The Abbeville Renewed – Local Pub Abbeville Village, Clapham. There is something rather lovely about a local pub. You’re likely to bump into people you know or make some new friends in the area. The Abbeville in Clapham has just undergone a major make-over, aiming to achieve the perfect ambience coupled with a great […]
Thai Fish Curry – Dourthe sets the bar high in Bordeaux.
Dourthe Wines from Bordeaux and a Thai Red Fish Curry: It’s always fun to try new wines and play with food pairings. So I was thrilled to be sent a selection of Dourthe wines from Bordeaux to do just that. I’m particularly pleased with my pairing of a white Bordeaux with a Thai Red Fish […]
The Royal Oak – a Gastropub Gem in Marylebone
Marylebone Village – The Royal Oak Gastropub: Marylebone is one of those London ‘villages’ that many visitors miss, or if they do see some of it, it’s only because they visited Madame Tussauds’ and ventured to the other side of the road. Despite being so central, a mere stone’s throw from Baker Street and […]
CVNE wines – elevated Spanish wines from Rioja
Rioja Wine Region and the North – elevated wines from Spain: (gifted press review) We are fortunate to have friends living in Barcelona. While visiting them we often enjoy some lovely and wines from Rioja, a Spanish wine region known for its big red wines. It’s not all about the reds though so we were […]
Lanique – the new romantic drink in town
Lanique Rose Petal Liqueur With Valentine’s day looming, for those of us in relationships, it can seem quite difficult to come up with something original with which to surprise our partners. For those not in a relationship, Valentine’s can be a great excuse to find a new treat for yourself. With that in mind, what […]
WSET – Level 1 Award in Spirits
Never too old to learn? Inspired by my 90-year-old father, who has re-started art classes, I jumped at the invitation to undertake the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Level 1 Award in Spirits course. I love experimenting when making cocktails, but I know that my knowledge about some of the spirits I use […]
Gallivanting around Rye – A review of the Gallivant restaurant
The Gallivant Rye – Fine Dining and Camber Sands: Situated opposite the beach at Camber Sands, The Gallivant restaurant offers easy access to the beautiful sand dunes, perfect for a stroll before Sunday lunch. Dog-friendly, it certainly attracted several walkers to its rather chic bar and lounge on the day we visited. Having started the […]
Making the Perfect Negroni with MARTINI
Negroni Cocktail Recipe with Martini I’ve been a fan of the Negroni for a long time; I’m not a fan of sweet cocktails at all, so the bitter alternatives offered by a Negroni cocktail as a pre-dinner Aperitivo is a frequent choice of mine, I love the combination of bitters, gin and vermouth. The Negroni […]
Lazeez – Lebanese Restaurant Review
Lazeez Restaurant – Lebanese Hospitality in London: My first full-time permanent job was as a Management Trainee for Selfridges. Needless to say, I spent a lot of time socialising around Oxford Street: The Lamb and Flag was a regular haunt after work, and the Stockpot was a favourite for a cheap meal. Other than that, […]
The Gun – An Historic Riverside Pub
The Gun Docklands – Great Food and a Fantastic Riverside Setting: I have to say that we were really looking forward to lunch at the Gun; we have friends living in Docklands, this part of London, and we have been there several times for the annual Carolling event, which comes complete with Dickensian Carol Singers […]