Catch up on the latest industry news of the week from the CODE Bulletin
Hot 4U
The team behind the Hot 4 U delivery concept will open a permanent restaurant, Papi, early next year. Hot 4 U, co-founded by chef Matthew Scott during the pandemic, turned heads when it became a pop-up restaurant, with dishes like garum pom bears and a whiskey bone marrow luge. Now, Scott and Charlie Carr of Wingnut Wines will launch Papi at a site in Mentmore Terrace, Hackney, describing it as a “natural culmination of a journey”. Read more.
Exclusive: Flor Bakery closure
Flor Bakery in Bermondsey will close at the end of November after almost a year of operations. In a statement sent to CODE, Flor’s team called the decision “heartbreaking” but added that it “will give us time to figure out what the future holds.” The bakery and wine shop opened in Spa Terminus late last year and was founded by chef James Lowe in partnership with bakers Helen Evans, who has a new project on the horizon, and Florin Grama. Full story.
Small dishes
- Former Noble Rot Head Chef Myles Donaldson has been appointed Head Chef of The Garden Museum Cafe, at the award-winning Garden Museum in Lambeth.
- A crowdfund has been launched after the Barletta restaurant in Margate was hit by a ‘horrendous’ scam that stole £50,000 from their bank accounts. the provider informed.
- Italian kitchen and workshop Officina 00 will open in Fitzrovia this week. “We couldn’t be more excited to introduce a new menu to this part of London,” said co-founder Enzo Mirto.
- Sushi connoisseur Takyya Watanabe, the man behind the much-loved Jin in Paris, has opened Taku Mayfair, a serious omakase restaurant well worth a visit.
- Tom Kerridge’s Manchester restaurant, the Bull & Bear at the Stock Exchange hotel, is reportedly to be replaced by a family-run pub group run by bartender brothers Joe and Daniel Schofield next year.
- Sheffield duo Luke and Stacey Sherwood-French, of JÖRO fame, are launching a cookbook next month, featuring anecdotes, insights and recipes from the UK’s leading chefs.
- Owen Sullivan, formerly of the Gordon Ramsay Group, has joined Bluebird Chelsea as their Executive Chef.
- After a successful four month pop-up at Ronda La Cave in The Hoxton, Holborn, Chet’s will open at The Hoxton in Shepherd’s Bush from 14th December.
Exclusive: Kids Eat Free at Rockfish
Southwestern restaurant group Rockfish will offer free fish and chips to kids 11 and under from December 31 through March 2023 to help “make fresh, sustainable seafood available to everyone” this winter. Rockfish wants to encourage families to eat together and further support the fishing industry in difficult times. Founder and CEO Mitch Tonks said, ‘We believe in the value of memorable family meals. Our goal is simple, bring families together this winter to enjoy amazing local and sustainable seafood on our doorstep. We hope our initiative can inspire others in the industry to take a similar approach – enjoyable meals are a key aspect of hospitality, family life and the values reflected in our business ethos.” Kids 11 and under eat free when dining with adults who purchase an entree.
Corrigan in Dublin
Richard Corrigan has opened The Park Café in Dublin. It offers a menu driven by produce available from the chef’s Virginia Park Lodge estate in County Cavan. Dishes include smoked fish and oyster dishes; a snail omelette with bacon, Parmesan cheese and chives; roast pork with wild apple and pickled mustard; and, of course, Corrigan’s famous Bentley fish pie, probably one of the best dishes available in all of Europe.
yes toft
‘I lost the budget. At least in real time. I was busy peeling potatoes at my partner’s pub, having temporarily closed my restaurant a couple of weeks ago to try and get through the winter. I understand there was a lot of back-slapping and bragging. Sigh. Late Thursday night after work I found time to read what Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has set out. As a small business owner in an industry that has felt like a scapegoat in recent years, I have no choice but to dig into the details and find out what, if anything, the government is doing to support me and thousands like me. ‘More here.
tommy banks
Chef Tommy Banks will close the Black Swan, in Oldstead, North Yorkshire, on Sundays, giving his team the chance to recharge with family and friends over the weekend. The banks will change the opening hours of the restaurant from Wednesday to Sunday to Tuesday to Saturday from next year. He said: ‘Our industry can be a challenging place to work and employees’ work-life balance can so easily be compromised. Closing the Black Swan on Sundays allows our team to take time out and recharge over the weekend with family, friends and loved ones, something I know is crucial for personal and professional development.”
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