Behind the scenes part 6. It’s summer and half the year has already gone. BLIMEY. Read on for your latest insight into what Team LOTI have been up to and what we’re recommending this month.
Ben Smith
Co-Founder
Best month of the year May. It may also be my birthday so slightly biased…that’s allowed. Staying over at London Zoo and being woken by the sound of lions chuffing was absolutely amazing. We worked with Jager on their cocktails at JagerHaus in All Points East and there was a murder on board the Murder Express, definitely one you want to experience. National Doughnut Week saw us chat to Clerkenwell Boy, Samphire and Salsify, Crummbs and Scott Can Eat about their fave treats. We ventured to the all new White City House rooftop pool and ate breakfast at the Allis. We even had a private chef cook for a dinner party held at our own gaff. So much bloody fun…not to mention some top notch restaurants including Passo for Sunday lunch, Stem just off Regents Street (go for the beef) and Frog by Adam Handling in Covent Garden who more than impressed us with smoking mussels and weirdly wonderful foodie creations. The Jo Malone vintage car full flowers and the red-flower-covered Annabel’s in Mayfair were some of the most Instagrammed things in town Yes, London is in full bloom and we’ve been busy bees.
[easy-image-collage id=110443]Christina Dean
Content & Social Media Writer
Two bank holidays and some glorious weather across both (we’ll just forget about those mad thunderstorms we got on the last one) made this May pretty bloody great. Like most months, this one was full of food…hot street eats at the big Tabasco 150th birthday party, ALL the pasta at Lina Stores and Pastaio, chicken at Cocotte, Japanese small plates at Untitled, Mexican brrunch and margs at Del 74, and a rather filthy Patty & Bun breakfast burger. Hands down the best dinner this month (and probably of most months) was at Aulis, Simon Rogan’s eight-seater development kitchen/chef’s table. AMAZING. I also swung by the new Hershesons (very snazzy indeed), had my first Gingerline experience at Chambers of Flavour, went on a weird dream trip at Somnai and hit up my first London fest of the year with All Points East. Let’s keep ’em coming.
[easy-image-collage id=110478]Jules Pearson
Co-Founder
May was the month that I made the move stateside! I actually ended up splitting my time between LA & NYC whilst waiting for my sublet to come up in NYC. Obvs I’ve already set up a NYC instagram and there’s a guide too which we’re updating as we go. The best meal I’ve had so far has to be Blue Hill at Stone Barns. It was EPIC. In LA I did lots of hotel hopping, spending nights in The Nomad, The Ace, Freehand, The Line (warning the windows are indeed see through from outside), Hotel Figueroa and The Standard. I ate soooo much, including a beaut meal at Majordomo, all the goodies at Gjusta, HOT fried chicken that made me cry (literally) at Howling Rays and my first In-N-Out burger which was like, OK. I spent most of my time in DTLA, which is one of the most exciting neighbourhoods in LA (and you can walk between everything! HOORAY). Back in NYC I finally got to try Lilia, the Italian restaurant from Missy Robbins, the best chef in NYC according to James Beard, and went back to Llama Inn & Sundays in Brooklyn, which were as good as ever. I’m just about used to the supermarket prices (extortionate!), writing cheques and the interchangeable weather although I’m hoping I don’t get too attached to my flat’s Manhattan skyline views (INCREDS), swimming pool and outdoor roof terrace with BBQs. Not bad Brooklyn, not bloody bad.
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