Perfect Patisserie
Cédric Grolet is one of the world’s premiere pastry chefs, his creations both a culinary and an aesthetic revelation. Sweet-toothed Londoners rejoice, then, for Grolet has now brought his creations to The Berkeley hotel in Knightsbridge, where his extraordinary trompe-l'œil, fruit and flower cakes will be available to take away. In France, Grolet commands queues around the block; this new outpost marks his first venture outside his home country – and the queues will doubtless follow. He says, ‘London was the first city I ever visited outside of France. It has always had a very special place in my heart, and to open in this incredible city is a long-time dream. We couldn’t let this occasion pass without creating something unique for the capital – a trompe-l'œil scone especially for the Brits.’ Find out more here and follow Cedric on Instagram here.
La Vie En Rosé
Signs of spring: forget perky flowers peeking through the soil. For gastronomes and oenophiles, the new season will be best ushered in at Selfridge’s prettiest new pop up: its Rosé Lumière bar. In partnership with Moët Hennessy, it promises to be a rosé lover’s dreamland, with wine on offer from a medley of all the greats, including Veuve Clicquot, Moët & Chandon and Ruinart. Want to raise your rosé cocktail game at home? There will be masterclasses available for that. Do say: more iced rosé, anyone? Until June 2022. Visit the website for more info here.
Coffee & Care
More and more of us have our eye on sustainability, provenance and fair trade these days. And for coffee slurpers on-the-go, bring-your-own reusable cups have, thankfully, become pretty standard by now. But if you want your morning brew to work even harder for the good, do consider popping into Trampoline, a new social enterprise in Camden Passage. Why? Because founder Pranav Chopra’s concept is to train refugees, thus giving them new skills that will enable them to enter the workforce. The head chef at the operation meanwhile encourages the sharing of recipes, pooling cuisine know-how from all over the world. Deliciously good in every sense. Visit the website for more information and follow Trampoline here.
The World’s Their Oyster
In 2019, the oystermen – otherwise known as Rob Hampton and Matt Lovell – scooped the Observer Food Monthly’s restaurant of the year award for their the Oystermen Seafood Bar and Kitchen in Covent Garden. Now the good folk of West Dulwich are due to get a taste of their stellar touch, thanks to their latest venture, Walter’s, which is due to open on 2 March. Chef Khalid Hassan (formerly of Murano) will head up the kitchen, presiding over fish-heavy fare. Expect sharing dish Sundays and a wine list that goes big on English vineyards. Find out more via the website, and follow them on Instagram here.
Plant-Based Pasta
Bloomsbury was once thought of as the domain of philosophers, radicals and intellectuals. There’s only so much thinking one can do on an empty stomach, however, so it comes as good news for the bookish neighbourhood that it is also becoming increasingly foodie in its persuasions. The latest addition for epicurious denizens is Punk Pasta, an egg-free pasta joint from Erich Ribeiro, the brains behind Redemption Bar in Covent Garden. Think hemp pasta and CBD-infused cocktails. Visit the website here, and follow Punk Pasta on Instagram here.
Three Is The Magic Number
Gordon Ramsay is not a chef to do things by halves. Most would be content with one restaurant at The Savoy. To have two would surely spell a cup that runneth over. But, for the sweary force-of-nature, it appears that the third time’s a charm, as he adds a new venture, named 1890 after the year Escoffier joined the hotel, to his existing The Grill and The River Restaurant. The tasting menu is priced at £110 per person, and will be presided over by Executive Head Chef James Sharp (formerly of Pétrus). It promises to ooze Art Deco glamour. Visit the website here, and follow 1890 on Instagram here.
By Nancy Alsop
February 2022
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