As part of Lumina Intelligenceā€™s Food Strategy Forum day the beans enjoyed a Food Concept Study Tour, dedicated to highlighting Londonā€™s most exciting operators at the forefront of innovation. The theme for this quarter ā€œDemonstrating Quality,ā€ showcased how venues are elevating classics such as burgers, pizzas and sandwiches with innovative flavours, locally sourced ingredients, and refined processes.

Rogue Sarnies
This concept, founded by former Michelin-star chefs, elevates sandwiches using freshly baked in-house, wood-fired bread and a seasonal menu. Ingredients are hand-picked weekly from Covent Garden Market, ensuring quality. We loved the Rogue Club and The Lord Nelson Sticky Shin Beef.

Flat Earth Pizzas
Flat Earth Pizza offers innovative, seasonal plant-forward pizzas prioritising both flavour and sustainability. They utilise wild-farmed flours and whole-ingredient toppings, which benefit the environment and digestion. Unsurprisingly itā€™s won awards for Britainā€™s Best Pizza! Our must try is the Courgette, Blue & Baby Potatoes heritage pizza and Kimchi Florentina.

& Chill Gelato
& Chill Gelato provides a unique dessert experience with small-batch, indulgent gelato. It respects traditional methods while incorporating innovative, trending flavours and global inspirations. Every gelato uses seasonal, responsibly-sourced ingredients, highlighting a commitment to quality and creativity. The Umami Stout Caramel and Ube Gelato made from purple yam are well worth a sample.

Jupiter Burger
Jupiter Burger, Netil Market, was created by Domā€™s Subs founders and offers a no-nonsense smash burger concept. It emphasises quality, locally-sourced ingredients from nearby butchers and features a trending and delicious potato bun. With a specialised, focused menu, it highlights classic flavours and prioritises substance over style in the smash burger trend.

Frizzante
Inspired by Italian agritourism, Frizzante uses fresh, seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients from adjacent farm gardens. Located next to Hackney City Farm, it offers a tranquil oasis in London. With a strong farm-to-table approach we tasted beautifully fresh baked breads, olives, Italian cured meats and Italian cheeses, and recommend stopping here to relax.

Third Culture Deli
This 100% plant-based cafƩ and deli offers Italian American classics with a twist, featuring made-in-house menu items, including signature drink syrups. Ingredients are sourced from local suppliers and reforestation projects. With an elevated day-to-night drink experience, we sampled a range of functional drinks including iced Palo Santo matcha and the floral Iced pandan coffee which was delicious.

Thank you to the Lumina Intelligence team for a fantastic and informative session, we ended the day feeling optimistic and excited for what the future holds for the eating out market, as well as inspired by the innovation thatā€™s already coming through. Despite the challenges, hospitality industry is hungry and ambitious to succeed!

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Gemma Felstead
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