Riverside dining at Le Pont de la Tour
Le Pont de la Tour offers one of London’s best riverside terraces with views overlooking Tower Bridge and the city beyond. Displaying an array of shellfish and seafood, the Crustacea Bar offers diners a lighter alternative to the à la carte menu. Guests can choose their crustacea from the bar and dine on the banks of the Thames. To celebrate the restaurant’s 18th birthday, Head Chef, Lee Bennett, is offering a special celebratory seafood platter for £18, consisting of brown shrimp, oysters, whelks, Atlantic prawns and Cherry Stone Clams, and available until the end of August. Also on offer are 18 oysters for the price of a dozen, available until 12th June. Both offers can be enjoyed on the terrace as well as in the Bar & Grill. Guests should quote ’18th birthday’ on booking.
Le Pont de la Tour, 36d Shad Thames, London SE1 2YE Tel: 020 7403 8403
www.lepontdelatour.co.uk
Martini Fridays at Skylon
We’ve had ‘shaken not stirred’, now try Martinis encased in ice at “Martini Fridays” at Skylon. Skylon bar has pioneered a new method for serving martinis from a bespoke ice sculpture. Showcasing a variety of vodkas and gins every month, the bottle is encased in ice before serving, offering guests a perfectly chilled Martini to enjoy at the bar. The next event will take place on 15th May, serving Cape North vodka, followed by Bombay Sapphire on 23rd May. Skylon bar offers guests spectacular views of the river, and is one of the best places in London to enjoy the summer sunsets.
Skylon Bar, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX Tel: 020 7654 7800
Almeida launches al fresco terrace
Almeida restaurant has launched its new al fresco terrace area with the installation of French windows opening out onto the pavement. Just off Islington’s Upper Street and overlooking the renowned Almeida theatre, the terrace is the perfect spot to enjoy a pichet of wine with a selection of petits plats. Inside, Head Chef, Alan Jones, serves modern French cuisine with an emphasis on light, seasonal dishes such as Pan fried sea trout, baby fennel, sauce vierge and Barbary duck breast, creamed spring greens, smoked bacon, pepper sauce.
Almeida, 30 Almeida Street, London N1 1AD Tel: 020 7354 4777
Tristan Welch cooks his Great British Menu on BBC 2
Tristan Welch, head chef at Launceston Place will be appearing nightly on BBC 2’s Great British Menu starting on Monday 18th May at 6.30pm. Competing to represent London and the South East to cook at a banquet to welcome home members of the British Forces returning from Afghanistan, Tristan’s four course menu champions all things British: Asparagus “egg and cress sandwich”, Devilled crab claws and potted shrimp, Spit roasted lamb, peas and mint, and Rhubarb and custard ice cream crumble. The menu will also be available to sample in the restaurant from 18th May.
Launceston Place, 1a Launceston Place, London W8 5RL Tel: 020 7937 6912
www.launcestonplace-restaurant.co.uk
An invasion is afoot at Butlers Wharf Chop House
An invasion of squirrels and rooks is anticipated at Butlers Wharf Chop House this month. From 18th to 31st May, head chef, Winston Matthews, will be serving up a menu incorporating these traditionally unpopular animals, which have been a nuisance in the countryside for many years, destroying crops and other wildlife’s habitat. Dishes incorporating these unusual meats will include: Potted grey squirrel, red onion chutney, melba toast; Roast loin of grey squirrel & bacon, nut stuffing & spring greens and Roast rook breast, green bean & beetroot salad.
Butlers Wharf Chop House, The Butlers Wharf Building, 36e Shad Thames, London SE1 2YE Tel: 020 7403 3403
The Brasserie Terrace Kitchen at Coq d’Argent launches for the summer season
Located on the rooftop at City restaurant Coq d’Argent, The Brasserie Terrace Kitchen has been declared officially open for the summer! Head Chef, Mickael Weiss, has once again created a fabulous new menu reflecting his classic French cooking and using the best of the spring ingredients. Dishes such as a selection of shellfish and crustacea and onglet of beef with crispy shallots and bordelaise sauce can be enjoyed whilst overlooking panoramic views of the City of London. Guests can also enjoy a cocktail from the new season list whilst watching the sun set over the exclusive roof garden.
Coq d’Argent, No. 1 Poultry, London EC2R 8EJ Tel: 020 7395 5000