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.
Brown Brothers’ favourites: Tarrango, Dry Muscat and Orange, all under £7
If you’re looking for a reasonably-priced wine to go with your Christmas turkey or gourmet goose, Brown Brothers, an Australian wine-maker, has three wines on their list of house label favourites that might be just what you are looking for.
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?
Free guide to the area’s best food and drink
A brand new free guide published by the Guild of Fine Food lists every one of the five-hundred and ninety-six top tasting food and drink products awarded gold in this year’s Great Taste Awards along with their star rating.
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.
Free guide to the best food and drink
A brand new free guide published by the Guild of Fine Food lists every one of the five-hundred and ninety-six top tasting food and drink products awarded gold in this year’s Great Taste Awards along with their star rating.
Credit Crunch menu at Bentley’s upstairs grill
The latest hip term of the year is “credit crunch” and restaurants around London are finding many ways to help out diners being more careful with their pocket money until the economic crisis slows down. Bentley’s Grill wants you to enjoy their fine meals at reduced prices with a new menu in its upstairs rooms on the borders of Soho and Mayfair. A daily-changing set menu has been created for weekday lunches and pre and post-theatre, offering the classic Bentley’s experience at even better value.
Stop child abuse with Fairtrade-certified chocolate Advent calendars
Last year before Easter, Amnesty International expressed concern about the treatment of West African children forced to work on cocoa farms, in spite the world’s biggest chocolate companies pledging to eradicate forced child labour from their supply chain. With these sorts of unethical practices behind chocolate production, it makes sense to search out companies certified Fairtrade. Divine Chocolate, a UK Fairtrade chocolate brand, is offering some delightful products this year for you to give friends and family, knowing that a cooperative of 45,000 farmers have been paid fairly and own part of the company.