The success of the Dry cocktail bar and pizzeria, which opened in 2013, has been followed up with a second, larger spot that has outdoor seating. Sip a French 75 or Gin-Gin Mule while sampling chef Simone Lombardi’s pizzas such as Ventricina (spicy sausage, shallot and mozzarella) and bite-sized focaccia laced with vitello tonnato (a heady veal and tuna combo).
drymilano.it

Residents of north London have been a bit glum of late after what looked a lot like the shutting of this snappily named fishmonger and dining spot. Luckily the measure was temporary while the restaurant found a larger spot just up the road.

The produce is still plucked fresh from Cornish boats so the menu changes depending on what’s netted. The food is unerringly fresh and the service decorous; the delight among residents to have their fishmonger back is also palpable.
prawnonthelawn.com

The British wine industry is bubbling up nicely but a late-spring frost has damaged up to 80 per cent of yields. The fruit lost will affect bottles hitting shelves in 2019 but this setback may yet be offset by ambitious plans: enough vines are being planted to add two million bottles to stocks, worth an additional €59m.

It was a long-held dream of Robert and Adele Genovese to open a coffee shop in the sleepy town of Montclair, New Jersey. Their shopfront is kitted out with just-so fixtures, including a Russian birch floor with differently shaped pieces that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle.

Taking cues from Adele’s native Italy, Local serves a 14-hour steeped cold brew and there are fresh pastries to boot. The whole family is involved; even 10-year-old son Giovanni is a dab hand with a coffee tamper.
localcoffeemontclair.com

Putput is the name of the cartoon chicken that Nao Shirato created with Julian Zigerli when the two were studying graphic design in Zürich. The chick is now the mascot of Shirato’s Japanese takeaway in Aussersihl, where she prepares steamed buns, onigiri and curry. A small concession inside sells Hasami porcelain and take-homes adorned with the chubby Putput mascot.
putput.ch

Drake Properties, established by hotelier Jeff Stober in 2004, has launched its latest venture, Drake Commissary. Set in industrial buildings in the Junction Triangle neighbourhood, the kitchens feed The Drake Hotel, Drake One Fifty and the Drake Devonshire hotel, as well as the newly launched catering arm. A café and shop complete the offering.

“We serve thousands of people but we’re still doing it like at the beginning: by hand,” says Sarah Lyons, director of food and beverage.
thedrake.ca

After a spike in the popularity of pomegranates and a dearth of Australian producers, computer-science engineer Joshua Reuveni saw growth potential in Victoria’s Goulburn Valley. Having tested the soil for fecundity, Reuveni planted 30,000 trees when he started in 2008 and has more than doubled his crop to 75,000 in the intervening years.

The pomegranates here are mainly of the Wonderful variety (the trees bear fruit after two years and produce large juicy orbs that are bright crimson), which are sold as fresh fruit, arils (seeds) and as a range of packaged products. At the end of each summer the fruit is gently hand-harvested to avoid bruising. Reuveni is already eyeing up new plots, with longer summers and less rain, in which to grow the business.
pomlife.com.au

At Out East – a new East Village establishment inspired by the US’s northeastern beaches – the obligatory pink accent comes in the form of cosy rose-coloured banquettes. The spot is heavily influenced by the sea, from the wave-inspired floor tiles to a raw bar brimming with fresh seafood. Chef Tim Meyers knows what he’s doing and dishes are clean-tasting and well presented. We recommend the tuna tartare and the flounder, washed down with a colourful cocktail or an offering from the extensive wine list.
outeastnyc.com