Rivington Grill isn’t fine dining of course but it’s not downmarket either. Some dishes verge on the self-mocking and ironic, even by Shoreditch’s high standards, but the cooking is capable in a way that that is all about the ‘operation’ rather than just the chef and that’s no bad thing in our current celeb chef obsessed culture.
First Indian Cocktail Bar in London on Dean Street
Zenna Bar is London’s first Indian cocktail bar, found underneath The Red Fort, a pretty good Indian restaurant. Prior to this launch the venue hadn’t reached anywhere near full potential, averaging small weekly numbers of guests and takings. Now the bar has an atmosphere and is starting to create an identity as new life pulses through its veins.
Zilli Green , Soho , London
The latest restaurant from Aldo Zilli, the Italian chef behind Zilli Fish and Zilli Café. Zilli Green is vegetarian and gets its main inspiration from traditional Italian dishes fused with other styles of food from around the world. Not your typical sit-down restaurant, Zilli Green differentiates itself from the competition by offering a buffet as well as the standard menu.
The National Cafe brings Flanders to London
The National Cafe has a new menu of food from Flanders to celebrate the Flemish artist Gossaert and his works on show at the National Gallery. There’s not a mussel in sight but, as we found out, there’s plenty of clever, tasty cooking and a range of deliciously dangerous beers.
Over the grill – Ben Tish of the Opera Tavern talks tapas
The Iberican Pork Burger has gone down a storm at The Opera Tavern in Covent Garden London. Head Chef Ben Tish fires up the josper grill and shows us how it’s done
High Noon, at the W1 range, The Loyd Grossman chilli cook-off, Alan King (akandpa) battles against Andy Welch
There’s some nervous, edgy eye contact, we’re introduced, shake hands, then move to different parts of Caldesi’s place. The clock was ticking by, moving ever closer to High Noon. This hullabaloo had been arranged to find the perfect chilli, as part of the launch of Loyd Grossman’s ‘classic’ and ‘fiery’ chilli sauces, there could be casualties.
The Portman, Marylebone
Trained at Cape Town’s Higgs School of Good Cooking (Meerendal Hospitality Academy), Wet sharpened his craft at South African restaurants, Hauté Cabriere and De Oude Welgemoed (the latter offering Cape-Malay cuisine) then Brula Bistro, La Buvette, Landsdowne Club, Brasserie Roux (Sofitel St James) and The Carlton Club in London.
Join a FREE Welsh Cheese Masterclass and celebrate St David’s Day
What do you know about Welsh cheese? Well it’s time to find out more. Why not pop along to John Lewis on Oxford Street to join in one of three exclusive Welsh Cheese Masterclasses to celebrate St David’s Day. The very best of Welsh Cheese will be in London for a Cheese Masterclass at John Lewis Foodhall, Oxford Street
Strange Shores: The Uncanny Pleasures of the Foreign Foods Supermarket
Have you ever listened to one of those relaxation tapes? The ones where you’re told to imagine a ‘happy place’ then prodded in the right direction. Usually you find yourself directed to a beach. Inevitably there’s a sailing boat and warm, golden sand between your toes. Can you hear the sea lapping the shore? Congratulations, you’ve found your happy place.
The Mount Somerset
Recently given a bit of a facelift (by way of a new spa) The Mount Somerset is one of those places that quite possibly actually deserves the title ‘hidden gem’. A stone’s throw from the M5 (make a note next time you’re en route to Cornwall) it still manages to feel tucked away, enjoying a quiet sense of calm.