Food & Drink - House Of Coco Magazine

Food & Drink November 9, 2023

Fancy a tea fit for the Savoy?

We here at #Teamcoco have quite the penchant for afternoon tea. So when the new ‘Organic Darjeeling First Flush’ from JING was announced as the best Darjeeling First Flush tea for 2019 and a new tea on the Savoy’s afternoon tea menu, Rachael Lindsay had to try it out.

The ‘Organic Darjeeling First Flush’ was one of three rare teas selected to feature on the Afternoon Tea menu served in The Savoy’s Thames Foyer. This tea recently won JING’s inaugural Excellence at Origin competition for Darjeeling First Flush, beating 16 other entries. A panel of experts judged this First Flush from Seeyok Estate to best capture the very essence of the Darjeeling terroir and the craftsmanship vital to First Flush production.

The tea was unsurprisingly absolutely delicious. With honey and floral tones, it was a delicate taste and a tea that I would happily enjoy by itself, as well as a perfect accompaniment to cake, or a light sandwich. Whilst it is a serious treat to go along to the Savoy for an afternoon tea, the joy of ordering this tea straight from JING is that you can recreate the experience in the comfort of your own home.

The Darjeeling region has over 150 years of tea making history and grows a selection of uniquely fragrant teas. The first flush harvest takes place in late March and is the very first plucking of the season’s leaves. The competition winning garden – Seeyok – employs a huge mostly female team. It is fair-trade, organic and dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for the local community, offering health care, sanitation and free education to its workers and their families.

Seeyok Estate Director Guatam Mohan said: “Drinking Darjeeling tea is an experience to be savoured – it captures the essence of Spring in the stunning Himalayas and can’t be rushed. This special tea is geographically protected which means you can’t grow Darjeeling anywhere else in the world and we are excited to be working with JING and for customers to try it.”

For more information or to order the tea, check out jingtea.com.

Afternoon Tea November 9, 2023

#TeamCocopup: by CHLOE’s Afternoon Tea with a Plant-based twist

Hailed as one of New York’s beloved vegan fast casual brand, by CHLOE.’s Covent Garden home is soon becoming London’s favourite plant-based restaurant. If you’re looking to indulge in some tea and cakes, minus all the guilt, then by CHLOE.’s Afternoon Tea is definitely the afternoon Tea for you.

Served in the two candy coloured long tables in the middle of by CHLOE.’s totally Instagrammable space, the Afternoon Tea is composed of British inspired tea sandwiches and cakes — but with a healthy twist! For instance, the tuna in the classic tuna sandwich has been made with chickpeas, the Egg Salad is made with Tofu, and the Smoked Salmon is made with marinated tomato filets, seaweed, and smoked chipotle. Moving onto desserts, the tea cake selection is composed of baby cakes, cupcakes, and scones made with special egg and butter-free flour. All washed down with some tea selections from by CHLOE.’s official tea partner, Good & Proper Tea. (We swear, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference in taste, but your body will thank you afterwards!) So everyone from vegetarians and vegans alike can rejoice and partake in the quintessentially British tradition without having to worry about a thing.

TeamCocopup Charlie didn’t miss out on the plant-based action too, because he got his own bag of 100% organic and plant based Peanut Butter Dog Treats from by CHLOE.’s in-house brand of healthy doggy treats. So if you’re looking for ways to spend an afternoon with your pup this spring, then definitely pop into by CHLOE. – for some afternoon tea that’s easy on the eyes and even easier on your health. After a busy work week and lots of boozy after-work situations, by CHLOE.’ s British inspired Afternoon Tea was exactly what this mum and pup needed to recharge and refresh for the week ahead.

https://eatbychloe.com/

by CHLOE.’s Afternoon Tea will be available Thursday to Sunday from 2.30pm to 6pm at both UK locations, with bookings to be made via the website, https://eatbychloe.com. This will be the first-time customers are able to reserve a table at both Covent Garden and One Tower Bridge venues. Reservations are only accepted for Afternoon Tea. The Afternoon Tea will be priced at £20 per person with the option to add bubbles for £7.50.

Fitness November 9, 2023

Why marbella is a perfect destination for a wellness weekend

Holidays are no longer all about excess food, drink and sleep. Health and well-being are high on the traveller agenda, as bookings for wellness experiences soar. According to TripAdvisor’s Experiences Trends Report, global traveller bookings for wellness experiences jumped 69% year-over year as holidaymakers are looking for an all-round healthy break.

The Amare Beach Hotel Marbella is the perfect place to stay for a wellness weekend. They combine an amazing spa, good food and fitness making it the ideal destination for keeping active as well as unwinding. You can design your break to be as active or relaxing as you want. Team Coco opted for a combination of both.

Start your day on a chilled vibe with beach yoga. Guided by Amare teacher, Soledad Jimenez Mateos, this class is aimed at all abilities. Set on the harbour at the front of the hotel you loosen up as you’re taken through some gentle stretching, gradually moving into downward dog and warrior pose. The advantage of doing yoga by the sea is that you breathe in clean air, feel the gentle morning sun on your face and the sea breeze in your hair. The sound of the waves gently crashing on the harbour wall create a real zen moment and I quickly switched off from any busy thoughts just concentrating on the slow, rhythmic movements of my body. Afterwards I recommend you head to the hotel patio to soak up the gorgeous beach views and refuel with a healthy, fresh breakfast buffet.

If you are looking for something a little more adventurous than yoga, then canyoning in nearby Benahavis will get your adrenaline pumping. Travel through the foothills of the mountains and experience unspoiled beauty. The canyons are made up of a series of beautiful rock passages carved and sculpted by water over millions of years. There is a mix of activity including swimming, jumping and abseiling using ropes cascading down white water chutes.

Canyoning was a bit too much for me so I decided to take it down a notch and experience some of the best views of the Costa Del Sol with a hike high up into the Andalusian mountains. There’s a number of trails you can take depending on how far you want to go. This experience is a must for those that enjoy nature and want to experience a perspective of Marbella that few often see. My guide collects me early in the morning and drives up towards the Sierra Blanca. It’s a clear day, the sun is shining so I’m guaranteed some epic views. I opted for the two-hour hike starting at Juanar and heading towards La Concha. The route loops round and takes in olive groves, walnut and pine trees and halfway in we are joined by a wild goat. As we hike further towards the top of the mountain the viewpoints get even better. On a clear day you can see the North African coastline and Gibraltar.

The fresh air and brisk hike left me with an appetite, so I made my way to Amare Beach Lounge for an al fresco lunch. Set on the beach, with a casual Mediterranean vibe the menu includes some tasty tapas staples as well as fresh salads and poke bowls. I went for a selection of traditional Andalusian tapas and a glass of Albarino.

All the hiking gave me a perfect excuse to hit the hotel spa and ease any aching muscles. The spa menu is centred around mind, body and spirit. It features some real treats like the Balance Concept Ritual, which combines an innovative therapy and massage to combat stress. I highly recommend the Sleep Ritual Massage, using essential oils and a range of holistic, calming and relaxing movements your mind and body instantly feel soothed and peaceful, perfect for the end of all long day.

If you are looking for a wellness break in the sunshine, then the Amare Beach Hotel is the perfect spot, reached in just two and a half hours from the UK, with daytime temperatures exceeding 20 degrees from April to October.

Team Coco travelled to Marbella courtesy of Amare Beach Hotel Marbella. For more information visit www.amarehotels.com

Food & Drink November 9, 2023

Some Reasons You Should Get A Restaurant POS System

Over the years, as technological advancement continues, we now have restaurant POS systems.

The idea is to make things convenient for restaurant customers and owners alike. This has tremendously benefited both parties in many ways, which we will analyze in this article.

POS stands for Point Of Sales. It is a kind of computer system used for making payment and other basic transactions.

Many restaurants have embraced the idea as customers continue to request it. Here are the benefits.

1. Presenting a detail report

In times past, reports about things are usually recorded manually. Aside from the fact that this can be tiring, it is also possible to skip out or ignore due to forgetfulness. A restaurant POS system will make things easier for you by storing a large size of information as well as process it within a short time. Usually, it will provide all necessary information such as time log, sales, and items from a central hub. Compare this with the old style of using cash registers and you will realize this system will save you a lot of time that could have gone into something else, like attending to more customers or hiring more hands to do the job.

2. Protecting The Restaurant Owners And Your Customers

There is a lot of cash to handle daily if you are handling payment manually. You get to expose your hands to holding to cash and run the risk of theft or misplacement if the bulk of the money is not handled properly. Employees can be tempted to pick some of the cash without your notice. A Restaurant POS system prevents such occurrences because no one is carrying cash along. Your customers are protected from theft and you as the restaurant owner is protected. It is also secure to use the machine for the customer’s password and security. This is because the server processes the sales, making it difficult to alter check in the computers.

3. Organization And Simplification Of The Task

Maybe you have brought in a new register for holding the cash registers or other manual devices for keeping your information. This looked like a good investment before the invention of restaurant POS systems. But with the invention of POS systems, you have a better tool for organizing data and keeping your desk tidy. Practically, the system will simplify the process of communication between the wait staff and kitchen staff. Owners can make orders pass through it directly and straight to the kitchen printer. This will score another point in keeping things in order in a restaurant. The manual recording of bookkeeping is tedious and time-consuming but you can make it simpler with this machine.

4. Faster Transactions

Aside from that, you can make payments with just your card, and you can complete many transactions in a lesser time than other methods. A restaurant POS system uses barcode scanning which enhances smooth transactions. As an illustration, if you are using the system you will type about 6 characters to begin the transaction which will take about 5 seconds. Compare that with typing 12 characters in other methods, you will spend about 12 seconds. This is one of the reasons why Restaurant POS systems are essential additions to every modern restaurant.

5. Accuracy

Manual documentations are liable to mistakes. Humans are psychological and they tend to connect dots; they are smart. In that way, they tend to remember unrelated stuff, multitask and fail to be mindful at times. In short, they are prone to mistakes. When this happens, they put a lot of things in trouble. Business can be in trouble. Someone might run into debt. There could be room for cheating and other malpractices.

Once we have agreed that accuracy in handling and recording of a transaction is important in all kinds of business, every business owner should find ways to ensure accuracy at all times. Owners of restaurants are included. You don’t want to ruin your reputation as a restaurant business owner. Use restaurant POS systems. With the system, you will make your calculations and database easier to manage. When you need information, you can be certain the information is 100% honest with you.

6. Customer’s Relationship

Perhaps you are thinking of ways to improve customer relationship, you can use the information on the Restaurant POS system to develop a marketing strategy. This will work in your favor because you are using an accurate source of information. Give incentives, develop loyalty programs, etc.

Food & Drink November 9, 2023

Hard Rock Hotel: The Perfect Complement to a Foodie Holiday in San Diego

San Diego, California is the city of amazing sunsets, iconic beaches and great food. Our House of Coco team, Omo and Eulanda, paid a visit to the city to experience its diverse and rich food culture. A memorable VIP experience at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego added a musical flavour to an epic foodie holiday.

It’s All Good in California!

Images of California’s stunning Pacific Coast always evoke feelings of nostalgia for us.

A few years earlier, we had spent two weeks on a road trip through the state, hugging the Pacific Coast Highway and heading north from San Diego to San Francisco.

With miles of iconic beaches, fantastic restaurants, museums, architecture, diverse wildlife, and romantic wine regions, by the end of that trip we agreed with Tupac Shakur who famously rapped the words, “It’s all good, from Diego to the Bay.”

The Hard Rock Hotel Welcome

Recently we had another opportunity to experience California’s charm with a trip to San Diego. This time, we wanted a more intimate experience of the city’s food culture and made plans to explore famous food districts including the Gaslamp Quarter, with its Victorian architecture, and the equally historic Little Italy.

For our visit, we wanted a hotel with close proximity to key locations. We also wanted a hotel that had enough character to leave an indelible impression of the city on us. Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, located downtown and right on the edge of the Gaslamp Quarter seemed an ideal fit.

Our previous experience with the Hard Rock brand was limited to cafes and bars spread across many cities. Therefore we expected a similar theme at the hotel. However, as we walked into the lobby of Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, our first impression was that this was a unique incarnation of the brand.

Check-in formalities concluded quickly, we made our way to our tenth-floor room, taking in the stylish and modern interior décor along the way. With rock music memorabilia being a characteristic feature of the Hard Rock brand, a giant Amalie R. Rothschild photo of Tina Turner and Janis Joplin from their 1969 performance at a Rolling Stones concert caught our attention.

The room colours and furnishings gave us the feeling of being in a cosy music studio. Visitors on holiday to San Diego looking for something unusual and vibrant will find this boutique hotel an interesting option. Business travellers, however, may wish to request a room configuration with a proper work desk and chair.

Jet-lagged but excited, we looked forward to a good night’s rest in the comfortable king sized bed with monogrammed-guitar pillows and an opportunity to explore San Diego over the following days.

Creating Our Own Hard Rock Experience

Parting the curtains the next morning revealed a glorious California sunrise above Petco baseball park, home of the San Diego Padres, across the road. Words from the song California Dreamin’ (The Mamas and The Papas, 1966) echoed from our Spotify playlist as we prepared to head downstairs to Mary Jane’s Diner for breakfast.

It was the end of autumn but being San Diego, the year-round temperate weather was good enough for t-shirts and sunglasses. Before we headed out for our walking food tour with Bite San Diego, we met up with Reggie Garcia, the on-duty ‘Rock Royalty Host’ for a quick chat.

Reggie, an affable chap is the kind of person whose genuine warmth immediately puts you at ease. He welcomed us to the VIP lounge and within minutes we were strumming on an electric guitar and talking about everything from rum to where to get the best sushi burritos in Little Italy.

He explained to us that every Hard Rock Hotel is run as a separate entity. This independence leaves room for each property to innovate and develop its own unique character while maintaining the core ethos of the Hard Rock brand.

Innovators spot the next trend earlier than others. Identifying the resurgence of vinyl, Hard Rock Hotel San Diego have introduced portable record players which allow guests to create their own unique Hard Rock music experience in the comfort of their rooms.

Being Hard Rock, they had an impressive record collection including classics from The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, The Who, Ella Fitzgerald and Etta James. Reggie assured us that he would save our top picks for us to enjoy after we got back from our tour.

Eating Our Way Across San Diego

Some locals call the city ‘Convention Central’ because of the number of high profile conferences and events the city hosts. Perhaps as a direct result of the influx of visitors, San Diego’s food scene has matured very quickly, providing a mind-numbing array of options.

We hooked up with Bite San Diego and a small tour group for a walking food tour of the downtown area. The tour began with an Indian meal and ended up three hours later at a family run Italian restaurant that served the most delicious desserts.

Later that night, we sampled the city’s finer dining options by having dinner at Nobu, an Asian fusion restaurant famous for Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s signature Black Cod with Miso and Yellowtail Jalapeno.

On the recommendation of our waiter, we ordered an espresso with a shot of liqueur and an Ojii San (grapefruit-elderflower with white rum lychee) which helped keep our jet-lag at bay. Being sat close enough to the kitchen and the sushi bar also helped as we felt energised by simply watching the chefs perform their magic. The three-course meal was a journey of textures, flavours, aromas and colours worthy of a multicultural city like San Diego.

San Diego, a True City Escape

People often travel to escape the monotony of the cities they live in. San Diego however, with its laid-back vibe, beaches, unexaggerated Californian sunsets and incredible food scene is the type of city that provides a true escape.

The next day we visited Balboa Park, the largest urban parkland in the USA featuring over a dozen museums and a number of gardens. With numerous walking and cycling paths, it is a great place to feel the pulse of the city.

Across from the Hard Rock Hotel (and through the San Diego Convention Centre) is Seaport Village, a commercial area with restaurants and great views of San Diego Bay. We spent some time window shopping and watching street entertainers, skateboarders and sailboats.

The highlight of the day, however, was a couple’s massage followed by a steam room session at the hotel spa. Eucalyptus oils seeped into our skins, relaxing our tired muscles as we sipped herbal teas after our treatment.

Earlier on, we had picked up the record player and a selection of records from Reggie. We spent the rest of the evening polishing off a 2014 bottle of Hogue Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon and paying tribute to the legends who performed some of the most iconic songs in recent history.

Music always elevates the soul, and this rare opportunity to immerse ourselves in it was the perfect Hard Rock compliment to a lovely holiday.

For booking information, please visit Hard Rock Hotel San Diego

Food & Drink November 9, 2023

Madison London’s Mad Brunch: The city’s best boozy brunch spot

Despite the current gray skies signalling the slow but impending arrival of the end of summer, Madison London presented a last hurrah celebrating the twilight of the British Summertime. Last Bank Holiday Weekend, Madison London celebrated the end of summer with their “White Isle Weekend” extravaganza — a four day Ibiza style party ending the summer with a bang. Team Coco checked out Madison London’s Mad Brunch last Saturday for an afternoon of sweet sunshine, slick beats, and some truly good food.

They kicked off the weekend with internationally renowned DJs Evo & RST, played some wicked beats on Madison’s spectacular St.Paul’s rooftop. Saturday morning was all about Madison’s ever popular Madbrunch, followed by Sundays RNB party, and closing off with Madison’s resident DJ Dave Silcox – to close off this outrageous bank holiday series.

And so with an appropriate amount of bubbles in hand, we got the chance to elevate our typical Sunday brunch by making our way to Madison London’s sleek rooftop bar and restaurant. Not only did we get to spend the afternoon enjoying London’s best view of Saint-Paul’s Cathedral, but we also enjoyed some cheeky brunch cocktails in one of the City’s best rooftop bars – and that’s by no means an exaggeration!

Madison London’s Mad Brunch offers some scrumptious British fare, accompanied by fantastic service and sleek modern interiors, not to mention panoramic views of London’s skyline. We started off with the Carpaccio of salmon, which featured deep-fried cares and smoked eel & kohlrabi remoulade, followed by the absolutely mouthwatering truffle Risotto Bianco and a hearty serving of roast fillet of stone bass. To finish it off — we had a ‘sharing’ dessert menu of their sinfully sweet Elderflower Panna cotta and passion fruit cheesecake. (but it was mighty difficult to share when the dessert is this damn good!) We promise you, there is no better way to end a boozy weekend brunch than with an equally indulgent passionfruit cheesecake!

Overall, if you’re trying to make the most of what’s left of the British summertime, we cannot recommend the Madison London more highly. Our server Hazal and the restaurant manager, Martins Dacis took great care of us — ensuring that we not only enjoyed a perfect brunch and service, but also made sure that we had an unforgettable afternoon.

Check out what other events Madison London has in the pipeline

Australia November 9, 2023

The best place to grab brunch when travelling through Australia’s Gold Coast

Australia’s Gold Coast is situated south of Brisbane and is famed for its beautiful long sandy beaches and popular surfing spots. Not only is it home to theme parks such as Dreamworld and Sea World, this Metropolitan region boasts some damn fine places to eat and drink. One of those hot spots being, The Paddock Bakery, an adorable wood-fire bakery and café with cute garden seating and an indoors area.

We recently visited the Gold Coast and had heard delicious things about this part vintage café and part artisan bakery, so naturally, we wanted to sample the delights ourselves. It has an incredibly chilled vibe; you grab a menu, pop yourself down on the nearest free table and salivate over nearby diners meals whilst trying to decide what to go for. Once you have chosen, you place your order with the lovely Paddock Bakery staff who will issue you with a table number. It has a charming atmosphere and although busy, it doesn’t feel too overcrowded.

The New Zealand King Smoked Salmon, cream cheese, pickled red onion, capers, lemon zest and fresh herbs on a wood-fired bagel was something else and had us wanting to order another round. We then tried the roasted beetroot & Za’atar puree, with poached eggs, Meredith goats milk feta, honey roasted walnuts, Joseph cold pressed olive oil & fresh rosemary on house wood-fired 7 grain sourdough toast as well as devouring a classic avocado on house 7-grain wholemeal sourdough toast with toasted pistachios, sunflower seeds & pepitas. The menu was classic but with a twist and we can confirm every dish we tried was utterly delicious.

If you’re embarking on some travels through Australia’s Gold Coast then we can’t recommend you add this slice of foodie heaven to your must-visit wish-list.

The Paddock Bakery

www.paddockbakery.com

6:30am open | Grill shuts at 2pm and Coffee & Cakes 3pm

Food & Drink November 9, 2023

#CocoKitchen : Meat Free January

If you’re feeling down about the next few weeks of detoxing, #TeamCoco have got some sure-fire ways to help you through.

From Michelin-starred vegan tasting menus at Pollen Street Social, the freshest ceviches at LIMA and brand new meat free ramen at Bone Daddies, to mocktails that will leave you wondering why you ever needed alcohol anyway, detoxing has never been easier.

So no need to hibernate this month, get out there and socialise whilst still being healthy with our top picks…
New vegetarian ramen at Bone Daddies
London’s favourite rock ‘n’ roll ramen bars, Bone Daddies, have added two new vegetarian ramen to the menu just in time for those partaking in meat free January this New Year. Using delicious kara-age tofu as a substitute for meat, both dishes offer vegetarian versions of two of the restaurant’s most popular varieties of ramen for the first time: the Tantanmen 3, which includes sesame, chilli, bok choy and egg and the tofu curry ramen, featuring padrón peppers and cabbage. Proving that you don’t need meat to create a flavour-packed and satisfying ramen, Bone Daddies is now more accessible than ever for vegetarians or those opting to avoid meat this January.

Vegan menus at Pollen Street Social

Last January, Jason Atherton’s Pollen Street Social became the first Michelin-starred restaurant in London to launch a vegan menu, offering a selection of dishes free of all animal products. Now, one year on, the team have been developing the vegan offering further to include dedicated five and eight course tasting menus spanning creative starters, main courses and desserts. Elevating vegetables, herbs and fruit to a new level, dishes include braised broccoli stem, lemon purée, toasted almonds and seaweed and sea buckthorn sorbet with coconut. The innovative menus showcase Atherton’s flair for seasonal produce, the highest quality ingredients and beautiful presentation, offering a unique opportunity to experience vegan fine dining.

Italian vegan set menu at Theo Randall at the InterContinental

This January, one of London’s most prominent chefs, Theo Randall, will contribute to London’s burgeoning animal product-free dining scene with the launch of his Italian vegan set menu. Priced at £29 for two courses or £35 for three, the menu spans antipasti to side dishes and desserts, and even includes pasta and risotto options, enabling vegan guests the opportunity for a full dining experience at his restaurant at the InterContinental, Park Lane. With dishes such as linguine, with violet aubergines, tomatoes and basil, and risotto with courgettes, San Marzano tomatoes and basil, the menu relies on seasonal Italian produce rather than gimmick ingredients to create an enticing and varied selection of vegan dishes.

DRY JANUARY
Non-alcoholic bubble tea mocktails at Jason Atherton’s 7 Tales

The team at Jason Atherton’s downtown Tokyo-inspired bar, 7 Tales, will launch a new non-alcoholic bubble tea detox menu in time for those observing ‘Dry January’ this year. Based on the tapioca pearl drink originating from Taiwan and popular across Japan, the five mocktails each contain a different Japanese tea along with powerful ingredients designed to offer health benefits as well as a flavourful alternative to an alcoholic drink. Named after Japanese cities, the varieties include Kyoto, a blend of coconut milk, mango tea and antioxidant-rich matcha powder and Osaka, which combines black tea, cinnamon and a syrup made from fermented apple that packs a probiotic punch. A playful way to avoid alcohol this January, the bubble teas are each priced between £6-£8.

‘Due Dill-igence’ at Jason Atherton’s City Social

For those going alcohol free this January, the bar at Jason Atherton’s City Social will be using Seedlip, the world’s first non-alcoholic spirit, to create Due Dill-igence, a mocktail to help guests survive Dry January. Bar Manager, Tim Laferla, will be using the Garden 108 variety, featuring fresh, grassy and floral notes, and blending it with elderflower, lemon, ginger, cucumber and the dill that lends the mocktail its playful name. Served against that incredible view over London, who needs alcohol anyway?

Non-alcoholic cocktails at Margot

Throughout January, the team at Covent Garden newcomer, Margot, will be mixing up two non-alcoholic cocktails for those opting for a dry January. Whilst these tipples may be alcohol free, they are certainly not lacking in spirit. Felicitá comprises mixed berries with pomegranate, cranberry juice and lemon, while Mr. Greene is a refreshing mix of cucumber juice, apple, agave syrup and lime.

‘Dry Martini January’ at Jason Atherton’s Pollen Street Social

The destination gin bar at Jason Atherton’s Michelin-starred restaurant, Pollen Street Social, will be serving up a characteristically playful take on this year’s ‘Dry January’. Throughout the month, the bar team will be running ‘Dry Martini January’, serving up three variations of the classic cocktail: a Beefeater 24 variety with a grapefruit twist, a Plymouth version with the addition of lemon and the particularly indulgent Monkey 47 martini, featuring a cherry garnish and a grated butter chocolate top. Priced at £14.50-£17.50 each, the ‘Dry Martini January’ cocktails are perfect for those looking to ditch the detox.

Seedlip partners with Launceston Place to create exclusive January non-alc tasting menu

Seedlip, the world’s first distilled non-alcoholic spirits brand, has partnered with award winning restaurant, Launceston Place, to create an exclusive January tasting menu. Throughout the month, Launceston Place’s exquisite tasting menu will be served alongside a series of expertly-paired Seedlip non-alcoholic cocktails, proving that fun and indulgent experiences can still be had this January! Launceston Place’s five-course tasting menu will feature dishes such as Blue crab, creamy potato, tarragon and carapace jus (served alongside a Seedlip ‘Spice Toddy’ cocktail, created with Seedlip Spice, apple, ginger drops and clove),Guinea fowl, green and brown cauliflower and pomegranate (paired with ‘Spice Soda’, created with Seedlip Spice, vanilla and black cardamom soda) and for those with a sweet tooth, Chocolate cremeux, caramelised popcorn and yoghurt (served alongside a warming ‘Winter Martini’ created with Seedlip Spice, sweet cranberry & fir shrub). The collaboration is running from 2 – 31 January 2017, for lunch or dinner from Tuesday to Saturday (£70pp for the tasting menu, plus an additional £30pp for five expertly paired Seedlip non-alcoholic cocktails).

Not doing dry January? Try Skinny Prosecco as a healthier alternative January tipple

It’s very easy to make New Year’s resolutions but despite all the best intentions it’s also very easy to end up breaking them in the first week of January! In order to avoid this inevitable downfall, why not opt out of dry January and instead take up drinking Thomson & Scott Skinny Prosecco which is a delicious, vegan and organic Prosecco with 7g of sugar per litre compared to the usual 12/15g usually added. Which means Skinny Prosecco has less sugar but the same alcohol content making it just as fun! It is the perfect “healthy” new year tipple to get you through those cold January nights.
Available to buy as a Magnum, standard 75cl bottles or as handbag sized Skinny Mini!

Avocado cocktail at The Distillery

Addicted to green juice and avo on toast? Make things a bit more fun and enjoy the new avocado cocktail at The Distillery, a vibrant cocktail bar at Hilton London Bankside. Their new healthy creation – The Vert Garden cocktail, made with tequila, fresh avocado, coriander and agave, fresh lime juice and smoked salt, is guaranteed to pep up a January evening whilst surely counting as one of your five a day! Hilton London Bankside will also be opening its boutique two-treatment room spa in January, stay tuned for further updates.

Fresh and healthy New Year eating at LIMA Fitzrovia and LIMA Floral

After a month of feasting on endless mince pies, pigs in blankets and Quality Street, not to mention all of those festive tipples, the LIMA menus offer fresh, healthy dishes that will provide an easy and enjoyable way to kick start a healthier 2017. With a selection of protein rich ceviches marinated in tiger’s milk, a trusted hangover cure in Peru, dishes with superfood Peruvian ingredients including kiwicha and quinoa, and even the suitably detox friendly sugar-free avocado ice cream available for dessert, a visit to LIMA this January will leave diners feeling refreshed, healthier and finally free of that festive hangover.

Gluten free pasta dishes at Margot

Available in January and throughout the year, recently opened Covent Garden restaurant, Margot, will contribute to the growing gluten free dining scene in London by offering each pasta dish on the menu as a gluten free option. Executed with Morelli’s light touch, dishes range from tagliolini with Sicilian red prawns, artichokes and torpedio tomatoes to tagliatelle with hare ragu and offer both gluten intolerant guests and those detoxing this January the opportunity to enjoy a vast and varied selection of authentic pasta dishes this New Year.

Michelin-starred detox at Jason Atherton’s Social Eating House

For a Michelin-starred detox this January, Jason Atherton’s Social Eating House has created a healthy three course menu offering lighter dishes for diners watching their waistline. Starters include slow braised pork shoulder, carrot and cumin soup with barley salad and warm tartare of Scottish salmon with sesame, wasabi avocado and warm dashi. Main courses range from charcoal oven baked Cornish cod with extra virgin olive oil and herb crust, spinach and pomme mousseline to a not-so-naughty mac and cheese. For those with a sweet tooth, the liquorice and lemon thyme poached pears with vanilla mascarpone, cocoa nib and pear sorbet is sure to hit the spot, offering a luxurious way to detox this New Year.
The Bertinet Bakery: “Everyday” artisan sliced sourdough tin range

This January take the first step to a healthier lifestyle by swapping your usual breakfast loaf to a healthier alternative. The Bertinet Bakery have developed a sourdough range baked in a tin that can offer similar usage and keeping qualities but without any of the additives. Made using only 3 ingredients (4 in the case of the malted wheat), the range contains no additives, preservative or processing aids yet stays soft enough for a sandwich for 4 days and can be used for toast well beyond this. The new range includes both a White loaf and a darker Malted wheat loaf that has malted wheat flakes rolled into the crust. The loaves are priced at £3.50 for a large 1kg loaf and are available in selected Waitrose stores.

Yeotown detox retreat

To kick-start the New Year with a healthy mind and healthy body, visit Yeotown. Located in the rustic and unspoiled wilds of North Devon, only a two hour train journey from central London, Yeotown is one of the Europe’s leading health and detox retreats. Run by a friendly team of down-to-earth, highly knowledgeable experts, the retreat focuses on providing guests with a healthy diet, exercise, core work outs, yoga, stress release techniques, mindfulness, and relaxation. A typical day could include a two hour coastal hike, cycling, yoga-inspired stretching, a cookery lesson, mindfulness and meditation, deep tissue massage and dry sauna or hot tub, and evening relaxation by a roaring fire or watching the sun set in the lush gardens. The programme perfectly combines fitness activities with post relaxation methods, leaving guests feeling renewed, refreshed and detoxified upon leaving Yeotown. The cost of the 5 day programme is £1870 per person.

New Year’s resolution ‘healthy package’ at Great Northern Hotel

This New Year, Great Northern Hotel are launching their ‘healthy package’ to get those New Year’s resolutions rolling. Partnering up with Thomson & Scott skinny prosecco as well as world-famous fitness trainers Barry’s Bootcamp to give guests a body-blitz workout and after a well-deserved glass or two of low-sugar bubbles. Guests can expect a total workout with Barry’s Bootcamp, with their signature hour-long workouts include interval cardio routines and strength training using a combination of items such as free-weights, resistance bands and medicine balls, enhanced by pumping night-club playlists – no one class is ever the same. The package includes a stay at the hotel and a healthy breakfast at award winning restaurant on the hotel’s first floor, Plum + Spilt Milk, where light and nutritious dishes include crushed avocado, tomato and chilli on granary toast; quinoa and pumpkin seed granola with low fat yogurt, apple and golden raisins; and buckwheat crepe with coconut yogurt, mango and agave.
The ‘Healthy Package’ is priced from £239 per room per night, based on two sharing and available on a Friday or Saturday night only.

VOGA™ MAMA launches at Coq d’Argent

To kick off the New Year, City restaurant Coq d’Argent is teaming up with House of Voga to host monthly VOGA MAMA classes. Designed by Juliet Murrell, creator of the fashion-meets-fitness movement VOGA™, this new special class allows mums-to-be to enjoy all the benefits of the original style-charged yoga and vogueing fused workout, in a safe, fun and supportive environment. Catering for the varying comfort levels of each participant, the classes are mostly floor-based with ‘chill out’ options available throughout the routine. Classes will be held on the last Sunday of every month in Coq d’Argent’s stunning rooftop garden, and guests will then be invited to enjoy Coq d’Argent’s delicious vegan menu, with dishes such as Golden and red beetroot salad, black truffle and balsamic vinaigrette and Wild mushroom and artichoke risotto. Running from11am-12pm, the classes are priced at £15, with the vegan menu served from 12-4pm, and priced at £26pp for two courses, and £29pp for three courses.

Mindful Chef #NotJustForJanuary

Forget ‘January detox’ or ‘dry January’, Mindful Chef, the healthy recipe box delivery service holds the key to a long-term healthy lifestyle, a resolution you can stick to, and it’s #NotJustForJanuary. Mindful Chef, launched in 2015 by Myles Hopper and Giles Humphries, offers a simple solution to healthy eating which can be easily incorporated into your everyday life. Offering 8 weekly recipes packed with lean and sustainably sourced ingredients delivered straight to your door (free of charge in the UK), they make eating healthily easy. Mindful Chef go above and beyond their competitors presenting truly healthy meal kits that include no refined carbs and therefore avoid high-carb fillers such as pasta or bread, which are still present in other “healthy” meal kits. Instead, Mindful Chef guarantees genuinely exceptional quality, gluten-free, dairy-free and locally sourced fresh, produce, believing that the key to a healthier life is reducing your intake of gluten and that refined sugars and refined carbohydrates should be avoided.

Behind the bar November 9, 2023

Behind the Bar: Festive advent fun at Mr Fogg’s

We joined Hendricks gin and Mr Fogg’s for an immersive advent calendar adventure this festive season.

If you’ve yet to feel the Christmas spirit, we urge you to visit Mr Fogg’s residence for your next cocktail evening. The much-loved Mr Fogg’s crew have truly turned up the festive vibes this season. Alongside Hendricks gin, they have crafted an immersive advent experience whereby an advent box containing gin-tastic treasures can be discovered in one of their six sensational sites around London.

We couldn’t wait to take part in the experience to see what our prize would be so we headed to Mr Fogg’s residence to find out. It is the ultimate venue for a festive drinks night, decorated head to toe in twinkling lights with a heavily adorned tree at the entrance and Christmas classics playing in the background. Once seated in the cosy outside area we were treated to a spread of cheeses, hams and bread before our immersive experience began.

The advent quest commences

The Mr Fogg’s and Hendrick’s curious calendar treasure hunt started with a question which had a numerical answer. Once we had cracked this code, we were escorted by the brilliant ‘Earl of Cucumbria’ to the special Christmas advent box and punched in the numbers to open it. Inside, there was a kaleidoscope of colours which unveiled a secret message for us which we conveyed to our table host in order to gain our prize. We were so pleased to open our envelope and discover complimentary cocktails, but other gifts to be won also include bottles of Hendrick’s Gin and a range of Mr Fogg’s experiences.

Festive thirst-quenchers

Their Christmas cocktail menu is a gorgeous Hendricks shakable snowglobe which lists all of their specials for the season. We couldn’t resist the warm inviting smell of spiced mulled wine* served in dainty china mugs, but would also highly recommend tipples such as the fruity Passepartout’s uncle* and the sweet treat Mayfair Mistletoe,* how can you resist a cocktail that comes with a miniature cake and lashings of cinnamon goodness?

After a fun and rewarding experience, we sat under our toasty heaters, sipping happily in beverage bliss and enjoying the infectious festive ambience that Mr Foggs does so well. Always re-inventing the wheel and jazzing up cocktail hour, Mr Fogg’s isn’t one to miss this December time if you’re looking for some extra magic from your evening out.

To partake in the Mr Foggs and Hendricks Christmas countdown, keep an eye on Mr Fogg’s instagram to discover which of the venues the advent box will be taken to next:

Website: mr-foggs.com

Twitter & Instagram: @mrfoggsgb

*Runs until 24th December.

Did you miss it? That’s okay, keep your eyes peeled for more of their experiences in the New Year!

*The Household’s Marvellous Mulled Wine: Monkey Shoulder scotch whiskey, Drambuie and Phileas’s mulled wine.

*Passepartout’s Uncle: Hendricks gin, cucumber, raspberry syrup, lime juice, red wine and egg white.

*Mayfair Mistletoe: Hendricks gin, Roots Rakolemo liqueur, apple strudel and grapefruit.

Albania November 9, 2023

Dine Out: Heliot Steak House, London

Veganism isn’t usually the first thing that springs to mind when a Steak House is mentioned. However, right on the vegan trend is Heliot Steak House in London. We check out their new winter menu.

Named after a lion tamer who used to perform in this building in the 1990s, Heliot Steak House now overlooks London’s Hippodrome Casino. It thus attracts quite an eclectic crowd. A politician, a group of South African businessmen and a young British couple are amongst the diners during our visit.

With the buzzing casino below and the curtains separating us from a performance of Magic Mike, the atmosphere is exciting if a little hectic. Perfect for those who love to people watch, the tiered restaurant tables afford excellent views onto the gaming and the glowing light trees on the ground floor.

We are there to test out the new menu, developed by Ioannis Grammenos and designed to reflect the change in seasons. This means heartier dishes, such as Kakavia fish soup and roast baby chicken with root veg. It also includes Heliot’s very first vegan slider burgers.

I sample the tasty sliders, complete with mojo verde sauce, tomato and vegan coleslaw, and accompanied by some delicious sweet potato fries. My partner opts for the classic medium rare steak with pepper sauce and lobster tail. He says it is one of the best he has ever tasted.

We round off the meal by devouring the cookie cheesecake with caramel sauce and the melting chocolate sphere with spicy dark chocolate sauce. Both are as decadent as they sound.

The Heliot Cocktail Bar is the centrepiece of the space and offers an extensive drinks list. We recommend the quintessential gin and rosemary Casino Sling or the alcohol-free passionfruit and berry Tutti Frutti for those who want to save themselves for the Christmas party.

If you love steak and have a vegan in tow, Heliot Steak House is your best bet – and in the most central of central London locations, Leicester Square, it makes a great choice for a pre-theatre or movie dinner.

For more information, visit www.hippodromecasino.com.