Monday Bulletin: Tobi Masa & Humble Chicken

Catch up on the latest industry news stories of the week from the CODE Bulletin

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TOBI MASA

Masayoshi Takayama, the chef behind New York’s most expensive omakase restaurant, the three-Michelin-starred Masa, will open a restaurant at The Chancery Rosewood in Mayfair this September. Tobi Masa, his second London restaurant (after Sushi by Masa at Harrods) promises “Japanese precision and Western luxury” within the new £1b luxury hotel in the former US Embassy building on Grosvenor Square. Takayama’s commitment to the city confirms London’s status as one of the world’s elite sushi cities. The hype around newcomers such as Eel Sushi and Luna Omakase certainly suggests that the demand for status sushi is not going to die down any time soon.

Small Plates

• Humble Chicken in Soho is back with a new look. Chef patron Angelo Sato, ever ambitious, has redesigned the restaurant and reduced covers from 20 to 13 in express pursuit of his longed for third Michelin star. The menu costs £235.
   
• Chef Luke Farrell heads to Notting Hill next month to open a sequel to his buzzy Chinatown restaurant Speedboat Bar. The new branch at The Electric is in partnership with JKS Restaurants and Soho House Group.
   
• Angela Hartnett is opening a new restaurant and roof terrace bar on the fifth floor of the Royal Opera House in September 2025. It will be her second launch of the year: a fourth Cafe Murano opens in Marylebone this summer.
  
  
• Two UK restaurants are on this year’s World’s 50 Best: Ikoyi, the highest climber at no.15, and Kol at no.49.
  
  
• Pizza with ‘nduja, haggis, and hot honey is on the menu at Patatino, the new Italian at The Hoxton, Edinburgh, opening 1 July.
  
  
• Adam Handling’s Ugly Butterfly is on the move; its new home, from 9 July, is at The Headland Hotel in St Ives.
  
  
• Toklas Bakery, one of The Good Food Guide’s Best Bakeries, is holding a Sandwich Market on 19 July, showcasing creations from Manteca, The Palomar, etc.
  
  
• Isaac McHale’s Bar Valette has a new head chef: Stan Wróblicki (ex The Clove Club) who takes over from launch chef Erin-Jackson Yates.
  
  
• A Maybourne double: The Connaught Bar’s Emanuele Mensah wins the World Class GB title; and Claridge’s ArtSpace Café wins La Liste’s World’s Best Pastry Shop.
  
  
• More wine for the Mayfair set, as Art Farm’s Farm Shop Mayfair extends it popular wine bar into its former butchers’ shop space.
  
  
• Two sad closures to report: Medlock Canteen in Manchester after 18 months trading, and Mr Ji in Camden (on July 5) after two and a half years.

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