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Introducing the leading Indian restaurant Chourangi. The restaurant first opened its doors in October 2021, and has been on a mission to take Londoners on a culinary journey into India’s explored cuisines from the heritage city of Calcutta. This is the first venture into London by India’s largest group of restaurant chains that now operate an impressive 130 restaurants across five countries! The site on Quebec Street, right by Marble Arch marks the group’s first excursion into the UK, following the much-loved, similar concept, Oh! Calcutta in India. Chourangi takes its name from Chowringhee, the oldest and most vibrant quarter of Calcutta, the restaurant brings alive a unique culinary tradition that has been born of centuries of overseas traders leaving their mark on this vibrant culture. As you walk in, the atoms hit you instantly, as does the warmth of the hosts and team. The atmosphere is electric for all the right reasons and the place is bustling. It wasn’t what I expected for Wednesday evening however this was a sign for what was to come during the meal. If you’re an adventurous foodie, this is the perfect place to dine with an extensive menu. The team also know the menu very well and recommended some of the classic dishes as well as some of their favourites. We went for the Lotus Stem Sweet Potato Chat, Nizam’s Malai Tikka, Grand Trunk Black Dahl and the Kosha Lamb. What a treat on the senses, from the depth of flavour, to the presentation and even the textural aspect. This was a cuisine I’d not experienced previously due to the lack of northeastern cuisine in London restaurants, but it’s a unique and impressive blend of British, Dutch, Armenian, French, Portuguese and Chinese flavours that have descended over a 300-year history. The innovative dishes and recipes have been carefully curated by Chef turned restaurateur Anjan Chatterjee, partnering with his dear friend Aditya Ghosh (Lawyer turned airline entrepreneur). Anjan and Aditya came up with the concept over a meal in one of Anjan’s restaurants a few years ago and it was Anjan’s dream to put forth the heritage cuisine of Calcutta on the global food and what a better way to do it than to showcase it in London – the food capital of the world. I’d go back to Chourangi and have recommended it several times already to friends and colleagues. Website: https://chourangi.co.uk Address: 3 Old Quebec St, London W1H 7AF Written by Kaya Cheshire Photography courtesy of Chourangi #Chourangi #indian #indianfood #marblearch

New Mediterranean restaurant concept CAVO will open its doors in Central London this autumn. The vast 11,300 square ft open plan restaurant and outside terrace is set to open in the heart of the new Tottenham Court Road Station development The Outernet in late November. Following the successful launch of similar concepts in Greece and Spain, London is the next destination for founder Ivo Dimitrov. Ivo has set his sights on the capital for his next and biggest venture to date. Cavo is known for vibrant, seasonal and local ingredients as well as the expansive culinary expertise the Mediterranean has to offer. Rustic charm. Fearless modernity. Uncomplicated deliciousness. They will be offering a fantastic range of exquisite food and drink experiences for couples, groups of friends and for those looking for a gift for a special person in their life. The offering and interiors will all be centered around Mediterranean culture and ingredients. With its genesis firmly rooted in Mediterranean living and cuisine. A 10,000 sq. ft open-plan restaurant and separate private dining room will see floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Tottenham Court Road from the 4th floor of The Outernet. An adjacent 1,300 sq. ft rooftop terrace will focus on oysters, seafood, Mediterranean wines and select champagne suppliers. For more information visit www.cavorestaurant.com Address: CAVO London, The Outernet, London, WC2H 8LH Written by Kaya Cheshire Photography courtesy of CAVO #cavo #Mediterranean #tottenhamcourtroad

Fusion is the art of taking the best elements from different things, mixing them up and creating something magical. This could not be more fitting to describe YOPO at the Mandrake hotel. The multi-award winning boutique hotel is known for its fusion of art, culture and design, so how does this translate from the hotel to the restaurant? Beginning from the sumptuous hotel lobby,  a path of dark wood parquet flooring leads you around to an extraordinary jungle-like underworld inviting your eyes to explore and your imagination to run wild. Green foliage and plush velvet seating pop against the dark walls and floor, whilst black candelabra by artist Marco Tullio Siviglia, seem to melt from the wall. The ostentatious centrepiece, “Showgirl” is a curiously brilliant ostrich created by Enrique Gomez de Molina standing flamboyantly proud in the centre of the room. Gazing upward, the ceiling is adorned by a mystical monochromatic mural by Peter-John de Villiers. Our brains are so flooded with curiosity, we almost forget that we are here to eat. YOPO’s menu, created by critically acclaimed Executive Chef George Scott-Toft, has been inspired by his travels through South America. The A-la-carte menu features small tapas-style dishes designed to share. Or there’s a lunch menu at £45 per head, offering three courses, oysters and 2 glasses of wine. We’d recommend sharing either way to avoid the inevitable food envy. Every dish that arrived on our table was a joy to see and eat. The grilled octopus was an almost hash like dish of wonderfully meaty slices sitting on top of the sliced potatoes with smoked paprika. We marvelled at the Iberico Pork Pressa, tender skewered cubes alternating between juicy lean meat and tasty pork fat, and silky mustard to dip into. One of the more unique dishes was the beautiful pond like dish of grilled prawns, swimming in a fruity and sharp pool of cucumber, avocado, gooseberries, lemongrass, ginger and coriander. The dish conjured up images of wading through a fresh garden in the city of Atlantis. Our deliciously flaky empanadas filled with rich beef and white bean, were perfectly accompanied by a juicy slow-cooked lamb with white beans and a surprisingly fresh and zingy guacatillo. The surprise dish, however, was the soft aubergine, coated in a beautiful sticky miso dressing with a crunchy puffed rice topping, sensational. Becoming quite full in the stomach and the mind, a fresh icy Pineapple Tepache and Mezcal Granita was the perfect light and zingy dessert to finish off the meal. For extra points, this is a zero-waste dessert as Scott-Toft uses pineapple skins to make the tepache. It’s not often we walk away from a lunch with a feeling of faultlessness, we cannot recommend YOPO enough! Use this as an opportunity to book yourselves in and be mesmerised by the creativity of YOPO. Do it, like….right now! Make a reservation at: www.themandrake.com/yopo-restaurant Address: Mandrake Hotel, 20-21 Newman Street, London, W1T 1PG Written by Rick Hartley Food photography by Nyla S. #YOPO #lunch #latinfood #mandrakehotel #centrallondon #latin

To celebrate their 50th Anniversary Copper Chimney is offering a unique tasting experience with the launch of their Autograph Collection menu. Starting from 10th November and running till 31st December diners at their Shepheard’s Bush restaurant can indulge in a culinary journey as a tribute to the founder J.K Kapur. Beginning in childhood J. K. Kapur developed a love of cooking, which went on to become a lifetime passion. Starting in his family kitchen J.K. experimented with spices and traditional heirloom recipes to create his own imaginative adaptations. He later moved on to open the first Copper Chimney in 1972 in Worli, Mumbai. Now fifty years since that first opening the company continues to grow and offer exceptional contemporary Indian cuisine, with many dishes based on long-standing secret recipes and traditional cooking techniques. The company was also one of the first restaurants to showcase open kitchens with live grills, a theme which has become part of their signature style and continues to this day, allowing diners to see chefs meticulously producing their culinary sensations, including their time-honoured method of stretching dough to create their handkerchief thin, Roomali Roti. Under its belt, the brand now has awards such as ‘Best National Indian Restaurant Brand’, ‘Chef of the Year’ and Best Regional Indian’ to its name, as well as restaurants across India, the UK and the Middle East. We visited their beautifully designed restaurant in Shepherds Bush, where they are showcasing the Autograph Collection. This extensive tasting menu offers diners a chance to sample a range of notable dishes paying homage to founder J.K Kapur. Dishes include Parda Chicken Kebab – chicken breast chops rubbed with turmeric and marinated overnight in a green chilli yoghurt marinade, Pudina Paneer Tikka a Punjabi recipe of zesty mint and coriander chutney wrapped around marinated cottage cheese and stuffed with a red chilli achari chutney, Subz Khurchan – garden vegetables tempered with garlic and chopped chillies, tossed with Punjabi spices, onion and peppers. Other highlights include Amritsari Masala – fish tikkas seasoned with carom seeds, tossed with rustic and robust Punjabi dhaba masala, Chicken Yakhni Pulao – chicken and rice cooked in a traditional stock with their signature Pathani spice mix and garnished with Afghani red berries. We also sampled the Black Dahl – made with whole black lentils and simmered overnight on a slow charcoal flame, like no dahl I’ve ever had before, incredibly light and fragrant. For dessert we spoiled ourselves with the Peshawar Kulfi Faloode, a delicious local pistachio ice cream, sweetened rabri, falooda and drizzled with rose syrup. As someone who is not naturally a sweet tooth person, this dish is perfectly seasoned and not too sweet, just intensely flavoured. A great way to finish off our richly spiced savoury courses. And don’t forget to sample something from their extensive list of cocktails and wines, prior to our meal we indulged in the rose and vodka cocktail whilst nibbling paper-thin poppadoms in the bar area, which is buzzing with guests and friendly staff, a great place to kick off the evening before being seated in the intimate contemporary dining area for our feast. The Autograph Collection menu will be available from 10th November to 31st December 2022 exclusively at Copper Chimney, Shepherds Bush. The perfect way to end a day’s Christmas shopping at Westfield. Address: Copper Chimney, Southern Terrace, Ariel Way, London W12 7GA. Website: www.copperchimney.uk Written by Claire Bloom Photography: David Parry/PA Wire #shepherdsbush #copperchimney #indian #indianfood #Westfield

We are Vegan Everything opens its second cafe in Stoke Newington after the success of its initial venture and will be giving away a free hot drink to their first 100 customers on November 22nd so form a queue now! Take your pick from Peanut Butter Coffee, Salted Coffee or hot chocolate made with peanut butter milk. The menu is a vegan foodie’s dream with dishes like breakfast Brioche and Save the Salmon Bagel ready to enjoy takeaway or eat in. Or try the Mushroom Roll, peanut butter and jam cookie or Festive Toastie. Wave started in 2019 and aimed to give customers a stylish, welcoming environment to enjoy their 100% plant-based food in. Founders Cait and Soph have had a range of successful pop ups from Camden Lock to Old Street to Elephant and Castle. Famous for their cupcakes, wedding bakes, brunches and event menus – these two vegan babes are certainly ones to watch. WAVE opens on 22nd November at 1A Evering Road, N16 7QA For more information visit: www.weareveganeverything.com Written by Claire Selby Photography courtesey of WAVE #stokenewington #vegan #WAVE

Contemporary Indian restaurant Kahani announced the launch of its new sharing-style menu in October and we of course went down to check it out. The Sloane Square restaurant is known for using the finest British ingredients that are brought to life with rich, Indian spices and Chef Peter’s culinary techniques, a must try for any curry lover looking for an elevated setting. The latest menu aims to showcase Kahani’s deliciously light Indian cuisine, with a brand-new small plates concept allowing for a social dining experience. Michelin-starred chef Peter Joseph is at the helm of the Kahani kitchen. Lucky for us the new menu has what has been described as an exceptional range of vegan and vegetarian dishes, as plant eaters this was music to our ears. We opted to start with a cocktail whilst we looked over the menu, choosing the SW1; Saffron and cardamom infused Patron Silver Tequila, Cointreau, Lime juice, Fresh mint and Apple wood smoke. Completely decadent and both delicious and warming, it was served on its own little tray with a honeycomb bite, the attention put into the presentation was a good omen for the rest of the meal. We opted for a selection of the vegetarian small plates to share. Berry papdi chaat; spiced chickpeas with sweetened yoghurt, wild berry & tamarind chutney, Pani Puri; Filled with sweet potato and chickpea, tangy spiced water in hollow crispy puri, Mushroom & cassava cake; with cumin, ginger and chilli, tamarind & date chutney, Saag Paneer; tossed with onion-tomato masala, puréed spinach. Served with a side of naan, pulao rice and okra, it was a colourful vegi feast, with a distinctive focus on presentation as well as flavour, colour pallets of reds, green, yellow and white. A great level of spice, dishes were mild as a base but with a fiery kick, making them perfect for grazing. My absolute favourite was the berry papdi chaat; with the sweetness of the berries and yoghurt balancing the spicey chickpeas, it was equal parts of nourishing and indulgent. We paired our main meal with a bottle of Jean Becker, Pinot Gris which was a great accompaniment for a fairly lengthy curry sitting; rich and full bodied with ripe tropical fruits. Completely bowled over by our meal, we found room to squeeze in a dessert platter which I highly recommend sharing as a finisher; a medley of Kulfi, Carrot fudge mille-feuille and Chocolate delight, almond brittle. Like the mains it was a balanced mix of flavours and aesthetic, tending to all aspects of the flavour pallet. Set in a lavishly decorated, dimly lit restaurant with smooth background music and interesting furnishings and decorations, Kahani is a great venue for a relaxed but somewhat fancy get-together, complete with a roaring fire in a stone brick fireplace. The food and service are of the level of quality you would expect in such an exuberant area (very high) and the menu caters to the full selection of tastes and dietary requirements. The new menu continues to feature the restaurant’s irresistible and much-loved Bottomless Brunch offering for those who love Indian food and want to slip it down with delicious prosecco. Featuring an unlimited three-course meal for just £43, and for only £19 more, prosecco lovers can have as much fizz as they want on top. Address: Kahani, 1 Wilbraham Place, London, SW1X 9AE Website: www.kahanilondon.com Written by Jordan Crowley Photography courtesy of Kahani #indian #indianfood #kahani #sloanesquare

Weekend brunch has been elevated to a special event these days, there are great themed ones across the city. From bottomless brunch to drag special brunches, you truly are spoilt for choice. If you’d like to try something different, get booked in for Dipna Anand at Somerset House for a real treat. The menu offers something for everyone – whether you have a huge appetite or not, get ready for your palate to be awakened. Dipna’s heritage is Punjabi with all her recipes handed down through generations of her family and her venture at Somerset House is celebrating its’ first anniversary. She’s had great success on James Martin’s show appearing with her father making her infamous Chicken Tikka Burger! We were served a tasting menu of all of the dishes available at this location only. Particular highlights were the Feta and Mango Salad, the Samosa Chat Blast and of course the legendary chicken tikka burger with masala fries. Dipna served a tease of the Desi Brunch – her take on a fry-up – The hash browns were next level! The staff and service were exceptional, the cocktails and mocktails complemented the food perfectly. The restaurant has been designed to relax in but its contemporary feel with personal touches make it a special place to eat. We’d highly suggest you get yourself booked in for brunch, we will be going back to try the Thalis before everyone else does! Book at https://dipnasomersethouse.co.uk Written by Claire Selby Photography courtesy of Dipna Anand #indianbrunch #brunch #DipnaAnand #indian #indianfood #somersethouse

If you haven’t yet visited the home of Floozie Cookies in the centre of Covent Garden, or even if you’re their biggest fan you’ll be excited to hear they have now launched a nationwide delivery service. Presented beautifully in the signature pink packaging with two drawers of melting cookie goodness, you have six different flavours to try. The package comes with a cute selection menu and a voucher for a free cookie when you visit their store. Each cookie is individually packaged so you don’t have to eat them all at once! Share with a neighbour, work colleagues friends or family. We tried the Cinnamon Crunch and the Pecan Pie and they really are a cut above the average cookie. The melting middle is stuffed with flavour, so moreish and it has the danger of you eating the entire box in one sitting… (Of course totally worth it). Book your order now at https://flooziecookies.com/collections/frontpage/products/cookie-box Written by Claire Selby Photography courtesy of Floozie #cookies #floozie

Walking down the dark wet streets of Soho’s Berwick street, we are invited through the entrance of a beautiful Grade II Listing building, into what appears to be the study of Wayne Manor. Following a brief welcome, our host nudges the bookcase to invite us through a secret door into the underworld. With its colourful history, Soho seems like the perfect location for a venue inspired by Gotham’s nefarious residents. We descend down a spiral staircase, where lights pulsating through the centre add a touch of theatre, and the Joker cards on the wall appear to follow you. Through the curtains at the bottom, we are transported into a large, art deco hall to accompany the wreckless and the wicked for an evening of fine dining and cocktails. The nods to DC’s most famous city are refreshingly subtle here. Those expecting a theme bar may be disappointed but we think that’s one of the strengths. Think more along the lines of 1920s New York glamour rather than comic-con. The artwork looks as if it has been curated by the Joker himself and adds to the dastardly ambience. An almost cage-like centre stage features music from the in-house performer who provides the soundtrack to our dinner. The menu is provided by Executive Chef Alyn Williams, formerly of the Westbury. We opt for the set 3-course menu at a very reasonable £35 per person including the signature Mademoiselle Marie Cocktail. The bright red gin-based drink is a little on the sweet side thanks to it’s cherry cordial. As we peruse the menu, a curious machine on wheels approaches, offering a complimentary snack of “Nitro popcorn”, sweet, but smokey in taste and steaming with liquid nitrogen. Starters is a delicate ham hock and chicken terrine punctuated with pickled black walnut. Perfect for mounting onto a slice of delicious sourdough. This is followed by 2 chunks of deliciously tender braised beef cheek and sweet roasted shallot. The accompanying creamy horseradish sauce adds a welcome moisture to the dish with a subtle punch. A side dish of roasted carrots, smoked almonds and crème fraîche is surprisingly one of my highlights of the meal. As we wait for our dessert, we are approached again by one of the venue’s interesting hosts, who presents us with Thomas Gainsborough’s famous Blue Boy painting. Batman Buffs may get the reference but for those who don’t, look it up. The painting is tilted toward my glass, spilling out a bright blue drink of 18 Patron Reposado tequila, St Germain Elderflower liqueur, Galiano L’Autentico liqueur, RinQuinQuin a la Peche liqueur, lime. We appreciate the theatrics. Full of food and cocktails, the dessert would be a welcome light bite. We made a special exception however, to a moist and indulgent panettone bread and butter pudding, dotted with melting chocolate and partnered with a burnt orange ice cream. You may not spot a fully-suited Riddler or Poison Ivy serving your food, but Park Row has more sophistication than that. It’s most definitely an evening to impress a guest in a stunning venue and at a very reasonable price. Book online at: www.www.parkrowlondon.co.uk Address: 77 Brewer St, London, W1F 9ZN Written by Nyla S. Photography courtesy of Park Row #AlynWilliams #DC #parkrow #soho

Are you known for leaving Christmas shopping to the last minute? Looking at half empty shelves and buying whatever is in arms reach? Getting the gifts no one else wants… Well thanks to Zapp, the 24/7 convenience delivery app you no longer need to worry about the last minute panic! Zapp has launched the ultimate premium Christmas gift shop, which is home to sought-after presents that are often sold out or hard to find including the iconic Fortnum & Mason hampers, Daylesford hampers, Harrods 2022 Christmas bear, Christian Dior fragrances, Louis Roederer Champagne and much more. If on Christmas Day you are still lacking a gift for that surprise house guest, fear not, Zapp delivers on Christmas Day as well! Win-Win! To order from Zapp for delivery in minutes 24/7, download the Zapp app on iOS or Android. Zapp’s luxury Christmas gift shop is also available on Uber Eats*. Photography courtesy of Zapp #christmas #deliveryapp #xmas #zappapp

Vegan junk food extraordinaire, Oowee, are smashing the Christmas-themed menu offering, with the release of three Christmas bangers across all UK sites including Brighton. We visited their Dalston store to sample their new burger and loaded fries, and marvellous Christmas trifle shake. A gloomy Monday at the end of November, this was exactly the comfort food needed to shake off those winter blues. Having launched on the 16th November and running all the way until the 4th January, it’s the perfect option if you want a quick food stop before Christmas drinks in the area. The Classic Christmas burger is a festive twist on their classic Crispy Chick’n burger; filled with crunchy red cabbage, a creamy stuffing mayo, a hash brown, crispy fried onions, cranberry sauce, and spinach pesto packaged into a soft and squishy bun. A big fan of the regular version, the cranberry sauce gives a lovely, sweet ending, perfectly balancing the sharpness of the burger, hash and onions. Accompanied by The Classic Christmas poutine loaded fries; a generous portion of fries, Crispy Popcorn Chick’n, stringy mozzarella, gravy, crispy fried onions, cranberry sauce, topped off nicely with spinach pesto. The rouge cranberry sauce and Brussel sprout green colour of the pesto gave off distinctly Christmas vibes. What has been named ‘the star of the show’, the Christmas Trifle Shake is the ultimate sweet ending. Oowee’s take on a Christmas Trifle milkshake featuring crunchy golden oreos, custard, juicy strawberries and whipped cream finished off with colourful sprinkles! It looks and tastes like Christmas in a cup. A great little spot in Dalston for a laid-back festive munch, Oowee continues to smash it when it comes to vegan burgers. The Christmas menu features indulgent dishes, which Is perfect for sharing, check it out before it goes. Address: Dalston Store Address: 50 Stoke Newington Rd, London, N16 7XB Website: www.ooweevegan.com Photography courtesey of Oowee #oowee #eastlondon #veganfood #vegan #veganjunkfood #dalston

Sam Harrison opened his first eponymous restaurant in 2005, having fallen in love with the buzz of the catering business at a young age. His passion for great food, locally sourced produce and exceptional customer service being an integral part of the company ethos. Sam has since continued to expand the brand, and with the help and training of Rick Stein the business has continued its success, going on to win various prestigious awards and opening of further sites around West London. After taking some time out, Sam opened Sam’s Riverside in 2019, adding a much-needed dash of glamour to the Fulham restaurant scene. Set overlooking the Thames, this stunning location was everything Sam and his partner could hope for, only to be struck by the Covid-19 lockdown just months after opening its doors. Obviously seriously worried about the future of this new venture Sam reached out to local customers for their support in keeping the business going through the pandemic, and as a testament to the loyalty of his customers, the response was amazing, by pledging to support the business once it could reopen, the restaurant survived and is now one of the riversides most thriving and buzzing locations, along with the added attraction of a Sam’s Larder just around the corner, locals and visiting customers can also indulge in delicious gourmet take-home cuisine and specialist ingredients for at-home dining. For his latest venture Sam’s Larder in Chiswick, Sam has fused these concepts, part upmarket deli, part cosy restaurant, Sam’s in the perfect place for a relaxed breakfast, lunch or dinner. The intimate setting is great for both parties and lone diners, with a simple, yet utterly delicious menu, where you can indulge in three courses, have a convenient and luxurious snack or take home something from the ready-made selection. We started off our evening with a glass of incredible bio-dynamic red wine from Italy along with a portion of Sam’s signature Parmesan Churros, which are pure indulgence and served in with the right amount to leave you wanting more. This was followed by the deeply warming Chestnut and Roasted Parsnip Soup, delicately decorated with crispy thyme and a dollop of sour cream – one of the best soups I’ve tasted in a long time. This was accompanied by a delicious crispy local sourdough. For the main course I had the Turkey and Kale Salad, which although sounds simple, had an immense fullness of flavour, the freshness of the produce evident in every mouthful. We also tried the Hot Pastrami and Swiss Cheese Sandwich with Sauerkraut on Rye, which was better than one from any New York Deli I’ve ever visited – totally mouth-watering and the perfect balance of salty and slightly sweet. To top off our meal we shared the Affogato, which our waiter kindly made as a ‘decaf’ version due to the late hour, plus a cheeky Salted Caramel Canele, which was not too sweet, just a great texture. Other sweet treats on offer are healthy power balls and rich chocolate brownies. Additional dishes on the ever-changing menu include a Wild Boar Tortelloni and Smoked Haddock Chowder, which we must go back and try. Perfect cuisine for these chilly winter days. Currently decked out for the holiday season, the store also stocks a range of gourmet chocolates and gifts for foodies. Go fill your stockings! Address: 59-61 Turnham Green Terrace, Chiswick, London W4 1RP Website: www.samslarder.co.uk/locations/chiswick Written by Claire Bloom #chiswick #deli #SamsLarderW4