#INSPIREDBY BEN PUNDOLE
Ben began his career at The Groucho Club in Soho before running celeb bar of the 90s The Met Bar. It was Madonna who recommended Ben to Ian Schrager as he opened his first hotel in London, St Martins Lane hotel. Ben is now VP of Brand Experience for Schrager's EDITION Hotels and founder of travel website AHotelLife.com.
What was one of the very first dishes you remember eating?
I was 19, it was 1993 I’d saved money to go to Le Pont De La Tour, I thought I was at the very epicentre of the culinary world. It was definitely not my jam at all. I was with my ex-girlfriend who I was trying to impress. I think we got smashed and went to a rave afterwards.
Who is your food hero?
Dan Barber, for being such an advocate of 360 degree farming practices, giving life back to the Earth and letting flavours speak through the quality of the produce.
What is your guiltiest food pleasure?
Van Leeuwen Mint chip ice cream (vegan).
Which restaurant to you long to return to?
NIX, John Fraser’s plant-based restaurant in Manhattan.
What would be your last meal?
A traditional Turkish breakfast with all the dishes!
What dish do you cook the most at home?
My famous veggie, lentil curry, shared lovingly with Tansy, my better half.
Most-used condiment?
Smoked salt
What restaurant T-shirt would you wear?
@buythistshirt did a range of T shirts for NY restaurants to raise money for displaced restaurant workers and to encourage people to ‘Stay the F*** home'.
Favourite vegetable?
Parsnip
Favourite restaurant not in the UK?
Ok, I’ll do this backwards because I live in NY. Dishoom, I just miss great Indian so I always make a stop to Dishoom when I’m in London.
Most over-rated dish?
Meat
Favourite fast food joint?
Hart beat on Hart Street in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Wow. Vegan fast food.
QUICK FIRE
Breakfast in Bed or Hotel Restaurant?
In bed
English Breakfast Tea or Long Black coffee?
Green tea…all day long
Martini - Gin or Vodka?
Gin
Ketchup or Mayo?
Both
Stella or Boli?
Depends on mood
London or New York?
NY, although also London!
City break or Hideaway?
Both
THE CONDUIT TO HOST THE NEW YORK TIMES' LONDON CLIMATE FORWARD
THE UK'S TOP RESTAURANTS ARE NAMED
COUNTERTALK TO LAUNCH BRAND NEW PLATFORM COUNTERTALK SPACES
CULT US BURGER SLINGERS LUCKY BUNS TO COME TO CAROUSEL
TOKLAS APPOINTS NEW HEAD CHEF AND OPENS TERRACE
DISHOOM TO OPEN NEW SITE IN CANARY WHARF
BEST SPOTS NATIONWIDE FOR AL FRESCO DINING
OTTOLENGHI ANNOUNCES BLOOMIN' BEAUTIFUL CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW PAVLOVA
CAROUSEL'S SUMMER CHEF RESIDENCY LINE-UP
ANGELA HARTNETT ANNOUNCES LASTEST CAFE MURANO BOOK CLUB LINE-UP
DISHPATCH LAUNCHES SPRING MENU SERIES
THE PLATINUM JUBILEE AFTERNOON TEA LAUNCHES AT FORTNUM & MASON TEA SALON
DISHPATCH TO DELIVER BBQ FEAST FOR FATHER'S DAY
COLETTE PARTNERS WITH GBBO ALUMNI MANON LAGREVE
WAREHOUSE LAUNCHES SPECIAL UBUNTU COCKTAIL
GODDARD & GIBBS TO LAUNCH BRUNCH
COLETTE’S PLATINUM PICNIC HAMPER
WILDFARMED: FIXING FOOD TO FIX THE PLANET
CELEBRATE CHAND RAAT WITH DISHOOM
SKYE GYNGELL IN CONVERSATION WITH ARIZONA MUSE
EASTER MADE EASY WITH DISHPATCH
CELEBRATE GLOBAL CUISINE WITH CAROUSEL
SPRING-TO-GO TO THROW A FINAL CELEBRATION
OTTOLENGHI LAUNCHES NEW MENU WITH DISHPATCH
JKS RESTAURANTS PARTNER WITH LUKE FARRELL
DISHPATCH'S SPECIAL DELIVERY FOR MOTHER'S DAY
#COOKFORUKRAINE
NOPI CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
CAROUSEL CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY WITH ‘THE FEMALE CHEF’ RESIDENCIES
TOM KERRIDGE PARTNERS WITH DISHPATCH
PRAWN ON THE LAWN TO REOPEN PRAWN ON THE FARM
MARLE AT HECKFIELD PLACE AWARDED A MICHELIN GREEN STAR
DISHPATCH TO PARTNER WITH ST. JOHN AND FKA BLACK AXE MANGAL
THE BIB GOURMANDS ARE OUT
VINOTECA BOROUGH TO OFFICIALLY OPEN ON MONDAY 14TH FEBRUARY
GODDARD & GIBBS TO OPEN 3RD MARCH
CAFE MURANO BOOK CLUB
VALENTINE'S DAY IDEAS
ANNOUNCING THE COMPASSES INN
ZAYTOUN'S NEW SEASON OLIVE OIL
GOILA BUTTER CHICKEN TO LAUNCH
OTTOLENGHI TO OPEN A CHELSEA DELI
CAROUSEL 2022 RESIDENCIES
DRY JAN VS WET JAN