Newsletter 25 July 2012

The Book Club Basecamp, EC2. 27 July-12 August

The Book Club will swing open the gates of Leonard Street car park for a stylish, alfresco pop-up complete with big screens to watch the Games and cheer on your team. The venue will have a British eccentric theme with flashes of neon, ping pong, table football, basketball, plus a paddling pool and ice cream van.  If that’s not enough, Basecamp will also feature sporting fun from The Social Athletics Club, live graffiti art, one-off events, delicious food from Street Kitchen and sports themed cocktails.  www.wearetbc.com

The Puma Yard, E1. 27 July-12 August

The Puma Yard will be bringing an authentic taste of Jamaica to London to support the Jamaican team and celebrate Jamaica’s 50 Years of Independence.  Supported by Appleton Rum and Wray & Nephew Overproof Rum, the pop-up will offer everything from live music, DJs and club nights to authentic Jamaican cuisine food stalls and of course, a selection of classic rum cocktails.  Sports fans can also keep up to speed with live coverage transmitted on giant screens.  To get in on the action register for free tickets at www.puma.com/yard

London Picnic Club @ The Skyroom, SE1. 25 July- 8 September

The Skyroom will undergo a garden transformation to provide a colourful roof top oasis allowing Londoners to retreat from the chaos of the Olympics.  Share and enjoy food and drink presented in the form of charming picnic hampers, take part in garden games, catch a variety of exclusive live musical and theatrical performances or stretch out on blankets and cushions to watch a classic summertime movie at their mini screen on the green. www.platterform.com/category/events

Afternoon Tea at The Glade @ Sketch, W1
Artists Carolyn Quartermaine and Didier Mahieu have been inspired by an image from an early 20th century communion card to transform The Glade at Sketch into an enchanted fairy tale forest in the heart of central London.  As you’d expect of Sketch, everything had been designed to appeal to the eye as well as the palette, with afternoon tea being the main focus of the room, although the space turns into a cocktail bar later in the evening.  Delicious delights include blue éclairs, pastel coloured homemade marshmallows and egg & mayo sandwiches topped with quail egg and caviar. Priced at £27 per person, the tea provides excellent value in one of London’s most exciting rooms. www.sketch.uk.com

Feast, SE1. 3-5 August

Feast is a celebration of London’s most popular food and cultural trends, marrying the best of London’s dining and arts scene to create a weekend of fun that doesn’t involve the Olympics.  Savour a menu of over 30 different offerings from London’s best restaurants, street food vendors and inspirational chefs (including Moro, Hawksmoor and Big Apple Hot Dogs) while you sample a selection of London’s best brews and experimental cocktails.  And with music from new breaking bands and DJs, plus exciting art installations, Feast caters for all the senses.  Tickets are £6 and can be purchased in advance from www.wefeast.co.uk

Copa Futbolito, around East London. 28 July – 27 August

Copa Futbolito in association with el Jimador tequila, sees six specially designed, free to play, Mexican football tables installed across the city.  The excitement kicks off with a weekend-long Futbolito fiesta at Brick Lane’s Vibe Bar with tables set-up in its shaded courtyard on 28 and 29 July, starting at 2pm.  The tournament will play out to a soundtrack of DJs with drinks from el Jimador – all players have to do is turn up and wait to ‘flick off’.  After the launch weekend, tables will also be placed at other popular East London spots, include Floripa Bar, 93 Feet East and Boxpark pop up shopping mall.  For more information www.facebook.com/eljimadorUK

Sushisamba, EC2

Located on the 38th and 39th floors of the Heron Tower in Bishopsgate, Sushisamba promises to deliver a unique blend of Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian cuisine as well as culture, music and striking design to the City of London.  Open daily for brunch, lunch and dinner, the huge 1247 square meter space provides a drinking and dining area for every occasion, including a bar, lounge and two outdoor terraces offering impressive views of the cityscape.  The menu showcases an inventive culmination of the three cuisines cooked in an open kitchen and fiery robata grill to provide roasted meats, vegetables and seafood that has made Sushisamba so popular across the USA for more than a decade.  www.sushisamba.com/location/london

The Hippodrome Casino and Heliot Bar & Restaurant, WC2

After a 30-month, £40 million rebuild and renovation, The Hippodrome has been resurrected as the UK’s first ‘international-style’ casino.  Designed to be the ultimate playground for adults, the mega-venue comprises a restaurant, bar and a dedicated live entertainment venue, together with a state of the art gaming area housed over 3 floors.  In keeping with its high-end aspirations, Heliot Restaurant & Bar has been designed to revive the bygone West End glamour with inspiration taken from the halcyon days of the Atlantic bar and Grill. Located over 3 floors and overlooking the gaming floors, the menu comprises of contemporary British brasserie food with the occasional nod to American classics; think Lobster fish fingers, Millionaire’s Mac ‘N’ Cheese with black Truffle and Beef Wellington.  The self-contained Heliot lounge bar is reminiscent of a classic gentleman’s club and provides a drinks menu that pays homage to all things Gin.  www.hippodromecasino.com

Lima, W1

Riding on the crest of the Peruvian food wave that seems to be sweeping London, Lima has launched to showcase traditional and contemporary Peruvian cuisine, with a particular focus on the gastronomic expansion that has taken place in Peru in recent years.  Whilst he’s not actually going to be in the kitchen, the restaurant has been launched by Virgilio Martinez, whose CV includes a role as executive chef at Astrid y Gaston, listed on the San Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants.  The menu comprises a “crudo” (raw) section that includes ceviches as well as regular cooked dishes. Dishes include Octopus “al olivo”, Lamb shoulder with black quinoa, coriander, white grape & pisco cinnamon and Turbot with an Amazon citrus. www.limalondon.com

Tapasia, W1

Tapasia is a new informal all-day dining venue introducing innovative Japanese-inspired tapas and cocktails to Soho’s bustling Old Compton Street.  The rustic and minimalist 70-cover restaurant is split over two floors, with an impressive bar on the ground floor and larger first-floor dining space.  Fusing European tapas traditions with bold Asian flavours, Tapasia’s menu comprises innovative combinations including Slow Roasted Shichimi & Kimchi Pork Belly with Apple Salad; Hand Cut Salmon Tartare on Crispy Gyoza Skin; and a Rose Tapioca Pearl with Coconut Sorbet.  The cocktail menu also provides Asian twists on classic drinks, including Chili & Mango Margarita and Pineapple & Thai Basil Mojito.  www.tapsia.co.uk