Articles from April 2012

Stories, Sea Shanties And A Wee Dram of the Surreal

I've fallen down the rabbit hole. This is pure Alice in Wonderland stuff. In fact, our surly guide is called Alice- although she's less wide-eyed innocent, more mad-eyed schoolmarm. She barks a bit about Bowmore's 15 year-old 'Darkest' whisky at us, then dramatically throws open a door demanding we enter 'the chocolate room'. Yes, ma'am!

The other side to Dubai dining. No stars in sight.

A Room with a view

The Sky Lounge in the Double Tree Hilton at Tower of London is the sort of place where a glass of wine doesn’t quite suffice. By all means, if that's your tipple, make your choice from the menu, but on the 12th floor with views like that, a cocktail or at least a glass of champagne feels more appropriate.

Celebrating 50 years of Italian food in the UK

Bertolli will be launching the inaugural Bertolli Spread Olive D’Oro Awards, in partnership with BBCGoodFood.co.uk, to mark 50 years of Italian food in the UK.
Members of the public can vote for their favourite deli and trattoria.

The Zythos Belgian Beer Festival 28-29 April

First taste of Greg Malouf at Petersham Nursery

Giancarlo Caldesi presents recipes for PDO products Grana Padano cheese and Prosciutto di San Daniele at his La Cucina Caldesi Cookery School

Along with huge wheels of cheese, one 16 months old and the other 24, we have Giancarlo Caldesi in his eponymous central London cookery school, La Cucina Caldesi, with a leg of the San Daniele ham, a stack of recipes, a lot of enthusiasm for both products and plenty of flirtatious banter.

Ping Pong's spring menu

This spring, Ping Pong has hit upon the city of Xi’an along the Silk Road whose dishes it showcases in its new menu. Beef, lamb, jellies and dates are pinging their way from old China to Ping Pong’s 11 locations across London.

7 chefs,12 Michelin Stars, 8 Courses. Welcome to Sofitel Dubai Food, Stars & Art

Sofitel's Stars, Food & Art is an unique worldwide event where 7 chefs, with 12 Michelin Stars between them, cook one unique meal together as a team. It's coming to London Sofitel St James in September 2012 and we were lucky enough to get a tasty preview when the food stars came out at Sofitel Dubai last week. 

The arctic flavours of Finnish Lapland

If you’re a foodie looking for more than the usual Italy/France/Spain experience and you love fresh fish, fresh air, stunning scenery and gentle exercise and fun then the Kuusamo experience is one to go for. It’s very, very ice.

Holy Cow! Blessed Delicious Food & An Encounter With The Gods

The incongruous splendour of the Neasden temple rising up from a nondescript London street is a sight to behold. Consecrated in 1995, the building covers 1.5 acres and is the largest outside India. By sheer serendipity, we're here on a thoroughly auspicious day- it's the birthday of both the temple's namesake Swaminarayam, and Lord Rama. Celebration is in the air, along with the odd tantalising whiff from the mandir's Shayona restaurant just across the bustling car park.

The Lamb at Hindon by Boisdale