About Time: You Discovered London’s Best Spring Pop-UpsBy Alicia Grimshaw
We love spring; the sight of people buying disposable barbecues in Sainsbury’s, eating brunch al fresco, and the influx of pop-ups. From basement bars to a rib festival, we’ve hand picked the best London has to offer – here’s the finest pop-ups to look out for this month:
April Pop-Ups: Just Opened
1. For West African Food: Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen x The Sun & 13 Cantons
What: Zoe Adjonyoh, the girl boss behind Zoe’s Ghana kitchen has brought her contemporary West African food to Soho with a six month residency at The Sun & 13 Cantons. The new pub pop-up has just opened and showcases Zoe’s traditional Ghanaian recipes re-mixed for the modern kitchen, much-loved from her popular restaurant at Pop Brixton.
The Lowdown: Take your pick from modern small plates ideal for sharing such as the vegan-friendly slow-cooked red bean stew, and main plates including Zoe’s legendary jollof fried chicken and grilled lamb cutlets with spiced peanut sauce. Her signature love chin chin banoffee pie, made using the West African snack sensation, as well as Divine dark chocolate provides a sweet ending to the meal. Also enjoy an array of bar snacks like tempura-battered okra fries, and irresistible pork ribs in sticky plantain sauce.
Where: The Sun & 13 Cantons, 21 Great Pulteney Street, London W1F 9NG
2. For American Bites: The King & Co x Division 194
What: Streetfood rising star Division 194 have found a home for two months at The King & Co, dishing up New Orleans inspired eats. Running daily, the pop-up features the trader’s tempting NOLA snacks and generously-stuffed Po’ Boy sandwiches made using the finest British ingredients, as well as brand new Saturday brunch specials and a superb Sunday roast.
The Lowdown: Tuck into the warm, crusty Po’ Boy baguettes much-loved from Division 194’s streetfood sessions with KERB, stuffed-to-bursting with fillings like beef shin “debris” with bone marrow gravy, or NOLA-style shrimp (or even combining the two for a surf and turf sandwich!). Rotating special Po’ Boys are available, such as breaded mussels with marinière mayonnaise and matchstick fries. An array of NOLA-style snacks are also available, ranging from devilled Burford Brown eggs with popped pig skin, to cauliflower cheese bombs with smoked chilli ketchup, and confit’d chicken wings tossed in pickled chilli butter.
Where: The King & Co, 100 Clapham Park Road, London SW4 7BZ
Photo Credit: Nic Crilly-Hargrave
3. For Mezcal: El Bandito x The Drunken Monkey
What: Having conquered the discerning drinking scene in Liverpool, reputable spirit aficionados of El Bandito have brought a slice of the North to the heart of London with the launch of a brand new pop–up. Offering high quality cocktails in a Mexican inspired Shoreditch bar, the El Bandito pop-up menu features an impressive collection of approximately fifty tequilas and twenty-five mezcals, including specialist brands not available anywhere else in the UK.
The Lowdown: Hidden away from the bustling Shoreditch High Street, this residency takes place underneath popular dim sum restaurant, The Drunken Monkey, where everyone can enjoy a memorable evening of cocktails in a fun and atmospheric basement bar environment. The drinks menu comprises an extensive selection of cocktails, featuring everything from frozen margaritas to flights of tequila. There’s also a focus on rare and high-quality tequilas and mezcals, and plenty of inventive cocktails to throw back.
Where: 222 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6PJ
4. For Japanese Fare: Avenue x Ben Orpwood
What: D&D London’s Avenue restaurant in Mayfair is hosting a month-long pop-up with chef Ben Orpwood, formerly of Sexy Fish and Zuma. The new menu shines a light on Ben’s innovative food concepts, who has been appointed as Head Chef at D&D’s first Japanese restaurant, Issho, a new roof-top restaurant and cocktail bar in Leeds, which will open later this spring.
The Lowdown: The menu at the Avenue pop-up draws on Ben’s authentic yet modern Japanese cooking background and previews several dishes to feature at Issho such as smoked steak tartare with nashi pear and sweet potato crisps, and roast diver scallop with pickled apple and jalapeño. New main courses include half or whole native lobster with ponzu and wild garlic butter, and whole soy glazed baby chicken served with fries and slaw.
Where: 7-9 St James’s St, St. James’s, London SW1A 1EE
5. For Cheese and Cocktails: Tooting Pop Ups
What: Tooting Pop Ups is a new multi-dimensional venue in South London, and houses street food, local craft beer and liquors, live music sessions, DJ sets, cinema afternoons and sports screenings amongst other entertainment. Kick off with a weekend brunch filled with food, drink and great tunes, before moving into mellow Cinema Sundays, with marathon film sessions.
The Lowdown: Two street food pop–ups will take residency at any given time for around 4-6 months. First up cheesy Alpine street food legends, the Raclette Brothers who use melting wheels of raclette cheese and scrape the molten goodness onto other ingredients. On the menu dishes such as Traditional Raclette – garlic and rosemary potatoes topped with melted raclette cheese served with cornichons, silverskins and maple bacon crumb, and Beef Bourguignon Bun – demi-brioche bun loaded with slow cooked beef Bourguignon, raclette cheese, pickled cucumber, red chilli and bearnaise sauce. If tacos are more your thing, Every Juan Loves Tacos, the little brother of Benitos Hat, are serving up Mexicos favourite street food, with plates including Prime Beef Brisket – pico de gallo, shredded cabbage and tangy salsa verde and Balsamic Pork – lime-marinated red onions, tomato and pineapple and habanero salsa.
Where: 85-87 Tooting High Street, London SW17 0SU
5. For Fancy Cocktails: Quaglinos x Fabergé
What: As spring is officially upon us, Quaglino’s has just opened the ultimate Easter celebration; a pop-up Russian vodka and caviar bar inspired by the world’s most iconic artist jeweller, Fabergé. Running until the 21st April, the Quaglino’s Mezzanine Bar is now home to a remarkable egg sculpture, presented by Fabergé, and a Russian vodka and caviar pop-up bar with a special Fabergé-inspired menu.
The Lowdown: The menu includes dishes such as Quaglino’s’ list of caviar; kusmi tea cured salmon, Keta caviar, vodka, cucumber and dill cream blinis; foie gras and smoked garlic chicken kievs; Scotch quail egg “Fabergé” smoked salmon, fennel and avruga caviar; and, lastly, a gold chocolate egg topped with white chocolate and Grand-Marnier, and hot chocolate sauce.
Where: 16 Bury St, St. James’s, London SW1Y 6AJ
April Pop-Ups: Coming Soon
5. For Carbs: Jersey Royals x Jimmy Doherty
What: For one weekend only, to celebrate the start of the short Jersey Royal season (April to June), Jersey Royals are to open a purely new potato pop-up bistro in Covent Garden (how very London). Opening its doors on Saturday (22nd April) and Sunday (23rd April), the Just Jerseys pop-up will be hosted by celebrity farmer Jimmy Doherty, known for his appearances on the BBC and Channel 4, who will be serving up Jerseys and talking all things potatoes.
The Lowdown: The pop-up will dish up Jersey Royals in their signature serve; Simply Minted, a combination of Jersey butter, mint and flakes of Jersey sea salt. Accentuating the renowned nutty flavour, creamy consistency and flaky skins, the Simply Minted serve will be accompanied by a choice of three dips created by Jimmy.
Where: 52 Floral St, London WC2E 9DA. (Located in Kastner & Ovens.)
7. For Loads of Meat: The Blues Kitchen x Neil Rankin x Wayne Mueller x DJ BBQ
What: April will see The Blues Kitchen Brixton transform into a BBQ-lover’s heaven with the launch of The Big Smoke, a chef’s festival devoted entirely to ribs. The Blues Kitchen is going bigger, better and smokier than ever, turning the restaurant and bar on Acre Lane into a smokin’, juicy, fire pit serving ribs from some of the world’s most celebrated pitmasters.
The Lowdown: From Tuesday 25th to Thursday 27th April, award-winning chefs Neil Rankin, Wayne Mueller and DJ BBQ, from the UK and US BBQ scene, will descend upon Brixton to take turns at firing up their own signature ribs. Lighting the way on Tuesday (25th) will be legendary Neil Rankin – expect a feast of all things meaty. Flying in from the states, Wayne Mueller, owner of the Texan “cathedral of smoke” Louie Mueller Barbecue will be the second guest take-over the smoker. From one BBQ legend to another, DJ BBQ is returning for another year of racks, stacks and ribs. The man behind The BluesKitchen’s custom Rib Fest smoker will be cooking up a meat stack storm to the backing music of folk-infused blues on Thursday (27th).
Where: 40 Acre Ln, Brixton, London SW2 5SP
8. For Thai Delights: Farang x Singha Beer
What: Prepare to take your taste buds on the ultimate culinary adventure with a one-way ticket to Thailand for the evening, as Singha Beer teams up with Sebby Holmes, founder and head chef of Farang, one of the most talked about pop-up restaurants of 2017, to host an authentically Thai pop up dining experience on The Battersea Barge for Thai New Year (Songkran).
The Lowdown: The event will take place for two evenings on 12th and 13th April, bringing the water festival of Songkran to London, as guests quite literally float on The River Thames, while being treated to food, drink and the sights and sounds of South East Asia at Thai New Year. On arrival, guests will be given a warm Thai welcome as they are guided on to the deck where they can enjoy a cool Singha beer as they take in the stunning view. The pinnacle of the evening will be a sit-down three-course dinner, curated and cooked by Sebby Holmes.
Where: The Battersea Barge, Nine Elms Lane, Battersea Bridge SW18 5BP
Tickets are £25.00. This covers entry, two Singha beers and a three course dinner. Tickets can be purchased here.
9. For an Immersive Foodie Experience: The Art of Dining
What: Foodie pop-up specialists The Art of Dining are inviting diners to step back into the past for a glimpse of an imagined tomorrow, with Operation Red Rocket – a retro-futuristic dining experience. Journeying to the “British National Space Laboratory” (handily located in a creative space in Haggerston), guests can look forward to an immersive evening of fun, food and the final frontier…
The Lowdown: The lab itself has been created by set designer Alice Hodge and draws on the bold and bright designs found in the ‘60s view of “the future”, while ex-Moro chef Ellen Parr has created an international five-course feast, inspired by the five countries racing to be the first to Mars: stuffed karela, spiced roasted romanesco and gooseberry chutney (India); foil baked jambalaya with smoked sausage and glazed octopus (America); dehydrated wild garlic, asparagus, pea and broad bean broth with goat’s cheese (UK); cumin pork ribs with soft-boiled tea eggs and Xi’an style potatoes (China); and honey cake with sour cream ice-cream and lightly pickled cherries (Russia).
10. For a One Day Banger: Field Day x Dinerama
What: In two months time Field Day will take over Victoria Park for one day of the finest music, food and drink that London has to offer. Ahead of the big day and to give a taster of what to expect Field Day is teaming up with street food pioneers Street Feast for a Bank Holiday blowout. Field Day will provide DJ sets from the likes of Erol Alkan, Django Django, Tim Burgess, Cowboy Rhythmbox, Kiwi, Bugged Out DJs and Resident Advisor DJs. Street Feast’s Dinerama will keep the party going with food from Lagom, Yum Bun and six other traders, while the mighty Five Points Brewing Company will also serve a very special Field Day Citrus Pale beer.
The Lowdown: Street Feast will host the 10 hour party at its street food arena Dinerama, featuring eight food traders and eight bars for ticket-holders to enjoy throughout the day. Expect sensational live-fire Swedish barbecue from Lagom, delicious steamed dumplings from Yumplings, stacks of fiery fried chicken wings from BBQ Lab plus killer cocktails, craft beers and wonderful wines. The Five Points Brewing Company have created a brand new beer to honour their long time collaboration with Field Day, launching across London this April and served across the festival in June. The Field Day Citrus Pale features organic Sicilian lemon zest alongside grapefruit zest and will be served throughout Field Day at Dinerama. All guests will also receive one of the specially designed cans on entry.
Where: 19 Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3EJ. Tickets available here.
