SARIT PACKER & ITAMAR SRULOVICH • co-founders • Honey & Co
Neighbourhood you work in: Bloomsbury
Neighbourhood you live in: Stockwell

It’s Wednesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
We try to hit all of our places every day – we have four sites, each unique and with its own set of needs. We kept them close to each other so we’re always a bike ride away: Honey & Co on Lamb’s Conduit St. is the core of the operation, serving the Middle Eastern home cooking we love the most. Across the road is Honey & Co Studio, a deli with diverse events from kimchi classes to life-drawing sessions. On Store St. is our café and bakery, Honey & Co Daily, where there’s always something baked that needs trying. On Great Portland St., we have our wine bar, a good place to end the day. There’s always something interesting and delicious to try – a new bottle from the Coravin. The other day, we had a ‘93 Chateau Musar, which was sensational!

What’s on the agenda for today?
We like to have at least two big projects on the go. The wine bar recently launched, so we spend a lot more time there these days. We focus on wine from the Middle East and Mediterranean, with a menu to complement it. We’ve had such interesting conversations with our guests, and lots of fun with our chefs and suppliers. The results are exhilarating – you can have Welsh lamb rack with fermented chillies and a glass of chilled Lebanese red, or British asparagus with Turkish pistachios and a crisp, Greek rosé – heaven!

Our second big project is our new cookbook, Honey & Co Daily, which just came out. It’s based on the menu we serve at our deli and bakery, and we have events to promote it all over the country and across the pond. The book is all about easy, accessible recipes that come together quickly but still look and taste amazing and help bring a joyous moment to the day – something we all need right now.

Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
What we look for in a restaurant is soul, and that’s becoming harder to find. Our favourites are local neighbourhood places or mom-and-pop eateries, and we love going back to old favourites rather than rushing to the latest opening. For a midweek meal, we’re very happy at Zipbab, Master Wei, Noodle and Snack or the Indian YMCA. For a more elaborate affair, the food at Brunswick House, the Canton Arms, the Marksman, The Quality Chop House or Trullo never fails to make us happy. A recent discovery is the Sunday lunch at The Camberwell Arms: no yorkies, but otherwise perfect.

How about a little leisure or culture?
We’re so lucky in London to have so much going on, and of such high quality – our Barbican membership is a gift that keeps on giving, and there’s something incredible almost every night of the week. On a sunny day, Cecily Brown at the Serpentine Gallery is a perfect blend of artist, venue and location – a must this summer.

Any weekend getaways?
Athens is fantastic for food and culture. It’s one of those places we always want to go back to, and recently it’s having a moment. Ergon House is a great place to stay with a wonderful food hall in the lobby; The Modernist is more discreet and achingly stylish. The new National Gallery, the Niarchos Center and the Museum of Cycladic Art are all worth seeing, and there’s an incredible cocktail bar scene in Monastiraki, with The Clumsies and Baba Au Rum leading the pack.

What was your last great holiday?
We always want to go back to Mexico; we’ve been twice already and left a bit of our hearts there. It’s huge and extremely diverse, and we hope to explore as much of it as we can in our lifetime. Every trip starts and ends in Mexico City, one of the most vibrant, interesting, fun and delicious places on earth. We like staying in the Habita Group hotels, as stylish as they are welcoming. Maizajo is worth going to at least twice – once for the ground floor taquería, once for the restaurant upstairs (on our latest visit we went back four times).

During the day, you can soak up the art and architecture in one of the many world-class museums and galleries – don’t skip the Museo de Arte Moderno in Chapultepec Park. For a surprisingly fun night, go to a Lucha Libre – leave your cynicism at the door and allow yourself to get carried away by the spectacular performance.

What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
Our biggest indulgence is art – we love the work of Kate Boxer. We have our eye on one of her prints so we’re waiting for a big birthday to splurge. If someone is looking for a gift idea for us, we wouldn’t mind one of Simon Gaiger’s works in our living room.

What store or service do you always recommend?
Everything on Lamb’s Conduit St., but La Fromagerie is our go-to for a culinary treat – beware the chocolate-covered grissini! Shrine To The Vine is the wine shop of our neighbours and friends from Noble Rot – they also supply all the wine for Honey & Co Great Portland, and the shop is a treasure trove of delicious things to drink.

Where are you donating your time or money?
We work with Coram’s Fields a lot – their work is so important. We think it’s hugely important right now to support writers and news organisations – on our Substack are Caroline Eden, Alison Roman and Mark Diacono.

Subscribe now

Read more

A few miles inland from Deal on the Kent coast, restaurant-with-rooms Updown Farmhouse has been serving Italian-influenced feasts from its wood-fired grill since 2022. Now, guests can sip fig leaf Negronis and aperitivi from its sassy cocktail spot, Bar Vita, which opened earlier this year.

Read more

The Skinny: Despite the French-sounding moniker, Auguste is actually Italian – it’s named after a clown in a painting that features in its colourful dining room (above). It opened in April just off London Fields, and retains the structure of the site’s previous resident, beloved seafood restaurant Papi.

Read more

Soul seekers

SARIT PACKER & ITAMAR SRULOVICH • co-founders • Honey & Co
Neighbourhood you work in: Bloomsbury
Neighbourhood you live in: Stockwell

It’s Wednesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
We try to hit all of our places every day – we have four sites, each unique and with its own set of needs. We kept them close to each other so we’re always a bike ride away: Honey & Co on Lamb’s Conduit St. is the core of the operation, serving the Middle Eastern home cooking we love the most. Across the road is Honey & Co Studio, a deli with diverse events from kimchi classes to life-drawing sessions. On Store St. is our café and bakery, Honey & Co Daily, where there’s always something baked that needs trying. On Great Portland St., we have our wine bar, a good place to end the day. There’s always something interesting and delicious to try – a new bottle from the Coravin. The other day, we had a ‘93 Chateau Musar, which was sensational!

What’s on the agenda for today?
We like to have at least two big projects on the go. The wine bar recently launched, so we spend a lot more time there these days. We focus on wine from the Middle East and Mediterranean, with a menu to complement it. We’ve had such interesting conversations with our guests, and lots of fun with our chefs and suppliers. The results are exhilarating – you can have Welsh lamb rack with fermented chillies and a glass of chilled Lebanese red, or British asparagus with Turkish pistachios and a crisp, Greek rosé – heaven!

Our second big project is our new cookbook, Honey & Co Daily, which just came out. It’s based on the menu we serve at our deli and bakery, and we have events to promote it all over the country and across the pond. The book is all about easy, accessible recipes that come together quickly but still look and taste amazing and help bring a joyous moment to the day – something we all need right now.

Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
What we look for in a restaurant is soul, and that’s becoming harder to find. Our favourites are local neighbourhood places or mom-and-pop eateries, and we love going back to old favourites rather than rushing to the latest opening. For a midweek meal, we’re very happy at Zipbab, Master Wei, Noodle and Snack or the Indian YMCA. For a more elaborate affair, the food at Brunswick House, the Canton Arms, the Marksman, The Quality Chop House or Trullo never fails to make us happy. A recent discovery is the Sunday lunch at The Camberwell Arms: no yorkies, but otherwise perfect.

How about a little leisure or culture?
We’re so lucky in London to have so much going on, and of such high quality – our Barbican membership is a gift that keeps on giving, and there’s something incredible almost every night of the week. On a sunny day, Cecily Brown at the Serpentine Gallery is a perfect blend of artist, venue and location – a must this summer.

Any weekend getaways?
Athens is fantastic for food and culture. It’s one of those places we always want to go back to, and recently it’s having a moment. Ergon House is a great place to stay with a wonderful food hall in the lobby; The Modernist is more discreet and achingly stylish. The new National Gallery, the Niarchos Center and the Museum of Cycladic Art are all worth seeing, and there’s an incredible cocktail bar scene in Monastiraki, with The Clumsies and Baba Au Rum leading the pack.

What was your last great holiday?
We always want to go back to Mexico; we’ve been twice already and left a bit of our hearts there. It’s huge and extremely diverse, and we hope to explore as much of it as we can in our lifetime. Every trip starts and ends in Mexico City, one of the most vibrant, interesting, fun and delicious places on earth. We like staying in the Habita Group hotels, as stylish as they are welcoming. Maizajo is worth going to at least twice – once for the ground floor taquería, once for the restaurant upstairs (on our latest visit we went back four times).

During the day, you can soak up the art and architecture in one of the many world-class museums and galleries – don’t skip the Museo de Arte Moderno in Chapultepec Park. For a surprisingly fun night, go to a Lucha Libre – leave your cynicism at the door and allow yourself to get carried away by the spectacular performance.

What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
Our biggest indulgence is art – we love the work of Kate Boxer. We have our eye on one of her prints so we’re waiting for a big birthday to splurge. If someone is looking for a gift idea for us, we wouldn’t mind one of Simon Gaiger’s works in our living room.

What store or service do you always recommend?
Everything on Lamb’s Conduit St., but La Fromagerie is our go-to for a culinary treat – beware the chocolate-covered grissini! Shrine To The Vine is the wine shop of our neighbours and friends from Noble Rot – they also supply all the wine for Honey & Co Great Portland, and the shop is a treasure trove of delicious things to drink.

Where are you donating your time or money?
We work with Coram’s Fields a lot – their work is so important. We think it’s hugely important right now to support writers and news organisations – on our Substack are Caroline Eden, Alison Roman and Mark Diacono.

Subscribe now

WORK & PLAY LINKS: Art exhibition Bold Tendencies returns to Peckham car park after 20 years • Petersham Nurseries drops clothing capsule collection • Rent returns to West End after 25 years, with Stranger Things star • Revealed: how BT Tower could look as a luxury hotel • Do you have a mango dealer?

RESTAURANTS • First Word

No clowning around

The Skinny: Despite the French-sounding moniker, Auguste is actually Italian – it’s named after a clown in a painting that features in its colourful dining room (above). It opened in April just off London Fields, and retains the structure of the site’s previous resident, beloved seafood restaurant Papi.

The Vibe: Cheeky, casual, and cool, with loud music and bags of atmosphere. On warm evenings, the door is left open and there are tables outside for people-watching and grazing. Service is super-friendly, and there are seats at the dinky kitchen counter for a closer look at the grill.

The Food: Small plates showcasing the Italian region of Abruzzo. Sea bream crudo is fresh and juicy, with a surprising puttanesca salsa, while thick asparagus spears come with burstingly fresh peas, crème fraîche and wild garlic sauce. The signature arrosticini – flame-grilled, slimline meat skewers – come in three options: wagyu beef (buttery, soft, standout), lamb (flavoursome, a little fatty), and veal liver (for offal fans). They’re a little over-salted, but a fun format for sharing. There’s just one pasta dish on the menu, but it’s perfect: al dente cappelletti filled with soft cheese in a sensational lamb shoulder broth. To finish, mascarpone, spiced rum and coffee caramel tart is nicely fudgy.

The Drink: Start with a delightfully priced £5 Camparino and move on to low-intervention wines with a strong focus on Abruzzo. A speakeasy-style bar is set to open downstairs soon.

The Verdict: Great value for unusual fare in a lively spot that doesn’t take itself too seriously. –Laura Price

→ Auguste (Hackney) • 373 Mentmore Terr • Wed-Thu 530-1030p, Fri 530-11p, Sat 1230-11p • Book.

RESTAURANTS & BARS • Intel

FLAMING HOT: The team behind Cinder in St John’s Wood are opening No. Forty Nine, a bakery, all-day bistro and wine bar, a minute away from their original. With pastries and breakfast in the morning, from midday the restaurant will serve New York-style bistro dishes with Mediterranean influences including steak tartare with sour cream and onion cream. Opens next Tuesday; book.

SUSHI TIME: Milk Beach founder Elliot Milne is opening an affordable handroll bar in Soho. Inspired by the sushi bars of Los Angeles and Sydney, Saltwater Sushi will serve Australian-style handrolls, donburi bowls and nigiri. Opens this summer on Berwick St; join mailing list for free sushi.

ON PAUSE: In Shoreditch, celebrated bar Tayēr & Elementary remains closed after a fire earlier this month. Follow for updates. –Laura Price

LONDON RESTAURANT LINKS: Victor Garvey’s SO|LA relaunching in Notting Hill as chef’s counter • Moro celebrating 30th birthday with special guest chef series • Chefs disappointed as Michelin scraps green star for sustainability • Trullo painted red after Arsenal win.

CULTURE & LEISURE • Where Is My Mind

• Pixies • Royal Albert Hall (South Kensington) • Thu @ 730p • grand tier, £123 per

• Mighty Hoopla • Lily Allen, Scissor Sisters et al • Brockwell Park (Herne Hill) • Sat-Sun • weekend GA, £224 per

• Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue • Royal Philharmonic • Cadogan Hall (Chelsea) • tonight @ 730p • sec J, £48 per

GETAWAYS • Kent

Sweet deal

A few miles inland from Deal on the Kent coast, restaurant-with-rooms Updown Farmhouse has been serving Italian-influenced feasts from its wood-fired grill since 2022. Now, guests can sip fig leaf Negronis and aperitivi from its sassy cocktail spot, Bar Vita, which opened earlier this year.

No one expects to find a Roman drinking den in the Kentish countryside, but this sultry space with its long marble bar, low lighting ​​and banquette seating, and bartenders in stiff cream jackets, is an honest homage to the Italian city. It’s also great fun, and inventive, from the vodka martini with a smoked eel gilda to snacks of fried apple and sage with honey and pecorino, and chopped liver toast.

Hospitality is an art and a craft, and owners Ruth Leigh and Oli Brown have serious game in both: front-of-house Leigh grew up in the business, while chef Brown is a veteran of Le Café Anglais. They’ve confidently built a dedicated following at Updown with their casual, family-friendly approach, great value weeknight set menus, and regular visiting chefs, from Adejoké Bakare (Chishuru) to Max Rocha (Café Cecilia), along with Jeremy Lee (Quo Vadis) and Henry Harris (Bouchon Racine). This Sunday, they’re hosting their third annual English wine festival.

The restaurant’s menu is a blend of hearty and often meaty dishes, with lots of fresh pasta and outstanding salads and vegetable dishes depending on the season. Expect local seafood and sharing cuts of meat on the grill: saucer-sized scallops, rib of beef with morels, half-roasted poussin with wild garlic and fennel. Proper puds include rice pudding, rum baba, and rhubarb trifle.

The house itself is a renovated 17th-century farmstead that’s welcoming and generous in every sense, from deep beds and huge baths to an honesty bar. A pool opened last year. My favourite of the 10 rooms is bedroom three, which enjoys a corner spot in the main house with views across the treetops. Groups and families can take Fig Tree cottage, a two-bed suite, the brand new Beech Cottage, which sleeps six, or interconnecting rooms in The Stables. The décor mixes contemporary comforts with luxury textures and finishes, from mattresses as deep as the trifle to marble bathrooms and contemporary artwork from Margate-based Studio Lenca.

There’s a sense of remoteness, but Deal station, 10 minutes away, is under 90 minutes from London St Pancras. Updown has always been a great retreat for its exceptional food and hospitality, and Bar Vita brings another excuse to visit in 2026. –Sophie Morris

→ Updown Farmhouse (Deal) • Updown Rd, Betteshanger • Rooms from £200 b&b • Daily 8a-10a, Mon-Sat 12-3p & 6-930p, Sun 12-4p • Bar Vita: Daily 12p-late.

GETAWAYS • Intel

A NEW ERA: In Belfast, chef Chris McClurg and his partner, Alice Stewart, are taking over the five-star Regency House hotel, relaunching the property with its first public-facing restaurant. The restaurant, to be named Regency House, is billed as an ‘intimate Parisian luxe bistro with a distinctly Northern Irish accent’. Restaurant opens July; rooms bookable now; book.

HORSES FOR COURSES: In the Suffolk countryside, the team behind The Suffolk in Aldeburgh are reviving the Grade II-listed pub The White Horse in Easton, relaunching the 17th-century coaching inn with pub classics like fish and chips, sausage rolls and prawn cocktail. Opens today; book. –Laura Price

GETAWAYS LINKS: First look at remade St Clement, London’s zestiest new hotel, soft-opening next month • British Airways raising price of awards tickets, starting today • Riyadh Air opens bookings for formal London launch 01/07 • New off-grid stay in Scotland, at a farm where kids can run wild.

RESTAURANTS • The Nines

Roof terraces

The Nines are FOUND’s distilled lists of the best in London and further afield. Paid subscribers have access to the complete Nines archive.

• Forza Wine (Peckham), impeccable views, flatbreads and snacks in former car park, book

Read more

Take the plunge

LUCY MUSS • artist • Lucy Muss
Neighbourhood you work & live in: Hackney

It’s Wednesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
It’s pretty chaotic in my studio as I’m working on a big commission and preparing for a private show. There are paintings lined up that need finishing, others that need posting and a huge canvas I’m working on. My desk is scattered with art books and interior magazines, droopy flowers and snacks… and everything has paint on it!

What’s on the agenda for today?
I’m trying to get sponsorship for my private view, plus inviting journalists, so I’ll spend some time on that, then I’ll process print orders. I’m plotting another three or so small original paintings for the private view, which I may pounce on at any time. I need to make progress on a large commission from a beautiful family who want a tapestry-of-life painting scattered with flowers, food memories and their favourite things on a golden mustardy background, with a frame of trees and leaves.

Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
I’ll take my husband and kids out tomorrow night to Lucky and Joy, as he’ll be returning from Cannes (so we’ve been like ships in the night). I’ll also go to The Elderfield pub, my local in Clapton, and I’ll pop in for a cocktail and some food at The Elephant, a new Italian restaurant in Hackney (where my solo show is taking place on 4 June).

How about a little leisure or culture?
I loved Rose Wylie at the Royal Academy, and I absolutely must go see Tracey Emin at the Tate. I’ve booked in for a sauna and plunge tomorrow (and most Fridays) at the Hackney Wick old baths. It’s a very hippy place filled with ice-cold plunge tubs and barrels and beautiful saunas and there are usually lots of friends milling around. It’s a total body reset and a real treat and under £10 for an hour. I walk or jog through the marshes most days too, with my dog, Alba.

Any weekend getaways?
We (myself and my husband Louis, a filmmaker) are off to Paris and will be staying at Hotel Les Deux Gares, designed by Luke Edward Hall. I’m super excited to go to Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birken’s house, which Charlotte Gainsbourg has now made open to the public. We’ll also be popping back to Berlin, where we lived for eight years, for a friend’s birthday, then a daytime dance party just outside Berlin in Brandenburg, near the lakes. I also want to take my dad to Umbria for a few days as his belated birthday pressie. He grew up near there and misses it, and I want to spend some special time with him.

What was your last great holiday?
We had the most stunning holiday last summer in Skopelos (the island they filmed Mamma Mia! on). I adore Greece – the sea is so blue and clean – and I just love crawling to a taverna for the most wonderful food then lazing back to the beach. I love the Greek people too. I’m dreaming of being with my family in summer somewhere. We aren’t sure where, yet. Maybe Mallorca, although I really want to visit Sicily as well.

What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
Vintage clothing is my weak spot. I also bought a piece of furniture from Rooms e5 for the bathroom, on a whim.

What store or service do you always recommend?
Somewhere in Hackney for super amazing curated boho vintage. I don’t really have a service but I have recently started taking clothes to the dry cleaners and getting items I love mended. Taking care of things you love and looking after them is a beautiful thing. I hope soon to be going for wellness moments at Shine on the Green, so I’ll get back to you about that.

REAL ESTATE • First Mover

Three for-sale properties in Marylebone that recently came to market:

→ Cumberland Terrace (Marylebone) • 3BR/2BA/1R, 109 m2 flat • Asking price: £2.75mn • views across Regent’s Park, grand entrance hall • Ownership type: leasehold • Agent: Sandfords.

→ Queen Anne St (Marylebone, above) • 3BR/3BA/1R, 224 m2 flat • Asking price: £3.75mn • open-plan lateral w/ courtyard in boutique building • Ownership type: leasehold • Agent: Draper.

→ Bryanston Sq (Marylebone) • 3BR/3BA/1R, 248 m2 flat • Guide price: £4.95mn • in Georgian townhouse overlooking Bryanston Sq, w/ 30-foot reception • Ownership type: freehold • Agents: Mark Redfern & Josh Ratcliffe, Sotheby’s.

WORK & PLAY LINKS: River Thames gets designated bathing status between Kingston & Teddington Lock • Plans unveiled for 25k-seat London Colosseum in Stratford • Camden High Line project scrapped due to rising costs • The Bollywood billionaires of Notting Hill • Décor of the manosphere is the ultimate blank canvas • A summer wardrobe wishlist.

RESTAURANTS • First Word

Remix to ignition

The Skinny: High-end Mayfair Japanese restaurant Humo has been restyled and reimagined as Igni, a restaurant that draws inspiration from its open-fire stove, under ex-Cycene chef Theo Clench. It comes from the team behind Endo at the Rotunda, Sumi and Kioku by Endo.

Read more

The countryside setting of Jöro is only six miles from the restaurant’s old site in Sheffield centre, but it’s worlds apart in décor and scale.

Read more

I love enthusiasts. Whatever you’re into: steam trains, bird watching, an obscure football team that never wins… if you love it, I love that you love it.

Read more

The Skinny: High-end Mayfair Japanese restaurant Humo has been restyled and reimagined as Igni, a restaurant that draws inspiration from its open-fire stove, under ex-Cycene chef Theo Clench. It comes from the team behind Endo at the Rotunda, Sumi and Kioku by Endo.

Read more

• We’re newly on the search for an editorial assistant. It’s a fractional job requiring 5-10 hours per week, and includes organising FOUND’s editorial calendar, communicating with contributors, updating FOUND’s website, and if you please, some writing. The position is remote, though the ideal candidate will be based in a FOUND city.

• Speaking of, the wheels are turning on new FOUND cities. We’re looking for contributors based in Chicago, New Orleans, Hawaii, plus Sydney and Melbourne. These are very flexible freelance roles that don’t necessarily require a professional writing background — mostly passion about FOUND categories along with impeccable taste. Is that you, or a friend?

• We need a paid social guru to manage a small spend.

If any of these opportunities excites you, drop us a line at found@itsfound.com and tell us a little bit about yourself.

REAL ESTATE • First Mover

Three for-sale freeholds in Notting Hill that recently came to market:

→ Chepstow Rd (Notting Hill) • 4BR/3BA/1R, 216 m2 townhouse • Asking price: £4.15mn • 5-storey w/ landscaped garden, full-floor main bedroom suite • Ownership type: freehold • Agents: Josh Ratcliffe & Charles Hamshar, Sotheby’s.

→ Aldridge Road Villas (Notting Hill, above) • 5BR/3BA/4R, 342 m2 semi-detached house • Asking price: £5.5mn • Victorian w/ lofty open-plan kitchen into garden • Ownership type: freehold • Agent: Russell Simpson.

→ Oxford Gardens (Notting Hill) • 6BR/3BA/2R, 447 m2 villa • Guide price: £7.95mn • another Victorian, w/ wraparound garden and double reception on raised ground floor • Ownership type: freehold • Agents: Mark Redfern & Josh Ratcliffe, Sotheby’s.

WORK & PLAY LINKS: Waymo cars keep getting stuck in Shoreditch dead-end in middle of the night • Inside Dominique London’s new Pall Mall boutique • Hotel revamp of BT Tower might include rooftop pool, return of rotating restaurant • How to shop secondhand like a stylist.

RESTAURANTS • FOUND Table

I should koko

The Backstory: When it opened in late 2023, Akara was billed as West African, with a focus on the eponymous black-eyed bean fritter, a popular street food snack. Three years on, the more casual sibling of tasting menu restaurant Akoko has also embraced Brazil, where the savoury filled snacks are known as acarajé.

Read more

The Nines are FOUND’s distilled lists of the best in London and further afield. Paid subscribers have access to the complete Nines archive.

• Jöro (Oughtibridge), Asian-influenced tasting menu restaurant w/ rooms in converted countryside paper mill, book

Read more

Among the treasure trove of independent restaurants and bars on Bristol’s Chandos Road, casual Korean spot Dongnae stands above the rest. Opened in 2024, it’s the second restaurant from Kyu Jeon and Duncan Robertson, the charismatic couple behind similarly beloved Bokman (closed since December due to a fire). On a solo visit in January, I felt immediately at home – there’s a real warmth to the staff and a laidback, neighbourhood vibe.

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Present & Correct is obsessively ordered in a way that would make Wes Anderson swoon. The Islington shop lines pens, notebooks, files and rulers with fittingly geometric precision, each item resting in its place as if part of a diagram. Colours are muted, materials chosen for tactility and balance, and everything from paperweights to staplers is arranged to maximise visual symmetry.

Read more

The Backstory: When it opened in late 2023, Akara was billed as West African, with a focus on the eponymous black-eyed bean fritter, a popular street food snack. Three years on, the more casual sibling of tasting menu restaurant Akoko has also embraced Brazil, where the savoury filled snacks are known as acarajé.

Read more

PAULINE GAUTHIER • head of food, drinks & agrifoodtech • Business France – UK & Ireland
Neighbourhood you work in: Holborn
Neighbourhood you live in: Forest Hill

It’s Wednesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
I work for the trade branch of the French Embassy, helping French agrifood companies with exports to the UK. We organise trade tastings and introduce producers to amazing British retailers, chatting about wine, food and ag-tech with people who are passionate about it. I love my job and the experiences it brings.

What’s on the agenda for today?
I’ll be talking to clients, partners and suppliers to shape our ideas into concrete projects. If I haven’t had time to cook and bring my lunch from home, I’ll grab it from Pho82 (super fresh, super good, but super busy), Viet Eat or Farmer J. After work, I’ll cycle to our weekly improv comedy training with French British Improvisation, where we perform in French or English.

Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
I’m excited to go to Rules for the first time. I’ve been in love with British cuisine and baking since I moved to London 15 years ago (I even dedicated a blog to it for years) and I’ve been told Rules has the best sticky toffee pudding.

For British food, Butlers Wharf Chop House, The Quality Chop House, The Anchor and Hope and Hawksmoor are also favourites of mine. When I crave French food, my go-tos are sister restaurants Casse-Croute and Pique-Nique. I also love Donia for Filipino food, Koya for Japanese and Yori for Korean.

How about a little leisure or culture?
I’ve been doing improvisation for 20 years. I love theatre, musicals and concerts. My husband and I often go to The Barbican Centre, which has amazing productions and exhibitions. I adored My Neighbour Totoro and The Seagull. On weekends, we often take our kids to The Horniman Museum and Dulwich Picture Gallery, which are just around the corner. We also go to Copeland Park and The Bussey Building in Peckham, where our kids take skateboard lessons with the über-cool teachers. We grab a bite there or catch a movie at Peckhamplex (one of the last independent cinemas in London, and one of the cheapest).

Any weekend getaways?
We love getting out of the city, often for day trips to a National Trust or English Heritage spot. There are always lovely places to visit, or a café to grab lunch. Last weekend, we went to Bosham, which was sweet. On New Year’s Day, we wrap up in hats and puffer jackets and go to Brighton for the day, which always includes fish and chips from The Regency. It’s our little family tradition.

What was your last great holiday?
We’ve spent a couple of weeks in Annecy for the past few summers. The lake is magnificent, the old town busy but beautiful, and the food amazing. We cycle to different beaches around the lake each day – our favourites are Talloires, Menthon St Bernard or La Brune. At La Brune, you can hire a pedalo for an hour and have fun on the lake. We gorge ourselves on ice-creams at Maison Perriere (they have over 80 flavours and chantilly cream is free!), and local specialities at L’Estaminet or Le Zinc à Raoul. We take the kids on guided tours of the Chateau de Menthon St Bernard and see the parapentes (paragliders) at the Col de la Forclaz.

What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I bought my electric bike from Compton Cycles, where the team is brilliant. To me, cycling is the best way to travel across London – you don’t get crushed on the tube and you discover new corners of our city every day.

Where are you donating your time or money?
I give a lot of time to The French British Improvisation (FBI). I’m a founding member and have been part of the charity for 12 years. Improv is one of the most inclusive forms of art I know. I also give money every month to Evelina London, who do incredible work to support children and their families going through hard times in several London hospitals.

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• We’re newly on the search for an editorial assistant. It’s a fractional job requiring 5-10 hours per week, and includes organising FOUND’s editorial calendar, communicating with contributors, updating FOUND’s website, and if you please, some writing. The position is remote, though the ideal candidate will be based in a FOUND city.

• Speaking of, the wheels are turning on new FOUND cities. We’re looking for contributors based in Sydney and Melbourne, plus Chicago, New Orleans, and Hawaii. These are very flexible freelance roles that don’t necessarily require a professional writing background — mostly passion about FOUND categories along with impeccable taste. Is that you, or a friend?

• We need a paid social guru to manage a small spend.

If any of these opportunities excites you, drop us a line at found@itsfound.com and tell us a little bit about yourself.

WORK • Wednesday Routine

Mic drop

PAULINE GAUTHIER • head of food, drinks & agrifoodtech • Business France – UK & Ireland
Neighbourhood you work in: Holborn
Neighbourhood you live in: Forest Hill

It’s Wednesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
I work for the trade branch of the French Embassy, helping French agrifood companies with exports to the UK. We organise trade tastings and introduce producers to amazing British retailers, chatting about wine, food and ag-tech with people who are passionate about it. I love my job and the experiences it brings.

What’s on the agenda for today?
I’ll be talking to clients, partners and suppliers to shape our ideas into concrete projects. If I haven’t had time to cook and bring my lunch from home, I’ll grab it from Pho82 (super fresh, super good, but super busy), Viet Eat or Farmer J. After work, I’ll cycle to our weekly improv comedy training with French British Improvisation, where we perform in French or English.

Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
I’m excited to go to Rules for the first time. I’ve been in love with British cuisine and baking since I moved to London 15 years ago (I even dedicated a blog to it for years) and I’ve been told Rules has the best sticky toffee pudding.

For British food, Butlers Wharf Chop House, The Quality Chop House, The Anchor and Hope and Hawksmoor are also favourites of mine. When I crave French food, my go-tos are sister restaurants Casse-Croute and Pique-Nique. I also love Donia for Filipino food, Koya for Japanese and Yori for Korean.

How about a little leisure or culture?
I’ve been doing improvisation for 20 years. I love theatre, musicals and concerts. My husband and I often go to The Barbican Centre, which has amazing productions and exhibitions. I adored My Neighbour Totoro and The Seagull. On weekends, we often take our kids to The Horniman Museum and Dulwich Picture Gallery, which are just around the corner. We also go to Copeland Park and The Bussey Building in Peckham, where our kids take skateboard lessons with the über-cool teachers. We grab a bite there or catch a movie at Peckhamplex (one of the last independent cinemas in London, and one of the cheapest).

Any weekend getaways?
We love getting out of the city, often for day trips to a National Trust or English Heritage spot. There are always lovely places to visit, or a café to grab lunch. Last weekend, we went to Bosham, which was sweet. On New Year’s Day, we wrap up in hats and puffer jackets and go to Brighton for the day, which always includes fish and chips from The Regency. It’s our little family tradition.

What was your last great holiday?
We’ve spent a couple of weeks in Annecy for the past few summers. The lake is magnificent, the old town busy but beautiful, and the food amazing. We cycle to different beaches around the lake each day – our favourites are Talloires, Menthon St Bernard or La Brune. At La Brune, you can hire a pedalo for an hour and have fun on the lake. We gorge ourselves on ice-creams at Maison Perriere (they have over 80 flavours and chantilly cream is free!), and local specialities at L’Estaminet or Le Zinc à Raoul. We take the kids on guided tours of the Chateau de Menthon St Bernard and see the parapentes (paragliders) at the Col de la Forclaz.

What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I bought my electric bike from Compton Cycles, where the team is brilliant. To me, cycling is the best way to travel across London – you don’t get crushed on the tube and you discover new corners of our city every day.

Where are you donating your time or money?
I give a lot of time to The French British Improvisation (FBI). I’m a founding member and have been part of the charity for 12 years. Improv is one of the most inclusive forms of art I know. I also give money every month to Evelina London, who do incredible work to support children and their families going through hard times in several London hospitals.

LONDON RESTAURANT LINKS: Indian fine dining import Trèsind to serve tasting menu and chaat trolley • Former French Laundry chef Jonathan Ferguson named head chef at Brooklands by Claude Bosi at Peninsula London • Pizza slice shop Carmy’s opening in Covent Garden • Camberwell bakery TOAD opening second site in Deptford Market.

RESTAURANTS • First Word

All at sea

The Skinny: A sleek, modern spot that opened in Mayfair in December, Mazarine is the most recent endeavour from Khaled Dandachi and Fred Srouchi, the restaurateurs behind Sparrow Italia. It serves refined French coastal cuisine, with chef Thierry Laborde focusing on top-quality, fresh seafood.

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I have a word for the feeling of disappointment when you miss an opportunity to treat yourself – the philosophical opposite to buyer’s remorse: regret lag. Like jet lag, it lingers for a while and affects you in unexpected ways. At LAMP LDN LIVING in Peckham, I was determined not to be a victim of regret lag.

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The Skinny: A sleek, modern spot that opened in Mayfair in December, Mazarine is the most recent endeavour from Khaled Dandachi and Fred Srouchi, the restaurateurs behind Sparrow Italia. It serves refined French coastal cuisine, with chef Thierry Laborde focusing on top-quality, fresh seafood.

Read more

• Alexis Ralaivao: “Flirter avec l’abstrait” at Pilar Corrias (Soho), cropped forms and lush colour hover between intimacy and elegance. Get up close. Ends 23 May

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ADEJOKÉ BAKARE • chef & co-owner • Chishuru
Neighbourhood you work in: Fitzrovia
Neighbourhood you live in: Marylebone

It’s Wednesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
I run a Michelin-starred West African restaurant, Chishuru. Wednesday mornings are blissfully quiet. I get in before anyone else, around 6a, so I can work alone on my sauces. Our sauces are central to our food (we have to get them just right), and I find it most effective to do that in the early morning, armed with a soursop leaf tea.

What’s on the agenda for today?
We’ve recently done a little refurbishment of the restaurant – some new décor, new flooring and, most importantly, some gorgeous new (larger) tables – and I’m bringing lots of new dishes onto the menu to coincide with it. Every time we put on a new dish, we test and tweak and twist, so that’s what’s on my mind this morning.

Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
My lovely pal Sally Abé just opened her solo restaurant Teal in Hackney (intel below). The menu is terrific (and very, very Sally, which is a good thing). She didn’t need to prove she’s a master of taking the ordinary and making it magical... but she did.

How about a little leisure or culture?
London is great for art – we get lots of visitors in the restaurant around Frieze time – and I loved Nigerian Modernism at Tate Modern. My friend Cyndi Handson has a DJ residency at the Tate Corner Bar with her husband Christian.

Any weekend getaways?
My next trip out of town is to Updown Farmhouse in Kent, where once again I’ll be cooking with Oli [Brown] in his gorgeous kitchen. The last time we cooked together down there was October 2024, and since then Oli and his partner, Ruth, have been very busy making Updown even more magical.

What was your last great holiday?
Lake Garda in Italy last autumn. We went to Lido 84, which turned out to be serendipitous because after years on the World’s 50 Best list, they recently announced they’re closing. It’s a beautiful restaurant right on the banks of the lake and the menu was heaven. We stayed at the Grand Hotel Fasano in Gardone Riviera, which is very much a treat. The best type of outing in that part of the world, apart from driving on the road that runs alongside the lake, is to visit local winemakers – Italy’s finest Champagne-method sparkling wines come from the Franciacorta region, half an hour from Garda.

What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I love music, and my KEF speakers were a big splurge, but they’re worth it.

What store or service do you always recommend?
If I have to wear something special for a big posh event, I head straight to Guillermo, my personal shopper at Liberty.

Where are you donating your time or money?
Action Through Enterprise, a charity that works with rural communities in Upper West Ghana, tackling poverty and creating opportunities. We support them at the restaurant by offering raffle prizes.

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