Visitors to LA’s swanky Mondrian hotel should be sure to check out an exclusive new pop-up style emporium in collaboration with Ron Robinson of cult home, beauty and design product fame. Following past Mondrian pop-ups from LA swimwear brand Shay Todd to intimates design powerhouse Kiki de Montparnasse, Ron Robinson at Mondrian will bring its carefully curated collection to the hotel’s intimate, custom-designed retail space on the Sunset Strip.

The boutique delivers a one-stop shopping destination of inspiration, fun, and entertainment with 300 square feet of signature products including a custom-designed Pamela Love t-shirt and a selection of bracelets, cuffs, necklaces and rings from Stephen Webster. Other highlights include a set of Parrot-Zikmu speakers designed by Philippe Starck, APOTHIA candles and aromatic diffusers, Kiehl’s beauty products and Missoni towels and beach accessories.

Other exclusive collaborations with the Morgans Hotel Group include Mondrian in South Beach’s Semi-Automatic retail concept housed in an over-sized vending machine. This re-imagined hotel gift shop redefined necessity by offering a myriad of luxury items at the touch of a button from a Paul Smith toothbrush to a 1974 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow!

And then, here in London, St Martins Lane Hotel has hosted a satellite version of Andrew Ibi’s The Convenience Store, Angela Hill’s IDEA BOOKS and even a Dover St Market mini market. Temperley London also set up shop in the Sanderson Hotel driving the style set into a very fashionable frenzy.

www.morganshotelgroup.com

Modern food marker pioneer, Henrietta Green has joined forced with Shane Holland of Slow Food fame to introduce a weekly Food Lovers Market in the heart of Soho.

As part of Westminster City Council’s strategy to re-vitalise the borough’s markets, the weekly event will run from 9am to 4pm every Saturday and will consist of around 30 stalls selling top quality seasonal produce.

With the aim of restoring the thrill of shopping for food in Soho, Henrietta and Shane have chosen an eclectic and diverse selection of stall-holders and vetted them meticulously vetted to ensure quality and value for money.

London stall holding virgins include Hook & Sons who are bringing unpasteurised milk, cream and butter from their Jersey herd; Bringing Home the Bacon with a full range of piggy products from o trotters and tails to chaps and cheeks and Fosse Meadows Farm with free-range chickens cooked on a French style rotisserie.

More accustomed foodie faces will include chef Ed Baines (from Randall & Aubin across the road) who will be manning a crustacean bar with oysters-to-go and Paul Hollywood too who will be purveying a stellar range of plain, sour dough and flavoured breads.

Micro producers will also be encouraged to set up shop by the provision of small benches or panniers from which they can display and sell their wares.

Upcoming special events include National Cherry Day on Saturday 17th July (Henrietta launched Cherry Aid in 2008, to help revive the British cherry) and a three day Christmas Market, which will run from 3 – 5 December.

www.foodloversbritain.com

Remember Harvey Nichols’ collagen marshmallows?

Well, it was only a matter of time before other retailers started wising up and realising that the benefits of collagen are not just confined to tinctures with which we plump our skin from the outside.

Indeed, a collagen craze has been sweeping through Japan for some time seeing the beauty elixir added to everything from bath gel to yoghurt and noodles too! It’s even made it Stateside and  featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

But back to Blighty and the new Tokyo inspired YO! Sushi in London’s Market Place which has just launched a brand new collagen drink.

The brew has been flown in especially from Japan and will only be available while stocks last.

But whether the 50ml £3.50 shot really is the secret to eternal youth or not, it does taste rather nice and citrusy and is sure to wash down those California rolls a treat.

www.yosushi.com

If you’re constantly chasing the canapé platters circulating at summer cocktails parties then what could be better than a pop-up bar dedicated solely to bite-sized treats?

Launching in Soho on 1 July is The London Kitchen’s pop-up emporium. The Kitchen, founded by Damian Clarkson who has fed dignitaries from HM the Queen and former PM Tony Blair to The Rolling Stones, will be whetting the appetites of hungry Londoners with a rather unusual variety of entrée.

Every Thursday throughout July, from 5.30pm, adventurous foodies can tuck into some crunchy Thai-style crickets with coriander and coconut cream and chocolate dipped whole scorpions with a white chocolate and chilli fondue when the pop-up bar will be dishing out complimentary creepy crawly canapés for one hour only.

However, if the thought of devouring bugs doesn’t quite tickle your taste buds, there is also a selection of canapé classics including mini Yorkshire puddings with roast beef and horseradish, and ham hock on a toasted croute with piccalilli or ostrich nicoise, tandoori rabbit and bison carpaccio for the more daring.

The London Kitchen specialises in creating bespoke menus and dishes. Whether it’s a banquet for 30 to 3000 or canapé reception, the team uses the freshest seasonal and sustainable ingredients sourced from across the UK and Europe.

Following the Soho launch, the Kitchen will pop up in the City on Thursday 8th July before heading to Covent Garden on the 15th and Chelsea on the 22nd.

www.thelondonkitchen.com

Kensington Gardens have just opened their very first allotment since the Second World War, complete with 6 hens as permanent residents. Built on an old store yard, the area will be maintained by volunteers as well as being used as a resource for school children, who will be encouraged to get their hands dirty and even take home some fresh produce.  The Royal Parks have also maintained a vegetable patch for NO 10 Downing street. So they are in good company.