How fortified wine is going from stuffy to stylish this summer July 7, 2021 Fortified wine can bring up images of grand dinner parties in the depths of winter, passing decanters of rich port around the table or cosying up at Christmas leaving a small glass of sherry for grandma and Father Christmas. Despite being created in hot countries – Portugal and Spain respectively – in the UK they [...]
The Truffle Hunters: A graceful documentary about the love of fungus July 6, 2021 The most successful documentaries are often ones that lead us by the hand into worlds we didn’t know existed. Whether it’s The Act of Killing lifting the lid on political atrocities, or King Of Kong opening up the world of competitive arcade gaming, the medium can offer a passport to a different side of life. [...]
Fiena is London’s first female-only ‘adventure’ members’ club July 6, 2021 As we approach the beginning of the end of Covid restrictions, it seems clear that the way we work and socialise will be drastically different going forward. Despite most firms being desperate to see a full return to office life, it seems likely that we’ll settle into a more flexible routine. But even those who [...]
How to enjoy the sizzle of steak this National BBQ Week July 5, 2021 What will the man behind the 25th National BBQ Week, which begins today, be eating and drinking at his barbecues this summer? “Corsican Cote de Boeuf and Corsican Niellucci,” says chef Brian George, “And sizzling sea bass with fennel, chilled Picpoul de Pinet and chicken ciabatta, and Sangiovese.” George is a former President of the [...]
Fizzing with possibilities: is champagne worth it? July 5, 2021 Modern champagne developed about 150 years ago, when growers began to use the méthode champenoise to create their sparkling wine. It was much sweeter then than the drink we enjoy now, before the designation Brut was coined for the British market in the 1870s. But it was then, as it is now, the acme of [...]
Luxembourg wine: Time to discover Europe’s forgotten sparkle July 2, 2021 We should be thinking more about Luxembourg wine. Wine production in the Grand Duchy has been in gentle decline since the late 1990s but the country that’s even smaller than Andorra is not giving up. The fifth generation of leading producer Bernard-Massard is celebrating its centenary this year and has launched a Chardonnay Pinot Noir [...]
Behind the scenes at the Decanter World Wine Awards July 2, 2021 There you are, browsing bottles and trying to decide what to buy next, when you notice a sticker telling you that this is a “Decanter World Wine Awards Winner”. Well, we all love a winner, but what does that really mean? And should we care? I went behind the scenes at the Decanter Awards to [...]
Sake fizz isn’t just big in Japan: Here’s all you need to know July 1, 2021 Bottle-fermented sparkling sake – “Awasake” or foam sake – is seeing a surge in popularity outside of Japan. To underline the point, French masterchef Alain Ducasse has partnered with Japanese brewery Shichiken in Yamanashi to launch a new sparkling variety that offers an international taste journey in which “Japanese elegance meets French art of living”. [...]
It’s still Champagne, just without the bubbles June 30, 2021 Still or sparkling? This question, normally asked when you order mineral water, could soon apply to Champagne. “Bollinger avec gaz ou sans gaz?” According to the latest figures from the Comité Champagne, despite – or perhaps because of – the Covid situation in the US and Europe, Champagne is fizzing again. Lanson chairman François Van Aal [...]
Restaurant delivery boxes are here to stay: We review 48 of them June 29, 2021 Before the pandemic, most top chefs would have turned their nose up at home delivery services. There’s the lack of control, the logistical nightmare, not to mention the wafer-thin margins. But necessity being the mother of invention has led to dozens of outstanding delivery services, and even with restaurants back open and looking forward to [...]