May 26, 2025

Jimi Famurewa - How He Was Brutally Fired From 'The Standard' - Why London Restaurant's Scene Is Getting Boring & His Horrifying Experience With Salt Bae!

1 hour 2 minutes

This week on The Go-To Food Pod, we’re joined by the much-missed voice of London restaurant criticism, former Evening Standard food writer Jimi Famurewa. For years, Jimi helped define what made eating out in the capital exciting, accessible, and culturally relevant. From neighbourhood heroes to headline-grabbing launches, his reviews brought warmth, wit and sharp insight to every corner of the scene. But earlier this year, in a surprising move, Jimi’s column was abruptly axed during a major restructure, along with around 70 other jobs at the paper.

In this episode, Jimi opens up about what it felt like to lose that platform so suddenly after putting so much of himself into it. He also talks candidly about the state of London dining right now, from the dominance of value-driven menus and weeknight deals, to the uneasy economics of running a restaurant in 2025. We hear about the places he got wrong, the ones he loved most, and what really happened when he reviewed Salt Bae’s notorious gold steak spot in Knightsbridge. Plus, we quiz him on his dream weekend getaway, favourite neighbourhood hangouts, and whether we’ll be seeing his byline in another major paper anytime soon.

This is a rich, funny, and surprisingly moving episode with one of the most thoughtful voices in British food journalism.

-----

Please leave us a great rating and a comment and share it with your friends - it really helps us grow as a show.

If you're in the industry and are looking for the greatest POS system in the world than look no further as Blinq are tearing up the rulebook—no long-term contracts, no hidden fees, and no per-device charges. Just £49 a month for unlimited devices and 24/7 UK-based support that’s always there, in person when you need it.

Built for hospitality, by hospitality, blinq is the fastest, easiest POS system on the market—so intuitive, anyone can use it. And while others take weeks to get you up and running, with blinq, you’re live in just 2 hours.

Join the hospitality revolution today & use the code GOTOBLINQ to get your first month free - https://blinqme.com/

Buy Jimi's book Picky here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Picky-must-read-journey-professional-gourmet/dp/1399739549

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

...more