City Eating

Celebrate Canada Day In Trafalgar Square

We must be on the wrong Canadian mailing lists because we’ve only just found out that today is Canada Day in Trafalgar Square. The event, now in its fourth year, will be celebrating the country’s 142nd birthday with ten hours of sport, live entertainment and food. It’s free, no tickets required, so you can just turn up when you feel like it.

From 12pm, Trafalgar Square will host street performers, arts and crafts for the kids, and high-speed street hockey games where teams from across the UK will compete against the event sponsors. If you’re stuck at work, you can go along after 6pm when some of Canada’s most-loved comedians and musicians like The Stereos and Amy Nelson will take to the stage. Cover band Gasoline Alley will also be in attendance, performing hits from Canadian artists like Nickelback and Alanis Morrisette.

The Sleeman brewery are bringing the beer and the barbeque stands will be dishing out bison burgers, Sloppy Joes and steak sandwiches until 9.30pm. If you miss out you can grab a drink in London’s Canadian pub, the Maple Leaf, or head for Bodean’s in Soho for a late-night BBQ bash.

Daddy Donkey hosts burrito eating contest on Friday

If you work near Farringdon, you won’t need us to tell you about Daddy Donkey – the burrito cart on Leather Lane that’s been blowing our minds and our tastebuds since 2005. They’ve grown from a little wooden barrow to a big sparkly 'burro-mobile' over the years and they’re launching a brand new website this week.

To celebrate, they’re holding a spicy burrito contest on Friday (July 3rd) at 1pm. Registration closes today but you can still go along to watch the contestants feel the burn. There’s currently around 50 hungry hopefuls lining up to feast on Mexi-grub and the Daddy Donkey team have been deliberating about how much habanero to use – 40 or 50 grams, with seeds! That sounds like a world of pain and we’re not going to miss a minute of the action.

Check out their Facebook page for more details.

Something For The Weekend?

Can’t face another weekend of drinking cheap cider in your local’s grotty garden or incinerating supermarket bangers on your old barbeque? There are much more interesting things to do this weekend and we’ve rounded up some of the best foodie adventures for your perusal. (We realise this is a bit late and we would have posted it earlier if it weren‘t for a pesky power cut. No Internet for ten hours - the horror!)

Treat someone special to a G&T at the Bombay Sapphire Dusk Bar - a seriously stylish pop-up addition to Somerset House. From 6pm each evening, the translucent structure glows blue (like the Bombay Sapphire bottle) - perfect if you’ve got a hot date to impress, or just like bright shiny things.

- Until Sunday, London’s Aussies, Saffas and Kiwis will be descending on Clapham Common for the annual Toast festival. It’s a huge al fresco celebration of the food and culture of the Southern Hemisphere so visitors can expect plenty of polo, live music, wine tastings and BBQ master classes. Like all good festivals, there will be a seafood and Champagne bar as well as hearty home-style dishes like Boerie rolls, kumara chips, salt and pepper squid, and sticky spare ribs. Suze of Mayfair will be spit roasting a lamb and John Torode and the team from Smiths of Smithfield will be serving up Thai duck salad and venison burgers. You can check out the full menus and ticket details on the Toast website.

- Need to catch up on the Wimbledon scores? Head for Swallow Street (near Piccadilly Circus) which has been turned into a temporary tennis court and outdoor dining area. ‘Ball girls’ from Gaucho will be serving up steak sandwiches and Argentinean desserts; while Bentley’s will be keeping things British with Pimms trifle, scones and strawberry ripple ice-cream.

Across town in Chelsea, you can dine al fresco on Bluebird’s astro-turfed terrace or take a seat in the tennis-themed Player’s Lounge at Gilgamesh. Adventurous eaters can try out their strawberry and cream wontons and sports fans can sip Murray martinis, made with Murray mint infused vodka.

- If you budget won’t stretch to Barcelona this summer, just head for Brick Lane where Tapas Fantasticas will be celebrating all things Spanish. There will be live music and flamenco dancing, as well as tasty tapas and huge pans of paella from Iberica, Dehesa, Lola Rojo, Moro, and El Faro. You can enter their competition to win a holiday to Rioja or swing by one of the free wine tasting sessions hosted by Saturday Kitchen’s Suzy Atkins and Olly Smith.

If you don't fancy any of the above, take a look at our New Openings page or our Special Offers for a bit of inspiration. Enjoy the weekend!

Now Open: Planet Hollywood Reopens On Haymarket

Sixteen years after its star-studded opening party, Planet Hollywood closed its Trocadero site in January. If you’ve been missing it ever since, you’ll be pleased to know it has now reopened on Haymarket. The new site features a 280-seater dining room, lots of smart event spaces, and a more modern approach to the décor. (Not quite so glitzy and with less film memorabilia).

Actor Jason Statham is rumoured to be attending the launch party in July, alongside Sylvester Stallone who is an investor in the Planet Hollywood empire and attended the opening of the original back in 1993.

We managed to get hold of the menu and can confirm that it’s full of old favourites like BBQ pork ribs, enormous burgers and there-goes-the-diet nachos and Texas tostados. New additions include pizzas, pastas and – bizarrely – some Chinese dishes from their ‘wok station’. Still, we always loved their milkshakes and cocktails so we’re bound to end up there eventually, munching on cheeseburgers like we’re twelve years old again…

Get Naughty With Bulldog Gin At Coco De Mer

A while back, we discovered super-smooth Bulldog Gin and shared some of their new cocktail recipes with you. You’ll be pleased to know that they’re continuing their ‘Summer of Love’ with an evening of gin-fuelled naughtiness at a luxury erotica boutique in Kensington.

On Thursday 18th June (6.30-9.00pm), Coco de Mer will be transformed into ‘The Bulldog Salon’ where a glamorous Mistress will guide guests through the historical use of aphrodisiacs and offer advice on how to use them. (Bulldog’s blend of twelve exotic botanicals includes the natural aphrodisiac Dragon Eye – an ancient Chinese remedy said to improve sexual stamina.) The store itself is full of sophisticated toys, jewellery, lingerie, corsets and books – ideal if you’re hoping to spice up your own Summer of Love.

Guests will be invited to indulge in specially commissioned gin cocktails and an assortment of edible treats, including anatomical jellies, aphrodisiac marshmallows and Kilner jars of roll-your-own post-coital fags with coconut baccy – all courtesy of Bompas & Parr. Entertainment will be provided by saucy songstress Tricity Vogue and the boutique will be offering a 20% discount on all goods throughout the evening.

The best bit is that the event is free! If you’d like to be included on the guestlist, just email your name to bulldog@apr-consultancy.com

If you can’t make it next Thursday, pop into Selfridges on Friday 19th or Saturday 20th and visit the pop-up Bulldog gin bar in the Technology Hall. From 5.30pm to 9.30pm, a top mixologist will create a range of Father’s Day cocktails and bottles of Bulldog will be discounted by 10% - perfect if your Dad likes a G&T.

If all else fails, you can get your hands on a bottle or two Gerry’s in Soho or online at TheDrinkShop.

city-eating Food News Round-Up

It's been a busy month in the city-eating office so we thought we'd share the fruits of our labour with you. Here's a bit of light reading to keep you entertained this weekend.

Restaurants we’ve added recently:

- Keelung – Geoffrey Leong’s new Taiwanese tapas joint in Chinatown
- The Palm – American-style steakhouse with hefty prices in Belgravia
- Gallery Mess – Chic new café at the Saatchi Gallery
- Noto Kikuya – Formerly Singapura, now a Japanese restaurant on Leadenhall Street
- National Geographic Café – Small plates and mini Wagyu burgers on Regent Street
- Eastside Inn – Bjorn van der Horst’s new bistro and restaurant on St John Street
- Others: Viva Zapata, Turkuaz, Chais Nous, The Compass, Coast Dining.

Have we missed somewhere new? Let us know!

What we’ve been reading:

- Hardens scoop on the new location of Petrus – just down the road from Marcus Wareing!
- Gourmet Chick’s foodie adventures in Iceland
- News of Alan Yau’s Miami branch of Hakkasan
- Douglas Blyde’s interview with Francesco Mazzei (L’Anima)
- London Eater’s experience of good oysters and shockingly bad service at Bentley’s
- Hsa*ba – A delicious Burmese food blog. (We’re definitely ordering the book!)
- Qype’s guide to London’s weirdest restaurants
- World Foodie Guide’s recipe for Sichuan wontons – yum!

What we’ve been eating:

In May, we ate lots of Japanese skewered goodies at Tosa; feasted on Malaysian food at Rasa Sayang and Sedap; and got our daily coffee and brownie fix at dose. In the last few weeks, we’ve had excellent meals at The Pembroke in Earls Court, Ba Shan in Soho and Keelung – the hot new Taiwanese street food restaurant in Chinatown. Check out our photos here.

Our restaurant ‘To Do’ list is growing by the day and we’re hoping to visit Caponata (the new Sicilian restaurant in Camden) and No. 20 for afternoon tea this month. We’d love some more recommendations, though, so if there’s a hidden gem or a must-try restaurant in your area, please let us know. Just leave a comment or email us here.

Quo Vadis’ First Birthday & New Al Fresco Tables

It’s hard to believe that it’s been a whole year since Sam and Eddie Hart relaunched Soho stalwart Quo Vadis. It’s had rave reviews from diners, bloggers and critics alike, with Michael Winner declaring it ‘the new Ivy’ and the notoriously harsh AA Gill awarding it 4/5 in his review.

The restaurant unveiled its new al fresco dining area last week, offering Soho’s dining elite the chance to enjoy fine food and people watching in the sunshine. Open from midday until 10:30pm, guests can enjoy classic dishes like crab mayonnaise and octopus and chorizo salad. Bar snacks like scotch eggs, pork pies or crisp pig's skin will also be on offer, alongside a new cocktail list created by bar manager Paul Mant and his team. We love the Nettle Fizz – a summery blend of Bombay Sapphire gin, lemon juice, QV English Nettle cordial and an egg white, shaken, strained and topped with soda and Crème de Mure.

If you can’t bag a table this week, why not try one of the Hart brothers’ tapas restaurants – Fino or Barrafina?

Snap Of The Week: Taiwanese Tapas At Keelung

We know you're supposed to give new restaurants a bit of time to settle in, but when we heard that Geoffrey Leong had opened a Taiwanese eatery in Chinatown - we couldn't resist popping in after work. The Leong family own and run some of London's most successful restaurants, including Koi, Goldfish and Leong's Legends. Their new venture is named after the second biggest harbour city in northern Taiwan, Keelung, and specialises in the street food dishes that are served in the city's bustling night markets.

The restaurant itself is set over two floors and separated into several cosy dining areas, including an impressive private room with sliding doors to ensure complete privacy. The decor is elegant and understated, with wooden partitions, warm lighting and a smart wall of wine creating a tranquil Western backdrop for the main event - the food. Though Keelung has barely been open a week, the dining room was already buzzing when we arrived early on Monday night.

The Pembroke: How To Eat Well In Earls Court

Over the years, some of the best meals I’ve had in London have followed a hellish journey on the District line. That meandering green bit on the tube map will take you from Ealing to Upminster, if you've got the time, and there are some great meals to be had along the way. (The Establishment at Parsons Green or Tayyabs near Aldgate East, for example). The next time I’ve got a day to spare, I might even go to Wimbledon - if only to test my theory that food simply tastes better when you’re forced to wait for it.

Last Friday, our District line destination was West Brompton. Once there, we stumbled from sunny Old Brompton Road into a dark and cavernous gastropub now known as The Pembroke. It used to be one of London’s most famous gay pubs, The Coleherne, but after a refurb from Realpubs last year, the grand old building has been transformed into a thoroughly modern pub and dining room.

The predictable gastro flourishes are all there - chandeliers, ‘feature’ wallpaper, leather banquettes - but it looks rather good in a comfy, unpretentious way. There’s a horseshoe-shaped bar and an upstairs room full of Chesterfields for the drinkers, while the smart dining area to the rear is a cosy space with a view of the semi-open kitchen. The daily-changing menus are written in flamboyant script on huge blackboards, while ‘ironic’ floral lampshades swing above roomy booths. On our visit, they were adding the finishing touches to a small but sunny first floor terrace that will undoubtedly prove popular this summer.

Now Open: USA Steakhouse The Palm Arrives in Belgravia

What? The first UK branch of American steakhouse chain, Palm, which now has over 20 locations across the US. The interior of their London restaurant wouldn’t look out of place in Boston or Chicago, with plenty of hard wood, sleek banquettes and quirky caricatures designed to echo their signature style overseas.

 

When? Soft open from today, they’re offering an impressive 50% discount until the official launch on Friday.

Where? 1 Pont Street (the former site of Drones), between Knightsbridge and Sloane Square. Expect a well-heeled mixed of SW1 locals and high-power business types.

Why? Because you can never have too many steakhouses. If you’ve got a client to impress or just need to refuel after a day out in Knightsbridge, you can’t go wrong with American-style steaks and seafood. The menu is predictably heavy on the meat with hefty cuts of aged USDA prime beef on offer. Choose from filet mignon, New York sirloin, or something from their ‘British selection’ like 6oz lamb chops or a 14oz rib eye.

If you’re not a beef enthusiast, you can feast on steamed lobster, crab cakes with mango salsa, or simply grilled fresh fish. During the day, The Palm will also serve classic crowd-pleasers like sirloin steak sandwiches; sesame seared tuna salad; jumbo shrimp cocktail; and their signature Palm burger with French fries. You can check out the full dinner menu here.

How much? Steaks start at £25 so The Palm is clearly aiming at the ‘what recession?’ lunch-on-expenses category. However, there is a prix fixe lunch menu which offers two courses for £15. If you go easy on the wine, it could be an affordable one-off treat.

So, what do you reckon? Does London really need another steakhouse? (We've already had Goodman, Sophie's and High Timber in the last six months!) If you pop in to take advantage of the opening week discount, let us know how you get on.