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Welcome back to The Slice!
It’s that time again. Time for London to be decorated in all sorts of floral delights for the Chelsea Flower Show. And if you didn’t get tickets to the official events, we’ve got lots up our sleeve. From a gorgeous Baskets In Bloom menu at MiMi Mei Fair, to a Bridgerton-esque afternoon tea at Sketch (with a string trio as the perfect backdrop).
We’re also letting you in on the fun at Flukes, the brand-new games hall from Big Penny Social in Walthamstow.
And we indulge at neighbourhood spot Tozi, trying their signature dish – buffalo ricotta ravioli in a buttery black truffle sauce. Spoiler: it’s as luxurious as it sounds.
Read on for a whole range of recommendations for 24-26 May, handpicked as always by The Slice.
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This week in London
If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, here are 11 of the best activities, dining, and drinking spots in the capital.
1. Try floral delights at MiMi Mei Fair
Rarely do I gasp at the sight of dim sum, but the vibrant beauty of the green garlic, chive and chicken and ruby-red crystal morel trio has us snapping away on our phones. They taste as good as they look – and are not only great value but utterly delicious.
We’re seated in the chic Chinoiserie-style dining room, and we indulge in Sichuan Suffolk corn-fed chicken with cashew nuts – its kick of dried chilli is just right. Their vegetarian options are equally special, like the clay pot black bean aubergine.
Each dish is served with olive fried rice and crunchy seasonal vegetables (set menus often get you on the sides). For pudding, the refreshing coco mango vegan sundae felt just like heading into the Mayfair sunshine.
Baskets in Bloom menu, from £34pp. 55 Curzon St, Mayfair, W1J 8PG. Book here.
2. Experience some of London’s best floral events
Sticks ‘n’ Sushi
Best for: fashion meets Chelsea Flower Show
Sticks ‘n’ Sushi is embracing this year’s Chelsea Flower Show theme with a stunning installation of a floral display by the legendary late Alexander McQueen.
The sushi restaurant is drawing inspiration from McQueen’s Spring 2001 ‘VOSS’ collection influenced by dusky purple kimonos featuring exotic birds dancing through an oriental garden. To celebrate, they have launched a limited-edition cocktail, Kimono Bloom, made with Akashi Tai Yuzushu, St Germain and strawberry shrub.
Kimono Bloom cocktail, £14. 19-25 May. Sticks’n’Sushi Chelsea. Book here.
Sketch in Bloom Afternoon Tea
Best for: feeling like you’re in Bridgerton
Sketch In Bloom isn’t technically tied to the Chelsea Flower Show, rather it’s a floricultural celebration of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday. Enter through a clematis-strewn pergola fluttering with pages from Austen’s novels, and step into the Library, where a giant wisteria tree awaits.
In the iconic rose gold dining room, staff in Regency-inspired dresses serve afternoon tea, while a string trio worthy of a Bridgerton ball plays in the corner. Miniature spring delights on your silver cake stand include a daisy-shaped apricot tart, lavender macaron and an adorable mousse cake disguised as a strawberry. Even the iconic Pod bathrooms are blooming, watched over by a giant topiary Jane on a throne of ballet pink roses and lilac delphiniums.
Afternoon tea, £115pp including a glass of Champagne Pommery Brut Royal. Until June 1. 9 Conduit St, Mayfair. Book here.
Chelsea in Bloom
Best for: floral fun
London’s chicest floral festival is here. It’s Chelsea in Bloom, where you can gaze at 115 different floral displays across the streets of Chelsea. It’s the perfect way to soak up the floral fun.
Take in stunning installations like giant yellow wellies beneath umbrella canopies in Sloane Square and Elton John-inspired sunglasses on Sloane Street. The Cadogan Arms is joining the celebrations, with a floral installation, a special cocktail menu in partnership with Casamigos and an edible flower-topped dessert.
Chelsea In Bloom, 19-25 May. Find out what else is on here.
3. Celebrate all things floral at Crosstown
Celebrate Chelsea Flower Show with CROSSTOWN’S limited-edition doughnuts. We’re eyeing the Lavender Crème Brûlée, filled with silky lavender buttercream and custard, and the Pistachio & Salted Caramel Cookie Cup. The sweetest sip in town… available from all CROSSTOWN stores and online later this week.
4. Indulge in tasty Italian plates at Tozi
Go down the unprepossessing bus stop side of Victoria station and you’ll find neighbourhood gem Tozi. It’s a poster child for warm Italian hospitality, with complimentary fresh bread and gorgeous Sardinian wine by the glass. It’s all very La Dolce Vita… literally. They’re projecting the 1960s classic onto the wall above the kitchen.
Share your way through the cicchetti menu: delicate yellowtail carpaccio, fresh and simple salads, and a delicious selection of Italian meats and cheeses. Their springtime special, Rustichelle with peas, asparagus and Tuscan pecorino, is vibrant, green and earthy, but it’s not a patch on their signature dish: perfect pasta parcels of buffalo ricotta in a buttery black truffle sauce.
Continue the green theme with Tozi’s take on London’s trendiest ingredient – a silky, nutty pistachio tiramisu. Bellissima!
Cicchetti from £9.75. 8 Gillingham St, Pimlico, SW1V 1HJ. Book here.
5. Throw some darts at Flukes
Set in the upstairs area of the cavernous warehouse setting of Big Penny Social in the reliably trendy east London neighbourhood of Walthamstow, Flukes promises enough interactive games, craft beer, and cocktails to make for the perfect birthday celebration or corporate get-together.
It’s a bit more expensive than simply putting your pound down at the local pub, but the interactive darts board with a projector, screen, and array of games is a competitor to the likes of Flight Club. The design of the pool table area can make gameplay a little awkward with people coming and going, but the atmosphere and bar food more than make up for it.
Though the private karaoke rooms could use a lock (interruptions mid-warble aren’t ideal), the brand-new equipment and proper soundproofing mean this spot is likely to become justifiably popular.
Darts, shuffle and karaoke, £10pp per hour. Pool, £15 per hour. Upstairs at Big Penny Social, 1 Priestley Way, Walthamstow, E17 6AL. Book here.
6. If you’re a fan of south London spot Kudu, catch them at their old home while you still can
Peckham’s Kudu is getting a new home in Marylebone after eight years in the neighbourhood. This is your last chance to catch their tasty plates at the old location with their limited-edition ‘Best of Kudu’ menu.
7. Pastaio’s summer slushy series returns next week
First in the series is Christina Soteriou’s Sumac and pomegranate stewed cherry slushy – £1 of each slushy will be donated to Medical Aid for Palestinians. Available from 1 June. Find out more.
8. Try Honest Burger’s new fiery DOOM burger
Honest Burger has teamed up with DOOM to celebrate the release of DOOM: The Dark Ages. And they’re bringing the heat. The new DOOM burger features double smashed beef patties, double American cheese, bacon, sweet onions, pickles, black garlic mayo, crispy onions and hot sauce from The Rib Man.
Plus, chances to win prizes like two Xbox consoles wrapped in DOOM graphics, and more! Keep an eye on Honest Burger’s Instagram to take part.
9. Immerse yourself in podcasting at The Podcast Show
Are you a natural chatterbox? Can’t go a day without a podcast in your ear? The Podcast Show at the Business Design Centre in Islington features live podcast stage shows, 150+ speakers, after parties and even a chance for you to pitch your own podcast idea. Get your tickets here.
10. Experience the London Cycling Festival
The London Cycling Festival takes place this Sunday, and there are tons of ways you can join in. Expect bike markets, family friendly activities, and live music. Find out where your local events are.
11. See music play Stereophonic
The most Tony-nominated play (13 nominations) ever is back! After a smash hit run on Broadway, Stereophonic is transferring to the West End’s Duke of York’s Theatre for just 20 weeks.
The play invites the audience to immerse themselves in the process of a band on the brink of blowing up, as they struggle through recording their new album set from 1976 to 1977.
Expect booze, jealousy, songs coming together and relationships falling apart.
Duke of York’s Theatre, Covent Garden. 24 May-20 September. Book tickets here.
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