April Guide: 10 Food Events in LondonBy Alicia Grimshaw
We made it, the clocks have gone forward and it feels like summer is *finally* on the way. April is always one of our favorite months for this very reason, alongside the fact that the next four weeks are stacked with amazing events in the capital. We’ve rounded up the best in the city for this month – dig in:
1. For a Family Dinners Series: Caravel
What: Fin and Lorcan Spiteri, brothers and founders of the much-loved floating restaurant, Caravel, will launch ‘Family Dinners’, a collaboration series celebrating nostalgic meals from top chefs’ childhoods.
Finding fame from his Finsbury-based sandwich shop, Max’s Sandwich Shop, Max Halley will take up residence on Tuesday 11th April, bringing his sense of mischief and big flavours aboard Caravel. Max will serve elevated dishes that remind him of his childhood, including smoked eel with crispy confit chicken wings served with sweetcorn puree, and a grilled squid and pea stew with chorizo and mojo verde alongside a twist on his favourite teenage tipple.
When: 11th April
Tickets: £55 per person. Tickets here.
Where: 172 Shepherdess Walk, London N1 7JL
2. For a Supper Club Series: Cubitt House
What: The cookbook supper club series hosted by Ben Tish and Cubitt House returns with an intimate dinner cooked by Sami Tamimi. Known as a key figure in the success behind the Ottolenghi delis and ROVI and NOPI restaurants, Sami will be in the kitchen for a night of Palestinian cooking.
When: Tuesday 4th April
Tickets: £75 per person. Tickets here.
Where: 47 Hereford Road, Notting Hill London W2 5AH
3. For a Chef Collaboration: Bar Crispin x John Javier
What: Bar Crispin in Soho will welcome John Javier, founder of the much talked about ‘The Tent (at the end of the universe)’ restaurant in London’s Fitzrovia, for a one-off evening of natural wine and good food. The five-course set menu will showcase John Javier’s brand new Chinese soon-to-launch restaurant concept ‘MASTER’. Expect dishes like Mala beef tendons, kohlrabi and herb salad; Hand-picked crab, durian, cheddar and rice; and Peking-style pork jowl, pancakes and condiments.
When: Thursday 6th April
Tickets: £55 per person. Tickers here.
Where: 19 Kingly St, Soho, London W1B 5PY
4. For an Immersive Dining Experience: The Refinery City Point
What: Experience cult movie classic, Clueless, through a new lens with a ‘eat what you see’ experience at The Refinery City Point (Moorgate) in partnership with Taste Film. Witness Cher on her matchmaking misadventures at Beverley Hills High School alongside a menu of six innovative dishes and drinks, all cleverly inspired by well-known quotes from the movie. From Chicken Mousse Ballotine and Cinnamon Pretzels to Tequila Sunrise and DIY ‘Like a Virgin’ cocktails, you’re in for a treat honey.
When: 14th and 15th April
Tickets: £75 per person. Tickets here. Screening: 2:45pm – 5:30pm | 6:45pm – 9:30pm.
Where: 1 Ropemaker Street, Barbican, London, EC2Y 9HT
5. For Easter Egg-stravaganza: M Canary Wharf
What: Join the ultimate doggy Easter egg hunt on Easter Sunday at M Canary Wharf. With treats hidden outside on the terrace for four-legged pals to find, followed by a spectacular three-course brunch menu – created especially for dining with your dog – we guarantee that everyone involved will be having a ball. You’ll enjoy delectable dishes including shakshuka, steak and eggs or a seriously good pancake stack, whilst your pooch tucks into chicken jerky ‘three ways’, biltong risotto, and peanut butter cookies (all dog-friendly) from M’s extra special Bone Appetit menu.
When: Sunday 9th April
Tickets: Starting at 12pm sharp, tickets cost £40, with £5 donated to Dogs Trust from every sale. Tickets here.
Where: 10 Newfoundland Place, London E14 4BH
6. For a Cooking Masterclass: Theo Randall at the Intercontinental
What: Join award-winning Chef Theo Randall for a seasonal masterclass in his Park Lane restaurant. Using the finest ingredients, Theo will pass on the expert tips he has compiled from 20 years of experience in the best kitchens around the world. As Theo divulges his culinary secrets, guests will enjoy a glass of prosecco and taste his creations, before sitting down to a four-course dinner with wine pairings, guided by the sommelier. Upon departure, guests will be treated with a gift from Theo.
When: Friday 14th April
Tickets: £185 per person. Reserve a place via email at: reservations@theorandall.
Where: One Hamilton Place, Park Ln, London W1J 7QY
7. For a Week-Long Celebration: Marylebone Food Festival
What: From masterclasses and tasting menus to supper clubs and tours, this year’s Marylebone Food Festival celebrates the neighbourhood’s vast array of restaurants, bars, and food and drink businesses. Expore the essence of India at Atul Kocchar’s Kitchen takeover, a full menu of masterclasses from Oysters with Wright Brothers at The Coach Makers Arms to a Mezcal masterclass at Cavita’s Mayahuel, and an afternoon tea with a difference at The Marylebone Hotel.
When: 25th – 30th April
Tickets: Tickets start from £10
Where: All events can be found here.
8. For a Collaborative Dinner: Flesh & Buns x Pahli Hill
What: London’s Japanese izakaya favourites Flesh & Buns will team up with the Michelin Bib Gourmand-toting Indian restaurant Pahli Hill, on a two-night guest chef collab dinner series.The collab will see Flesh & Buns executive group chef Tom Moxon join forces with Pahli Hill’s head chef, Avinash Shashidhara (previously The River Cafe & Hibiscus – currently competing on the BBC’s Great British Menu), on a special ‘small plates & buns’ menu featuring a collection of creative Japanese & Indian fusion dishes created by the talented chef duo.
When: The special Flesh & Buns X Pahli Hill ‘small plates & buns’ collab menu will be available at Pahli Hill on Thursday 13th April and Flesh & Buns Oxford Circus on Friday 14th April.
Tickets: Dishes from £8 – £30
Where: Pahli Hill, 79-81 Mortimer Street, London W1W 7SJ and Flesh & Buns, 32 Berners St, London W1T 3LR
9. For a Culinary Cook-Off: The Oyster Shed
What: The Oyster Shed’s ‘Battle of the Champions’ series will see head Chef and 2013 MasterChef winner Natalie Coleman cook-off against fellow culinary champions. Natalie will go stove-to-stove with 2022’s MasterChef: The Professionals winner, Nikita Pathakji, in a six-course showdown. Taking place from 7pm, expect an interactive evening as the two MasterChef champions each create three showstopping dishes with diners voting for the best dish of night.
When: 28th April
Tickets: £85 per person (£114 with wine pairings), with a welcome Plymouth G&T on arrival. Book here.
Where: 1 Angel Lane, EC4R 3AB
10. For a Masterclass: Pasta Evangelists Pasta Academy
What: Pasta Evangelists is joining forces with Clarence Court for a special series of four pasta-making masterclasses over the Easter weekend. Guests will learn how to select and work with different egg varieties to take their fresh egg pasta-making skills to the next level, from mastering the perfect egg dough to crafting egg yolk fillings.
When: Classes are available at 10am, 1:30pm and 6:30pm on Easter Sunday and 1:30pm on Easter Monday
Tickets: Tickets cost £65 which includes two-hour pasta masterclass with a private chef, a fresh pasta meal, and a Clarence Court goody bag to take home. Book here.
Where: 62-63 Long Ln, Barbican, London EC1A 9EJ