All posts filed under: Restaurants

Valentina Fine Foods, Chiswick

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Where Valentina Fine Foods, Chiswick What Valentina Fine Foods is an Italian delicatessen and restaurant group owned and run by the Zoccola and Arcari families. The original Valentina opened in East Sheen in 1991, followed by Putney, Sevenoaks, Notting Hill Gate and finally Chiswick, which opened in October 2014.  The Experience You enter the restaurant on Chiswick High Road through a delicatessen filled with a huge range of Italian delicacies such as pastas, cheese, cured meats, olives, pastries, traditional antipasti, and olive oils (including an own-label olive oil in a large stainless steel barrel with a tap, where customers are encouraged to bring their own bottle for refill). If you can pull yourself away from this initial enticement, and up a few small steps, you will find the Valentina restaurant at the top. A charming photo wall of the various family members looks over the dining area and a classic Moto Guzzi Lodola motorbike hangs from the right wall – an item I am told is found in many of the Valentina restaurants. Manager Carmine …

The Landmark London

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Where The Landmark London What Dine Around – Food and Drink experience at The Landmark London Experience If you haven’t been lucky enough yet to visit The Landmark London then make this a priority as it’s absolutely breathtaking and an experience not to miss. Mirror Bar – Cocktails and Canapes A few weeks ago I went for dinner and drinks at The Landmark London. My evening started off with pre drinks and canapes in the Mirror Bar.  I decided to be brave and try the Pickled Onion Vodka Martini, a combination of Babicka Vodka, Vya Dry Vermouth, dashes of lemon bitters and a pickled onion. I would be lying if I didn’t say I was a little apprehensive; I love onions especially picked onion, but in a cocktail – I wasn’t so sure. I was very pleasantly surprised though, as it was deliciously different and impressively presented. Being brave certainly paid off and I’m now eager to return and try the mushroom & truffle martini. The canapes that accompanied the cocktails were just as tasty and …

HotBox, Spitalfields

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Where HotBox London, Spitalfields What A regular in the pop up scene, HotBox has held residencies at Street Feast in Dalston, Hawker House and Battersea Power Station; however, on the 4th of December it opened it’s doors to its first permanent site at 46-48 Commercial St. The Experience After a hard day’s work on Thursday, Hannah and I could have been likened to William Wallace in Braveheart. Having made our bid for freedom, the night didn’t exactly get off to a good start; as we crossed the road outside Liverpool street, I was hit by a bike. As I scrambled to get my phone, some hunk from Dirty Martini scooped me up and bandaged up my leg. I didn’t think it was the time and place to offer him my number, but I’m thinking a thank you card might be appropriate. It didn’t take long to get patched up and we soon arrived at Hotbox, an effortlessly cool new meaty restaurant with red lights, straight lines and dark furniture. The staff were lovely and greeted us …

Trader Vic’s, London Hilton Hotel

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Where Trader Vic’s, London Hilton Hotel, Park Lane What Trader Vic’s is part of an international group of restaurants and home to the original Mai Thai rum based cocktail. As a celebration of 70 years of Trader Vic’s and 80 years of the Mai Thai cocktail, five Tiki films, shot on location at Trader Vic’s worldwide, have been made, showcasing bartenders from some of London’s popular Tiki bars who have recreated famous tiki cocktails including The 1944 Mai Tai. Experience My visit to Trader Vic’s a few weeks ago was my first, but it certainly won’t be my last. I loved the very  traditional island décor and felt like I was walking into a Polynesian wonderland. The extensive cocktail list is very impressive and whilst sitting in the Mai Tai Lounge my friend and I started to browse the comprehensive list, however with too many enticing tiki cocktails to choose from, we asked the waitress for some guidance. She enthusiastically recommended starting with the original 1944 Mai Tai, so with that we ordered two. Unsurprisingly …

The Four Thieves, Battersea

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Where The Four Thieves, Battersea What The Four Thieves, part of The Laines Pub Company, has just opened on Lavender Hill in Battersea. With its own on site brewery and distillery making craft beer and Four Thieves gin this new site will have the perfect tipples to match head chef Hayden Smith’s menu. The Experience Upon entering the restaurant I have to say that my first reaction was surprise, closely followed by delight! The eclectic mix of décor; dim, warm lights and the quietly busy atmosphere made for the perfect location for a few after work drinks and dinner. We were shown to our table, beautifully set with a personalized white painted ‘reserved’ sign, and were soon handed a drinks menu with a choice of 80 different gins. The restaurant houses its very own drinks distillery and is soon to open its own mini brewery. They take massive pride in their choices of tipple, and we couldn’t wait to try. To start, we tried a festive saffron and orange gin cocktail and a clean, sweet …