Alexandra Dudley On The Restaurants & Shows She’s Booking Right Now
THE RESTAURANT:
Kapara
Following the success of his first solo venture Bala Baya, chef Eran Tibi has opened Kapara just off Tottenham Court Road. Inspired by a love of good food and a good night out, the menu is a playful assembly of indulgent Israeli-inspired dishes. Plates of deep-fried paprika-marinated chicken thighs with orange harissa kimchi and wild garlic mayo, or prawn baklava made with king prawns in a kadaifi pastry shell, promise bold flavours and big textures.
Visit Kapara.co.uk
THE EXHIBITION:
Andy Warhol: The Textiles, Fashion and Textile Museum
Warhol is primarily known for his prints but a new exhibition of his textile designs reveals an entire body of work that, until now, has been virtually unseen. The designs add to Warhol’s credibility as a skilled draftsman and date back to his early career as a commercial designer and illustrator in the 1950s. In true Warhol style, the pieces have an almost moreish vibrancy. Expect ice cream sundaes, toffee apples, twisted pretzels and multi-coloured buttons.
Visit FashionTextileMuseum.org
THE MUSICAL:
Guys & Dolls, The Bridge Theatre
The hit 1950s musical Guys and Dolls returns to the London theatre scene – but unlike you’ve ever seen it before. Through astounding stage design with incredible lighting from Paule Constable, The Bridge Theatre morphs between the luminous streets of downtown New York City and Havana’s vibrant nightclubs, taking the audience along with it. The auditorium is wrapped around the ever-adapting stage meaning every seat feels like you get a piece of the action, whilst standing tickets allow the audience to weave between the bustling nightclubs and street corners in a fully immersive experience. The unlikely love story follows big-hitter gambler Sky Masterson (Andrew Richardson) and Save-a-Soul church missionary Sarah Brown (Celinde Schoenmaker) whose meet-cute comes on the back of a risky bet between Masterson and long-time gambler Nathan Detroit (Daniel Mays). Detroit is desperately trying to find a location for his underground crap shoots while hiding them from his long-time fiancée, celebrated showgirl Miss Adelaide (Marisha Wallace). The performances are electric. Mays is hilarious and endearing while Richardson has a loveable sex appeal and manages to hit notes that make you question whether Sinatra is in the room. But it is Wallace who steals the show. Every number she helms will have you fighting not to get up and dance. The finale ascends into a full-scale dance off with cast and eager audience members taking the floor. I was bopping all the way home and have already booked to see it again.
Visit BridgeTheatre.co.uk
THE BOOK:
Nothing Special by Nicole Flattery
I’ve just started reading Nicole Flattery’s Nothing Special, a coming-of-age story about friendship, sexuality and the importance of art and identity. The story is set in 1966 New York and follows 17-year-old Mae who takes a job working as a typist for Andy Warhol. She’s just gone to her first party and I am hooked!
Visit Amazon.co.uk
THE FINAL SERIES:
The Marvelous Mrs Maisel
The fifth series of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel will be the last and I suspect I am not alone in knowing how much I will miss the ferocious determination of Midge (played by the sensational Rachel Brosnahan). Her perpetual wit and refusal to let a bad day dampen her dream has been truly inspiring to watch. The first three episodes of series five drop on 14th April, with new episodes debuting weekly.
Visit Amazon.co.uk
@hirobjones; @khromacollective
THE PUB:
The Parakeet
Headed up by ex-Brat chef Ben Allen, this new pub has opened its doors with a debut menu of dishes cooked over fire. Expect elevated European cooking with hearty meat and fish dishes, including lamb chop with artichoke and hazelnut and smoked chicken terrine, paired with zesty, clean vegetables such as kohlrabi and curry leaf, and beetroot with Tropea onion and sesame. My stomach is set on the smaller plates, especially the spider crab croquette, and potato bread and smoked butter.
Visit TheParakeetPub.com
THE DINNER PARTY SOUNDTRACK:
Rumours Album, Fleetwood Mac
Anyone else who watched/obsessed over Amazon Prime’s Daisy Jones & The Six will know the original story was loosely based on the romantic tensions between an iconic 70s rock duo, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac. I’ve listened to ‘Regret Me’ and ‘Look At Us Now (Honeycomb)’ more than a few times, but off screen the tracks lack the power they carry in the show. The legendary and original Fleetwood Mac Rumours album, however, still transcends. One of the greatest rock albums of all time, it’s one to (re-)add to your dinner party playlist.
Visit Spotify.com
THE DISH:
White Asparagus & Chicken Butter, Papi
The Hot 4 U residency at The Prince Arthur pub was the table to book in 2022 and head chef Matthew Scott’s new bricks-and-mortar site Papi is set to be just as popular. The menu is a flavour slap of the best of seasonal ingredients that leans into zero-waste cooking (Matthew was previously head chef at pioneering zero-waste restaurant Cub). The latest spring menu reveals plates of hot cross buns with black apple butter, grilled peas with shiso salt and fermented chilli, and white asparagus with chicken butter – all of which I have bookmarked to order when I go on Saturday. Tables are still relatively easy to reserve but they won’t stay that way for long.
Visit Resy.com
For more from Alexandra, follow her @AlexandraDudley or visit AlexandraDudley.com.
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