Awards aren’t everything, but it’s been a bumper month for our partners so please indulge us a recap. Huge congratulations for this year’s National Restaurant Awards winners including Kitchen Table, Kolae, Luca, Trivet, and The Palmerston.
Over to Paris now, and Edinburgh’s Lannan has been named by La Liste’s Pastry Awards as Opening of the Year - globally! On top of that, Trivet, Kitchen Table and Mauro Colagreco’s Mirazur have all been recognised in the OAD list, as some of the best restaurants internationally.
We, of course, think it's important to celebrate hospitality heroes every day - but we also know that a bit of recognition can do a great deal for those chefs giving their all at the pans day in, day out. Cin cin to them!
LATEST NEWS
LASDUN launches new riverside summer terrace on the Southbank
Lasdun - the modern British restaurant from the team behind acclaimed The Marksman Public House - has launched its new summer terrace on London's Southbank. Visitors now have the chance to enjoy the team's signature buns and refreshing serves in a new sun-soaked setting overlooking the Thames. Sipping on a Lasdun Summer Cup with a Dorset Crab and Mayonnaise Bun in hand sounds like the perfect al fresco evening to us. Read more here.
TRIVET launches LABOMBE, its new Monday-night-only wine bar
Fresh from having picked up its second Michelin star, Bermondsey neighbourhood restaurant Trivet has launched Labombe Wine Bar, a new concept which sees its bar open on Monday evenings, serving an exclusive by-the-glass wine offering from celebrated sommelier Isa Bal, and sublime bar snacks from ex-The Fat Duck head chef Jonny Lake. Great wine and a Hot Tongue Bun? No better way to start the week. Read more here.
LONDON COCKTAIL WEEK returns for 2024, kicking off with its new Futureproofing London Bars event this July
We're hugely excited to be working with London Cocktail Week again for 2024. While the celebration week will come around in October, 8th July will see the festival launch its new Futureproofing London Bars. The day will see operators from the festival's 200 participating bars join conversation sessions - including a keynote speech from City Hall Night Tsar Amy Lamé - aimed at developing the future of London's world-leading bar scene. Read more here.
WHAT'S ON THIS MONTH
Get a taste of the Amalfi Coast at Fatto a Mano until the 15th - topped with courgette and mortadella, its Nerano Sorrento pizza special is based on Stanley Tucci's favourite pasta. Alternatively, harness the great British summertime at Saison by Mauro Colagreco, where the Wimbledon-inspired Courtside Menu is serving strawberry desserts and more throughout the championships. Light up Friday nights at Japanese hotspot INKO NITO, where its new DJ nights soundtrack dinner with funk, soul, hip hop and deep house. This month will also see Sri Lankan restaurant Kolamba East open its doors in the City - the Moor King Prawn String Hopper Biryani is set to be a showstopper.
SOMMELIER SPOTLIGHT: Sandia Chang
As well as being one of London’s most exciting and celebrated sommeliers Sandia Chang is co-founder of two Michelin-starred Kitchen Table, which she opened in 2012 with her husband, chef James Knappett.
Sandia is renowned across the industry for her extensive knowledge of Champagne, with a particular interest in grower Champagnes, making regular visits to small-scale producers in the region, constantly on the lookout for new wines to add to her evolving lists.
Having known she wanted to work in restaurants since childhood, California-born Sandia initially worked as a chef, before falling in love with front-of-house at New York’s Per Se. Sandia then moved on to Noma in Copenhagen, before settling in London. Alongside Kitchen Table, Sandia also co-founded champagne-and-hot-dog bar Bubbledogs, and in 2020 launched Bubbleshop by Sandia Chang, a one-stop online shop delivering grower Champagnes across the UK.
