Wagamama to Trial Vegan Menu — and More News

Wagamama trial vegan menu

It’s catching on. This month marks a big mainstream moment for London’s vegans, as Wagamama launches a dedicated plant-based menu of 29 dishes, of which 11 are fully vegan, such as pad thai, yaki soba, itame soup, and kare burosu ramen. Wagamama’s customer director Emma Woods says: “What our vegan customers want most is inclusion, and it’s the same with our vegetarian fans.” A third Veggie Pret opens in London this month, too, on former indie destination Exmouth Market.

Pop-up restaurant inspired by the Camino de Santiago

A new restaurant inspired by the historical walking route to northwestern Spain known as the Camino de Santiago, Pilgrim is running previews in Dalston, 18—22 October and 6—9 November, at 103B Dalston Lane. Expect Galician pulpo, dry sherry and — a wild guess here — coquilles St-Jacques? Tickets for the pop-up are £47, here.

Channel 4’s First Dates cause Paternoster Chop House bookings to soar

Heartwarming is probably the word for revelations that Paternoster Chop House’s takings have rocketed — up 25% this year — off the back of Channel 4’s First Dates show, filmed there since it first aired in 2013, report The Evening Standard. Maître d’ on the show Fred Sirieix is, in real life, GM at Galvin at Windows. D&D Group, who own Paternoster, will no doubt be offering to take out Sirieix.

Bubbledogs x BAO for Hallowe’en

It’s Hallowe’en! Soon. Tickets go on sale this Monday for a terrifyingly good party hosted by Bubbledogs and Bao in the abandoned train tunnels of Hoxton Arches on Tuesday 31 October. Expect hip-hop and disco DJ sets, and special dogs, including the Mexican Pitbull Dog (habañero salsa, blood pudding ketchup, fried crickets), as well as Horlicks bao for pudding. Sandia Chang of Bubbledogs is a renowned party lover, and she plans to reward the best fancy dress with a jeroboam of grower champagne from her private collection.

Corkage outrage downplayed by Adam Handling

Bit of a storm in a Burgundy glass over at Adam Handling’s Frog E1, where an apparently punitive and nitpicking corkage policy penalising lovers of big bottles or actual fine wines has now been desperately played down by chef/patron, who apparently “had no idea” what was going on. He said, “Regarding my company's corkage policy in all outlets. @FrogbyAH had not had there's in place, so yesterday wrong information was sent out!” (BTW, BYO on Mondays at both his restaurants, with zero corkage.)