Desta French

London

Whenever I’m in the mood for Ecuadorian food, this is the spot. You have to try the ceviche there.

Latin village is like stepping into an actual indoor market in Colombia. I love it. It's filled with small local Latin businesses currently In litigations with the council who are trying to close it down so they build flats there. What’s new. 

Where I go for hair/nails. Really good empanadas and gossip. Run by my friend, STEPHANIE SANTIAGO, who is also a very talented Colombian, London-based Soul Artist.

Nice cocktails, food and a place to pick up a @LATINOLIFE magazine with all the latest news on Latin culture in the city.

Every Latino In London knows La Caleñita. It's a famous bakery where you can find all kinds of cheesy breads and yumminess.

There are a bunch of places to eat here and really feel the culture living alongside other ethnic communities which is so nice to see. You have to have a cholada from Brixton Village. It's tropical fruity icey buffness, you have to try it to understand.

La Vida Loca is another mini Latin Mall consisting of hairdressers, barber shop, nail parlour and masseuse on one floor and a Colombian bakery/restaurant along with other multi services for the community.

Discover London's Latino Spots with Desta French

Afrohunting

Buenos Aires

The perfect way to start your day with real Colombian coffee and Colombian vibes.


You should take the African tour in this town with Lufarda travel.

Closed doors, African Swahili food, fantastic hosts!


Buenos Aires with Afrohunting 

This year, I went on a mission to create a soul food fusion concept, Bando Belly with co-founder Alex Sintunayake. London is the world’s biggest melting pot and living in the capital means fusion is everywhere - food, music and of course the people. How many places in the world would an English, Turkish and Indian man all know the appropriate response to wagwan?!!
Bando Belly is about taking that exact energy and putting it on a plate; I have created a menu to highlight a diverse selection of flavours from all around the globe to reimagine London’s soul food.

A cute cafe serving classic Vietnamese dishes, they know me here as the woman who orders a table full of food. Don't miss the BÁNH XÈO Crêpe filled with pork or chicken, prawns, onion, bean sprouts and salad. CÁNH GÀ CHIÊN BƠ chicken wings with garlic butter and lemongrass. All their Pho are delicious or BÚN TÔM XÀO king prawns on rice. 

A Filipino food truck station outside Peckham library. They have been serving banging tender beef in adobo and marinated grilled chicken over rice with green and spicy sauces. You can grab a large box for £7 I always grab two one for now one for me and brother to fight over later.

Two Nigerian sisters with food as bold as they are. Their spin on Nigerian classics will have your mouth watering and belly full. My go to is the beef suya and prawn fried rice but grab a mixed plate for a taste of everything. 

A family run business with warm friendly service. Serving an array of South American food from tacos to arepas. I always get the beef chachapa, a sweet corn pancake with shredded beef and soft cheese.

A Mediterranean fusion kitchen inside a new bar that has a banging playlist full of amapiano bangers. Their portions never leave you hungry, there’s a tapas style menu and some great mains. I’ve had the thick sea bass fillet several times but I’m dying to try the confit duck and bean puree.

A traditional Eritrean restaurant serving vegan/ veggie delights tasty fish dishes and my favourite kulwa, which is lamb fried in ghee, onion and green chilli. Everything comes with Injera, a teff flour sourdough pancake. For first timers I suggest the combos based on how many people you're with, selections picked by the chef made for sharing. Great for date nights or group visits, make a night of it by trying the traditional honey wine and end with the authentic coffee ceremony.

Huge Peruvian restaurant with great outdoor seating for a spot of people watching. The cocktails are strong, and food packed with flavour. I have unashamedly ordered the same thing every time, grilled beef heart in aji amarillo and cod ceviche. The softness and deep flavour of the beef heart is unforgettable.

Master Chefs 2011 winner’s Japanese fusion restaurant serves great Japanese classics with sprinkles of Caribbean flavours. My go to is the Leopard ramen, a super thick creamy pork broth with parmesan and scotch bonnet or the extraordinary lazy goat ramen boneless curry goat with noodles, that one is a spice girl for sure!

This hole in the wall in Brixton a mother and daughter serving Colombian street food. Seeing a girl walking down Brixton high street with a massive snow cone piled with fruit and I had to stop her to ask where I could get one. Think fruit salad in fruit juice covered with a mountain of shaved ice and condensed milk and syrup. There's a lot going on but oh my there's a lot more to love. A super sweet summer treat. If its a hot day be ready to wait up to 30 mins.

A great fun Korean BBQ restaurant, a huge menu to choose from. This place you can take anyone, and they will enjoy. Don't go too crazy with the starters the wings and beef short ribs are my favourite or you'll have to come back twice like me to try the BBQ. Always order a bottle of soju and a pot of makgeolli, the milky, off-white, and lightly sparkling rice wine, get a cab home you will need it!

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