Nov. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Sarah Harding of the pop group Girls Aloud is backing a Polynesian bar in the City of London that promises to transport visitors to an exotic paradise. Kanaloa is the project of Nick House and Piers Adam, the team behind clubs including Mahiki, Whisky Mist and the Punch Bowl.

Kanaloa offers “the true spirit of egalitarianism, where every guest experiences the same laid back and fun-filled atmosphere and service, no matter who they are.” So no VIP area, I guess, and I’d better not mention the parties planned for Nov. 10 and 11. For those who are more equal than others, the opening date is Nov. 12. The address is 18 Lime Office Court, Hill House, Shoe Lane, EC4A 3BQ. Tel. +44-20-7842-0620. The Web address will be http://www.kanaloaclub.com/.

Bombay Brasserie was named London’s best Indian restaurant in the fifth British Curry Awards, in London. Tayyabs won for best casual dining, while Cinnamon Kitchen scooped newcomer of the year. David Cameron, the Tory party leader, attended and spoke of the achievement of Britain’s 3.5 billion-pound ($5.8 billion) curry industry. The ceremony at Battersea Evolution was hosted by journalist Trevor McDonald and drew some 1,500 guests.

Cinnamon Kitchen’s older sister, Cinnamon Club, was named Restaurant of the Year at the World Food Awards at London’s Hilton Park Lane on Oct. 31, another success for chef Vivek Singh. Best New Product was Levi Roots’s Reggae Reggae Sauce.

Bob Bob Ricard has reduced the markup on fine wines to undercut rivals and bring in new business. Among the bargains the Soho restaurant cites are 1995 Cheval Blanc at 276 pounds versus 1,050 pounds at Gordon Ramsay at Claridges, and 1998 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne at 136 pounds compared with 299 pounds at Le Pont de la Tour. Unfortunately, my budget is a little more modest.

Squirrel is on the lunch menu at Corrigan’s Mayfair and it’s delicious. Chef Richard Corrigan says he gets gray squirrels, shot with a point 22 rifle, from north Wales at 1 pound each. He bones them, stuffs them with hazelnuts and golden raisins, then rolls them and poaches them for nine hours at 90 degrees. The flavor is rich and gamey. It’s my new favorite.

Alexander McCall Smith, author of the “The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” was in London yesterday to support a new tea, Lost Malawi. McCall Smith, who was born in Zimbabwe, spoke affectionately of Malawi at a breakfast held in Racine. The writer came up with the name for the brand and has contributed original short stories, which are contained in each pack. Among the guests was the violinist Haylie Ecker, who previously played with the quartet Bond. For information or tea, contact Henrietta Lovell of the Rare Tea Co. on +44-0-7681-0115 or go to http://www.rareteacompany.com/.

Pierre Koffmann toasted his kitchen team at Selfridges with Champagne on Saturday after what had been planned as the final service of the temporary eatery. A last-minute extension means it now runs for another month, and the chef is looking for a permanent site, so the cork-popping was premature. I dined with the wives and girlfriends: Koffmann’s partner Claire Harrison, Eric Chavot’s girlfriend Christine Bailey and Catherine Loubet, who is married to Bruno Loubet. Nice work if you can get it.

There’s interest in the food world in a Sunday Times story that BT Group Plc plans to reopen the revolving restaurant on the 34th floor of the BT Telecom Tower in London after almost 30 years. “No decision has been taken,” BT spokesman Carson Dalton said. The newspaper didn’t cite anyone, but it did mention Heston Blumenthal, Jamie Oliver and Gary Rhodes as possible chefs. The first two’s offices said they hadn’t been approached, and I couldn’t reach Rhodes, who was in Italy.

The eighth annual Eat-Japan Sushi Awards will be held at the Olympia Exhibition Center on Nov. 14 as part of MasterChef Live, a BBC food event. The competition brings together seven sushi makers from around the world, Taiji Maruyama from Nobu, London, and Mitsunori Kusakabe from Sushi Ran, in Sausalito, California. For details, see http://www.eat-japan.com/ or http://www.londonbbcgoodfoodshow.com/.

The Krug Room at the Dorchester has reopened and is taking bookings for parties of up to 12 as well as for culinary master classes. The room features a chef’s table and a window into the kitchen. I attended an event last week when chefs from the Krug rooms in London, Hong Kong and Berlin created a lunch that ran to 12 courses, with matching Krug. The menu included sashimi of Dublin Bay prawns, Granny Smith apple jelly and Beluga caviar; braised turbot, bone marrow and lobster lasagne, lemon balm nage; and diver scallops with white Alba truffle risotto, foie gras and sea urchin. I’m still reeling and rolling. For information, contact Bronwyn Breese on +44-20-7319-7311.

Spotted: Film director Guy Ritchie dining in the celebrity corner table at Hix on Oct. 30. (Actually, I was introduced to him and felt a bit intimidated: He’s a strongly built chap.) Chef Philip Howard of the Square was also in that night. “MasterChef” winner Steve Groves was lunching at L’Anima on Oct. 28 with his boss, Tristan Welch of Launceston Place. Gordon Ramsay will host a U.S. edition of “MasterChef” for Fox. Gee.

(Richard Vines is the chief food critic for Bloomberg News. Opinions expressed are his own.)

To contact the writer on the story: Richard Vines in London at rvines@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: November 5, 2009 19:00 EST