument. The company has bought what used to be Clause on Lovat Lane and are currently refurbishing the site. It will join other Dirty Martinis in Covent Garden, Hanover Square and Bishopsgate.
Danish dinners
A new Danish restaurant called Snaps And Rye will open on Golborne Road near Notting Hill next month. It will serve dishes based on Scandi classics such as pickled herring, cured salmon and homemade rye bread. The look of the place will also be Danish-inspired, with a natural and minimalist feel.
Talk To Us
We still want your help to keep these weekly food and drink news roundups 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 [email protected]. ‘Til next week…
