Ben Spalding launches Small Plate Sessions

Because where else do creative dishes and electronic music go hand in hand?

Chef sessions: Ben Spalding

Ben Norum12 August 2016

Music and food will collide at a series of weekly all-day supperclubs kicking off this weekend, with chef Ben Spalding at the helm.

The Small Plate Sessions, held at venues in Smithfield and Old Oak Common, will see mini dishes — between a la carte and tasting menu size — paired with live electronic music.

Entry is free, and all 10-12 of the dishes will cost under a tenner. Diners can order as many or as few as they wish, and eat them in any order — in fact, even those who just want a drink and to listen to the music are welcome.

Spalding previously completed stints at The Fat Duck and L’Enclume before working at Roganic and leading the kitchen — admittedly for a short time — at John Salt in Islington, where he encouraged diners to lick a brick.

He has since worked at Aqua Shard and run numerous sell-out pop-ups and supperclubs but hasn’t yet settled down into his own site.

His dishes served at the sessions will be characteristically creative, and will include sticky piggy ribs seasoned with bonfire salt, smoked mackerel tortillas, and praline that comes with crispy pastry, Crunchie dust and iced marjoram.

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The sessions will be held at St Bart’s Brewery in Smithfield on Sunday August 14 and Sunday August 28, and at The Common in Old Oak Common on Saturday August 20 and Saturday September 3. Future dates are in the process of being finalised.