72-Year-Old Restaurant ‘Innovates’ by Repackaging Vegetarian Menu Items

Basing things on plants: The latest

Franco’s — resident on Jermyn Street since 1946 and believed to be one of London’s first Italian restaurants — is the latest to begin explicitly basing things on plants. Which is, in other words, repackaging straightforward vegetarian and vegan menu items. The “innovative dishes” include: roasted aubergine with spicy tomato sauce and basil oil; beetroot, rocket and mozzarella salad; and fennel, black olive and orange salad. Cacio e pepe also features, because it is 2018.

Renowned festive cocktail bar pop-up will make London debut

Miracle, the cocktail bar pop-up that trades in kitschy decoration and festive nostalgia, will make its London debut for Christmas 2018 at the Henrietta Hotel in Covent Garden. The bar has partnered with Experimental Group for the transatlantic appearance, which will begin 23 November. Drinks include a Snowball Old Fashioned made with butterscotch rye, spiced demerara syrup, and wormwood bitters, and And A Partridge In A Pear Tree, highlighting reposado tequila, pear brandy, and mezcal. Expect this sort of decoration.

Struggling burger chain admits monumental six month loss

Gourmet Burger Kitchen, the long-time struggling burger chain, posted a £2.6 million operating loss for the first six months of the year, according to MCA. Further reports in The Times suggest that a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA) is imminent — the same restructuring plan that saw Jamie’s Italian, Byron, Carluccio’s and Gaucho negotiate closures.

Food writing salon ‘Voices at the Table’ announces tenth event

Voices at the Table will release tickets for its tenth edition this Thursday 18 October. The popular food writing salon will be hosted by Fortnum and Mason in Piccadilly on 7 November, featuring Kitty Travers of celebrated La Grotta Ices, poet Nikita Gill, St Leonards co-owner Jackson Boxer, award-winning food writer Elisabeth Luard, and current Financial Times restaurant critic Tim Hayward, among others. On sale here, 11am Thursday.

High-street Mexican chain exceeds ‘burrito bond’ target

Chilango intends to overfund for at least 48 days after passing its £1 million target in 24 hours. The Mexican chain has 10 London sites, with plans to open at least five more through this funding. London restaurant contemporaries The Cheese Bar and Monty’s Deli have also recently secured funding; Chilango will base the scope of its own expansion on the amount of additional money raised, according to Big Hospitality.