Grove Magazine

Eat and Drink Inc

Whiteleys turned on the gastro charm again with the launch of Food Inc’s latest offering, a brand new café and bar. So new in fact, co-founder Dominic Ford was overheard bemoaning the somewhat exposed ceiling. Guests were nonplussed, and happily downed mini risotto balls, Bloody Mary oyster shooters and bottles of bubbly, all plied by the careful hand of chef Jason Lynas, who headed up a Michelin-starred restaurant and numerous brasseries, including Harvey Nichols Istanbul, and Selfridges and Liberty Restaurants.

Uliss Es Fonsece, Aline De Maria, Michael Smith and Phillipa London

Amy Butterworth and Phillipa London

Carla Holdforth, Katie Smee and Nadia Balame

Dominic Ford and Gillian French

Uliss Es Fonsece, Aline De Maria, Michael Smith and Phillipa London

Amy Butterworth and Phillipa London

Carla Holdforth, Katie Smee and Nadia Balame

Dominic Ford and Gillian French

Orla Colgan and Harriet Miller

Patrick McDonald, Christina Teixeira and Marcos Pavlides

Sian Cox, Peter Horton, Caroline Turner and Ian Willmott

Eye Candy

The Metropolitan’s Fashion Candy Party drew London’s best-dressed to its pink-light flooded façade, including The Pussy Cat Dolls, Lewis Hamilton, Nancy Dell’Olio and Natt Weller. Guests sipped dangerously sweet cocktails shaken by the deft hands of The Met Bar’s mixologists, nibbled on lobster truffles and marinated organic salmon, and nonchalantly writhed to DJs Lou & Nova’s classic disco and post-punk tunes. On parade were edible dresses inspired by top designers, a veritable conveyor belt of sweets and cakes, and Les Nereides Jewellery with the sweetest twist.