A cosy alternative to Michelin’s starched linen, a novel way of meeting new people (and even partners to be), and a means to eat a style of food not available in the mainstream, supper clubs have taken root in the capital over the past three years. Douglas Blyde, one of our correspondents, is the latest home cook to test his abilities on the public…

To celebrate the festive season, The Langham, London is offering a complimentary Afternoon Tea for two in Palm Court for the person who can guess the weight of gingerbread (to the nearest kg) used in the construction of their gingerbread house.

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.

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.

After a day of judging with 585 oysters shucked in the two categories of oyster tasted and 13 producers represented in front of 15 epicurean judges, the results are in from the inaugural Boisdale & Wright Brothers Oyster Tasting Championship 2011.

Pop ups are ten a penny these days, but rarely is the chef of such pedigree. Tom Sellers has worked with Tom Aikens,
Thomas Keller, Adam Byatt, and more recently, Rene Redzepi at Noma. The pop up,called Foreword, is for two nights on the 28th and 29th of November with the Rebel Dining Club.

We went to try Byron’s new Movember offering, the Gizz-mo burger, to see if welsh rarebit cuts the mustard as a burger topping.

On November 9, central London restaurant Floridita will be pulling out the stops to raise money for The Lord Mayor’s Appeal 2011 with an extra special charity performance of Cabaret Floridita, its fabulously glamorous live music and burlesque night.

The launch of a new menu is excuse enough to go back to a favourite restaurant, even if you know you will find the regular signature dishes irresistible – as Joanna Biddolph discovered when she nipped back to Tamarind to test its autumn menu.