The things I love - May

Welcome May’s First Thursday newsletter, a celebration of the good things this month. Can I start by asking, if you enjoy this newsletter ‘like’ it by pressing the heart, or share it with anyone you think might be into it? And let me know in the comments what you’re looking forward to this May. I love to hear it.

I’m acutely aware that this newsletter has featured winter tomatoes numerous times already this season. It could become a winter tomato fanzine at this stage. But, I won’t stop and I’ll tell you why, winter tomatoes are at their peak right now. I know that’s counterintuitive, as it’s technically Spring, but right now the winter tomatoes, Camone, Marinda and Iberico, are tasting the best I can remember in a long time.

I’ve been eating them most days with an egg, some toast and loads of lovage from the garden. You can also buy them from Natoora or here and here. Notable mention also to Alfonso mangoes which are in the middle of their very short season right now. They do come from a long way away, but if you love them, now is your time.

My dear friends Ravinder and Nadeem have just opened up an East outpost of Jikoni in the the newly opened V&A East. Luckily for me, it’s in my neighbourhood and part of town I spend a lot of time in. I’ve been there twice already. The menu is full of Jikoni favourites. The cocktails are incredibly good, and the room is high-ceilinged, bright and spacious. It’s a calm and lovely place to be. The V&A East itself has an incredible exhibition on at the moment The Music is Black: A British Story. It’s rare that an exhibition charts such a big chunk of my living memory (aka my lifetime). The exhibition felt so alive, hats off to Gus Casley-Hayford and the V&A East team.

I’ve been completely captivated by this book by my friends Rachel and Nell. It’s a book that looks inside cottages, mostly in the UK, but also some in Japan and beyond. I wasn’t sure that it was going to be a book that I was going to spend a huge amount of time with as I’m not really into interiors books but I have been diving into it every day. It is such an escape of a book. I found inspiration for my own home but also just felt transported to other places. If you are in the mood for some escapism then this could be your route.

Below for my paid subscribers is my most craved, current favourite restaurant in London, that I kind of want to keep a secret but can’t, the exhibition I've enjoyed the most so far this year and an incredible Circus about to go on tour that you need to know about.

Heading out tomorrow, free for all you wonderful subscribers, is a very exciting newsletter takeover from the brilliant Adriann Ramirez aka Gay Nigella, free for everyone.