Seven Dials' International Women's Day hub
4-10 March; 33 Monmouth Street, WC2H 9DD
Scarlett Curtis
Everyone loves free things (especially when free things do some good). Yeah, we know what you like and we also know you're going to like what the IWD hub in Seven Dials has to offer. From now until Sunday 10 March, the hub – which is open to all – will play host to a series of free events, including talks from local chefs and business owners, workshops, activations and a free book exchange. The week-long celebration is in support of the official International Women's Day 2019 theme of #BalanceforBetter. And the highlight of the hub will include a live podcast with feminist activist, journalist and curator of Sunday Times Bestseller 'Feminists Don't Wear Pink and Other Lies', Scarlett Curtis. Curtis will interview special guest Chidera Eggerue aka 'The Slumflower' live for her podcast on Sunday at The Donmar Warehouse in Seven Dials. It's going to be a good one, so what are you waiting for? Enter to win a pair of free tickets at iwd.sevendials.co.uk for your chance to attend the podcast.
House of HOLI at Cinnamon Kitchen, the City
6-21 March; 9 Devonshire Square EC2M 4YL
Back for its fifth year, the House of HOLI is coming to bring a bit of spice and colour to Cinnamon Kitchen. It's not a proper celebration unless there's food (and a paint fight) so expect a five-course Holi menu for £35 per person specially designed for the occasion. Dishes include: tandoori king prawns with fennel and coriander, tomato salsa; laal maas fiery lamb curry; spinach and paneer kofta with tomato lemon sauce; and an assortment of traditional Holi sweets.
Judy Joo, Asma Khan and Mira Manek's IWD Carnaby Collab
8 March from 6pm; Jinjuu, Kingly Court, 15 Kingly Street, W1B 5PS
When good neighbours become good friends, great things happen. And when those neighbours include Netflix's Chef's Table star and owner of Darjeeling Express Asma Khan, Mira Manek of Chai by Mira and acclaimed chef Judy Joo of Jinjuu, then those great things also include delicious food. Celebrating International Women's Day in style, this Carnaby Collab will see all three chefs team up to create a 'KorIndian' feast at Jinjuu in Kingly Court. Expect the likes of miso masala and dahi puchka (an Indian street food staple) with pickled daikon and purple shiso; a Korean spin on lamb pulao; fish katsu curry; and saffron yuja vegan cheesecake with miso caramel glaze. Tickets for Jinjuu's International Women's Day dinner cost £35pp and include a welcome cocktail, a three course dinner and a goodie bag from The Organic Pharmacy. To reserve your spot, contact reservations@jinjuu.com or call 0208 181 8887.
IWD Sketchfast @ Redemption
8 March, 9-11am; 15 Shorts Gardens, WC2H 9AT
Sketchfast @ Redemption
On International Women's Day, Redemption will welcome the people of Seven Dials for a morning of fun, food and sketching. What's more after releasing your inner creative, you'll also get to enjoy 20% off everything on the menu. Even if you're flying solo, there will be plenty of time to get sociable.
Ella Canta x Mazi Mas 'Power of She' menu
8-31 March; Ella Canta, One Hamilton Place, Park Lane, W1J 7QY
From 8 March until Mother's Day on 31 March, Martha Ortiz's much lauded Mexican restaurant Ella Canta will play host to a special menu titled the 'Power of She'. The aim? To help raise money for Mazí Mas, a social enterprise that employs and trains refugee women, acting as an incubator programme for those wanting to open their own food businesses. The seven-course menu celebrates the work of famous Mexican women, including the likes of Frida Kahlo, founding member of the Women's Liberation Movement in Mexico Leonora Carrington, and Mexico's first female photographer Lola Alvarez Bravo. And £5 from each meal will go on to support Mazí Mas' efforts in London. The 'Power of She' menu is available at Ella Canta until 31 March and is priced at £70pp.
Wander Women
8-9 March; 214 Stoke Newington High Street, N16 7HU
To celebrate International Women's Day Stoke Newington restaurant Wander, will be putting on a two-day special menu in honour of the 'The Everyday Wander Woman'. Everyday is – apparently – women's day at Wander, but this is the perfect excuse to break bread with likeminded people and dine on delicious food while you're at it. Expect an incredible spread from Wander's chef proprietor Alexis Noble, Elizabeth Haigh and Wander sous chef Francisca Passos, which includes the likes of fried chicken and caviar crackers, burrata with rhubarb and pomelo, aged sirloin, and Cadence Chocolates from San Francisco. This is a celebration, not an activation and everything from the ingredients to the wine and even the ceramics – where possible – will be produced by women. The banquet-style dinner comes in at £40pp; with an optional wine pairing for an additional £30pp.
Foodism breakfast at Arabica Bar & Kitchen
9-10 March; Borough Market, 3 Rochester Walk, SE1 9AF
A selection of breakfast dishes at Arabica in London Bridge
A selection of breakfast dishes at Arabica in London Bridge
A selection of breakfast dishes at Arabica in London Bridge
A selection of breakfast dishes at Arabica in London Bridge
A selection of breakfast dishes at Arabica in London Bridge
We're hosting an exclusive breakfast and brunch at one of Borough Market's favourite restaurants and not only are you invited to join us at Arabica, you can also get a cheeky 50% off your food bill, as well as a welcome drink thrown in, too. Yes, really. Guests will tuck into dishes like Turkish-style fried eggs with peppers, aubergine, tomato and crispy shallots; breakfast pide with coal-roasted peppers, spiced beef sausage, Rookery Farm egg and halloumi; and Moorish buckwheat pancakes with banana, salted date honey caramel, orange blossom cream and pecan crumble. There's a range of drinks, too – from tea and coffee to juices, prosecco and the restaurant's signature Harissa Bloody Mary at £10. How's that for a first look? It couldn't be simpler to book: just go to the website, book a table between 9 and 11am on 9 or 10 March and enter the word FOODISM in the Special Requests box that appears with your confirmation of the booking. Alternatively, you can book over the phone 020 3011 5151 and mention Foodism while booking.
Snackbar Fundraiser
10 March from 12pm-3pm; 100 Shoreditch High St, E1 6JQ
This event is going to be ace (and not just because it's held at The Ace Hotel), as part of the Ladies of Restaurants International Women's Day Weekender, Natalia Ribbe has teamed up with Freddie Janssen and Anaïs Van Manena – the people behind London pop-up favourite Snackbar – to host a crowdfunding brunch at The Rooftop at The Ace Hotel on Sunday 10 March from 12pm to 3pm. Janssen and Manena are on a mission to open their first bricks and mortar site and on Sunday, they're ready to feed you up with a globally inspired spread until you're so in love with their cooking that you join the cause, too. Tickets cost £30, including a Sunday morning sharpener from the bar at The Ace Hotel, a selection of next-level brunch dishes from Snackbar, and entertainment.
ladiesofrestaurants.com/events
Kew Garden's Orchids Festival
Until 10 March; The Princess of Wales Conservatory, Kew Gardens, TW9 3AB
The ever-popular Orchids Festival returns to Kew this month and this year the gardens has looked to Colombia for inspiration. Perfect for those who'd rather not spend their weekends shivering in a park somewhere, you can escape from the cold and indulge in a multi-sensory journey around the toasty Princess of Wales Conservatory. It's set to be a bright carnival of Colombian colour with the heady scent of flowers and fresh, ready-to-sample Colombian coffee in the air.
RAW WINE Fair
10-11 March, from 10am-6pm; The Store, 180 The Strand, London WC2R 1EA
The RAW WINE Fair returns to London this Sunday and Monday, bringing together some of the best wine makers, growers and drinkers (that's you) in one sociable space. Taking over the Store Studios for two whole days, the Raw Wine Fair, will showcase more than 150 vino kinos all of whom will be on hand with some of the best fine, natural, organic and biodynamic wines on the market. And if you don't know a thing about these wines, then fear not because these lot are more than happy to tell you all about them and how they're made. Of course, it's not all about the booze, there will also be a selection of food from the likes of Sager & Wilde and The Marksman. And to round things off, East London wine bar The Laughing Heart will take over RAW WINE with Cantonese food, a deep cellar of wine poured by guest sommeliers and incredible music by DJ Al Doyle. We'll see you there.
rawwine.com/fairs/london-2019/buy-tickets
Luna Cinema at the Natural History Museum
Until 12 March; Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD
Let's face it: we've all, at least once, wished that Night at the Museum was more than just a movie – after all, running around all the galleries after dusk seems like a lot of fun. Luna Cinema at the Natural History Museum is a little like that. If you take out Ben Stiller and that whole magical Egyptian artefact thing that is. And this weekend the roving cinema screen will be showing the likes of Kill Bill Vo. 1, Thelma and Louise and Love Actually. Chairs and fresh popcorn are very much provided, too.
Unlimited pasta at Palatino
Every Saturday; 71 Central St, London EC1V 8AB
Head to Palatino on Saturday's between 12pm-5pm where, for £25, you can get your fill of unlimited plates of pasta. Yes, you read that right. Unlimited. Pasta. There's not really much else that needs to be said, really. Though the dreamy carb deal also includes a free Palatino Spritz. Book ahead now to ensure you don't get left out on the linguine feast.
Rum Punch Brunch at Rudie's
Every Saturday and Sunday; 50 Stoke Newington Road, N16 7XB
If you fancy sipping on some rum-infused cocktails with some real spicy food, then get on down to Rudie's in Dalston this weekend. Running from 12-4pm every Saturday and Sunday, the rum punch brunch offer allows you to get one of Rudie's delicious main dishes (including a hearty 'Full Jamaican' of ackee & saltfish, lamb sausages, baked butter beans, sautéed spinach, boiled green banana and bakes) as well as access to bottomless rum punch for an hour and a half. All of which will only set you back a mere £18. Jerk and rum is a hard combo to top at that price, so make the most of it this weekend.
Beer, but make it fashion, at The House of Peroni
Until 9 March
Every year, The House of Peroni turns a reliably good Italian lager into a bells-and-whistles experiential pop-up, with a focus on the things outside of food and drink that Peroni aligns itself with. This year, it's turning to fashion (Italians and fashion is apparently a solid combination – who knew?) and shining a light on some of London's emerging designers. The experience will feature eight distinctive spaces, with loads of high-end clothing and designs on show – as well as, of course, the chance to sip on a classic European beer in specially created cocktails, and food from Pasta e Basta to top it all off.
Pie and a Pint at Rochelle ICA
Every Sunday; The Mall, SW1Y 5AH
Never will you ever feel forlorn on Sunday afternoons again, because, starting from 17 February, Margot Henderson and Melanie Arnold will be on hand with pints and pastry to save the day. All you have to do is get on down to the Rochelle Canteen ICA where the two chefs will be running a series of Sunday evening 'Pie and a Pint' dining menus. An excellent pie and a pint (or a glass of house wine) for £10? Monday morning doesn't seem too bad after all.
