A tale of two cities: Jet-setting Michelin-starred chef arrives in Crystal Palace
February opening Tell Tale pairs Jamie Edwards and Arron Curtis (who recently opened Radio Delicious in New Cross) with chef Martin Blunos, who made his name running the two Michelin-starred Lettonie in Bristol and Bath.
The new neighbourhood spot offers Dark Arts coffee and pastries in the morning, and small plates and family sharing dishes for lunch and dinner.
As Executive Chef, Blunos will divide his time between his home in Bangkok and Crystal Palace, where he’s curating Tell Tale’s Modern British and European menu, focused around local producers.
On the drinks list, expect a curated cocktail list, natural wines, craft beers and non-alcoholic concoctions, all set to a soundtrack spun by local DJs on the weekends.
69 Westow Hill, Crystal Palace, SE19 1TX
Grape expectations for Borough Yards
The newest Vinoteca two-storey wine bar, shop and restaurant has opened at Borough Market.
At ground level, the bifold doors open onto new foodie hub Borough Yards while upstairs, the mezzanine floor boasts views across to Southwark Cathedral.
The wine list centres around small sustainable producers, while the food menu makes the most of the producers the bar has on its doorstep in Borough Market.
Unit 207, Stoney Street, SE1 9DG.
www.vinoteca.co.uk
Camberwell bank turns boujee grocery store
A former Grade II listed bank reopens its doors in Camberwell this spring as Gladwell’s, an upmarket grocery store, deli and wine vault, created by local businessmen James Dye (of Camberwell Arms and Frank’s Café fame) and Stanley Allen (Greensmiths and Peckham Springs).
Selling Neal’s Yard Dairy cheese, Flor pastry and Fosse Meadows free range chicken, the shop doubles as a deli, serving coffee and pastries along with sandwiches like salt beef bagels and spiced aubergine focaccia.
The bank vault downstairs will become a natural wine cellar and bottle shop with plans for tastings and private events.
Gladwell’s will also offer weekly grocery boxes for home delivery, donating £5 from each order to the St Giles Trust Pantry.
2 Camberwell Church St, London SE5 8QU.
https://gladwells.co.uk
Plant-based dining for the Palace
Vegan eatery Morgan and Watson has arrived in Crystal Palace, bringing plant-based, locally sourced, seasonal, organic dishes to diners in the Triangle.
Expect dishes like chestnut and mushroom pâté, curry spiced slow roasted aubergine, pumpkin parmigiana, gin and blackberry trifle and plenty more.
38 Westow Street, SE19 3AH.
www.morganandwatson.com
Three Uncles join Brixton Village family
Hot on the heels of two successful Cantonese roasted meat takeaways in Camden and the City, Three Uncles have opened their first restaurant in Brixton Village.
The menu features favourites like the roasted duck, crispy pork belly and char siu BBQ pork alongside Hainan chicken.
They’ll be adding on sharing dishes, including lotus leaf rice with Chinese sausage, steamed chicken, shiitake mushroom, steamed minced pork with preserved vegetables, and char siu lai fun noodle soups.
Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8PS
Brixton’s Market Row Botanical Rum places in prestigious International Spirits Award
Seven months after launching its inaugural rum, the newly-established independent Brixton Distillery Company has been awarded a silver medal in this year’s International Spirits Challenge 2021 (Rum & Cane Spirits) for Market Row Botanical Rum.
Passionately handcrafted in Brixton’s Market Row arcade, Market Row Botanical Rum was up against top-quality spirits from across the globe, with the competition receiving more than 1800 entries from nearly 70 countries worldwide.
Market Row Botanical Rum is a blend of pot still rums from five historic and award-winning distilleries in their own right across Jamaica, The Dominican Republic and Barbados. It is then infused with Kenyan black tea, Nigerian hibiscus and Asian red rose petals – vibrant, interesting and unique botanicals inspired by Brixton Market and Market Row.
Aged in ex-bourbon barrels, it has a naturally dry and light taste, with less sugar than most rums – making it ideal for mixed drinks and cocktails.
The Brixton Distillery Company offers a personalised bottle engraving service via their website, perfect for gifting and occasions like Father’s Day (20 June) for people who live in or who simply love everything about Brixton.
Market Row Botanical Rum is available on Amazon and www.brixtondistillery.com at a RRP of £34 (50cl).
West Dulwich welcomes Walter’s wine bar
New neighbourhood eatery and bar Walter’s is dishing up the best of British produce and fine wine.
Named after master milliner and costumier Walter Hathaway, who first occupied the site, the restaurant is led by the team behind the multi-award winning Oystermen in Covent Garden.
South London born and bred Head Chef, Khalid Hassan comes from kitchens at Social Eating House, L’Atelier De Joel Robushon and Murano, and is a longtime student of the London dining scene.
84 Park Hall Road, SE21 8BW.
Phone: 020 8014 8548.
https://waltersdulwich.co.uk
Bermondsey’s Trivet awarded first Michelin star
SE1 hot spot Trivet, the brainchild of Fat Duck alumni chef Jonny Lake and sommelier Isa Bal, has been awarded its first Michelin star in the 2022 guide.
First opened in November 2019, the Bermondsey dining room was credited by Michelin for Chef Lake’s “fuss-free, assured cooking.”
Star dishes include the Drunken Lobster with Trivet Noodles, and the Hokkaido Potato dessert.
Head Sommelier Isa Bal also won Michelin’s prestigious Sommelier Award 2022.
Wine is at the very heart of the Trivet experience, with Bal’s 450-strong wine list encouraging guests to try something a little different.
Michelin said the award was given for Isa’s “fascinating wine list and his passionate approach, particularly to lesser-known regions”.
36 Snowsfields, SE1 3SU.
Phone: 020 3141 8670.
https://trivetrestaurant.co.uk
The Codfather of Crystal Palace
Fishmongers Plaice has opened in the heart of Crystal Palace with owner Kevin Hunter bringing over ten years’ experience working at Billingsgate Market, and now serving fresh fish and seafood sourced from Billingsgate to locals.
You’ll find oysters, caviar, crab, lobsters, assorted prawns, and the best fish from British and Scottish waters, including Dover sole, Monkfish, wild seabass, skate, salmon, cod turbot and more.
There’s also exotic fish sourced from the Caribbean, and Indian ocean, and special orders on request including live lobster, live Langoustine, live eels and Black Cod.
16 Church Street, SE19 2ET.
Phone: 020 8768 2960.
www.fishmongersplaice.co.uk
Oh brother!
Brother Marcus unveils it third restaurant in the newly regenerated shopping and culture hub, Borough Yards, already keeping fine company with the likes of neighbours Barrafina, Butchies and Vinoteca.
With restaurants in Islington and Spitalfields, Brother Marcus are adding something new this time with a robata grill, which means more grilled meat, fish and veg on the menu.
Plenty of their classics will still be on offer at the new location, including sweet potato, courgette and feta fritters with avocado, Harissa eggs with British rainbow chard, lamb kofta with celeriac purée and pine nuts, fried cauliflower with kassundi, mint crumb and pomegranate, and prawn saganaki with Israeli couscous, feta and Urfa chilli.
Desserts include “honey bombs” with pistachio and sea salt chocolate and pistachio baklava with homemade Greek yoghurt and honey ice cream.
The drink list focuses on Greek and other European wines.
1 Dirty Lane, SE1 9PA. Phone: 020 3146 4001.
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