October 2026 – Real Foodies Don't Gatekeep

Hot Off The Pass

October has us looking both near and far for culinary inspiration. From Sydney's burgeoning food scene to the flavours of Seoul and Hong Kong via London, this month’s edition is all about places, people and flavours worth knowing.

Inside this issue:

SYDNEY — While autumn closes in here, Sydney is heading into warmer days. With the city’s food scene earning ever-greater international attention, we asked our colleague Michael to share some of his favourite spots for a perfect day of eating and drinking.
KOREAN — We can’t get enough of Korean skincare, but its food deserves just as much attention. Often overlooked in London’s dining scene, Korean food offers some of the capital’s most exciting cooking, if you know where to look.
WHAT’S HAPPENING — Hospitality knocks on Downing Street’s door, a former GQ and Evening Standard editor serves up nostalgia for London’s golden years, and Hong Kong arrives in the capital for a not-to-be-missed residency.

Spotlight on

Sydney

01 / 05

AP Bakery

Founded by a team of the city's hospitality best, using own grown, freshly milled grain to produce the highest quality breads and bakes, worthy of their cult status.

02 / 05

Chin Chin

A trailblazing Southeast Asian restaurant by Lucas Collective. Combining an inventive menu of Asian-inspired dishes with signature cocktails and a lively, social dining experience, the brand has become a celebrated name in Australia’s hospitality scene.

03 / 05

Palazzo Salato

In the heart of Sydney's CBD, enjoy sophisticated Italian dining in this charming heritage-listed building while attempting to make a dent in its 800-strong wine list.

04 / 05

Bar Copains

Named for the French word for ‘friends’ as founded by two chef friends, Bar Copains is the kind of neighbourhood spot you wish was on your doorstep, and was recently crowned Wine Bar of the Year at the Australian Bar Awards.

05 / 05

Gelato Messina

For the sweet-toothed among us, this Sydney institution is not to be missed. With more than 40 signature and seasonal flavours to choose from, there’s always an excuse to go back for another scoop.

London

Limelight

London’s Korean dining scene is moving well beyond the familiar territory of barbecue and hotpot, embracing a more diverse and ambitious interpretation of the cuisine. From Michelin-starred fine dining and contemporary Korean cooking to inventive fusion concepts and modern, casual offerings, a new generation of restaurants is showcasing the breadth and versatility of Korean flavours.

Fine Dining

Sollip

Bermondsey

Classic French technique meets the flavours of Korea in the hands of this husband-and-wife chef duo, whose understated approach brings a fresh perspective to fine dining.

Premium

Jang

City

Jang brings contemporary Korean cooking to the Royal Exchange. With its fresh, modern approach sitting in quiet contrast to the grandeur of its historic City setting.

Fine Dining

Kiji

Mayfair

The acclaimed restaurant duo behind New York's 2-starred Atomix is making their London debut with Kiji, a Korean BBQ experience on the site of the iconic Mirabelle.

Premium

Miga

Hackney

Family-run and Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded, Miga brings generations of Korean cooking to modern-day Hackney, pairing soulful family recipes with contemporary East London cool.

Casual

Papa Dak

Borough

The latest addition to Flat Iron Square, Sollip's chef owner, Woongchul Park, is swapping out the tasting menu for crispy twice-fried Korean chicken. Sweet, sticky, spicy.

Premium

Calong

Stoke Newington

At Calong, chef Joo Won trades Michelin-starred formality for something more personal, weaving classical French training into the comforting flavours of his Busan childhood.

On the

Grapevine...

"Book Club"

In Table Hopping, Dylan Jones lifts the lid on the restaurants and personalities that shaped London's dining scene through the 80s, 90s and noughties. From legendary dining rooms to the larger-than-life figures who inhabited them, it captures a time when food, fashion, music and media collided around the capital's most sought after tables.

Read

#VATsTheProblem

An important milestone was reached this month as Tom Kerridge delivered the #VATsTheProblem petition to Downing Street, backed by more than 400,000 signatures. With the Budget approaching, here’s hoping hospitality gets the support it deserves, so we can all keep eating, drinking and enjoying the places that bring our neighbourhoods to life.

Support

In Residency

May Chow, the award-winning chef behind Hong Kong’s Little Bao and Happy Paradise, has made her London debut with a residency at The Peninsula’s Little Blue Noodle Bar. Bringing her contemporary take on Hong Kong cooking to the capital, it’s a taste of things to come, with a permanent West End home on the horizon next year.

Visit