1971 was the year that decimal currency was launched, the first Mr Men books were published, one of my favourite TV crushes Damien ‘he’ll always be Soames to me’ Lewis was born and a fresh pound of turkey (apparently!) cost fourty pence. It was also the year that Gaby opened his eponymous deli on Charing Cross road,…
Tag: londonlife
Laithwaite’s Wine – The Exotic and the Esoteric
Wine tasting for dinner on a Thursday? Don’t mind if I do! Last week I was back at Laithwaite’s Wine, under the arches at London Bridge for an exotic and esoteric themed wine tasting. What on earth are you talking about? I suppose you’re thinking. In truth, I wasn’t sure what I was in for…
Bibigo Soho – Where the chefs are behind glass in a chef’s-bowl
Monday was just delightful. One of those rare summer days on London where you can lounge in the park until nine and not even realize the time. Until you get hungry. Then it’s time. To ‘forage’, and find. Try new things. “It’s too hot” my friend says “but I really feel like Korean. Let’s go to…
How to order a kebab
Knowing how to order a kebab sounds like something that should be easy. You decide what you want, you ask for it. Simple. Apparently not. I went to buy a kebab the other night. It had been a rather boozy evening and I hadn’t had time for dinner. Kebab shops are funny places. They are the…
A Food Adventure – Double Pie Dinner with a side of Jellied Eel
Another day, another eating adventure. Ordinarily, I would think that a soft pie with gummy mash covered in a radio-active green parsley sauce with a side of jellied eels sounded unappealing. This time though, the little elderly lady that was serving it too me was so adorable, (in a tough East London sort of way) that…
Tom George, Mark Dobbie, Andy Oliver – Som Saa
It’s midday on a lovely sunny Sunday and I am sitting in a booth at a stylishly rustic wood table surrounded by a jungle’s worth of foliage. Sipping on a tiny ceramic cup of decidedly fancy tea, I could squint and pretend that I am holidaying at some luxurious Thai island resort. In reality, I…
Sparkling Wine Tasting – Laithwaite’s
It’s Thursday evening, and I am back at Laithwaite’s in London bridge for a sparkling wine tasting. Not only am I happily drinking, I’m learning! I had always taken it for granted that the bubbles were just there. I had never considered how they got there in the first place. Looks like we might owe…
A Frozen Yogurt Fail
Let’s talk about first world problems. I suffered from one yesterday. This blog post isn’t actually about something I ate, so much as something I didn’t. It was one of those rare hot days in london. The kind where the air feels muggy and close even thought the sky is just a pale greyish blue….
Sponging up the guilt
I’m feeling a little guilty. I don’t suppose I need to be. Probably not. But guilt, just like love, or longing, isn’t always rational. This story begins a few months ago with a conversation. I’ll spare you the details, It mostly involved my friend waxing lyrical about a most incredible piece of cake he had eaten….
Laithwaite’s – Raw Chocolate and Wine Masterclass
Last Thursday I attended a raw chocolate and wine, pairing and masterclass at Laithwaite’s Wine, under the arches, at London Bridge. I didn’t know what to expect. Having never tried raw chocolate before, I had always rather associated it with the unappealing crumbly dry stuff one might buy from a health food store during an…
10 Greek Street – The pie crusts are thin, and the wine comes from a little black book
10 Greek Street. Where the pie crusts are thin and the wine comes from a little black book. I’ve honestly never had a pie like that one, and it felt as a revelation. A delicious classic re-imagined and enhanced. Such a beautiful almost flawless orb. Shiny and crazed slightly on top like an old much loved…
Wahaca – Cheap and cheerful comfort food
Wahaca is my idea of ‘comfort food’. I go there often with my friends when we are in the mood for a chilled out cheap and cheerful. We always know what we want, can order without referencing the menu and then have a jolly good time catching up with the knowledge that what will land in…