The event did offer some very pleasant flavours to entertain the palate, the Cava making a good, robust accompaniment with the tapas we tasted. Made using the same processes as Champagne, and in some cases the same grape varieties, it is worth looking in your local supermarket shelves or off licence for some of these Spanish gems, which, for the most part, provide a less expensive alternative to their French cousin.
Jacksons of Piccadilly FAIRTRADE Afternoon Tea at The Connaught
Try to get a table for afternoon tea in the capital and you better be quick off the mark. Our charming afternoon tradition of taking tea with sandwiches, scones and dainty pastries has become de rigeur. It may feel decadent in these uncertain times, but afternoon tea is lighter on the wallet than dining out in the evening … and is now lighter on the conscience.
Kettner’s Champagne Bar–back and bubbly
Kettner’s Champagne Bar, a favourite hangout of in-the-know Soho drinkers, has long been at the heart of the landmark Georgian building on Romilly Street. Along with its dashing 21st Century makeover, the Champagne Bar also now boasts an impressive new Champagne list, created by wine guru Nigel Sutcliffe.
Ayurvedic Tasting Menu at Trishna
Trishna restaurant in Marylebone, has created a tasting menu for diners that harnesses the vitality and healing power of food, according to the ancient principles of Ayurvedic medicine. Ayurveda, from the Sanskrit words ‘Ayus’ (life) and ‘Veda’ (science) and meaning ‘the science of life’ is a 5000-year-old holistic healing system of traditional medicine, native to India.
Mango Tree goes curry crazy
Banishing the bland, Belgravia’s fine-dining Thai restaurant Mango Tree is going curry crazy to celebrate their most popular dish this March. Introducing a fiery fortnight of flavour from 9th – 22nd, diners can indulge in four new invigorating curries, courtesy of executive chef Mark Read.
Gaucho Terruño Range
Argentine restaurant specialist, Gaucho, which lists 199 Argentine wines, has grown its own label range to include nine specially produced wines.
The Terruño range, Terruño being the Spanish translation of ‘terroir’, has been put together by Gaucho Director of Wines, Phil Crozier to represent all of the major grape varieties in Argentina.
The Cinnamon Kitchen Restaurant
Brick Lane is just a few hundred yards away from Cinnamon Kitchen but it’s a million miles away in spirit. On Brick Lane hustlers from the endless restaurants whisper at you seductively, attempting to lure you into their establishment with promises of good times and blandishments about your wonderfulness.
Poetry at the Goring
As far as I am concerned if a poem neither rhymes nor scans, it’s just bad prose laid out in a non standard way. So an invitation to The Goring Hotel for an evening of poetry had me fearing the worst – Maya Angelou being read aloud perhaps? Or, God forbid, some of Ezra Pound’s dribblings who was locked up for being a traitor and not, alas, for his poetry.These fears proved groundless…
The Kitchen Mother’s Day
Every year on Mother’s Day we all scratch our heads for that perfect and elusive Mother’s Day present. So, The Kitchen of Parsons Green have come up with a selection of unique gift ideas for kids of all ages to create an extra special treat this Mothering Sunday.
Buonissimo! Gino D’Acampo
What’s this? An Italian cookbook that has only a few pasta recipes in it? Now that’s a turn up for the books and no mistake. I’m so excited I am prepared to turn a blind eye to Gino D’Acampo’s moody posing in grainy black and white, sexy stubble and furry arms to the fore and with a sheen of olive oil all over his face. Not since the last Tom Aitken book has a chef preened quite so much between the covers.