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Tang at St Giles
Don’t get me wrong. I love autumn. In fact, it’s probably my favourite time of year. But the combination of the clocks going back and stupidly long hours spent in the office have left me in need of a little pick-me-up. And pick-me-ups don’t get much littler than Tang. Not because it didn’t have the desired effect, but because it is genuinely tiny. This weeny Chinese restaurant is hidden away in one of those strangely unpalatable parts of the West End, just off Tottenham Court Road, and you’ll definitely need to keep your eyes peeled to find it. It’s worth wandering up and down the tourist-choked streets of WC1, however, because Tang is a hidden…
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Pascual Toso: Tasting Argentinian Wine
I don’t write about wine very often. I think this is probably for two reasons. Firstly, despite attending many wine tastings, I still don’t know that much about wine. This is probably because of the second reason: I always end up drinking too much wine and forgetting everything. However, it’s safe to say that I am very enthusiastic about drinking wine, so hopefully that makes up for my lack of expertise. Recently, I made a big dent in a selection of wines by the Argentinan winery Pascual Toso. This was a really fun experience, not only because I got to hang out with loads of lovely bloggers, but also because we got to learn all about…
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London Cocktail Week 2016
My poor liver. It’s taken a bit of a battering lately. All in the name of research, you understand…. Recently one of my favourite events took place – London Cocktail Week. Now, usually I try and pace myself, spread my “investigations” throughout the week, break it up a bit. But this year? No. This year I decided to cram it all into the final weekend. So it was less “London Cocktail Week”, more “London Cocktail Weekend”. Never before have I planned a drinking sesh with such military precision, and never before have I necked drinks with such speed when it’s not closing time. However, I lived to tell the tale so here are my highlights…
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Chifafa
You don’t mess with a man’s kebab. No, that’s not a euphemism. This was a piece of advice given to me by my teenage crush John, back when I used to hang out in the dive bars and clubs of Newport. You see, John was more interested in his post-club styrofoam container of kebab meat and chips than he was in talking to me so, in a fit of pique, I knocked it out of his hands and on to the floor. It did not have the desired effect. With his faith in the five second rule clearly intact, John gathered his food off the pavement and so spoke those words of wisdom. I have…
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Tequila, mezcal and all things agave
Hands up if you have ever had a “bad experience” with tequila. Ok, hands up if you think tequila tastes pretty nasty. Just so you know – my hand was up both times. I may like alcohol to bite back, but tequila has never floated my boat. To me, it’s just firewater with about as much subtlety as a house brick. Now, hands up if you have heard of mezcal. Until recently, this drink wasn’t even on my radar, let alone my palate. So when I had the opportunity to go to a festival celebrating all things agave, I jumped at it. I would get to do some mezcal tasting and maybe…
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A Mexican adventure with Yelp
Everyone’s a critic these days. And with so many apps and websites around, having your say on a bar, restaurant or hotel has never been easier. But how do you pick your weapon of choice? Really, what’s the difference between them all? Well, most of you have probably heard of Yelp. But what you may not know is that they also organise events and reward their members with something other than a virtual badge. If you write lots of reviews, you eventually get made into a “Yelp Elite” which gives you access to all sorts of goodies. I’m not a “Yelper” (as they like to call themselves), but I was…
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Mercato Metropolitano
Every now and then, a magical night happens in London. They are little gems, strung together like a Swarovski bracelet, that remind you why you love living in a big, chaotic city. I recently experienced one of those nights at, believe it or not, a disused factory down the road from Elephant and Castle station. Sounds a bit odd? Well, this old factory has been transformed into the most wonderful food market called Mercato Metropolitano. If Italian food is your thing, then this is the place to be. And if Italian food just makes you yawn and shrug your shoulders, then this is definitely the place to be, because your mind will be changed. Mercato…
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Tayyabs
First dates are the worst. I particularly hate first dates that involve going to a restaurant because I get so nervous that eating – such a simple thing – becomes impossible. So a first date that involves not just food, but very spicy food, really is the stuff of nightmares for me. On the plus side, however, this date took place at Tayyab’s. Despite the fact that the relationship eventually crashed and burned, I will be forever grateful to him for introducing me to this gem of a restaurant. Tayyab’s is a Punjabi restaurant tucked away down a side street in Whitechapel. It is something of a local institution, with people prepared to queue…
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10 Food Brands You Need In Your Life
I’m guilty of being horribly lazy when it comes to food. There are so many new brands coming onto the market every day that working out what’s what can sometimes feel like way too much hassle. Recently, however, I’ve dragged myself out of my food rut and complied a list of speciality food brands which will amuse your bouche. Zooteek With the arrival of restaurants like Pix and Eneko, Basque food is finally having its moment here in the UK. It’s perhaps best known for pintxos – small snacks such as slices of bread topped with meat or fish and held together with a toothpick – but don’t make the mistake of thinking…
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Taking A Bite Out Of….Las Vegas
Las Vegas has a certain reputation. Brash. Blingy. Larger than life. And with so many top chefs setting up shop in Sin City you would expect its food scene to be just as epic. But guess what? It really isn’t. Dining out in Vegas is a bit like losing on the slot machines. You get drawn in by the shiny colours and flashing lights, excited by what could happen. But you end up disillusioned and broke. This was my experience after visiting Zefferino, an high-end Italian restaurant in The Venetian. The location is perfect, overlooking the “Grand Canal”. However, the food is no better than what you would find in an average Italian…
