CHANGING times at The Kitchens Leftbank. Three of the original six street food traders chosen from a 200-strong applicant list to occupy six custom-built sites by the river in Spinningfields have departed – Wholesome and Raw, Mumma Schnitzel and Yakumama.
That leaves Chaat Cart, Hip Hop Chip Shop and Banger still in the yearlong contest to earn permanent premises from Spinningfields landlords Allied London – Chaat Cart, Hip Hop Chip Shop and enterprising Bangers & Bacon who moved their gourmet steak sandwich spin-off Well Hung next door (where Mumma Schnitzel were).
A further reshuffle boost to what had looked a faltering project is the arrival in the remaining empty units of Dim Sum Su, offering Cantonese wontons, dumplings and steamed buns, and Nasi Lemak, ubiquitous Malaysian street food maestros (their Rempah Chicken, below, is a TOM fave).
Still it seems an age (eight months in actual fact) since the inception of this street food in situ initiative. Read: The Kitchens Leftbank is an innovative dining concept providing a unique space for up and coming businesses to showcase the very best of the region’s casual dining scene. Six start-up street food and pop up traders have battled out over the past year for their very own bricks and mortar on the Spinningfields estate, designing their own space, building their brand and developing their menus. Their concepts have come to life at the Kitchens.”
I am a huge fan of what James and Heather Taylor and Richard Brown at Bangers & Bacon have made of the opportunity. They have run supper clubs, chef’s tables, even held their own culinary celebration of the Chinese New Year plus taking Well Hung over to Trinity Kitchens. Their new look joint diner looks a classy fixture (see below).
Get down and check out them and their enterprising neighbours. Let indie rule.
The Kitchens Spinningfields. Mon-Fri: 7am-10:30pm; Sat-Sun: 7am – 10pm. See @_TheKitchensfor individual traders’ opening hours.