The Pub - Discuss Anything

[cosmicway 1,295]

18 minutes ago, NikkiCFC said:

Just saw this impressive project Ellinikon near Athens. Who is building it? @cosmicway

I don't like it.
Casino ... rubbish.
Hellenikon is a huge area by the sea as well. They could build 3-4 stadiums the size of Stamford bridge there.
As for casino ... just use one of the old airport hangars then go to Omonia square, pick 5-6 Albanian guys and make them dealers and that's it.
If the casino sky-scraper makes 100,000 euros a day, my casino in the old hangar will make exactly the same amount from the fools.

But what they should have made there is a new race course.
The Dubai of the med could have been.
But they are idiots all of them.
The Athens race course is-was in some other distant location and the imbeciles shut it down alltogether as well now.

New Democracy are idiots.
Syriza are other types of idiots. The Syriza party wanted Hellenikon to be left as is with wild thorns that sting (... neocommunist nature loving).

 

 

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Where To Eat & Drink In Balham

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Balham locals will tell you there’s never been a better time to visit. From Asian-inspired restaurants to a great ice-cream shop, bars and eateries are opening all over SW12. These are the places at the top of our list…

 

https://slman.com/culture/balham-restaurants

 

 

Freak Scene

FOR ASIAN-INSPIRED DISHES

 

After garnering rave reviews at its Fulham outpost last year, Freak Scene recently landed in Balham. Run by Aussie Scott Hallsworth (ex-Nobu head chef), the restaurant has a pan-Asian menu featuring dishes from the sushi and sashimi bar, as well as larger sharing plates like wood-fired miso poussin with a spicy lemon garlic sauce, braised beef short ribs, crispy seabass sliders with tamarind hot sauce, and Singapore chilli crab wonton 'bombs'. There’s a strong sake list, plus a selection of zingy late-night cocktails to carry on the party.

1 Ramsden Road, SW12 8QZ

Visit FreakSceneRestaurants.com

Henny's Wine Bar

FOR A GLASS OR TWO

 

 

Tooting Broadway Market’s Henny’s Wine Bar moved to a permanent site in Balham last year. With perhaps the best décor on this list, it specialises in Beaujolais wines and the team want to introduce a new generation of drinkers to organic and biodynamic bottles. The bar has a weekly changing menu with a small wine list, so there’s always something new to try. There’s also a good selection of craft beers on tap, as well as a classic negroni sbagliato made with Campari, vermouth and prosecco. Henny's has also teamed up with Yard Sale Pizza so you can order wood-fired pizzas with slow-cooked tomato sauce and mozzarella straight to your table. Keep an eye out for tastings, life-drawing workshops and art classes.

195C Balham High Road, SW12 9BE

Visit HennysWine.com

Milk

FOR BRUNCH

 

 

 

You’ve probably seen this chic café doing the rounds on social media thanks to its aesthetically pleasing brunch dishes and huge hot cross buns. It has expanded its site, adding cool, colourful interiors, so you can now sit on benches outside or dine in the main café to tuck into dishes like baked eggs with honey and miso cream, sweetcorn fritters with halloumi and avocado, and banana bread spread thickly with tahini, among other classic brunch option. Everything is served alongside coffees, juices, smoothies and pastries from the counter. 

18-20 Bedford Hill, SW12 9RG

Visit Milk.London

 

Oy Bar

FOR OYSTERS

 

 

 

This newcomer is all about fresh oysters and seafood platters. Perfect for date nights or evenings out with the girls, Oy Bar does simplicity well. Three oysters and a glass of fizz are £12, while larger dishes on the menu include mussels mariniere and harissa salmon fillet. If you’re just stopping by for a quick drink, order the baked camembert, charcuterie platters or garlic snails to share with a glass of wine – there’s a great list of sparkling, orange and organic bottles. Later in the year the team will open a second site in Wimbledon.

7 Chestnut Grove, SW12 8JA

Visit Oybar.co.uk

Jefferson’s Ice Cream

FOR SWEET TREATS

 

 

Offering a range of artisanal ice-creams, sorbets, and sundaes, family owned Jefferson’s is all about high-quality ingredients and imaginative flavours. At its outposts in Brixton and Balham, flavours change regularly with the seasons, and the ice-cream is made fresh each morning with organic milk. Current flavours include vanilla honeycomb, mint choc chip, strawberry compote, and cold-press coffee, as well as lemon, mango and chocolate sorbets.

191B Balham High Road, SW12 9BE

Visit JeffersonsIceCream.com

Chez Bruce

FOR FINE DINING

 

 

 

Chez Bruce is located on the former site of Marco Pierre White's restaurant, Harveys, and has retained its Michelin star since 1999. Headed up by chefs Matt Christmas and Bruce Poole, it offers hearty portions of modern European dishes made from only the best seasonal ingredients. Dishes are reasonably priced, while the wine list features rare bottles you won’t find elsewhere. 

2 Bellevue Road, SW17 7EG

Visit ChezBruce.co.uk

 

Utter Waffle

FOR NEXT-LEVEL WAFFLES

 

 

Maple syrup isn’t the only thing that tastes great on a waffle, as proved by this neighbourhood restaurant. The team started out driving their food truck around London, before eventually opening a permanent site on Hildreth Street. Here, diners can choose from sweet and savoury waffles, as well as breakfast cocktails and indulgent desserts. From sweet waffles like ‘Banoffee Pie’ to savoury options like ‘Fried Chicken & Mozzarella’, there’s something for everyone. 

9 Hildreth Street, SW12 9RQ

Visit UtterWaffle.co.uk

Zia Lucia

FOR GREAT PIZZA

 

 

 

Leading the charge in London’s pizza renaissance, Zia Lucia has become renowned for its 48-hour slow-fermented doughs: choose between traditional, wholemeal, gluten free and black vegetable charcoal. Our favourite options include the ‘Spicy Burrata’ with mozzarella, fresh burrata and spianata spicy salami; and the ‘Verdurissima’ with tomato sauce, mozzarella, roasted peppers and roasted aubergine. The Balham outpost also has a Burrata Bar, showcasing creamy cheeses sourced from Puglia. 

7 Chestnut Grove, SW12 8JA

Visit ZiaLucia.com

1910 Cantina

FOR MEXICAN DISHES

 

 

1910 Cantina brings the vibrant flavours of Mexico to southwest London. This lively restaurant offers a menu packed with traditional dishes, from street-style tacos and enchiladas to rich moles and fresh ceviche – all best enjoyed alongside spicy margaritas and other agave-based cocktails. With its colourful décor and fun atmosphere, it’s a great option to visit before a night out. The team also host regular mezcal and tequila tasting masterclasses.

7 Hildreth Street, SW12 9RQ

Visit 1910Cantina.com

 

The Devonshire

FOR PUB CLASSICS

 

 

 

Whether it’s showing the football, putting on comedy nights or hosting its weekly pub quiz, there’s always something fun happening at The Devonshire, arguably the nicest pub in the neighbourhood. It has all the makings of a great boozer: friendly staff, local beers, cosy interiors and a decent menu of British classics. The ‘Burger Shack’ fires up the grill from Thursdays to Saturdays, while Sundays are reserved for roast dinners served with all the trimmings.

39 Balham High Road, SW12 9AN

Visit TheDevonshireBalham.co.uk

Little House Balham

FOR EVENING DRINKS

 

 

 

This Soho House outpost is a favourite among locals. With its 1940s-inspired interiors and cosy areas for settling down with cocktails, long summer days are best spent on the terrace, while cooler evenings call for dinner and drinks in the main dining room. There’s also an impressive artwork collection, showcasing south London talent, including a horseshoe-shaped bar with a ceiling mural by local artist Miranda Forrester.

16A Hildreth Street, SW12 9RQ

Visit LittleHouseBalham.com

Taro

FOR AUTHENTIC JAPANESE

 

 

Taro brings a slice of Tokyo to Balham with its authentic Japanese cuisine. This family run restaurant has a warm and welcoming atmosphere, without any pretentiousness or fuss. The extensive menu offers a variety of classic dishes, from sashimi and bento boxes to hearty bowls of ramen. Highlights include the chicken katsu bento served with rice, edamame and salad; salmon teriyaki; seafood yakisoba; and prawn tempura and udon noodle soup.

213 Balham High Road, SW17 7BQ

Visit TaroRestaurants.uk

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Richmond Park yesterday

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3 Experts Choose Their Favourite Boxed Wines

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Boxed wine has come a long way from the vinegary stuff you might remember from years ago. Today, it can be just as good as bottled and lasts for weeks in the fridge, making it a cost-effective and sustainable option. Here are nine boxes the pros think you should try this summer.

 

https://slman.com/life/food-drink/best-boxed-wine

 

Wine Expert Amelia Singer Recommends

 

Pinot Grigio, £29.99 | Laylo

This premium wine is stored in the prettiest packaging you’ll find on the boxed wine scene. Laylo is a female-run business whose Master of Wine sources fantastic grapes by independent and family-owned wineries. This pinot grigio was created as a perfect mid-week option. It’s an excellent example of a fresh, fruity and elegant pinot grigio from its spiritual homeland in the Veneto, Italy. I love its lemon peel perfume followed by pulpy green apple notes infused with lemon sherbet zest. This wine makes for easy drinking and fun in the best way. I’d pair it with salted nuts, crisps, olives, and light summer salads – whatever you have on offer for impromptu visits from friends.

Available at DrinkLaylo.com

 

 

 

Famille Fabre Corbières, £54 | Bobo Wines

This organic orange wine will impress natural wine lovers without alienating more conservative drinkers. It’s by Bobo Wines, which specialises in premium organic wines from small French growers. Don’t be put off by the Irn-Bru colour. It’s made using the aromatic grape viognier and the juice is left on the skins for three weeks. Thanks to the extended skin contact, you can enjoy a succulent, textured wine with the notes of baked peach and apricot fruit that are forever associated with viognier. The skin contact also brings in notes of uplifting jasmine and orange bitters. It’s complex, intense but dry, so pairs perfectly with Ottolenghi-inspired cuisine – think pomegranate-topped hummus, deep-fried cheeses, lamb koftas or harissa-glazed duck. It can stand up to and complement them all.

Available at BoboWines.co.uk

 

Terre Di Faiano Organic Rosso, £27.99 | Waitrose Cellar

This must be the best-priced boxed wine around relative to the smart packaging and quality of what’s inside. Southern Italian reds are pure bottled hedonism, and this rich, intense and spicy blend from Puglia does not disappoint. Made from organic fruit and presented in a beautiful 100% recyclable tube, this is a fantastic offering from Waitrose for the summer BBQ days that are hopefully ahead. Although this is a fruit-forward wine, the blend of three grapes (primitivo, negroamaro and cabernet sauvignon) gives it great structure. The intensity and brightness of the fruit make this one perfect when you’re serving lamb, hot dogs, beef burgers, stuffed aubergines or grilled veggie kebabs.

Available at WaitroseCellar.com

 

Patelin De Tablas Rosé, £69 | Tablas Creek

I’ve been a fan of this premium Californian estate for years. The team set up its Central Coast winery in the 80s in partnership with Rhone-based Château de Beaucastel, who make possibly the most iconic Châteauneuf du Pape available. Several decades later, they are now organic and biodynamic, and one of the first artisan wineries in California to put wine into box. This rosé is one of their most popular, made using three red grapes from the Rhone, including grenache, which brims with wild strawberry and dried cranberry fruit. This versatile wine is great on its own, though pairs excellently with BBQ dishes, picnic food or Rhone Valley fare like pâté, seafood, bouillabaisse and olive tapenade.

Available at TheWineSociety.com 

Visit Amelias-Wine.com

 Season 2 of Amelia Singer’s podcast, ‘Ameliarate Through Wine’, is available to listen now on Apple & Spotify.

Wine Expert Richard Ellison Recommends

 

Sauvignon Bag-In-Box, £36.50 | JaJa

Designed for easy everyday drinking, this will not disappoint sauvignon blanc lovers, with its big grassy, green profile wearing its heart on its sleeve. It will also convert many sauvignon sceptics, as it’s a very intense but super elegant take on a traditional sauvignon blanc. With notes of gooseberry and elderflower, it has refreshing acidity and gentle minerality, making it the perfect match for salads, seafood and light meats.

Available at WanderlustWine.co.uk

 

 

Justin Blanc Bag-In-Box, £38 | Saint Cyrgues

Chateau Saint Cyrgues is known for embracing sustainable viticulture practices, nurturing a relationship between nature and winemaking. This organic approach fosters biodiversity and allows the grapes to express the terroir, and ultimately have more personality and character in the wines. With notes of white flowers, citrus and subtle white pepper, this medium-bodied wine offers acidity and a delicate note of honey and sweet spice, leading to a lingering and spicy finish. It’s great on its own on a sunny day, or with a salad topped with goat’s cheese or smoked salmon.

Available at WanderlustWine.co.uk 

 

Rose Bag-In-Box, £39 | JaJa

Containing 3L – equivalent to four bottles of regular rosé – this is a great option for a summer garden party where you are planning to host a large group. Fruity and juicy on the palate with a moderate alcohol content (12%), this is a crowd-pleaser. Look for aromas of strawberries, rose petals, pink grapefruit and a hint of Turkish delight, while the palate is an elegant surprise of strawberries and cream, grapefruit and peach. It’s the perfect aperitif and a great pairing companion for salads, light pasta dishes, olive tapenade, zucchini fritters and grilled fish.

Available at WanderlustWine.co.uk

 

Visit WanderlustWine.com

Wine Writer Hannah Crosbie Recommends

 

 

French Pinot Noir Bag In Box 2023, £22 | The Society's

This is one of the best-value boxed wines on the market. It’s a totally quaffable and ridiculously delicious pinot noir from the south of France. Bright, crunchy and with a fruity hit of cherries, it’s a classic bistro wine that’ll go with everything from steak frites to cassoulet. It’s also great with a big sharing board of cheeses, as well as charcuterie boards piled with meats and artichoke.

Available at TheWineSociety.com

 

 

Bag In Box, £20 | Porta 6

This is a failsafe option for casual drinking and summer BBQs. The Portuguese red wine is instantly recognisable by its label, and features a vibrant mix of red fruit flavours and spices. Originating from the Lisbon region, this wine has a smooth and balanced profile, with notes of succulent red and dark fruits on the palate with a smooth finish. It’ll go perfectly with a variety of dishes, from grilled meats to hearty stews.

Available at Sainsburys.co.uk

Visit HannahCrosbie.com

[robsblubot 3,434]

Pretty cool 

https://x.com/GamingSinceNES/status/1823878060212392327

full version (which has too much Hollywood ) is on YouTube.

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August 20th, 2024 Ergo-Log Newsletter

Do green beans enhance fat loss? Can you lose fat faster if you eat beans a few times a week? In vitro study. https://www.ergo-log.com/green-beans-fat-loss.html Potassium-rich diet halves risk of breast cancer Women who consume a relatively large amount of potassium through fruit and vegetables have a sixty percent lower risk of breast cancer than women with a modest potassium intake. https://www.ergo-log.com/potassium-breast-cancer.html Cucumber protects your cells The cells that make up your body are likely to last longer if you eat 300 grams of cucumber every day. Trial. https://www.ergo-log.com/cucumber-cellular-protector.html These medicinal mushrooms inhibit triple-negative breast cancer Supplementation with extracts of medicinal mushrooms such as shiitake, maitake, reishi, Cordyceps sinensis, and Agaricus blazei may slow the growth of difficult-to-treat triple negative breast cancer tumors. Animal data. https://www.ergo-log.com/medicinal-mushrooms-triple-negative-breast-cancer.html On the way to type-2 diabetes? Cinnamon, ginger and black cumin protect your health Traditional healers gave herbs like cinnamon, black cumin and ginger to people with type-2 diabetes even before the term was invented. https://www.ergo-log.com/cinnamon-ginger-black-cumin-type-2-diabetes.html Trial (not kidding) | Prunes make you p**p more When we wrote a post a few days ago about the positive effects of prunes on bone mass, alert readers informed us that the addition of prunes to the diet also leads to an increase in solid stools. https://www.ergo-log.com/trial-prunes.html More carotenoids in your diet, less chance of obesity Carrots, leafy vegetables, cabbage and other vegetables contain carotenoids such as beta-carotene and lutein. https://www.ergo-log.com/carotenoids-obesity.html Daily intake of 5 dried plums halts bone loss A trial & a case study. https://www.ergo-log.com/dried-plums-bone-loss.html Working in the garden may protect against dementia People over 65 who work in their garden daily or almost daily have a quarter less chance of dementia than their peers who never garden. https://www.ergo-log.com/gardening-dementia.html Guest blog X203 | Living longer by blocking interleukin-11 You couldn’t have missed it. The reports about a ‘supermodel granny drug’, an ‘anti-aging breakthrough that could extend life’, were in every newspaper and on every TV station. According to Stuart Cook, the anti-ageing professor who invented the ‘supermodel granny drug’, its effect would even be comparable to that of rapamycin – ‘but without some of rapamycin‘s adverse side effects’. https://increaselifespan.net/2024/07/27/x203-longevity-interleukin-11/

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On 16/08/2024 at 11:18, robsblubot said:

Pretty cool 

https://x.com/GamingSinceNES/status/1823878060212392327

full version (which has too much Hollywood ) is on YouTube.

big recco

very cool!!

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delete

Edited August 19 by Vesper

[KEVINAA 79]

The game awards and IGN doing THE ONL GAMES - starts on August 20 at 2pm US ET.

GAMES RELEASES FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.

THE GAME AWARDS [GAMESCOM Opening Night Live 2024 ONL: Official Livestream (TODAY, 11a PT/2p ET/8p CEST)]

 

IGN [gamescom ONL 2024 (Opening Night Live) Stream]

 

Edited August 20 by KEVINAA

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Catastrophic flooding has cut off all access to Supai and Havasupai Falls. The tribal council has decided to close their lands. Gov. Hobbs has activated the national guard to assist. Hundreds of hikers are still stranded.

 

 

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Lol

Real Slavic Women

🙈

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Might well end up seeing history soon.

The 2024 Chicago White Sox have a great shot at breaking the all-time record in modern baeball (post 1900, when the American League formed and joined with the National league to make the moderm MLB) for the most losses in a season and second most ever.

Only the 1899 Cleveland Spiders (who went 20-134, which is just madness and will never be broken, they would have ened up with probably 141 or 142 losses in today's 162 game season) have more losses potentially.

 

It has been accepted for months that the 2024 White Sox are the worst team in franchise history, but now it’s official.

On the first day of September, the White Sox lost 2-0 to the New York Mets and set a new franchise record for losses in a season with 107.

The 1970 White Sox went 56-106, setting the mark with a loss on the last day of the season, Oct. 1, 1970. The 2024 team is much more efficient at losing.

Now that the local goal has been met, there’s still 24 games left in the season for the Sox (31-107) to really make history.

Because it is the Mets, of course, Chicago is really chasing this season. The 1962 Mets, an expansion team, lost 120 games, the modern record for losses in a season. Through June, the Sox were bad, but the ’62 Mets’ legendary mark still seemed like a stretch.

Then Chicago went 7-44 in July and August and now only needs 14 losses this month to break that record. They haven’t lost fewer than 19 games in a month so far this season.

 

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😭

Olympic marathon runner hospitalised after boyfriend 'set her on fire' leaving her with 75% burns in petrol attack at her house

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/olympics/article-13796347/Olympic-marathon-runner-hospitalised-boyfriend-set-fire-burns-petrol-attack.html

Ugandan Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei is receiving treatment in hospital for 75 per cent burns after allegedly being set on fire by her boyfriend.

Cheptegei had recently returned to Kenya following the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she represented Uganda in the marathon.

Police have confirmed Cheptegei was attacked in her house in the western Trans Nzoia County, where she had been training.

Cheptegei had allegedly been set on fire by her former boyfriend Dickson Ndiema.

Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom said her former partner had bought a can of petrol, poured it on her and set her ablaze during a disagreement on Sunday.

'The boyfriend is believed to have sneaked into the compound at around 2pm on Sunday while the wife and the children were in Church,' Kosiom said, as per the Kenyan newspaper The Standard.

'Upon returning, Dickson, who had procured petrol, began pouring it on Rebecca before he set her ablaze.

'The couple were heard quarrelling outside their house. During the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the woman before burning her. 

'The suspect was also caught by the fire and sustained serious burns.'

Cheptegei is currently being treated at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret city.

Ndiema, who also sustained burns, is being treated at the same hospital.

The Ugandan Athletics Federation confirmed the attack on social media. 

'We regret to announce that our athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, who competed at the Olympics has suffered severe injuries and is hospitalised at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret. 

'This follows an incident involving her Kenyan boyfriend pouring petrol and setting fire on her.'

Neighbours helped to extinguish the flames, according to local reports, with both being admitted to hospital with extensive burns.

Police discovered a five-litre jerry can, a bag, and a burned phone at the scene of the incident, according to Kenyan newspaper The Nation.

The local police chief stated that the couple had been heard fighting over the land where the house was built before the fire was started.

Cheptegei was reported to have bought the land in Trans Nzoia county, located close to the Uganadan border, and built a house.

The house is close to several training centres in Kenya. 

Cheptegei finished 44th in the women's marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games last month.

The 33-year-old had also won gold at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 2022.

In 2023, Ugandan Olympic runner and steeplechaser Benjamin Kiplagat was found dead with stab wounds.

In 2022, Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete Damaris Muthee was found dead with a postmortem report stating that she was strangled in the town of Iten.

Muthee's death came months after two-time World Championship medallist Agnes Tirop was found stabbed to death in the same town. 

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The smashed burger that the in-crowd queue up for

 

The Copenhagen restaurant chain Gasoline Grill opened in London last month and is already taking the city by storm with its £16 patties. So what’s the secret?

https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/food-drink/article/gasoline-grill-london-smashed-burger-copenhagen-l8jxv0z69

When a restaurant from Copenhagen pops up in London and causes a buzz, you wouldn’t be a fool for assuming it was the kind of fine-dining restaurant the Danish city is famous for. From a city home to 32 Michelin stars and Noma, once ranked the best restaurant in the world, you might expect eyebrow-raising theatrics, three-hour-long tasting menus and a bill that requires a small mortgage.

But the Copenhagen restaurant that arrived to fanfare for a pop-up at the Standard hotel in King’s Cross couldn’t be further from that. It’s a burger diner called Gasoline Grill famous for its £16 smash burgers, hot chicken nuggets and crinkle-cut chips served in paper bags.

Since opening in August, Gasoline Grill’s residency on the ground floor of the quirky hotel has been a revolving door of influencers, foodies and chefs from some of the city’s hottest restaurants in search of its beef, spicy fried chicken and surf’n’turf burgers. Getting a table here is akin to trying to get reasonably priced Oasis tickets — next to impossible. It is fully booked every night, and TikTok is awash with videos of burger fans raving about the perfect patties. “I’ve been on the weekends and it feels like Soho House. It’s where everyone stops before heading to the bars upstairs for a drink and a dance,” one friend, who has been three times, tells me.

The 100 per cent organic beef patties sandwiched in a potato bun with a smear of Gasoline sauce (a mix of mayo, ketchup and mustard) secured an episode on Netflix’s cult travelling food show Somebody Feed Phil. Food critics have raved about the sear on the burgers and when the original Gasoline Grill in Copenhagen is not heaving with the fashion set (at last month’s Copenhagen Fashion Week it was the go-to refuel spot for editors and designers), it is the post-service hangout of choice for Copenhagen’s top chefs, and loved by Clare Smyth, the only British female chef to be awarded three Michelin stars, who visits if she is in the city. Whenever I have been to Copenhagen it is also one of the first places I go when I get off the plane — and the last place I visit on the way back to the airport.

 

Flipping burgers that have been “smashed” is a sure-fire way to attract foodies these days. It’s a culinary trigger word. (The patties are formed by hand each morning and “smashed” lightly on to a hot grill so they sear and sizzle around the edges.)

But the real secret is the bun, which is made using mashed potatoes. “This was the most difficult part but I always knew I wanted to have a potato bun. It’s so fluffy that it’s almost juicy and it’s also elastic so it holds the juice from the patty really well. A poor quality bun might crumble but a potato bun sucks up the liquids like a sponge,” says its founder, the 6ft 4in bearded restaurateur Klaus Wittrup.

Gasoline Grill now has nine sites in Denmark, arguably making it one of the poshest burger chains in Europe, and makes tens of thousands of burgers each week. But its first restaurant was in a run-down gas station and its success was something of an accident.

By 2016 Wittrup already had a reputation on the Copenhagen food scene. “I posted a status: ‘Hey I am opening my own burger place today and have a few burgers. Drop by.’” They sold out in a matter of hours. The following day he upped the number of burgers to 100. The same thing happened again. “People were lining around the block,” he says. For the first three months he didn’t have a day off, making hundreds of burgers each morning until he sold out by 2pm. He began to rope in friends and hire colleagues to help him manage the flow. They were then invited to cook for Noma’s staff. “They shared it on their Instagram post and that was huge for us,” he says.

Any food lover who has visited Copenhagen will know that there is a flip side to its fine dining scene. For every white table-clothed restaurant with a year-long waiting list, there is a hole-in-the-wall pizza restaurant, walk-in ramen bar or sandwich shop that is equally hot. When I went to the city in January with a friend we didn’t eat at a single Michelin-starred restaurant. Instead, we toured Copenhagen’s fast-food casual scene. We had pizza at Baest, burgers from Poulet, queued up for a bowl of shio ramen at Slurp Ramen. And we obviously made several stops at Gasoline Grill. It was a weekend of ridiculously good food that I didn’t have to hand over my monthly salary to pay for.

“Noma has drawn in a lot of talent into the city who are now starting their own restaurants,” Wittrup explains. “It has also cultivated the Danish public in our demand for taste and quality. We have tried the best of the best, and that’s now what we expect.” Gasoline Grill is in London until the middle of September. If you can’t get down by then, you’ll need to book a trip to Copenhagen.

[Fulham Broadway 16,645]

Top 10 plastic polluters

1. India: 9,275,777 tonnes/year
2. Nigeria: 3,532,479 tonnes/year
3. Indonesia: 3,352,229 tonnes/year
4. China: 2,808,179 tonnes/year
5. Pakistan: 2,567,461 tonnes/year
6. Bangladesh: 1,748,215 tonnes/year
7. Russia: 1,702,453 tonnes/year
8. Brazil: 1,444,824 tonnes/year
9. Thailand: 995,718 tonnes/year
10. Democratic Republic of the Congo: 963,328 tonnes/yea