1 | Upgrade Your Takeaway Favourites: Mei Ume
The Four Seasons Trinity Square is a stunner of a hotel housed in the former Port of London Authority, which was also used in James Bond film Skyfall. The first restaurant to open inside, La Dame De Pic, does classical French cuisine with an impish twist and now the second, Mei Ume, is doing much the same with Chinese and Japanese. Note: this is not fusion food but, yes, there are both Chinese and Japanese sections of the menu. No need to decide why.
Opt for yellowfin carpaccio doused in a truffle ponzu that fills the air with a rich aroma whilst making your cheeks pucker as a Tangfastic might, and delicate but colourful dim sum platters. Then there is an extraordinarily tender beef fillet done stir-fry style and some jazzed up Dover sole with lemongrass and chilli. Or if you're in the mood for a feast, order the Peking duck, which does for two courses: the first in pancakes that are made at your table, the second in a salad. And somewhere along the way, there is some funky sushi to fit in (parmesan on that tuna roll?). The place looks best come nightfall.
Four Seasons Hotel at Ten Trinity Square, 10 Trinity Square, London, EC3N 4AJ; meiume.com
2 | Support Andy Murray… With A Curry: Tandoor Chop House
What rhymes with Murray? Curry! So the poetic lot at the Tandoor Chop House have taken the Scottish tennis player as their inspiration for the Wimbledon item on their specials board: The Andy Murray Curry. Available until the end of the tournament, this ghurka curry consists of Scottish beef short rib, tandoor paneer and crispy noodles served on a naan. For those of you not enticed by the tennis-themed afternoon teas currently prevailing, seek out this take on the Brits' adopted favourite dish. As always in this delightful little eatery, kick off with a G&T (we recommend the Sipsmith one, served with rhubarb and an elderflower tonic) and some onion bhaji rings.
£12; until 15th July
8 Adelaide Street, London, WC2N 4HZ; tandoorchophouse.com
3 | Go For Mind-Blowing Cocktails: City Social
It's not just the food that sets Jason Atherton's establishments apart: the drinks are always astounding too. But there's good, there's great, and then there's a whole other level, which is what the new cocktail menu at City Social is on. And we mean that literally, since MIRAGE is not just a menu but an app too; download it for free and then, when your drink is placed in front of you, hold your phone up as if to take a photo of it (that will simply be reflex for many). Each concoction is served on a bespoke coaster, which will trigger an augmented reality on your screen that takes you into that drink's very own world, within a specific artistic period.
The Sashay, for instance, will take you back to The Belle Époque, with a showgirl sipping on champagne (made slightly umami with plum wine, liquorice, bitters and jasmine) and blowing you kisses. The Huracan will introduce you to the Aztec gods, who fight one another whilst you sup on Ron Zacapa rum with walnut, sherry, salted honey and a whiff of cocoa nibs. The Mild, Mild West (no guesses where that takes you) has Bulleit Rye whiskey with a gentle white wine, watermelon and pickled cactus, and the list goes on. Forget the cinema – this is way more fun and the drinks a billion times better.
Tower 42, 25 Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1HQ; citysociallondon.com
4 | Investigate The New Food Quarter: St James's Market Festival
The eagle-eyed amongst you will have noticed a plethora of restaurants very slowly, but very surely opening up just below Piccadilly. There's New York import Aquavit, serving beautiful Nordic food, there's Duck & Waffle Local, which is the more informal younger sibling of the famous 24-hour breakfasting spot, there are to-die-for cinnamon buns to go with your morning coffee at Danish bakery Ole & Steen, smart Italian food at Veneta, and more. This weekend is the area's official launch, and so Classic FM are putting on live music acts, the zone's shops will have special offers on, and the restaurants will be taking turns to serve at a pop-up bar in the communal courtyard to provide drinks and nibbles for the three-day long party.
Until 9th July, 5-8pm
Lower Regent Street, London, SW1Y 4AH; sjmkt.com
5 | Enjoy Summer Vibes: Foodies Festival, Blackheath
Street food stalls, Prosecco trucks, rum busses, portable giant Pimm's teapots – they've got it all at this weekend's Foodies Festival, taking place on Blackheath. Luckily, the weather looks set to hold out until Monday, which means that you can take full advantage of the event, which includes masterclasses, live demonstrations and the like. But there will also, quite simply, be a lot of food, wine and good things to fill yourselves up on, so take this as your cue.
Until 9th July, 11am-7pm
Circus Field, Blackheath, London, SE10 8QY; foodiesfestival.com
