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Highlighting this month’s most promising restaurant launches and culinary events, Something Curated takes a closer look at what to look out for and the founders and proprietors behind the openings.

 

Scully || Ramael Scully (Opening 2 Mar)

Nopi’s former Head Chef Ramael Scully will open his first restaurant in St. James Market. Scully, who prepared Middle Eastern dishes at Yotam Ottolenghi’s restaurant since 2011, will serve cuisines inspired by his parent’s Irish-Balinese and Chinese-Indian background. Wooden tables with black leather seats, and a marble-topped bar will surround the open kitchen where menu items, such as grilled octopus with salt baked avocado and baby beetroot jerky with green cardamom cream, will be made. Cocktails infused with spices from the kitchen will also be served at the bar.

 

Public by Street Feast || Henry Dimbleby & Jonathan Downey (Opening 2 Mar)

In two years, the Plumstead Road Covered Market site in Woolwich will be demolished by constructors. But until then, Street Feast will bring life to the area with its fourth year-round market, Public. Street-food lovers will be satisfied with the range of food options – from the spicy steamed dumplings served at the Yumplings stand to rotisserie chicken and gravy served at HENhaus. Drink options include classic cocktails, craft beers, wines, and even piña coladas.

 

Brat || Tomos Parry (Opening 12 Mar)

Chef Tomos Parry, whose seafood dishes were well-known for attracting an eminent clientele at Kitty Fishers, is opening his own seafood grill in Shoreditch’s Redchurch Street. “Brat,” which is colloquial for turbot, will prepare simple Welsh and Basque inspired cuisines over wood fire grills surrounded by wooden counter seating. Parry worked with local farmers and fisherman to create the menu, which will include lightly seasoned turbot, cedar wood sea trout, wild mussels, and more.

 

Mare Street Market || Gizzi Erskine (Opening TBC)

Mare Street Market in Hackney will welcome chef Gizzi Erskine with the opening of her first restaurant. Erskine’s menu will include “London Brasserie meets California Kitchen” items – wood-fired pizzas with spicy tomato sauce and anchovies, sunday roasts, and fried mozzarella sandwiches. Guests can look forward to not only dining, but also enjoying the florist, podcast station, and record shop that will be present in the 70-cover space on the ground floor of a Hackney building.

 

Tortilleria El Pastor || Sam and James Hart & Crispin Somerville (Opening TBC)

Machines from Mexico will assist in preparing fresh tortillas made from scratch daily at a new taco bar by Maltby Street Market. The 26-seater tortilla factory – founded by Sam and James Hart, and Crispin Somerville who also own Borough Market’s El Pastor – will serve their signature Al Pastor, with marinated pork shoulder, caramelised pineapple, and guacamole taquero. They will also introduce their first “sopes” – thick corn mini maze cakes that can be stacked with toppings.

 

Cornerstone || Tom Brown (Opening TBC)

Tom Brown, a former head chef at Nathan Outlaw’s restaurant at the Capital in Knightsbridge, is opening his first eatery in Hackney Wick. The new menu will include seafood servings such as smoked haddock, octopus, and pickled porthilly oysters. Customers can watch their dishes being prepared from their counter seats, which surround the open kitchen at the centre of the 46-cover dining room.

 

Ichiba || Tak Tokumine (Opening TBC)

Street food stations, Asian supermarkets, a sake bar, and more will take over 17,400 sq ft of Westfield London with the opening of a 200-cover Japanese food hall. Japanese Centre CEO Tak Tokumine established the department-level food station that will offer a range of Asian dishes that customers can try during their shopping breaks – noodles, sushi, takoyaki octopus balls, veggie tempura and sashimi. “Theatrical kitchens” will also be installed for guests to learn how to prepare Asian dishes.

 

Fortitude Bakehouse || Dee Rettali and Jorge Fernandez (Open)

London’s first bakery to serve a variety of sourdough cakes along with gluten free and vegan baked goods will open in Bloomsbury. Fortitude Bakehouse, founded by Dee Rettali and Jorge Fernandez, who are also the founders of Soho’s Fernandez & Wells, offers daily breakfast and lunch, fruit and sourdough cakes, teas, coffees, and more. The small bakeshop will have limited tables, as goods are meant for takeaway. Retalli also plans to host workshops on sourdough baking and slow fermenting.

 

Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen || Zoe Adjonyoh (Opening 7 Mar)

Zoe Adjonyoh has previously popped-up with her West African cooking in Brixton, and now she’s taking over the kitchen at Hackney’s Institute of Light. Since 2010, Adjonyoh has promoted African food and culture in London through her cookbook and her popular plates. The new dishes she will serve are inspired by a combination of her travels and old favourites. Dishes will vary from small, handheld items – oto cakes with soft boiled eggs, Zoe’s Ghanian red bean stew – to more sizeable items – plantain pork belly, jollof chicken, and goat shocko.

 

Stem || Mark Jarvis (Opening TBC)

Pigeon and coconut will be available on a menu in London for the first time with the opening of chef Mark Jarvis’ third restaurant, housed in a two-floor townhouse on Oxford Street. Dark tiling, granite table tops, and a verdant living wall, make up the dining area where guests will be served a unique combination of foods – smoked eel, celeriac, and white chocolate; pigeon, coconut, and salted peanuts. 30 covers will occupy the ground floor, while a six-seat private chef table occupies the lower ground level.

 

New Bar Menu at Lyle’s || James Lowe & John Ogier (Open)

The snack gods have truly delivered; Lyle’s now offer a bar menu. Pick from twelve small dishes like the smoky grilled mussels with cider butter or smoked eel, and revel in one of London’s most exciting wine lists.

 

Words by Ashley Barquin | Feature image via James Lowe

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