THE unlikely saviours of the Spinningfields Leftbank Kitchens are a trio of Polish lads specialising in potato pancakes and a 22-year-old messiah for authentic Jamaican soul food. They are the pop-up back-up for the deserved winners of the original competition set up by landlords Allied London, Bangers and Bacon whose permanent restaurant in two of the original six units is shortly to come on stream as BEASTro.
ToM has high hopes for Richard Brown and James and Helen Taylor’s new project branching out beyond their original meat-driven template. Supper clubs and imaginative street food initiatives like the current one at Winter Gathering have honed their culinary sharpness. It should be up and running early in 2017.
Along the way at The Kitchens accomplished rivals Yakumama, Chaat Cart, Momma Schnitzel and the Hip Hop Chip Shop dropped away, not helped by a space the tumbleweed blew through after lunchtimes. So fingers crossed for new arrivals Platzki and Yard Food Shop.
At Platzki Luke, Przemo and Peter (above) are serving up affordable pancakes from the classic with mushrooms and cheese (£4.50) upwards – you can even construct your own ‘Personal Secret’ version.
The Yard is the brainchild of young Maximilian Thomas, turning out jerk chicken, brown stew chicken, Jamaican national dish ackee and saltfish, with the option of white rice, rice and peas and/or salad, refined after lab tests at Manchester University.
For daily updates on the new look KItchens follow @_TheKitchens on Twitter.