What do an independent food magazine and a storied watch brand have in common? More than meets the eye. Detroit-based Shinola set out to reinvigorate a brand and, at the same time, a suffering city, by refocusing on American manufacturing and highlighting the workmanship that goes into making not just their signature watches, but also bicycles and leather goods. At the core of their philosophy is a rejection of this modern ideal of the disposable. It’s a notion that we at Gather really related to. Like Shinola, we’re committed to creating a product that people will embrace, treasure, and hold onto, and we share the same focus on the excellence of craft and a belief that the ultimate luxury is about quality first and foremost. For all these reasons we were thrilled to pair up with Shinola in June for a duo of London events: a mouthwateringly delicious dinner at the famous St. John restaurant and a party at their new London store in Soho.
The Dinner
St John first opened the doors of its Smithfield location way back in 1994 and, since then, has become a London dining institution now with multiple locations. They are known and beloved as much for their nose-to-tail offerings (sweetbreads, liver et. al.) as for their thoughtful, but resolutely simple approach to cooking where individual ingredients are given the opportunity to shine. And shine they did on the menu chef Fergus Henderson put together in honor of our color-inspired “Spectrum” edition.
Deep red beets (a nod to the borscht recipe in our “Spectrum” edition) roasted and served with local Ticklemore goat cheese.
The scene at dinner where a mix of local editors, bloggers, and other creatives met and mingled over the colorful meal and many, many bottles of rosé.
Pickled red cabbage in a shade of bright fuchsia and horseradish served as the ideal accompaniment for massive hunks of smoked mackerel.
Guest, creative director Rob Meyers, flips through the yellow and orange chapter shot by photographer David Abrahams.
One of the mains, a turbot baked whole was so monster-sized it dwarfed its own serving plate.
The happiest ending of them all: fresh cherries and a gargantuan mound of an apricot pavlova so heavenly that we are still dreaming about it.
The Party
Shinola’s new London boutique is a few blocks away from the madness of Oxford Circus, but a million miles away in spirit—their lovingly handcrafted selection couldn’t be more different from the mass-produced High Street wares. It was an ideal setting for a night of mingling with local London makers, friends, and Gather readers over beer (Shinola’s own brand!), plus rosé and charcuterie from Antidote, an organic and biodynamic French wine bar next door.
The new issue of Gather sandwiched between some of Shinola’s leather goods.
The charcuterie and cheese platters runneth over.
The view from the outside in and guest Lillie O’Brien of the London Borough of Jam.
Guests perusing the Shinola selection.
The lineup of empties from guests spilling out into the street.
Photographs by Ash Kingston, Rob Meyers, and Michele Outland.
