PULL YOUR socks up, East London! There’s a huge number of eateries – food joints of all sorts – featured on the Feed The Lion (FTL) awards shortlist, and East London is a desert, with hardly any outlets on the list.
First things first: here’s the discount. The #FtLionAwards are sponsored by the Natural Freedom Company (NFC), which has launced a new Cola to rival the international conglomerates that dominate the market. It’s called 51* Cola. It’s made with natural ingredients – for example, it’s sweetened with agave. It comes in four flavours: original, cherry, tropical and spced. It’s committed to fair trade; its packaging is sustainable and minimises use of plastic; and it donates 2.5% of its revenue to agave-farming communities. See below for how to claim a 15% discount on your purchase in the month of January.
Feed the Lion (FTL) brings you all the news about Halal food and restaurants. Let’s look at their awards shortlists.
●Best Beverage 2024 Manthan, Mayfair – Sindhu mocktail, Lychee Lassi Mr White’s English Chophouse, Whitechapel (yay!) – Black Cow Ribeye, Birmingham – Pompeii Punch, Passion Fruit Martini Kahani, Chelsea – Lychee Grove Riwaz, Beaconsfield – Passion Fruit Lemonade Steak on the Green, Ealing – Virgin Passion Fruit Mojito Urumchi, central London – Uyghur Herbal Tea
●Best Starter 2024 Comptoir Libanis, Ealing Broadway – Tony’s Hommos Manthan, Mayfair – Shami Kebab Paro, Covent Garden – Toddy Shop Tiger Prawns Kahani, Chelsea – Smoked Octopus and Shrimp Salad Roma, Southall – Falafel Platter Mr White’s English Chophouse, Whitechapel – Caponata of Summer Vegetables Mr White’s English Chophouse, Whitechapel – Cocktail of Atlantic Prawans Ribeye, Birmingham – Crispy Chicken Cheddar Globes Riwaz, Beaconsfield – Scottish Salmon
●Best Mains 2024 Kahani, Chelsea – Hydrabadi Lamb Biryani Manthan, Mayfair – Paneer Makhani Manthan, Mayfair – Osso Buco Onde Onde, Kingston upon Thames – Mee Kari Laksa Ribeye, Birmingham – Herb Encrusted Lamb Ribeye, Birmingham – Pollo Allegro Urumchi, Central London – Kordak Urumchi, Central London – Urumchi Spicy Noodle
●Best Seafood 2024 Manthan, Mayfair – Seafood Thali Kahani, Chelsea – Grilled Scallops Kahani, Chelsea – Lobster Tail Mr White’s English Chophouse, Whitechapel – Pan Fried Monkfish Tail Onde Onde, Kingston upon Thames – Masak Ikan Tiga Rasa Ribeye, Birmingham – Cod Loin En Papillotte Riwaz, Beaconsfield – Scottish Salmon Tikka
●Best Dessert 2024 Comptoir Libanis, Ealing Broadway – MouhalabiaGolpo, Cambridge – Floating Malai Tiramisu Manthan, Mayfair – Classical Trio Kahani, Chelsea – Gulab Jamun Cheesecake Kahani, Chelsea – Heritage Carrot Halwa Tiramisu Mr White’s English Chophouse, Whitechapel – Hell’s Kitchen Cheesecake Riwaz, Beaconsfield – Rasmalai Tres Leches Cake
●Best Grill 2024 Chipsy, Harrow – Brisket Chipsy, Harrow – Lamb Neck Manthan, Mayfair – Lamb Chops Roma, Southall – Mixed Grill Platter Roma, Southall – Lamb Chops Platter Kahani, Chelsea – Monkfish Kahani, Chelsea – Turkey Afghani Malai Tikka Urumchi, Central London – Kidney Kebab
●Best Burger 2024 Chipsy, Harrow – Smash Burger Chipsy, Harrow – Brisket Sando Drip, Manchester – Philly Cheese Heyman, Southall – Spicy Chicken Hot Bird, Hounslow – Fillet Sandwich Players, Manchester – Double Century Steak on the Green, Ealing – Wagu Burger ●Best Steak 2024 Mr White’s English Chophouse, Whitechapel – Ribeye Steak Mr White’s English Chophouse, Whitechapel – Fillet Steak Mr White’s English Chophouse, Whitechapel – Steak Frites Ribeye, Birmingham – Ribeye WX Wagyu Steak on the Green, Ealing – Wagu Ribeye Steak on the Green, Ealing – Wagu Sirloin
●Best Newcomer 2024 Chipsy, Harrow Golpo, Cambridge Onde Onde, Kingston upon Thames Paro, Covent Garden Ribeye, Birmingham Urumchi, Central London
So there you have it. As you travel around England, you can find excellence at these shortisted venues. Sadly, FTL has not yet revealed when the awards will be decided – but we’ll keep you posted.
●Retailers can email NFC to arrange delivery of free samples: sales@51cola.com
●FTL readers can go to NFC’s website and use the code FTL2024 at the checkout to enjoy a 15% discount (offer valid until 31st January 2025): NFC website
●Read more about it: More stories on food and drink