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Welcome back to Insta Stories, a column examining the London restaurant scene through the often-problematic medium of Instagram. This week’s filter is cerise.
News of the week
After what feels like an eternity of heat-related delay, one of London’s most anticipated restaurants of 2018 finally (re)opened its doors. Thumbs at the ready: given the extremely photogenic like-magnets glimpsed in the short window between first opening and premature closure, this is even bigger news for Instagrammers than, uh, regular punters. Let the geotagging begin!
Feed-clogging event of the week
To Fortnum & Mason, for a verrry luxe preview dinner to celebrate the launch of the WAGYUMAFIA pop-up. Some of the scene’s biggest names enjoyed insanely high-end dishes, including nigiri, gyoza, and some very 2018 “sandos.” The last time the London restaurant industry shared this much beef, it was called Twitter.
Other high-flying residency of the week
Seasonal curiosity of the week
‘Tis the season for that most peculiar of phenomena, Christmas In July, in which brands grant a preview of their festive product range to a handful of select (and only slightly discombobulated) journalists. Cheers...
New Game of Thrones cast member of the week
No wonder the reviews are so positive.
Normal, in no way tensed bicep of the week
AKA flex of the week
Endorsement of the week
One in an ongoing series.
Dad of the week
The pomegranate seeds are on the inside, presumably.
Envy-inducing holiday snap of the week
Holidays don’t have to involve going abroad. Just an hour or so outside London is The Fordwich Arms; this is just the latest in a series of posts that make it look very much worth a day trip.
Dish and dish of the week
In the Age of Food Instagram, plates are just as important as what a chef ends up putting on them. Think P Franco and the glorious blank slate provided by its stoneware, think Neptune and its maritime design accents. Or think Xi’an Biang Biang Noodles in Shoreditch, and the Insta-ntly recognisable yellow ceramics. Virality beckons, and not just because the food is excellent.
Shot of the week
Look again: it’s a cheese.