It took 8 months for the couple to find the perfect location for what would become their newest enterprise, Artisan, an independent café specialising in the one thing so many others can’t seem to get right, coffee. A space in Putney fit the bill and was far enough away from the coffee franchises that litter the high street, the places they were trying to avoid.
LAVERSTOKE CHRISTMAS SPECIALITIES
Relax! Everything is under control with Laverstoke’s help – mince pies, Christmas puddings – it’s too late to make your own now and Laverstoke’s are gaining flavour by the day -stuffing, hams, pies, party foods and your meat of choice on the Christmas table – rare breed native Angus Beef or equally rare, Laverstoke’s winning Norfolk Black Turkey.
Mango Tree launches festive feast for Christmas 2011
On 28th November Mango Tree, the award-winning Belgravia restaurant, will launch a festive Thai feast that gives traditional English Christmassy food a Thai twist for only £39 a person.
Allegra McEvedy Bought, Borrowed & Stolen
Ignore the hideous photographs, and self-indulgent waffle, and you might find some recipes you’ll want to cook again and again in this astonishingly big book, suggests Joanna Biddolph.
Patara Thai, Soho
If you like Thai food then you’ll love Patara and if you don’t then I’d give it a shot anyway because you might just change your mind. It’s a good-looking venue and a great place to meet up with friends for some relaxing indulgence and a few bottles of lovely Singha beer – service is assured and the food demonstrates enough skill to put it head and shoulders above much of the competition
Great British Chefs Website
The relaunched Great British Chefs website hosts an impressive and well-executed online recipe collection that’s worth a visit for any ambitious home cook.
Cha Cha Moon, Soho, London
I know some people expected more from Alan Yau of Wagamama fame, and it seems Cha Cha has reverted to a slow waltz since he stopped being in charge day to day. Even so, it’s cheap and it’s cheerful and, unlike some of Chinatown’s finest, you don’t get the feeling you’re a nuisance to the staff. For a fast feed, everyone can comfortably still keep going to the Moon.
Turning Leaf Zinfandel California 2010
Named after a town in California, Zinfandel is a characteristic grape variety of the U.S.A with its early ripening fruit producing a juice with relatively high sugar levels. This means that the resulting red wines are rich and powerful and ones that will appeal strongly to all those with a taste for the New World.
Maria Elia Full of Flavour Book Launch
Full of Flavour is a lovely book. With a simple, easy to read layout and photo after glorious photo of Elia’s meals, this is one of those books you like to look at as much as you like to actually use it.
The Hot Toddy. The Perfect Winter Warmer
The first cocktail book ever written contains hot punch, hot buttered rums, blazers and toddies by the dozen. You couldn’t nip out for a bag of ice or make it easily at home, so cooling drinks was an expensive practice. Setting fire to liquid soon became a phenomenon, and as taverns reopened as upmarket hotel bars, bar men honed their skills, and so, out of the heated punch the much loved toddy was born.