Joe Lutrario

🍕 Curry Leaf Cafe, an Indian restaurant in Brighton's The Lanes since 2014, offers Indian street food and craft beer. Founder Euan Sey cites the cost of living crisis and rising business costs for the closure. Sey, a former journalist, launched the restaurant with chef Kanthi Thamma, who left to co-found Palmito. Despite expansion, including pub kitchens and a kiosk, only the original Ship Street location remains. Sey reflects on the brand’s future while thanking the team and local suppliers.

🍷 Levan and Bar Levan focus on low intervention wines; half of Levan's wine list is devoted to the Jura region, France. Bar Levan offers a dynamic 'by the glass' list, changing weekly with 12-bottle purchases, a cellar list, and an extensive mezcal selection. Notable wine list recommendations include Brawn in East London, Bokman’s in Bristol, and Planque in East London. Raphael Rodriguez is respected for his wine industry knowledge. The best value wine at Levan is from Stajerska Kollective in Slovenia at £7.50 a glass. A memorable pairing involved a dessert with Westwell's sparkling cuvée Pelegrim, limited to 90 bottles. Andi Mann from Rheinhessen, Germany, is currently favored for producing quality, accessible wines. Alsace, France, is considered an underrated wine region.

🍻 Natalie Diaz-Fuentes and Edson Diaz-Fuentes opened Santo Remedio in Shoreditch, London, in 2016; however, it closed after five months. Reopened in London Bridge in 2017, offering tacos and mezcal Margaritas. In 2022, they launched Santo Remedio Café back in Shoreditch, initially planned as Santo Remedio Taqueria. The couple balances business with family life and plots expansion despite pandemic challenges.