SG Lewis is taking up a new residency at Cafe Koko

ONE of the more leftfield performances to be found in Camden Town in the coming weeks must be in the kitchens of Cafe Koko, the talent-breaking club attached to the legendary venue.

Singer, songwriter, producer and general dance floor mover, SG Lewis, is taking up a new residency at the venue – but as well as showcasing the music that has made him a globally sought-after producer, he has swapped headphones for chef’s whites, too.

Cafe Koko is known for its soulful celebration of Italian cuisine, and as the place to see the stars performing in the main arena gearing up or winding down pre- or post-performance.

To mark the summer season, a new menu celebrates the launch of Don Koko, a pre-party for Koko Electronic – and the plan is to get some of the big-name headliners to do secret warm-up sessions while diners enjoy their Mexican-Italian stand-off.

Previously, DJs Kaytranada, Jayda G, Dixon, Skepta, Wizkid, Moxie and Laurent Garnier have taken over the ones and twos in the Cafe before playing the main stage.

To mark the launch of the summer season, DJs, producers and performers from Koko Electronic – the venue’s genre-related season of shows – have gone head to head with the Cafe Koko chefs.

The first DJ turned chef is SG, who has created the Foreverdayss Pizza, featuring spicy pepperoni, hot honey, a creamy burrata and shavings of parmesan with slices of red pepper. It references a mix of ingredients that offers both a bitey spice with the sausage and then a soothing, gentle contrast with the sloppy mound of burrata on top.

Alongside the DJ in the kitchens, you can find the cult foodie known as @whatwillycook, who is offering up a Forbidden Surf and Turf, featuring shredded chickens and crushed scampi fries.

Cafe Koko has that atmosphere that could take years to create: a sense of cosy homeliness, a place where the bar staff will remember your name and your favourite tipple, with a sense of being in a club full of creativity.

It’s helped by long-standing signature dishes running alongside SG’s efforts. They include the sensationally titled Downtown Jimmy Brown, which boasts double pepperoni, guindilla chilli and mozzarella. A Mexican twist includes Tacos with Habanero chicken topped with melted cheese, guacamole, coriander, and a pork carnitas with pineapple, lime and coriander.

Cafe Koko has quickly become a must-do place for music lovers: from Stormzy hosting his birthday party there to rapper Nicki Minaj causing traffic jams when she hosted a meet-and-greet, Cafe Koko brings together performers and music lovers in a new way, with many of the headliners choosing to relax in the space before taking to the Koko stage.