This August, Rondo within The Hoxton, Holborn, is teaming up with guesthouse, creative space and culinary residency Casa Lawa, in partnership with Monkey Shoulder, to bring a taste of the Sicilian lifestyle to the UK capital. Entitled Long Lunch Club, it’s the first in an ongoing series of Rondo residencies that will see the restaurant partner with dining concepts and design-driven tastemakers from around the world.

The collaboration is set to take place across three Saturday afternoons in August, when Rondo will take on a distinctly Mediterranean feel thanks to Casa Lawa’s laid-back, nostalgic charm. Casa Lawa founder Lukas Lewandowski has worked closely with Rondo Head Chef Tristan Downes to develop a menu that celebrates the best of British produce, shot through with a slice of la dolce vita. The result is a menu that marries Rondo’s experimental, ingredient-focused approach with the bright, sun-soaked flavours of Sicily, celebrating the simplicity of seasonal ingredients treated with care and creativity.

The long lunch begins with rosemary sea salt focaccia and Sicilian arancini, followed by heirloom tomatoes with salted anchovy, barba di frate, young olive oil and fresh basil, alongside stone bass crudo with pickled nectarine. Mains include lemon and oregano Sutton Hoo chicken with peppers agrodolce, and Pasta alla Norma with ricotta, pangrattato and rosemary oil, accompanied by honey and chilli roasted young potatoes and a green salad of foraged wild herbs and flowers. Prickly pear granita with lemon verbena Chantilly gelato and tiramisu with poached plums provide a fitting finale.

Each course at The Hoxton, Holborn is complemented with expertly crafted Monkey Shoulder cocktails inspired by southern Italy, with bright, fruity flavours including apricot, prickly pear, peach, sour cherry and lemon, while the colourful tablescapes and relaxed styling, with textiles from Colours of Arley, are accompanied by Casa Lawa’s own soundtrack.