The latest restaurant news from across the Capital
NEW OPENING
A taste of the Med
Fans of Newington Green’s acclaimed Perilla will want to head to Clerkenwell this month, where the team have just opened their latest venture, a restaurant and wine bar called Morchella. Here, executive chef Ben Marks, recipient of the 2017 Food & Travel Breakthrough Chef of the Year award and a former chef at NOMA and The Square, is joined by head chef Daniel Fletcher, a Great British Menu finalist with a background at The Square, Sky Garden, and 28 Market Place, while seasoned restaurateur, Matthew Emmerson, former GM at Polpetto leads the front of house team. Refi ned yet simple Mediterranean style sharing dishes are on the menu, with an emphasis on the use of highly seasonal produce, sourced from both artisanal Mediterranean suppliers and small independent British day boats and farmers. Think salt cod churros to start; mains of hake with sobrasada; and blood orange and black olive portokalopita for dessert. The setting is a former bank set just off Exmouth Market; the aesthetic is minimalistic and stripped-back, with lush greenery, raw plaster and original wooden panelling. Warm and inviting, it’s a welcome taste of the Mediterranean that will have you dreaming of summer holidays.
84-86 Rosebery Avenue, EC1R (020 7916 0492; morchelladining.co.uk)
The menu is a modern interpretation of classical dishes from across the Mediterranean | Photography by Stuart Milne
HOT TICKETS
The wonders of wine
Oenophiles take note, The Stafford London has just launched an exciting new wine tasting series, hosted by head sommelier Eugenio Egorov in the hotel’s astonishing 380-year-old wine cellars. Built in the 17th Century by Sir Francis Godolphin and used as an air raid shelter during WWII, these fascinating cellars house over 8,000 bottles of the world’s fi nest wines. Guests at the tastings will be greeted with a welcome drink, before moving through to the main tasting chamber for an informative experience pairing two white wines and two red wines with delicious, matched canapés. The classic and rising wines of Italy are the subject of April’s fi rst event, held on 5 April, while Austria’s ‘wine pearls’ will be explored at the event on 26 April, and a Spanish themed night is planned for May. Not to be missed.
Tickets are priced from £77 per person. 16-18 St James’s Place, SW1A (020 7493 0111; thestaffordlondon.com)
PRIVATE DINING
Exclusively yours
Aragawa, the specialist beef restaurant that opened in Mayfair last year, has just launched a very special private dining room within the Clarges Street restaurant. Accommodating up to 14 guests, the elegant space on the ground floor of the restaurant has been beautifully designed by Dale Atkinson of Rosendale Design. Wrapped in a wall of over 1,000 wine bottles, it is the perfect setting for special events or unforgettable celebrations. Private hire includes exclusive access to the entire floor, a dedicated team with a private sommelier, alongside a bespoke and customisable menu. Diners can choose from different types of Tajima beef, all prepared in a style specific to Aragawa, broiled over Binchotan charcoal in a specially-built kiln and seasoned only with salt and pepper, served with seasonal ingredients, relying only on the skill of the chef and the notable ‘steak master’ Kazuo Imayoshi. A truly world-class personalised dining experience is guaranteed.
38 Clarges Street, W1J (020 3432 1314; aragawa-uk.com)
