June 9th: Bubala Turns 5! Abby Lee, Mambow
Bubala is celebrating turning five this summer with a sparkling lineup of guest chef pals. For each of the first three Sundays in June, a different chef will take to the stoves, showcasing some of London’s best cooking talents delivering their twists on the much-loved Bubala Knows Best menu.
The celebrations will see them welcome: Lewis de Haas from Crispin; Abby Lee from Mambow; and Matt Beardmore & Jay Patel from Legare. On the final Sunday, 30th June, Diarmuid Goodwin (Sager & Wilde) will co-host a charity Pride Party, with all money raised going to LBGTQ+ charities.
Bubala first opened its doors in Spitalfields in June 2019, putting vegetables at the centre of the menu with its bold, Middle Eastern inspired flavours. Those potato latkes, as well as the silky hummus, and halloumi with black seed honey quickly became some of London’s most hyped dishes, winning over vegetarians and meat-lovers alike. During the pandemic they gave people their at-home-hummus-fix with a delivery service, as well as online masterclasses, and by 2022 founder, Marc Summers, was ready to do it all again, opening a second site on Soho’s Poland Street. Five years on, Bubala continues to be at the forefront of the plant-based movement, shunning synthetic and processed alternatives in favour of championing humble vegetables as the stars of the show.
Bubala founder, Marc Summers commented:
“It feels so great to be turning 5 this summer. It has been incredible seeing us grow, from pop ups, searching for sites, to opening Spitalfields and then Soho. Who knew Londoners could be so obsessed with hummus?! I couldn't be happier and prouder of our team - it has been a very fun journey and I can't wait to see what's in store for the next 5 years!”
As more and more restaurants look to get creative with veg, the lineup of guest chefs joining Bubala for their birthday celebrations will be a great chance to see a range of cuisines and cooking styles - Malaysian, British and Italian - lean into a fully-vegetarian menu for these one off collaborations.
Abby Lee, Mambow
Sunday 9th June - Bubala Spitalfields
Born in Singapore to Malaysian parents, Abby moved to London aged 15. After studying economics at university, she enrolled at Le Corden Bleu and worked at a Michelin starred restaurant in Italy. Returning to London she leant into her heritage to open her first restaurant. Since then, she has gained attention for her unique Malaysian-style meal kits which then
led to further exploring her roots and evolving the concept of Mambow, in its current site in Clapton, to what it is today. She has been crowned Breakthrough Talent in CODE Hospitality’s Women of the Year Awards, listed on The Sunday Times Young Power List, and Mambow has been awarded #1 restaurant in London by Time Out.
@mambow_ldn