Bicester Village has announced the launch of Dish & Tell – Tastemakers, a new culinary programme celebrating the creativity, craft and personal stories behind exceptional dining. Running throughout the year, the series pairs visionary chefs and food experts with some of the Village’s most-loved restaurants, creating immersive, one-off experiences that go beyond the plate.
Launching this February, Dish & Tell – Tastemakers will feature a series of five intimate dining moments, each centred around a one-night-only supper club. For every collaboration, a hero dish created for the event will remain on the restaurant’s menu for four weeks, allowing guests to experience the flavours long after the evening itself.
For its inaugural year, the programme partners with five iconic Bicester Village restaurants: Shan Shui, La Tua Pasta, Cecconi’s, Ottolenghi and The Double Red Duke, promising a diverse calendar of storytelling-led dining experiences.
A Lunar New Year celebration with Justin Tsang at Shan Shui
Launching during the week of Lunar New Year, the first collaboration welcomes cook and creator Justin Tsang — known to his followers as Justin ‘Dustbin’ Tsang — to halal Chinese restaurant Shan Shui.
Celebrated for his indulgent, home-style Asian cooking inspired by his upbringing and early work in his parents’ Chinese restaurants, Justin brings his signature approach to the Shan Shui kitchen for a one-night-only supper club that honours tradition while embracing innovation.
Taking place on Thursday 19 February, Shan Shui will close its doors for an exclusive eight-course, sharing-style supper club, with guests welcomed by a glass of bubbles before settling in for an evening of generous, memory-led cooking.
Guests can look forward to a menu that moves effortlessly from punchy, flavour-packed starters to deeply comforting mains. The evening begins with dishes such as Sichuan mala wontons, a fragrant prawn and herb glass noodle salad, and a delicate seabass truffle ponzu crudo, setting the tone for what follows.
For the main courses, the table is filled with sharing plates including Cantonese roast duck, Hong Kong–style braised beef brisket, and braised mushrooms with homemade tofu, alongside Justin’s hero dish – lemongrass chicken with herb salad. The dish, which reflects his signature approach to bright, aromatic flavours rooted in tradition, will remain on Shan Shui’s menu until 19 March.
The evening draws to a close with a refreshing mango pomelo sago, before guests choose between two bespoke digestifs: a Moutai lychee martini, offering a luxurious twist on the classic cocktail, or Lion Eye, a non-alcoholic blend of honey, apple and lychee juice topped with a splash of lemonade.
Food as memory and storytelling
Speaking about the collaboration, Justin Tsang said the opportunity to connect with diners in person was a major draw.
“I’ve always loved engaging with my audience online, but since the cookbook it’s not often people get to try my cooking first-hand. Having this chance to connect with people in person felt special.
“Bicester Village brings together such a strong mix of cultures and cuisines, and food has always been about memory for me, so I loved that this series focuses on storytelling.
“Working with Shan Shui felt very natural and gave me the space to cook flavours I grew up with, telling my story and upbringing through food in a way that’s generous and designed to be shared around the table.”
On what he hopes guests will take away from the evening, he added:
“This project really reflects where I’m at creatively right now. I’m drawn to cooking food that feels personal and rooted in my cultural background, but meant to be shared and enjoyed.
“Creating a one-off menu and a limited-edition dish felt like the perfect way to celebrate that. I hope guests leave feeling connected to the food, the stories behind it – and, of course, with a very full stomach.”
Tickets and what’s next
Tickets for the inaugural supper club are priced at £69.95 per person, including a welcome glass of bubbles, the eight-course menu and a choice of digestif. Members will also receive a copy of Justin Tsang’s debut cookbook, Long Day? Cook This. Tickets can be booked via the Bicester Village website.
Dish & Tell – Tastemakers continues throughout the year, with further collaborations to be announced. In April, acclaimed chef Theo Randall joins La Tua Pasta, creating a hero dish inspired by his passion for authentic, seasonal Italian flavours.
