Lashings of ginger beer. Crabbies goes gourmet at Benares
I have never drunk so much ginger beer in one sitting in my life. Even the waiters at Benares are barely concealing their mirth as they crack open yet another bottle of Crabbies to pour into my glass. ‘Do you drink it yourself?’ I ask one of them ‘Oh no!’ he replies, horrified, then mindful of the fact his boss Atul Kochhar head chef at this award winning Indian restaurant is lending his name to the product, quickly explains his defiant rejection. ‘I am a Muslim!’
Shilpa Shetty launches V8’s flagship Bombay Bicycle restaurant in Chelsea
With our glasses of chilled bubbly in hand we proceeded to explore this latest venture of the V8 group, We wandered through this newly fashioned eatery, struck by the bold vibrant decor, with its strong colour palate softened by yards of sheer curtaining. It all comes together well.
Tasty chef takeover at Pizza Express
If you were looking for London’s food writers on Monday night, you’d have found most of them in Pizza Express in Greek Street, Soho. They weren’t there because they all suddenly got the munchies for an American Hot, they were there because Francesco Mazzei was.
Asian Dinner Club at the Bedford & Strand - matching wine, cheese and the sexes
Set up by enterprising mother of two Salima Manji, the Asian Dinner Club aims to get professional single Asians together over food and wine. Anita Pati finds though that she's the only one actually eating as the high-flyers are networking too hard. All the more tasty cheese for her, then.
Feeding of the 5,000 - Trafalgar Square
I have lined up the russets, wondrous in their crunch, the foxy Coxs, the carrots - knobbly - and the bananas. All of them perfect, earthly gifts distributed during the feeding of the five thousand. It was a Biblical act, a water-coloured wintry vision in Trafalgar Square - part West Country festival, part Regency splendour as the skies unloaded their first Christmas snow onto a lunchtime mob of far more than 5,000 believers.
A pie and a pint at The Warrington
Having been invited to a Gordon Ramsay place for something to eat and to drink, well you go, don’t you? We were asked along to The Warrington for a pie and a pint and a look around after some work had been done on the place. It is hard to say whether The Warrington is unique but I would hazard a guess that because of the way it has been developed over its 150 years, it probably is.
Palm Court at The Langham, London to serve special Beefeater 24 Afternoon Tea
Between January and April next year, weary shoppers will be able to slip away from the hustle and bustle of the West End sales and enjoy the quiet refinement of afternoon tea with a twist at Palm Court, which is located at the top of Regent Street, at the newly refurbished Langham, London.
Babylon did Thanksgiving, now for Christmas!
Having never been to a Thanksgiving celebration before, it seemed like a good idea to go along to Babylon to experience theirs, which we had heralded here on site a few weeks ago. Apart from Babylon’s normal menu, Head Chef Ian Howard had added an American themed special for each course in honour of the occasion.
Coriander… makes the difference
In the swish ‘Poggenpohl’ kitchens of Harrods, I meet the very lovely Pinky Lilani OBE who is hosting an intimate cookery master class featuring dishes from her latest book “Coriander… makes the difference” Featuring a selection of Pinky’s favourite recipes using coriander as well as some charming words of wisdom from 40 of Pinky’s friends and colleagues, the book is billed as “Wisdom and recipes to feed your soul and warm your heart”.
The Nation’s Favourite Dinner Party Host Revealed
If you would like to be in with a chance of winning one of four packs to help you host the perfect dinner party, go to our competitions page and enter our After Eight competition.
Cutting Cheese on Moxon Street
Douglas Blyde attends the launch party of Marianne Lumb's 'Knife Skills' book at London's premier cheesemonger, 'La Fromagerie'
Zia Teresa hits 50
Restaurants often lay claim to being the oldest something or other. Bizarre – as I increasingly slip into that category I’m not going to shout about it. This fortnight, I’ve been to London’s oldest Hungarian, the earliest French, and now, Zia Teresa, the first to plant its boot shape into the city’s culinary foundations.
On top of the f******g world!
Gordon Ramsay launches his new book Gordon Ramsay’s World Kitchen (The F Word) high up above London in Centrepoint. Sabrina Ghayour is whisked up in a lift to be encouraged to catch a glimpse of the England's Greatest Living Chef and to join the crowd of beautiful people in worship at his altar.
Shabu Shabu, a swish way to eat at Wholefoods market
We were invited to the press evening for the launch of this Japanese food outlet at Whole Foods Market in Kensington, on the first floor of the old Barkers building. Whether alone, which in this environment would feel perfectly natural, or in a group, it is a novel and interesting way to eat.
Grosvenor House Hotel’s Afternoon Tea – a Red Letter Day (re-visited)
Having been given a Red Letter Day gift of Afternoon Tea for two at one of some five Marriott Hotels in London about a year ago, I finally got around to using it recently, about a week before its validity expired. The tea arrived, a three tiered silver server, a little bent out of shape, which was quite ironic, as by the end of the afternoon, so was I.
Sipsmith Gin and Vodka – a good mouth-feel (as they say)...
So, it would have been rude to turn down a very civilised invitation to join the Sipsmith team at The Dorchester Bar in order to taste their wares, well, it would, wouldn’t it? It seemed like only seconds after our arrival that Sipsmith’s gin and tonics were thrust into the steely grip of each of us.....
I should coco - well bread at Cocomaya
Beautiful breads of all descriptions tumble off shelves, and for those with not much to do of an afternoon, then a sit down tea has to be worth having. I tried a selection of filled rolls, brioches and fancy pastries and all were perfect and nicely set off by the shop’s bleached wood interior. Delicious quiches too, as well as fruit tarts and savoury biscuits.
A little bit of opera in the evening
As I sit nibbling my tapas in the romantic candle lit bar at 190 , the rather glamorous girl I have been covertly observing, suddenly bursts into thrilling song while orchestral music swells from hidden speakers. As I pause, prawn halfway to my mouth in shock, she’s answered by a rich male tenor who sweeps into view to join her for a duet. Welcome to Opera Night.
Wine evening at Vivat Bacchus
Vivat Bacchus hosted wine evenings promise unpretentious wine and food matching, entertaining and knowledgeable hosts and good company. We went to meet SA boutique winemaker Peter Finlayson and try his gorgeous wines.
Miss Q’s set to launch
Opening on Friday 23rd October, this new American style pool bar/diner/live music venue/ saloon looks set to be a cool place to spend an evening.
