Ever fancied a posh meal down the local meat merchant’s on Kentish Town Road? That’s the premise for a new twice-weekly pop-up right near the tube station next month.
Marcelo Henriquez is a Chilean chef from Santiago who’s been based in the neighbourhood since 2012. After leaving chef school he began his gastronomic career in his home city, before heading to Europe, developing a modern Mediterranean approach – and meeting his wife, Emily.
Now the couple are working on their own gastro-cultural project, ONA Cocina Chilena, to introduce traditional Chilean dishes to Kentish Town’s dining scene – with a twist.
The venue for this intriguing experiment? Why, none other than the very longstanding Harry’s Fine Foods. “They’ve been the source of much of our produce from day one,” says Emily, “and we’re really happy now to be teaming up with them to hold our pop-up within their doors.”
Inside the multi-tasking fishmonger and butcher’s, the pair will welcome guests to dine on a seven-course menu laden with organic meat and seafood, accompanied by bread and salsa, with a welcome cocktail and fresh mint tea or coffee to finish. Chilean wine will be available to buy at “a very reasonable price”, they say.
One thing’s for sure, it’ll surely give new arrival Beef & Brew opposite a run for its money. At least for one month only.
Tempted? Tickets are £40. ONA at The Butcher’s Shop will be running throughout November every Fri and Sat evening from 8pm. To buy a ticket head here.
And don’t miss: Oliver Rowe at the Spurstowe
You may recall Kentish Town-based chef Oliver Rowe, former owner of the pioneering Konstam restaurant in King’s Cross, which sourced all its ingredients from within Greater London long before such pursuits were fashionable. Busy finishing off his new cookbook, Food For All Seasons (out next June on Faber) he’s landed a two-week stint filling in for pal Nico Rilla at the Spurstowe Arms near London Fields. Hop over on the Overground (to Hackney Central) for a short menu of “hearty autumnal pub food, nothing clever, but hopefully delicious”, he says. Ends Monday November 2nd, so get your skates on. Spurstowe Arms, 68 Greenwood Rd, London E8 1AB