Scrum dine with me – rugby charity supports mentally and physically disadvantaged children

Converting a bunch of heavyweight rugby players for kitchen service may seem like an impossible task, but when it comes to charity you have to give it a try. Executive Chef Vivek Singh, of the esteemed fine dining Indian restaurant Cinnamon Kitchen, and Wooden Spoon, a rugby charity supporting mentally and physically disadvantaged children, introduce ‘Scrum Dine With Me’.

Classy – James Martin’s Executive Blender

The box is shiny black and James himself poses on the front, semi-lit and looking like one of the Bad James Bonds, George Lazenby perhaps. The question I keep asking myself is why would an Executive want a table blender anyway? Don’t they employ people to blend things for them?

Harry Morgan’s

It’s a bit Jewish is Harry’s, not Kosher you understand, but the accent is there. Bit of an institution too; apparently it’s been here since 1948 but has since evolved into a New York Deli style place, somewhat dismaying its older customers but luring in the kind of people who want fast-food without added chav.

Aquum Clapham. Going under?

The crowd does have that ‘I’m desperately looking for a footballer’ feel to it, and the guys, who you begin to think might just have spent as long getting ready as the girls, with fancy hair and pointy shoes, but that’s cool, Clapham needs a smart, semi-pretentious clubby bar.

Ice Man- Francesco Mazzei at Cocorino

Cocorino’ is a story in two halves – gelateria and focacceria, each with their own doors. Brought to you by L’Anima restaurant’s dynamic chef,Francesco Mazzei , who worked in his family’s Calabrian gelateria and pastry shop aged eight, and Linda Yau, sister of his long-term mentor, Alan, the launch of the sweeter side of this rather cute Marylebone Village venture occurred last Wednesday. Lured by licking, Douglas Blyde went along to discuss cool-runnings with Mazzei.

Land of the Giants – Beer and a view in French Flandres

Lunch at the Auberge du Moulin de la Roome meant shuffling past a gang of heavily mustached workers having their midday feast like the Village People on a break. Food is a selection of meats and pates, all very good indeed, as it’s what they like to eat around here, washed down with, what else, but fine beer.