Jay Rayner
@jayrayner1.bsky.social
Eats and writes for The Financial Times. Piano for the JR Sextet; chairs Kitchen Cabinet for R4. Doesn’t accept comps. jay.rayner@ft.com
https://linktr.ee/jayrayner1
https://linktr.ee/jayrayner1
Pinned
Jay Rayner
@jayrayner1.bsky.social
· Nov 14
Delighted to say tickets for my autumn 2026 Nights Out In The Kitchen tour, celebrating publication of my new cookbook in the autumn of 2026, are now on sale. Join me for a night of serious food chat, brilliant dinner ideas and some ludicrous ones too.
www.fane.co.uk/jay-rayner
www.fane.co.uk/jay-rayner
Those of us who are veterans of the Mr Mackerel stand in Leeds Kirkgate market can only nod sagely.
Hello I have visited the pit that emits oracular vapors of restaurant trend prophesy and have had a vision that fried fish sandwiches (upscaleified Filets-o-Fish et al) are on the cusp of being a huge huge thing and are only gonna get huger
February 9, 2026 at 10:51 PM
Those of us who are veterans of the Mr Mackerel stand in Leeds Kirkgate market can only nod sagely.
Next week, Hotori.
Is it a tradition? Or is it just what @jayrayner1.bsky.social did? Is that the same thing?
February 8, 2026 at 8:04 AM
Next week, Hotori.
Have a few pics from Mezzogiorno: the lasagne, the crackling corseted porchetta, the explosion of zucchini fritti and the tiramisu first presented in a serving bowl the size of an SUV tyre.
February 7, 2026 at 8:55 AM
Have a few pics from Mezzogiorno: the lasagne, the crackling corseted porchetta, the explosion of zucchini fritti and the tiramisu first presented in a serving bowl the size of an SUV tyre.
For today’s @ftweekend.com I’m at Mezzogiornio, the new one from the ever brilliant Francesco Mazzei inside London’s Corinthia Hotel. Short form: superb food, austere room, excruciating prices.
www.ft.com/content/2ee2...
www.ft.com/content/2ee2...
‘I doubt I will eat better than I did here’ — Jay Rayner reviews Mezzogiorno, Westminster
Francesco Mazzei’s new restaurant gives Italian comfort food the grand hotel treatment
www.ft.com
February 7, 2026 at 8:30 AM
For today’s @ftweekend.com I’m at Mezzogiornio, the new one from the ever brilliant Francesco Mazzei inside London’s Corinthia Hotel. Short form: superb food, austere room, excruciating prices.
www.ft.com/content/2ee2...
www.ft.com/content/2ee2...
We’re smiling but it’s a v sad moment. Next week after 36 years we say farewell to Pritesh and the always superbly stocked Brixton tube newsstand. TFL essentially required them to relinquish their lease. I know what the new rent will be and it’s hard to imagine the space being viable.
February 6, 2026 at 1:12 PM
We’re smiling but it’s a v sad moment. Next week after 36 years we say farewell to Pritesh and the always superbly stocked Brixton tube newsstand. TFL essentially required them to relinquish their lease. I know what the new rent will be and it’s hard to imagine the space being viable.
At first I thought this table was a joke. But no, the proposals to restore the Houses of Parliament really are costed at a min of £8.4b and to take 19 yrs; max, £19.4b and 84 yrs. A normal country would go: that's absurd. Let's build a new one for a billion.
committees.parliament.uk/publications...
committees.parliament.uk/publications...
February 6, 2026 at 9:15 AM
At first I thought this table was a joke. But no, the proposals to restore the Houses of Parliament really are costed at a min of £8.4b and to take 19 yrs; max, £19.4b and 84 yrs. A normal country would go: that's absurd. Let's build a new one for a billion.
committees.parliament.uk/publications...
committees.parliament.uk/publications...
A bit of very lovely news from FT towers. The Food and Drink Avengers assemble a little bit more, as the literally one and only @nigella.bsky.social joins the team. More at the link below.
In the most important news today, @nigella.bsky.social is joining @ftweekend.com as a food and drink columnist! She joins @harrietfl.ft.com's shock and awe roster of @marinaoloughlin.bsky.social @jayrayner1.bsky.social, Tim Hayward and Jancis Robinson aboutus.ft.com/press_releas...
February 4, 2026 at 11:02 AM
A bit of very lovely news from FT towers. The Food and Drink Avengers assemble a little bit more, as the literally one and only @nigella.bsky.social joins the team. More at the link below.
Just a small drop from @pickardje.bsky.social for a Sunday evening.
my last Epstein scoop for the weekend:
Jeffrey Epstein wired $150,000 to Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, in 2001, according to newly released financial records, after helping her to cash in share options earned from her work for Weight Watchers.
www.ft.com/content/8623...
Jeffrey Epstein wired $150,000 to Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, in 2001, according to newly released financial records, after helping her to cash in share options earned from her work for Weight Watchers.
www.ft.com/content/8623...
Sarah Ferguson received $150,000 from Jeffrey Epstein after share sale
Transaction is latest evidence of extent of friendship that former Prince Andrew’s ex-wife forged with the sex offender
www.ft.com
February 1, 2026 at 9:36 PM
Just a small drop from @pickardje.bsky.social for a Sunday evening.
This really is the most bizarre recipe I have ever read. As well as 3/4 of an egg it includes 3/8ths of a teaspoon of various spices. My most charitable take is that it’s been scaled down from something which made sense.
I'm willing to overlook a lot from a recipe but I'm sorry: you cannot call for "3/4 of an egg". that is illegal.
food52.com
February 1, 2026 at 11:06 AM
This really is the most bizarre recipe I have ever read. As well as 3/4 of an egg it includes 3/8ths of a teaspoon of various spices. My most charitable take is that it’s been scaled down from something which made sense.
For today’s @ftweekend.com I am at Dover St Counter, the late night hideaway London didn’t know it needed. Come for the fried chicken; stay for the French dip.
www.ft.com/content/c8f3...
www.ft.com/content/c8f3...
‘The late-night hideaway London needs’ — Jay Rayner reviews Dover St Counter in Mayfair
A vibey little bistro from former Soho House exec Martin Kuczmarski
www.ft.com
January 31, 2026 at 8:29 AM
For today’s @ftweekend.com I am at Dover St Counter, the late night hideaway London didn’t know it needed. Come for the fried chicken; stay for the French dip.
www.ft.com/content/c8f3...
www.ft.com/content/c8f3...
A Friday afternoon heads up that forthcoming JR Sextet shows at the Dorchester-on-Thames Festival and the Nevill Holt Festival have been added to the shows page of my website alongside our monthly shows with Pizza Express live and at Jewish Book week.
www.jayrayner.co.uk/shows
www.jayrayner.co.uk/shows
Shows | Experience Live Jazz Performances Today — Jay Rayner
Jay Rayner's live shows, jazz performances with the Jay Rayner Sextet, and upcoming events. Music and stories across various venues.
www.jayrayner.co.uk
January 30, 2026 at 4:21 PM
A Friday afternoon heads up that forthcoming JR Sextet shows at the Dorchester-on-Thames Festival and the Nevill Holt Festival have been added to the shows page of my website alongside our monthly shows with Pizza Express live and at Jewish Book week.
www.jayrayner.co.uk/shows
www.jayrayner.co.uk/shows
This is a very sweet piece, lousy pun intentional. Ruaridh Nicoll on Quebec's Maple Syrup culture.
www.ft.com/content/c7b7...
www.ft.com/content/c7b7...
Celebrating the sweet taste of spring at Quebec’s sugar shacks
In the hills around Montreal, farms are gearing up for ‘sugaring off’ season, when visitors gather for feasts, folk music and to watch maple syrup being made
www.ft.com
January 30, 2026 at 10:04 AM
This is a very sweet piece, lousy pun intentional. Ruaridh Nicoll on Quebec's Maple Syrup culture.
www.ft.com/content/c7b7...
www.ft.com/content/c7b7...
It's clear an atrocity has been unfolding in Iran, under cover of an Internet blackout.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Disappeared bodies, mass burials and ‘30,000 dead’: what is the truth of Iran’s death toll?
Testimony from medics, morgue and graveyard staff reveals huge state effort to conceal systematic killing of protesters
www.theguardian.com
January 27, 2026 at 9:17 AM
It's clear an atrocity has been unfolding in Iran, under cover of an Internet blackout.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Blimey: Tory HQ goes for the 'she's not well' angle, with Braverman.
January 26, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Blimey: Tory HQ goes for the 'she's not well' angle, with Braverman.
I can't help thinking that if Badenoch wasn't actually the Conservative leader, she'd be the next one running into the arms of Reform.
January 26, 2026 at 2:16 PM
I can't help thinking that if Badenoch wasn't actually the Conservative leader, she'd be the next one running into the arms of Reform.
It’s long been obvious that the current Labour Party are lousy at basic politics: picking arguments they didn’t need to have, pathologically prone to u
Turns. Doesn’t this just prove it. Whatever you think of Burnham, this just makes Starmer look incredibly weak.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Turns. Doesn’t this just prove it. Whatever you think of Burnham, this just makes Starmer look incredibly weak.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Andy Burnham blocked from byelection race by Labour ruling committee
Decision likely to set off ferocious row between Keir Starmer loyalists and allies of Greater Manchester mayor
www.theguardian.com
January 25, 2026 at 12:35 PM
It’s long been obvious that the current Labour Party are lousy at basic politics: picking arguments they didn’t need to have, pathologically prone to u
Turns. Doesn’t this just prove it. Whatever you think of Burnham, this just makes Starmer look incredibly weak.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Turns. Doesn’t this just prove it. Whatever you think of Burnham, this just makes Starmer look incredibly weak.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Money box on bbc r4 is explaining what a cheque is, and I feel ancient.
January 24, 2026 at 12:24 PM
Money box on bbc r4 is explaining what a cheque is, and I feel ancient.
This is a brilliant piece of reporting from the always excellent @londoncentric.media: the bizarre story behind a race baiting account on Tik Tok.
open.substack.com/pub/londonce...
open.substack.com/pub/londonce...
Who's secretly filming fake TikToks inside Londoners' homes?
We tracked down the viral video account invading people's houses to spread false claims about immigrants.
open.substack.com
January 24, 2026 at 8:56 AM
This is a brilliant piece of reporting from the always excellent @londoncentric.media: the bizarre story behind a race baiting account on Tik Tok.
open.substack.com/pub/londonce...
open.substack.com/pub/londonce...
Have some pics from the Highland Laddie: that sausage roll, the baked ham, the vindaloo eggs and the creme caramel.
January 24, 2026 at 8:42 AM
Have some pics from the Highland Laddie: that sausage roll, the baked ham, the vindaloo eggs and the creme caramel.
For today’s @ftweekend.com I’m in Leeds at The Highland Laddie, a wedge of a pub, where the baked ham is served warm and comes with a mustard menu, the glazed lamb ribs could glaze your cheeks and the pastry on the sausage roll is ribbed for extra pleasure. Yours.
www.ft.com/content/b327...
www.ft.com/content/b327...
The pub that refused to die — Jay Rayner reviews The Highland Laddie in Leeds
This old boozer, ringed by newbuilds, exceeds all expectations — and it’s got a mustard menu
www.ft.com
January 24, 2026 at 8:17 AM
For today’s @ftweekend.com I’m in Leeds at The Highland Laddie, a wedge of a pub, where the baked ham is served warm and comes with a mustard menu, the glazed lamb ribs could glaze your cheeks and the pastry on the sausage roll is ribbed for extra pleasure. Yours.
www.ft.com/content/b327...
www.ft.com/content/b327...
This.
There should be a separate set of weight machines at the gym for those who just want to sit on them and play with their phone.
January 23, 2026 at 9:13 PM
This.
A lovely restaurant is closing, not for rfinancial reasons but because, after 46 years, it's time for the owners to rest. Farewell Da Maria in Notting Hill, the kind of place that 'keeps London human' as I said in this review when they were threatened with closure
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Da Maria: ‘The kind of place that keeps London human’ – restaurant review
This tiny outpost of Naples is the pride and joy of Notting Hill. Now comes the terrible news that it is under threat, writes Jay Rayner
www.theguardian.com
January 23, 2026 at 4:45 PM
A lovely restaurant is closing, not for rfinancial reasons but because, after 46 years, it's time for the owners to rest. Farewell Da Maria in Notting Hill, the kind of place that 'keeps London human' as I said in this review when they were threatened with closure
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Interacting with the great British on camera has always been fun.
January 22, 2026 at 8:32 AM
Interacting with the great British on camera has always been fun.
Hang on, is he REUSING THE SAME MATERIAL FROM LAST NIGHT?
I keep trying to word a post to describe the presidential address to the press which is ongoing, and nothing quite covers it. It’s a ramble, of a babble of a frayed meander through the disordered thoughts of a strange, strange man. Who happens to be president.
January 21, 2026 at 2:47 PM
Hang on, is he REUSING THE SAME MATERIAL FROM LAST NIGHT?
Word spaghetti doesn’t cover it.
I keep trying to word a post to describe the presidential address to the press which is ongoing, and nothing quite covers it. It’s a ramble, of a babble of a frayed meander through the disordered thoughts of a strange, strange man. Who happens to be president.
January 20, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Word spaghetti doesn’t cover it.