Knowing my fondness for frippery and resistance to retail, I was surprised when Foodepedia’s Führer posted me to the ‘Meat & Wine Co.’. Established on the approach to Westfield, London’s latest shopping juggernaut, it represents a South African firms first stake (and steaks) in the U.K.
Gilgamesh restaurant
Recession what recession? Those in work are having it large, with ever decreasing mortgage repayments giving them more cash to splash. Maybe that’s why here in Gilgamesh on a Wednesday night the bar is pretty full and the restaurant is too. In the private dining room, a hundred and fifty people are tucking into chef Ian Pengelley’s Pan Asian food and the man himself can be seen in his open kitchen toiling away happily.
Pulling the perfect pint with Diageo
So who knew that one company, Diageo, were responsible for, or had an interest in, the production of such a wide range of alcoholic beverages that you wouldn’t have to go anywhere else to achieve a well stocked bar? We were amazed at the products they have under their umbrella organisation, including more than 20 Scottish single malt whisky varieties, gins, vodkas, tequila and Baileys. They even have an interest in Moet and Chandon Champagne.
El Pirata Detapas
The brainchild of Spaniard Roberto Mata, El Pirata Detapas is the modern sibling of the Mayfair establishment, El Pirata. Offering cocina nueva, courtesy of fellow Spaniard and head chef, Omar Allibhoy, previously of Maze,
Richard Walton-Allen’s 10th Anniversary menu
With its fantastic cityscape views of Leeds, the Fourth Floor Café in Harvey Nichols is one of the most consistently popular destinations on the Yorkshire circuit.
The Vegetable Bible – Sophie Grigson
Ten years ago I bought Sophie Grigson’s first book on vegetables and it soon became a valued reference work in our kitchen, even though I found her TV appearances grating. I think it was Victor Lewis-Smith who, when reviewing one of her shows, pointed out that she always seemed to be standing metaphorically up wind of anyone she suspected of being less than middle class.
Find a nice treat for mum in this list of offers
Mum’s work hard all year taking care of loved ones. Show her how special she is to you by taking advantage of these special offers from London area venues: a spa treatment and champagne lunch at Danesfield, her favorite burritoat Chilango or Beijing duck at Min Jiang.
Honest City workers pay more for meals at Little Bay
Little Bay famously invited customers to pay what they thought their food and service was worth in February and the restaurant was fully booked for the whole month within five days of the promotion being announced, and could have been filled three times over based on enquiries; just under 10,000 customers came through the doors in February. Each customer paid on average £17.25 – nearly 30% higher than the average food spend of £13.50 at the Little Bay Farringdon restaurant.
Cheese master class at Le Bouchon Breton
‘The condemned man ate a hearty last meal’. In England it was often a fry up, in America pizzas and burgers still seem most popular with an increasingly obese nation. For me my Last Supper would be a great big plate of perfectly ripe cheeses and Jean-Claude Ali-Cherif, Frommelier at Le Bouchon Breton, would be the man I asked to provide it. Here tonight at the restaurant he is cheerfully trundling his laden cart of cheeses up and down to the obvious happiness of all the diners. I think this man loves cheese even more than I do.
The first ever British Pie Awards!
With the entries flooding in and the preparations well under way, producers the length and breadth of the country, from the Highlands of Scotland to the coast of Cornwall, are rolling up their sleeves and rolling out the pastry to compete or the esteemed title of Supreme Champion ‘Pie of Pies’