Diane Abbott’s Tube Tinny Inspires Londoners to Drink (M&S) Mojitos

Politicians doing normal things: Now a winning sales strategy

The transport tinny that launched a thousand tweets: Diane Abbott’s mojito moment on the London Overground has precipitated a sales rush for Marks and Spencer. The retailer has sold out of the premixed drink can that caught a city’s attention across several branches — including at Hackney Central, in Abbott’s constituency. This flood of supportive emulation for the Labour MP — including variations on the “I’ve never felt more represented” theme — doesn’t ordinarily attend politicians having the temerity to eat and drink things in public: George Osborne’s Byron burger, the bacon sandwich that sunk Ed Miliband, and David Cameron’s painfully stage-managed hot dogs cannot be held responsible for any product shortages. Worth noting that the hot weather over the four day weekend was also a contributing factor; worth noting too that the furore has led some of Britain’s political commentators to show themselves once again. [The Independent]

And in other news...

• The sushi chain known for its bright orange colour scheme and kaiten conveyor belt of sushi is ditching the conveyor belt of sushi. Yo! Sushi’s new restaurant in Westfield Shepherd’s Bush is intended to foreground the non-sushi elements of the chain’s menu: some stores also following the pilot will be renamed to Yo! Sushi — smaller type and all — accordingly. It joins Pizza Express in changing pivotal parts of its offer in an attempt to stay relevant. [The Times]
• Soho House has annexed Kettner’s Townhouse, whose restaurant was formerly open to the public. Soho House founder Nick Jones said just last year, ““We initially thought: ‘Shall we just make it part of Soho House? [...] but we binned that idea, because Soho loves Kettner’s.” The members’ only club and hotel group clearly wants to love it more. [Evening Standard]
• John Chantarasak and Desiree West’s pop-up, Anglo Thai, will alight at Robin and Sarah Gill’s Counter Culture in Clapham for a two month residency; a series of guest nights at The Dairy, the Gills’ most acclaimed and longstanding restaurant, will buffer the tenure.
• Food Standards fraudsters are trying to extort restaurants in exchange for a ‘new hygiene rating,’ in a very particular scam. [The Caterer]
• Head chef Sam Ashton-Booth has joined general manager Emma Underwood in leaving Stem, the Mayfair restaurant overseen by Anglo’s Mark Jarvis. Jarvis claims the restaurant will not close, in spite of the two senior departures. [Big Hospitality]
• Social media’s obsession with pretty pastel colours is fuelling a market for pretty, pastel-coloured eggs in the U.S. — this looks about ready to cross the pond. [The New Food Economy]