The CODE Bulletin

Dear

Arriving in Miami last week, I ventured out into the sticky early evening summer heat for a stroll, a quick peek into the much-talked-about Faena hotel and a glass of Lady A rosé at Soho House. Then, over dinner on a heaving terrace of the Mandolin Aegean bistro – the temperature still 28 degrees at 9pm – there was a reminder how important the setting and ambiance can be for a restaurant. Trying to replicate something like this in the middle of a city that didn’t have weather like Miami would never be the same and nor should it. People should still have to get on a plane to dine in certain restaurants – after all that’s half the fun of travelling.

Meanwhile in London, the new edition of the CODE Quarterly is being distributed – do look out for it, there's plenty to read, even if you're not on a summer break.

Have a good week.

Adam

Joe's Cafe

An old favourite returns to South Kensington with the opening on 25 June of Joe’s Café. In the eighties it was a perfect pitstop for those shopping at fashion emporium Joseph (it is inside the store). Now it’s back with an update on the light, elegant dishes that made it so popular, although with new head chef Anupam Som, formerly of Michelin-starred Quilon, the influences are more global.

The Belrose

Just in time for long summer evenings, there’s a new pub in Belsize Park. The Belrose, on Haverstock Hill, will open in July serving Italian-influenced dishes and an impressive range of beers and natural wines. There’s a dedicated outdoor bar (for dedicated outdoor drinkers!) and all-day brunches and roasts on the weekends in the 80-cover dining room.

Le Chocolat

Alan Ducasse doesn’t attach his name to any old enterprise, so we await the opening of his first Le Chocolat shop in London with interest. With just the 21 Michelin stars under his belt, Ducasse’s ganaches, pralines and the rest are bound to be fabulous, and an interesting addition to the Coal Drop’s Yard development in King’s Cross. We’ll have to wait till October for our fix.

Deliveroo

Big news from the already big Deliveroo – the company has plans to add up to another 5,000 restaurants to its roster, and embrace places that have their own delivery networks
too. The updated system, called Marketplace+ will, they say,
mean shorter delivery times,
wider delivery areas and longer periods of availability.

National Restaurant Awards

Congratulations to all the restaurants that made the list at the National Restaurant Awards last week, celebrating the 100 most popular place to eat in Britain, according to a survey of experts. Kiln was placed first, a terrific achievement for the tiny Soho site, and Sabor and Core were both in the top five, proving views held by some on the dominance of male chefs are outdated.

London Craft Beer Festival

Yes the focus at the Craft Beer Festival is on all things brewed, but there will also be some great food on offer at the event on 3-5 August, at Tobacco Dock in Wapping. To go with the beers from 65 breweries, there will be dishes by Hoppers, Bun House, L’Onglet and Big Apple Hot Dogs. A bit more formal, and most exciting, is the idea of Tom Hunt’s beer-paired seven-course tasting menu.

Opening...

A big arrival in Fitzrovia this Thursday, with the official first day for ROVI, the latest restaurant from Yotam Ottolenghi. The head chef is Neil Campbell, presiding over a semi-open kitchen dominated by a Spanish wood-fire. The room itself has counter seating at the front and a large oval bar.

...and closing

Sad news for Islington, which seems to have had quite a spate of closures recently. Last week it was the turn of The Elk in the Woods, in Camden Passage, which had been trading for 15 years. The pub/restaurant has already shuttered – CODE hopes the team are moving on to new ventures.

Marianne Lumb

Many in the food world were surprised by Marianne Lumb’s announcement last week that she is to leave her eponymous restaurant. The tiny Notting Hill site has won plenty of plaudits and Lumb herself, a former MasterChef: the Professionals winner, is a popular fixture on the London food scene. She will travel and work in Asia with David Thompson, late of Nahm.

Warren Geraghty

Warren Geraghty has been appointed culinary director of hospitality behemoth Rhubarb. He will oversee the brand’s sites across London, including the forthcoming VIVI at Centre Point. Geraghty was previously at Galvin Pub Co. Rhubarb is on a hiring spree, having recently signed chef Dan Doherty for its New York venture in Hudson Yards.

Sales Director,
Teatulia

Teatulia is a single-origin organic tea brand from Bangladesh, launching in the UK in the autumn with a website and flagship store in London’s West End.

We are looking for a brilliant Sales Director to develop and lead a multi-pronged strategy for growth across the UK, in physical retail and online, and manage a keen, fast-growing sales team.

Click here to read more and apply

Restaurant Manager, Kudu

Kudu is seeking a charismatic Restaurant Manager with an eye for detail and experience of leading and inspiring a team within a quality restaurant.

We are a friendly neighbourhood restaurant in the heart of Peckham. Our menu is shaped by the seasons, creative plates and cocktails that combine the very best produce from local suppliers.

Click here to read more and apply

Frankie McCoy reviews Brigadiers, City

Infatuation London reviews som saa, Shoreditch

We can’t keep ignoring mental health in the kitchen

Paris bistros became symbols of resilience. But are they Unesco worthy?

Mon 18 June

Tues 19 June

Wed 20 June

Thurs 21 June

Sun 24 June

Molam Sundays at Som Saa

The good and the great of the industry gathered at the Hurlingham Club last Monday to celebrate Restaurant magazine’s National Restaurant Awards. Tom Brown picked up two awards – Chef to Watch and his restaurant Cornerstone, One to Watch – and the Sethis won Restaurateurs of the Year. But it was Kiln that took home this year’s Best Restaurant in the UK. The Dumbwaiter hears the celebrations went on late into the night at the Thai restaurant in Soho.

Over lunch at The Wolseley with
Loyd Grossman last week, The Dumbwaiter was introduced to his first ever Bullshot. Despite not fully knowing what he was about to drink, The Dumbwaiter rather enjoyed the classic cocktail of vodka and beef consommé. Cheers!

HIDE has no doubt been one of the most anticipated openings of the year – both for the food from Ollie Dabbous and the actual space it occupies on Piccadilly. And just up the road in Mayfair, a new restaurant called Rüya from Dubai has opened in a former bank on Upper Grosvenor Street. The Dumbwaiter spotted Dabbous dining there last week – maybe he was checking out the competition.

From Sloane Square to Soho. Click here to read The Dumbwaiter’s best bites of the week.

Roux at the Landau

Every day | 30% off total bill

The Nickel Bar

Sunday | 30% off total bill