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Discover the flavours of West Africa this autumn at Papa L’s Kitchen

October 22, 2020 by OpenTable

This autumn, Gambian-born chef Lawrence Gomez is bringing the flavours of West Africa to south-west London for a six-week pop-up, Papa L’s Kitchen. We caught up with him to find out more about his career as a chef and what diners can expect from his unique African fusion menu.

How did your journey into food begin? Did you always want to become a chef?

My food journey began when I was a child watching my Mum cook. We used to have lots of dinner parties and I was fascinated by the way food brings people together and how food plays a big part in how Gambians socialise. My Mum did a lot of the cooking and she would always make us watch and learn before we actually did something. I decided I wanted to become a chef when I was in secondary school and I was the only boy in my class in my food tech class.

How would you describe your cooking style?

My style is a mix of home cooking and the style and techniques I learned at some of the top restaurants in London. When I was young, all the children used to just eat from the same big bowl and I remember how happy that made me, everyone sharing and having fun. That’s what I’m trying to do with my food – not eating from the same bowl but everyone sharing home-cooked dishes and having a really good time.

After the success of your summer pop-up, you were able to re-employ your former colleagues from The Gojk. With the hospitality industry going through such a tough time, this must have felt like a huge win for you?

It was a huge win to put a smile on my staff’s faces knowing that they can pay their rent, feed their families and have a regular income in this difficult time for people in hospitality. I’ve also employed additional staff who were out of work due to COVID. It was a huge risk but it’s paid off and I’m overwhelmed by the support of customers and my Instagram followers who keep coming back to try new dishes – that’s a really special feeling for me and my team.

For some diners, your pop-up might be their first experience of West African food. What can they expect from your menu?

In terms of the African-fusion cuisine I offer, it’s about mixing the learnings from my career with my heritage and trying to change people’s perceptions in terms of the ingredients that are being used. I love to cook with fish and other traditional ingredients from back home, and then put my own little twist on things. The dining experience at Papa L’s Kitchen is a culmination of my life, from growing up in Gambia watching my mum cook, to working at restaurants like The Ivy and Sexy Fish. I was also a DJ in central London so the music in the restaurant and the fun aspect comes from there.

What are your favourite dishes on the menu? (If you can choose!)

My favourite dishes are all of them! If I had to choose it would be Ma’s Benachin rice because it’s inspired by my Mum’s recipe and it’s the national dish of Gambia, so this one comes straight from the heart. If you ask my customers, the crowd favourite is definitely the grilled king prawns in my signature sauce – people can’t get enough of them!

The pop-up runs until 14th November. What are your plans for 2021?

We’ll have a special announcement about the rest of 2020 coming soon so stay tuned! The plan for 2021 is to go full time with the restaurant and employ my staff full-time, not part-time.

When you’re not in the kitchen, where do you like to dine out in London?

When I’m not working, which is very rare these days, I eat wherever my kids take me so it’s always down to them and if I said anything other than McDonalds, I’d be lying! That’s a rare occasion though, and usually you’ll find us in GBK or Wahaca.

Papa L’s Kitchen is popping up at The Gojk on Old Brompton Road until 14th November, with 15% off every Thursday during Black History Month. Visit OpenTable to make a reservation.

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Spice Odyssey: 5 of the best Indian tasting menus in London

October 20, 2020 by OpenTable

Explore your love of spice with a tasting menu experience at one of London’s top Indian restaurants. Each course is an adventure – a chance to break out of your culinary comfort zone and try new flavours, textures and ingredients. If you’re ready to take the plunge, these award-winning restaurants offer tasting menus that will surprise, delight and linger in your memory for years to come.

Kanishka
Specialising in dishes from north-east India’s Sister States, Kanishka is the latest addition to Atul Kochhar’s restaurant empire. The menu promises ‘elevated simplicity’, relying less on oil and spice and more on the combination of top quality ingredients. The 7-course tasting menu features seared scallops with peas and caviar, a cumin and black pepper-spiced goat curry, and Atul’s signature chicken tikka pie. If five courses feels more manageable, diners can opt for King Kanishka’s tasting menu, priced at £55pp.

Atul Kochhar’s tasting menu: £110pp. Wine pairing £60pp. King Kanishka’s tasting menu: £55pp.

Quilon
A star of the London food scene since 1999, Quilon continues to impress diners with its modern take on south-west Indian coastal cuisine. As you might expect, fish and seafood takes centre stage, alongside meat and vegetable dishes fragrant with coconut, curry leaves and Tellicherry pepper. The tasting menus change with the seasons but current highlights include fresh lobster with butter, pepper and garlic, lamb biryani with traditional Malabar spices, and Quilon’s famous fish curry (halibut simmered in coconut, chilli, and raw mango sauce).

Vegetarian tasting menu £85pp, non-vegetarian £85pp, seafood £95pp. 8-course beer and food pairing menu £120pp.

The Cinnamon Club
In Westminster, the former Old Westminster Library provides an elegant book-lined backdrop for Vivek’s Singh’s contemporary Indian cuisine. The restaurant has long been famous for its game, so expect to find dishes like clove-smoked pigeon and tandoori venison saddle on the seven-course tasting menu. If you’re not sure how to navigate the wine list, opt for the wine pairings or trust the sommelier to find the perfect bottle or carafe to complement your meal.

7 courses £85pp, or £170 with wine pairing.

Bombay Bustle
Inspired by the tiffin tin carriers of Mumbai, Bombay Bustle serves some of the city’s best-loved dishes alongside family recipes. With its pewter bar and green leather booths, it feels less formal than big sister Jamavar but the food is equally impressive. Their tasting menu includes some of their most popular dishes – Achari lamb chop with pickling spices, crispy battered Koliwada squid, and an indulgent chicken tikka makhani. Round off your meal with their Old Gold Fashioned, made with roasted pecan-infused whiskey and homemade spiced bitters.

6 courses £65pp. Wine pairing £35pp.

Benares
Consistently ranked among the top Indian restaurants in London, Benares offers an unforgettable fine dining experience in the heart of Mayfair. Splash out on the tasting menu and you’ll be treated to dishes like baked Malabar scallop, tandoori lamb chop with saag aloo, and tawa masala turbot with clam moilee. The flavours are bold but refined – a real treat for spice lovers. For special occasions, consider booking the Chef’s Table, which overlooks the kitchen, or the Sommelier’s Table, where you can dine surrounded by exquisite wines from around the world.

6 courses £98pp, vegetarian £89pp. Paired wines available from £59pp.

Visit OpenTable to discover more of London’s best Indian restaurants.

Photo Credit: David Robson for Bombay Bustle. All other images courtesy of the restaurants.

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London Cocktail Week: 7 cocktails you need to try

October 6, 2020 by OpenTable

London Cocktail Week is back with a bang for 2020! This year, it’s running all month long so you’ve got more time to enjoy socially distanced tastings, masterclasses, and bar takeovers. Once you’ve got your festival wristband (£15), you can enjoy £6 signature serves at hundreds of participating bars, plus £4 non-alcoholic options for those going sober for October. Here are some of our top picks.

White Queen

What: Tanqueray gin, pear liqueur, bitters, lime juice, and orgeat syrup.
Where: 108 Brasserie, a stylish but unpretentious spot for dinner and drinks in Marylebone.
Eat: Keep things light with miso cod or a Caesar salad, or treat yourself to a ribeye steak with Béarnaise sauce.

Dorcha Agus Searbh (Dark & Bitter)

What: An Dúlamán Irish Maritime Gin, Kinsale Wild Red Mead, grapefruit bitters and Aperol.
Where: Try this Irish twist on a Negroni at Richard Corrigan’s City Road hot spot, Daffodil Mulligan.
Eat: Don’t miss their famous salt chilli chicken or the wood oven roasted lobster with homemade kimchi.

Welly Coupe

What: Roku gin, elderflower cordial, fresh lime juice and orange bitters.
Where: Gordon Ramsay’s Heddon Street Kitchen in the heart of the West End.
Eat: In a nod to Ramsay’s signature dish, the restaurant is celebrating Worldwide Wellington month with their classic beef Wellington, as well as specials like lobster Wellington with langoustine jus!

Bonus: The Welly Coupe is also available at Bread Street Kitchen, Union Street Café, Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill, London House, and York & Albany.

Napoleon Espresso Martini

What: Hennessy VS cognac, crunchy honey, freshly brewed espresso and Amaretto liqueur.
Where: The Library Bar at The Lanesborough, a decadent spot for cognac, cocktails and more.
Eat: The hotel’s award-winning restaurant, Céleste, offers an unforgettable fine dining experience. If you’re celebrating this month, the 5-course tasting menu is well worth splashing out on.

Geisha Sour

What: Roku gin, grape syrup, yuzu juice and fresh egg white.
Where: The Happenstance, a relaxed bar-restaurant overlooking St Paul’s Cathedral.
Eat: Their menu is perfect for snacking and sharing – grab some yakitori skewers, a buttermilk chicken burger, or try a bratwurst from their Oktoberfest menu.

Finocchio Limone 

What: Villa Ascenti Gin, Fernet Branca, fennel syrup, and lemon iced tea.
Where: Lina Stores, King’s Cross. A pastel-hued restaurant and deli just behind Granary Square.
Eat: There’s delicious antipasti to start, but the fresh pasta is the star of the show. Try the linguine with crab or pappardelle with a rich, slow-braised lamb ragu – perfect for chilly autumn days.

The Posie
What: Lillet Rosé, Suze, Poire Williams, orange bitters, and citric acid.
Where: Heads + Tails, a neighbourhood bar in West Hampstead with a really creative cocktail menu.
Eat: This place is more about the drinks but if you need to soak up the booze, they do a mean grilled cheese sandwich.

Check out our Instagram stories for more London Cocktail Week specials to try this month.

Planning a cocktail crawl? Don’t do it on an empty stomach! Download the OpenTable app to find and book restaurants nearby.

Photo Credit: @giulia_verdinelli_photography for Lina Stores. Claire Menary for 108 Brasserie. All other images courtesy of the restaurants.

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Covent Garden’s best restaurants for al fresco dining

September 26, 2020 by OpenTable

With its iconic piazza, market halls, and street entertainers, Covent Garden is one of London’s top spots for outdoor dining. Whether you fancy rooftop cocktails or a long lunch on a sun-soaked terrace, here are the area’s best restaurants for al fresco eating and drinking.

Sushisamba
If you can tear yourself away from its beautiful bar (complete with leafy ‘living ceiling’), you can dine al fresco on Sushisamba’s balcony terrace and tables out on the piazza. The menu takes its inspiration from Japan, Brazil and Peru, so you’ll find sushi and tempura alongside churrasco and ceviche. Whether it’s date night, girls’ night, or just Friday night, this West End stunner is guaranteed to impress.

Temper
At this West End smokehouse, meat is carefully sourced, butchered in-house and cooked over fire for maximum flavour. Whether you fancy a steak or some of their famous cheeseburger tacos, good times (and meat sweats) are guaranteed. Grab a seat at the counter to watch the chefs at work or soak up the sun on their spacious terrace.

28-50 Wine Bar & Kitchen
With 30 wines available by the glass, carafe, and bottle, 28-50 is the ideal place to indulge your passion for wine. The list changes often, so there’s always something interesting to try. On warm days, you can sit out on the terrace and enjoy dishes like crab salad, seared tuna Niçoise, and simply grilled steaks. Close your eyes and you’ll feel like you’re on holiday.

The Ivy Market Grill
Escape the bustle of the piazza and rest for a while amongst the flowers and foliage at this glamorous all-day brasserie. The Ivy Market Grill adds a touch of luxury to every occasion, whether you’re celebrating over dinner or just popping in for cocktails. The menu is vast, with something to satisfy all your cravings – try the crispy duck salad or their famous shepherd’s pie.

La Goccia
Recapture the magic of Italian summer holidays at La Goccia, an all-day restaurant from the team behind Petersham Nurseries. In the warmer months, tables spill out on to Floral Court so diners can enjoy cocktails and small plates amongst the potted plants and fragrant lemon trees. As the sun sets, there’s nowhere better to unwind with a spritz and snack on burrata and zucchini fritti.

Radio Rooftop
From sunrise to sunset, this rooftop restaurant offers stunning views of the London skyline. You can pop in for a lunchtime lobster roll, catch up with friends over weekend brunch, or enjoy dinner and drinks as the sun sets over the River Thames. With a glass of Champagne in hand, you’ll feel like an A-lister in no time.

Tuttons
A Covent Garden institution for nearly 30 years, Tuttons is the perfect place to refuel after a few hours of retail therapy. Grab a table overlooking the piazza and enjoy a solo breakfast or a long, leisurely lunch with friends. The menu is full of classic crowd-pleasers, from steaks and seafood to pasta and fresh salads.

Best of the rest: You can dine outdoors at Tredwells, Barrafina Drury Lane, Shake Shack, Vyta, Ladurée and Aubaine Deli.

Dining elsewhere? Visit OpenTable to discover more of London’s best restaurants for al fresco dining.

Photo Credit: Thierry Delsart for Radio Rooftop and Andrew Montgomery for La Goccia. All other images courtesy of the restaurants.

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