SUMMER IN LONDON | AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY GUIDE

FOOD AND DRINK EVENTS


CAROUSEL - Javier Rodríguez pop-up | 20th - 24th August


Taking the helm of the Carousel guest chef kitchen in the heart of Fitzrovia this August bank holiday weekend will be Javier Rodriguez, coming in from El Papagayo restaurant in Córdoba, Argentina.

Ranked among the top one hundred restaurants in Latin America, El Papagayo’s twelve-course tasting menu reflects the unique geography of the Argentine hinterland. This very personal project from Javier Rodríguez (Noma, Tetsuya’s, Restaurant Andre) lit the touch paper for a nationwide culinary movement when it opened ten years ago, and continues to inspire thanks to Javier’s beautifully executed repertoire of elevated serrano flavours like Langoustine, maíz and merkén; Tomato tonnato; and Roast duck, peach, paprika, pine nut and sweet vermouth. Javier returns to Carousel ten years to the day since he launched the restaurant’s revolving guest chef programme in August 2014.


CANTON BLUE - Sake dinner with Philip Harper and The Kinoshita Brewery | 22nd August


Canton Blue at The Peninsula London has recently launched Canton Blue Wine Club - a monthly series exploring the world of pairing fine wine with Cantonese cuisine.

On 22nd August, join Master sake brewer at The Kinoshita Brewery, Philip Harper, for an exclusive evening as you’re guided through six courses of exceptional Cantonese cuisine alongside a tutored tasting on Philip’s celebrating sakes, exploring how each pairing complements the spectrum of sweet, sour, savoury and bitter flavours that are unique to Cantonese cooking. Tickets £180 pp. Book online here.


ORIGIN COFFEE - Coffee latte art workshop | 24th August


Perfect your home barista skills at a Latte Art workshop with specialty coffee roasters, Origin Coffee. Learn the basics of milk steaming and try your hand at creating your own signature latte art as well as all the basics in a fun and relaxed class.

Based in its Charlotte Road coffee shop in Shoreditch, the course will run from 1pm - 3.30pm in the workshop space and is open to all coffee lovers. Included in the ticket price is unlimited coffee during the day and a 250g bag of Origin Coffee from the mainstay coffee portfolio. Tickets can be bought here.

THINGS TO DO WITH THE KIDS


PADELLA SHOREDITCH - Kids eat free | 25th July - 30th August


It’s safe to say that keeping the kids busy during the Summer holidays can make for a pretty expensive time, so, from 25th July - 30th August children can eat for free at Padella Shoreditch.

Indulge in Padella’s mouthwatering menu of seasonal delights whilst children can tuck into Tagliarini with olive oil and parmesan, Tagliarini with slow cooked tomato sauce or their very own portion of Padella’s much-loved 8 hour Dexter beef shin ragu on the house. The ultimate family feast that will guarantee that everyone is happy over the holidays, the Kids Eat Free offer runs at both lunch and dinner.


FORTNUM & MASON - Limited-edition ‘Eau de Nil’ ice cream


This summer, Fortnum & Mason’s award-winning Parlour, set in the flagship Piccadilly store, is serving a new ‘Eau de Nil’ ice cream. The limited-edition ice cream brings the nostalgic essence of Blackpool rock to London, with the distinctive Fortnum & Mason signature colour, 1707 Eau de Nil, and the scented peppermint flavour of Blackpool Rock sweets, adorned with a stick of rock instead of a classic chocolate flake.

Fortnum & Mason will be parking up bespoke ice cream bicycle carts on the Fortnum’s ground floor atrium at the Piccadilly site, at Fortnum’s Royal Exchange and at the King’s Cross St. Pancras outlet, where the Eau de Nil Fortnum’s ice cream will be gifted in samples to shoppers and visitors throughout the summer.


THE PENINSULA BOUTIQUE AND CAFÉ - Artisanal ice cream trolley


Make your bank holiday even sweeter with a scoop (or two) of artisanal ice cream from The Peninsula Boutique and Café’s bespoke vintage ice cream trolley. Located in the heart of Belgravia, The Peninsula London Hotel makes it the ideal pitstop after a leisurely stroll around Hyde Park, or a day perusing the local boutiques. Enjoy weekly-rotating flavours, including Raspberry; Mango; and Cookies and Cream.

BOOZY BANK HOLIDAY


THE AUBREY - Japanese brunch menu


Situated within London’s Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, The Aubrey offers exciting touches of ingenuity on Japanese brunch classics, alongside the usual selection of sandos, snacks, hand cut rolls and robata dishes. Tuck into traditional brunch dishes with a twist, from Tokyo Eggs Royale with yuzu hollandaise to the Matcha french toast. Or diners can opt for The Aubrey’s brand-new innovation, the Lobster soufflé omelette, served up tableside allowing guests to select their own toppings for that extra wow-factor. Expect impeccable tunes from a rotating selection of talent performing live DJ sets, plus bottomless cocktails and champagne to accompany.


LYANESS - Perfect Afternoons weekend menu


For those heading to the Southbank this bank holiday weekend, Lyaness - the flagship bar from the world’s most decorated bartender Ryan Chetiyawardana, aka Mr Lyan - has created the perfect pause for those exploring the area.


Available each Saturday and Sunday from 12pm - 4pm and priced at £30, the Perfect Afternoons menu celebrates the bar’s idyllic location on the Thames and the cultural institutions that surround it. Think light bites including English coastal oysters served with Lyaness’ Black currant mignonette; Space Raider devilled eggs; and Pan con tomate, paired alongside a selection of Lyaness’ world-renowned cocktails. The ideal accompaniments to a perfect afternoon along the Southbank.


SEED LIBRARY - Cavita pop-up


For its latest collaboration, Seed Library - the neighbourhood shoreditch bar by Mr Lyan and team - has teamed up with critically-acclaimed Mexican restaurant, Cavita. Running until 1st September, the menu will showcase the cuisine of Cavita Chef Patron and Co-Founder Adriana Cavita’s Mexican heritage, paying homage to the traditional ingredients and cooking techniques employed by generations of cooks before her. Expect Mexican favourites including Tacos al Pastor and Baja Fish Tacos, paired alongside Seed Library’s limited-edition C.R.E.A.M Margarita, featuring Tequila, strawberry cream, lime, Capreolus Perry Pear and coffee leaf.


WHERE TO GET AWAY FROM THE CROWDS


BROOKLANDS BY CLAUDE BOSI - Rooftop terrace dining


Sat atop of The Peninsula London, Claude Bosi’s two Michelin-starred restaurant, Brooklands, boasts unmatched views from its 26-cover terrace which wraps around the bar and restaurant. The terrace is the perfect destination to enjoy balmy summer nights, savouring the final minutes of sun as it sets in technicolour over Hyde Park, Knightsbridge and Belgravia.

At Brooklands Bar, guests can enjoy drinks such as the Calabria, an elevated take on the classic Margarita that uses notes of Calabrian chilli, orange and cinnamon, promising a truly unforgettable experience.


THE LOBBY, THE PENINSULA LONDON - Afternoon tea


Nestled in the heart of Belgravia, The Lobby at The Peninsula London offers an oasis of calm and refinement for those looking to escape the crowds this August bank holiday.


The hotel’s signature Afternoon Tea highlights the finest of British ingredients, featuring delicate, savoury bites such as Coronation chicken croquettes and Salmon rillette, alongside finger sandwiches of Smoked lobster Mary Rose and Roast Beef with mustard mayonnaise. A line-up of exquisite, sweet offerings are include Matcha and cherry cake, alongside fresh, warm scones served with Dorset clotted cream, house-made strawberry and mint jam, and orange marmalade.

WEEKEND AT HOME


DISHOOM - At-home BBQ kit


Looking for the perfect barbecue kit this summer? Look no further! Dishoom’s much-loved Summer Barbecue Boxes are back, and this time there is both a meaty and a vegetarian box, designed to make hosting a breeze.

The Summer Barbecue Box (£55) is a selection of ready marinated grills serving up to four people, the perfect kit for a laid-back backyard bbq. Inside the box expect a selection of meats including Lamb Chops marinated in warm dark spices, ginger, garlic and lime juice, Murgh Malai, Dishoom’s cherished Chicken Tikka and Kebab Masala - all to create a truly flavoursome feast. For a vegetarian spread, opt for the Vegetarian Summer BBQ Box (£35) for most-pleasing summertime meals, with ready-marinated Soya Chaap & Pineapple Tikka, Paneer Tikka and Butter Bhutta (corn-on-the-cob). Suitable for cooking on a barbecue, an outdoor pizza oven or if the weather fails, indoors, under the grill.

For more information please contact jessica@gemmabellandcompany.com.