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Category Archives: Drink
Cork Report | Stop and Go
POP! It’s the exuberant sound of victory, celebration and achievement. And it starts with a simple pull of a cork stopper from a wine bottle. Continue reading
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Posted in Cork Report, Drink, Portugal, Travel
Tagged Amorim, cork, Cork Report, cork stoppers, Drink, portugal, Travel, wine
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Easy Eats to Recommend: The Joint at The Refreshment Room
Mega meat treats cross the river and head east with Brixton Market bad boys, The Joint, taking over the kitchen at the Refreshment Room in Stratford. Continue reading
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Cork Report | From the Forest
Just across the Tagus River about 30k south of Lisbon is Herdade de Rio Frio, a centuries old 4,000 hectare “homestead” with strong traditions in horse breeding, equestrianism, and polo as well as viniculture and winemaking. Within the Herdade is what was once the world’s longest vineyard – with rather delectable quaffs still being bottled from the grapes of remaining vines today. This vast expanse of land is also home to a cork forest. Continue reading
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Posted in Cork Report, Drink, Portugal, Travel, Wine
Tagged Amorim, cork, Cork Report, Drink, Herdade de Rio Frio, portugal, Rio Frio, Setúbal, Travel, wine
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Coffee Break Inspiration (espressoCrazy)
A short while ago, I sat back and settled in to write my latest post for the EspressoCrazy blog … and drew a big fat blank. Usually, I’ve got a coffee-related idea in mind that I’m keen to tap out on my keyboard. But this time, I couldn’t come up with anything at all to write about. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Nothing. Conceding writer’s block, I headed to the kitchen to make myself a cup of … yep, you guessed it … coffee!< Continue reading
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Posted in Coffee, Drink, espressoCrazy, Food, Shopping
Tagged coffee, Drink, espresso, espressoCrazy, Food, illy, Shopping
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Good Stuff #52
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
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Posted in Drink, Good Stuff, Shopping, Travel
Tagged Bloomon, ChariTea, Drink, fairtrade, flowers, good cause, good stuff, HouseTrip, LemonAid, PhotoFast, PhotoFast MemoriesCable, Shopping, Travel
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Cork Report | Popping Down to Portugal
Back in June of last year, Kemey and I popped down to Portugal for an immersive two-day crash course in one of the country’s most enduring, sustainable and biggest industries: cork. Continue reading
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Posted in Cork Report, Drink, Portugal, Travel, Wine
Tagged Amorim, cork, Cork Report, Drink, portugal, Travel, wine
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Low, Slow & Juke
A juke joint within walking distance of St James’s Park? To be sure newly opened Low, Slow & Juke offers a mere simulation of a down and dirty Deep South eating and drinking experience, but a fun one nevetheless. Continue reading
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Posted in Bars, Beer, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants
Tagged Abbey Orchard Street, BARS, BBQ, beer, cocktails, Drink, Food, London, restaurants, reviews, st james's park, SW1, SW1P 2LU, VICTORIA, westminster, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Fleurs des Rêves: Bompas & Parr X Perrier-Jouët at The London Edition
Dudes. Listen up. Dark forces are at work. No longer is it going to be a safe bet to selecting some nice flowers to offer to your beloved. Now – compliments of a luxury trio consisting of Bompas & Parr, The London Edition, and Perrier-Jouët – you might have to make sure your chosen blooms aren’t of the ordinary hum-drum one constant colour variety but newfangled and fascinating colour changing Fleurs des Rêves. Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Hotels, London, Luxury, Shopping, Valentine's Day, Wine
Tagged Berners Street, Bompas & Parr, chameleon flowers, champagne, colour changing flowers, Drink, fitzrovia, Fleurs des Rêves, flowers, hotels, London, luxury, Perrier-Jouet, POP UPS, Shopping, sparkling wine, The London Edition, Valentine's Day, W1, W1T 3N, wine, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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New Chocolate Shop for Fitzrovia: Choconut, Great Portland Street
Are you nuts about chocolate? Then check out the new Choconut boutique chocolate shop in Fitzrovia. Continue reading
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Two Champagnes, One Chef | GH Mumm | Perrier-Jouët
Invited by two Champagne houses – GH Mumm and Perrier-Jouët – for an overnight visit to the Champagne region for a meet with their Chefs de Caves (Didier Mariotti of Mumm and Hervé Deschamps of Perrier-Jouët), I enjoyed a behind the peek of what goes into blending two of the world’s most celebrated quaffs and how distinctive each is. A bubbly affair to be sure, the occasion served as an excellent opportunity to discover how these wines differ, while enjoying two showcase dining experiences (one for each wine) crafted by in-house chef for both Mumm and Perrier-Jouët – Josephine Jonot. Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, France, Luxury, Shopping, Travel, Wine
Tagged champagne, champagne ardenne, Chef de Cave, chef de caves, chef Josephine Jonot, Didier Mariotti, Food, france, french wine, G. H. Mumm, GH Mumm, Hervé Deschamps, Josephine Jonot, luxury, Mumm, Perrier-Jouet, sparkling wine, Travel, wine
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My Preferred Cup of Coffee for My Joburg Layover (espressoCrazy)
I’m back from a trip to Namibia in Southern Africa, where I spent about two weeks on a self-drive safari. Yes, I had a blast – and would highly recommend a trip to this vast desert country for anyone interested … Continue reading
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Posted in Coffee, Drink, espressoCrazy, Food, Shopping, South Africa, Travel
Tagged airport, coffee, Drink, espresso, espressoCrazy, espressocrazy.com, Food, illy, Shopping, south africa
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Fowl Mouths at The King & Co
There’s nothing foul about the Fowl Mouths residency taking place now through the first week of March at Clapham’s rockin’ little indie pub, The King & Co. And without doubt a read of the Fowl Mouths’ menu jam packed with Japanese comfort food treats should ring mellifluent to any foodie within earshot. Continue reading
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Posted in Beer, Drink, Food, London, Pubs, Restaurants
Tagged beer, CLAPHAM, Clapham Park Road, Drink, Food, Fowl Mouths, Hammerton Brewery, japanese food, London, Melissa Thompson, pubs, restaurants, reviews, south london, SW4, SW4 7BZ, The King & Co, The King and Co, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Good Stuff #51
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
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Posted in Bars, Beer, Books, Chocolate, Coffee, Drink, Food, Good Stuff, London, Recipes, Restaurants, Shopping, Valentine's Day
Tagged 808 pureview, BARS, beer, books, Bread Street Bar Sessions, BREAD STREET KITCHEN, chicken wings, chocolate, coffee, cookbook, Cooking for Geeks, Cru Kafe, Drink, Food, good cause, good stuff, Häagen-Dazs, Häagen-Dazs Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream, ice cream, Jeff Potter, Lavolio, London, mocha, recipes, reviews, Shopping, Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream, street food, Toast Ale, Tristram Stuart, Valentine's Day, Wingmans, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Optimal Lunch at Opso in Marylebone
Greek restaurant Opso has introduced a new range of lunch box sandwiches to its menu. The sandwiches are priced at £7 each and are served in a koulori sesame seed bun with a side of hand cut chips and homemade tartar aioli. Continue reading
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Posted in Coffee, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants
Tagged coffee, Drink, Food, greek food, ibrik, Ice cream sandwich, London, lukumi, lunch, marylebone, Moustokoulouro, Opso, Paddington Street, PULLED PORK, restaurants, reviews, sandwiches, square mile co, SQUARE MILE COFFEE, W1, W1U 5QL, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Win Dinner at Diciannove Plus Drinks in a Private Vault at Voltaire Cocktail Bar
To celebrate Valentine’s Day, I’ve teamed up with London Crowne Plaza – The City on the north end of Blackfriars Bridge to offer one couple a free night out including a romantic dinner for two at the hotel’s Italian restaurant, Diciannove, followed by drinks in your own private vault at its cocktail bar, Voltaire. Continue reading
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Posted in Bars, Competition, Drink, Food, Freebies, Hotels, London, Restaurants, Travel, Valentine's Day
Tagged BARS, blackfriars, city of london, cocktails, competition, Crown Plaza, Dicannove, Drink, EC4, EC4V 6DB, Food, free, freebies, hotels, italian food, italian restaurant, London, London Crowne Plaza, London Crowne Plaza – The City, New Bridge Street, Private Vaults, restaurants, RT to win, Travel, twitter competition, Valentine's Day, Vaults, Voltaire, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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A Taste of Jersey in London (Great British Chefs)
The weekend of 29 January saw head chef Pascal Proyart of One-O-One Restaurant at The Park Tower Hotel in Knightsbridge making space in his kitchen for chef Mark Jordan of the Michelin-starred Ocean Restaurant at The Atlantic Hotel in Jersey. Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, Great British Chefs, Hotels, London, Luxury, Restaurants
Tagged Channel Islands, chef, Chef Mark Jordan, Chef Pascal Proyart, chefs, fine dining, Food, GREAT BRITISH CHEFS, hotels, Jersey, knightsbridge, London, luxury, Mark Jordan, michelin star, Ocean Restaurant, Pascal Proyart, preview, restaurants, seafood, SW1, SW1X 7RN, The Atlantic, The Atlantic Hotel, The Park Tower Hotel, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Charcoal Brioche Chakalaka: Better Breads at Bunnychow
Bunny who?In case you’ve yet to get hip to this SA street food phenom, Bunnychow (the place, one word) serves bunny chow (traditional street food from Durban, two words). A “bunny” is a freshly baked bun hollowed out and “crammed” with hot fillings and topped with a bread lid (which serves as an excellent sopper-upper once you’re close to the bottom of your bunny). Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, London, Restaurants
Tagged bunny chow, bunnychow, chakalaka, cocktails, Drink, Food, London, lunch, restaurants, reviews, soho, south african food, street food, W1, W1F 0TE, wardour street, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Compact and Stylish Y3 (espressoCrazy)
Time for a change? I thought so recently and decided to switch to a new coffee maker. Yes, of course, I stuck with a machine that would take my illy capsules but went with something a little more compact and colourful than what I had been using. Continue reading
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Posted in Coffee, Drink, espressoCrazy, Food
Tagged coffee, Drink, espresso, espressoCrazy, espressocrazy.com, Food, francis francis, Francis Francis Y3 iperEspresso Machine, illy, Y3 iperEspresso
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Win a Case of Craft Beer and Cider from Green & Pleasant
Green & Pleasant brews English craft beer and cider made from top quality locally sourced ingredients. Fancy a taste for free? I’ve got a mixed case to share with one lucky reader. Continue reading
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Posted in Beer, Competition, Drink, Freebies, Shopping
Tagged ale, beer, cider, competition, CRAFT BEER, Drink, free, free beer, freebies, Green & Pleasant, Green & Pleasant beer, Green & Pleasant cider, RT to win, Shopping, twitter competition
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Wasokan, Notting Hill: Europe’s First Authentic Japanese Kimono and Matcha Shop
It’s not a likely occurrence that a visit to the launch of a retail space in Notting Hill turns to talk bringing more harmony to the people of Europe. But that was the sort of chat I had with Noriyuki Ikeda at his new kimono and matcha shop, Wasokan, on Westbourne Grove. Continue reading
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Your Ultimate Guide to Delicious Dallas (Miles Away)
Dallas is a dynamic place, and if you’re in town and seeking a bite of something tasty, you’ll have a run of delicious options catering to all palates and budgets – from food trucks to luxury hotels. And Dallas isn’t just a culinary hub for the great state of Texas, it’s also one of the best and most diverse dining scenes in all of America! Yum. Continue reading
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Posted in CheapOair, Drink, Food, Luxury, Miles Away, Restaurants, Travel
Tagged cheapoair, Dallas, Drink, Food, luxury, restaurants, texas, Travel, USA
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Was My Match Met at TGI Friday’s, Leicester Square?
Despite feeling as though I knew exactly what to expect from a visit to the recently opened flagship TGI Friday’s at Leicester Square, I actually never had been to a TGI Friday’s and couldn’t recollect ever having tried its food … Continue reading
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Posted in Bars, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants
Tagged BARS, burgers, cheeseburgers, cocktails, Drink, Food, hamburgers, leicester square, London, restaurants, TGI Friday's, WC2, WC2H 7LA, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Win a Bottle of R&B Distillers’ Raasay While We Wait Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Happy New Year! I hope your Hogmanay was a merry one. Now that 2015 has come to an end and 2016 has commenced, it’s time to get ready for one of the best festivities on the British calendar: Burns Night. And what better way to celebrate the life and works of Scottish poet Robert Burns than with a toast of single malt Scotch whisky? I’m got a bottle of R&B Distillers’ Raasay While We Wait put aside for one lucky reader that’s sure to be the hit of any Burns Supper. Continue reading
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Good Stuff #49
Okay let’s see if I can squeeze out one more quick post of good stuff before the year ends. Continue reading
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Posted in Bars, Drink, Food, Good Cause, Good Stuff, London, Restaurants, Shopping
Tagged Balblair, Balblair 1999, Balblair Vintage 1999, BARS, cocktails, Coin Laundry, Drink, edamame, Food, good cause, good stuff, highland whisky, japanese food, London, maple syrup, Marley Spoon, Refugees, scotch, single malt, whisky, Yutaka, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Best of the Best of 2015
I hope that in some small way my 2015 blogging helped you have more fun, discover something amazing, save some money or otherwise make more of your time than you might have otherwise. Continue reading
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Posted in Bars, Beer, Best of 2015, Best of the Best, Drink, Food, Hotels, London, Luxury, Money, Pubs, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel
Tagged BARS, beer, Best of 2015, Best of the Best, Drink, Food, hotels, London, luxury, money, POP UPS, pubs, restaurants, Travel, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Best Beer of 2015
There is so much good beer being brewed across the globe these days. Halleluiah! Here’s a look at my faves from 2015. Continue reading
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Posted in Beer, Best of 2015, Best of the Best, Drink, London, Shopping, Travel
Tagged ale, Athena, Bath Ales, Beavertown Brewery, beer, best beer of 2015, Best of 2015, Best of the Best, CRAFT BEER, Creature Comforts Brewing Co, Drink, echigo beer, Er Boqueron, Gamma Ray, Gem, Koshihikari Echigo Beer, La Socarrada Cervesa Artesanal De Xativa, lager, London, Low Country Ambrosia, microbreweries, Pressure Drop, reclaimed rye, rice lager, River Dog Brewing Co, Shopping, Travel, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Best London Pop-Ups, Takeovers, Supper Clubs, etc in 2015
Dining out – and even eating in – can mean so many different things these days. Some of my favourite London meals of 2015 didn’t occur at a traditional restaurant or via a kitchen with a permanent address. In a … Continue reading
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Posted in Bars, Best of 2015, Best of the Best, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Travel
Tagged bagels, BARS, BELL & BRISKET, Bell and Brisket, Best of 2015, Best of the Best, Brisket, Catering, curtain road, Doppiozero, Drink, East Dulwich, EC2, Food, islington, London, London EC2A 3BX, Lordship Lane, north london, Perilla, Perilla Fine Dining, Platform 1, POP UPS, pubs, restaurants, SALT BEEF, SE22, SE22 8EP, shoreditch, south london, supper clubs, That Hungry Chef, The Barley Mow, The Bell & Brisket, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Best London Bars and Pubs of 2015
London has been a great place to drink for many a year. This year, for me, it seemed even better than before. My favourite watering holes continued to please while a handful of new or bars and pubs otherwise previously unknown to me caught my attention with great service, comfy digs and – most importantly – quality quaffs. Continue reading
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Posted in Bars, Beer, Best of 2015, Best of the Best, Drink, Food, Hotels
Tagged Artesian, Ashley Road, Augustus Harris, Bar Termini, BARS, beer, Best Bars of 2015, Best London Bars, Best London Bars of 2015, Best London Pubs, Best London Pubs of 2015, Best of 2015, Best of the Best, Best Pubs of 2015, bethnal green, Bottega Friulana, Catherine Street, city of london, clapton, Coate Street, Cocktail bars, cocktails, covent garden, CRAFT BEER, Drink, E2, E2 9AG, E5, E5 0NS, EC4, EC4Y 1DE, FLEET STREET, hackney, hotels, London, lower clapton road, luxury, N17, N17 9LJ, notting hill, OLD COMPTON STREET, Portland Place, Portobello Road, pubs, punch tavern, restaurants, Sebright Arms, soho, street food, Styx, Styx Bar, the bonneville, the langham, The Langham London, tottenham hale, W1, W11, W11 2DZ, W1B 1JA, W1D 5JE, WC2, WC2B 5JT, wine, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Is Coffee the Secret to Great BBQ? (espressoCrazy)
I spent much of October in America working on a story about the best BBQ in the Southern states. I clocked more than 2,500 miles across six states (Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina) taking time to … Continue reading
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Posted in Coffee, Drink, espressoCrazy, Food, Shopping, Travel
Tagged #traveltheworld4less, BBQ, coffee, Drink, espresso, espressoCrazy, espressocrazy.com, Food, illy, offee, Shopping, Travel
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Best Bars of 2015 (Excluding London)
Hey globetrotters, who’s up for a drink? If you ever happen to find yourself thirsty in Barcelona, Rome, Atlanta, Bath or even tiny Hillsborough, North Carolina here’s where to go for the best flow of drinks mixed with camaraderie. Continue reading
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Posted in Barcelona, Bars, Beer, Best of 2015, Best of the Best, Drink, Food, Hotels, Italy, Luxury, Pubs, Rome, Travel, USA, Wine
Tagged atlanta, barcelona, bath, Beehive Inn, beer, Best Bars of 2015, Best of 2015, Best of the Best, cocktails, Cumbria, Drink, Eamont Bridge, Food, georgia, Gracia Barcelona, Hillsborough, Hillsborough North Carolina, hotels, Italy, Joystick, Jumeirah, Jumeirah Grand Hotel Via Veneto, La Gilda, La Pepita, lake district, luxury, Mystery Brewing, Mystery Brewing Public House, North Carolina, Penrith, pubs, roma, rome, somerset, tapas, Time Restaurant & Wine Bar, Travel, USA, Via Vittorio Veneto, west country, wine, wine bars
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Best London Restaurants of 2015
London’s best restaurants of 2015? Here’s a lucky list of seven that did the trick for me. Continue reading
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Posted in Best of 2015, Best of the Best, Drink, Food, Hotels
Tagged 1 Sandy’s Row, Bao, Basque food, Best London Restaurants, Best London Restaurants of 2015, Best of 2015, Best of the Best, brixton, Brixton Station Road, brunch, camden, CAMDEN TOWN, Donostia Social Club, Drink, E1, E1 7HW, east london, fish and chips, Food, greenwich, High Holborn, holborn, Hook, Hook Camden Town, hotels, hyde park corner, INTERCONTINENTAL, italian food, La Tagliata, Lexington Street, London, london restaurants, luxury, mayfair, Mirror Room, Mirror Room at Rosewood London, Mirror Room at Rosewood London 252 High Holborn, North Greenwich, NW1, NW17PP, ONE HAMILTON PLACE, park lane, Parkway, Peninsular Golf Range, Pop Brixton, restaurants, Rosewood, Rosewood London, SE10, SE10 0QE, soho, south london, spanish food, spitalfields, SW9, SW9 8PQ, Taiwanese food, tapas, theo randall, Theo Randall at the Intercontinental InterContinental London Park Lane, tower hamlets, Travel, Tunnel Avenue, Vinothec Compass, W1, W1F 9AS, W1J 7QY, WC1, WC1V 7EN, wine, X Vinothec Compass Restaurant and Bar, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Best Restaurants of 2015 (Excluding London)
The tikichris of 2015 series continues with a look at some of the most amazing restaurants I visited this year. Continue reading
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Posted in Best of 2015, Best of the Best, Drink, Food, Hotels, Italy
Tagged Abbaye de Montheron, american food, Antico Forno Roscioli, BBQ, Best of 2015, Best of the Best, Best Restaurants of 2015, BISTRO, brockenhurst, Caltagirone, Carolina Inn, Cerniat, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill North Carolina, Crossroads Chapel Hill, Dallas, england, Fearing’s Restaurant, france, french food, Gruyere, Gruyeres, hampshire, Hotel Relais Saint Germain, hotels, Il Locandiere, italian food, Italy, La Pinte des Mossettes, Le Comptoir du Relais, Le Zie Trattoria di Perrone Anna Carmla, Lecce, luxury, Montheron, new forest, North Carolina, O Zé Da Quitéria, paris, pizza, portugal, PORTUGUESE FOOD, Pronto A Comer Zé Da Quitéria - Jose Cardoso, puglia, restaurants, Ristorante Il Locandiere, Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Dallas, rome, Saint Germain de Prés, seafood, Setúbal, sicily, SO42 7QL, Swiss food, switzerland, Tejo, texas, The Pig, The Pig Hotel, Travel, UK, UNC, University of North Carolina, USA, Vaud
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Best of 2015
Lines deliciously blurred throughout 2015 and made categorising the Best of 2015 a fun but challenging task. Continue reading
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Posted in Beer, Best of 2015, Best of the Best, Drink, Food, Hotels
Tagged BARS, beer, Best of 2015, Best of the Best, CHEAP EATS, Drink, Food, hotels, London, luxury, pubs, restaurants, Shopping, Travel, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Excellent Italian Cuisine at La Tagliata, Spitafields
Classic Italian cookery to keep you coming back for more is the drawn of Spitalfields restaurant, La Tagliata. Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, London, Restaurants
Tagged Drink, E1, E1 7HW, east london, Food, italian food, La Tagliata, London, pasta, restaurants, reviews, Sandy’s Row, spitalfields, steak, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Barrio Central: Refurb and a New Menu
Guess who’s gone and done a spruce up just in time for December festivities? Everybody’s favourite pan-Latin food and booze establishment, Barrio Central in Soho. Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, London, Restaurants
Tagged Barrio, barrio central, Barrio Soho, BARS, cocktails, Drink, Food, Poland Street, restaurants, reviews, soho, tacos, W1, W1F 8PS
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