1 | Machneyuda’s Polenta @ The Coal Office
It’s T-minus one month until the Coal Drops development properly opens up in King’s Cross, which will mark the area’s full – and seismic – transformation. But, in the meantime, enjoy a prologue at The Coal Office, which is very much open and just two steps away, on the banks of the canal by Granary Square. The imposing Victorian building (which, incidentally, used to house potatoes during that period) has been transformed in the most stylish of ways, by one Tom Dixon. The British designer is behind the interiors of some of London’s most fabulous-looking restaurants and bars, and he has relocated here with his own office, a shop, a restaurant and workshop space all rolled into one.
He’s working with Assaf Granit, the Israeli chef who wowed London as chef and co-owner of The Palomar and Barbary restaurants. So yes, the flavours you’ll experience here will truly make you gurgle. Among the small plates to share between you, there is the heart and cockle-warming Machneyuda’s polenta, topped with asparagus, parmesan and black truffle, Josper-cooked aubergine served with green tahini and pistachio, date scones spread with Ashkenazi chicken liver pate and sprinkled with hazlenuts (a billion times better than clotted cream) and the lunchtime-only Shivkia tuna tataki, which is fresh and flavourful with a big hit of chilli. It looks good, it smells good, it tastes good – what’s not to love?
2 Bagley Walk, London, N1C 4PQ, coaloffice.com
2 | All The Drinks @ London Cocktail Week
As of Monday, London will be awash with liquor, as London Cocktail Week begins. That means more than 300 bars and restaurants across the city offering special drinks for £6 each, plus masterclasses, tastings, pairing menus, and all sorts. The rooftop terrace at the Ham Yard hotel will host a lesson in how to use ingredients found in your garden in your cocktails with help from the World Class GB Bartender of the Year, Dan Warren. Elsewhere, there are Grey Goose espresso martinis at the Soho House-owned Barber and Parlour, and a most evocative-looking dinner boasting Grand Marnier cocktails and contemporary dance at Smithfield’s super cool Oriole. Hell, there’s even going to be a Porn Star Martini Townhouse. You read it right: passionfruit Martinis made with Absolut vanilla vodka, with a shot of prosecco on the side, all enjoyed as part of a multi-sensory experience including “edible treats and games”. That’s not until Wednesday, when things really kick off, so in the meantime, consider option #3, below.
1 – 7 October, various locations, drinkup.london
3 | Whisky & Wings @ LCW’s Johnnie Walker Dinner
Indian food and whisky is an invigorating combination, so join the premium blended Scotch brand, Johnnie Walker at flavour of the year Brigadiers, in the Bloomberg Arcade; they will assess your tastes so that they can blend a special bottle just for you, to take home. You will wash down pappadums, Masala chicken skins, BBQ butter chicken wings, lamb kebab skewers, Achari beef short rib and more with paired whisky cocktails, making notes on and scoring the drinks along the way. At the end, the experts will create a blend for each one of the guests based on their individual feedback, and decant it into a 100ml bottle to send you on your way. Winner.
Tuesday 2nd October. Tickets cost £75. For more information and to book, visit brigadierslondon.com
1-5 Bloomberg Arcade, London, EC4N 8AR
4 | Bread Zeppelin @ Pizza Pilgrims City
It’s the battle of the pizzerias this week, and on one side of town we’ve got the delightful duo behind Pizza Pilgrims bringing their fluffy sourdough to the City with a new restaurant in the shadows of Tower 42, opening this Monday. Rather appropriately, the building itself bears a striking resemblance to a pizza slice, and they’ve used the occasion to launch a brand new menu across all sites.
There’s still an ‘nduja one – don’t worry – along with the new Double Pepperoni (two types of meat and drizzled in spicy honey), plus the Bread Zeppelin, which is garlic bread gone hard-core that puffs up in the oven to look like, well, a zeppelin. And how can you not love a place that offers you dippers for your crusts? Choose between pesto aioli, ‘nduja, and white truffle. Finish up with the new salted caramel tiramisu.
If you’re in the vicinity on Monday, then you might want to linger strategically close by, where the oh-so-recognisable green van will be parked outside and giving out free slices. You’re welcome.
From 1 October
Tower 42, Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1HQ, pizzapilgrims.co.uk
5 | Real Brit @ Manifesto Pizza
And over in Clapham you have thin and crispy-as-you-like crusts served in a charmingly neighbourhood setting with some bona fide Italian charm. Manifesto is owned by Vittorio Maschio, who used to be the director of Natoora, which supplies fresh produce to the likes of Ocado. Consequently, the ingredients here are really rather good. There’s fior di latte cheese from Puglia, special flour from a family-run company in Mantua with which the 48-hour proved dough is created, salami from the nearby Pedrazzoli, and more.
Most refreshingly, this is a business-like place for pizza fans since it is a petite and functional restaurant opening onto the street, with a correspondingly concise menu: six pizzas (no starters or deserts), plus two of each white and red wines to choose from, some beer, some organic cola – that’s about it. Give the Real Brit a try: the aforementioned sausage and mozzarella, with peppers and cubes of roasted potato. Obviously. Here, you watch people fall in on their way home from work, looking for a friendly face (which you’ll get, along with a handshake), a soothing glass of something and a mollifying pizza. Or families having a treat. Or lone diners keen for a fuss-free but relaxing meal. They do delivery if you’re really too tired.
148 Northcote Road, London, SW11 6RD, manifestopizza.com
