pop-ups – The Cultural Exposé

Somewhere you should go… Chuku’s Nigerian tapas pop-up lounge

Matilda — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 08:30:35 +0000

We all know London’s got its fair share of restaurants with cool, creative concepts – but when it comes to the number of places reppin’ for the food of my heritage, you’re having a laugh. To be fair, let’s just say they’re few and far between, which is what makes the innovative Chuku’s a welcome addition to the capital’s foodie scene.

First launched in August 2015 by siblings Emeka and Ifeyinwa Frederick, the lounge takes some of the best bit of Naija cuisine to create a laidback and accessible dining experience – or what they’ve dubbed #chopchatchill. It doesn’t hurt that quality of the food is fantastic either. Shout out to the jellof quinoa!

If you fancy experiencing Chuku’s for yourself, they’ve extended their takeover of The Canvas Cafe off Brick Lane and will be there on Thursdays and Fridays from March 9th (6-10pm). They take walk-ins or you can find out how to book here. Check out pics from my recent visit below

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Somewhere you should go… Mick Élysée’s Safari lunch

The Cultural Exposé — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 10:04:23 +0000

We’re taking a walk on the wild side next Sunday at a pop-up in Hackney where a Congolese chef will be whipping up an adventurous menu of gourmet dishes and treats. Élysée’s Safari Lunch at Marsden’s Bistro will feature curious delicacies like pan fried alligator and grilled ostrich to prove the versatility of these unique meats – and given this guy’s been schooled in France and worked with the mighty Michel Roux and Michel Toulousi, we imagine he’ll do it all justice – we can’t wait!

The pop-up takes place monthly from 6th April. For more info, visit: www.facebook.com/la.tentation.5/posts/623209831101348

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What we’ve been up to… Patty & Bun

Matilda — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 11:00:53 +0000

It may be a couple of years since a new kind of gourmet burger (big, messy, tasty et cetera) has invaded the capital, but we’re still loving ’em – especially as many of those roving sensations like Meat Liquor and Honest Burger are not only living up to the hype, but to the joy of comfort-food lovers, settling down with permanent locations. Patty & Bun – which made their debut in West London November 2011 – followed suit at the end of 2012 by acquiring a tiny 30-cover locale in Marylebone, and on a visit last week, we discovered its quirky style and hip soundtrack (think Guru and Busta Rhymes) definitely matched the swag of their delicious and innovative sandwiches.

There’s a decent variety of burgers to choose from, but we went for the ‘Lambshank Redemption’ burger (£8) with its nice chilli kick and the ‘Hot chic’ Chicken burger (£7.50) – that had a twist of tarragon that took the flavour up a notch – plus a side of rosemary fries (£2.50) we could have eaten twice over. But be warned: we queued over 70 minutes (!) to get into this hotspot on a Wednesday evening, and they like to move people in and out quickly – but we can safely say, we tried some of the best burgers we’ve had for a while. They don’t take reservations so visit late lunch time or early evening to beat the rush – and top off your meal with a choc ice (we were too full to try!).

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5 of the most offbeat supperclubs in London

The Cultural Exposé — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:00:17 +0000

Supper clubs – a one-night experience run by enthusiasts and open to the general public – have taken off in the past couple of years. They’re now very easy to organise and publicise through social media, and pre-sell tickets through services like Eventbrite or Paypal. But going to a supper club is a great way to eat good food in unusual settings and meet new people. One thing I particularly like about them is that all payment is done in advance – unlike going out for dinner at a restaurant there are no nasty moments when the bill arrives! So here are five of the best, illustrating the diversity available. There are lots of resources for finding supper clubs – for example Guestaurant or my site – londonpopups.com – see if you get inspired by these, and then get involved!

Burger Monday

Daniel Young runs this group, aiming to elevate the burger to its rightful position as a culinary highlight. He gets a great butcher to make a burger, and a great chef (including teams from Hawksmoor and Salt Yard) to devise a three course menu around it. But beware – this is the hottest ticket in town, as the most recent events have sold out within 20 minutes. Daniel also runs other events like SpagWednesday, which are easier to get tickets to.http://youngandfoodish.com/events/burgermonday/( Picture courtesy of Paul Winch-Furness)

Pic: WenLin Soh, Edible Experiences

Plusixfive (pictured)

The +65/plusixfive supper club is devoted to Singaporean food (+65 is the international dialling code for Singapore), and the founder and resident chef Goz (pictured) and friends regularly entertain people in his home, cooking classic dishes with a modern twist. Guests bring payment (a minimum amount is suggested) and a bottle. If you’re looking for a fun, friendly supper club in someone’s house then this is a good place to start. http://plusixfive.wordpress.com

The Cornish Grill

This is a twist on a theme – a pop-up Sunday lunch. What started off as a pop-up barbecue in a pub garden has turned into probably the best sunday roast in London. Founder Matthew Chatfield supplies Cornish produce to some of the top London restaurants, and got the idea after hearing chefs describe how they cooked Sunday roasts. Lunches take place onthe last Sunday of the month, and cost £30 for 3 courses. http://www.cornishgrill.co.uk/

ferdiesfoodlab

ferdiesfoodlab is a regular supper club run by Simon Fernandez. Simon started a few years ago, as an extension of cooking for friends, and this has now evolved into regular banquets at Toynbee Hall, a grade II listed building. The events are usually fortnightly, on a Friday evening, and a minimum contribution of £45 is required from all guests. These always look like amazing parties, and have attracted some really good reviews. http://www.ferdiesfoodlab.co.uk/

Niko B’s Chocolates

Another twist – a supper club devoted to chocolates. This is an offshoot from the main Niko B organic chocolate business, and holds regular themed supper clubs where chocolate features in all courses. Events cost approximately £25, and are held at the Avo Hotel in Dalston. http://www.nikobchocolates.com/Events(2221275).htm (Words: Dan Calladine)

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