What to do This Weekend: 20th – 22nd October
It’s so nearly the weekend again! How are you going to celebrate? With free doughnuts? Asian fusion? Avant Garde art? Whatever your tipple, we’ve got suggestions for you.
Harry Potter: A History of Magic
The History Behind Harry Potter
There is more to magic than Harry Potter, the history of magic is complexed, wrapped up in popular culture and religion. As part of the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the British Library will be unveiling rare books, manuscripts and magical objects from their collection that capture the traditions of folklore and magic which are at the heart of J.K Rowling’s stories. Among the documents will be the chance to see the gargantuan 16th century Ripley Scroll which tells you how to create a Philosopher’s Stone. It doesn’t all come from Rowling’s imagination…
Friday 20th October – Wednesday 28th February 2018
Where: British Library, 96 Euston Road, Kings Cross, NW1 2DB
Website: www.bl.uk
Mint Leaf
Diwali Menu
Mint Leaf Haymarket will be celebrating Diwali with a special menu that is available each evening until Sunday. Dishes include paneer methi – Malai paneer cooked with fresh fenugreek, garlic and tomato sauce; green pea and coriander shammi kebab; chicken banjana boned chicken tight cooked with onion, tomato, chilli and crushed coriander and hot gulab juman with cardamom ice cream.
Available until Sunday 22nd October
Where: Suffolk Place, Haymarket, London, SW1Y 4HX, United Kingdom
Website: www.mintleaflondon.com
Vegfest 2017
Vegan Festival
The number of vegans in the UK has apparently tripled over the last few years, so no shortage of aficionados to visit VegfestUK 2017. The festival showcasing international vegan dining, lifestyle products and ethical entertainments to over 15,000 visitors at Kensington Olympia will be in town over the weekend and well worth a visit for both vegany types but also anyone curious about the increasingly popular lifestyle. On show will be sushi experts, Happy Maki, cake-connoisseurs Vegan Sweet Tooth and Jake’s Vegan Steaks. Meanwhile the Vegan Comedy Corner will be on-hand to make you chuckle and art exhibitions, a cinema, the Teen Zone, the Environment and Food Sustainability Summit not to mention the collection of live cookery demos will give punters plenty to enjoy.
Saturday 21st to Sunday 22nd October
Where: Hammersmith Road, Kensington, W14 8UX
Website: www.vegfest.co.uk
Bluebird Chelsea
Autumnal Bluebird
The name might be Bluebird, but this autumn you’re more likely to see a pheasant fluttering out of the kitchen at The Bluebird, albeit one that’s roasted and ready to eat. The spirit of the season is upon the King’s Road restaurant with autumnal reds and browns on the trees in the courtyard reflected on the menu. Guests can snuggle under thick blankets outside or head in where the menu from Executive Chef Simon Gregory consists of autumnal warming dishes. Meanwhile the bar will be whipping up cocktails like the Woodland Revelry (whiskey, fig marmalade, chestnut liqueur and orange bitters) or the Fallen Fruits (pear brandy, vodka, pears, apples, apple pie syrup and nutmeg). Better get your wellies on and head down to Bluebird!
Available now and throughout autumn
Where: 350 Kings Road, Chelsea, London, SW3 5UU, United Kingdom
Website: www.bluebird-restaurant.co.uk
Carousel
Last Weekend to Try
Marylebone restaurant Carousel opens its kitchen doors to talented chefs from all corners of the globe to give diners a delicious culinary experience in a relaxed environment. And this week’s residency is no disappointment – gracing the counters is Tom Brown, the chef who has retained a Michelin star as Head Chef at Outlaw’s at The Capital for two years running. But there’s nothing criminal about the simple, delicate flavours of the seafood Tom serves, and his residency at Carousel will give guests an exclusive preview of the delights that await at Tom’s very own restaurant, set to open in Hackney Wick later this year. Keeping close to his roots, the Cornwall boy will be doing what he does best – seafood – offering the likes of smoked haddock, leek and rarebit tart, and octopus braised in cider, bacon, apple and lentil dressing.
Now until Saturday 21st October
Where: 71 Blandford Street, Marylebone, W1U 8AB
Website: www.carousel-london.com
Madison Restaurant
Book ahead!
Donning a witches hat and tapping our crystal ball to look into the future the one thing more exciting than all the tall dark strangers coming our way is the Halloween brunch at Madison NEXT weekend. It’s going to be all sorts of good creepy but you do need to book it THIS weekend. The all-day brunch will feature live DJs and a ghoulish menu including pumpkin risotto in witches’ hats, mini werewolf burgers with coleslaw and plum sauce, tuna tartare and jicama ghosts and cherry Bakewell tart with blood jelly and chocolate mummies.
On Saturday 28th October, purchase tickets here
Where: Rooftop Terrace, 1 New Change, St Pauls, London, EC4M 9AF, United Kingdom
Website: www.madisonlondon.net
The White Bear, Kennington
Because we don't just live for the weekend
If two of the best influences on your life are chocolate and beer then avoid the Monday blues by looking forward to a Tuesday evening spent indulging both passions. Brewers Founders will be hosting a food pairing event based around two of the most more-ish brown substances in the world (HP Sauce and heroin not included). The ‘voyage of discovery’ will be sensory overload with the masterclass demonstrating how the brewers balance hop and malt ingredients in each beer and how the flavour accentuates the pairings with various chocolates.
On Tuesday 24th October
Where: 138 Kennington Park Rd, Kennington, SE11 4DJ
Website: www.whitebearkennington.co.uk
