Archive For August 2018
Maison 54 Pét Nat was a totally new wine for me and it was a revelation. If this is the quality of naturally sparkling wine, then sign me up for a case or two! But firstly, what’s in a name? The name ‘Maison 54’ gives a nod to the address in Paris where surrealist artists…
Timeless travel across 150 years of St Pancras: St Pancras Brasserie hosts the station’s Golden Age of Travel Anniversary Dinner Relive the very best of English railway and trading port history. In celebration of 150 years of St Pancras Station, one of London’s most iconic landmarks, St Pancras Brasserie by Searcys is hosting a…
Café Loren is a restaurant that offers vegetarian and vegan food in Camden, located in the Stables area in the heart of popular and often crowded Camden Market. This market is an eclectic mix of purveyors of Tee-shirts, ethnic jackets, surprisingly good jewellery, and eateries of varying quality. It would be hard for the untutored…
PNY, a company celebrated for its small technology innovations, presents The Family Car Charger. This could be the solution to LONG rides punctuated by frequent enquiries of ‘Are we there yet?’. This nifty gadget will be welcomed by the whole family, including those in the front. This neat device has four universal USB ports and…
Steenbergs is a delightful company and probably better known for their selection of high-end teas and organic goods. But they offer more drinks than the expected cuppa. It’s summer: ask most people about their favourite memories of this warm season and it’s likely going to revolve around simple things like family days out, picnics in…
Oh, deep joy! I have found my perfect spot around the corner from the throng which is Covent Garden. Don’t get me wrong: I welcome visitors to this lovely city of ours, but it’s important to have a little corner of peace and quiet that one can call one’s own, with some great food at…
Divine Chocolate Introduces New Organic High Cocoa Rich & Dark Range Featuring Fabulous Feelgood Flavours And Cocoa From São Tomé, West Africa Divine Chocolate, the international Fairtrade company co-owned by farmers, introduces its first ever organic dark chocolate range. The new range is made with acclaimed high quality cocoa sourced from smallholder farmers in São…
St Ermin’s is a time-capsule of accessible refinement, a showcase of craftsmanship, and an oasis of comfort. Its location is convenient, being just around the corner from St James’s Park Underground station, but it’s this hotel’s history and elegance that will assure many happy returns. This four-star deluxe hotel in London’s St James’s Park has…
I think that we all agree by now that smartphone cameras can offer remarkably good picture quality. There has always been, and it’s remarked upon by traditional camera users, one limitation and that is their fixed lenses. Yes, the images can be great, but they are limited in their field of view. The PNY Smartphone…
Chicken is the world’s best-loved meat. When I was a kid, many decades ago, we only had chicken on Sundays as a treat; these days the price is affordable and accessible to all. Chickens are easily bred on small plots of land or in back yards. Yes, it’s a Yardbird. Chicken and Charcoal: Yakitori, Yardbird,…
Kenza is the Arabic word for treasure and this truly is a subterranean gem. It’s a cool and calm oasis on these sizzling summer days in the city. One can feel the weight of hot and oppressive air lift as one descends the spiral stairs to the exotic idyll below. This Lebanese restaurant is actually…
Lee Kum Kee is collaborating with Rosie Chik of Smokin’ Lotus, a street food company, that has a regular slot at Kerb in London (King’s Cross and West India Quay) – she has created some recipes ideal for al fresco eating and barbecues. Here are two of them with more to follow. Rosie was born…
Originally produced in the Val-de-Travers region in Switzerland and in Pontarlier, France, Absinthe is a distilled anise-flavoured spirit made from herbs including the flowers and leaves of the plant Artemisia Absinthium, also called Wormwood. It’s the same botanical as used in Vermouth. Although it is sometimes termed a liqueur, absinthe has no added sugar and…
Jack Daniel’s Black Label Tennessee Whiskey remains the flagship product of Brown-Forman Corporation, one of the foremost international drinks companies. Jack Daniel’s has a range of high-end whiskeys in their portfolio. Old No. 7, also known as Black Label, is the original Jack Daniel’s and is now available as part of a cocktail, in convenient…
I was already an unashamed admirer of this classic steakhouse. Smith & Wollensky ticks all the gastronomic boxes for me, and with decor to bring joy to the very soul of this reviewer of ‘a certain age’. Yes, I appreciate quality, but it must be unintimidating. Yes, I want classic service, but it must be…
The Halloumi Cookbook offers more than 60 delicious recipes taking advantage of this rather unique cheese. It’s popular with vegetarians and prized for its high melting point. It can easily be fried or grilled, making it perfect for summer barbecuing. Its texture is loved by meat-eaters, too. Kids will enjoy this cheese for its mild…