Five-star relaxation in Dimora Palanca’s elegant surroundings will refresh and revive Florence hosts some of the world’s most important and most beautiful works of art – the Botticellis are brilliant, the Michaelangelos magnificent, the Giottos gorgeous. The Uffizi, the Accademia, the Bargello – these are must-visit galleries for must-see art. And the must-stay hotel […]
Akoko Restaurant Review
An exquisite gustatory journey into West Africa Akoko restaurant imbues the warmth, energy and serenity of West Africa right in the middle of Fitzrovia. Recently reopened with Chef Theo Clench of Portland and Bonhams at the helm, its founder Aji Akokomi spent months teaching Theo about his three pillars of West African cooking – fire, […]
Romulo’s National Heroes Day Menu – Review
A three-course set meal dedicated to Filipino heroes Romulo’s is an exquisite fine-dining Filipino restaurant in the heart of Kensington. For a Filipino immigrant like me, this place reminds me of the finer things that my original home can offer. As a developing country, the quotidian experience can be anything but fine. However, food is […]
Eat, Drink, Sleep in Wonderful Warwick!
Take time out to enjoy Warwick, a quintessential English county town. A 1970 travel guide described Warwick as being “one of the least spoilt county towns in England”. I’m happy to report that 50 years later this is still the case. By train, taking the frequent service from London’s Marylebone Station, you’ll arrive within 90 […]
Rothay Manor – boutique hotel in Ambleside – review
Finest of fine dining and accommodation in the heart of the Lake District You have to hand it to those merchants of old Liverpool who came to the Lake District – they could spot a great place for a country retreat, somewhere to escape the stresses of nineteenth-century living. They also had the brass to […]
Palé Hall, a Sumptuous Country House Hotel, Snowdonia, Wales
Palé Hall – the ultimate luxury staycation at this top hotel in Snowdonia For some, the pop of a Champagne cork instantly conjures up a feeling of pleasure. For me, it will be remembering the crunch of tyre on gravel, pulling up in front of Palé Hall and hearing that first, friendly welcome. While your […]
Frog by Adam Handling – Covent Garden
Adam Handling, Covent Garden – Frog Restaurant and Eve Bar. Not bad as a last before lockdown lunch, I’ve been meaning to visit Frog by Adam Handling in Covent Garden for some time. As it happens, I made it just before all restaurants in the UK were closed thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. There’s a […]
Introducing Stock’d Up – comforting, innovative dishes to enjoy at home
Stock’d Up – a new, little sister to Wandsworth’s superb London Stock restaurant offers a fab new takeaway menu Only open a few weeks before Covid-19 hit, London Stock had been slowly building its reputation for superb food and getting rave reviews from enthusiastic diners – including me (here). Situated in Wandsworth’s Ram Quarter, the […]
London Stock – Ram Quarter, Wandsworth – Review
A superb tasting menu offers seven steps to heaven ‘’Empyrean’’ is the highest part of heaven, thought by the ancients to be the realm of pure fire and there’s no better word to describe London Stock, a new restaurant in Wandsworth’s Ram Quarter. The cooking is heavenly and its young chefs are on fire, lighting […]
Novikov Italian Restaurant – Mayfair – review
Novikov – A touch of Italy in Mayfair. The Italian Novikov restaurant sits alongside its Asian counterpart in a prime Mayfair location on Berkeley Street just a stone’s throw from Green Park, neighbouring other exclusive dining destinations including the Ritz, Hakkasan Mayfair, Murano, Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester and more. The brainchild of celebrated Russian […]