JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel – Anna’s Winter Afternoon Tea (invited press review) Who invented Afternoon Tea? No one really knows, but one legend is that Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford found that dining late in the evening would leave her feeling hungry. Tea, bread and cakes were served in her room and, ultimately, […]
The 2019 BAFTA Awards – Preview
A Taste of BAFTA – Preview of the Awards Ceremony: We’ve all heard of BAFTA, but I suspect most people, like me, have little understanding of everything that BAFTA does. Of course, there are various annual awards. Next Sunday, 10th February is the main award ceremony – the EE British Academy Film Awards. Hosted by Joanna […]
Afternoon Tea – China Tang at the Dorchester
China Tang at the Dorchester – the Other Afternoon Tea! The Dorchester Hotel, that most British institution; afternoon tea in the Promenade or dinner at Alain Ducasse are special, ultra-luxury experiences for anyone. Of course, I was keen to try the newly launched Tea at Tang’s, a dim sum feast with handcrafted premium teas and went […]
Afternoon Tea or High Coffee? – Intercontinental London Park Lane
Caffeine Charged Alternative to Afternoon Tea – High Coffee at the Intercontinental: I do love afternoon tea. But, with a few friends who would rather die that imbibe even the finest silver tipped jasmine, the Intercontinental’s High Coffee seems like an excellent idea. With my own bean to cup coffee machine, I’ve come to love […]
Christmas Afternoon Tea – Intercontinental London Park Lane
Paul A. Young Christmas Afternoon Tea at the Intercontinental, London Park Lane: It sounded like a marriage made in heaven. An afternoon tea at The Intercontinental, London Park Lane with pastries by Paul A. Young who is arguably the UK’s leading chocolatier. The Wellington Lounge at the Intercontinental is a light, open space with contemporary […]
Bubbles and Festive Afternoon Tea at Lanes of London
Festive Afternoon Tea at Lanes of London: My festive season kicked off to a perfect start in with an elegant afternoon tea just a stones-throw away from the hubbub of London’s Oxford Street. In the sumptuous, relaxing surroundings of Mayfair’s Lanes of London Hotel, a glamorous Grade II listed building, just off Park Lane. There, […]
Trader Vic’s new Island Fusions Menu
Mauritian Food at Trader Vic’s I must admit I’ve always had a bit of a long distance crush on Shelina Permalloo. Winner of BBC MasterChef 2012, now the brains behind Mauritian Street Kitchen and restaurant Lakaz Maman. When I heard that she was planning a new pop-up menu inspired by the shores and taste experiences of Mauritius in collaboration with […]
Trader Vic’s – an Institution on Park Lane
Malibu Cocktails at Trader Vic’s Trader Vic’s in the Hilton on Park Lane is an institution, roughly the same age as I am (although I can’t claim to be an institution!). I do remember being wildly jealous of a friend of mine who got taken there when we were about 17 in 1979 (no ID […]
Theo Randall’s masterclass at the InterContinental London Park Lane
Theo Randall at the Intercontinental: As an inveterate food blogger I go out a lot. It’s easy to feel blasé about some invitations, another pizza place, a hotel restaurant focussing on seasonality and locality… but when you get the call to an event at Theo Randall’s refurbished eponymous restaurant in the Intercontinental Hotel in Park […]
Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester
Sublime Tasting – Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester: Just as some of my friends have a bucket list of places to visit, I have one of the restaurants where I’d like to eat. I do have a ‘places’ list too of course, but there are times when it is easier and more relaxing to indulge […]