How Japanese whisky became the world’s hottest tipple (and which ones you should buy) March 2, 2016 When a Japanese brand was named the world’s best whisky in 2014 – knocking Scottish distillers off the top spot for the first time – the news travelled across the globe. But to those in the know, it had been a long time coming. Japanese whiskies have been hotting up for a decade or more [...]
Spanish wine is enjoying an unprecedented period of quality and affordability – take advantage now March 2, 2016 It struck me as I was deciding where to invest my modest 2016 wine budget, that Spanish wine is an absolute bargain, at every level. We would all be mad not to take advantage of this phenomenon while it lasts. My brainwave was hardly original; none other than the great wine seer Robert Parker has [...]
Mix it up: Farewell to Dick Bradsell, Britain’s very own cocktail genius March 2, 2016 I never met Dick Bradsell. My brother-in-law worked for him at the now defunct Detroit bar, but I never took the chances I had to speak to the genius of mixology who, sadly, passed away at the weekend. By all accounts, Bradsell revolutionised Britain’s cocktail scene, putting London (alongside New York) at the frontline in [...]
A tale of two grills: Bukowski Charcoal Grill and Boyds Grill & Wine Bar March 1, 2016 BUKOWSKI CHARCOAL GRILL 10-11 D'Arblay Street, W1f 8DT Tel: 020 3857 4756 FOOD ★★☆☆☆ | VALUE ★★★★☆ | ATMOSPHERE ★★☆☆☆ Cost for two with beer and cocktails: £70 – – – – – – – – – – – BOYDS GRILL & WINEBAR 8 Northumberland Ave, WC2N 5BY Tel: 020 7808 3344 FOOD ★★★★☆ | VALUE [...]
Working Lunch review: The Black Penny, Covent Garden, serves gourmet food without the fuss March 1, 2016 The Black Penny 34 Great Queen Street, WC2 WHAT? A trendy coffee house and brunch spot modelled on the “penny universities” of 17th century England, where punters would be able to pay a penny for a beverage and a lecture. Prices may have gone up a pretty penny, but the concept remains the same. The [...]
Five classic meals that are improved by adding beer March 1, 2016 I was making risotto the first time I poured beer into my dinner. The recipe called for a glass of wine; I was drinking a bottle of lager and I figured that I’d use that instead. It was delicious. In the 10 years since, I’ve cooked with every kind of beer there is, using it [...]
The Art of Slow: cocktails find their perfect food pairings at the Typing Room’s new supper club February 24, 2016 There are right and wrong times to drink certain cocktails. A negroni with breakfast, an espresso martini before dinner and a mojito after supper might suggest you’ve got a drinking problem. A bloody mary in the morning, a martini before dinner and an old fashioned after dessert on the other hand? Well that’s just common [...]
Little Social review: Pollen Street’s classy and cosy Parisian-themed bistro February 24, 2016 WHAT? The pocket-sized little sister of Jason Atherton’s flagship Pollen Street restaurant, Little Social is a Parisian-themed bistro bedecked in dark wood and red leather banquettes, with homely wallpaper that’s barely visible behind a collection of Gallic tchotchkes and period French tourism posters. It’s all faux and make believe of course: the place opened in [...]
Galley on Upper Street in Islington is nice: but we should aim higher February 23, 2016 We can afford to be discerning about things, us Londoners, what with all the lovely London stuff we have, Londoning the place up. “Isn’t everything here great compared to the things in places that aren’t London?” we say to each other, smiling and knowing it to be true. Take restaurants: we have heaps of them, [...]
Frenchie in Covent Garden and Native on Neal’s Yard are both fantastic February 16, 2016 NATIVE Neal's Yard, Covent Garden Tel: 0203 638 8214 FOOD ★★★★☆ | VALUE ★★★★★ | ATMOSPHERE ★★★☆☆ Cost for two with two rounds of beer: £50 – – – – – – – – – – – FRENCHIE 16 Henrietta St, Covent Garden Tel: 0207 836 4422 FOOD ★★★★★ | VALUE ★★★☆☆ | ATMOSPHERE ★★★☆☆ Cost [...]