QV & Friends: Calum Franklin
08th July
There are chefs known for a particular dish, and then there’s Calum Franklin, a man who has dedicated much of his career to elevating the pie into an object of desire.
And so, in a move that will surprise none familiar with Jeremy’s feelings on pastry, he’s invited the King of Pies to Soho.
This presents not so much a rivalry, but two distinct schools of pie thought. Calum has spent the better part of a decade championing the fully enclosed, hand-raised hot water crust pie (bottoms very much included!), while Jeremy has long maintained that a golden suet-crusted lid placed atop something stewy and delicious is pie enough for anyone.
Over the years, Calum’s pastry evangelism has taken him from The Ivy and Aurora to Holborn Dining Room and the Pie Room, via bestselling cookbooks, judging duties at The British Pie Awards and, more recently, openings in both Paris and Harrods. Few people have devoted quite so much time, thought and butter to the cause.
On Wednesday 8th July, these two great pie devotees will cook together, united by a shared belief that life is almost always improved by encasing things in pastry.
Expect excess and healthy debate about pie taxonomy. There’ll be Campari Spritz on arrival, and to round off proceedings, a Campari Café – a blend of Campari, rum and espresso, shaken until silky-smooth.
Tickets, including four courses and a welcome drink and digestif, are £80.
With huge thanks to our drinks sponsor, Campari.