Michelin-trained chef pops his cork for City of London restaurant launch

A top Michelin-trained chef has launched a new concept restaurant, wine bar and florist in the City of London, where ‘gastronomy now meets botanical beauty’. 

Co-founder and head chef Edward Boarland spent his formative years training under the likes of Alain Roux, Clare Smyth, Gordon Ramsay and Simone Zanoni, before setting up Stem + Stem at 12 Bow Lane with his life and business partner, Dee Reid. 

Whilst launching Stem + Stem, Edward is continuing in his current role as executive head chef for Cabotte in the City; The Black Book wine bar in Soho; Comptoir Café & Wine in Mayfair and Marylebone’s favourite Blandford Comptoir.

As a champion of sustainability, Edward is now dedicated to showcasing the finest seasonal British produce and exclusive grower champagnes at Stem + Stem, ensuring that the natural flavours take centre stage.

Commenting on the launch of Stem + Stem, co-founder and head chef Edward Boarland said:

“Dee and I are incredibly proud to be launching our new venture in the heart of the City of London. We take immense pride in being both a restaurant and florist, curating experiences that celebrate the best of British cuisine and locally sourced seasonal blooms, all while championing sustainability.

“With a shared love of good food, wine bars and nature, we took it upon ourselves to create an environment which combines our passions and brings them to life under one roof.  

“Bringing my knowledge of City diners and my passion for champagne, seafood and seasonal British produce to Stem + Stem, I want to create light, elegant, flavourful dishes with a focus on British produce, sustainability and seasonality.”

As part of the launch of Stem + Stem, Edward has also announced an exclusive new deal with the UK’s Champagne retailer of the year.  Stem + Stem is now the only venue in the City of London to stock selected grower Champagnes direct from the farmers in France, which are exclusively supplied by specialist online retailer, Sip Champagnes.

Just in time for Christmas and New Year celebrations, Stem + Stem is teaming up with Sip Champagnes to offer the city’s wine lovers a taste for small-batch, artisan Champagne direct from the grower by glass or bottle, including rising stars such as Domain Vincey, Famille Delouvin and Remi Leroy.

Edward added: 

“Working with Sip Champagnes fits well with our produce-led food ethos. We like to seek out those smaller producers that are taking that little bit of extra care in creating their unique wines, and it marries well with what I like to do with my food.”

On 1^st December from 5pm to 7.30pm, Stem + Stem will be staging a special food and champagne tasting event. People will be offered the chance to sample selected champagnes from the Sip range, as well as get expert advice on food pairing suggestions for the festive season.  

Sip Champagnes was crowned ‘Sparkling Retailer of the Year 2023’ in the International Wine Challenge (IWC) Industry Awards in July.  With the UK’s largest collection of 60 Champagne producers and over 150 individual cuvées from across 25 villages in its range, Sip Champagnes only deal with ethically-sourced and artisan products direct from the farmer.  

As well as the UK’s widest selection of Grower Champagnes, Sip Champagnes focuses on newly discovered and fully independent producers that can’t be found anywhere else. 

Sip Champagnes was formed in 2020 by business partners, Daniel Blatchford and Peter Crawford. In just three short years they have established the company as the UK’s leading online Grower Champagne retailer. 

Daniel Blatchford, Co-founder of Sip Champagnes, said: 

“We’re really excited to be supporting Edward and Dee with the launch of  their new restaurant, wine bar and florist on Bow Street. We love to work with independent venues like Stem + Stem who appreciate only the best small-batch, handcrafted champagne direct from France’s iconic wine region.

“The dominance of the big wine houses and supermarket champagne has meant that Champagne options have been very limited in the UK. Before we established Sip Champagnes, small producers had no supply chain and no access to high-end restaurants, bars, hotels and wine boutiques, which meant consumers had little choice.”

Sip Champagnes was recently crowned IWC Sparkling Retailer 2023 at the prestigious International Wine Challenge Industry Awards, who singled out their ‘impressive range and obvious passion’.

Sip Champagnes are also past recipients of Decanter’s ‘Champagne & Sparkling Specialist Retailer of the Year’ and the Drinks Business ‘Specialist Online Retailer of the Year.’ They continue to go from strength to strength as UK consumers develop a taste for unique grower Champagne.

All Sip Champagnes packaging is made from recycled material and is 100% recyclable. They also invest in carbon offsetting programmes to reduce their environmental impact and they plant a tree for every order placed.

To book a place at the Stem + Stem food and champagne tasting event on 1^st December, go to https://sipchampagnes.com/products/christmas-tasting-event