July's Observer Food Monthly

Everything you need to plan a foodie holiday in the UK – places to go, chefs to know, good things to eat View in browser July's Food Monthly Everything you need to plan a foodie holiday in the UK – places to go, chefs to know, good things to eat Sponsored by Friday 18 July 2025 Dear friend, Welcome to the July issue of Observer Food Monthly and, for many, the start of summer holidays. We asked writers and chefs for some of their favourite things to do around the UK this summer, and they came through with a brilliant list. From Worthing pier to a bakery about as far north as you can drive in Scotland, from East Anglia to Pembrokeshire, we've found the best rooftop bars, snacks by the sea, ice-creams, farm visits, restaurants to book and foodie hotspots. Nigel Slater shares his recipes for a sunny day, Helen Graves has devised sandwiches to make any picnic mega, and we get up in your grill with suggestions for skewers to barbecue. Plus, Desiree Burch shares where she likes to eat at the Edinburgh Fringe, we have dinner with Ukrainian chef-writer Olia Hercules, and chefs tell us about their signature dishes. We should also mention that this is the final Observer Food monthly newsletter… because we're going weekly! We remain the same in print but from next week, you'll get even more delicious correspondence delivered to your inbox. More of our current obsessions, whether crisps, noodles or hot sauce. More from our favourite chefs, who have been talking to us about their favourite things. More stories about food trends and issues. Plus, our writers are reviewing their favourite eating spots for their nights off – we've added lots to our lists of places to eat, and hopefully you will too. See you here next week! All in the July issue of OFM, free with The Observer this Sunday. Out this week The Observer Food Monthly, the July issue, free with Sunday's Observer Click here to subscribe → A message from Wake up your summer breakfast Inspired by Nutella's limited edition jars showcasing sunrise spots around the UK and Ireland, discover the six best places to eat your breakfast in the great outdoors this summer. From a pebble beach in Cornwall and a lovely loch in the Scottish Highlands, to the perfect place to perch in the Lake District, seize the day this summer with a spot of dawn dining. Plus, find six breakfast recipe suggestions from Nutella. Click here to read more → Read 22 tips and trips for a UK summer of food Click here to read more → On our radar Eat: affordable sushi in Fitzrovia & Coventry For us, sushi tends to fall into the category of payday treat, so when we're tipped off about affordable Japanese cuisine we're compelled to investigate. Sohishi in Fitzrovia is a modest space (seating is minimal) occupied by two large units: one with rows of sushi, poke and salads; the other with soups, curries and noodles – all made on the premises that day. A salmon poke bowl at lunchtime is £8.50 and filling enough to carry us beyond the mid-afternoon slump. Meanwhile, at Shin in Coventry (pictured) our table of four feasted on a vast selection – highlights included the Shin special roll (prawn katsu salmon, wakame and tobiko) and a huge mound of seaweed salad – and the bill, excluding drinks, was less than £80. Sohishi, 2 Charlotte Pl, London W1; Shin, 2 Priory Place, Fairfax St, Coventry Drink: The Pathfinder As we considered candidates for our no and low-alcohol drinks taste test, The Pathfinder – a zero per cent spirit from the US – caught our eye due to the label's offer of "immediate relief for malaise and ennui, cold feet and hot tempers, weak knees and low spirits". Intrigued, we mixed it with soda (then with tonic, which we preferred), ice and a slice and were nicely surprised by its complexity. Herbaceous, smoky and bitter, with an aromatic sweetness from saffron and orange peel, it's a grown-up alternative to booze for fans of amaro. Our knees are unchanged, but our spirits are high – or not, depending how you look at things. The Pathfinder, 700ml, £34.99, drinkthepathfinder.co.uk Chill: Kulfi The best thing to keep in the freezer this summer is a five-pack of Kulfi Ice Original Malai Milk Ice Lollies. Maybe two five-packs. Kulfi is one of our favourite styles of ice-cream, and we're delighted by this widely available supermarket version. Dense, pleasingly icy and chewy (for those who like to bite their lollies), the milk ice tastes caramelised and slightly spiced, studded with bits of almonds and pistachio. There are mango and pistachio versions available, too, but malai is the one. And the price is right – usually under £2.50 for a box at Asda, but are currently on Clubcard special at Tesco for £1.85 for a box of four.  If you want more hot takes on ice-cream, check out Sunday's issue where Terri Mercieca of Happy Endings rates a scoopful of flavours and styles. In case you missed it... We're willing the sun to come out for the weekend, because we've got a bottle of fizz chilling ready for aperitivo hour. A watermelon negroni spritz with a little halloumi gilda? Yes. Click here to read more → Second helpings The Observer: Cherry loaf, peaches in wine and a strawberry meringue cake – no-fuss summer desserts → Forbes: What is queer food? A talk with author John Birdsall → BBC InDepth: This burger was made from cow cells in a lab. Should it really be served in restaurants? → The Bristol Sauce: What makes a restaurant critic? → BBC: The 'world-first' plan to grow food above landfill → Thanks for reading. 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