Islington

• The Draper's Arms wins the 2017 Scotch Egg Challenge

  

  Last night, the competition to REALLY test the judges taking part was unleashed as Scotch Egg Challenge 2017 took place. Those judging had to wade through 15 different scotch eggs in order to crown this year's winner - with beef, prawn, veggie, haggis and more scotch eggs being thrown into the mix.

  But of the 15 - only three went away with prizes and those were....

  • 1st place - The Drapers
  ...
• Francesco Mazzei to open Radici trattoria in Islington

  

  A Hot Dinners Exclusive - updated 22/3/17 with booking details

  What: Radici

  In a nutshell: Southern Italian cooking in Islington

  Summing it all up: A new Italian trattoria with a terrace and wine room is arriving on Almedia Street, bringing with it lots of traditional south Italian dishes, as well as more laid back meals like pizzas, charcuterie and cheeses.

• Westerns Laundry comes to Highbury from Primeur

  

  What: Westerns Laundry

  In a nutshell: Seafood and more comes to Highbury from team behind Primeur

  Summing it all up: The people behind the very successful Primeur are opening a second restaurant. British flavours and Devonshire seafood will be at the heart of this retreat just around the corner from Holloway Road.

• Chefs and judges announced for the 2017 Scotch Egg Challenge

  

  Updated 19/1/17 with shortlist

  After six years, the Scotch Egg Challenge is now one of the key dates in the London food calendar. This year's event will take place at The Canonbury in Islington on 8 February.

  Confirmed judges for the event itself include Fay Maschler from the Evening Standard, Ben Chapman of Smoking Goat and Kiln and Bob Granleese of the Guardian, while the evening will be compered by Joe

  ...
• The General Store is coming to The Garage in Islington

  

  Big changes are afoot in the Garage in Islington. It was recently bought, along with the Borderline, by DHP Family. A big refurb is planned to the venue in general, including a new sound system and more. 

  But it's the addition of the General Store all-day bar that has us interested. As passers-by will know, you can't actually see into The Garage from the outside, but that's going to change. You'll now be able to see into

  ...
• Islington's Almeida to close to be replaced with Francesco Mazzei's new Italian

  

  After 15 years serving modern British cuisine in Islington, Almeida will close its doors for the last time on 1 January, with a new Italian set to rise up in its place.

  Details are scant, but what we do know is that the new Italian restaurant is planned to open a few months later, there’ll be a considerable interior design overhaul (though we trust they’ll keep the floor-to-ceiling

  ...
• Katsute 100 offers traditional Japanese tea in Islington’s Camden Passage

  

  With its cobbled streets, quaint houses and antique markets, Camden Passage is a veritable haven from the busyness of Upper Street. Now you’ll be able to further unwind with a soothing cup of traditional Japanese tea thanks to the arrival of Katsute 100.

  There’s a huge drinks menu, including tea served by the pot and flavoured tea by the cup, plus non-leaf teas and takeaway options too. The most familiar tea on the menu is Sencha, which also comes available in

  ...
• Islington's rotisserie spot LeCoq is to close

  

  Bad tidings to report today as Islington Rotisserie spot LeCoq is closing its doors just before Christmas. As it's one of Hot Dinners' local restaurants, it's particularly bad news, but the team are looking towards new ventures in the new year. In the meantime, you have until 23 December to get down there and try some of the best rotisserie chicken in town, not to mention more rotisseried beasts (like the mutton above) and the amazing roast potatoes. And to find out more

  ...
• Test Driving LeCoq - lots more than chicken on this rotisserie

  We return to Islington's LeCoq to check out their brand new menu with a lot more than chicken in the rotisserie. 

• Islington's LeCoq spreads its wings for rotisserie relaunch

  

  Good news for fans of LeCoq’s rotisserie roasted chicken - the Islington brasserie is reinventing itself as a full-time rotisserie restaurant.

  Hibernation season is still quite a ways off yet, but for fans of LeCoq it might be time to embrace the elasticated waistband already. Previously only available on Sundays, their golden (spit) roast dinners, including their Sutton Hoo chickens, will soon be available to

  ...
• Return visit: Test Driving brunch on Bellanger's new terrace

  It's all change at this Islington brasserie with a new menu and a new terrace

• Test Driving Rok Islington - North London's new smoking hot restaurant

  Rok have opened their second restaurant in Islington - we went to try it out

• 69 Colebrooke Row is having a street party with Bellanger and Oldroyd

  

  We've got to say, we like the way street parties are going. They're no longer the kind of thing where the best you could expect food and drink-wise would be some curling sarnies, pasta salad of dubious origin and some lukewarm sauvignon blanc.

  And the one that has Hot Dinners' name written all over it (not literally) is the Colebrook Row street party in Islington this weekend. Tony Conigliaro’s cocktail bar 69

  ...
• Zia Lucia, A new pizza place is coming to Holloway Road

  

  07/06/16 - Updated with soft launch info.

  We've been in the Islington area for a long time now and we've really noticed that the past few years or so have seen a real improvement in Holloway Road's food scene. So we look with interest to the opening of a new pizzeria, Zia Lucia, which is different enough to get our attention...  

  The pizza bases are 48-hour slow fermented doughs. And

  ...
• Rok Smokehouse's second restaurant will be on Islington's Upper Street

  

  Jay Rayner praised the "the sheer pleasure" of their food. Grace Dent eulogised their "highly devourable sharing plates". And on the back of such success Shoreditch smokehouse Rök are now opening their second restaurant. They're taking over a Grade II listed building halfway up Upper Street where they'll open a 60-seat restaurant and bar in July.

  Rök Islington will launch with a seasonal summer menu by executive chef Matt Young featuring aged beef rump with

  ...