Category Archives: Drink
Free Tea Tastings at the Twinings Tea Shop, Westfield Stratford City
I was recently passing through Westfield Stratford City (something that’s happening a lot these days actually) and noticed the Twinings Tea Shop (lower ground floor near Boots) was offering free tastings as part of this age old English tea company’s … Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, England, Freebies, London, Shopping
Tagged afternoon tea, DIAMOND JUBILEE, free, freebies, London, SPONSORED POST, tea, TEA TASTING, TWININGS, TWININGS TEA SHOP, westfield, WESTFIELD STRATFORD CITY
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Trip to Colombia? Yes Please!
So as fun as a visit to the National Geographic Store in Knightsbridge (across the street from Harrods) might somehow be, I was not prepared for the sort of excitement generated during a recent “VIP cocktail party” celebrating National Geographic’s … Continue reading
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La Patagonia: Bife de Lomo Love in Camden
If you like your steaks bloody and your Malbec bloodier, this is the place for you. Beef is top quality; I loved my mega-chunk o’ bife de lomo (200g of Argentine fillet – £21). And, the handmade chorizos a la pomarola (£4.50) rock. During my visit last week, a glass of the punchy house Malbec (£4.50) – Colonia, Finca la Colonia, Bodegas Norton – seemed to size up both the home made sausages and my fillet perfectly. Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Wine
Tagged ARGENTINE, ARGENTINIAN, BIFE DE LOMO, camden, CAMDEN HIGH STREET, CAMDEN TOWN, LA PATAGONIA, London, MALBEC, MORNINGTON CRESCENT, new restaurant review, NW1, NW1 7JE, restaurants, steak, steakhouse, wine
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Five Great New Local Joints in East London (OneTravel)
All eyes seem to be on the London 2012 Games at the moment. But beyond the Olympic Stadium and the admittedly very exciting Olympic hoopla, some more locally based achievements of the foodie variety are taking place which hopefully after this historic … Continue reading
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Posted in Beer, Coffee, Drink, Food, London, London 2012, OneTravel, Pubs, Restaurants
Tagged bar, BBQ, bethnal green, cafe, chatswor, clapton, clapton hart, cooper & wolf, DE BEAUVOIR TOWN, duke's brew & cue, E5, east london, hackney, haggerston, islington, London, N1, new pubs, NEW RESTAURANTS, OneTravel, pubs, restaurants, the north pole, this bright field
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Now You Can Make the Perfect Dark ‘n Stormy Cocktail
The Dark ‘n Stormy is probably my favourite cocktail. It’s definitely the easiest and arguably the most refreshing one I know how to make. I certainly do a mean Mai Tai and have a couple of other tasty mixes in … Continue reading
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Bravo Buonissimo: Regional Italian Meals in a Box
Last week I tagged along to a supper time sneak peek of the yet to market “Bravo Buonissimo” prototype. Essentially, Bravo Buonissimo is a snazzed up gift-y looking box with “everything you need to prepare an Italian recipe in your … Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, London, London 2012, Recipes, Shopping, Wine
Tagged bravo buonissimo, casa italia, CONI, giftbox, italian cuisine, italian food, London, london 2012, pasta, queen elizabeth II conference centre
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Aperitivi a la Theo Randall? It’s an Imperative! (Great British Chefs)
Don’t let his Brit surname put you off. Chef Theo Randall knows his taglierini from his tagliatelle. And judging from a new line up of cocktails launched at his eponymous fine dining Italian restaurant located within the luxuriant Intercontinental, this former head chef of the ever lauded River Cafe shows … Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, Great British Chefs, Hotels, London, Restaurants, Travel
Tagged antipasti, aperitivi, cocktails, GBC, GREAT BRITISH CHEFS, hotel, hyde park corner, INTERCONTINENTAL, INTERCONTINENTAL LONDON PARK LANE, INTERCONTINENTAL LONDON PARK LANE HOTEL, italian food, italian restaurant, London, mayfair, park lane, review, theo randall, W1
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Craft Beer and Killer Pub Grub at The North Pole, New North Road, N1
I was invited along the other night to review recently spruced up pub, The North Pole. A couple of days later, I’m still feeling rather smug for excepting the invite. Now under new management, this New North Road establishment is … Continue reading
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Posted in Beer, Drink, Food, London, Pubs, Restaurants
Tagged ale, BBQ, beer, burgers, CRAFT BEER, east london, islington, London, N1, N1 7BJ, new north road, pub, REAL ALE, REGENTS CANAL, review, RIB, the north pole
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Wine of the Month: Bouchard Aine & Fils, Beaune, Clos du Roi, Cuvee Signature 2009
Wow. Earthy onion soup bouquet (like you wish your mom used to make for you). Cherry and black currant depth on the tongue, followed by a rich licorice aftertaste. Bouchard Aine & Fils, Beaune, Clos du Roi, Cuvee Signature 2009 … Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, France, Shopping, Wine, Wine of the Month
Tagged beaune, Bouchard Aine & Fils, burgundy, Clos du Roi, Cuvee Signature 2009, france, french wine, pinot noir, premier cru, premium wine, red wine, wine, Wine of the Month, wotm
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Bob Martin Sports Photography Retrospective at Quaglino’s, London (CheapOair)
Now on view until September (and just in time for the Olympics), a retrospective exhibition of prints by award winning sports photographer Bob Martin presents an ideal opportunity to “get into a sporting spirit as London prepares to host this year’s … Continue reading
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Posted in Art, Drink, Food, London, London 2012, OneTravel, Photography, Restaurants, Travel
Tagged Art, athletics, bob martin, cheapoair, London, london 2012, mayfair, Photography, photography exhibition, QUAGLINO'S, restaurant, review, sports, sports photography, st james's, W1
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Twenty Nights of Global Feasting at Stratford (Great British Chefs)
Only a couple of minutes walk from Stratford Station, Westfield and the Olympic Park is Stratford’s Old Town Hall. But the building could be a world away if you didn’t know any better. And for a glimpse of pre-Olympic grandeur … Continue reading
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Win FREE Burritos for a Year from @benitoschat
To celebrate four years of bundling up burritos and mixing margaritas, Benito’s Hat has announced a chance to win a year’s worth of free food from the London-based (and owned) Mexican restaurant group. Runner up prizes include free food for … Continue reading
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Posted in Competition, Drink, Food, Freebies, London, Restaurants
Tagged £4, benito's hat, birthday, burritos, competition, discounts, free, FREE BURRITOS, freebies, London, margaritas, mexican food, tacos, WIN, win free burritos for a year
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Mexican Restaurant, Wahaca, “Experiments” on London’s Southbank (CheapOair)
One of London’s most celebrated locally owned restaurant groups, Wahaca, has launched a new pop up location at the popular Southbank Centre. Read my complete post at the CheapOair blog.
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Posted in CheapOair, Drink, Food, Graffiti, London, Restaurants, Travel
Tagged cheapoair, Graffiti, London, mexican food, micheladas, pop-up, queen elizabeth hall, review, river thames, saner, SE1, SE1 8XX, southbank, southbank centre, street art, tacos, thames, THOMASINA MIERS, wahaca, wahaca southbank, wahaca southbank experiment
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English Wine Tasting at the Wine & Spirit Education Trust
Getting the hint after record sales of English wine during the Diamond Jubilee weekend, the Wine & Spirit Education Trust recently launched its first English Wine tasting class aimed at consumers. Hosted by Julia Trustram Eve (Marketing Director at English … Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, England, London, Wine
Tagged bermondsey, BERMONDSEY STREET, blanc de blancs, ENGLISH WINE, english wine producers, ian harris, julia trustram eve, London, nyetimber, nyetimber blanc de blanc 2003, SE1, SE1 3XF, sparkling wine, wine, Wine & Spirit Education Trust, wine tasting, WSET
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Christmas in July: Harvey Nichols and Carluccio’s
It’s always Christmastime here in tikichrisland. Even in July. No, not really, but as dinosaur magazine publishers who plan their content seasons ahead of time still seem to lead the way when it comes to press events, summer is the … Continue reading
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Posted in Beer, Christmas, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Shopping
Tagged beer, black pepper, carluccio's, carluccio's christmas press event, chocolate, christmas, christmas 2012, coconut juice, danish licorice, Einstök, el dorado, gift boxes, gosling's, HARVEY NICHOLS, harvey nichols christmas in july, HARVEY NICHOLS' FIFTH FLOOR CAFE, Indonesian long pepper, Javanese Cubeb and Sichuan flower pepper, jax coco, Johan Bülow, Lakrids, Lakrids by Johan Bülow, licorice, London, love drinks, panettone, peppermongers, review, roccette, rum, Tellicherry black pepper, truffles
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Antico Italian Restaurant Near London Bridge (CheapOair)
A relative newcomer to the Bermondsey scene offering classic Italian cuisine in a contemporary London setting, Antico is the answer to an often desperate Londoner’s question: Where can I get a proper plate of pasta in this town? Read my complete post at … Continue reading
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Posted in CheapOair, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Travel, Wine
Tagged antico, antico restaurant & lounge bar, bermondsey, BERMONDSEY STREET, borough, cheapoair, clams, italian cuisine, italian food, italian restaurant, linguine, London, pasta, restaurant, restaurant review, SE1, soave, TIRAMISU, wild black bream, wine
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Street Market Focus: Chelsea Farmer’s Market (OneTravel)
Slumming it in delicious style never tasted so good! Considered to be Chelsea‘s worst kept secret and an excellent spot for farm fresh shopping and outdoor dining, the Chelsea Farmers Market is situated just off the uber fashionable King’s Road in … Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, London, OneTravel, Shopping, Travel
Tagged british food, chelsea, chelsea farmers market, duke of york square, king's road, London, lunch, OneTravel, pies, rummanco, street food, street market, timmy's pies
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Good Stuff
Bad stuff: I’m missing a close friend’s birthday bash because I’m too ill (hacking cough, nasal congestion, achy joints, general fatigue) to go out and I’m not sure if I’m going to be well enough to participate in a couple of … Continue reading
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Posted in Art, Berry Bros & Rudd, Drink, Georgia, Good Stuff, London, Movies, Video, Wine
Tagged 2008 Domaine de Chevalier Rouge, alfie dennen, artsadmin, Berry Bros & Rudd, berry brothers, bourdeaux, bourdeaux 2011, caledonian park, caledonian park clock tower, En Primeur, good stuff, graves, MARIA ARCEO, maria jose arceo, panda go panda, sweatshop, the walking dead, wine, zombie
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Bermondsey Street Eats! (CheapOair)
It’s not a terribly long street, but it is one of London’s yummiest and these days is ranked among this city’s most celebrated thoroughfares. Read my complete post at the CheapOair blog.
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Posted in Coffee, Drink, Food, London, Pubs, Restaurants, Travel
Tagged antico, bermondsey, BERMONDSEY STREET, caphe house, cheapoair, coffee, DELFINA, jose, JOSE PIZARRO, London, PIZARRO, restaurants, SE1, south london, tapas, tapas bar, the garrison, zucca
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Wahaca – on – Thames
Wahaca’s new Southbank Experiment has just opened at the Southbank Centre (where Dishoom’s fabulous Chowpatty Beach was last summer). The temporary restaurant has been constructed out of eight recycled shipping containers, arranged in a two storey overhanging structure that allows … Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, Graffiti, London, Restaurants
Tagged Graffiti, London, mexican food, micheladas, pop-up, queen elizabeth hall, review, river thames, saner, SE1, SE1 8XX, southbank, southbank centre, street art, tacos, thames, THOMASINA MIERS, wahaca, wahaca southbank, wahaca southbank experiment
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Ceviche Pop Up Opens @ St Martin’s Hotel
“Chino-Latino” restaurant, Asia de Cuba, has opened a ceviche and rum pop up bar in The Front Room at St Martin’s Lane Hotel. It’s a snazzed up but casual setting for drinking mojitos and other summery cocktails from the rum bar and for trying an … Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, Hotels, London, Restaurants
Tagged asia de cuba, CEVICHE, ceviche by asia de cuba, cocktails, hotel, London, mojitos, pop-up, rum, ST MARTIN'S LANE, ST MARTIN'S LANE HOTEL, the front room, WC2, WC2N 4HX
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Disappearing Dining Club “Back in 5 Minutes” for the Next Six Months
Long time pop-up pioneers, Disappearing Dining Club, are settling in for a six month stay with a new “Back in 5 Minutes” secret dining room on Brick Lane. Invited along to a Back in 5 Minutes press preview, I had … Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, London, Restaurants
Tagged back in 5 minutes, brick lane, disappearing dingin club, London, pop up restaurant, pop-up, review, tower hamlets
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Champagne + Fromage in the Heart of London (OneTravel)
Following a successful run as a pop up, the folks behind Covent Garden’s Champagne + Fromage have apparently decided to sign a longer lease to continue offering their winning combo of French delights. Champagne + Fromage in the Heart of … Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, London, OneTravel, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel, Wine
Tagged BISTRO, champagne, champagne + fromage, CHARCUTERIE, cheese, covent garden, FRENCH BUBBLES, french cheese, fromage, limited production grower champagne, London, OneTravel, pop-up, sparkling wine, une normande a londres, WC2, WC2E 7DD, wellington street, wine
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Win a Free Gourmet Picnic Hamper from Drake & Morgan
Drake & Morgan bar and restaurant group has launched a couple of new “Britnic” picnic hampers. There’s a Gourmet Picnic Hamper with bottle of wine priced at £45.95 and a Classic Strawberries & Cream Hamper (perfect for the summer sports season) … Continue reading
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Posted in Competition, Drink, Food, Freebies, London, Pubs, Restaurants, Wine
Tagged BARS, britnic, classic strawberries & cream hamper, competition, DRAKE & MORGAN, free, free picnic, free prosecco, free wine, freebie, gourmet picnic, gourmet picnic hamper, London, london picnic, picnic basket, picnic hamper, prosecco, pub, restaurants, the anthologist, THE DRIFT, the folly, the parlour, THE REFINERY, WIN, wine
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Wine of the Month: 2006 Domaine Nathalie & Gilles Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses
This month’s WOTM features another fantastic bottle picked up last month in Burgundy. As made deliciously clear during my trip, what makes Bourgogne wine so damn fine is the terroir. And Domaine Nathalie & Gilles Fèvre’s range of Grand Cru … Continue reading
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Chase and Country Tails Terrace at Harvey Nichols Fifth Floor (CheapOair)
Now open to the public but only for a limited time, the Chase and Country Tails Terrace at Harvey Nichols Fifth Floor is a fun al fresco setting for a summer drink. Chase and Country Tails Terrace at Harvey Nichols … Continue reading
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San Sebastian Tapas Tour (Urban Travel Blog)
House music into the morning amd more giant gin and tonics. Buenos dias hangover! Ugh. San Sebastian Tapas Tour Urban Travel Blog, 18 June 2012
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Posted in Drink, Food, Pubs, Restaurants, Spain, Travel
Tagged Bar Bergara, bar goiz argi, basque country, cocktails, Friends Disco, Goiz Argi, La Cocteleria Dickens, La Cuchara San Telmo, pintxo, san sebastian, spain, tapas, tapas bars, urban travel blog
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Zagat’s Pick of 30 Under 30 Londoners (OneTravel)
Zagat has announced its first ever London 30 Under 30 list. Compiled by Zagat’s editorial team, the list spotlights up-and-coming chefs, managers, sommeliers and mixologists in the London area, all under the age of 30. Zagat’s Pick of 30 Under 30 Londoners OneTravel, … Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, London, OneTravel, Restaurants, Social Media, Travel
Tagged 30 under 30, chefs, London, mixologists, OneTravel, restaurants, sommeliers, under 30, ZAGAT, zagat london
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Hotel du Vin Introduces New Lunch Menu
Hotel du Vin has launched a new lunch menu featuring a one, two or three course offer priced at £9.95, £12.95 and £14.95 respectively (not too bad!) along with a selection of salads, sandwiches and tartines. They’ve also given their à … Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, England, Food, Restaurants, Travel, Wine
Tagged a la carte menu, bisto du vin, BISTRO, Chateau Bauduc, Chateau Bauduc 2008 Clos des Quinze, hotel, HOTEL DU VIN, kent, lunch, restaurant, review, royal tunbridge wells, steak, Tunbridge Wells, wine
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Antico, Bermondsey Street: High Quality Italian in a Relaxed Setting
To quote my girlfriend, “Oh my God … I’m in heaven.” Yeah, our visit to this new(ish) Bermondsey Street Italian restaurant yielded a great lunch. A couple of bites off her plate and I could see what she was OMGing … Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Wine
Tagged antico, antico restaurant & lounge bar, bermondsey, BERMONDSEY STREET, borough, clams, italian cuisine, italian food, italian restaurant, linguine, London, pasta, restaurant, restaurant review, SE1, soave, TIRAMISU, wild black bream, wine
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Best of Burgundy (CheapOair)
Burgundy is a foodie heaven, a wine lover’s paradise and an ideal setting for that French countryside vacation you’ve been dreaming about. Best of Burgundy CheapOair, 14 June 2012
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Posted in CheapOair, Drink, Food, France, Hotels, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel, Wine
Tagged 2cv citroen, au coeur du vin, beaune, best western hotel henry II, burgundy, chablis, cheapoair, cremant, fine dining, france, french countryside, french wine, hotel, loiseau des vignes, Maison Bouchard Aine et Fils, restaurants, sparkling wine, Travel, vineyards, wine
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Free Pizza Masterclass and Beer with Birra Moretti and Giancarlo Caldessi
I’m just back from an al fresco lunch at Islington Green where I made my own pizza and had a free small beer. The freebie treat came compliments of Birra Moretti. Helping me out with the small group who’d assembled … Continue reading
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Posted in Beer, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Social Media
Tagged beer, birra moretti, caldessi, free beer, freebie, giancarlo caldesi, inslington green, italian beer, italian food, London, lunch, pizza, pizza in the piazza, pizza masterclass, potters fields park, table moretti, tavistock square
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Chase and Country Tails Terrace @ Harvey Nichols Fifth Floor
The recently opened (and only around until Sunday 15 July) Chase and Country Tails Terrace at Harvey Nichols Fifth Floor is a fun al fresco setting for summer drinks and sharing a laugh. A range of Chase Distillery spirits based … Continue reading
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Oldest Surviving East India Company Warehouse to Become Restaurant Complex
The oldest surviving warehouses built by the East India Company, are to be re-launched by restaurant group D&D London to create a modern British grill restaurant, cocktail bar, fish restaurant and specialist wine shop. Constructed between 1768 and 1771 by the … Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Shopping, Wine
Tagged BARS, city of london, cocktails, Conran & Partners, D&D LONDON, east india company, EC2, fish market, georgian architecture, JOSPER GRILL, liverpool street, liverpool street station, London, new street, new street grill, new street wine shop, old bengal bar, restaurants, tower hamlets, warehouse, wine
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£10,000 Diamond Cocktail @ Four Seasons Hotel London
I’m just now picking up on the story, but this over-the-top Diamond Jubilee cocktail is available throughout the month of June. So it’s still relevant and definitely retains some gawk value … To celebrate Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Louis XIII has collaborated … Continue reading
