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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 ludic.
News of the week
8 March was International Women’s Day, which has quietly become something of an Instagram sensation — perhaps only Christmas and Valentine’s Days lead to a bigger outpouring of themed content. This time round, some posts were endearingly affectionate, some sweet and personal, some enjoyably carb-centric. As one celebrity celebrant might say: thx ladies!
Week of the week
It’s a curious wrinkle that we have a single day dedicated to women but a whole week dedicated to low-intervention winemaking. Leaving the problematic implications of that aside, London’s drinkers got into the swing of things in the buildup to the Raw Wine London expo, with multiple restaurants choosing to highlight a (slightly familiar?) set of producers that exemplified the philosophies underpinning the fair. Naturally, there was also an afterparty.
Feed-clogging event of the week
For chefs and other industry bigwigs, there was only one place to be this week: the much-hyped collaboration between Basque-inspired Brat and its source of Basque inspiration, Elkano. Shots from the dinner suggest a predictably mind-blowing time was enjoyed by all — the “spoilt” puns essentially write themselves.
Amusing evening of the week
[Wine app price calculator runs out of zeroes]
Impossible-to-escape ingredient of the week
Now that The Rhubarb Supremacy finally seems to be coming to a close, it’s only natural that hype-thirsty Instagrammers should be casting around for a new must-have seasonal delicacy. Meet the next contender.
Future Olympic event of the week
[Tags self]
Envy-inducing holiday snaps of the week
As glorious weather gives way to the return of stormy horror, it is easy to wish oneself elsewhere. Armchair travellers were spoilt for choice this week, with two of the world’s great cuisines receiving fulsome representation. Important question: what is the Japanese for the request / life philosophy “con todo”?
Fleeting delicacy of the week
Michelin-starred street food in town for three days is so 2018.
Should-be dish of the week
Ah, spring. Sunbeams, dappled light, green shoots. New life!
Is dish of the week
[Actually looks outside]
Shot of the week
o_O