FOOD & BOOZE NEWS
PARADISE PUB’S BOOT CAMP
Every Sunday morning throughout January, devotees of West London’s plushest boho gastropub, Paradise By Way of Kensal Green, can work off their Christmas roasts with a training session organised by the pub. A personal trainer will host workouts in Queen’s Park, and rather than paying to join in, the Paradise will actually reward participants with a £20 voucher to use in the pub’s dining room. Better run hard. Contact Paradise on 020 8969 0098 or email
[email protected] to sign up
BENARES TO REOPEN BIGGER AND BOLDER
Mayfair’s favourite Indian restaurant was closed for business last year because of a fire, but will reopen on 18 January bigger and better. The newly refurbished restaurant will have a chef’s table, wine cellar and new private dining options – including in the wine cellar, making five in total. Atul Kochhar’s Michelin-starred food will remain the well-turned, light fare its customers pay big bucks for, such as mustard-flavoured monkfish with tamarind glaze and tandoor Indian cottage cheese. 12a Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square, W1J 6BS,
tel: 020 7629 8886
HAMPSTEAD GAINS COMPTOIR LIBANAIS
The 02 Centre, the somewhat soulless retail haven on the Finchley Road, gains a much-needed burst of gastronomic warmth with the latest branch of London’s ambitiously expanding Lebanese chain. A large open kitchen will provide non-stop interest for diners who can ogle chefs spinning out its mezze platters, tagines and rosewater macaroons. Opens 20 Jan, Le Comptoir Libanais, O2 Centre,
255 Finchley Road, NW3 6LU,
www.lecomptoir.co.uk