Welcome to summer

WHAT TO DRINK by Richard Godwin. Nothing says summer like a long,cool drink - even if it comes in a soup can

The cup of cups

What could be more delightful than Pimm’s on an English summer afternoon? Summer Cup, that’s what. Sipsmith, the Hammersmith distillery that makes a fabulous gin, has produced as aromatic and elegant a tennis accompaniment as you’re likely to find. Mix with three parts lemonade, ice and plenty of cucumber, lemon and strawberries. £18.95 (sipsmith.com)

Local brew

The boutique beer producers at London Fields Brewery have teamed up with the boutique food producers The Dead Dolls Club for a series of good-time sessions at London Fields. Every weekend this summer, you’ll find meat, microbrewed beer and tunes – with extended rave-ups on the last Friday of each month. (london fieldsbrewery.co.uk; thedeaddollsclub.com)

The future’s orange

Hailing from Northern Italy and Slovenia, ‘orange wine’ looks more like English cider. The grapes are macerated for months with the skin on, making it dry, tannic and oxidised – qualities you might normally associate with reds. Nevertheless it’s best served in the way you would white wine: chilled. Try a glass at Ducksoup in Soho. (ducksoupsoho.co.uk)

Cooling off

Curiouser and curiouser! The beguiling Callooh Callay bar on Rivington Street, EC2, is opening a pop-up restaurant at 24 Chart Street, N1. If the food is as good as the cocktails (The Andy Warhol) – frankly, even if it isn’t – it will be the coolest place in town. 12 to 15 June (beardtotail.co.uk)

Sour hour

Peruvian cuisine is having a moment, thanks to the fabulous Ceviche on Frith Street in Soho. The only drink to order is the traditional Pisco Sour, which teams the funky South American spirit with lemon juice, sugar, egg white, bitters and plenty of ice. ¡Ay Caramba! (cevicheuk.com)

WHAT TO EAT by Rebecca Seal

After a hard day’s sunbathing, fill your belly with these summer treats

Schnitzel, Speck and Strudel

The trend for Central European dishes has gathered pace since Mishkin’s opened in Covent Garden late last year (salt beef, lox beigels) followed by The Delaunay on Aldwych (goulash, bockwurst). Two brand-new street-food traders to watch are The Speck Mobile (often parked at Maltby Street market), which does a fine line in rare-breed pork schnitzel and apfelstrudel, while Monty’s Deli (also regularly at Maltby Street) does delicious brisket and hand-smoked pastrami. Speck Mobile is part of eat.st; @MontysDeli

Southern-style chicken

The US craze for posh versions of Southern-style chicken hits the UK this summer. Choose from fried, grilled or spit-roast at Soho House and Nick Jones’s new venture Chicken Shop, opening in Kentish Town in August (marinated and grilled), or street-food trucks such as Spit & Roast (deep-fried to perfection.) Look out, too, for buttermilk-fried chicken. @spitandroast

Soft-shell crab burger

One of the hottest new openings this summer is Shrimpy’s, the new spot from the chaps behind Bistrotheque in Bethnal Green. Taking over the site of an old petrol station in King’s Cross, it’s bound to become a destination restaurant. As well as the deliciously light crab burger with avocado, be sure to try the Chicharron – deep-fried pork rinds. The King’s Cross Filling Station, Goods Way, N1 (020 8880 6111; shrimpys.co.uk)

Rhubarb pud

Make the most of rhubarb season with this deliciously retro pud. Hawksmoor may be best known for steaks and booze, but its puddings pack a punch, too. This new one is particularly indulgent and although you can get it at most of the Hawksmoor restaurants, we recommend partaking after a few marmalade cocktails in the new speakeasy-style bar on Commercial Street. Not only is the rhubarb perfectly sweet and tangy but the piles of creamy custard help prevent hangovers – honest! (When the rhubarb season finishes the chefs will move on to a summer fruit version.) 157 Commercial Street, E1 (020 7426 4850; thehawksmoor.com)