Rave on: Sistermatic
(Picture: TakenByMarshall)Whether this week has brought the thrill of new romance or the bittersweet sting of tender heartbreak, the weekend is the perfect time to get back out there.
Gather friends — or perhaps your new beau — and march forward into London’s latest joyful offerings. This week’s guide of what’s on covers the capital with some excellent cooking in Shoreditch, some award-winning fried chicken in Brixton, a taste of Ukraine in Chiswick and an unmissable new show in Finsbury Park. In other words, forget any lingering memories of Valentine’s — fall for London, instead.
The dining ticket: Budgie Montoya x Oranj
Sarap has been homeless of late. Following critical acclaim in Brixton and after a successful residency at 10 Heddon Street, Budgie Montoya is on the hunt for a new permanent location, with a restaurant set to open later this year. In the meantime, you can enjoy Montoya’s distinct cooking at the final days of his pop-up at Shoreditch wine bar Oranj. Pork head croquettes and tempura oysters feature on an engaging, modern Filipino menu. The residency runs until the Saturday — and with a new site not yet confirmed, this could be your last chance for some time to discover this exciting, talented chef.
Until Saturday, 14 Bacon Street, E1 6LF, resy.com
The fried chicken fix: Black Bear Burger / 20ft Chicken
London, of course, has a fried chicken challenge. Hosted last week over at Kricket Brixton, the great at the good of the capital’s food scene — including our chief restaurant critic Jimi Famurewa as a judge — gathered to feast on fried thigh, breast and wing. The winner? Whilst better known for their utterly delicious beef patties, Black Bear Burger claimed top prize with a blue cheese-stuffed buffalo wing. This competition-winning creation is on their Brixton menu this weekend, but far from a one-off, they’ve also launched a new fried chicken burger restaurant at Market Halls on Oxford Street. 20ft Fried combines Black Bear’s burger-creating nous with a new-found love of fried chicken creations. Sounds like another winner.
Black Bear Burger, Brixton Market Row, SW9 8LB, blackbearburger.com and 20ft Fried, 9 Hollies Street, W1G 0BD, markethalls.co.uk
Make it a night out: Sistermatic
Sistermatic is a ground-breaking, queer black woman-led collective and this weekend is taking over Brixton Village, transforming it for an inclusive one-off street party. In collaboration with Nite Dykez, a monthly club night for LGBTQ+ women, and in celebration of LGBTQ+ history month, the party will officially relaunch Sistermatic following a near 30-year break. This one night only event will be free to attend (before 8pm) and will take revellers on a journey from Seventies soul to modern day black queer icons.
Friday, Brixton Village, SW9 8PS, dice.fm
The new show in town: Winner’s Curse
Whose Line Is It Anyway? host Clive Anderson stars in Winner’s Curse, the new show running at Finsbury’s Park Theatre. The play follows peace talks between the fictitious nations of Moldonia and Karvistan, with Anderson making a jovial narrator as he recalls his time as the key negotiator. Despite its consequential topics, this surprisingly joyful comedy sees Dan Patterson (producer of Mock the Week and Whose Line is it Anyway?) reunite with Anderson in an interactive performance shown in the round, promising the audience an engaging, interactive experience. Look out for a particularly good turn from Michael Maloney, and up-and-comer Arthur Conti, grandson of Tom.
Until March 11, Park Theatre, Clifton Terrace, N4 3JP, parktheatre.co.uk
The latest exhibition: Alice Neel, Hot Off The Griddle
Despite being overlooked in her lifetime, Neel relentlessly pursued her passion of figurative paintings despite its unpopularity at the time. Highlights of her 60-year career are on display in the Barbican — many for the very first time in the UK — in a new show which opens this week. Neel tracks America as it shifts through the 20th century, and her work is here presented alongside film and photography of the era. Dubbed the “court painter of the underground” Neel’s essential exhibition opens this weekend and runs until May.
Until May 21, Barbican Art Gallery, EC2Y 8DS, barbican.org.uk/AliceNeel
Do your bit for a good cause: Chiswick Cheese Market
The Chiswick Cheese Market is London’s first — only? — specialist cheese market and this weekend is raising funds for First Aid Ukraine, in partnership with Dima’s Vodka, pictured above. Dima’s triple-grain Ukrainian vodka will be on offer, paired with a rich, nutty 24-month-aged comte cheese. The market has already pledged £500 for the cause, which provides vital aid and relief support to those fighting the war in Ukraine. If drinking delicious vodka and eating delicious cheese sounds like your kind of fundraising, the Taste of Ukraine runs this Sunday. Budmo!
