Aprés Food Co have been on the right hand side about half of the way up St John St for a couple of years now and I’m ashamed to say that we never even noticed them. The place looks like a coffee shop, and even has a name like a coffee shop, so that’s my excuse. But what a travesty! My ignorance has denied you the shiniest little gem! Before now, they have been a breakfast and lunch venue, but now they are open for dinners, too. In a nutshell, Aprés Food Co is all about eating nutritionally well in order to improve your life. I know it sounds like a motivational teleshopping ‘time to … [Read more...]
Fentimans Secret Spritz Garden opens in Farringdon
August 11, 2019 by
Now open from Wednesday to Saturday, including the Sunday of the bank holiday weekend. Wed – Fri – 5pm – 11pm Saturday 12pm-11pm Bank Holiday Sunday 25th August - 12pm -11pm Fentimans Secret Spritz Garden, St John Priory Church, St John’s Square, Farringdon, London, EC1V 4RQ www.secretspritzgarden.com Let's support them! Fentimans is a family owned business started in 1905 by Thomas Fentiman; it is presently run by Eldon Robson, Thomas Fentiman’s great, great grandson. Fentimans is the only brewer in the UK to use the timehonoured process of botanical brewing to produce natural … [Read more...]
Our own Half Cup has arrived
August 6, 2019 by
This is the second Half Cup in London. The first, in Kings Cross, opened in 2014 and is very popular. I’ve popped in a couple of time when I’ve been waiting for a train because it is only a very short walk from the station but a million miles away from the concourse congestion. Our new Half Cup is in the new Bartholomew Square development (down to the Doctors’ and keep on walking past the bend), triangulated by LINO and Stem+Glory. The area is becoming a pleasant eating-out destination, virtually devoid of traffic. Outside My only lament is that we couldn’t sit outside. The … [Read more...]
Cocktails & snacks at LINO
July 19, 2019 by
We went back for some quick cocktails and snacks to LINO last night and I was pleased to see that the (still relatively new) venue is maintaining its success. The huge central bar in the capacious old linoleum warehouse was surrounded by happy hour customers, but the place is so big that there was still plenty of space to find a table – I have to says that I do love their heavy marble table-tops and sofa seating! I say ‘happy hour’ but their current special is actually ‘Sauer Hour’ - every night between 4pm - 7pm, you can get a portion of irresistible sauerkraut croquettes (tried and … [Read more...]
Short Eats (ingredients to your door)
July 18, 2019 by
Family. Fun. Food. That’s me. And that’s what Short Eats is all about. Firstly, “Hello” my fellow Barbicanians. It is beyond a pleasure to be here- here in this fantastic concrete jungle and literally here in this article; being a part of your day; a part of a morning read, a coffee browse or post dinner scroll. Thank you for lending me your ears and indeed, your time. So what is this all about? Short Eats (the concept) originates from South India and refers to all of those delicious bites that one would nibble on pre or post main meal. In my household growing up, my mother was an … [Read more...]
Fentimans Secret Spritz Garden in Farringdon this August
July 17, 2019 by
In the middle of bustling Farringdon, hidden behind ivy covered walls and unknown to passers-by, lies the Order of St. John’ Cloister garden, which will be taken over by Fentimans for three weeks in August as its Secret Spritz Garden. It will be a hideaway filled with fragrant herbs, aromatic plants and Fentimans spritz cocktails. Created by the botanical soft drink and mixer makers Fentimans, the Secret Spritz Garden will be an oasis for after-work drinks and savoured weekend cocktails during the parched August days. Filled with medicinal herbs and plants, at the heart of the … [Read more...]
Tramp also has its 50th this year
July 4, 2019 by
Iconic London members club, Tramp is to release a limited-edition Champagne and 24k gold burger to celebrate its 50th anniversary year, on 19 July. The illustrious club has played host to a litany of stars including Frank Sinatra, Sir Michael Caine, Sir Rod Stewart, Rolling Stones and The Beatles over the years, but this is the first time guests will be able to drink the club’s own brand of champagne. Two, limited edition champagnes - a Blanc de Blanc and a Rose - were created in partnership with Eminent Wines The Blanc de Blanc uses grapes from the Montagne de Reims region and has … [Read more...]
Two Shoreditch Restaurants in World Top 50
June 26, 2019 by
At a recent ceremony in Singapore, the world’s 50 top restaurants were ranked and included only two from the U.K. – both in Shoreditch so within easy range of Barbican fine diners. The Clove Club, located in the Old Shoreditch Town Hall came in at 27th and Lyle’s on Shoreditch High Street at 33rd. Top spot was awarded to Mirazur near Menton on the French Riviera. This 50 best listing of world restaurants has been running since 2002 and is compiled by William Reed Business Media based out of Crawley in the south east of the UK and is based on reports from over 1,000 industry experts. … [Read more...]
New Hoxton Venue opens 20th June
June 20, 2019 by
This June, Hoxton Square will welcome a brand new addition with the arrival of Gigi’s Hoxton, a new all-day restaurant, bar and late night music venue. Taking over the former site of Zigfrid von Underbelly, Gigi’s Hoxton will be a venue like no other in London, with a unique fusion of cutting edge design, contemporary food and kick-ass cocktails with the hottest DJ sets and live music, cementing its new place in Hoxton’s famously evolving going out scene. Gigi’s Hoxton is the brainchild of Giovanna Hussain, the powerhouse behind some of East London’s most popular venues. An inimitable force … [Read more...]
‘it’s a bit like a jamboree in your mouth’
June 17, 2019 by
This place is up there with my favourites. Head up Bunhill Row past Bunhill Fields and you’ll find Flamboree on Old St on the site of the original Bovril factory. Exterior Seating 75, the interior is vibrant industrial fun. Interior Flamboree focuses on tarte flambée, a speciality of the region of Alsace in eastern France and south west Germany - where it is called flammekueche (translates as ‘flame pastry’). It originates from the process of baking bread when a thin slice of pastry would be used to test the heat of the ovens. Bringing us this deliciously different menu is … [Read more...]
