Dear
It's been impossible to ignore the headlines in the papers over the past few weeks about the demise of the high-street restaurant chain. While I'd never wish a business to fail, I cannot help but feel that in some cases it's been a case of larger groups remaining somewhat oblivious to independent competitors and failing to understand the change in consumer behaviour.
There's been a paradigm shift in how people eat out. The new generation of diners have a far better knowledge of food and drink, they want an experience and they want to chase trends. As a result, they're drawn to the independents and shy away from the cookie-cutter spaces. It will be very interesting to see what 2018 holds for the national restaurant groups – the sensible ones should be on a major fact-finding mission around London’s buzzing indie scene – but I think we're at the beginning of the end of large chains.
Have a good week.
Adam
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Brigadiers
The much-anticipated next opening for JKS restaurants is taking shape. Brigadiers will open in the Bloomberg Arcade in May, and will feature everything from chotta chatpata (fiery small plates) to whole suckling lamb biryani on the menu, which focuses on Indian barbecue. However this ‘tavern’ will be as much about socialising as food, with sport on screens, pool table, shoe shine and more. Bespoke beers and quirky cocktails feature too – across the eight separate areas.
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Public
Billing your latest street-food venue as a ‘stadium’ is bold, but then Street Feast is always one for a strong statement. Public, which takes over an 86-year-old site in Woolwich, promises the same party atmosphere as the operator’s other spaces (although a trampoline cage and a secret tunnel are firsts) – and there will be eight interesting-sounding food options when it opens this weekend, including new names Salt Shed, HENhaus, Lava Bar (from the team behind You Doughnut) and Rust Bucket Pizza Co.
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Agnieszka Josko
Flemings Mayfair has promoted Agnieszka Josko from restaurant manager to food and beverage operations manager. She has been with the hotel for two years, working with chef Shaun Rankin on the Ormer Mayfair restaurant and will continue to do so, but adds strategic planning, marketing and overall running of all food and drink for the property to her responsibilities. Josko had previously worked at Claridge’s, The Connaught, The Greenhouse and with Shaun Rankin at his Jersey restaurant.
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Holly Chaves
Tottenham-bred Holly Chaves has come home, metaphorically, to open her Wine & Rind cheese shop and toastie stall at the recently revamped Holcombe Market. Well-known for
her exuberant approach to – and expertise in – interesting cheesemakers, Chaves will be selling a variety of local and far flung produce, plus natural wines and local beers. CODE is lodging an early interest in trying Chaves’ Breville-toastie creation, a bread-based
cacio e pepe.
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General Manager & Head Chef, Monocle Cafe
We are seeking an ambitious and energetic, hands-on General Manager and talented Head Chef to join our growing team as we expand the Monocle Café into London’s West End and beyond.
Candidates should be familiar with the Monocle brand and have relevant experience in the industry. We can offer you the chance to be a part of this exciting and innovative business with excellent career growth opportunities
Click here to read more and apply
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Chefs & Front of House staff of all levels, Lahpet
Lahpet is one of London’s only restaurants to specialise in authentic Burmese cooking. After receiving critical acclaim in its London Field’s warehouse during 2017 it is now moving to a larger site in Shoreditch.
Lahpet is looking to make multiple hires over the coming weeks but with emphasis on CDP & Sous level chefs. This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing team as well as a restaurant that is bringing a new cuisine to the market.
Click here to read more and apply
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Mon 26 Feb
Tues 27 Feb
Weds 28 Feb
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Thurs 1 March
Sat 3 March
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It was all go at the annual Scotch Egg Challenge at the Canonbury Tavern on Wednesday evening. 23 entrants competed for the much sought-after title with the eventual winner being Smoking Goat for their Tamworth pork and fermented crab scotch egg. Judges included our very own Lisa Markwell, who is happy not see another scotch egg for a while.
The Dumbwaiter ended his week with dinner at the Colony Grill Room on Friday night. He was in good company at the Corbin and King restaurant. Gary Barlow, Paul Smith and David Mitchell were all in the dining room at the Mayfair hotel.
From Soho to Stockwell. Click here to read The Dumbwaiter's best bites of the week.
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