Up in smoke: A beginner’s guide to cigar-smoking March 31, 2021 I started smoking cigars as an undergraduate. I know that sounds unbearable, but it was a small town and thanks to a regular influx of American tourists we had three decent cigar shops. I saw myself as an in utero sybarite, a trainee on the green slopes of decadence. After a dinner, a cigar can [...]
Why Belgium may represent the next frontier in the whisky world March 30, 2021 On his first visit to Edinburgh, in the first pub he went into – Deacon Brodies Tavern on the Royal Mile – the first drink Tom van Gyseghem had was a glass of Caol Ila 18-year-old. It inspired him to become a distiller, set up Thistle Spirits in his home city of Brussels and, with [...]
The Indian wine market is hotting up: Meet the makers March 30, 2021 At last count, there were 17,000 Indian restaurants in the UK, but only a fraction of a fraction with anything approaching an Indian wine list. Now, the UK has its first Indian wine specialist offering a range of premium bottles curated by India’s first and so far only official Master of Wines. Wines in India, [...]
Cement the Special Relationship with some American Whiskey March 30, 2021 Earlier this month the Biden administration announced it was suspending Trump-era tariffs on the import of Scotch whisky to the US, reducing the price of single malts for American consumers. If you wanted to reciprocate, there are many long-established American whiskeys you could purchase, but if you’re willing to try something new, your adventurous spirit [...]
Picnic in style with our top restaurant-in-a-box delivery kits March 29, 2021 As the weather turns and outdoor meet-ups for two groups of up to six people are finally allowed, there’s a bit of optimism in the air. What better way to celebrate than with a Covid-friendly, appropriately-distanced, outdoor feast? Our Life&Style editor Steve Dinneen continues to eat his way through as many home delivery boxes as [...]
MasterChef: The Professionals winner Alex Webb’s top 5 London restaurants March 29, 2021 With restaurant terraces set to reopen from 12 April and socially distanced indoor dining following on 17 May, Londoners will be clamouring to enjoy eating out once again. So who better to recommend some of the best fine dining spots the capital has to offer than current MasterChef: The Professionals champion Alex Webb, who at [...]
My dream London day: Chef Shaun Rankin on the joys of Mayfair March 23, 2021 For the first in a new series of articles looking forward to London reopening, we spoke to one of the countruy’s top chefs about how he plans to spend his dream day mosying around the maze-like streets of Mayfair. ••• For my dream day, I would head straight to Mayfair, where I cut my teeth [...]
Fiery Sri Lankan and 36 other restaurant-in-a-box delivery kits March 19, 2021 Almost a year since the first lockdown, the restaurant world has been forced to change in ways that would have seemed laughable in the pre-Covid times. Top chefs are now launching successful at-home delivery platforms that promise to change the face of fine dining for years to come. We have sampled some of the very [...]
The Friday wine column: Expert’s guide to food matching March 19, 2021 Matching wine with food is often seen as an elite level of wine expertise, something only for the real pros, so why would anyone who doesn’t know much about wine go there? First, there’s the additional joy and pleasure you can bring into your life with just a few small changes to something you’re already [...]
Enjoy a day at the races from your own living room with Fitzdares March 18, 2021 If you’ve already turned a pile of pocket change into a sizable slice of pie at Cheltenham this week, bookmaker-cum-luxury members’ club Fitzdares has a perfect way to treat yourself, while emulating the experience of being at the races. The Cheltenham At Home Hamper is filled with goodies usually available at the iconic races, including [...]