Are the lines between food and drink now more blurred than ever? The UK bar scene is undoubtedly world-class - but we've noticed a serious uptick in restaurants pushing for exceptional drinks experiences too. At Kitchen Table, guests marvel at Sandia Chang's grower champagne pairings. Trivet's new Labombe wine bar is a sure sign that food and drink matching can be both informal and convivial. At Wiston Estate, Chalk restaurant sits among the sparkling wine vineyards, revelling in produce of its terroir. And then there's our new opening: PRELUDE by Oriole sees one of the world's best bar teams venture into restaurants. If the result is that the best food in the world comes with a glass of something more exciting in hand, we're here for it.
LATEST NEWS
PRELUDE BY ORIOLE to open in Covent Garden this March
Oriole - the award-winning speakeasy once hidden below Smithfield Market - is back in a new guise, with PRELUDE by Oriole launching in Covent Garden on 13th March. The three-month pop-up restaurant, bar and innovation space will pair brand new cocktails with Latin American food from Argentine Head Chef Gustavo Guillonardo. Excitingly, PRELUDE will also pave the way for Oriole's permanent return this summer. Read more here.
TRIVET awarded two Michelin stars in 2024 guide
Earlier this month, we were thrilled to see the incredible team at Trivet awarded their second Michelin star in the 2024 Great Britain and Ireland guide. Jonny Lake's sublime cooking and Isa Bal's world-class wine list make this Bermondsey restaurant a relaxed neighbourhood gem of spectacular proportions. Hats off also to our friends Kitchen Table, The Ninth and Luca, all of which retained their Michelin stars this year - congratulations!
GOUQI - the modern Chinese fine dining restaurant - celebrates its first birthday in St. James
We're excited to be working with Gouqi, the modern Chinese fine dining restaurant in St James's, as it celebrates its first birthday. Pronounced "goji", it is the debut solo venture from Tong Chee Hwee, formerly Executive Head Chef at Hakkasan group. Chef Tong's approach to premium Cantonese cooking is exemplified in his Legendary Peking Duck with Oscietra Caviar, served three exquisite ways and carved tableside. Read more here.
What's on this month
On 17th March, Irish duo Patrick Frawley and Maura Baxter will celebrate St Patrick's Day at 65a with specials such as Fried Guinness battered oysters with Irish whiskey ketchup, while Pastaio will serve a Guinness Tiramisu. JOIA will mark El Festin de Fisan on 5th March with a dinner centred around jamón sourced from the namesake Spanish town. Nessa is celebrating its 1st birthday on 21st March, with a menu of favourite dishes from the past year, sending each guest home with a party bag. Mauro Colagreco at Raffles London at The OWO will open for a special Mother's Day lunch service, serving dishes such as Truffle, with tagliolini, cheddar cream, and a crispy cheese sandwich. In the run up to Easter, Twelve Triangles are bringing back their Sourdough hot cross buns, filled with spices, fruit and cultured butter.
Chef spotlight: Tomás Gormley
Tomás Gormley is the hugely talented Chef Founder of Cardinal, the new fine dining restaurant opening on Edinburgh’s Eyre Place this month.
Tomás began his career working at some of Scotland’s most prestigious restaurants, including Restaurant Andrew Fairlie and 21212. During the pandemic, he turned his skills to helping some of Edinburgh’s most vulnerable people, coordinating food production for Scran Academy’s emergency response and providing more than 1000 meals a day.
In 2021, Tomás launched Heron in Leith, alongside fellow chef Sam Yorke, and the restaurant went on to earn a Michelin star two years later. The duo also co-founded Skua - an intimate, produce-driven restaurant in Stockbridge - which is now solely run by Tomás, after he departed from Heron last year.
Truly one of Scotland’s most exciting young chefs, Tomás's work has seen him shortlisted for the National Restaurant Awards’ ‘Chef to Watch’, and CODE Hospitality’s ‘30 Under 30’, both in the last year. Cardinal is his debut solo project, so we can't wait to see what's next.
