COMING SOON: Da Polpo
Russell Norman’s at it again

Polpo, Polpetto and now Da Polpo. Were you to ignore the Spuntino blip in the radar, you might be forgiven for thinking Russell Norman’s creative vocabulary was a touch limited - but of course that would be a needlessly fickle thing to assert. And furthermore, even with a similar name, we’re still as eager as ever to see what the resto-maestro musters for his fourth venue, due to open in Covent Garden next month. Expect the typically exquisite Polpo-esque dishes but with an added line of meatballs, more of those addictive pizzettas, and perhaps even more exciting, longer opening hours. Dusk till dawn queues? Oh yes indeed!

RESERVED: Worship Street Whistling Shop
This week’s hottest drinking destination

A 17th Century gin palace nestled just far enough from both Hipsterville and Cityboy Central, the subterranean Whistling Shop is the second venture from the team behind Purl. With Ryan Chetiyawardana (formerly of 69 Colebrooke Row) at the bar and a fun menu of unique, vintage-inspired cocktails (including a variety of house-aged blends: we love-love-loved the rum-based Jagertee) created with a little less dry-ice than its progenitor, the whole package blends flawlessly with all the bare brick, dark wood and slightly battered antiques (the working organ is a nice touch). The glass-walled working laboratory visible from the backroom, coupled with the private Dram Shop (complete with spice-filled bathtub) and forthcoming experiential Cocktail Emporium keep the space flexible and interesting. Time may push the bar over into the City darkside, but for now The Whistling Shop is an absolute haven. Plus I’m assured their juicy pork pies are rather spectacular to boot.

Worship Street Whistling Shop, 63 Worship Street, EC2A 2DU.

Shop: Ron de Jeremy
The iconic pornstar turns to the rum

Ordinarily we can be a picky bunch when it comes to spirituous offerings (like most things) - but then sometimes you’ve just got to yield. And this is one of those occasions. Ron de Jeremy is the latest offering from Ron Jeremy, the legendary portly pornstar. And while we must admit that we’re craving a bottle of his eponymous rum mostly for the brilliant name (and, let’s face it, that was surely the only reason he made it in the first place) and the fact that it sports his moustachioed mug on the front, we’re assured that it doesn’t actually taste that terrible. Assuming you’re fine with drinking the product of a pornstar in the first place.

£22.85
Pre-order at Master of Malt for release any week now

WineChap’s Wine Tips: Q&A
The WineChap sits down with The Ivy’s Fernando Peire

Fernando Peire is the face of The Ivy, starting as Senior Maitre D’ over 20 years ago and currently the Director of the restaurant and members’ club next door. He has recently been filming a series ‘The Restaurant Inspector’ for Five, trouble-shooting for ailing restaurants á la ‘Kitchen Nightmares’ - but with less foul language and considerably more élan.

Read the Q&A …