Wimbledon's top chef says: Come dine with me
Plus: Late-night markets, English sparkling wine tastings, and more
Good morning Wimblers — welcome to this week’s edition.
This week is for the foodies among us. For our main feature, I took a trip to The Fox & Grapes to check out their new supper club, Sourced & Found. The idea behind this supper club is to showcase all of the great food produced locally in and around Wimbledon. And boy-oh-boy did they succeed. It was an incredible evening and a real eye-opener in terms of realising what’s on offer and just on my doorstep. Scroll down to read about the delicious dishes I sampled and to hear a few words from head chef Tom Sharp.
We’ve also got your usual news snippets, some tempting recommendations for the week ahead (most of which are free), and a stylish, albeit pricey property of the week. Do keep sending in your photos of the week. And get in touch if you have any ideas for stories: zak@thewimble.com.
News snippets 🗞
⚽️ AFC Wimbledon defender/midfielder Sam Hutchinson has undergone heart surgery after the club’s final league game against Grimsby. Hutchinson, who joined the club in December last year, has already stacked up an impressive 18 appearances for the side. It was also Hutchinson who scored the decisive goal against Grimsby that secured Wimbledon’s spot in the play-offs. Having experienced chest pain during the match, he was taken to hospital in Nottingham that evening. He underwent a successful surgical procedure last week in London and is expected to make a full recovery and play again. I’d like to take the opportunity to extend our best wishes to Sam as he recovers with his family. Read more about what happened in The Standard.
AFC Wimbledon are up against Notts County this Saturday in the playoffs. Wimbledon already lead on an aggregate of 1-0. Fingers crossed that our boys can get the job done and secure a promotion this season.
🛍 Go Inspire’s ‘Late Market’ is coming back to Wimbledon on Thursday, 5 June. For those unfamiliar with Go Inspire’s work, the market brings together over 40 talented female entrepreneurs offering everything from wellness items to beautiful handmade clothing. The market will take place inside Wimbledon Quarter and features a DJ, a complimentary drink, and will run from 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM. The market is of course free to attend — check out more details here.
✝️ A Christian Aid car boot sale took place in Wimbledon Village on Saturday and raised £1,500 for charity. The sale was organised by Michael and Sarah Canby and was held at St Mary’s Church field. There were over 40 different stalls selling everything from jewellery to garden tools. Well done to all those involved, and a special shoutout to Michael and Sarah. Read more about the day here.
Property of the week 🏡
This two-bedroom ground floor flat is about as close as you can get to Wimbledon Common without actually camping on it. It’s also got a private patio, sprawling communal gardens, and two underground parking spaces. In short, this place is fancy. This flat really is the perfect synergy of modernism and old-timey elegance. But does that mean it’s worth £1.6m? That’s for you to decide. Check out the floorplan here.
The Wimble’s to-do list 📣
🤔 Ask the Experts at Wimbledon Museum: This free walk-in event is your chance to explore some local history. Join Michael Norman Smith, Chair of the Local History Group, and his colleague Sheila Dunman as they answer your burning questions about Wimbledon’s local landmarks, old families, famous residents and whatever else you’re dying to know.
Where: Wimbledon Museum
When: Sunday 18 May, 2:30 PM - 5:00 PM
🍾 Nyetimber Barrel-top Tasting: If you haven’t tried Nyetimber’s wine, you’re missing out. Situated in Sussex, Nyetimber is one of England’s best sparkling wine producers. With English sparkling wines on the rise, this is your chance to familiarise yourself with one of the biggest names in the biz. Oh, and did I mention that this tasting is entirely free?
Where: Amathus, Wimbledon Village
When: Saturday 17 May, 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
🦜 Bird Song Walk: Join Lee Evans-Hill as he takes you around the Commons to catch a glimpse of some bird wildlife and to hear their unique and beautiful songs. Although we’re into warmer weather, waterproofs are encouraged as the walk will take you across different terrains. This walk is free but you need to book a spot here.
Where: Ranger’s Office, Wimbledon Common
When: Sunday 25 May, 7:45 AM - 11:00 AM
🎻 St John’s Lunchtime Recital: Soprano Gina Lewis: Gina Lewis, soprano, will be performing some huge pieces by composers such as Henry Purcell, Darius Milhaud and Hugo Wolf. This event is also free, but donations are always welcome. Tea and coffee will be served from 12:30 PM onwards.
Where: St John the Baptist
When: 1:00 PM
🎤 Live Music at The Old Frizzle: Who doesn’t love a good old sing-along? Get yourself down to The Old Frizzle this weekend to hear everything from classics (I’m thinking ‘Wonderwall’) to quirky country.
Where: The Old Frizzle
When: Saturday 17 May, 9:00 PM
How food should be: Sourced & Found at The Fox & Grapes 🐓
You and I were once hunter-gatherers. Well, not us exactly; our ancestors 12,000 years ago were. Then came the advent of the Neolithic Revolution, agriculture and a shift to settled societies and communities. The only hunting we do now is through food delivery apps on our phones. The only gathering is in the reduced section of high-street supermarkets. But it needn’t be this way. I’m not suggesting that we pick up our spears and head off to Wimbledon Common tomorrow. But I do think we could all benefit from a better understanding of where our food comes from.
So you can imagine my delight when I saw that The Fox & Grapes — “Wimbledon Village’s only independent pub” — was launching their new supper club, Sourced & Found, an event that champions local produce and sustainable dining. Further joy followed delight when I landed a ticket. Let me tell you how it went.
It’s the first day of May. The sun is beginning to set as I make my way across Wimbledon Common. Arriving at The Fox & Grapes, a thought occurs: This is the closest London will ever get to having a ‘country pub’. There’s a warmth to The Fox & Grapes. You can tell that it’s loved by locals. And it has a familial feeling that so many inner-city pubs lack — there will be no Canary Wharf afterwork emotionless office parties here. The inside has been closed for tonight’s supper club, and as I walk in I’m greeted by a wall of excited chatter and buzzy faces.
Staff walk around with trays of canapés. One is a well-balanced ‘nduja crostini with a drizzling of Wimbledon Rooftop Farm honey. The other, my personal favourite, is an oyster mushroom parfait on top of a small brioche. Perhaps I’m biased because the oyster mushrooms are from the Rooftop Farm (and I’m a big fan of the team there), but these are some of the tastiest mushrooms I’ve had in years.
We take our seats as the first course arrives. It’s an assortment of smoked fish, courtesy of Wimbledon Smokehouse. Their reason for being on the menu is serendipitous, to say the least. The owner’s car broke down outside of The Fox & Grapes a little while back, and so he did what any sane person would do and popped in for a pint. Upon meeting Tom Sharp — head chef at The Fox & Grapes — he decided to share some of the smoked salmon he happened to be carrying in his bag. The rest, as they say, is history. All I can say is that I’m glad his car broke down because the smoked fish is incredible. The mackerel, dill and horseradish rillettes are the highlight, and they pair perfectly with Lockdown Bakehouse’s bread. As I greedily clean my plate, I’m beginning to see the vision. There’s a synthesis between every local supplier. Each one complements the other, from the Rooftop Farm’s honey to the apple and rosemary jelly from Jam Mothers.
Head chef Tom later tells me that the team were initially nervous about the idea: “We thought it might be risky. We were worried that we wouldn’t find enough food to design a whole menu around. But what transpired was quite the opposite. In fact, we’re going to do another Sourced & Found later this year because there are so many local food heroes around here, and it’s amazing what you can find.”
The main course is where that synthesis really shines. It’s a slow-roasted chicken from March House Farms. Those of you who frequent the farmers’ market on Sundays will already know about March House; they’re there every week, come rain or come shine. Everything on my plate is an expression of local food and sustainable produce. The nettle mash comes from Sheen Common. The greens and roasted squash are from just down the road at Barnes Farmers’ Market. The ale jus is from Wimbledon Copper Leaf. Tom has let the ingredients speak for themselves. The chicken has been brined in water, salt, sugar, a little bit of red wine vinegar, lemon zest and some aromats. I ask Tom where the idea for this dish came from.
“We want our guests to know that all of this amazing produce is on their doorstep. They could easily prepare this sort of thing at home… though we’d obviously prefer it if they came to us and we prepared it for them,” Tom laughs.
I’m forced to loosen my belt after the main course. That’s when they bring out the dessert. It’s a semifreddo with rum from Sheen and coffee from Twickenham. I feel a little like Monty Python’s Mr Creosote as I take my first bite: ‘Finally, monsieur, a wafer-thin mint.’ But I’d rather explode like Mr Creosote than forgo the chance to taste such a delightful dessert.
Supper clubs aren’t a passing fancy for The Fox & Grapes. They’ve been doing them for a number of years, albeit in different forms. They’ve had guest chefs and themed nights, and last year there was even a 70s-inspired supper club. (I wish I could have seen the outfits.) In fact, a big impetus to run Sourced & Found for Tom and executive chef director Paul Merrett (who many of you will already know from his books and television appearances) was to find new and local produce for their daily menus. And that’s what they did. The fish from Wimbledon Smokehouse is already a permanent fixture, as is the bread from Lockdown Bakehouse, and the gin from Wimbledon Brewery.
To finish the meal, we’re each given our own selection of Teddington Cheeses as well as some chocolate truffles from Richmond-based chocolatier William Curley. I take my cheese to go as I fear I might genuinely keel over if I eat anymore. Regardless of how full I feel, I leave elated. It’s rare to have a local meal anywhere these days, let alone in the capital. What Paul, Tom and the rest of The Fox & Grapes team are doing is really special. And I for one feel far more connected to the food on my plate than I have in a very long time. I might not be a hunter-gatherer, but at least I know where my food comes from now.
Check out The Fox & Grapes website for upcoming supper clubs, events and bookings. And head over to their Instagram to show some love for a real independent pub (a dying breed in the harsh hospitality climate of today).
Question of the week 🔍
Last week I asked our readers what the first play to be staged at The New Wimbledon Theatre was. The answer: Jack and Jill.
Q: Which of these writers was born in Wimbledon:
You’re up to date 👋
Thank you for reading this week’s edition. I hope you enjoyed the foodie focus and that you’ll check out some of those local businesses that we mentioned. It’s so important that we support those local food heroes where we can. Drop me an email with any ideas or leads here. Other than that, have a great weekend.
Looks great but you mentioned you would publish that Breast Friends are meeting at Elys this coming Tuesday 10.30am, 20 May.
Great issue as always