Six courses, six spirits, three nights

The Providores restaurant and Sipsmith Spirits have announced an exclusive three night pop up restaurant at the Sipsmith distillery in Hammersmith. Only 90 people will have the chance to experience The Providores & Prudence soirees, so if you are interested and intrigued you will need to book early to avoid disappointment.

Enoteca Turi, Putney, London

Enoteca Turi is situated in Putney High Street, close to Putney Bridge, just a short walk from the main line station. As you enter the restaurant you are struck by its crisp but stylish homelike decor, it has a warm comfortable feel to it that is very inviting.This an excellent local restaurant, serving good regional Italian food and certainly an enjoyable place to visit.

Kick your high salt intake with Kikkoman’s umami effect

Soy sauce delivers all the flavour of salt, but at up to half the quantity thanks to the umami effect. This is good news as in the West we all apparently eat too much salt. At the Westminster Kingsway Catering College we find out more, come close to being asphyxiated by a radio host, eat a fine student made meal and learn how to make the perfect gravy.

El Pirata Detapas, Westbourne Grove, Paddington

What does the name mean? The Pirate of Tapas? Does the chef look like Johnny Depp and have a cutlass clamped between his teeth? Are the prices High Seas’ robbery? Do staff say ‘Ahh harr matey!’ in Spanish when chef calls a ticket? Who knows, what is certain is that this second branch of the Mayfair original is a modern tapas restaurant all the way from its cool interior to its Bulli boy food. Tapas reconstructed in a way that marks it out from the patatas bravas brigade so prevalent in London.

Letters to a young chef – Daniel Boulud

Boulud is a great chef, as London will discover later this year. Before he comes to the UK discover how he got where he is right now. A great read for the young chef in the title and a great read for food lovers, Letters to a Young Chef is a letter of love of cooking.

Chicken and Vegetable Laksa

Comfort food, for me personally, does not always fall into the usual British ‘stodge’ categories of mash potatoes, stews and pies etc. I love Asian and Oriental dishes like noodles and soups and stews and this week my recipe comes from the farthest reaches of Southeast Asia, brimming with goodness and totally satisfying to boot.