Monthly Archives: September 2014

Did Madrid: Más Favor!

A mid August weekend in Madrid did Kemey and I both a world of good and turned out to be a fantastic way to celebrate her birthday in style. Being there for the Fiestas de la Paloma ensured the city was just that much turned on and revved up for fun. But I reckon anytime of year is an excellent time to explore this spirited Spanish city. Continue reading

Posted in Did Madrid, Drink, Food, Restaurants, Spain, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: Pelham Street

Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Did Madrid: Too Hot? Not!

We were in town for the Fiestas de la Paloma (part of Kemey’s planning – I can take no credit). As one of Europe’s biggest street parties, lots of people reckon it’s the most important festival in Madrid, if not the whole of Spain. We had a blast wriggling our wee hours way through the neighbourhood of La Latin – nexus of the celebrations – and being part of the festivities. Continue reading

Posted in Art, Did Madrid, Food, Hotels, Museums, Restaurants, Spain, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

London Daily Photo: BADC

Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Did Madrid: Lunch at Botin, the Oldest Restaurant in the World

Restaurante Botin was founded in 1725, which according to the Guinness Book of Records makes it the oldest restaurant in the world. Such a claim to fame ensures a steady flow of customers coming in and out its rustic wooden doors – the vast majority of whom are holidaymakers from abroad. As is the case, the Gonzalez family who keep this culinary marvel in operation could probably rest on their laurels, serve some schlocky semblance of traditional Spanish food, and still have vacationers queued up to pay just to say they’d been there. Nonetheless, the family reckons the restaurant is not just some monument to how things once were but a vital benchmark of Madrileño cuisine. Specialities include suckling pig and Castillian lamb – both roasted in the restaurant’s original wood fired oven. Continue reading

Posted in Did Madrid, Drink, Food, Restaurants, Spain, Travel, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

London Daily Photo: Upside Down Under

Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Did Madrid: Flamenco Soul

Our visit to Madrid was for sure a foodie escapade. But there’s much more to Madrid than tapas bars (and that’s a lot for a gourmand like me to get my head around). Without doubt the most memorable experience Kemey and I shared during our weekend away was our own private flamenco lesson. Olé? Oh yeah! Continue reading

Posted in Did Madrid, Drink, Food, Music, Restaurants, Spain, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

7 Sensational Wine Bars in London (OneTravel)

7 Sensational Wine Bars in London Continue reading

Posted in Drink, Food, London, Travel, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Did Madrid: Top Tapas Tour

Hitting the ground eating, the first ‘big thing’ Kemey and I did during our Madrileño weekend was join up with Madrid Food Tour’s Tapas, Taverns, and History Evening Walking and Tapas Tour. Quite a mouthful? Indeed! But not just in name given all the excellent food and drink we had during this evening saunter through the foodie heart of Madrid. Continue reading

Posted in Did Madrid, Drink, Food, Restaurants, Spain, Travel, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

London Daily Photo: Ladbroke Grove

Posted in Graffiti, London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Did Madrid

Kemey and I are both enthusiastic fans of Spain. It’s very much one of our preferred destinations for holidays and city breaks and is a country we both know fairly well. However, Kemey had never been to (but always very much had wanted to visit) its dynamic and dignified capital. So back last month, to celebrate her birthday, we headed to Madrid for a long weekend of food, fun and flamenco. Like me, after my initiation to the charms of this magic place some years ago, Kemey was wowed. To be sure, our magnificently Madrileño weekend won’t be our last! Continue reading

Posted in Did Madrid, Drink, Food, Hotels, Museums, Restaurants, Shopping, Spain, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

London Daily Photo: Kensington Church Street

Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Miss Behave’s Gameshow at London Wonderground

Miss Behave and her glamourous assistant Harriet (aka a rather thickly bearded Harry Clayton-Wright) wedge a full-on and eclectic variety show into a wacky gameshow demanding out of (and sometimes even on top of) your seats audience participation. It’s at once arbitrary, absurd, inane, and asinine … not to mention astoundingly fun! Ya got two more opportunities to catch Miss Behave at the London Wonderground. If you’re keen for camped up and mildly dirty entertainment, you’d be wise to book your tickets now. Continue reading

Posted in London, Music, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Far North Foodie Adventure in the Faroe Islands (Great British Chefs)

Chris takes us on a journey through the very scenic and serene Faroe Islands, a tiny island nation that’s also one of most fascinating places for food he has been to! Continue reading

Posted in Faroe Islands, Food, Great British Chefs, Hotels, Luxury, Restaurants, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: Lea River Boys

Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Good Stuff

Good Stuff and lots of it! Here’s the low down on some fine things to see, sip or savour – all of which I’ve recently come across and thought were worth sharing with you. Enjoy. Continue reading

Posted in Beer, Drink, England, Food, Good Stuff, London, Pizza, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

London Daily Photo: Our Bus!

Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Toro Gordo: Stylish Tapas for Hammersmith

Spanish bar and restaurant Toro Gordo brings piquant panache to West London. I had a fantastic time tasting my way through its menu of contemporary and stylishly presented tapas and reckon if you’re in the area you could do a lot worse. Indeed, for drinky drinks and scrumptious nibbles with a convivial vibe that’s just a short stroll away from Hammersmith Tube (not to mention Ravenscourt Park) you’d be hard pressed to find a better venue. No bull! Continue reading

Posted in Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Win a Month’s Worth of Vouchers from Innocent Drinks

Yep, you read the title right. I’ve teamed up with everybody’s favourite juice and smoothie maker to offer one lucky reader a chance to enjoy a month’s worth of vouchers redeemable for Innocent Drink products – smoothies, juices, fruit tubes, veg pots and the newly launched noodle pots. Continue reading

Posted in Competition, Drink, Food, Freebies, Shopping | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: £5.50

Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Bonneville: Fantastic French Dining in Clapton, E5

So nice I’m going twice! A recent visit to Clapton’s newly opened French eatery, The Bonneville, resulted in such a lovely experience for Kemey and me that we’re heading back ASAP for a repeat – this time with another couple in tow to whom we’ve raved about the place. Continue reading

Posted in Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

London Daily Photo: Somewhere Else

Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2014 Folkestone Triennial: A Gold Rush of Great Art by the Sea

The 2014 Folkestone Triennial is on for a third edition, this year with a “Lookout” theme to its many ambitious arts set within the quaint town and on its scenic stretch of coastline along the English Channel. I thoroughly enjoyed my artsy meander round Folkestone and reckon it offers an ideal day out for Londoners (or anybody) seeking a day out with intriguing sights and a fresh sea breeze. Continue reading

Posted in Art, England, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

London Daily Photo: Got a Secret?

Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

4 Tips for Less Turbulence at the Airport (OneTravel)

4 Tips for Less Turbulence at the Airport Continue reading

Posted in OneTravel, Shopping, Travel | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: Marshes

Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Leicester Square Box Office: Your First Stop for the Best of London Theatre and More

For more than 20 years, Leicester Square Box Office has been offering tickets to the public for a variety of West End productions at half price, discount and full price to ensure customers find the tickets they’re after. Continue reading

Posted in London, Music, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Brasserie Chavot: Epic Flavour and Subtle Finesse in Mayfair

Contemporary French cuisine made with quality ingredients sourced from the British Isles and France? It’s a gorgeous idea – especially when executed by a capable chef such as Eric Chavot. A recent opportunity to taste my way through much of the menu at Brasserie Chavot proved a veritable feast of epic flavour and subtle finesse. Continue reading

Posted in Drink, Food, Hotels, London, Luxury, Restaurants, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

London Daily Photo: Walthamstow Woodford/Hackney & City

Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Nachos of the Month: Manchego with Anchovies, Almonds, and Olives

Nachos! They’re an easy assemblage and an awesome snack. I’ve teamed up with tortillas with spirit brand Manomasa to create some recipes to help you best enjoy your next crunch time. Here’s my latest creation: tortilla chips with Manchego, anchovies, almonds, and olives. Continue reading

Posted in Food, Nachos of the Month, Recipes, Shopping | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment