All posts filed under: Restaurants

Blu Top Ice-Cream at Bread Street Kitchen 

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Where Bread Street Kitchen, St Paul’s What London’s Ice-cream sandwich trader Blu Top enjoy a month long residency at Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen throughout August. Experience Despite the notable absence of ice-cream eating weather we have had this summer, Blu Top’s Richard Makin is fast becoming the master feeder of London’s ice-cream scene (!). Blu Top’s ice-cream sandwiches were recently voted the greatest in London by Time Out and have been championed by Great British Bake Off winner Edd Kimber. Anyone who has visited their little blue converted Italian Piaggio Porter van at the schoolyard in Stoke Newington or more recently at Druid Street Market will have already tried their mouth watering Toasted Coconut and Roast Cherry ice-cream on Double Chocolate Fudge Cookies and be as excited as I was to hear about their August residency at Gordon Ramsay’s monumental Bread Street Kitchen. We went down last night to celebrate the launch and spent the next 3 hours living out one of my less weird hedonistic fantasies where everything is made of cream and …

Innovation and Imagination with Rootdown

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Where Rootdown, East London What New restaurant and bar Rootdown shares its innovative and imaginative menu with East London. Experience A few weeks ago I celebrated my day of birth by renting out a bar my friend had preached about relentlessly since moving to East London. I arrived at Rootdown early doors in order to greet my guests and sneaked a peak at the food menu – I was so impressed that I came back to try it with my old friend (and new house mate) Rachael. Rootdown may be one of many new restaurants popping up on Lower Clapton Road, but their seasonal menu and unpretentious style ensures it outshines their rivals. Rootdown takes food very seriously. Becca Scales said “Our ingredients are seasonal, locally sourced and largely organic”. Head Chef Ben Lourjane is a champion of vegetables. Their vegetarian dishes are always a hearty and competitive alternative to the meat options. I knew from my birthday party that Rootdown did a cracking cocktail, but my attentions were drawn to the chilli pear caprioska. …

The Burger Shack at The Wood House

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What Hidden in the far corner of the vast, not-so-secret, garden of The Wood House pub on Sydenham Hill, lies the latest addition to the Young’s Family, The Burger Shack. Experience Gourmet burgers could not be more popular right now. The Burger Shack  is up to the challenge of rivalling your favourite. Visitors in the beautifully refurbished pub can opt to dine from the menu inside, but those who crave something quick and meaty can order straight from The Burger Shack outside. The garden hosts heated huts, family friendly giant games and, if you get the right night, even live music. I settled in the ‘Robin’ hut fit for six (all huts are named after woodland birds) and enjoyed the final few hours of evening summer heat. The garden was already busy with people who had the same idea. The menu for the shack is simple. I went for ‘The Streaky’ burger, presumably named after the deliciously salty Dingley Dell streaky maple bacon which propped up the top bun. I squeezed down on the medium …

Smith and Wollensky: creators of excellent cocktails!

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      Smith & Wollensky Smith & Wollensky is renowned for being a first-rate American steakhouse, similar, some might say, to an aircraft carrier: infinitely mighty and full of self-confidence. The original Smith & Wollensky has been that kind of place since its inception in Manhattan (1977). However, since then it has managed to travel many miles across the great pond that divides our two great nations and finally docked, off Strand, in the Adelphi Terrace. As we were escorted into the restaurant by a very pleasant and animated member of staff, our hearts sank as we were taken past the crowds of young couples and families tucking into their mouthwateringly juicy veal chops. The smell of greasy food and delicious BBQ sauce was enough to make even the most uncompromising of vegans go weak at the knees, but we knew tonight, we wouldn’t be setting off on a meat-lovers pilgrimage, but rather (a cocktail crusade?) With the taste of delicious Iowa beef still lingering on our tongues, we were ushered downstairs to a …

Diana’s press launch, Covent Garden

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Located in the heart of Covent Garden lies the reincarnated ‘Diana’s Diner’, which until Wednesday evening had closed its doors for good. Historically known for being a popular greasy spoon owned by a buxom red head, what has been re-established couldn’t be further from its heritage.  At least on the surface anyway, as despite the chic ‘low key, high end’ ambiance, a hint of the infamous Diana remains. Whether it be the dimmed lights and sexy pop-up art splashed boldly across the walls, or the lipstick kiss prints pressed onto their menus and marketing. Hence the insiders nickname… Dirty Diana’s.   On arrival, we were warmly greeted by owners James Bulmer and Matt Tebbutt, who were only too happy to walk us through Diana’s journey. Executive Chef Chen Ng is the creative mind behind the menu- Savoy trained but with a passion for exceptional, explosive food that can be created in the back of a van following a stint doing just that in Singapore, Chen’s food was exceptional.  James and Matt had fallen in love …