Monday Bulletin: Bánh mís arrive at Arcade Food Hall, and Sheffield’s newest ‘grocerant’

Catch up on the latest industry news stories of the week from the CODE Bulletin

Shöp

Exclusive: Sheffield’s husband and wife duo Luke French and Stacey Sherwood-French told CODE their first retail operation will be a ‘grocerant’, a term no doubt familiar to readers. The couple, chef and restaurant director respectively, plan to open a high-end food and drink store in the city’s Cutlery Works food hall later this month, just a few units down from their East Asian-inspired fast casual concept Konjö. Called ‘Shöp’, the group’s traditional umlaut in place, the space will be most aligned with their flagship restaurant Jöro, selling much of the high-end Yorkshire produce Luke cook’s with, as well as natural wines, charcuterie, cheeses and more. By night, Shöp will sell wines by the glass and simple snacks, and will host flower arranging classes, knife sharpening workshops, and community events. Read more. 

Viêt Populaire

Chef Luke Farrell’s bánh mìs are back: Viêt Populaire is popping up for a second limited run from tomorrow (August 2), this time at Arcade Food Hall. Luke serves his baguettes warm, with a crackling crust, and fills them with pâté, bright yellow butter mayo, ‘head cheese’ (pressed ham with offal, tongue and fat), roast pork, fried tofu, herbs and pickled vegetables. As is customary for Luke, he’ll be using produce grown in his own tropical greenhouses in Dorset, including fiery chillies native to Vietnam. Traditional ‘phin’ coffee – a dark roast with vanilla and condensed milk – will be served in the morning.

Mayahuel

Mayahuel is the newest mezcaleria to hit London’s growing list of basement cocktail bars. Taking the space underneath Cavita, the chef Adriana Cavita’s recently opened Mexican restaurant in Marylebone, the bar will major in mezcals, tequilas, and other agave-based spirits. Tasting flights will be available for those who are new to the world of agave, served with small bites for emphasis of flavour: olive, dark chocolate, grapefruit, tomato, and grasshopper salt. There’ll be a menu of Mexican bar snacks, or antojitos, including a tuna tostada with ginger vinaigrette; chips and salsa; oysters; and a Mexican corn salad with bone marrow. Mayahuel, which shares its name with the Aztec goddess of agave, is now open for bookings.

Zeren Wilson on orange wine

Fifteen years ago, nobody was drinking orange wine, right? Most of us had never heard of it, tasted it, and none of us had seen it occupy its own category on a wine list. Today, if you admit you’ve never tasted a ‘skin contact’ wine – as they’re also known – you might be tarred and feathered by your savvier pals and deemed to be a vinous ingénue for not keeping up with the cool kids. Read on.

Rockfish

West Country seafood restaurant group Rockfish will open three new sites over the next 12 months. Tonks said the move will help to better consolidate the group’s supply chain after the purchase of two of their major suppliers, Brixham Seafish and Hillside Foods. The new restaurants, in Salcombe, Sidmouth, and Topsham, are all in Devon, and follow the launch of the Rockfish fishmongers in Brixham, as well as the fresh fish box business. There are also numerous other locations also under consideration as the group looks to ‘adapt to inflationary pressures’. Tonks told Propel: ‘We always set out to create amazing seafood restaurants using produce landed by local boats and small-scale fishermen. Covid allowed us the space to think differently, build a better business and focus on culture and our clear mission to be the leading sustainable seafood restaurant business in the UK. I believe the investments made this year in our supply chain and our people gives us a clear competitive advantage that will allow us to build a more significant business over the next few year’.

Henrique Sá Pessoa

Portuguese chef Henrique Sá Pessoa is set to open Joia, an Iberian restaurant and bar, at the new Art’otel London Battersea Power Station later this year. Henrique, who in his native Lisbon owns the two-star Alma, as well as the tapas spot Tapisco, will occupy the top floor and rooftop of the hotel, and will serve a menu influenced by the flavours and techniques of Catalonia and Portugal. Dishes will include grilled carabineiro, orzo bisque, and salted cod crudo. ‘It is such a joy to return to London having trained here in the brilliant emerging scene in the 90s,’ he said. ‘I love this city and I can’t wait to cook and share with the guests my take on authentic Portuguese cuisine.’

Josh and Holly Eggleton

West Country brother and sister duo Josh and Holly Eggleton have announced the launch of a crowdfunding campaign to support their new Pony Chew Valley concept. The restaurant is on the site of their much-loved Pony & Trap gastropub, which closed last year. The new concept will be a ‘produce-led restaurant, event venue, cookery school and kitchen garden’. A statement on Instagram explained more: ‘The Pony Chew Valley has undergone a complete physical transformation and this is the final stretch before we reopen with a brand new vision for our original space. We are looking to create food experiences that bring people together in a space to inspire joy, family connection and collaboration.’

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