Food And Drink Meets Art, Music & More: A Fluid State
Londonist, October 28, 2010 1:30 PM
Mad-Men-inspired cocktails, a mezcal monkey tattoo parlour, whisky, jazz, chocolate and alcohol pairings and more are on the menu as ‘experience curators’ The Tasting Sessions bring back A Fluid State – one of London’s most inventive food and drink festivals – over the first weekend of December.
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Food And Drink Meets Art, Music & More: A Fluid State
Whether thirsting for something from Rioja, Mendoza or Mosel, something high end and unique or cheap-n-cheerful, to wow a host or treat a guest, there’s a plethora of options, often to a bewildering extent. Choosing the right wine for the right occasion can be difficult and even more challenging is actually finding the time to browse for that perfect bottle. The fact of the matter is that sometimes you’re just in too much of a rush or that you simply want something inexpensive and ‘good enough’ for a nice, quiet evening at home.
However, finding good wine merchants doesn’t have to be such a struggle. If you live in London, I can highly recommend checking out Berry Bros & Rudd and Bibendum – both for their range of product and customer service. Wine bar and shop Vinoteca on St John Street is a great one to keep in mind as well, especially if you’re keen for personable service and advice.
Of course, it’s not just the major players and the local indie shops that come in handy. I’ve come across brill quaffs at local supermarkets and chains. I’ve found Nicolas wine shops particularly worthwhile in the past and was really rather surprised to discover a wonderfully downable bottle of Jadot Bourgogne Pinot Noir was purchased by a house guest at my nearby Tesco Metro. So, it’s reassuring knowing that, when in a pinch (for money or time) even the local whatever probably has something decent for your tastes.
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New Tandoori Lunch Menu at Imli
Londonist, October 26, 2010 12:15 PM
Executive Chef Samir Sadekar and co have introduced a new range of tandoori dishes this autumn to complement their menu of “Indian tapas”. Londonist was invited round for a sample and …
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New Tandoori Lunch Menu at Imli
Guru Event: Monsieur M Rolled Out the Mai Tais
Qype does London, October 26th 2010
Last week’s Autumn Rolls and Mai Tais at Old Street’s Indochinese resto – Monsieur M – was a fun, laid back and yummy affair.
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Guru Event: Monsieur M Rolled Out the Mai Tais
Carl Warner’s Food Landscapes
Locally Sourced, 26 October 2010
Like a modern day Guiseppe Archimboldo (you know, that 16th century Italian artist who painted the portraits of people composed mostly of fruits, veg, flowers and fish), Carl Warner constructs realistic landscapes entirely from food.
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Carl Warner’s Food Landscapes
Review of Starbucks Aroma Lab and a Few Brew at Home Tips
Qype does London, October 25th 2010
Hosted by Alan Hartney (the UK Coffee Ambassador for Starbucks) at Starbucks’ flagship Conduit Street shop in Mayfair, an “Aroma Labs” session of blending, tasting, making and pairing coffee for a select group of Qyper coffee snobs was fun and informative … and the Starbucks folks were super generous. Alan was especially giving in his vast knowledge of all things caffeine as he took us through a tasting of five different blends (my faves were the Sumatra and the Christmas Blend) and helped us discern the different flavours in each.
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Review of Starbucks Aroma Lab and a Few Brew at Home Tips
New Bar Review: Aces & Eights
Londonist, October 22, 2010 2:30 PM
A dive by design without coming across as contrived, Aces & Eights has been open a few months offering Tufnell Park a low brow ensemble of “rock, liquor and pizza”.
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New Bar Review: Aces & Eights
New Pub Review: The White Horse
Londonist, October 21, 2010 6:00 PM
Trotting into Exchange Place near Liverpool Street is The White Horse. A lighter, airier (and by no means “old man”) pub with a bit of rustic style, it’s a pleasant place to sip a pint … or to grab a bite.
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New Pub Review: The White Horse
FHM – After Dark Special – out now!
Just in time for Halloween, the latest issue of FHM is now available and full of articles to sink your teeth into … such as the world exclusive 16 page “sexy vampire” showdown starring super sultry vampire vixens Christian Serratos from Twilight, Natasha Alam from True Blood and Diora Baird of this month’s 30 Days of Night: Dark Days. This “sexy vampire showdown” has me thinking about the whole “vampires are sexy” thing. Why? Vampires suck, right? Maybe that’s part of the sex appeal? And what’s more intimate than blood … which is red … the colour of passion.
Beyond the bevy of beautiful vamps, this latest FHM is as good an ish as any to snap off the shop shelves for a month’s load of entertainment for men: fitness, health, fashion, film, music and games. I’ve got a long flight with a layover scheduled for next week that (in addition to some DVDs and a couple of books) could do with some glossy mag distraction.
For more exclusive content on Diora Baird or to buy FHM magazine now, visit www.fhm.com/afterdark.
FHM – After Dark Special – out now
Buy FHM now
See exclusive content on Diora Baird
New Restaurant Review: Sushi Ga Ga
Londonist, October 20, 2010 4:45 PM
… now for the “ga ga”. Ebi siu mai (prawn dumplings, £4 for six pieces) with a dab of mustard was yummy while wasabi prawns (£5) presented with a light tempura coat, a vibrant swab of wasabi mayo and dangling from sticks on a thick cutting board delighted our eyes as much as our palates. A whole lot better than we ever would have imagined, we’re almost embarrassed to admit how moreish we found our plate of Spaghetti Ga Ga (fresh ramen cooked with minced wagu beef tomato sauce, £7.50).
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New Restaurant Review: Sushi Ga Ga
New Menu Items at Tsuru Japanese Restaurants
Londonist, October 19, 2010 4:30 PM
The London duo of Japanese restaurants that is Tsuru (Bankside and Bishopsgate) has updated its already yummy menu with a half dozen or so items priced between £4.50 and £7. After a sampling of the new dishes, Londonist is pleased to say we very much approve!
Highlights include …
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New Menu Items at Tsuru Japanese Restaurants
Polo, Steak and Wine, Wine, Wine!
Qype does London, October 18th 2010
Held at Ham Polo Club in leafy Richmond (before the day, I had no idea there was a place to play polo in London, but Ham has been around since the 1920s), hosted by Nicolas Audebert (chief winemaker of Cheval des Andes, Terrazas de los Andes vineyard and a bit of a polo fanatic) and catered by the near ubiquitous upmarket steakhouse chain, Gaucho, we guests were wined and dined in fantastic Anglo-Argentine style. As fun as watching the horseback action on the field was – and as plentiful and tasty as the steaks and food were – the real highlight for me was the wine.
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Polo, Steak and Wine, Wine, Wine!
Here’s some hubba hubba for your Monday morning: lace suspenders (or garters as they’re called Stateside).
Anachronistic marvels of sartorial engineering, these thin bands of fastened loveliness unite gravity defying elastic garter belts to the objects of their purpose: stretchy, dreamy, dainty stockings. Lace suspenders are at once chaste and seductive – with their ultimate function depending very much upon who’s wearing them and why. Whether upholding virtues or levelling the lustful, they fuse fashion with fetish and suggest as much as they conceal.
I’m rubbish talking about women’s undergarments, huh? Anyway, this is sponsored content, and I just thought it would be a hoot to see what I could come up with. Besides, it gave me an excuse (and permission) to publish that foxy photo at the top of this post. And to be sure, there are far worse ways to spend a Monday morning (which is now slipping closer and closer into Monday afternoon) than pondering the sheer and lacy accoutrements of womanly wearings … and it certainly beats the rest of the goofy stuff I intend to write about today.
Usually, when I’m blogging about legs, they’ve been cooked and seasoned and placed on a plate. Perhaps, I’ve found a new vocation. The world could use an enthusiastic (if occasionally cranky) reviewer of lady’s leg wear, right? You’d regularly read such musings (especially if accompanied by some relevant photos), wouldn’t you?
Maybe the next time I find myself with some free time on a Monday morning, I could share some babble about another wonderful topic, nipple tassels!
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FREE Cups of Coffee, 18-22 October, 8am-10am @ 108 Marylebone Lane
Londonist, October 17, 2010 10:28 PM
Photography by AndyKirby79
From Monday 18 until Friday 22 October 2010, 108 Marylebone Lane Restaurant & Bar (a very nice restaurant indeed we reckon) will be giving away one free illycaffè coffee, from 8am and 10am, to any and all dropping in.
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FREE Cups of Coffee, 18-22 October, 8am-10am @ 108 Marylebone Lane
Review: Louise Bourgeois: The Fabric Works @ Hauser & Wirth London, Savile Row
Londonist, October 15, 2010 11:59 AM
“The Fabric Works” marks the opening of contemporary art behemoth Hauser & Wirth‘s new space at 23 Savile Row. With 15,000 square feet of exhibition space, it’s a dandy of a setting for viewing art and promises plenty of “larger exhibitions and more expansive installations” to come.
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Review: Louise Bourgeois: The Fabric Works @ Hauser & Wirth London, Savile Row
Reminder: Free Cocktails for Every Early Christmas Booking at Lucky Voice
Londonist, October 15, 2010 10:48 AM
Today’s the last day to take advantage of this Londonist Exclusive!
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Reminder: Free Cocktails for Every Early Christmas Booking at Lucky Voice
What’s Going On at this Year’s Frieze Art Fair
Juxtapoz, Thursday, 14 October 2010 15:10
“This year’s Frieze seems much more tempered and scaled back compared to the past couple of years,” comments Chris Osburn. “But on the upside there seems to be lots more raunchy and in-your-face stuff.”
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What’s Going On at this Year’s Frieze Art Fair
Review: Frieze Art Fair 2010
Londonist, October 14, 2010 4:40 PM
A more subdued fair than in recent years but nonetheless an invigorating opportunity to view what’s what in contemporary art, this year’s Frieze Art Fair ultimately does not fail to inspire.
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Review: Frieze Art Fair 2010
El Cantara Opens on Frith Street
Londonist, October 14, 2010 1:30 PM
Think: a downmarket Moro spread across three floors with a lovely Shisha terrace smack dab in the meaty bit of Soho. Not a bad idea really.
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El Cantara Opens on Frith Street
Exhibition Review: In Gods We Trust by Nick Walker @ Art Sensus
Londonist, October 13, 2010 1:30 PM
“In Gods We Trust”, his first major solo show in two years, is no exception. Sticking to what he does best (the stencils) while incorporating concept pieces, it’s a ballsy exhibition. At last night’s private view, Londonist was pleased to see his latest offering of bitingly satyrical visualized observations. A centrepiece crucified chocolate Jesus (no that’s not the name of a religiously overtoned Blaxplotation flick) being chiselled at by a pair of giddy little curly haired blonde girls gave the PV an especially fun-through-iconoclasm tone. Star spangled burqas, the Pope as Bond villian and much more await the curious in search of refreshingly anti-social art.
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Exhibition Review: In Gods We Trust by Nick Walker @ Art Sensus
