17 December 2025 was a chilly night in London, but foodies were kept toasty by a delicious collaboration between one of the city’s best chefs and one of its best-loved bakeries.
A Fine Collab, the brand new experience from S.Pellegrino and Fine Dining Lovers, where fine dining meets street food, brought together chef Tom Aikens of Michelin-starred Muse in Belgravia and Italian bakery, Forno, in Hackney, for a unique collaboration.
The result was a limited edition, Italian-inspired sandwich bursting with slow-cooked lamb, farro, pickled onions, pesto and fennel-seed yoghurt. On 17 December, London got its first taste of this unique collaboration, with a launch event at Forno, with some of the city’s most prominent foodies in attendance.
As guests gathered under the railway arches at Forno, they were treated to arancini, deep-fired olives and focaccia from the Forno kitchen, as well as cocktails and San Pellegrino beverages.
Then it was time for the big moment, with Aikens and Forno chef Baldo Pellegrini showing the crowd assembled eagerly in front of the open kitchen just how the monster sandwich was constructed, slathering the ciabatta with pesto and farro salad, and fully loading it with juicy lamb, tart onions, peppery rocket and more.
