/ 21 February 2025

Heather’s Food & Drink Hot List

When it comes to food and drink, managing lifestyle director Heather Steele knows her way around the UK restaurant scene – and a kitchen. From her favourite new openings to the cookbooks she can’t get enough of at home, here’s everything she’s loving this month…

Heather Steele

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THE COCKTAIL:

The Dover

One of last year’s best openings, The Dover in Mayfair, is now open for lunch. As well as serving its excellent Italian-American dishes (always order the spaghetti and meatballs), its new hours mean it’s just the place to toast any special occasions with one of the bar’s famed martinis. The Dover Martini is a twist on the classic accompanied with orange bitters, but my pick is the Hot & Dirty, which mixes Bombay Sapphire, chilli and olive brine. Elite bar snacks such as mini hot dogs and lobster rolls will help to soak up some of the hard stuff before you move onto lunch itself.

Visit THEDOVERRESTAURANT.COM

THE INDIE BRAND:

Northern Pasta Co

A long commute means I probably cook more pasta than I should. So, I was happy to discover Northern Pasta Co, a British spelt pasta brand that’s gut friendly as well as being flavourful. Made in Cumbria with spelt – an ancient grain – the team’s colourful bags of small-batch pasta are lower in gluten and designed to be good for your gut health too. I also like that they have a handy recipe page – I can already see the lasagne soup becoming a Sunday night staple.

Visit NORTHERNPASTA.CO.UK

THE FUN TABLE ADDITION:

Maison Balzac

I love Maison Balzac – this glass prawn coupe never fails to raise a smile – and given that it’s on my 2025 travel bucket list, I was excited to see the brand’s theme for the year is Cadaqués. This fishing village that was a home to Salvador Dalí has inspired a collection of surreal objects including a fried egg incense holder (an ode to Dalí’s ‘Eggs On A Plate Without A Plate’ from 1932), an olive oil bottle shaped like a chilli, and tapas plates featuring a blue groper fish painted in the style of French artist Jean Lurçat.

Visit MAISONBALZAC.COM

THE PUB:

The Lamb Inn

I recently had a lovely lunch at The Lamb Inn, a charming 15th-century pub in Little Milton, Oxfordshire. The thatched pub has been serving elevated British food since it reopened in 2022. The kitchen is run by Michelin-trained Nat Berney, who serves a seasonally changing menu and there’s a great list of wines that spotlight small producers from around the world. Highlights from my visit include a delicate duck tortellini, a beautiful piece of lemon sole with fries, and an excellent sticky toffee pudding with miso caramel. Now I’m thinking about a Sunday lunch there…

Visit LAMBINNLITTLEMILTON.CO.UK

THE ANTIPASTI:

Lina Stores

Lina Stores has expanded its collection of deli goods with the launch of an antipasti and sauce collection. The range includes jars of green Bella di Cerignola olives, Rosate di Bitetto olives, marinated peppers, sun-dried tomatoes and Apulian artichokes. The new sauce collection is designed to pair with the restaurant’s existing bags of pasta, and includes homemade basil pesto, spicy chilli tomato sauce, semi-dried tomato sauce and – my pick – the tuna and capers tomato sauce. I also loved the jarred cime di rapa (Italian turnip greens), which fulfils that all-important criteria of being something I couldn’t have made better myself.

Visit LINASTORES.CO.UK

Rebecca Hope Photography

THE POP-UP:

Alaïa X Violet Cakes

I’ve long loved Violet Cakes in east London. Now, founder Claire Ptak has opened a pop-up cake shop in Paris fashion brand Alaïa’s new store on New Bond Street. On the other side of the shop’s steel spiral staircase, you’ll find a counter laden with cakes, bakes and pastries. Best of all, Claire de Rouen Books has curated a miniature book shop in the same space, making it the ideal place to grab a new read as you choose from the likes of California sheet cake, banana buttermilk bread and Amalfi lemon layer cake.

Visit VIOLETCAKES.COM

THE CUPBOARD ESSENTIALS:

Pophams Pantry

Pophams is one of my favourite London spots for pasta and pastries (its sticky toffee croissant pudding is one of my top all-time puds). Now the team has launched Pophams Pantry, a new product range incorporating fresh pasta, sauces, snacks and desserts. Available to buy in Pophams Home & Pantry in Islington, London Fields and online, the pantry products include fresh pasta prepared daily at the Hackney restaurant; sauces such as puttanesca and fennel sausage ragu; apple tarte tatin; and breakfast staples such as toasted pecan butter and maple and pecan granola.

Visit POPHAMSBAKERY.COM

THE ACCESSORY:

Gohar World Swan Lemon Press

I’m a huge fan of everything food writer Laila Gohar does, but her NYC food-focused shop Gohar World might be my favourite. For us Brits, Selfridges is the place to stock up on the goods. Among napkin ring holders shaped as shells and OTT aprons, my highlight of the current selection is this swan-shaped lemon squeezer. Also available in decorative fish and bird shapes, each piece comes inside a signature pink Gohar World pouch, making it a perfect present.

Visit SELFRIDGES.COM

THE GADGET:

KitchenAid – Butter

I finally pulled the trigger and got my hands on a KitchenAid stand mixer – and so, my reason for never baking has gone out the window. I went for it because of this year’s colourway: Butter. A soft but energising yellow with a creamy, satin finish, KitchenAid’s seventh shade is the right side of retro, and works perfectly as an accent in my walnut-and-white kitchen colour scheme. Its attachments are all dishwasher safe – which will no doubt come in handy when I tackle my first bake since lockdown, Nigella’s birthday custard sponge.

Visit KITCHENAID.CO.UK

THE REBRAND:

Hepple Spirits Co

Hepple’s douglas fir gin was one of my favourite finds over lockdown. Now, Hepple Spirits Co has launched an elegant, eco-conscious gin bottle to mark its tenth anniversary, made using locally sourced materials that reflect its Northumberland roots. Featuring an aromatic blend of spicy juniper, green apple and grapefruit, the spirit gets the seal of approval from renowned bars such as the Connaught, Tayer & Elementary and Maison François. The finish is long and refined, alternating between the warmth of sandalwood and the woodiness of cedar. Trust me, it works wonderfully in a negroni.

Visit HEPPLESPIRITS.COM

THE CONDIMENT:

Fallow Sriracha

The popularity of hot sauce shows no sign of slowing down – and St James’s restaurant Fallow makes some of the best. Made at the restaurant, its newly bottled sriracha-style sauce combines fermented British chillies and garlic with soy sauce and chardonnay vinegar for a rich, complex flavour. There’s a reason it’s used in some of Fallow’s best dishes, like the must-order smoked cod’s head with sriracha butter and leek oil. For something a little more low-key at home, it’s great on scrambled and fried eggs or slathered inside a sandwich.

Visit FALLOWRESTAURANT.COM

THE WISH-LIST ITEM:

Tatjana Von Stein Bar

This pick is definitely in the ‘dream on’ category for me, but London design studio Tatjana von Stein’s latest additions to its furniture collection – Mise en Scène for Monde Singulier – have really caught my eye. The centrepiece? This home bar cabinet, which features a high-gloss green finish, leather details, burr wood interiors, a marble top and striking stainless-steel legs. If you’re looking for one of your own, consider the search over.

Visit TATJANAVONSTEIN.COM

THE BOOK:

Happy Hour Snacks By Bec Vrana Dickinson

My cookbook shelf is bowing, but I happily made space for this new one by Bec Vrana Dickinson. A must for those who love entertaining, Happy Hour Snacks contains simple recipes designed to be made with a drink in hand. Inside, you’ll learn how to shuck oysters, make an easy fresh pasta and create new go-tos such as ’nduja, honey and kimchi garlic bread. Chapters are split into Salt, Spice and Smoke, Zest and Tang, Cheese and ‘Afters’ (read: booze-based puds). There’s also a decent selection of batch cocktail recipes and tips for pimping simple things like olives.

Visit AMAZON.CO.UK

For more food, drink & restaurant ideas, follow Heather at @STEELEHEATHERRR

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