TUESDAY 13 APR, 2010

A Matter of Tasting
Nuno Mendes opens Viajante Restaurant

Nuno Mendes is the sort of chef who would probably cringe to hear his food described as ‘art on a plate’, and yet there will undoubtedly be a few starry-eyed chefs drifting over to his new restaurant, Viajante, in search of a little creative inspiration.

The latest in a ripple of hip East London hotel launches, Town Hall Hotel & Apartments (formerly Bethnal Green Town Hall) is now taking bookings for stays from this Friday. Guests can enjoy slick retro rooms, each complete with its own kitchen where dinner is prepared by their own personal chef, or they can lounge in the art-filled bar tended to by Stuart Hudson, formerly of HIX Soho.

Viajante (meaning traveller in Portuguese) - the hotel’s restaurant - opens on Thursday. Not a huge space, the room (which can be divided in two with swingy doors) manages to be grand and theatrical (thanks to a sizeable open kitchen) yet homely, and Mendes, of The Loft Project fame, creates food that delights and surprises the senses. Each delicate plate – think squid tartare, pickled radishes, samphire and frozen squid ink jus and olive soup with Greek yogurt, ginger and pistachio crumbs – is executed by chefs using extra-long tweezers.

Tasting menus are really the thing here; six, nine or twelve course ones, with wines and beers to match if you fancy (from £60 a head), but you can also come to see Nuno and his team at work and order the £25 set lunch menu.

Get there before you can’t move for copycat cooks.

Info
Viajante
Patriot Square, Bethnal Green, E2 9NF
020 7871 0461
Officially opens 15th April, UJ found bookings online from the 25th. Phone to enquire about earlier reservations.
www.viajante.co.uk / www.townhallhotel.com

WIN TICKETS TO THE LAUNCH OF ‘PRINT' AND EXCLUSIVE PATRÓN AFTER-PARTY

Casio Baby G have teamed up with London’s bStore to create a limited edition collection of watches by some of the Savile Row boutique’s favourite designers, including Peter Jensen, Natascha Stolle, Sophie Hulme and Complex Geometries. Fancy attending the launch at Selfridges and even popping along to the after-party at Home House on the 15th April? Patrón Social Club has two pairs of tickets to give away to lucky Social Club Members. Click here to find out more.
Competition closes Wed, April 14.

JOIN THE CLUB.

UJ CULTURIST APRIL
With everything from Picasso to Psycho, proto-electronica to classic cinema, ladies and gentlemen of this fair city we proudly give you: April!

Something curious happened to me on the way to UJHQ this morning. Everyone (and I do mean everyone) was doing something rather unique: they were smiling. Or at least no one was looking grumpy at any rate. Funny how it’s so contagious… So it is with my own huge grin on my face, and introducing everything from Picasso to Psycho, proto-electronica to classic cinema, ladies and gentlemen of this fair city we proudly give you: April!

Click here to read the full feature…

THEATRE – Get down and dirty with Irish gangland in Jaqueline McCarrick's 'Leopoldville'. 8pm, Tristan Bates Theatre, 1a Tower Street, WC2H 2NP. £12.

DON'T FORGET: – Sign up for your fast-track entry to tomorrow's Ted Baker Sample Sale. 14th & 15th April, 8am-8pm/7pm, The Camden Centre, Bidborough Street, WC1H 9JE. Free.

OFFERS – With Summer around the corner blast your body with hypnotherapy, dynamic pilates (a UJ fave) and some nutritional advice? UJ readers get a 15% discount and free tasters.

DANCE – Micro - somewhere between a musical concert and a dance show - mixes rock, pop and punk. 7:30pm, Gate Theatre, Notting Hill, 11 Pembridge Road, W11 3HQ. £11-£16.