5 Things You Need to Eat in London This WeekBy Alicia Grimshaw
We’re hot and we’re hungry. From a new bircher muesli pop-up to a summer vegan menu – here’s what you should be eating in London this weekend. Happy munching, people:
1. For a New Delivery Service: Cookoo
What: Delivery services are by no means a new thing, and thanks to new businesses and the World Wide Web, there’s so much choice. New company Cookoo is an online marketplace for healthy, super fresh, chilled food, delivered direct to your door. They’ve have just introduced lunchtime deliveries in addition to evening meals, meaning you don’t have to schlep to the shops to get your mitts on some nosh.
Why: The idea is simple: you pick your lunch or dinner options from a selection of chefs and they deliver to your door on the required day. Easy. Cookoo‘s network of passionate chefs design and cook different dishes everyday, using organic and local produce where possible. Cookoo meals arrive chilled, for maximum freshness, and accompanied by full heating instructions for oven and microwave. Delivery is free and is open to homes and offices in particular London post codes. Highlights from the menu includes; bavette steak salad – hunks of tender steak, seared beautifully and served with rice and an edamame salad, and the pork belly noodles with big Asian flavours.
Where: Order here
2. For a New Summer Menu: Aubaine
What: This summer Aubaine, the all-day dining brasserie will be celebrating a ‘Summer en Provence’ across all of its nine London restaurants, in a tribute to the rich gastronomic heart of the region. Hit up their outdoor seating and dine al fresco this summer.
Why: The chefs have created a specially crafted set menu of traditional Provençal dishes, which showcase the rich gastronomic roots and exquisite cuisine at the core of the region. For a taste of southern France, opt for two courses for £15.50, or three for £19.50. To begin, choose between three starters including a light Provençale ‘pistou’ with Bayonne ham, or zesty cod brandade, spring leaf and lemon. Next, enjoy fresh classic regional mains such as succulent roasted corn fed chicken breast with green olives, rosemary and toasted fregola, or the hearty ‘la petit bouillabaisse’, featuring sea bass, red mullet, mussels, squid and potatoes. Try the tart tropezienne for afters, featuring a touch of orange blossom, and layers of smooth cream and buttery brioche for a twist on the classic.
Where: Locations here
3. For a New Cocktail Pairing Menu: ROKA Charlotte Street
What: Roka Charlotte Street have this week launched their new Kaiseki Cocktail Pairing Menu. The new menu offers an intriguing journey through seven courses which delicately balance an array of tastes and textures. A style of Japanese cuisine that evolved from a traditional multi-course dinner, Kaiseki is typically associated with a series of very small, refined dishes.
Why: The chefs at ROKA Charlotte Street have worked together with the Bar Team to carefully curate a stunning personal dining experience served with accompanying cocktails at every stage. Seated at the Shochu Table, prepare to be hosted by the ROKA Bar Team, whose expertise reflects the passion for Japanese-inspired cuisine that lies at the heart of all ROKA restaurants. With the knowledgeable ROKA team on hand to guide everyone through the menu, the evening will include an exciting array of Japanese-inspired dishes, such as sashimi and blowtorched wagyu nigiri, as well as other unique dishes from ROKA’s signature robata grill.
Where: 37 Charlotte St, London W1T 1RR
Photo Credit: Richard Southall
4. For a New Summer Campaign: Wild Food Cafe
What: Cult Covent Garden favourite, Wild Food Cafe, has just rolled out their new summer menu and a crowdfunding campaign to take its plant-based food to East London and beyond. The Kickstarter project is seeking an initial £30,000 to set up a pop-up in East London and fund an external production kitchen to keep up with the considerable demand for its raw-centric cuisine.
Why: And while the Kickstarter campaign is in full swing, the team have been busy in the kitchen with their new summer dishes. Try the Jamaican burger – pink olives, shiitake and seasonal root vegetable jerk burger patty with pineapple salsa, cultured wild sauce, caramelised onions and BBQ pulled jackfruit, or the summer haze courgetti spaghetti with sweet poached cherry tomatoes, and tomato salsa with parsley, garlic and pine nut parmesan. Their forgotton ecstasy smoothie has been given a July makeover and now includes acai berries, blueberries and lavender with raw cacao, cacao butter, fresh coconut milk and dates. Their raw chocolate tart is now nut-free and is served alongside fresh berries.
5. For a New Opening: B.Y.O.C. ft James Cochran
What: There’s a new kid in town and he goes by the name of B.Y.O.C. ft. James Cochran. That’s right boys and girls B.Y.O.C. Soho has arrived. The masters of the speakeasy are back with their fourth instalment taking up residency on iconic Great Windmill Street. This B.Y.O.C. however has an added twist, the culinary King, James Cochran, has joined the line-up. A former chef at the 2* Michelin restaurant of The Ledbury, Cochran has created an eclectic menu that represents Modern British and Scottish eats with an homage to his Caribbean roots.
Why: Sit down and tuck into the delights created by the main man James Cochran on the ground floor. Indulge in the à la carte menu and enjoy his famed Jamaican jerk buttermilk chicken or the braised short rib of ruby beef. It doesn’t stop there, Cochran also offers up Whitstable rock oyster and a veggie menu. Get involved with the small plates menu with the treacle cured smoked salmon including whiskey and apple jelly, radish, smoked cod’s roe, rye, mustard cress; the tomato tea with lovage foam, crab and grapefruit, cheese and ale on toast, and Hackney nduja Scotch egg. There’s also cocktails and fancy pineapple wallpaper – we’re sold.
Where: 21 Great Windmill St, London W1D 7LB
One for luck…
What: Launched in June 2010, Gelupo is the second venture from chef Jacob Kenedy and Victor Hugo, also behind Bocca di Lupo, the award-winning Italian restaurant in Soho. To celebrate all things summer, Gelupo has introduced a collection of seasonal gelato, sorbets and ice cream to its menu – just in time for the hotter months ahead.
Why: Newly developed flavours include; apricot crumble, white chocolate and lavender, yogurt and berries, and strawberry sherbert. Reminiscent of the fragrant, fresh flavours of the Amalfi Coast, and inspired by chef Jacob Kenedy’s travels around Italy, Gelupo is the perfect place to cool off in style this summer. If you’ve never been to Gelupo before their coffee and honey gelato is a must try. They also serve Italian classics such as pistachio and mint stracciatella.
Where: 7 Archer St, London W1D 7AU
Ok, one more for luck…
7. For a New Reward Scheme: Chipotle
What: Chipotle Mexican Grill has a new online game called Guac Hunter — a digital photo hunt where you see a series of two images that look similar and have to spot the differences before time runs out. Players are rewarded for their keen eyesight with a mobile offer for a free order of tortilla chips and guacamole at any Chipotle restaurant in London.
Why: Running from Tuesday (19th) until 29th July, score points to win delicious prizes. Chipotle’s guacamole is made from scratch throughout the day. Each batch is hand-mashed and seasoned with freshly diced red onions, jalapeño peppers, coriander, citrus juice and salt. Each of Chipotle’s seven restaurants in London goes through 48 avocados per batch of guacamole, with each restaurant making around five batches per day.
Where: Check your nearest Chipotle here
Sod it, have another one for luck..
What: From today (18th) and running for 3 weeks, Cuckoo Bircher Muesli is setting up shop in Selfridges for their special sweet and savoury bircher muesli pop-up. Cuckoo Bircher Muesli is an incredible young start up brand who are fast-becoming one of Britain’s great foodie start-up success stories. Founders, and best friends, Lucy and Anna have taken a modern twist on traditional Bircher muesli with their satisfying, on-the-go pots packed with protein and fibre.
Why: There’s gluten-free bircher combinations such as homemade dukkah granola with date syrup, coconut strawberry puree topped with almond butter, and even savoury beetroot goodness with wasabi peanuts and peppery coconut chips, all served with superfood chia and linseed toppings. You will be invited to choose your own base, pick from a choice of the classic natural British yoghurt and oats soaked in apple juice; carrot and linseed bircher; beetroot bircher and dairy-free coconut yoghurt bircher.
Where: 400 Oxford St, London W1A 1AB
