This November sees a multitude of one-off gourmet chef dinners and foodie pop-ups across town, with some of the most exciting culinary names, cutting-edge menus and first-rate wines. From an evening celebrating Ukrainian food and art to a Sardinian feast, these are the pop-ups and chef dinners to book now. But hurry, they won’t be around for long…
A Celebration of Ukrainian Cuisine and Art
19 November
Independent wine importer Other World Wines, founded by Gleb Petrenko and Jack Blumsom, has teamed up with Clapton Country Club in east London to put on an evening of Ukrainian food, wine, music and art. Over sparkling wine from a winery in Odessa, guests will be able to browse artworks inspired by Ukraine and available to buy at auction. Dinner will be served at communal tables with a menu that includes starters of Borscht and cured herring, followed by a main course, served to share, of chicken Kyiv, and traditional cake from Rinkoff bakery for dessert – all accompanied by new Ukrainian wines. Post-dinner, there’ll be a performance by musicians Oksana Germanchuk and Alla Kravchuk. Oksana was once the concertmaster at the Tchaikovsky National Academy in Kyiv, but is now living as a refugee in London. Proceeds from the evening will be donated to the Ukrainian charity Vostok-SOS and the humanitarian organisation Choose Love, who have both provided crucial support to Ukrainian families.
Tickets cost £80 including three courses and wines served with dinner.
Clapton Country Club, 38-40 Upper Clapton Road, Stoke Newington, London E5 8BQ
designmynight.com
Ekstedt at the Yard x Bodegas Lustau Present: Best of Both Worlds
10 November
To mark International Sherry Week, Michelin Star chef Niklas Ekstedt’s Scandinavian restaurant Ekstedt at the Yard, part of Great Scotland Yard hotel in Westminster, and Bodegas Lustau in Cadiz are partnering for one special night to celebrate sherry. The Ekstedt team has prepared an exclusive five-course ‘Best of Both Worlds’ menu, comprising signature Ekstedt dishes, the likes of Ember Baked Trout vendace roe with charcoal cream; Birch Flamed Chanterelles black truffle; and Hay Smoked British Sirloin flamed bitter leaves served with a shallot purée. Every dish will be paired with a different sherry from the Lustau winery, with brand ambassador Federico Sanchez-Pece Salmeron on hand to guide guests through each one.
Tickets cost £135.
3-5 Great Scotland Yard, Westminster, London SW1A 2HN
opentable.co.uk
Food Behind The Pages Supper Club with Romy Gill
15 November
Fortnum & Mason continues its supper club series ‘Food Behind the Pages’, which spotlights chef-authors in Britain and beyond, with an evening with acclaimed British-Indian chef, food writer and broadcaster Romy Gill MBE. Gill, who is a regular on television, will be showcasing recipes from her new book On the Himalayan Trail at a special dinner held at FIELD by Fortnum’s on Piccadilly. The four-course menu has been designed to take guests on a journey through the lesser-known parts of India, with dishes including a starter of Samosa Chaat – chickpeas, mint, coriander chutney, tamarind chutney; a main course of Kanaguchhi Gosht, lamb and morel yakhni, and Chaman Kaliya, paneer in yellow gravy; dessert of poached pear with saffron rounded off with Kahwa, a delicious Kashmiri spiced honey tea.
Tickets cost from £95 and include a welcome drink, two glasses of wine and Gill’s cookbook.
Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly, St. James’s, London W1A 1ER
eventbrite.co.uk
The Sea, The Sea Guest Series: Endo Kazutoshi
23 November
Endo Kazutoshi is a third-generation sushi master who practises the centuries old Edomae style of sushi, a technique particular to Tokyo, the city where he was born. For one evening only, Kazutoshi comes to The Sea, The Sea Hackney, the progressive seafood company’s intimate chef’s table, which seats only 14. It’s a chance to get up close and personal not only with Kazutoshi as he displays his masterful sushi making skills but also the boundary-pushing Executive Chef Leo Carreira who will be working alongside Kazutoshi to deliver an immersive and intimate experience. There are two sittings: 6pm to 8.30pm and 9pm to 11.30pm.
Tickets £230.
337 Acton Mews, Hackney, London E8 4EA
theseathesea.net
Cubitt House Eats With… Letitia Clark
14 November
The London-based pub and hotel group Cubitt House, which runs a number of central London establishments, has recently launched ‘Cubitt House Eats With…’, a series of one-off intimate chef dinners hosted by a different guest at The Princess Royal in Notting Hill. Billed as a “cookbook supper club” it’s perfect for hungry, food-loving guests. Next up is the food writer, illustrator and chef Letitia Clark, who is the author of two books Bitter Honey and La Vita é Dolce, and who also runs cookery workshops. She’ll be sending out a three-course menu inspired by her homeland of Sardinia, Italy, served in style at a shared table in the pub’s elegant Victoria Room.
Tickets cost £50 and include a welcome drink and a signed copy of Letitia Clark’s cookbook.
47 Hereford Road, Notting Hill, London W2 5AH
designmynight.com
Kricket’s Game Supper Club with King’s Ginger
15 November
The head chefs at Kricket, the group of modern Indian restaurants that combine British ingredients with Indian flavours, have been busy. They’ve just spent two days in Norfolk at the Fring Estate, where they source their seasonal, sustainable meat, to learn more about preparing a game feasting menu. You can sample the results of the trip at the Game Supper Club in the White City outpost. Expect such dishes as rabbit khad khargosh, fermented Kashmiri chilli butter sauce and Chinese water deer chitamee, all washed down with warming King’s Ginger cocktails.
Tickets cost £65 and include a special welcome cocktail.
Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, White City, London W12 7FR
kricket.co.uk
The Croûte Off x BOJO Nouveau Dinner
17 November
The Croûte Off returns for its second year and promises to be better than ever. The annual event is a celebration of the Paté en Croute, a spiced pork paté wrapped in rich, golden crust pastry. It sees some of the UK’s best chefs gather to show off their French flair in a competition to be crowned King or Queen of the Croûte – this year, you can expect the likes of Cadet, Cafe Cecilia and Margot Henderson battling it out. To mark the occasion – and to celebrate the launch of Beaujolais Nouveau season – there’s a gastronomic feast in Frank’s bar (beneath Maison Francois). Expect a four-course menu starting with… Paté en Croute, of course. Following is cassoulet, cheese and pears poached in Beaujolais. Opt for the menu with wine pairings – you won’t be disappointed.
Tickets from £25.
34 Duke Street, St James’s, London SW1Y 6DF
maisonfrancois.london
A Taste of Le Bistro
24 November - 21 December
The third of Executive Chef Ruben Briones’ culinary pop-ups at COMO Metropolitan London centres around hearty French bistro dishes. Having worked under the legendary chef Alain Senderens in Paris, who was one of the founders of nouvelle cuisine, Briones (formerly of Pollen Street Social and COMO The Halkin) is no stranger to whipping up French classics. Guests can expect a heart-warming feast of warming beef bourguignon, followed by a sharing platter of fragrant cheeses and a chocolate fondue. What could be more perfect for those cold wintry nights?
Old Park Lane, Mayfair, London W1K 1LB
comohotels.com
Mostrador
From now until April 2023
Just launched, Mostrador is a six-month pop-up in the heart of Shoreditch from Argentinian chef Fernando Trocca, following his other successes around the world in Uruguay, Buenos Aires and Montauk in the Hamptons. This pop-up, like the others, is centred around the concept of the South American mostradores, the Spanish word for counters and offers a modern version of the classic delis. Here, the counter groans with tempting treats – from salads (sweet potato with Latin criolla sauce and coriander; butternut squash served with kale, feta, honey and lime) to baked goods (there are seven pastry chefs – the medialunas aka Argentinian croissants come highly recommended). All are available for takeaway and there’s also a 100-cover restaurant serving the 80% vegetarian menu.
61-67 Great Eastern Street, Shoreditch, London EC2A 3HU
@mostradorlondon
Carousel x Inaki Bolumburu
15 - 26 November
Fresh from the sell-out success of his first residency at Carousel, Inaki Bolumburu is back. Bolumburu hails from a long line of Basque farmers, foragers and fisherman from the small town of Derio, which has informed his journey as a chef and he’s worked in some of the world’s most celebrated kitchens (Pure C, Noma and Nerua). Since 2019, however, he has been forging his own path, travelling the globe and delivering a succession of tasting menus that reflect his unique style. His next stop: a two-week residency at Carousel where he’ll be serving up innovative Basque-influenced creations like mussel croquetas with seaweed; scallop with radish and olive escabeche; wild mushrooms with egg yolk and spiced chicken jus; and honey and lemon brûlée.
Tickets cost £75.
19-23 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, London W1T 1RL
carousel-london.com
Retan at Louie Louie
Until 23 December
This roaming supper club Retan – the brainchild of sommelier Cameron Dewar (formerly of Elliot’s, Elystan Street & Berenjak) and chef Josh Dallaway (previously at Sager + Wilde & Silver Lining) – is currently in residency at SE17 establishment Louie Louie. Taking inspiration from Parisian modern bistros and neighbourhood restaurants, the menu is delightfully pared back, with a choice of three starters, three main courses and three desserts. Dishes at the time of writing include aged beef tartare with seaweed relish, cured yolk and prawn crackers; BBQ celeriac and fricassée of wild mushroom with kale, walnut and miso; and chocolate crèmeux. Catch this culinary duo in Kennington while you can.
347 Walworth Road, Kennington, London SE17 2AL
louielouie.london
MAIN IMAGE: A Taste of Le Bistro at COMO Metropolitan London
