TODAY
Carnaby Street Shopping Event

The Carnaby shopping event is back with a night full of shopping–fuelled entertainment – starting with 20% off purchases from the likes of Pepe Jeans, American Apparell, Irregular Choice and some of the Newburgh Quarter’s finest independent boutiques including Twenty8Twelve, M.A.C, Barbour and Beyond the Valley. There’ll also be live DJs in Merc and Replay, bingo in Benefit and tropical cocktails and catwalk turns in Miss Sixty. Get hold of your ticket by signing up online, and make sure to head to The Kingly Club Pop–Up Bar in Kingly Court for your complimentary drink.

5pm-9pm, Carnaby Street, W1. Register online at: www.carnaby.co.uk

TONIGHT
Blues Kitchen Bourbon Festival

Camden’s best blues bar is hosting a night wholly dedicated to Bourbon with no less than fifty types of the much-loved whiskey available for your sampling pleasure. The festival offers live music by blues and folk singer Marcus Bonfanti to get you in the mood as well as an educative experience from sommelier Freddy Donaldson who will take you on a Bourbon-fuelled journey, delving into its history as you plunge into its many delicious flavours. Take a piece of the evening home with you (a free bottle of Bourbon of your choice no less) if you can beat the other teams in The Blues Kitchen music quiz.

The Blues Kitchen, 111–113 Camden High Street, NW1 7JN, Tastings start at 7pm.

THE MUSEUM OF EVERYTHING'S EXHIBITION #2
Now’s Your Chance to Shine

As part of the Tate Modern’s Tenth Birthday, this weekend sees the No Soul For Sale exhibition take over the building with a huge variety of artists showing their stuff. But what about little old you? If you reckon you’re something to shout about, head down to The Museum of Everything’s Exhibition #2, where you can submit a work on paper (or anything small and light) to be assessed on the spot and shown in the Turbine Hall, as well as being published in the upcoming book. How’s that for instant fame?

14th-16th May (10am-midnight Fri & Sat, 10am-6pm Sun), Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG.

SHOP
Elephant Parade Minis

Like a cross–capital Where’s Wally, we’ve been engrossed in spotting the variously decorated elephant statues that have popped up as part of the Elephant Parade. But hauling one of these true to life (albeit baby sized) treasures home isn’t likely to happen, with prices at the Christie’s auction at the end of the event way beyond our budget. The solution? Snap up one of the limited editions mini replicas, decked out in underground maps and Spiderman suits, masquerading as cows or taxi–cabs, or parcelled up like fish and chips – the choice is yours, and the change will go to help save Asian elephants – now that’s something to trumpet about.

From £27.50, available at Selfridges or online.

QUINTESSENTIALLY SOHO
Get Your Membership Now!

Exclusive concierge service Quintessentially are extending their members club at the House of St Barnabas into the Summer – and they’re accepting new applications now – so it’s the perfect time to make use of the amazing central Soho space which includes a huge outdoor courtyard and garden, great restaurant and bars, and a chapel used for members events like this Saturday’s ‘Universe’. Join up for three months at £100, of which £99 goes straight to helping support the homeless, and be there for the gourmet BBQ, Balearic disco and special surprises in the enchanted garden.

For membership enquiries email: jessica.ince@quintessentiallysoho.com

RESERVED
This week's hottest foodie destination

Gauthier Soho
Revived Soho Institution
21 Romilly Street, W1D 5AF – www.gauthiersoho.co.uk

Location
When Richard Corrigan moved from this stately Georgian townhouse to open Corrigan’s in Mayfair a couple of years ago, there were a few theatrical foodie gasps proclaiming the end of Soho’s fine dining institutions was nigh. So the arrival of former Roussillon’s Alexis Gauthier should have them drying their eyes.

Vibe
Before Rousillon, Gauthier worked under Alain Ducasse at the Hotel de Paris in Monaco and has consulted for Mark Birley, so it’s no surprise that his new establishment will offer ‘resolutely French cuisine and classic service’. But this is Soho, not Pimlico (where Rousillon is), and certainly not Monaco, so ‘expect a few tattoos and piercings’ amongst the staff, says Gauthier in his blogspot.

Flavours
If you’re looking for rich, creamy sauces and gout-giving grub, look elsewhere. Gauthier is famous for his fresh Nicoise flavours, with an emphasis on ‘les legumes’, so there’s broad beans and thyme with olive oil tart and quails eggs to start and smoked, salted wild sea bass with white asparagus, Melba toasts and cepes mushrooms as a main. Sommelier Roberto della Pietra (also from Rousillon) is on board, too, so expect exceptional wines, 32 of them by the glass.

Décor
As you would expect for a French gaff, things are neutrally tasteful. Although one of the two private dining rooms, which has its own lounge area, has been christened ‘The Games Room’ and is decked out with vintage posters and slot machines, so is a little more colourful. There is also a wine shop and tasting room on the ground floor.

Upshot
Somewhere to linger over serious cooking and fine French wines, with three small courses at £27 you could afford to go for a light treat and not break the bank, but the 12 course tasting menu at £70 is the real deal.