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Fay Maschler's week in food, from Spiritland to Launceston Place | London Evening Standard

What bliss having Kylie Kwong, chef-patron of Sydney’s Billy Kwong, to stay and make KK’s Vietnamese chicken soup crammed with spices, fresh herbs and restorative vibes.

Fay Maschler's week in food, from Spiritland to Launceston Place | London Evening Standard
Fay Maschler's week in food, from Spiritland to Launceston PlaceNifty: Ben Murphy's pistachio tribute to Pierre Koffmann at Launceston Place

What bliss having Kylie Kwong, chef-patron of Sydney’s Billy Kwong, to stay and make KK’s Vietnamese chicken soup crammed with spices, fresh herbs and restorative vibes.

After a showing at the BFI of Wall, the extraordinarily powerful animated film of David Hare’s journeys to Israel and Palestine, a tactless but delicious pork rib-eye steak was much enjoyed at Spiritland, Royal Festival Hall.

At her home, Thai maven Kay Plunkett-Hogge serves homemade sai oua sausage to tuck into lettuce leaves with her dips of namprik kapi and namprik akha. Fred Hogge conjures a formidable martini.

Following the European premiere of Bruce Beresford’s Ladies in Black, a belting Negroni made with a cube of apparently extra-cold ice plus smoked salmon blinis at Artesian at The Langham.

Ben Murphy, at Launceston Place, is a decidedly nifty chef. Pictured is the pistachio soufflé tribute to his mentor Pierre Koffmann.