Edible gifts
Poon’s at Somerset House, Burro, El Siete, Belgravia listings, Celentano’s, Arthouse Glasgow, Padella, edible gift guide, MORE
WORK • Wednesday Routine
Take it slow
CAROLINE PEPPER • director • PEA Studio
Neighbourhood you work & live in: Peckham
It’s Wednesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
I often start at our studio in Peckham. It’s a space that hopefully reflects our focus on materials and process. Most mornings begin with a coffee from Nola, just around the corner. Since having our daughter, Ivy, I spend Wednesday afternoons with her – playtime, the park, discovering local corners of London through her eyes. One of the quiet joys of maternity leave has been visiting exhibitions at off-peak times – the magic of seeing things slowly, without the usual rush.
What’s on the agenda for today?
This morning, I’m working on a residential project with structural Douglas fir. Alongside that, I’m doing some design consultancy on a project in Paris, which is a part of our practice I really enjoy. It’s collaborative in a different way – a chance to contribute spatial thinking to projects without needing to author the entire architectural response. That kind of dialogue is energising.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
A good weeknight spot is Ganapati, just by our doorstep. It’s probably my favourite Indian in London – casual, comforting and full of depth. Our all-time favourite remains St. John in Smithfield. When we lived in Golden Lane Estate, it was our regular. My favourite way to do it is to grab a table at the bar and order some bits whilst having a drink – their Negroni is delicious.
How about a little leisure or culture?
My favourite museum in London will always be Tate Modern. There’s a room on the first floor (though I’m not sure it’s always on view) dedicated to Gerhard Richter’s paintings, inspired by John Cage’s music. When I was studying, I used to sit in that room for hours and just let go of everything on my mind. Recently, I took Ivy there for the first time. Sharing that space with her was very special.
Any weekend getaways?
We’re visiting Turn End by Peter Aldington. It’s a house we often reference in our design practice, so seeing it in person will be a kind of pilgrimage. It’ll also be great to get away from London for the day. On the way, we’ll stop for lunch at Worton Kitchen Garden – fresh produce, relaxed atmosphere, perfect countryside stop.
What was your last great vacation?
We took our first family holiday over Easter, driving from London to Aix-en-Provence in our self-converted campervan. Along the way, we stayed a few nights on Île de Ré for long walks, oysters and white wine. We passed through Les Sources de Caudalie, slept roadside when we needed to, and eventually arrived in Aix to spend Easter weekend with my mother, siblings and their partners. We had sunshine, the Sunday market, simple aperitifs and a lot of laughter.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
A wassily chair by Marcel Breuer.
What store or service do you always recommend?
Retrouvius in Kensal Green, a favourite source for architectural salvage, rich textures and design ideas that evolve with time.
RESTAURANTS • First Word
Living legacy
The Skinny: Poon’s at Somerset House is an evolution of the famed Chinese restaurant Poon’s, which opened its first location in 1973. Bill Poon’s restaurants are now shuttered, but his daughter Amy has taken on the legacy. After bringing it back as a pop-up in 2018, she debuted the restaurant in its new permanent home early last month.