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Joe Lutrario

143 posts
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  • 9 min

Meet the ‘hipster Pied Piper’ that helped turn London on to natural wine

🍻 Honey Spencer, a UK natural wine authority, expanded her career after a 2011 encounter with unpredictable natural wine. She authored "Natural Wine, No Drama" and co-founded Sune, a natural wine restaurant in East London. Sune debuted on the UK's top 100 restaurants list in summer. Spencer and her business partner Charlie Sims opened Sune after experiences, including at Copenhagen's natural wine bars and Noma. Sune emphasizes clean, approachable natural wines, avoiding sanctimonious overtones. Spencer also consults for high-profile restaurants and directs wine programs. Sune, which avoids scaring traditional drinkers, plans a terrace addition and Tuesday openings. Spencer supports decanting natural wines for optimal presentation.
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  • 3 min

Uncorked: Alex Price

🍷 Alex Price, fascinated with wine since joining an after-school 'Corkscrew Society', curates a unique wine list inspired by European vegetation zones for Plates. His list includes selections from the deciduous forests, Alpine shrubs, Mediterranean scrubland, with plans to expand to Scandinavian wines and a fine wine selection. Price admires Honey Spencer, enjoys Thymiopoulos Blanc des Côteaux Cuvée Amphore, and recommends Roc D'Anglade Rosé for best value. He recently participated in Caia Confluence, a series at Notting Hill restaurant Caia, featuring different sommeliers.
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  • 2 min

Tortilla revamps its loyalty programme with new app

🍕 Tortilla updates its loyalty program with a new app, integrating collection of stamps and unlocking rewards. Existing members earn a free burrito after five stamps, with free guacamole after two. Rewards, now valid for 90 days, are redeemable at company-owned stores. The Burrito Society offers surprise perks and users can gain stamps through a referral feature. Over 80 Tortilla UK locations offer free chips and salsa upon app signup until August 14.
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  • 3 min

Latest opening: Plates

🌱 Plates, a plant-based-centric restaurant by Kirk and Keeley Haworth, began as a pop-up in 2017 and now operates permanently near Old Street station, London. Kirk, with a Michelin-starred background, creates original dishes without meat, fish, or dairy, offering seven-course (£75) and eight-course (£90) tasting menus. The 25-seat venue, fully booked until February, will expand with a 14-seat terrace for walk-ins. The wine list curated by Alexandra Price features European vegetation zones, and creative cocktails are also available.
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  • 1 min

Clays to make regional debut in Birmingham

🎯 Clays, following a £6m fundraise led by Otium Leisure and backing from Imbiba, is set to make its regional debut in Birmingham's Piccadilly Arcade. This will be its third location, adding to sites in Canary Wharf and The City. The Birmingham venue will offer a semi-private area or a fully-private room with six digitalised games. Food and drink will be available via kiosk ordering. Founder Tom Snellock expresses excitement for the expansion. Otium Leisure recognizes Clays as a leading brand in competitive socialising, supporting its growth journey. New launches are expected next year.
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  • 2 min

Book review: An English Vineyard Cookbook

🍷 Peter and Bridget Gladwin, after moving to West Sussex in the early 1990s, established Nutbourne Vineyard and a five-restaurant London business, Local & Wild, including The Shed, Rabbit, The Sussex, Black Lamb and The Pig’s Ear. Their debut cookbook, "An English Vineyard Cookbook," features 256 pages of recipes arranged by seasons with contributions from their family, especially their sons Richard, Oliver, and Gregory. Royalties from the £25 cookbook, published by GMC Publications, will benefit City Harvest.
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