Peckham Bazaar, the highly rated Balkan restaurant, had been on my list of places to review for a while. Meanwhile, through one of my other ventures, Little Olive Oil, an Albanian extra virgin olive oil brand where I’m one of the directors, we had been researching top Albanian chefs. There aren’t many in London, and John Gionleka, owner of Peckham Bazaar, was the one name that kept coming up.
We connected on Instagram, and soon after, my partner and I booked a dinner reservation. Aside from it already being on my list, it’s only a bus ride away, has a fantastic menu with plenty of vegetarian options for me, and is dog-friendly. We visited at the end of December, and considering how many restaurants I’d eaten at throughout 2025, it turned out to be the best meal of the year by far. I’d already published my round-up of my most memorable meals in London 2025, and actually went back to amend it.
We returned in January with Little Olive Oil founder Herman Ermal Pobrati, and the two bonded over food, Albania and extra virgin olive oil! John sampled the new harvest, and what started as a conversation quickly developed into something more, leading to a decision to work together.
Introducing Albanian Extra Virgin Olive Oil At Peckham Bazaar
John is now the official brand ambassador for Little Olive Oil, and the extra virgin olive oil will start to feature in the Peckham Bazaar kitchen and be used to finish selected dishes.
Over the next year, John will create a series of 12 seasonal recipes, each paired with a particular extra virgin olive oil, centred on the same cooking style seen at the restaurant. These recipes will be shared on the Little Olive Oil website and social media. I’m really looking forward to trying those myself!
Additionally, we will be producing video content together, focused on Albanian and Balkan food and ingredients. The restaurant terrace is also receiving a little refresh, with touches of greenery, and Little Olive Oil will be sponsoring that space.
Delicious Balkan Food For Sharing At Peckham Bazaar
You should definitely visit Peckham Bazaar on Consort Road for a fabulous feast. The menu features Balkan and Eastern Mediterranean dishes, influenced by Albania, Turkey, Greece, and Iran, with a focus on open-fire cooking and sharing plates meant to be enjoyed at the table.
You start with grilled pitta and zataar, smoky babaganoush, taramasalata, and tirokafteri, then proceed to dishes like courgette fritters with tarator, chickpea croquettes with tahini and lemon, and grilled friggitelli peppers with labneh. You’ll get to try fish dishes ranging from mackerel to red mullet and octopus. Meat eaters will be delighted with harissa marinated chicken thigh or loin of lamb with borlotti beans. I’m a vegetarian, and the veggie options are amazing. It’s the sort of menu where you want to try everything, so take a bunch of friends so you can share!
The Little Olive Oil Albanian Extra Virgin Olive Oil Collection
Little Olive Oil specialises in Albanian extra virgin olive oil, and their current harvest is from the Berat region. The collection features Kalinjot Pure, made from native Albanian olives, with a tomato-leaf character and naturally high polyphenol levels. Koroneiki Superior, which is more vibrant and greener, with fresh, grassy notes and high levels of polyphenols. Trio Select, a milder extra virgin olive oil made from a combination of three olives designed for versatility across different dishes.
Make sure you book a table at Peckham Bazaar and watch out for dishes finished with Little Olive Oil extra virgin olive oil as the collaboration kicks off.
You can check out my Peckham Bazaar Review here.
Disclosure: I have a business interest in Little Olive Oil Ltd and am one of the directors.