Charles Campion is The Smart Shopper

Yet another restaurant is branching out into retail. Gelupo opened on June 17 and is on the other side of Archer Street from its "head office" — Bocca di Lupo. The new venture is styled as a gelateria, delicatessen and espresso bar and is the brainchild of head chef Jacob Kennedy. As well as Italian gelati, sorbets, oils, vinegars, magnificent foie gras sausages and pesto Genovese from the Bocca di Lupo kitchen, they will be serving that most self-indulgent cuppa — Bicerin, a Piedmont treat that teams espresso coffee with thick drinking chocolate and cream. Gelupo, 7 Archer Street, off Rupert Street, W1 (020 7287 5555, gelupo.com)

Samphire in Season
The English samphire season was late getting started this year but currently you'll find plenty of the fleshy green stems in the shops. One of the alternative folk names for samphire is "glass wort", as it was once gathered in vast quantities and burned to concentrate the mineral content, the samphire ash then being used to make soap and glass. That minerality is what makes samphire such a treat; steam it and serve with melted butter — poor man's asparagus! If you fancy a bit of fish to go with the greens, how about a turbot? At the Fish Shop whole turbot (between 1.5 and 3 kg) cost £28.90 a kilo; while the samphire is £10 a kilo.
The Fish Shop, 201 Kensington Church Street, W8 (020 7243 6626)

Spanish Sensations
This year Tapas Fantasticas has relocated to Potters Fields Park near City Hall. Sponsored by Wines from Rioja, the three-day free festival (June 25-27) celebrates the very best of tapas and Rioja wines — London's top Spanish restaurants will be cooking there, as will some of northern Spain's tapas specialists. There will also be cookery demonstrations and Spanish music.
Gates open at noon and the event runs until 8pm on Friday; 6pm on Saturday and Sunday. For further information, see winesfromrioja.co.uk/tapasfantasticas