If you’ve decided to cut back on expenses by giving up dining out, you might want to reconsider after you read about this special offer. Mela restaurants are offering their award-winning Indian Cuisine at a 50% discount during January. And no coupons are needed. Simply whisper, in a sweet voice, “50 % off” into your server’s ear. Perhaps this could become a January tradition for all London restaurants! And if you visit their website www.melarestaurant.co.uk, and click offers, you will also be able to print out a voucher for a free bottle of wine for a table of four.
Cool pink for hot valentines
Croft has shaken up the Port category with a lip-smaking rosé called CROFT PINK which will tickle palates pink on Valentine’s Day. No longer considered as only an after dinner drink, CROFT PINK has revolutionised Port drinking bringing it right up to date for year round enjoyment. Smart drinkers will enjoy its sweet, vibrant aromas when served chilled, over ice, or with soda accompanied by roasted almonds or olives.
Give your man a pizza the action
We all know men love pizza, whether it’s served up for breakfast along with the morning paper or over a romantic candle light dinner. So, why not give them a chocolate pizza this Valentine’s Day? Even the most macho of men won’t be able to resist this 10″ inch chocolate feast! Presented in an authentic pizza box with red tissue paper, the specialty chocolate comes with a Valentine’s gift card and envelope so you can include your own personalised message inside.
La Chavroche – Greggs see sales go up
Good old Greggs the Bakers. I know they aren’t on the radar of foodies, most fine diners probably don’t know where or what Greggs are, but the La Chavroche of the under classes is bucking recessionary trends and saw underlying sales in the four weeks to 3 January rise by 5.3%.What’s more they plan expansion into the gaping holes that will be left as other shops go out of business. Greggs already currently has 1409 shops which, when you think about it, is an awful lot of cheese and onion pies.
Leaf Tea Tasting Masterclass/ Leaf Unplugged / Leaf Pudding Club
Leaf Tea Shop and Bar is a ‘punk tea shop’ newly opened in the heart of Liverpool. Set on the ground floor of the freshly refurbished uber-cool Liverpool warehouse space- Elevator, Leaf Tea Shop and Bar is like no other venue around, nestled amongst some of the nation’s most imaginative artists working spaces including The Zutons, The Rascals, Hot Club de Paris and many more.
Celebrate Chinese New Year With Alan Coxon’s Oriental Banquet
‘Kung Hei Fat Choy’ or ‘Happy Chinese New Year’! The Year of the Ox is celebrated on 26th January and with Chinese households cleaning, repainting and handing out Lai See (lucky money); Alan Coxon has developed a menu for those who want to join in with the festivities. Food is an integral part of the celebrations and Alan has scoured the Orient to come up with a delicious menu for all to enjoy.
Camo Bags- the credit crunch cover up
Times are tough and people are feeling the pinch, but not everyone is shopping downmarket, in fact many people can still afford to go to Waitrose. But how to look responsible and still eat well? Enter the Camo Bag concept. ‘Of course we can still afford to buy the best,” says Helen whose husband is a well-paid columnist on a liberal newspaper. ‘But in our circle it’s just not cool now to admit it. When Tatiana gets the Waitrose bags out of the back of the Range Rover I can almost feel the neighbours disapproval.” So Helen had as she puts it, ‘a brilliant idea!”
Chinese New Year at Ping Pong
Ping Pong, the 21st century teahouse and dim sum emporium, is grabbing Chinese New Year by the horns. Teaming up with Sun Lik beer to celebrate the year of the Ox from the 26th January, a sensational selection of new food and drink offerings, alongside free cocktails, are sure to cause a stampede in the capital.
FishWorks Shares Suspended
One of the success stories of Luke Johnson, the man behind for my money the only decent pizza chain, Pizza Express, FishWorks now looks to be in trouble. It’s making a loss and unlike the average angler, is not exaggerating when it says the problems could be bigger than predicted
Marmite at the Dorchester
Two British institutions; Marmite and The Dorchester, are set to form the quintessentially British partnership of 2009, as they team up in January to serve the first ever Marmite afternoon tea. For a limited time only, The Dorchester’s award-winning afternoon tea will begin with a selection of finger sandwiches that includes delicately sliced cucumber sandwiches with the addition of the nation’s most beloved (and hated!) Marmite.