Posts Tagged “review”
Deliciously unmissable. A short time ago I wrote about Parador 44. That’s the superlative-inducing hotel found just up the stairs from Asador 44, its stylish sibling restaurant. Asador 44 has a convenient location just around the corner from the Principality Stadium and the castle in Cardiff. Shoppers are well-served by the wide array of independent…
Jungle in Kensington High Street There are neighbourhoods famed for glitz; there are areas beloved by well-heeled visitors; and then there is High Street Ken. That’s where we Londoners in the know head for smart shopping and polished restaurants. Zuaya is here. Zuaya is an independent family-owned Latin American restaurant set just off the High…
Igloos and River Views Coppa Club has recently launched a new venue and it’s right on the river in bustling Putney in London. The company was founded in 2015 in Sonning-on-Thames, and they have now expanded around the home counties. Take a side street down by Putney Bridge and head to the water. Coppa Club…
Cosy fine dining on Lower Sloane Street My dear reader would have doubtless noticed my previous article on Sloane Place a couple of weeks ago. But this one concentrates on food at this classy yet accessible hotel. Sloane Place is described as a Boutique Hotel and Restaurant. For me at least, its charm is its…
Byron Burger – New Chicken options Byron was founded in 2007 by Tom Byng and Head Chef Fred Smith. They have created a signature range of satisfying and rather impressive burgers. They have remained solid in these rather troubled times and still offer those quality beefy temptations to loyal followers. But the company moves with…
Boutique and Beautiful on Lower Sloane Street What a gem! I would say ‘hidden gem’ but it is a surprisingly popular corner of one of the smartest areas in London. Sloane Place is a hotel which deserves many happy returns. Situated just off Sloane Square, Sloane Place is a boutique hotel and café bar offering…
Moving Mountains® launches plant-based fish fillets Well, that was a surprise. Convincing vegan fish! I have been a food product reviewer for the past 17 years and for 15 of those I avoided plant-based anything. I felt so sorry for vegans and vegetarians who were presented with foods that lacked appropriate texture and any taste….
Cowries to Crypto: The History of Money, Currency and Wealth Cowries to Crypto: The History of Money, Currency and Wealth is a delightful book bound to raise a smile at any time of year. This Christmas we need a grin even more than ever. Money is important to all of us. But what exactly is…
Spirited: Cocktails from Around the World I am blessed! I have the opportunity to review books from every English-speaking country and I love my job. Each year I muse upon publications over the past months and consider my Book of the Year. It’s only September and I can tell you I have found it. Spirited…
That’s quite a title – Cooking in Marfa: Welcome, We’ve Been Expecting You. Marfa sounds like it could be a Mediterranean island with sun-kissed beaches and a whole load of lemons, but it is in fact a rather stylish small town in a desert in Texas, and not far from the Mexican border. In the…
We in London will recognise SW7 as a postcode. The area is 4km west of the City of Westminster, and contains South Kensington and Knightsbridge, two of the smartest parts of the capital. The Melia London Kensington Hotel and its SW7 restaurant are a welcome addition. SW7 is a bright and contemporary restaurant. Blond wood…
Signature Dishes That Matter? Well, that is a title to fill one with expectations. This is an imposing tome with a substantial hard white cover with simple crisp text in black and gold. Edges are marbled in blue and white. The book is definitely of gift quality, although I personally wouldn’t give my copy away….
Melia White House London Hotel is a shining example of 1930s Deco architecture. It was opened in 1936 as apartments, and one can still see original architectural features both inside and out. The metal window frames and the white façade are typical of this design style which gave a nod to the sleek ocean liners…
Haymarket is an historic street in central London. Connecting Pall Mall with Piccadilly, Haymarket dates back to Elizabethan times and, unsurprisingly, it was once a market for the sale of agricultural produce next to the village of Charing. The thought of this sleepy hamlet will make Londoners smile, as Charing Cross is now a vibrant…
Melia London Kensington Hotel was the first hotel in this International chain in which I had stayed. It’s a Spanish group and there is a nod to that in its restaurant cuisine, and also in the fact that most of the staff seem to be bilingual. That’s a rather unique draw for those guests from…
The Black Book of Gin Cocktails is by Brockmans who distil, in my opinion, one of the best gins … and there are a lot out there. This slim gift-quality book is black in both name and appearance. The black cover is embossed (or is it etched?) and that dusky theme continues inside with full-page…
I have visited Wagamama in Richmond a few times now and it does still tick those casual eating boxes for me. The word wagamama is Japanese for “naughty child” but don’t expect walls covered in crayon drawings – although Wagamama is indeed child-friendly. It was 1992 when they opened the first Wagamama in London’s Bloomsbury….
I have said it before, and I will say it yet again – The Netherlands has amazing food! It’s not all gin and cheese, although both are very good. There is a wealth of dining opportunities in this country so why do we overlook such gastronomic treasures? I have no idea, but I think Mes…
St Ermin’s has long been a favourite hotel and now I can boast that I have actually stayed there and also enjoyed breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner in their iconic Caxton Grill. There is a separate street entrance for the Caxton Grill but it’s a treat to arrive via St Ermin’s reception hall. One…
Stay in Dutch Castles and Eat like a Prince (or a Princess) It’s likely that my dear reader would not know that there are castles in The Netherlands; well, unless you had read my recent articles (and why wouldn’t you?). And it’s probable that few people know that it’s possible to stay in one of…