5 Things You Need to Eat in London This WeekBy Alicia Grimshaw
London is alive with new openings, pop-ups and special collaborations. If you’re hungry and in the mood for trying something new, it’s time to discover where you should be eating in the capital this week:
1. For a New Pop-Up: BBQ Dreamz x MEATliquor
What: Street food stalwarts BBQ Dreamz have opened a six week pop-up at MEATLiquor King’s Cross. Fresh from their success on BBC’s series My Million Pound Menu, which saw them partner with hospitality entrepreneur and Draft House founder Charlie McVeigh, founders Lee Johnson and Sinead Campbell have launched a Sunday pop-up with a tasting menu comprised of signature BBQ Dreamz dishes featured on the show.
Why: The menu starts with some BBQ Dreamz favourites; grilled satay duck heart skewers, in homage to Lee’s auntie who runs a skewer stall back in their home village. Also taking its place on the menu is the the Filpino staple Lechon Kawali, pork belly that is sous vide for 36 hours before being chopped up in to crispy nuggets and served with cane vinegar dipping sauce as well as the sweet and sour papaya noodle salad made using vermicelli rice noodles.
Where: MEATLiquor, 6 St Chad’s Pl, Kings Cross, London WC1X 9HH
2. For a New Opening: Spiritland Royal Festival Hall
What: Spiritland have opened its latest and largest location in London, a 180-cover restaurant in Royal Festival Hall. Following the 2016 opening of its café, radio studio and listening lounge in King’s Cross and subsequent headphone shop in Mayfair, Spiritland Royal Festival Hall brings an early-morning to late night celebration of food, drink and music culture to Europe’s largest centre for the arts with a 2am license.
Why: Highlights from the menu includes; carrot m’hanncha with spinach, pine nuts, raisin and oregano dressing; sweet and sour pork belly, served with octopus, coconut, pomelo and ground rice; crab and prawns topped with jalapeño, crème fraîche and bonito; and kimchi rosti, pulled pork, slaw and pickled chillies.
Where: Belvedere Road, Southbank Centre, London SE1 8XX
Photo Credit: Lucy Richards
3. For a New Takeaway Service: N0 11 Pimlico Road, No 32 The Old Town and No 29 Power Station
What: Neighbourhood bars N0 11 Pimlico Road, No 32 The Old Town and No 29 Power Station west have revealed their new ‘Cluck & Collect’ takeaway service. Expect virtuous and house-made dishes, to enjoy in the comfort of your own home.
Why: Orderable online, the food-to-go will be available to pick up fresh from your chosen bar within a selected time slot. Menu choices include the virtuous half or whole lemon and tarragon marinated rotisserie chicken alongside nutritious sides such as the mixed salad, green beans, fries and aioli or the crushed potato. Sweet tooth? Go for the white and dark chocolate mousse with pistachio crumbs.
Where: Locations here
4. For a New Opening: Yamagoya
What: Yamagoya have opened the doors to a new home in London’s Soho. Situated just off Wardour Street, founder Masatoshi Ogata has created brand new dishes for the opening, where you can opt to sit in for a bowl of warming broth, or order at the counter to grab and go.
Why: The menu kicks off with classic Japanese small bites including fried pork gyoza, chicken kara-age with a yuzu mayo, and a wakame seaweed salad with edamame. For the main event, the kitchen ladles out steaming bowls of ramen, made to a meticulous recipe that Ogata has been perfecting for almost 50 years. This includes their celebrated ‘Yamagoya’ – handmade noodles immersed in a rich tonkotsu broth, garnished with Japanese chashu pork belly, marinated bamboo shoot, Kikurage mushroom and nori; Oyako, a chicken bone broth with chicken chashu, marinated egg, wakame seaweed, bamboo shoot, and spring onion; as well as don rice bowls and hiyashi, or cold ramen salads.
Where: Yamagoya,64 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 6LU.
What: SUSHISAMBA have created a new menu aimed to enhance wellbeing and support a healthy living mindset. Using ingredients specially selected for their nutritional benefits the menu is the brainchild of SUSHISAMBA’s Regional Executive Chef Andreas Bollanos in collaboration with elite performance coach Harry Jameson.
Why: The Nourish by SUSHISAMBA menu comprises of: Brain Boost, beetroot-cured salmon tiradito with broccoli emulsion, beetroot gel, chia seeds and pomegranate; Immunity Boost, sweet potato salad with fennel, crispy kale, orange and turmeric aji amarillo delivers on antioxidants; and Protein Power, beef ramen with slow-cooked rib-eye steak and tofu, courgette noodles, cured egg, edamame and shiitake mushrooms.
Where: Locations here
