A glass of spice and all things nice

BROWN BROTHERS, the innovative Australian winery, has teamed up with the creative cooks at Geeta’s to bring together spicy food and wine combinations to celebrate National Curry Week.Brown Brothers is passionate about creating unique wines to be enjoyed with food, and many of its wines match perfectly with spicy dishes such as Geeta’s authentic Indian cuisine.

Roller coaster economy creating new lunch deals

To help diners deal with a roller coaster economy “Credit Crunch” lunches are popping up in fine restaurants all across London. The latest venue to offer customers a discount is the Embassy London in Mayfair. Diners will receive ten percent off the usual a la carté and group dining menus.The Embassy Credit Crunch Lunch menu will be prepared under the supervision of three times Michelin starred chef Garry Hollihead. You’ll still find yourself enjoying the same elegant meals the Embassy is known for, but your wallet won’t feel as light afterwards, and the discount will nearly pay for your tip.

Tickle tastebuds with Beaujolais

While most of us have a pretty good idea of what we’re going to cook for the Christmas meal, wine choices often get made during last-minute sweeps of supermarket aisles. To make choosing wine less stressful, bone up on the many varieties of Beaujolais that might be a perfect match for your holiday meal. The light, fruity red wines, best served slightly chilled, match menus all year round but really come into their own during the holiday season.

Vapiano: where pasta and massages greet weary shoppers

Is your credit-crunch neck ache interfering with your Christmas-shopping trip? Vapiano on Portland Street is fighting the economic slump by reviving worried, tired shoppers with free spa treatments along with fresh Italian meals. Statistics show that eighty percent of consumers are more likely to continue shopping after a rejuvenating break.

Create your muesli and name it, too

Love muesli, but can’t find the perfect mix? Not anymore! Muddy Cook recently launched a website so Muesli-lovers can make their perfect mix from over one-hundred organic, preservative-free ingredients. Customers can even decide on the name of their mix and have it printed on the pack.”Muddy Cook came about because of my love of muesli and my dislike of raisins,” said owner Claire Lettice. Among the items visitors to her site can choose from are ‘superfoods’, such as quinoa, oats, walnuts, and almonds.

St James restaurant in Crouch End

Crouch End, the London setting for numerous movies and even a horror short-story by Steven King is now home to a new restaurant. St James, on the site of Florians, hopes to bring in the neighbourhood crowd and with their sophisticated menu, attract diners from all over London. The new venue has a smart bar, a small, semi-private room ideal for groups, a bright restaurant, and a peaceful patio area.

New Book Reveals Brick Lane’s Curry Secrets

To celebrate National Curry Week, Brick Lane based recipe website Mydish.co.uk are releasing a one off ‘Brick Lane’ curry book special – with all the profits going to Oxfam.

The idea behind the book is simple; we all know and love Brick Lane, but what are the favourite dishes of the people behind the UK’s top curry houses?

Cooking classes for strapped budgets

Families all over town are talking in whispers about how worried they are about spending too much money over Christmas. Should we have the party? Can we really afford that bottle of expensive wine? How can we have a nice holiday without breaking the bank? Will we even have a bank next year? La Cucina Caldesi is coming in to save the day with their new “Frugal and Beginners Courses” for worried cooks.