Category

Food & Drink

Category

There are a few commonplace ingredients that most of the best bakers have, and they are quite straightforward to implement. To become a baker, you should first think about enrolling in pastry classes or getting a pastry chef degree. You can subsequently learn baking skills that are necessary to become a successful baker. While solid education is a vital ingredient, there are other things that can assist you with taking your baking skills to an advanced level.

1. Organizational Skills

Most successful bakers realize that the process of baking necessitates efficient timing, to prepare everything you require, including having pre-measured ingredients and tools on hand. Baking requires precision and for a recipe to work one must be organized and not scramble to find acquired tools or ingredients – it is so much easier to start baking once you have everything all together. You could even go as far as colour co-ordinating your equipment to look more professional. For example, with a quick search of Google you’ll be able to find the right kitchenaid colors to match the rest of the equipment within your kitchen. The order of ingredients is crucial and attention to detail can make all the difference.

2. Communication Skills

Just like cooks in a kitchen, a baker also works in a fast-paced milieu with a team of culinary experts next to them. Clear communication during tasks can make the process a lot smoother.

3. Paying Attention To Detail

Baking is a science that involves the right temperatures and precise measurement. All ingredients must be weighed and measured appropriately. An excess of ingredients or the wrong oven temperature can influence your baking. Bakers must have a strong eye for detail for creating consistent pastry results. Check out the delectable selection of baked goods and pastries from bakery Redcliffe.

4. Staying Composed Under Pressure

Commercial kitchens tend to get busy quickly and bakers and chefs must remain collected and calm when the pressure heats up. Getting distracted or flustered can impact your performance which can result in a miscalculation of ingredients. This can affect the entire line, depending on what it is you’re making. Planning forms a critical part of exceptional kitchen management, irrespective of the role you’re filling.

5. Creativity and Exploration

Baking is a combination of art and science and creating new culinary creations consistently as well as old favorites is a skill that the best bakers worldwide encompasses. Good bakers stick to the classics, but great bakers experiment and come up with new combinations and learn from their failures.

6. Dedication And Patience

Some baking or dessert steps are time-consuming, therefore involves patience because each step is essential. Some processes like sourdough involves appropriate time to rise efficiently. By getting impatient and cutting the time in half can have dire consequences and you’ll end up with bread or pastries that are not desirable. Creating could-like and soft meringue on top of a dessert or cookie requires some skill. The egg whites must be whisked until it’s just right. It requires muscle and patience if you’re not utilizing an electric beater. For bakers some days can be highly rewarding and uplifting, but there are also days that can be frustrating, especially if they’re trying to master a classic recipe or attempting a new recipe. Dedication and patience can go a long way on the road to perfecting your craft, just like any other profession.

London’s latest Indian, Farzi Café, has the full ability to present first impressions of grandeur, over-priced food and flashiness but it is, in fact, quite the opposite. The Indian import landed in London last year, with venues already present in India and Dubai. Sitting proudly amongst theatreland, next to the Only Fools and Horses Musical, it’s blatant that this restaurant has landed itself a real whopper of a spot in the capital, turning heads with its golden hued signage amidst a sea of concrete buildings.

The restaurant offers two levels of dining alongside opulent colours of luxurious gold and emerald green, which hint towards the Indian heritage. Downstairs is the more intimate of the two areas, with plush sofas and darker lighting. Upstairs, where we found ourselves seated, is a more airy and bright space, equipped with a statement bar and open kitchen to appease the people-watching desires of guests.

Proceedings began with a truffle negroni. Farzi has a booming drinks menu which includes a 12-drink heavy Ayurvedically-inspired tasty cocktail menu, cleverly based around your star sign. Aries, for example, makes use of inhouse hemp shrub with a heady hit of coconut and cardamom, whilst Leo presents itself as a delectably light and refreshing spritz, with aromatic bergamot.

Brunch, the boozy stopover between breakfast and lunch, brings people together to raise glasses and natter, and Farzi Café sure does a good one. Try their feasting menu and expect an eclectic journey through India’s complex and colourful food scene.

To begin, we delved into a barley and apple salad with aerated dahi Bhalla; an exquisite dish with a fluffy texture I’d never tried before. The fermented rice pancakes served with feta and baby asparagus playfully mixed the tastes of sweet and sour, with feta wholesomely complementing its rice pancake counterpart. The quesadillas with butter chicken, kidney beans and smoked cheddar were a favourite of my dining companions who raved about their crispy exterior and soft oozy cheese.

When it came to the main course, it was all about one thing… Chateaubriand. As one of the most succulent cuts of beef, it’s a pleasure to try any cuisines take on it, and Farzi’s didn’t disappoint. A dark crust on the exterior from the lick of the hot flame grill and masala spice rub was a beautiful contrast to the perfect pink medium rare that we ordered. The presentation brought a theatricality to the course, as the beef was sliced and draped on a long metal skewer horizontally.

If that wasn’t enough, the waiter slowly poured the rich and spicy tomato jus along the skewer, creating a lagoon of sauce which we were ready to dive into. Tender, smoky and luxurious were the words that came to mind. We almost forgot about the sides as the beef was stealing the limelight however it would be rude not to mention the assortment of Indian breads including naan and roti, all glistening with butter ghee and garlic. These were the perfect vehicle for the black lentil daal that was served as well.

Bottomless drinks are available for two hours and include Cobra beer, house wine, prosecco and soft drinks. The inclusion of beer, wine and soft drinks made for a nice change to most brunches, which tend to offer just the one drink, typically leading to a mimosa-related hangover! We also chose a classic old fashioned­ – a recommendation of the waiter – happily opting for their Indian take on it which included a subtle hint of cinnamon. It’s not always wise to mess with the classics but seeing as cinnamon pairs delightfully with whiskey and bitter orange notes, we gave this adaptation a thumbs up.

And, to keep stomachs lined, I highly recommend delving fork first into Farzi’s exemplary dessert platter, featuring candied sweet lime fondant with lemon cannelloni, strawberry short cake and the best coconut sorbet I ever did eat! Farzi Café’s mission is to get Indian cuisine back “in-Vogue” and certainly dispels the inherited view of Indian resto interiors being stuck in the 1980s with their beige, leather embellishments. Farzi is luxe and the food follows suit with its modernist influence leading to customers being shy to ruin the artistic decadence in front of them. Big on table theatrics but at a low cost, Farzi Café has a lot of qualities I look for in a restaurant; reasonable prices, funky looking dishes and service with a smile.

Farzi Café can be found at 8 Haymarket, West End, London SW1Y 4BP. For more information visit www.farzilondon.com

Thanks to this lockdown, every night is Friday night and every day is the new Friday. One problem? It’s a little trickier to make our way to our favourite bars when they’re closed. But no fear. We live in the 21st century and what better way to make use of our innovative ways than to arrange for home delivery of our favourite tipples – to see us through this quarantine. From wine at our favourite restaurants to our local watering hole’s creative cocktails, London bartenders and sommeliers aren’t about to let you go thirsty during this pandemic and we felt it only fair to share. For those who live outside London, don’t worry, you won’t miss out with Denver liquor delivery offering a wide selection of beverages for both pickup and delivery to your door.

Hedonism Wines

Not ready to give up a life of luxury in lockdown? Hedonism Wines is continuing as normal with their wine deliveries – across London and nationwide so it’s never been easier to bring the bar home. They also ship internationally, I’m just saying, depending on how much of a wine fiend you are. The fine wine and spirits boutique in Mayfair supplies to the sommeliers of HIDE Mayfair so if you’re familiar with the Michelin-starred restaurant, you have an idea of the vast wine selection upon which you’re about to feast your eyes. A self-isolation perk to this all-year-round delivery service: Hedonism is currently offering free delivery on orders of over six bottles in London and UK – who says a glass (or bottle) or wine can’t help you through hard times?

Bar Douro

Bar Douro just opened its second restaurant in Finsbury Avenue Square so it deserves any support that can be given. Choose from a quality selection of Portuguese wines and get them delivered to your door across most of the UK. True, they’re best enjoyed alongside the restaurant’s delicious small plate (if you know me, you’ve heard about that suckling pig sandwich) but take what you can get during this lockdown – it might just save you in this self-isolation situation we’ve got going on here. Bring the bar home with your favourite wines – but don’t do what I did and find yourself with corked wines when you have no corkscrew. Need another reason to support these guys? £1 from every bottle (not order) will be donated to Hospitality Action which has been set up to help vulnerable hospitality workers.

Bring Your Bar Home Cocktail Delivery

Ever miss the idea of the humble bar hop? Born out of a love for both good cocktails and the hospitality industry, Bring Your Bar Home offers users a full guide of bars and restaurants offering cocktail delivery and takeaway. Not just for those London-based, the knowledge and important information stretches across the UK too, meaning if you’re a fan of Santo Remedio’s margaritas, you don’t have to make the trek to London to get your fix. A great way to support the struggling hospitality industry and avoid the cold weather, while enjoying your favourite tipple as a treat. Some bars, including Mac & Wild and Lollipop offer beautifully bottled cocktails, meaning they can last you until the weekend, while bars such as Nine Lives are distributing cocktail kits, with snacks including popcorn. What’s not to love?

Novikov Cocktail Classes

No deliveries from Mayfair restaurant Novikov but the Lounge Bar is running its own cocktail classes for 11 weeks on the restaurant’s Instagram TV channel. Anyone missing their Friday night drinks (any day of the week, to be honest) can head to Novikov’s Instagram and watch bartender Gianfranco Lozzi teach us all a think or two about making our favourite tipples. Bring the bar home and have some cocktails in quarantine. Put some music on, get out of your sweatpants and it will feel like a night out before you know it. Next one is this Friday – see you there?

Funkin House Party

Why not bring the bar home with everyone’s favourite on-the-go drinks – a good old “tinny”. Funkin has launched the Funkin House Party which includes two of each of their cocktails in a tin: Passionfruit Martini, Espresso Martini and Piña Colada. There’s six Nitro cans in a pack and it costs only £12. This one is definitely for those of you who are doubting their cocktail creativity skills – and for those who would rather pop open a can in three seconds, rather than put your bartender skills to work.

Hacha

East Londoners might be familiar with this agaveria bar in Dalston – perfect for getting your agave fix. With an impressive list of 25 different tequilas and mezcals (always baffling me), the bar even offers lesser known agave spirits (further baffling me). Haha had huge success with their signature drink; the Mirror Margarita (made with Don Julio tequila) and have now made this cocktail available for delivery during this lockdown period. Sipping on the Cocktail of the Year (CLASS bar awards) seems the only appropriate way to bring the bar home and you can enjoy this 50cl bottle for just £35.

Mr Lyan

We’re all fans of Ryan Chetiyawardana, aka Mr Lyan, the award-winning bartender. Known for his innovative drinks skills and forward thinking sustainable cocktail creations, don’t fret that you can no longer get your sustainable serves – he’s only gone and launched a bottled selection of his most popular cocktails. Shop from Master of Malt and treat yourself to a Bonfire Old Fashioned; made with Mr Lyan whisky, lapsang souchong and Mr Lyan cola bitters. Bring the bar home and knock back a Spotless Martini – which contains Mr Lyan gin, vermouths, distilled olive and distilled lemon.

Lockdown Liquor

Sorry to sound as though I’m encouraging you to be an alcoholic; I’m simply trying to help out those of you who are missing the watering hole. Here’s a list of branded bottles you can get your hands on easily while still continuing to social-distance and self-isolate. All available via contact-free delivery so now is the time to stock up.

El Rayo tequila is a London-based brand who is encouraging the nation to indulge in a “T&T” (tequila and tonic). Well, why not? Now is the time to try new things and I think that sentiment should be extended to alcohol.

Carounn Gin has launched the ‘Sofa Spritz’; a cocktail you can easily create at home with apple juice, soda water and white wine. All of which are current staples in my kitchen right now (eggs and pasta have been stockpiled so these were all that were left). Who needs a bartender?

Magic Mixers

Try experimenting with your mixer too; Two Keys is an interesting and tasty alternative to your regular tonic or soda. Sold on Amazon, the flavours include green tea, black tea, grapefruit and lemon.

Pedrino Spritz

Pedrino Spritz takes the alternatives to a Gin and Tonic to a whole new level with its offerings of a Vermouth and Tonic; Sherry and Tonic and Ruby and Tonic Spritzes. Using natural and authentic ingredients, these spritzes will perfect your Aperitivo Hour (for one, obviously) or help you add a little spritz to the cocktails you’re currently creating (I hope you are inspired by this article, after all). It’s also nice to support the smaller businesses during this difficult time.

Milroy’s

For those of you who are whisky-inclined, London’s Original Whisky Specialist Milroy’s has launched a ‘Drams-to-your-Door’ delivery service where they bring the best whiskies from their bars to your home. They are also doing a ‘Tastings at Home’ scenario where you can enjoy a live virtual tasting from one of Milroy’s whisky experts – complete with whisky flight and consultation. You know, if you get tired of the wine and cocktail offerings going on. One thing is for sure: Londoners won’t be getting thirsty during this lockdown.

World of Zing

Who needs a bar when in a world of bottled cocktails? The award-winning World of Zing has a selection of crafted cocktail creations that are ususally found in some of the UK’s most popular venues – ranging from The Langham Hotel to Byron Burger and Curzon Cinemas. They’ve designed a range to be enjoyed at home which couldn’t be better news now we are in lockdown so sit back on your sofa and enjoy the likes of Cherry Blossom Negronis or Persian Lime and Nori Margaritas. I personally love the interesting flavours – a zesty (or zingy) take on the classic cocktails; there’s also Elderflower and Earl Grey Gin Collins and Raspberry and Basil Mojitos to choose from and I haven’t even listed the full range. Can you tell I’m a fan?

The Duppy Share

A UK favourite when it comes to dark rum, The Duppy Share has also just launched an even spicier version. To help combat any lockdown blues, the brand has launched a ‘Home Rum’ isolation kit to help any rum lover get by. The kit includes The Duppy Share Aged (20cl), two bottles of Fever Tree ginger beer and two The Duppy Share gold cups. What’s more is that the rum brand plans to donate all profits from sales of this kit to Hospitality Action; a charity organisation dedicated to helping those struggling in the hospitality industry. Drink and it’s a good deed.

Everleaf

Not one to leave those who don’t drink out of Thirsty Thursdays (or thirsty any day, to be honest with you), I’ve also got a non-alcoholic option for you. Everleaf is made from sustainably sourced botanicals, allowing you to create the perfect spritz. Guilt-free, too. Chamomile is even used in the aperitif to enhance the fragrant aroma of the drink – you’re definitely not supposed to but I’d add this to my spirit to get some more goodness in my drink.

Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company

Not a wine, spirit or cocktail in the slightest but I do feel as though I need to give you a snack for all this alcohol I am advising you to purchase and consume. What better snack, as well, than some good old cheese? Really I’m just trying to maintain the aesthetic of a bar – and I cannot recommend a glass of wine and nibbling on some cheese every evening to get us through this lockdown. From experience, I admit. The Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company is an independent supplier selling traditional cheddar cheese and cheese straws (Oh lord). The brand has just introduced ‘Isolation Bundles’ for customers who crave the cheese but can no longer get to the shop. Prices are reduced and do we need more reasons to buy cheese? Again, supporting small businesses is good, people.

COVID-19 has cast a shadow over London and as the restaurant scene is an industry that makes up so much of the city’s vibrance, it is no surprise that its struggle is what makes London’s ghost-town appearance even more so. Many are staying as positive as they can, remaining as troopers and keeping themselves afloat through delivery service. Sadly many have had to close their doors temporarily but here is how you can support your favourite restaurants that remain open – all from the safety of your own home.

Delivery

Takeaway meals are the primary way many restaurants are surviving the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Your support means more than ever and, if you can afford to, it’s such a small and easy way to help them out. I mean you’d be helping a restaurant out so much by eating their delicious food in the comfort of your own home without barely having to move a muscle (contact-free delivery). Could helping someone out get any easier?

Burger & Beyond has their to-die-for (I’m salivating as I type) burgers and Dirty Tots available for delivery; you can even sink your teeth into Absurd Bird’s famous Mac ‘n’ Cheese; Spice Box is making sure Walthamstow residents can still get their fix of plant-powered curries and HIDE is even delivering their fine dining food, meaning you can have a Michelin-starred meal on your sofa. Do it just for the experience, I mean come onnnn. Coal Rooms in Peckham is actually delivering takeaway Sunday Roasts – lockdown life just got a whole lot tastier, in my opinion…

Local Small Businesses

You might be more familiar with Crudo Cevicheria but the eatery has temporarily taken on a new concept in light of COVID-19. How can you support them? It’s all about having faith in the hospitality industry and pledging your loyalty to your favourite restaurant, bar or café. It works by customers buying menu items for friends and colleagues to use later down the line. It’s a small step but given the sudden drop in business, the idea is to create cash flow for small businesses to cover their fixed costs and keep as much going as possible until we’re out of the thick of this. Also, the chances of you heading back to your favourite coffee shop for that flat white or to devour your much-loved burger post-quarantine is quite strong so it’s hardly a mis-management of money. Crudo, Al Dente pasta, Acai Sisters and 40ft Brewery are all on the site and they’re continuing to recruit new independent businesses.

Shop For Your Supplies

Many restaurants sell their own ingredients and pantry goods – so if you’re having a panic about the panic-buyers stockpiling the rice, pasta and eggs, why not try your favourite restaurants or their suppliers? Eateries like Macellaio RC and Albion have pantry-style shops selling the ingredients they use in their food. Bodega Rita’s has launched “Rita’s 4 U” delivering household bits that might be missing from your cupboard. Normally it’s a novelty post-dining activity or for those who are actually culinary-inclined (alas, I’m not one of these people) but now it could be your source of said stockpiled items. Ordering from these shops might be a little pricier than the mainstream supermarkets but the profits go directly to an independent restaurant, rather than Sainsbury’s.

The Estate Dairy (traditionally a trader’s supplier) even offers next day delivery so you can say goodbye to worrying about fighting for that coveted time slot too. Places like HG Walter have you covered when it comes to all cuts of meat – they even have pre-marinated chicken if you’re not feeling like debuting your chef’s hat in full.

Buy gift vouchers

Similar to the idea behind Local Small Businesses but one that probably is being forgotten. Buy your friends, family and yourself a gift card to your favourite restaurant or bar – most don’t have an expiration date and these will help support the restaurant in their time of need and show them they will have guests on the other side of this all. You never know, your gift voucher could be paying for someone’s wages through COVID-19. The Harts Group (who own El Pastor, Barrafina and Quo Vadis), Kricket, Trullo and Four Legs are all offering gift vouchers for future visits. Patty & Bun is even throwing in their famous ‘black card’ with all voucher purchases – leaving you with a pretty sweet 10 per cent off for life.

Social Support

While sharing photos from previous visits to a restaurant won’t bring them immediate revenue, it will keep them at the forefront of your followers’ minds so when we do eventually come out on the other side, they know exactly what they’re craving and where to head to first. It’s a dark time for the industry and a positive review from any happy customer could be the ray of sunshine they need in this moment. You can also keep engaged with the content they’re posting online; liking, commenting and sharing posts will do more than you think. Take the photo above of Tandis (a Persian restaurant in North London); I’ve had countless comments and messages from friends and followers saying they want to go there; hopefully people order delivery or they’ll remember to visit post-lockdown.

How’s lockdown going for you? Hungry? Like, all the time? Yup, me too. Snacking? I’ve never done it so much in my life. It’s as if my sole purpose of being at home is to eat. I’ve gone through the chocolate digestives (dark chocolate, of course) and binge-watching Friends again caused me to buy mini muffins – and of course they’re all gone now. So I’m in need of new snacks…and I’m thinking that you might be too?

There’s heaps to choose from – savoury; sweet; crips; cookies… The list goes on. But a combination of being bombarded with pleas to support small businesses and the desire to good in such a rubbish time has led to me to change the snacks I add to my next shopping basket. So let’s feel good as we eat our rationed goods and choose snacks that give back.

Howdah Snacks

Snacks is in the name of the brand so I think we’re onto a good one. Howdah Snacks is an independent brand and not only do they come in a variety of moreish mixes and flavours, the snacks really do give back. One bag gets a child one free school lunch, through the company’s partnership with charity Akshaya Patra. So far, they’ve been able to secure over 80,000 free school lunches for children who lack the means to get themselves fed. Full tummies equal motivated minds and with the children being able to concentrate more in school, less drop out in favour of child labour. The Masala Dippers and the Bombay Mix are my personal favourites but the Onion Bhaji bag and the Bakarwadi went down a treat too.

Order online on their website or purchase from Amazon, Harvey Nichols and QVC.

Tony’s Chocolonely

You’re probably familiar with the colourfully-wrapped slabs of chocolate that are Tony’s Chocolonely. These super-sized bars always remind me of Willy Wonka’s candy from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – anyone else? – and I always get a tad extra excited when ripping off the paper. Sadly there’s no golden ticket hiding in any of these bars – for the purchaser. But there is a golden ticket of sorts for those working in the chocolate supply chain. The brand’s ethos is to make chocolate 100 per cent slave-free; to eradicate slavery in West African cocoa farms and to ensure farmers don’t have to live in poverty. So it’s all about giving back as you snack. My fave flavours that I’m stocking on my self-isolated shelves at the moment? Dark Milk Pretzel Toffee, for sure. Milk Chocolate Honey Nougat is also pretty spectacular.

Order online on their website or purchase from Sainsbury’s or Waitrose supermarkets.

Tilda Rice

I know rice is harder to find than gold dust right now but Tilda is another brand that is trying to help the community, one bag of rice at a time. The rice brand has partnered with the United Nations World Food Programme to bring back the ‘Helping Mums Together’ campaign. It’s only applicable to the Pure Basmati Rice packs and yes, plain rice is not a popular choice of snack, but add some fried egg or some veggies and boom – that sounds like a tasty snack to me! Anyways, every specially-marked pack of Tilda Pure Basmati Rice will fund an equivalent of one nutrition-filled meal to a new or expectant mother – or a young child in Bangladesh to help fight malnutrition and low birth weight. Every month, the World Food Programme helps over 225,000 women and children at 34 nutrition centres in refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh – so feel good as you cook that rice, knowing that you’re giving back with your snack.

Find the special bags of Tilda Pure Basmati at all major retailing supermarktes.

Ben & Jerry’s

We’re all a fan of the ice cream, right? But doesn’t it make you feel better to know that each time you parted with £4.95 for your tub of Half Baked (a top flavour of mine, in case you cared to know) you were supporting a company that is dedicated to helping and protecting refugees, fair trade, farmers’ rights and the climate? Now unlike the snacks above, you won’t be giving something back per tub you purchase but you would be overall supporting a company that is invested in helping so many different causes. You can also hit up Ben and Jerry’s website to find out more on how you can get involved if you want to be more proactive. I’m eating Caramel Chew Chew as I scroll through the site myself…

You know you can find Ben and Jerry’s at all major retailing supermarkets, as well as at many restaurants too – via delivery.

Human Food

Human Food will have your kitchen cupboards stocked with vegan, organic nutrition bars. Here’s me trying to get a healthy balance of the good snacks as well as the more indulgent ones. The brand is committed to helping those less fortunate and has partnered with FareShare to donate 10,000 bars in the fight against food waste. NHS workers, listen up: Human Food is also offering a 50% discount to health workers and emergency service staff for the foreseeable future. Choose from a traffic light style selection: ‘Red’ with organic goji berries; ‘Yellow’ with organic turmeric and ‘Green’ with organic spirulina.

Available to order online from Human Food’s website.

MadeGood

Similar to Human Food and Ben and Jerry’s, purchasing a box of these granola bars won’t equal a free snack for someone else but MadeGood is a snack brand that is 100 per cent committed to supporting organic farmers. It odes this because creating snacks that are healthy to eat and gentle on the earth is at the core of the brand’s values. The granola bars are all organic, have a source of fruit or vegetables inside and are free of the most common allergens too. An independent brand, maybe giving back as you snack is next for MadeGood?

Find these good snacks at Asda and Amazon

Isolation looking a little bleak? Not a problem, you can have yourself a social distancing extravaganza with the wide selection of recently launched delivery services from some of the UK’s best restaurants. From James Cochran’s 12:51, to Cora Pearl & Kitty Fisher’s in Mayfair, we’ve pulled together a roundup of all our lovely clients offering quality meals on wheels, straight to your doorstep.

The Little Gloster
The Little Gloster, an idyllic restaurant with rooms on the Isle of Wight, is thrilled to launch: The Little Gloster At Home. Starting Thursday 19 March, co-owners Ben and Holly, will be offering a small selection of high-quality dishes, all made with the abundance of local produce available, to be delivered across the island. In partnership with Wight and Essex Wines, the innovative offering gives guests in self-isolation the opportunity to have a familiar favourite from the comfort of their home. With further details of the menu soon to be announced, the new delivery system is sure to bring positivity in what is uncertain times for so many.

Cora Pearl & Kitty Fisher’s 
After closing their doors for a brief hiatus, your favourite ladies of the night are back in action, delivering goods direct to your door. Mayfair favourite Kitty Fisher’s and her Covent Garden sister, Cora Pearl will be operating a home delivery service very shortly, bringing their menu highlights direct to your door, creating the perfect date night in while going out is off the cards. The delivery package will include a pre-mixed version of the Kitty Fisher’s signature cocktail – the Bad Kitty, a fruity mixture of Gin, sloe gin, elderflower, lemon and cava. Kicking things off food wise will be the Welsh Rarebit, topped with pretty pick pickled onions. This is followed by the Cora Pearl favourite – the Fish Stew, combining white fish and shellfish with a rich crab bisque and irresistible cheesy croutons. There is also the meaty favourite of Roast Veal with veal jus and seasonal vegetables. No meal from the saucy sisters would be complete without their crispy chips – dubbed the ‘dish of the year, dish of the decade, dish of the century’ by the inimitable Giles Coren, The Times.
Menu price and delivery details will be confirmed ASAP.

Mindful Chef
Mindful Chef’s range of chef-prepared frozen meals are hand-cooked in small batches, then frozen to lock in freshness. As with all Mindful Chef’s products, its frozen range is free-from refined carbs, gluten and dairy, and contain no additives. Using the same quality, sustainably sourced ingredients as its recipe boxes, the meals feature 100% British free-range chicken breast, grass-fed beef and fish landed in UK waters. Aligned with the brand’s mission to make healthy eating easy, each meal takes eight minutes to cook and is available to order next-day delivery, 7-days a week from the Mindful Chef online store at £7 per portion.

1251
May we introduce AROUND THE CLUCK by 12:51! James and Dan, the owners of 12:51, will be making the deliveries themselves by bicycle. The menu brings together signature snack of James’s Jamaican jerk chicken, sides made up of fresh fruit and veg and of course the scotch bonnet jam. From midday Thursday 19 March, 12:51 will be on Deliveroo and Slerp serving out of their restaurant in Islington.
For anyone that lives in the N1 post code area please go to www.1251.co.uk/Order for the menu and options on how to order, delivery is free of charge for orders over £10 and there is a 15% discount for any workers in the public sector that order from within the local area.

Crockers Tring
Relaxed fine dining restaurant and chef’s table, Crockers Tring in Hertfordshire, is offering the local community the chance to experience the chef’s remarkable talents in the comfort of their own home, due to their love for the industry and passion to support their community. Details on the dishes will be unveiled early next week, including prices.

Restaurants across London are rapidly adapting to the changing and unknown current situation. While some have unfortunately had to close their doors, many have also launched delivery and takeaway services to ensure Londoners can still experience quality food to their doors while unable to leave their homes.

Contactless and cashless payments have also been introduced as well as special reductions and gift cards. Many are also offering special discounts for the country’s hardworking and invaluable NHS staff.

Supporting London’s restaurants and independent businesses at this critical time is vital in building resilience for the city and its workers under these exceptional circumstances.
Below is a round-up of the latest from central London restaurants and retailers. Please be aware that as we are being updated about the crisis on a daily basis, so too are the restaurants, cafes, and delis that are offering home delivery. These may change at any given notice, but currently offer the following:

Marylebone Village

www.marylebonevillage.com​ @​ MaryleboneVillage #MaryleboneVillage
OKA Restaurant​, W1G 9TZ

Pan-Asian and sushi restaurant, OKA, continues to offer its fresh, seasonal, healthy dishes, made to order, by extending their delivery radius to cover the Marylebone Village area. Using the highest-quality ingredients by their experienced chefs, they serve a selection of homemade hosomaki, uramaki, nigiri, sashimi and tataki sushi, alongside an abundance of traditional mains cooked on their robata grill. Head to ​https://deliveryokaprimrosehill.com​ to order their authentic Asian food.
The Good Life Eatery​, W1U 2PH
Stay healthy and happy with The Good Life Eatery’s delicious range of vegetarian and gluten-free food and drink, including their all-day breakfast bowls, hearty chilli bowls and cold-press juices. They continue to offer delivery via Deliveroo.

The Ginger Pig​, W1U 4EW
The renowned quality butchers continue to offer their exceptional range of high-quality, premium cuts of meat from British livestock, pre-cooked pies, as well as bakery products such as their cult sausage rolls, with their hardworking team ensuring their shop remains open. Aside from their standard nationwide delivery that they normally offer, they are prioritising the most vulnerable and elderly in the community, and ask that anyone with queries email online@thegingerpig.co.uk. They welcome those living inside the M25 to call them on 02038 697802 to arrange for a safe, no-contact delivery to their homes, to help those most in need at this time to cook fresh produce at home.
La Fromagerie,​ W1U 4EW
La Fromagerie, an award-winning shop showcasing farmhouse and artisanal cheeses, are ensuringthattheirshopsremainwell-stockedwithallyouressentials,includingb​ read,milk, eggs, flour, pasta, rice, fresh fruits & vegetables, cheese and wine, whilst taking hygiene practices seriously. ​They are continuing to offer a daily changing menu of seasonal produce on their takeaway menu, including sandwiches, tarts and soups, with their Marylebone store remaining open. They also offer delivery via UberEats and Deliveroo of some of their most popular produce, such as a wide-range of cheeses, biscuits, charcuterie, chocolate, wine and larder products, as well as hot meals and sandwiches, or UK-wide delivery on their online shop at ​https://www.lafromagerie.co.uk
Paul Rothe & Son,​ W1U 2NN
With nearly 120 years of serving tasty sandwiches and preserves, head to 35 Marylebone Lane for family-run deli Paul Rothe & Son, who continue to stay open to offer their produce for takeaway. From roast beef sandwiches and creamy brie rolls to their organic honey and jams, there is a varied range of produce on offer.
Aubaine,​ W1U 4EP
Contemporary French restaurant Aubaine continues to offer their all-day dining menu of hot and cold dishes, freshly baked pastries, and hot drinks, through Deliveroo. Aubaine continues to comply with the highest Health & Safety and hygiene standards to ensure the wellbeing of all customers.
Rococo Chocolates​, W1U 4EP
With over thirty-five years of experience providing fine chocolates using high-quality ingredients and strong attention to detail, Rococo Chocolates are selling online with free UK delivery. They are also running 20% off until Sunday with the code SHOPNOW20.

La Brasseria​, W1U 5HD
Gift cards are available to purchase from £25 to £100 – the perfect gift for someone to look forward to.

Connaught Village

https://www.connaught-village.co.uk/​ @ConanughtVillage #ConnaughtVillage
Connaught Cellars,​ ​W2 2BS
Mixing tradition with innovation, Connaught Cellars offers a unique range of carefully selected wines from France and Italy delivered to your doorstep with Deliveroo.
Customers can pay online or via contactless. Their website offers a wide range of divine wines, from prestigious bottles to interesting regional grapes produced by acclaimed winemakers.
Buchanans Cheesemonger,​ ​W2 2BS

Artisan cheesemonger based in Porchester Place, London, they source and expertly condition the finest cheese from the best producers in the UK and Europe. They remain open, and are offering 50% off ​all soft and blue cheese in their shop until further notice. Customers’ health and safety are at the forefront of their business.
Saint Aymes​, ​W2 2BB
Beautiful and flowery cafe Saint Aymes delivers to your doorstep. Expect some great coffee, unicorn lattes, 23ct gold hot chocolate, enchanting cakes and of course, decadent chocolate.

Carnaby

carnaby.co.uk/ @CarnabyLondon #Carnaby
Bread Ahead​, W1F 9RR
Bringing their signature sought-after breads, pastries and classic bakes to you, experts in British baking, Bread Ahead, will be live streaming baking tutorials on their Instagram, allowing baking-enthusiasts to master a new skill at home. Tune in on 24 March for a lesson on chocolate brownies, hot cross buns on 29 March, or order some sweet treats on Deliveroo.
PITTABUN,​ W1F 7RF
A modern twist on traditional Greek Street food, PITTABUN have perfected the well-loved pitta bread by using uniquely sourced raw ingredients. Order a delicious bun straight to your home on Deliveroo or Uber Eats.

Island Poké,​ W1B 5BQ
Poké bowls are the ever-evolving modern take on the traditional Hawaiian dish of marinated raw fish served over rice with delicious toppings. With the aim to transport diners to an island state of mind with each and every bite of food, the Carnaby branch is providing takeaway orders and online delivery.
Antidote​, W1F 7RR
While Antidote’s restaurant is temporarily closed, their fabulous wine shop remains open. The shop houses an impressive selection of around 300 natural, biodynamic and organic wines and is currently offering free delivery to central London residences.
Pizza Pilgrims​, W1B 5PW
Pizza Pilgrims, masters of slow proved Neapolitan pizza, are currently offering 50% off pizza to NHS workers (pick up in-store) and have also launched Frying Pan Pizza Kits – a little slice of fun for your home. The kits have everything you need to make two margherita pizzas using only a frying pan and a grill. Bring the authentic taste of Italy to your kitchen in the easiest way ever.
Patty&Bun,​ W1B 5QD
The go-to spot for mouth-watering burgers, Patty&Bun is offering a lifetime of 10% off burgers with the purchase of £30 or £50 gift vouchers. The burger joint is open for takeaway and also delivering on Deliveroo.
Dishoom, ​W1B 5QP
Though the much-loved Indian restaurant has closed its branches, Dishoom-lovers can still get their Bombay comfort-food fix via their online click and collect or delivery services.
TheGoodEgg​,W1B5​ PW
With Tel Aviv inspired flavours taking you from breakfast through to dinner, favourites from The Good Egg such as their award-winning shakshuka, babka French toast, Sabich or salt beef reuben sandwich are available via delivery on Uber Eats.

Soho

thisissoho.co.uk @thisissoho #Soho
Kricket,​ W1D 7HH
Combining British seasonal ingredients with authentic Indian flavours and recipes, Kricket has created a loyalty voucher, whereby any purchase of a £250+ voucher will earn you an additional 20% on top – a goodwill gesture for helping to support the restaurant. For those looking for an Indian inspired feasting menu at home, Kricket is open to catering.
The Duck & Rice,​ W1F 0QB
Mixing classic British pub culture and Contonese cuisine, The Duck & Rice’s mouth-watering dishes are still available for order on Deliveroo.

We are living in a strange world at the moment, one where we are now housebound for the foreseeable future to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Here in the UK #TeamCoco are bringing you new ways to enjoy travel without having to leave the safety of your own home, and what better way to feel worldly than to experience new recipes with international flavours.

We have added a few of our favourite wellbeing recipes for you to try at home while in lockdown, for the days when you need some much needed self care.

Yakult and Yuki Gomi – Udon Noodle Salad with Ginger and Carrot Dressing

Taking inspiration from ikigai, the Japanese concept which encourages us to find richness in our lives – our “reason for being”, Yakult have teamed up with Japanese chef and teacher Yuki Gomi to create some simple and nourishing recipes so we can all enjoy the joy of Japanese food at home.

Ingredients (serves 2)
150g Dried soba noodles, 6 Plum tomatoes, 6 Stems of broccoli (boiled or steamed), 6 Sugar snap peas (boiled or steamed), 50g Red cabbage, ¼ cup Edamame (boiled), 1 cup Mixed salad leaves, ½ tbs Peanut oil, 1 Medium carrot, 1 Small red onion, 1cm Peeled ginger, 80ml Olive oil, 50ml Soy sauce, 50ml Rice vinegar, 1tbs Mirin, 1tbs Honey
Optional
Sesame seeds, Spring onion, Chives, Shiso leaves, Coriander, Cress
Method
Bring a pot of water to the boil and cook the noodles for 6-8 minutes. While the noodles are cooking, add a cup of cold water to the pot 2 or 3 times. This will improve the texture of the noodles. Drain the noodles and rinse with cold water to stop them cooking further. Mix with oil and place them in a bowl for serving. For the dressing, add the carrot, onion, peeled ginger, olive oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, mirin and honey into a food processer. Liquidise until smooth. Slice the tomatoes into bite size pieces, and add these and the salad leaves onto the noodles. Pour the dressing over, just before serving.
Yuki’s Tip
For garnish, use sesame seeds, thinly slices spring onions, herbs (chives, shiso leaves, coriander) and cress. Cooking time depends on the noodle brand. Please refer to package’s instructions for specific timing. You can use sunflower, peanut or olive oil.
Visit www.yakult.co.uk

Essilor.co.uk – Sweet Potato and Spinach Quesadilla

Looking for ways to help maintain healthy eyesight? This South American themed recipe from eye health experts Essilor.co.uk is eye wateringly tasty and has all of the essential nutrients to promote good eye health.
Sweet potatoes and spinach are both essential sources of vitamins and minerals that promote eye health. Packed with beta carotene, the body converts beta carotene in sweet potatoes into vitamin A, a nutrient that helps prevent dry eyes and night blindness. Beta carotene and vitamin A also may help reduce the risk eye infections.

Ingredients (serves 2)
1 sweet potato, 2 tortillas, 100g spinach, 1⁄2 jalepeno chilli – chopped, 1 teaspoon of ground cumin, 1 garlic clove (crushed), 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, salt and pepper for seasoning.
Method
Pierce the sweet potatoes and cook in an oven at 200 degrees for 50 minutes, or until soft. Let the potatoes cool and scoop out the inners. Heat some of the oil in a large skillet and add the garlic, heat for 1-2 minutes until brown, add the sweet potato flesh, spinach, jalapeno and cumin. Cook for 10 minutes stirring occasionally, season accordingly. Spread the filling on one half of each of the tortillas and fold shut, brush with oil on each side and cook on a hot griddle pan for 3 minutes or until brown.
Recipe from Essilor.co.uk (www.essilor.co.uk)

The Good Plates – Monkfish, Chickpeas, and Walnut Gremolata

Chef and mental health ambassador Andrew Clarke has created The Good Plates recipes in conjunction with nutritional therapist Ian Marber, designed to help maintain positive mental wellbeing.
The below Mediterranean recipe was created for David Lloyd Clubs’ The Good Plates, an interactive dining experience pop up where the interiors, food, music, and seating layout were all designed to complement positive mental health.

Ingredients and Method
The Monkfish
600g Monkfish on bone, skinless. Warm unsalted butter or olive oil. Salt and pepper. Steam at 51c for 25-30 mins, pat dry and rub with oil or butter, season with salt & pepper, finish on hot charcoal grill basting with oil or butter, rest and keep warm.
Chickpeas
300g dried chickpeas (soaked overnight), drained. 1 onion. 1 carrot. 1 celery stick. 1 leek. 6 cloves garlic. 1 red chilli. Bouquet garnis (rosemary, thyme, bay). 100ml extra virgin olive oil. Put all contents in saucepan, fill with fresh water, bring to boil for 10 mins, reduce to simmer, cook for 1.5/2 hours until soft (make sure always covered with water), cool down and store in the liquid, season when cool.
Whole Roast Chickpeas
200g of drained chickpeas. 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil. 1 sprig rosemary. 2 cloves garlic. Salt, pepper and lemon juice to taste. Warm olive oil in pan with rosemary and garlic over a medium heat, add chickpeas and increase heat, cook for a minute or two until they have firmer texture, season with salt, pepper and lemon juice, keep warm.
Chickpea Puree
300g of chickpeas and just enough of the cooking liquid to cover. 50ml extra virgin olive oil. 1⁄2 1 lemon juice. Salt & pepper to taste. Put all ingredients except the salt & pepper in blender, blitz at high speed until smooth puree, add more cooking liquid if not blending well, season and keep warm.
Pickled Baby Onions
200g pomegranate molasses. 50ml merlot vinegar. 200g baby onions. Roast onions over fire or coals until skins blacken, once cooled remove charred skin, warm molasses and vinegar, pour over onions and keep warm.
Walnut Gremolata
50g roasted walnuts. 25g parsley. 1 lemon zest. 1 garlic clove. 50ml walnut or extra virgin olive oil. Salt to taste. Roughly chop walnuts and parsley, put in small mixing bowl, grate lemon zest, finely grate in garlic, add oil and season.
Assembly
On large plate put chickpea puree in the centre, monkfish can sit on top, put roasted chickpeas over monkfish (allowing any to naturally fall off), dot pickled onions over and around, finally top with gremolata and serve immediately.
Visit https://bit.ly/39fBxhR for more recipes from The Good Plates

Pastéis de nata are as synonymous with Portugal as pasta is to Italy. They’re a stalwart part of the Portuguese culinary scene, as little mouthfuls of sweet and creamy custard wrapped in delicate pastry. If you’re looking for the best Pastéis De Nata spots in Portugal, you’re in for a delightful culinary adventure.

The pastéis de nata, or ‘custard tart’ for an easier pronunciation, were first cooked up by monks in the early 19thcentury and now the phenomenon of the taste bud tantalising treat has infiltrated Portugal with full, moreish force. It’s rare to find a bad ‘nata’ but common to discover a sublime one, and here’s a delve deeper into the top spots to find pastéis de nata, from freshly baked to family recipes.

O Mercado do Peixe

Whilst the name of this spot translates to ‘the fish market’ it’s also a dab hand at producing some of the most lip-smacking pastéis de natas around. The restaurant is in fact home to a prize-winning pastel, which can be yours to enjoy when visiting the Ajuda neighbourhood of Lisbon.
The accolade for Best Pastel de Nata was awarded to the haunt in 2018, pinning the label of culinary excellence on the custard-y treat, and it’s for this reason that you simply must try it!
Find them at 181 Estrada Pedro Teixeira, Lisboa, Lisboa, 1400-047, Portugal

Aloma

Propping up shop in Campo de Ourique, this unique venue is award-winning and and makes for an idyllic spot to enjoy a nata and a coffee. The area itself is also home to many a charming boutique and a small market named Mercado de Campo de Ourique.
Find them at R. Francisco Metrass 67, 1350-007 Lisboa, Portugal

Best Pastéis De Nata Spots in Portugal

Pastelaria Batalha

Gooey, deliciouspastéis de nata is the order of the day at charming old Pastelaria Batalha. Here, daily workshops allow you to not only scoff on the treats but make them too! The Lisbon-based fun will see you navigate through the entire process, from making puff pastry to whipping up the delicious filling. The bakery is family-run and has awards to its name to boot, so come down and sample recipes passed down the generations.
Find them at 1 Rua Horta Seca, Lisboa, Lisboa, 1200-243, Portugal

Pastéis de Belém

https://www.instagram.com/p/BorZV1QHU8d/
Roll up, roll up, or rather queue up, queue up, and get your hands on a pastéis de nata from where it all began. This pastelaria first began concocting its “secret recipe” in an early 19th-century monastery in Belém would you believe.
Monks began selling sweet pastries in order to survive, and the recipe hasn’t changed since 1837 – oh, and did we mention that this sturdy spot makes and sells around 20,000 pastries every day? Yep, they must be doing right.
Find them at 92, 84 Rua de Belém, Lisboa, Lisboa, 1300-085, Portugal

Pato Real

It’s time to take your nata love to the next level by visiting Pato Real, a bakery and dessert venue with some epic treats to eat. Here, you can wrap your taste buds around giant versions of the much-adored pastry and to work them off, why not stroll around Calouste Gulbenkian Museum afterwards? It’s just a stone’s throw, or a nata munch, away!

Find them at 41A Avenida Grão Vasco, Lisboa, Lisboa, 1500-109, Portugal

Manteigaria

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8YhywWnobB/
This hotspot popped open its doors not too long ago, and ever since they’ve become a famed place for a nata. The delightful offerings boast just the right amount of sweetness with a crunchy, flaky crust that isn’t overbearing. The locations are small but you can still mingle in and grab your snack, and out of the two spots their two spots Cais do Sodré venue next to the Time Out Market is usually the quieter of the two.
Rua do Loreto 2, 1200-108 Lisboa, Portugal

Cristal

This charming spot is located off the beaten track, not in a touristy part of town but instead on an unassuming street. It’s a quiet Portuguese café and for that reason it’s worth a visit to submerge yourself amongst the locals. Grab yourselves a nata and a coffee and blend in.
So, there you have it, the sweetest spots there are to get yourselves a Pastéis de nata – leaving little else to say but, what are you waiting for?
Rua Buenos Aires 25-A, Lisboa 1200-622 LISBOA

Hélène Darroze at The Connaught has often been quoted as one of the best restaurants in London. I approached my visit to this world-famous 2-Michelin starred restaurant thinking how many female Michelin-starred chefs do I know? Not a lot….
Hélène has been a flag-bearer for “women who have broken boundaries in their field” for several years; so much so Mattel used her as in inspiration for a chef Barbie doll in March 2018 and she was also the inspiration for the character of Colette in Pixar’s 2007 film Ratatouille.

However, in 2020, we should have moved beyond that point where we have to highlight someone’s sex when describing someone’s culinary aptitude. This is simply one of the most stupendous dining experiences you will ever come across.
The restaurant was closed for 2 months and re-opened at the end of 2019 after an extensive refurbishment. Gone are the historic, dark oak-panelled walls; instead we have warm shades of soft pinks, tans and greens, and bespoke curved banquettes and chairs. You might think they’ve consulted a feng shui master with the lack of sharp edges and abundance of soft, rich colours.
If you think you’ve been stimulated by the surroundings, you will be positively aroused by their carefully-curated menu. Choices in a tasting menu are almost unheard of in Michelin-starred restaurants, but here you can choose either 5 or 7 courses out of a lengthy list of options at £120 or £170 respectively. And they have a separate equally lengthy menu for vegetarians, which is also another unheard-of innovation for French gastronomy.
We can dedicate pages singing the praises of each course, but here we aim to highlight some of the finest offerings. If you like rich, indulgent dishes, this is the perfect food paradise for you with dishes like Amur River “Kristal” caviar mixed in with oyster, sea urchin, and dashi. Foie gras is a dish for an acquired taste and is often thought to be too slithery in texture. Here, it is counter-balanced by the crunchiness of koji rice and the sweetness and acidity of the accompanying apple and pear flavours help to cut through the richness of the dish.

The provenance of the ingredients is key to the success of the restaurant. For example, with the lobster dish, you not only know it is from Cornwall but from the fishing boats for Phil Treblicock, who is one of the most respected supporters of the Cornish fishing industry. The kitchen team just adds a few key ingredients to lift the flavours of the lobster with the addition of Tandoori spices, carrot, citrus, and coriander; but they never over-complicate a dish.

One of the top vegetarian dishes, my vegetarian guest could not stop raving about was their version of an onion consommé which had an unrivalled sweetness and no doubt a large part of the success was due to their use of Cévennes onions, which are some of the sweetest you will find anywhere in the world. And they only used a small amount of black truffle for the dish; you will often find over-truffling an issue in less skillful restaurants.
Meat-lovers are also well-catered for here with the supreme A5 Wagyu beef from Gunma prefecture in Japan. Yes, there is a considerable supplement on this dish, but if you want to experience buttery, melt-in-your-mouth beef of the highest order; this would be a very reasonable investment.
Finally, make sure you save plenty of space in your dessert stomach as their signature Baba is easily the best rum baba you will ever taste. You are offered a choice of Armagnac Darroze from 1995 and 2000 to 2005; I opted for the former which gave the dessert a more toasted flavour. The Darroze family in France has been trading and producing vintage Bas-Armagnacs for decades and the quality genuinely shines through in this dessert.

Apart from the high-quality, inventive food, it is also worth mentioning the wine-pairing options. They have some of the finest in the world with a collection of over 3000 bins for a total of more than 20,000 bottles. They use plenty of small wine producers and we particularly enjoyed a very sippable Eric Rodez Rose from Ambonnay, Champagne, France.
https://www.the-connaught.co.uk/restaurants-bars/helene-darroze-at-the-connaught/