Eat, drink, sleep, repeat: The best places to avoid Dry January January 16, 2025 Every January, I hang my head in shame. As a business leader who has spent almost three decades championing the finest beverages and hospitality, I must admit I am in no small part responsible for the abomination which is Seedlip, the crown jewel of the no alcohol movement, forced down your throat each “Dry January”. [...]
Whisky Business: Lessons from 150 years in the Whisky trade January 16, 2025 Whisky Business: City AM’s monthly look at the world of whisky. Robert Graham 1874 is one of the UK’s oldest whisky and tobacco merchants. Founded in 1874 by Glasgow’s former city treasurer, Robert Graham, the company has grown steadily over the years, branching out in 2002 with its own exclusive award-winning range of whiskies. “Our [...]
Martin Williams: A wine-lover’s guide to London restaurants January 9, 2025 Having enjoyed many of the finest restaurants across the globe and my fair share of city breaks since leaving Gaucho and M in October, I can confirm that London’s restaurant scene continues to deliver in silver-plated spades and remains the gastronomic capital city, in terms of both diversity of offering and quality. As we enter [...]
Whisky Business: Johnson Reserve’s record-breaking release December 12, 2024 Whisky Business: City AM’s monthly look at the world of whisky. Whisky has become one of the hottest assets in the world over the past decade, but as the financial returns have stacked up for investors, quality has, in some cases, fallen by the wayside. Crafting a memorable whisky takes skill and effort, more so [...]
Top kitchen essentials from steam generator irons to air fryers December 11, 2024 We’ve rounded up some of the best kitchen and home essentials that combine style, functionality, and efficiency. From powerful steam generator irons to versatile air fryers, sleek coffee machines, and innovative multi-functional gadgets, these top picks are designed to simplify your daily routine. Whether you’re tackling a pile of laundry, whipping up gourmet meals, or [...]
Best wine gifts: From top bottles to wine gadgets December 10, 2024 It is a mere two weeks until Christmas and you have no idea what to get for a certain person in your life. Have no fear, I am here to suggest the best wine gifts for booze lovers. EXTON PARK CUVÉE M. ISAAC Presented in a stunning teal and gold box, this excellent English Blanc [...]
Christmas food shop: The pros give their top tips December 4, 2024 With less than a month to go, it’s time to start thinking about your Christmas food shop… Or is it? I spoke to some top chefs and restaurateurs about how they approach the most important meal of the year and asked them for their pro tips on making it one to remember (for the right [...]
To find the soul of another country, head to the supermarket December 3, 2024 My favourite thing about travelling abroad isn’t the sun, the sand, nor the sea – it’s going to the local supermarket. Walking through the doors of a foreign grocery store is like passing through the looking glass into a place where everything is both familiar and alien, a fairground mirror that reflects a strange, distorted [...]
Last Orders: An appreciation of the takeaway menu, a dying cultural artefact December 3, 2024 When I walked through my front door in Gateshead as a teenager, the doormat would be covered in a carpet of brightly coloured paper. A cherry-blossom pink menu from the local Chinese takeaway, the red and gold of an Indian place, and pictures of row upon row of bargain buckets from the local chicken shop. [...]
Pearl Mackie: The Doctor Who star on her dream last supper December 3, 2024 Pearl Mackie, star of Netflix thriller The Diplomat and the upcoming production of Noel Streatfeild’s Ballet Shoes at the National Theatre, tells us what she would eat for her last meal on earth My mum was vegetarian so I was veggie when I was growing up, until I was about 12. Back then it wasn’t great [...]