We do like Paul A Young’s chocolates. Eccentrically English yet never eschewing the exotic, he lays on a tempting menu all year round. So at Yuletide one rightfully expects great things. A bijou box containing his finest seasonal selections hitting the doormat is more welcome than any advent calendar, and, in the spirit of festive gluttony, is scoffed in its entirety that very teatime.
Salvatore Calabrese’s Festive Cocktail recipes
Cocktail mastermind Salvatore Calabrese is currently proffering a selection of alarmingly gluggable Christmas Cocktails at his eponymous Mayfair bar. Over a tipple, we persuaded him to part with the recipes so you can show off your shakin’ skills this festive season.
The Big Fat Foodepedia Christmas Food Guide
A subjective selection of sublime scran we like to scoff and/or share at Christmas.
Salvatore Calabrese’s Festive Cocktails at Salvatore’s at Playboy
We’re at the Playboy Club. Yes, there are bunnies. Yes, there are men in suits, but there are also just as many ladies, and they are resoundingly not’of the night’. The lighting’s low but more to create atmosphere than to disguise any nefarious activities. Oh, and Salvatore Calabrese, aka’The World’s Leading Cocktail Expert’, is mixing drinks and holding court with oodles of panache.
La Porte des Indes cookery afternoons
You wouldn’t think that behind Oxford Street’s Christmas huffers and sharp elbows is an oasis of south Indian charm, but that’s La Porte des Inde’s secret. Now,on the final Friday of every month, they host a master class and Anita Pati got stuck in.
Annual Old Ale Festival at The White Horse
The White Horse held their Annual Old Ale Festival for the thirtieth time last weekend, an event that sees the pub meticulously clean their cellar and lines to bring in around 80 different beers, from old ales, porters, stouts and barley wines, to strong ales and milds.
Nathan Outlaw’s Davidstow Crackler Cheese Straws
Easy, tasty. savoury- who doesn’t love a cheese straw at Chrimbo?
Tia Maria Festive Cocktails
When mulled wine-induced ennui sets in, nip over to the dark side and sup on one of these tasty tipples from Tia Maria.
Festive recipe: Paul A Young’s Muscovado chocolate cakes with cocoa nibs and Mayan spiced syrup
Paul A Young: chocolatier extraordinaire and self-confessed ‘cake-a-holic’. Alright then Paul, give us your stickiest, most intense muffin recipe for festive munching. And, sure enough, with these muscovado-cocoa-nib creations, boy done good…
The Fat of the Land, London Spanish restaurant
Attempts to de-pubify the place have involved hanging jamons in the window like meaty Christmas decorations. This presumably in homage to the average tapas bar in Spain, where chunky legs hang over your head sweating gently into their cups. Rather like the clients.