Through governmental and Godly benevolence, London’s overworked population has been blessed with a healthy, and hopefully sunny, four-day weekend, so make the most of it with some of the capital’s most exciting events and new hotspots this Easter.
For exquisite, opulent and indulgent Easter eggs, waddle up to Hampstead and visit Venchi, the Italian chocolatier’s recently launched second UK store. Beautiful on the eye, delectable in the mouth and devastating on the hips, I got fat just picking the perfect egg.
For the ideal Easter gift, pick up the outrageous chocolate cigars, displayed in a bespoke Cuban-style humidor (pictured above), with each cigar delicately and individually wrapped. With a variety of flavours including nougatine truffle featuring Piedmont hazelnuts and orange with fresh orange zest, be sure to bring your cigar cutter – and your wallet: a hefty snip at £290.
Head to Joe’s Oriental Diner, the new Chelsea haunt of Scott Hallsworth of Kurobuta fame. If you have eaten at the much lauded Kurobuta, expect the same explosive flavours and fun, laid-back atmosphere. Try the yellow curry of red snapper and the rare beef salad, washed down with a pint of Sun Lik, the UK’s no1 Chinese draft beer.
Continue the party at the Craft 100 beer festival in Clapham, set to be one of the weekend’s most fun events. Over 100 of the UK’s leading craft beers will be housed in one venue for the entirety of the Easter weekend, sure to be overflowing with yuppie rahs and trendy Londoners. If that wasn’t enough, the organisers have cleverly given a pitch to the Liberty Cheesesteak Company, London’s first and only Philly Cheesesteak specialists.
If you are looking for a laugh this weekend, check out the Proud Archivist Fringe, a weekend-long comedy event showcasing some of the UK’s leading comedy talent in an Edinburgh festival preview show. Situated in the heart of Haggerston, the event provides oodles of choice. For pre- or post-drinks, grab a member and head to the roof of Shoreditch House, where, fingers crossed, the balmy springtime weather will provide the perfect opportunity for alfresco revelry.
For a change of pace, the O2 arena on Saturday night is hosting Noughties hip hop star Nelly. The hits remain just as catchy, and you can enjoy taking a step back to the early 2000s, when chrome wheels were in vogue and wearing a Franck Muller meant you had made it.
Finally, for those who prefer the God of Exodus and the ten plagues to Jesus’ resurrection, invite yourself over for Seder night at your best Jewish friend’s house. Lunisolar and Gregorian calendars collide this year, meaning Passover falls sundown Friday.
Unleavened bread, bitter herbs and salt water may not be as cool as Joe’s Oriental Diner, but the uniqueness of the experience, stories of exodus and generations-old customary dishes will without doubt make up for the overly sweet wine and lack of a bread basket.