All posts tagged: restaurant

Lorna Loves Lobster Kitchen

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Where Lobster Kitchen What Situated a 5 minute walk from Tottenham Court Road, Lobster Kitchen is in a perfect location to attract London regulars from the trendy Soho business area nearby and stumbling tourists laden down with shopping bags from Oxford Street. The Experience The Lobster Kitchen could aptly be named shack; it is authentic with décor being shipped from New England, a slate wall from Canada and a further wall commissioned by London artist Tilo Kaiser, utilising old Canadian newspapers. Everything is quaint, kitsch and works incredibly well. After an initial discussion over dinner in 2013, co-owners Abigail Tan and Valeria Cinaglia opened the doors to LK on the 22nd of October 2014 and have had a great start to the business establishing itself in its first few months trading. As a lover of seafood, I was delighted to be invited to the press opening. Upon arrival we were greeted with a prosecco and elderflower cocktail, quickly followed by a crisp, cold glass of Palmer & Co Blanc De Blancs, which Hannah and I …

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 …

Meat Based Cocktails? Yes, Really!

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It’s no secret that I’m a huge pizza fan. Those who know me well will be aware that over the last year, I spent many a weekend nursing a hangover with a pizza from my local takeaway. I’m not proud of waking up some mornings with pizza crumbs lingering on my mattress (those days are over), but at the time it was oh so satisfying. But as much as I love pizza, I was gobsmacked when I received an email a couple of months ago from a London bar to say that they had partnered with my favourite pizza takeaway to create a meaty cocktail. What?! I couldn’t get my head around it; meat and cocktails just shouldn’t mix, I thought. I quickly hit the ‘trash’ button and dismissed the idea. It was only when I arrived in Melbourne that I came across another meat based cocktail. This time I tried it and it opened my eyes to a whole new world of deliciousness! If you happen to be reading from Melbourne, then I urge …