Alfresco Dining with a City View Hot summers seem to be here to stay, and with a heatwave currently running across the UK, now is the time to seek out some of our best alfresco dining venues, especially those with a view. Coq d’Argent is in the heart of the City, and this summer guests […]
Antinori Wine Dinner at Prince Arthur Belgravia
Wine and Dine in Belgravia Invited to go along to an Antinori wine pairing dinner at Prince Arthur in Belgravia, I jumped at the chance. This handsome, newly refurbished pub and restaurant sits on Pimlico Road, just a short stroll from Sloane Square and Victoria Station. The evening showcased wines from Antinori, one of Italy’s […]
Pairing White Wines with Asparagus
When it comes to pairing wines with early summer specialities like asparagus, though, it turns out there’s more to consider than just selecting a dry white.
Fresh and Vibrant Wines for Spring
With the glorious stretch of weather we have been having in the UK, it feels as if it is time to discard the heavy red and full-bodied white wines that have sustained us through the cold winter months for something fresher with a bit of a zing
Friendsmas – A fabulous alternative Christmas Lunch
Unless you happen to be American and celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas does seem a long way off from the last BBQ of summer. Not surprisingly, Friendsmas is growing in popularity – a way to celebrate with friends rather than family perhaps in a more relaxed way, with or without presents
Anything but Chardonnay
Pairing French Chardonnay A few years ago, after the British market was flooded with New World chardonnay, the phrase ‘Anything but Chardonnay’ appeared. For most people, ‘Chardonnay’ was a heavily oaked, buttery wine, often from California, rich enough to drink with red meat. Sommeliers used to joke about customers who stated that they hated Chardonnay […]
Château des Jacques Beaujolais Lunch
Back to the Future with Beaujolais It’s not often you get to celebrate your 100-year anniversary. So when the lovely people at Château des Jacques decided to throw a lunch party at Michelin starred Pied à Terre in Fitzrovia’s Charlotte St, it was an offer I couldn’t refuse. We were invited for a tasting of […]
Venison Casserole with Peaches – Tasting South Africa
A South African Wine Evening While I know my way around the vineyards of Europe, albeit, in a somewhat haphazard way, I’m less confident with New World wines. That said, I generally love South African wines and I’ll happily order them with a meal. With a couple of bottles of South African fizz and three […]
Wild Boar Tenderloin Steak with Mushrooms in Red Wine
Wild Boar Steaks paired with Chianti from Castello di Radda The first time I ate wild boar was in Tuscany. Staying in the heart of Chianti in Lecchi di Chianti, our villa was in a small hilltop village that had been restored and converted into holiday accommodation. The pretty terrace looked out across the vineyards […]
French Date Night – A Valentine’s Menu
Avoid “une loterie d’amour” with our French Date Night Menu There’s nothing more romantic than zipping over to Paris on the Eurostar for a Valentine’s date with your significant other. But we can’t do that at the moment… Putain! So on February 14th, we will all be downing a couple of Valium, searching for our […]