Food & Drink
Carte Blanche, Hackney Central, restaurant review: a meal of two halves
Our reviewer was wowed by the sides and curios on offer at this new Mare Street restaurant – but the chicken and caviar was a bridge too far
Read More‘Deities, not dinner’: Hackney and a plant-based past
Our resident food historian Gillian Riley points out that the vivid, varied vegan food we can now enjoy around the borough is rooted in traditions from hundreds of years ago
Read MorePicnicking on petals: the history of edible flowers in Hackney
“The time has come to brighten up our food with cheerful blossoms,” says our resident food historian Gillian Riley, who this month looks into Hackney’s role in the development of consumable blooms…
Read More‘The Empire was a commonwealth of recipes…Britain was fortunate in having access to many of them’
With Windrush in mind, our resident food historian considers the folly, from a culinary angle and otherwise, of the idea of vital ingredients ‘going back where they came from’…
Read MorePamela, Dalston, restaurant review: Asian-inspired vegan menu with no Ayres and graces
The Kingsland Road bar that honours all the world’s Pams has seen a selection of famous London pop-ups pass through their kitchen. Now, they’ve set out their own stall
Read MoreGoose Island Brewery in hunt for local beer talent as new Shoreditch brewpub given summer opening date
The Chicago-based sud-slingers – who produce Barack Obama’s favourite pint – have some perks in store for their new brewmaster, who’ll work at their first East London haunt
Read MoreOpen Geffrye: Museum of the Home pauses closure for Chelsea Fringe and cheese events
While the museum itself remains closed, Chelsea Fringe at the Geffrye and The London Cheese Project both touch down in the front gardens next month
Read MoreWhere have you bean? Gillian Riley with more on legumes, seeds and all manner of other pulchritudinous pods
Our beloved food historian hits us with an update of last month’s broad (bean) overview, featuring some localised info for Hackney citizens
Read MoreZoe’s Ghana Kitchen, food review: London Fields cinema gets a taste of West Africa
The Institute of Light on Helmsley Place has a new pop-up that offers “traditional Ghanaian recipes remixed for the modern kitchen”
Read MoreShep’s, Dalston, restaurant review: Kingsland Road mavericks of Korean cuisine deliver exquisite Seoul food
Our reviewer was entranced by pretty much everything this new addition to Dalston had to offer – the food, weird and wonderful drinks pairings, even the music
Read MoreHomerton International Festival of Beer & Bar Snacks coming to The Adam & Eve
Smoking Goat will be on the BBQ, Nadine Shah and Anna Prior of Metronomy on the decks and, of course, there’ll be snacks galore over this Easter weekend at the Homerton pub
Read MoreBeans, pulses, nuts, peas and seeds: it’s the little things
Our resident food historian takes a historical view of the newly ‘rehabilitated’ ingredients. Whether scrubbed, peeled or dried, these versatile morsels are more than meets the eye
Read MoreGul & Sepoy, Whitechapel, restaurant review: Indian small plates with some big ideas
The team behind Spitalfields’ Gunpowder have diverged from more standard Indian culinary paths, to bring their sometimes frustrating but ultimately rewarding dishes to East London
Read MoreFood to a-door: Chats Palace to host supper club and market to raise money for new entrance
The former Homerton Library has been a venue and creative hub since 1976 but the frontage has barely changed in 100 years – find out how you can help through fun and feasting
Read MoreVictory Mansion/TA-KO, Stoke Newington, pub/restaurant review: fusion goes down well with cocktails
The relaxed, shack-like cocktail bar is celebrating two years in N16 with a new Asian-cum-Mexican menu of tacos and other small plates
Read MoreUp the Junction: Historic Pembury Tavern snapped up by Five Points
The Hackney brewery, located just 100 yards from the Pembury, will put the Victorian public house to use as a taproom
Read MoreThe Spread Eagle, Homerton, pub/restaurant review: spread your (vegan chicken) wings
In search of a range of opinions, our reviewer brought his vegan girlfriend and devoutly carnivorous parents to this hot new vegan pub and Mexican kitchen
Read MoreThe Brook, Hackney Central, restaurant review: fresh and fun vegan food
The vegan-serious, the vegan-curious and incorrigible carnivores alike will find something tasty to tuck into at this quirky restaurant and cocktail bar
Read MoreRazor glass to The Cock Tavern and Clapton Craft: Hackney dominates Beard Friendly drinking awards
In the same weekend that brewing returned to The Cock, the comfortingly traditional Hackney Central pub and nearby bottle shop both won in a hirsute landslide
Read MoreFood year resolutions: Gillian Riley on having a spicy start to your New Year
The food historian and writer tips some favourite flavourings, and looks back at some of last year’s food highlights in Hackney
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