The Frog by Adam Handling, Covent Garden
Ex MasterChef: The Professionals contestant, Adam Handling, has grown quite the restaurant empire. There’s The Frog in Covent Garden, The Frog in Hoxton Square, his zero-waste coffee shop, Bean and Wheat, just next door and most recently Restaurant Adam Handling at Belmond Cadogan Hotel in Chelsea. This visit is to Covent Garden to try his new menu. But first, we head to the basement for … Continue reading The Frog by Adam Handling, Covent Garden
The Hind’s Head, Bray
Apart from a thoroughly decent Easter chocolate range at Waitrose (that chocolate teapot was lush) Heston Blumenthal’s been a bit quiet as of late. He’s had no UK openings for some time. What he has got is a collection of great restaurants that have been consistently-so for a while. One of those is his Michelin starred pub in Bray, Berkshire, just a few doors down … Continue reading The Hind’s Head, Bray
Tamarind Mayfair
Tamarind has recently undergone a ravishing, multimillion pound makeover. There are now two dining options when visiting this Mayfair Indian stalwart; upstairs for lunch or downstairs for dinner. Up (where we go) is a rather bright and airy affair with views of the neighbouring rooftops. In the basement it’s more sexy with an open kitchen for added drama. We’re prepared a mini tasting of highlights from … Continue reading Tamarind Mayfair
Roe, Brixton
Pop Brixton has been home to a good few restaurants now. It’s where Kricket rose to fame and Smoke & Salt has gone from strength to strength. A new edition to this shipping container village, just behind Brixton station, is Roe. Given its location, don’t expect hyper luxury. The long, narrow space is well utilised though with two communal tables and a kitchen at the … Continue reading Roe, Brixton
Sticks ‘n’ Sushi, Chelsea
Sticks ‘n’ Sushi is one of those small chain restaurants where the quality hasn’t dropped since expanding. I’ve been to all of them now, from Copenhagen to Covent Garden, and for decent sushi, friendly service and a gorgeous room, you can’t beat it. Their newest opening is in Chelsea. It’s their biggest yet, sprawled over three floors. In the basement there’s a private dining room, … Continue reading Sticks ‘n’ Sushi, Chelsea
Burger & Beyond, Shoreditch
Followers of my Instagram know I’m partial to a burger. Many a time have I visited Burger & Beyond’s Camden Market stall in the pissing rain just to eat their aged beef patties topped with American cheeses and smokey mayo. Fabu news it was when I heard owners Tom and Craig, a handsome pair, were opening their first restaurant in Shoreditch, just opposite the Ace … Continue reading Burger & Beyond, Shoreditch
Parkers Arms, Newton-In-Bowland
Our visit to Parkers Arms starts with a stunningly beautiful drive from Cumbria to a small village called Newton-In-Bowland in Lancashire. The views are breathtaking. An ordinary looking pub on the outside it may be, but inside, next to the open fire, it’s cosy and quaint. We feel at home. Service is as warm and the surrounds. Two young chaps, efficient and switched-on, and AJ … Continue reading Parkers Arms, Newton-In-Bowland
LINO, Smithfield Market
You’ll get lost finding LINO. We sure did. This new restaurant and bar is hidden round the back of Smithfield Market in an old Lino warehouse in a maze of new developments which aren’t quite finished. It’s worth finding though. It’s warehouse chic but there’s an authenticity about it. Taking up the centre of this huge, lofty space is a clover leaf-shaped bar. The music … Continue reading LINO, Smithfield Market
Crispin, Spitalfields
Crispin is a café and restaurant in a beautifully angular building just next to Spitalfields Market. The guys who opened it also own Lundenwic coffee shop on Aldwych and Borough Market scotch egg stall, Scotchtails. The acute angle-vibes continue inside which give you plenty to look at. Bags of coffee beans sit on the steel rafters to make use of any available space and there … Continue reading Crispin, Spitalfields
Cakes & Bubbles, Hotel Café Royal
Things are looking good for the Hotel Café Royal at the minute. They’ve opened Laurent, serving steak and sushi (lush) and the lobby has undergone a dashing makeover giving the hotel the grand entrance it always deserved. The latest edition to this Piccadilly stalwart is Cakes & Bubbles, a café-cum-restaurant serving, as you may have guessed, desserts and Champagne. It’s the creation of Albert Adriá, … Continue reading Cakes & Bubbles, Hotel Café Royal
Red Farm, Covent Garden
“RedFarm brings a greenmarket sensibility to modern and inventive Chinese food” says their website. Whatever that means. The potential for this import from New York to be a bit crap is quite high. (This is their first in the UK, next to Balthazar in Covent Garden). But it’s actually loads of fun. Dishes like pork and crab xiaolongbao (£8), that’s those soup dumplings which are … Continue reading Red Farm, Covent Garden
Hicce, Coal Drops Yard
Coal Drops Yard has really put King’s Cross on London’s culinary map. Whether it’s chocolates from Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse, croquetas from Barrafina, tacos at Plaza Pastor or a Vermouth or three at Anthony Demetre’s Vermuteria, go north and you’ll be well fed and watered. Inside CDY’s trendiest shop Wolf & Badger you’ll find Hicce, taking up the entire third floor. It’s from business partners … Continue reading Hicce, Coal Drops Yard
Kerridge’s Bar & Grill, Corinthia Hotel London
Tom Kerridge has quite the restaurant empire. Over in Marlow, Buckhimshire he has the two Michelin-starred Hand and Flowers. Up the road he now owns a butchers called The Butcher’s Tap and a pub, The Coach. The latest addition is Kerridge’s Bar & Grill in one of London’s finest hotels, Corinthia Hotel London. Kerridge’s wife, Beth is an sculptor and the dining room is filled … Continue reading Kerridge’s Bar & Grill, Corinthia Hotel London
The Drop, Coal Drops Yard
The clever Harts Brothers have taken on quite the challenge, opening a host of restaurants in the new Coal Drops Yard development in Kings Cross. There’s Plaza Pastor and Casa Pastor, serving tacos and rotisserie chicken, a new Barrafina and a wine bar-cum-restaurant called The Drop. Inside is a cosy spot; all exposed brick in low-ceiling arches. At one end there’s a counter to perch … Continue reading The Drop, Coal Drops Yard
Salcombe Gin School
I first heard of Salcombe Gin when a small group of ‘press’ were invited to Lympstone Manor. Here, we tried their limited edition, specially crafted, Arabella Gin created with chef and owner of Lympstone, Michael Caines. We had a lunch of crab raviolo, guinea fowl with Summer vegetables and lemon polenta cake (that place now has a Michelin star, it’s gorgeous FYI) while doing a … Continue reading Salcombe Gin School