Food to rave about
The best chefs and DJs are teaming up at London’s new hotspots, says Katie Strick
AT Spiritland’s new music mecca at Culinary pleasure is just as the Royal Festival Hall, the food is just important as the acoustic, says as important as the acoustics. Gillard, who’s used to serving up
The 1970s-feel late-night restaurant hearty meals between gigs in muddy — sister to the space in King’s Cross festival fields. Small plates include — has been designed as a “temple to griddled mackerel with beetroot and music”, where you can eat, drink and pork and duck rillettes, while mains dance in the same space, says creative range from griddled ox heart and director Patrick Clayton-Malone. slow roast lamb breast.
“We’ve endeavoured to create a space Leave room for the trad desserts: that combines a sense of intimacy Gillard’s steamed ginger pudding is with its own acoustic signature.” famous, and served with marmalade
Think rounded leather booths, butterscotch and vanilla ice cream — acoustic ceiling panels and bespoke the perfect side to a Thursday night velvet curtains inspired by the comedy session or Sunday jazz. NeN
West End. Nearby, Hackney rave space
Sound systems are Night Tales is a one-stop custom-built by speakerr shop for dinner and a expert Living Voice, boogie. Michelin-starred designed to permeate Umu chef Greg Round the space without has revellers queuing for being overbearing, his “katsu sando” from while food comes from new in-house, hole-in-theformer The Providores wwall-style izakaya bar Fat and Tapa Room chef BabBaby, and there’s a line-up to Moondog. Expect healthy,hy matchmatch. Norman Jay performs hearty dishes from sardine tabbouleh tonight and DJ Yoda is stopping by at to jalapeño rigatoni, washed down the end of the month. “Crowds come with quince highballs, negronis and a for the food and stay for a dance,” says choice of 110 wines. co-founder Jamie Rule.
It’s a powerful pairing. They aren’t Down the road, late-night Dalston the only ones upping the ante when it institution Brilliant Corners has also comes to food to go with music. In turned its hand to Japanese dining. Hackney, the old Savoy Cinema and Stop by for prawn tempura small Hackney Arts Centre has had a multiplates with a side of sonic seasoning: million-pound makeover as EartH the famous sound system is made up (Evolutionary Arts Hackney) arts of Klipschorn speakers — a cult space: a live music venue with food manufacturer in the world of sound from ex St John chef Chris Gillard and set-ups — and is helmed by astute Village Underground owner Auro selectors from the Dalston
Foxcroft. In the next few months community. Eat, rave, repeat.
Foals, Erol Alkan and Aldous Harding are playing.