Originally deriving from Berlin, woodruff syrup (made from a herbaceous plant and has a distinctive electric green hue and a strong aromatic fragrance) is a relatively unknown cocktail ingredient in the UK, that is being used increasingly by bartenders to bring a sweet, fresh flavour to drinks. In Berlin it is used to flavour wine, beer and even sausages. We went along to Primo Bar at The Westminster Park Plaza on the Southbank to check out some cocktails featuring this new ingredient. We ordered the two seasonal 'woodruff' specials,Spring Awakening and Coral Reef.
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Mondrian London is the first ever Mondrian branded boutique hotel outside of the United States. Designed by Tom Dixon, the new hotel houses a bar from the team that brought you White Lyan - recently crowned 'Best New Bar in the World' - a bar inspired by the best of British and transatlantic botany brought into the modern day. Ryan Chetiyawardana (A.K.A Mr Lyan) is known as an innovator and has been involved in several of the UK's best bars for over a decade, Dandelyan being no exception. Dandelyan bar is a sumptuous, rich yet intimate bar on the ground floor of Mondrian London offering views ...
Read more →Recently opened in London's Soho, this immersive 1946-style bar is one of the capital's best cocktail spots. Its instant popularity means it's hard to get in without an advance booking, but mark a date in your diary now and make sure you pay a visit. It's worth it.
Read more →I’m not exactly sure who Mabel is but I’ve decided I already like her. This brilliant new addition to Covent Garden’s culinary scene is a welcome breath of fresh air and somewhere I’d like to return to again and again. Despite getting tangled up in the crowds of tourists in the area, I still love Covent Garden and am there frequently for meetings, dining, drinking, shopping and yoga (not necessarily in that order). New restaurants and bars pop up frequently here but few so good as the shiny new Mabel’s. It’s got atmosphere, character and above all great food. Arriving on a Wednesday nigh...
Read more →Nestled at the heart of the picturesque village of Bray, The Hinds Head is located just 5 minutes from Maidenhead in Berkshire. Blessed with sunshine, we made the trip outside of London to begin our countryside adventure. Chef Heston Blumenthal purchased the pub in October 2004 and has kept the overall decor of the pub relatively the same, feeling that the tradition and history should remain with the thought "if it isn't broken, then don't fix it".
Read more →We began our exciting gin journey with the magnificent glasshouses, one has Mediterranean conditions and is taller to reflect its habitat and the other is tropical. The glasshouses are made of 794 panes all unique and hold the structure together. Distilled water is used to clean it and bugs are brought in rather than pesticides to maintain natural order.
Read more →Oblix Restaurant at the Shard has been open a while now (since May 2013) and has long been on our wish list so we jumped at the opportunity to check out their new lounge menu; a carefully selected menu of small plates including an eclectic fusion of American, Asian and Mediterranean dishes. Set on the 32nd floor of the Shard and with a wonderful London skyline backdrop the test was to see if the food and drinks at Oblix were as good as the view - we’re pleased to report that they most definitely did not disappoint!
Read more →We visited Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings in Clerkenwell - a recently opened British brasserie and bar from the team behind Rev JW Simpson, Blitz Party and Prohibition - to check out their new Spring cocktail menu designed by Head Bartender Steve Georgiou.
Read more →On Valentine’s Eve 2015, The Robin Collection celebrate with a special Valentine’s edition of Extreme Garnishing, their popular play-with-your-food workshop, that combines simple tricks, molecular techniques and even a section on Cooking With Explosives.
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