TABLE talk

A former El Bulli chef brings the flavours of small-town Mexico to London; there are new Asian flavours coming to Cheltenham; and barbecue goes plant- and beer-forward

Big things are expected of Cavita, the new opening from Mexican chef Adriana Cavita in London’s Marylebone. Growing up, Adriana was inspired by her grandma’s street food stall selling quesadillas, huaraches, tacos and tamales and went on to work with some of the world’s finest chefs including a role at the iconic El Bulli. She came to the UK to work as head chef at Peyotito, and then The Dorchester, and Cavita is her first solo restaurant. Aside from her own impressive background, she’s toured Mexico’s small towns to learn more about traditional methods. Downstairs at Cavita will be a dedicated mezcal and cocktail bar, while the restaurant upstairs serves a raw selection of the best of British seafood, with a special street food section. So you can go from Carlingford Rock Oysters with Clamato oil and jalapeño vinaigrette to birria taco, guajillo adobo sauce and veal bone consommé to a ‘Oaxacan pizza’ tlayuda with chargrilled pumpkin, Oaxaca beans, nacha sauce, Somerset cheddar and duck fat. cavitarestaurant.com

Luke Farrell has opened a brace of restaurants at London’s Arcade Food Hall Centrepoint: Plaza

Khao Gaeng, offering southern Thai cuisine – he spent 15 years in Thailand – and Bebek! Bebek!, his take on an Indonesian street food kitchen. plazakhaogaeng.com

It’s not only London that’s seeing a plethora of new Asian restaurants; it’s happening in the Cotswolds too, with Cheltenham boutique hotel No.131, by The Lucky Onion, adding Japanese-inspired Yoku to its offering. Now, within the walls of the Georgian terrace house, you can get sushi, Japanese wines, sake and other Asian dishes such as wagyu kushiyaki, black cod and gyozas. theluckyonion.com

More ‘live fire’ has already arrived in London, with Acme Fire Cult, taking a veg-forward approach to barbecue and using beer by-products, in a first permanent restaurant at 40FT Brewery in Dalston. 40ftbrewery.com

Finally, Butchies has added to its growing collection of fried buttermilk chicken joints with a newcomer in Ealing. butchies.co.uk

Clockwise from top left: the team at Acme Fire

Cult; Acme bring vegetables to the barbecue; Butchies are now to be had in Ealing; Adriana Cavita; Yoku, No.131; The Sushi Bar at Harrods