Welcome back to The Slice!
We’re getting our first proper heatwave of the year, and it was truly worth the wait.
With that being said, we know that you’ll want to know the best ways to soak up the sun. Who knows how much longer it’ll be around?
So we’ve got a round up of the best boat restaurants you need to be on this week, including Paddington’s Cheese Barge with an open-air upper deck and indulgent cheese and wine.
We also give you our verdict on Kokin, with a wood-fired menu of dreams, fresh fish and delicious cocktails. And we tell you how to be part of House Party’s very own Postcode Lottery.
Plus: We’ve got something David Attenborough fans will definitely want to hear.
Read on for a whole range of recommendations for 21-22 June, handpicked as always by The Slice.
Welcome to the Slice
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This week in London
If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, here are 13 of the best activities, dining, and drinking spots in the capital.
1. Embrace summer with Kokin’s wood-fire menu
Summer is officially in full swing, and what’s better than a BBQ to really turn up the heat? Kokin’s wood-fire menu offers the perfect combination of fresh fish and delicious cocktails, and I’m told it’s the first restaurant to offer wood-fire smoked rice.
I start with a crisp oyster with apple smoked celeriac purée and nebansu jelly, and a delightfully light homemade tofu with langoustine tartare. To experience the wood-fire menu at its best, try the grilled bluefin tuna collar with ponzu sauce. It practically melts off the bone, while the charcoal wagyu beef sukiyaki is a touch of class.
The real standout is the temae sushi, also known as ‘sushi made by me’. It showcases salmon roe and three kinds of bluefin tuna with wood-fired rice, along with sheets of dried seaweed. It’s essentially DIY sushi and perfect as a light lunch bite on its own.
If you’re feeling adventurous, try the matcha vodka martini, which is becoming an instant favourite cocktail of mine.
Starters from £4.50, sushi bar from £4, mains from £18, cocktails from £12. 7th Floor, The Stratford, 20 International Way, Stratford. Book here.
2. Try Venezuelan cuisine at Arepa & Co
By Kate Rice
As a total newbie to Venezuelan cuisine and having solidified my north-of-the-river status many moons ago, I had no idea what to expect from Arepa & Co.’s new Elephant and Castle location. But if there’s one conclusion I can draw from my time there, it’s that it won’t be long before I’m back.
Walk through Elephant Park and you’ll find a sea of green and tasty food experiences aplenty. Attentive staff walk you through each dish, explaining the flavours as well as their personal recommendations. Our standouts? The buñuelos, yuca balls on creamy whipped feta cheese with sugar cane syrup and chilli flakes on top, and the cachapa pabellon: a Venezuelan pancake stuffed with black beans, plantain, avocado and cheese. And don’t leave until you’ve tried one of their homemade sauces – especially the spicy, tangy picante.
For dessert, the options are creamy, chocolatey, and well worth a try – but so indulgent and rich you’ll probably need to share one with your date.
Small plates from £3.75, arepas from £11.25, cachapas from £12.50. Elephant Park, Haggerston, Brixton and Bethnal Green. Book here.
3. Feed your sweet tooth at Chocolate Dino Bakery & Cafe
Chocolate Dino’s motto is ‘lift heavy, eat cookies.’ As lifestyles go, it’s a pretty good one. My boyfriend certainly thought so, as he immediately bought their merch with the motto on – and after eating the cookies, he went to the gym and lifted heavy weights. But let’s get to the food: each cookie is a quarter pounder and always served hot. My eyes immediately dart to the orange chocolate chip (which is made using zest and no artificial flavours) and my taste buds are thankful for it. It’s tangy, sweet and complemented by the perfect hint of citrus. But the star of the show are the brownies. The recipe is 80% chocolate and 20% everything else. Expect rich, fudge-like heaven in every bite. Served with coffee and ice cream, it’s everything you’d want on a Sunday morning.
Box of six cookies, £24. Box of three brownies, £24. 36 Kennington Rd, Kennington. Book here.
4. All aboard to try London’s best boat restaurants
Caravel
Best for: indulgence
Floating restaurant Caravel, which means ‘small, light Spanish ship or sailing boat’, serving simple, French and Italian influenced dishes. Standout dishes include prawn toast with spiced tartare and confit potatoes with curry sauce. Expect hearty dishes and British nostalgia here, inspired by chef Lorcan’s experience from his time in the kitchens at Quo Vadis, Oldroyd and Rochelle Canteen, and memories of home cooking growing up.
172 Shepherdess Walk, Regent’s Canal. Book here.
Peggy Jean
Best for: Aussie food
An iconic part of Richmond’s riverside, this barge is the perfect spot for a summer brunch. Guests sit under pretty pink parasols on the top deck terrace and tuck into tasty Aussie dishes like sweetcorn fritters or the Dirty Daisy. And don’t forget to order a frozen Aperol or two.
The Boat, Bridge Boathouses, Riverside, Richmond. Book here.
The Cheese Barge
Best for: a twist on cheese
Float onto the double-decker Cheese Barge in Paddington Basin. With a seasonal cheese focused menu, serving everything from Cornish cheddar to curried cheese curds. And with the weather heating up this week, it’s the perfect time to get your booking in. Head to the open-air upper deck and indulge in some cheese and wine as you soak up the sun.
Paddington Basin, Sheldon Square, Paddington. Find out more here.
5. Visit new all-day Chelsea spot, Cafe Linea
An all-day European cafe, Cafe Linea, is opening on 23 June next to the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea. Its terrace will overlook the Duke of York Square. With a menu that changes throughout the day, we’re excited to give it a try.
6. Get half-price pizza at Base Face
Is there anything better than free pizza? Base Face Pizza has opened, serving up perfected crispy hits like the Cheeky Pineapple and the Manjamo 3.0. You can get 50% off all pizzas until 22 June. Book your table here.
7. Try the ultimate matcha collab, JENKI x Knoops
KNOOPS and JENKI have linked up for the ultimate collab for all matcha fans. The new drink blends 100% ceremonial grade JENKI matcha from Uji, Japan with KNOOPS sweet, creamy 28% white chocolate. No syrups over here, just real quality chocolate. And it’s seriously indulgent! Pop down to your nearest KNOOPS to get your hands on the limited-edition drink.
8. Enter House Party’s postcode lottery
House Party (created by grime artist Stormzy) is turning one this month. How time flies! To celebrate, House Party has launched ‘Streetstakes’, their own version of the postcode lottery. Apply for an invitation here to be entered into the weekly on the House Party Instagram.
9. Experience the new David Attenborough experience at the Natural History Museum
Calling all nature buffs (and Attenborough fans), a brand new Sir David Attenborough-fronted experience is opening at the Natural History Museum. In collaboration with Open Planet Studios and Sir David, you can expect stunning animations and projections, real-world footage and full 360° immersion. Get your ticket.
10. Make the most of the weather at Le Bab’s Camden pub
Looking for somewhere to soak up the sun this weekend? The Dark Horse Camden has just opened their terrace, which sits above the pub with the sun reaching it all day long. They’ve also launched a brand new open mic night, Vibe Village. Every Wednesday for the rest of the summer you can experience new talent, 7pm-10:30pm.
11. Celebrate the legacy of Windrush
A FREE Windrush Day event lands in Brixton this Sunday, honouring the legacy of Windrush. Head to Brixton House (11am – 4:30pm) for open games of dominoes hosted by the Queer Dominoes Project, and a writing room facilitated by Cold Islanders.
12. Stroll around the River Walk Market in Battersea
Catch the River Walk Market at Battersea Power Station this summer. Every Sunday until 31 August expect an exciting mix of stalls selling natural wine, artisan cheeses, handmade chocolates and more.
13. Ferrell’s grand vision for a Fire Saga stage musical
Given its joyful high-camp showmanship, it’s a surprise that the Eurovision Song Contest has yet to inspire a musical – until now. Last week saw the announcement of a new stage show based on the 2020 Netflix comedy Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, which told the tale of a fictional Icelandic duo, played by Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams, as they realised their dream of representing their country.
The production will feature a book co-written by Ferrell, and a score by the movie’s music producer Savan Kotecha. Given the film navigated a fine line between being a parody and a celebration of Eurovision, the signs look promising for a similarly deft tribute to Eurovision on stage. Initially, the show is planned to open on Broadway, but given the passionate Eurovision fanbase in the UK, we can’t imagine it will be long before it transfers here – so watch this space.
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