On a rather crisp February evening – notably one of the few dry days we’d had since the beginning of the year – the focus at Bicester Village shifted from fashion to flavour with the launch of ‘Dish + Tell – Tastemakers’, a new culinary series that signals something more than a supper club. It felt as though the Village was making a clear statement: that the contemporary luxury day out is as much about culture and connection as it is about what you carry home in a shopping bag.
The inaugural evening took place at Shan Shui, the Village’s Halal Chinese restaurant inspired by the glamour of 1920s Shanghai – a nod to the city’s most dazzling era as a hub for art, architecture, dance halls and glitzy restaurants. Guests arrived to a glass of light, lemony Prosecco – celebratory, but relaxed.
Enter Justin Tsang – known to his million followers as Justin ‘Dustbin’ Tsang – whose cooking is rooted in his upbringing in his parents’ Chinese restaurants in North London.
He welcomed guests by admitting to being “the kid at the back of the restaurant doing his homework”, before speaking candidly about identity, creativity and cooking food that reflects where he is now – somewhere between cultures, traditions and modern Britain. His emphasis on food as memory and connection set the tone: Dish + Tell was not simply about dining; it was about the people and personal histories behind the menu.
The evening began with a procession of seafood starters. Seabass truffle ponzu crudo glistened beneath trout roe; Sichuan mala wontons delivered a pleasing heat; and a prawn herb glass noodle salad brought brightness and crunch.
As someone with a seafood intolerance, my options were limited at this stage – and it did highlight the growing expectation for more visible plant-based or alternative choices at curated events like this. That said, I have no doubt that, with prior notice, the team would have accommodated my dietary requirements with the same professionalism and warmth shown throughout the evening.
If the starters set the scene, the mains told the story.
The Hong Kong braised beef brisket was meltingly tender, rich without being heavy. The Cantonese roast duck, dry-aged for two days, delivered exactly what you hope for – crisp skin giving way to succulent meat. Even the braised mushroom with homemade tofu held its own among the meat dishes, deeply savoury and comforting.
My hero dish – the Lemongrass Chicken with Herb Salad – was a triumph in balance. The chicken was beautifully seasoned, its savoury depth lifted by a generous squeeze of lime and the fresh mint woven through the herb salad. It felt generous and unfussy in the best way: food designed to be passed around, talked over, and returned to for “just one more bite”.
Served family-style with bowls of steamed jasmine rice, the menu was deceptively filling. This was not dainty tasting-plate territory; it was abundant, celebratory dining – the kind that encourages conversation and second helpings. A Moutai lychee martini and the aptly named Lion Eye mocktail flowed throughout the evening, adding a touch of theatre without overpowering the food.
Dessert – mango pomelo sago – was a perfect full stop. This contemporary Hong Kong favourite, often served as a chilled sweet soup, was light, fruity and refreshing. The creamy mango, citrusy pomelo and gentle chew of sago pearls created a finish that felt cleansing rather than cloying. After the richness of the mains, it was exactly the right note.
Throughout the evening, Justin took time to greet guests and autograph copies of his debut cookbook, Long Day? Cook This. (available to purchase on Amazon), which was gifted on the night. The book reads like a love letter to heritage, identity and the simple joy of feeding people well – and that spirit carried seamlessly into the eight-course sharing supper.
What makes this series particularly interesting is its timing.
We are in the midst of a cultural pivot: fewer impulse purchases of “stuff”, more intentional spending on experiences. By pairing tastemakers with its best-loved restaurants – planned collaborations include La Tua Pasta, Cecconi’s, Ottolenghi and Double Red Duke – Bicester Village is quietly repositioning itself not just as a luxury outlet, but as a retail and leisure destination where a day out can move fluidly between boutique browsing and immersive dining.
At £69.95 per ticket (including a welcome drink, eight courses, a digestif and a signed cookbook for members), the evening felt thoughtfully curated rather than transactional. Intimate enough to feel special, polished enough to feel premium.
If this first event is anything to go by, Dish + Tell is less about spectacle and more about substance – about gathering around a table and remembering that food, at its best, tells a story about who we are. And in a place built on aspiration and aesthetics, that grounding felt refreshing indeed.
Dish & Tell – Tastemakers continues throughout the year.
In April, acclaimed chef Theo Randall partners with La Tua Pasta to create a hero dish celebrating his passion for authentic, seasonal Italian flavours – bringing his signature style to the Village for what promises to be another memorable dining experience. Theo is best known best known for his restaurant “Theo Randall at the InterContinental” in London. He previously gained fame as the head chef who helped The River Cafe earn its first Michelin star.
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The post An evening to remember as Dish + Tell – Tastemakers launches with Justin Tsang at Bicester Village appeared first on The Oxford Magazine.
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