Invited to a Soho restaurant safari by the Taste of London people, I accepted straight away. The Safari was to give us a flavour of some dishes that three Soho restaurants, Quo Vadis, Gauthier Soho and Bocca di Lupo/Gelupo, would be serving up at the forthcoming Taste of London, held at Regent’s Park from 16 to 19 June this year.
The Balvenie Whisky Den in Covent Garden
Having opened on May 9,theDen has’evolved’ over the weeks, with student artists continually changing the in-Den art installations. Downstairs are now a floor maltings, with barley spread across the room to show how the grains are turned in the distillery, while in another corner an artist pieces together a barrel lamp shade.
Feversham Arms and Verbena Spa, Helmsley, North Yorkshire
A sense of calm, competent charm is exuded by the Feversham Arms. The village of Helmsley on the edge of the North Yorkshire moors is picture book perfect. The front is an old inn dating from at least 1855, expanded into the terraced cottages alongside. At the rear are modern rooms and the Verbena spa complex and an outside swimming pool kept at a comfy 31 degrees
Kammerling on Kammerling’s
A new spirit is dripping the capital. We talk to vodka ambassador and passionate drinks fanatic Alex Kammerling about his eponymous libation…
How to manage your Tabasco® addiction
If you have a Tabasco® habit, you’ll love this new way of buying it in bulk. Just make sure your kitchen shelves can stand the strain, warns Joanna Biddolph.
The Rebel Dining Society revisits The Green Room with Pernod Absinth
The Rebel Dining Society revisit a few old friends when they team up with Pernod Absinth for the second year running.
New beginnings at Ponti’s: lunch with Stafano Ispani
Alan King talks with the owner and CEO of Ponti’s, Stafano Ispani, over lunch at the recently re-launched Ponti’s Italian Kitchen, Oxford Circus. Stafano talked about his vision for the future of the group. Having previously avoided Ponti’s, Alan is favourably impressed by the style of the place, the artisan produce offered and the quality of this authentic Italian cuisine.
Looking to Cook launches
There’s a new foodie website on the block called Looking to Cook (lookingtocook.co.uk). Launched in April 2011, the site offers independent reviews of the cookery schools and courses in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
One Greedy Italian
It’s hard to stop grazing on the anti pasti, which is what makes Italian food so great; the sense of sharing, of conviviality, of food as life. It’s all so different from the Church of Food we seem to have constructed for ourselves here in London. Heads down, talk only in whispers and raise reverential gazes to Chef in His Kitchen.
Gidleigh Park, Chagford, Devon
The trouble with heading someplace that everyone proclaims ‘you’ll absolutely love!” is that it immediately puts the recipient of such a comment on the back foot. But Gidleigh Park deserves all its accolade and acclaim. The food is sublime; packed with beautifully juxtaposed flavours.