Food & Drink - House Of Coco Magazine

Cocktails October 19, 2019

London: The Awesome Aviary Igloos Are Back!

You know it’s winter in London when Aviary and their renowned rooftop igloos are back. But, there is an exciting development to form a rooftop experience you’ll never forget!

Running in partnership with award-winning spirit, Talisker Whiskey, the igloos will immerse visitors into a beautiful winter wonderland, inspired by the Talisker’s homeland of the Isle of Skye. The famous igloos are now open to the public and can be found 10 floors above the city offering breath-taking views of London – do we sense an awesome Instagrammable opp? Yup!

It’s such a wonderful way to escape the hustle of the city, as guests will find themselves immersed into Talisker’s Scottish homeland from the moment thy first step onto the rooftop. If you’re looking to celebrate something special nothing quite beats a tasty cocktail under the stars in a unique private igloo.

You’ll also be able to enjoy an exclusive menu of wild whiskey cocktails all developed by Talisker, some of the delicious creations include…

- Spicy and citrusy ‘Scotch Midst’
- Fruity and smokey ‘Northern Lights’
- Adventure inspired ‘Talisker Campfire Hot Chocolate’

On top of all those mouth-watering drinks, you can indulge in a specially curated food menu which serves up a range of platters. Winter in the UK isn’t all that bad!

View available packages and book your slot at www.aviarylondon.com/igloos – the igloos can accommodate up to eight guests.

Food & Drink October 17, 2019

Coco Crush: VegfestUK Returns to London

With a formidable reputation as the last word in vegan experiences, VegfestUK is returning to London for their final outing of 2019, bigger and more delicious than ever, and #TeamCoco are rather excited about it.

The festival has become a staple of Europe’s festival scene and will take place at Kensington Olympia for the seventh year, housing 320 food and lifestyle exhibitors and 200 speakers across the weekend of October 26th and 27th 2019.

VegfestUK London leads the way for city-based festivals, boasting a lineup both topical and entertaining; including live fitness and cookery demos, two Kid’s areas, the Holistic Health Hub, Yogific yoga, Natural Therapy Zone and a Wildlife Summit. Industry professionals will take to the stage for lectures on the best in health-conscious living, while top performers and award-winning comedians will be live across the weekend. Also, in the light of a new wave of controversial vegan activism including Animal Rebellion, VegfestUK London will host a series of summits analyzing and debating the effectiveness of such actions.

The now legendary Food Village will showcase the cutting edge of vegan cuisine, where guests can indulge in an international guilt-free menu from the likes of Pig Out, offering the very best in juicy vegan burgers, hot dogs and creamy mac & cheese and Dr Cheem’s Superfood Odyssey, who put a sumptuous Indian twist to their flavorings. Decadent vegan prawns and lobster can be enjoyed from Shelley’s Vegan Seafood, Brownin’s will offer African and Jamaican delights, while those with a sweet tooth can go wild with Booja Booja’s dairy-free ice-cream and the baked goodness of Ms. Cupcake.

Organiser Alan Lee says ‘We can’t wait to return to Kensington to see VegfestUK bigger than ever. Ethical living has exploded over the last few years and our festival is perfect for vegans, families, or those simply wanting to learn more about the lifestyle and eat something delicious!’

Advance tickets for VegfestUK London are on sale now https://london.vegfest.co.uk/tickets/

Couples Travel October 17, 2019

The World’s Best Underwater Restaurants and Hotels

There’s nothing better than hanging out in the water, whether it’s lazing on the side of a catamaran, playing in the shallows, snorkelling amongst the fishes or sleeping by the sea. What about sleeping in the sea? Or having dinner with the fishes? Underwater destinations are a seriously luxe way to explore the water and we can’t get enough of them. There aren’t any off England’s coast yet which just means you’ll just have to find your passport and head off to one of these international spots in the sea.

Under, Norway

Up until now it’s been all about Maldives, Fiji and Dubai when it comes to underwater dining, but now Under has opened in Norway. Europe’s first and the world’s largest underwater restaurant is five metres below sea level in Lindesnes in southern Norway. Half-sunken, the Scandi-chic restaurant juts out of the sea making it an architectural interest in itself, but really you want to get inside and down to the panoramic window. The sea might not be as a crystal blue as in the tropics, but the rugged coastline still makes for perfect dinner viewing, you can expect to see urchins, crabs, mini sharks, battling lobsters and even the occasional seal!
www.under.no

The Manta Resort, Tanzania

If staying on your own private floating island surrounded by reef fish wasn’t already dreamy enough, the base level of this three-tiered hotel room is submerged entirely underwater. At night underwater spot lights attract the likes of squid and octopus and coral has started to grow up around the anchor. With a minimum three night stay, you can spend one night sleeping on the top deck under the stars, one on the middle deck with 360 views of the reef and conservation area and one night below the water, watching the fish for a truly unique experience.
www.themantaresort.com

Subsix, Niyama Private Islands Maldives

If you want to dine at the dramatic Subsix then you’re going to need to catch a speedboat or board a seaplane to get there as the restaurant and club sits 500 metres off the shore and six metres below sea level. Inspired by the setting the restaurant’s shape emulates a clam, the chandeliers mimic coral and there are sea anemone chairs. That said, however glamorous the interior is, we can guarantee that as you’re sipping on your Champagne you’re going to be transfixed by the lagoon outside where moray eels, parrotfish, groupers, butterflyfish and even Hawksbill turtles glide past.
www.niyama.com

Ithaa Underwater Restaurant, Maldives

Starting this luxe trend, was Ithaa, the world’s first underwater restaurant. Sitting five metres under the Indian Ocean, Ithaa at the Conrad Rangali Island in the Maldives is surrounded by coral gardens teeming with fish, giving you one incredible view as you dine – no need for people watching or trying to think of topics if the conversation runs out. Open for mid-morning cocktails through to dinner, this really is one special restaurant that should be on everyone’s bucket list.
www.conradmaldives.com

Atlantis The Palm, Dubai

The underwater suite at Atlantis The Palm in Dubai is pure decadence. You won’t just be curling up on an opulent king sized bed or relaxing in a marble jacuzzi, you’ll be doing both of these whilst watching 65,000 marine animals including sharks and stingrays glide past your window. With mesmerising private views of the Ambassador Lagoon and a butler to boot and you’ve got yourself one very decadent holiday.
www.atlantis.com

Behind the bar October 16, 2019

Behind the Bar: Get your Downton Abbey fix at Aqua Shard

We made our way high above London’s glittering skyline to try out the latest experiential cocktail menu from Aqua Shard. Amidst jaw-dropping views and lush interiors, Aqua Shard’s Downtown Abbey menu will surely transport you to the Crawley manor, albeit 31 floors above the ground.

The quirky cocktail menu takes historical inspirations from the hit period drama and is availably until the end of the year. Aqua Shard Bar Manager Sophie Bratt has added some unexpected twists to your favourite cocktail classics and gave that will surely get the Edwardian stamp of approval. Here are a few of our favourites…

The Lady

The Lady was inspired by the Crawley family’s matriarch, Lady Violet. It’s a subtly sweet mixture of The Violet Fog Gin, Graham’s blend No 5 white Port, Creme de Violette, and lychee juice, finished off with some violet flowers and served in an equally lady-like compete glass. Now that’s a drink that’s fit for a lady.

The Head Housekeeper

This eccentric gin-sour inspired concoction is served in a stemmed teacup and will make you question whether to hold it by the stem or by the handle. It is updated with Warner’s Honeybee gin, lemon and raspberry jam and takes inspiration from Downton Abbey’s housekeeper, Mrs. Hughes.

The Butler

Mr. Carson, the Crawley family’s butler, is probably one of England’s most famous fictional butlers and this drink is a fitting tribute. It’s made with Roe and Co Irish Whiskey, Poire William, Absinthe – and a touch of vanilla sugar. Not to mention, it’s served in a brandy balloon – and with a matching bell too!

The Manor House

This drink takes traditional Yorkshire flavours (where the program is set) with some contemporary twists. Its made with rhubarb and Yorkshire tea, Warmers rhubarb gin, Belsazar rose vermouth, Supasowa citrus, and Cointreau.

The Downton Abbey menu is now available in www.aquashard.co.uk. For more information visit the website or call 020 3011 1256

Afternoon Tea October 12, 2019

Coco Crush: What’s Hot in Food & Drink

October is one of the most exciting months of the year, with the weather turning autumnal, fashion gets cosier, trick or treating at Halloween, and Christmas is on the horizon, plus we start to eat heartier meals and enjoy more warming drinks. What’s not to love!

There are so many new food and drink products to shout about this month, so we at #TeamCoco have put together a little list of a few of our favourite food and drink new releases.

We’ve got chocolates in abundance, wonderfully gorgeous sencha teas, and a couple of cheeky bottles of booze that we’re sure you will enjoy.

Food

Cadbury Heroes

This autumn, Cadbury Heroes has undergone a special makeover in celebration of its 20th anniversary.

New Cadbury Heroes sees the iconic Cadbury-purple tin get a striking new modern make-over, redesigned to look like a celebratory birthday cake. Featuring a standout metallic top with confetti decorations, including an eye catching purple star that carries the Heroes name, the tin is the perfect keepsake to refill time and time again with your favourite sweet treats!

Priced at £9.99, available from all major confectionery retailers and supermarkets.

Montezuma’s Truffle Advent Calendar

There are 25 exciting windows each with a delicious milk, white or dark chocolate truffle behind the numbers, containing a rich dark chocolate truffle, milk and white chocolate hazelnut praline, milk and white chocolate truffle with coffee, dark chocolate with ground vanilla, and white chocolate and raspberry truffle.

Priced at £24.99, available from www.montezumas.co.uk

Thorntons Continental Winter Markets Box

The Thorntons chocolate makers have been hard at work crafting this year’s Christmas range including this Continental Winter Markets Box which brings together an assortment of unique chocolates that are rich and evocative in flavour and inspired by the traditional European Christmas market, adding a touch of glamour to Christmas.

Priced at £9.68, available from www.thorntons.co.uk and from nationwide supermarkets.

Elizabeth Shaw Ginspired Tipples with Pinkster

British confectioner Elizabeth Shaw has collaborated with Pinkster craft gin to launch Ginspired Tipples – a sumptuously fresh and fruity boxed chocolate selection to savour, gift and share – anytime and every time!

The Ginspired Tipples collection is the first boxed chocolates to be unveiled by Elizabeth Shaw beyond its renowned after dinner mint range. Included in the Ginspired Tipples is; lime and raspberry gin-soaked ganache, blackberry ganache with gin fizz, boozy raspberry crème with raspberry pieces, lemon gin truffle, and bitter sweet gin and almond.

Priced at £7 (178g), available from www.sainsburys.co.uk and in store at Sainsbury’s nationwide.

Drink

Hope & Glory® Tea at Hilton London Paddington

One of London’s grandest Victorian hotels, the Hilton London Paddington, has launched a delectable new afternoon tea offering with British artisanal tea Hope & Glory® and Belgian chocolates from Maison Pierre Marcolini.

The menu is a collection of premium teas & tisanes from Hope & Glory®, sweet treats by Pierre Marcolini, and Hilton London Paddington’s scones and savouries. The finest teas & tisanes are sourced from gardens in India, China, Japan, Taiwan, and Sri Lanka.

Priced at £36 per person, or £46 with glass of Champagne or cocktail. Visit www.paddington.hilton.com for afternoon tea, or www.thehopeandglory.co.uk for artisan teas.

PIMM’S No.6 Vodka Cup

PIMM’S No.6 Vodka Cup is guaranteed to delight whatever the season, especially this autumn in front of an open fire with its signature serve, the No.6 & Tonic.
Originally launched in 1964, PIMM’S No.6 has enjoyed a recent revival, and is much lighter and crisper than its gin-based cousin, a perfect alternative to your usual gin PIMM’S.
Priced at £114 (6 x 70cl bottles), available exclusively from Fine Wine and Spirits Merchants Justerini & Brooks – www.justerinis.com

ZeroWater Filter & The Tea Makers of London

There are 100’s of teas for every occasion, every moment and every taste, so when you find a tea you love, why ignore the most important part? Water, 98% of every cuppa is water, yet we often use tap water that is high in chlorine, fluoride and containments.

ZeroWater has partnered with National Tea Day, who work all year round to ensure that you can create the perfect brew time and time again. They’ve joined forces with the best water filter on the market, ZeroWater which removes virtually all dissolved solids and containments, ensuring your water is the purest thing to bottled water.

Some of the amazing Tea’s that National Tea Day work with includes The Tea Makers of London who create a stunning blend of teas including the Finest Japanese Sencha Green Tea. It tastes, sweet and grassy and is very popular in Japan. High in Vitamin C, it is a great tea for autumn and winter months and can help to boost your immunity.

Priced at £39.99 for the ZeroWater Filter from www.zerowater.co.uk, tea is priced from £4.50 at www.theteamakers.co.uk, and visit www.nationalteaday.co.uk to find out more about this institutional day.

Old Curiosity Christmas Gin in Partnership with Ruby Bhogal

Made with natural ingredients, the Old Curiosity Christmas Gin is distilled with ginger, cinnamon and cardamom, giving it the undeniably familiar smell and taste of the festive season. The drink also transforms from a deep red to a vibrant pink when mixed with tonic water; the perfect showstopper for any Christmas party!

The Old Curiosity Christmas Gin comes with a bespoke gin spiced shortbread recipe developed by 2018 Great British Bake Off finalist, Ruby Bhogal.

Priced at £35 (50cl), available from www.theoldcuriosity.co.uk, Harvey Nichols, Fenwicks, and Dobbies Garden Centre.

Food & Drink October 2, 2019

Dine Out: Top 5 Pastry Chefs & Sommeliers Create the Ultimate Rémy Martin Dessert Pairing

We stepped into Mimo’s Culinary School after a meander through London’s Borough Market, a sweet intimation of what the night held in store for us.

Earlier this year, Rémy Martin, one of the finest Cognac houses in the world, challenged UK’s top pastry chefs and sommeliers to team up and compete. An industry first, the Remy Sprint (Rémy Sommelier Pâtissier Rooted In Talent) competition aimed to utilise the duo’s collective talents to create the ultimate dessert pairing with Rémy Martin XO.

It might not be the done thing to dive into a digestif before a meal; however, standing in Mino’s showroom surrounded by exquisite desserts and glasses of the finest Cognac, we knew we were right to have skipped dinner.

Michelin star chef, Claude Bosi, and Imbibe editor, Chris Losh, had sat on the judging panel in July 2019, weighing up the concept, storytelling, taste and wow-factor of each dish before choosing the top five.

We moved around the room, learning, sipping and sampling each dessert pairing. Each pâtissier and sommelier spoke passionately about their inspiration:

WALK THROUGH THE KENTISH COUNTRYSIDE
Scott Goss & James Harrison
at Verdigris

“We wanted to showcase the drink throughout the seasons with seasonal fruit so it’s relevant throughout the year, so it will work for autumn fruit like plums too.”

DESSERT TRIO
Aurel Istrate & Romina Vasquez
at The Connaught

“Our natural instinct was to use chocolate; the cherry, which is seasonal at the moment compliments the bitter and sweetness of XO perfectly and the addition of malt was inspired by a whisky visit”.

CHOCOLATE COGNAC
Solene Bonhumeau & Loic Pellegry
at The Five Fields

“We wanted to create a gastronomic experience of drinking cognac with the classic pairings of coffee and chocolate which is traditionally paired with XO – this is our take on that.”

MERE MARTIN
Enzo Housseau & Hugo Danjou
at Mere

“We wanted to bring the terroir and cognac onto the plate. The dessert is essentially a map of the heart of the Cognac Region: the outer circle of grapefruit and hazelnut and the astina crisp indicates Petite Champagne and the middle is Grande Champagne. The dessert is layered to represent the terroir and the meticulous chalky soil and consists of gianduja feuilletine, hazelnut dacquoise, confit grapefruit and caramelised grapefruit mousse. Topped with earl grey ice cream.”

THE OPERATIC
Sarah Riddle & Marie Lau
at Sketch

“We’re bringing everything back to basics the land is agriculture the vines (the tuile) is what’s discarded. The dessert is like an opera symphony with different layers and will never be the same, even if enjoyed multiple times.”

The winning teams will enjoy the ultimate trip to Cognac in January 2020, while our readers can indulge a little sooner. Each restaurant will be serving their winning dessert pairings from October through to Christmas, so take your lover, family or friends, and treat yourselves.

Follow @RemyMartinUK #RemyMartin #remysprint

Food & Drink October 1, 2019

What to Eat in London This Month

Ah, October. The month of change. The so-called Indian summer is long gone, dark evenings are drawing in and one’s diet is swiftly changing from light summer dishes to all-encompassing comfort food.

It’s a month for roast dinners and autumnal soups, for seasonal squashes and cosy crock pots. Times are a-changing and your dinner’s a-changing with them. Here’s our pick of some of the best dishes doing the rounds in London this October.

1. Taste some glorious game at Cinnamon Club

This month sees Executive Chef of Cinnamon Club, Vivek Singh, team up with three of London’s most talented chefs to celebrate the game season at his flagship restaurant, The Cinnamon Club in Westminster. Ollie Dabous, Marcus Wareing and Brett Redman will be showcasing theversatility of these seasonal meats, with each chef’s dish available for two weeks alongside all the existing Cinnamon Club Classics.

HIDE’s Ollie Dabbous will be first up, showcasing his quirky take on traditional venison cookery with a dish of spiced venison loin cooked over charcoal with fennel yoghurt, pumpkin and pistachio pilaf. From 14th – 27th October, guests can enjoy Marcus Wareing’s wild mallard glazed with juniper, black pepper and orange, roasted Delica pumpkin, Espellete pepper and pumpkin seed with offal. The season ends with Brett Redman, who will give Jidori’s signature skewer a seasonal twist, serving up Venison Tsukune with homemade juniper Tare sauce from 28th October until 10th November. www.cinnamonclub.com

2. Dine at a revamped London legend

With the long-awaited return of Julie’s in W11 comes the revival of a London legend; originally opened in November 1969, Julie’s quickly became a favourite haunt of rock n roll royalty and celebrity fans, from the Rolling Stones and Sir Paul McCartney to Kate Moss and Nicole Kidman.

The Holland Park institution has undergone an extensive refurbishment ahead of its 50th birthday in November, with old-time fans sure to recognise some of the restaurant’s original features with a host of pieces from the sixties sitting alongside colourful new decor. The menu however is all new and will be a regularly-updated offering of modern British cuisine. With seasonal dishes including the likes of buttermilk fried quail, charred kale risotto, Hereford beef tartare and salt marsh lamb with pressed cabbage, garlic potatoes, crisp lamb breast, preserved lemon, chef Patron Shay Cooper is keen to ensure that Julie’s, a neighbourhood restaurant with an international profile, gains a loyal following for great food, as well as for its renowned ambience and party atmosphere. www.julierestaurant.com

3. Take a trip to Porto via Tufnell Park

Summer holidays might be over, but the senses of the Douro Valley come to London this month in the form of Graham’s Port and Disappearing Dining Club’s supper club series. Following the success of previous ‘Little Porto’ events, the new-look dinners will be hosted at The Dartmouth Arms in North London, offering guests a four-course dining experience inspired by Port and Portuguese cuisine and accompanied by some delectably smooth jazz. Combining its 99 years in the wine-making business with the culinary expertise of Head Chef Fred Bolin and his crack team at Disappearing Dining Club, ‘A Taste of Porto’ will showcase a menu with highlights including slow roasted pork belly, prawn carpaccio and apple and port braised celeriac, with each dish expertly paired with a Portuguese wine. The pièce de résistance will be a port flight, offering diners the chance to sip their way through different varieties and vintages of Porto’s most famous export, accompanied by the dulcet sounds from award-winning DJs Ricardo Paris and Jorge Montiel playing Latino and Portuguese inspired jazz.

Running every Thursday from 17th October – 21st November at Dartmouth Arms, NW5 1SP. www.disappearingdiningclub.co.uk

4. Make the most of mushroom season

In the last few years I’ve gone from loathing mushrooms with a burning passion to not being able to get enough of them, so I was thrilled to discover Carluccio’s is celebrating mushroom season with a fungi wonderland at its Covent Garden branch. Fitted with outdoor toadstool seating and an impressive mushroom archway surrounding the entrance, a mushroom throne for the perfect Instagram moment and special mushroom menu encapsulating the very best of the bunch.

There’s a Mushroom Fonduta – mixed mushrooms in a rich taleggio sauce with white truffle oil, Porcini and Truffle Lasagne, Porcini and Portobello Risotto and Fillet Steak with truffle butter, served with a rich mushroom and porcini sauce. Thankfully mushrooms don’t quite stretch to the dessert, the ‘Bosco Incantato’, inspired by Antonio Carluccio’s vast collection of mushroom memorabilia – a ‘toadstool’ made with vanilla & chocolate ice cream, chocolate & hazelnut sauce, pistachios, hazelnuts, fresh raspberries and panettone.

Mushroom lovers can also indulge in a limited edition range available in the shop, including an easy-to-make mushroom and truffle risotto and truffle butter, or sign up to Carluccio’s Mushroom Foraging Workshop being held in the beautiful Essex countryside on Sunday 13th October. The day comprises an educational workshop about wild mushrooms and a three-course mushroom feast served for lunch, followed by a guided mushroom hunt and cooking lesson, plus a copy of Antonio’s ‘Mushrooms’ cookbook to take away. Tickets £85 each from www.carluccios.com/mushroomforaging

5. Tuck in to the world’s first ever cheese conveyor belt

Recent visitors to Covent Garden might have noticed the appearance of the hotly anticipated Seven Dials Market. The latest venture from KERB, the gurus behind elevating London’s street food scene, the historic warehouse has become their first permanent venue. The 24,000 sq ft space is home to 25 independent food businesses all with roots in the city’s streets and markets, alongside a bar and bookshop that support KERB’s dedication to all things tasty in London.

Cucumber Alley is a strip dedicated to London produce, bringing the likes of family-run bakery Karaway, purveyors of Lithuanian heritage breads and pastries, and champions of British charcuterie methods Crown & Queue, to the West End. The Banana Warehouse is home to 13 diverse and independent food and drink traders, including London’s favourite Jewish deli Monty’s Deli, Strozapretti, the new pasta restaurant from the team that founded Franco Manca and Venezuelan fried chicken experts El Pollote. High up on your to-do list however should be Pick & Cheese, the world’s first ever cheese conveyor belt, with 25 different cheeses sourced from around the UK and each paired with individual condiments & small producer wines. www.sevendialsmarket.com

Cocktails September 30, 2019

5 best cocktail bars in London for a girls night out

There’s nothing beats a night out with the girls but with cocktail bars popping up every week in London it’s hard to know where to go. Luckily here at #TeamCoco we have the inside scoop on the best places to take your girl gang for a catch up and cocktail in the Capital.

Disrepute

This glamorous members bar has a 60s vibe, with lots of plush jewel coloured velvet and touches of marble and brass. DRP (to those in the know) was once known as the Kingly Club, and before that the Pinstripe Club, has had its fair share of scandal: it was one of the places cabinet minister John Profumo met call girl Christine Keeler in 1961, and has hosted the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Peter O’Toole and Audrey Hepburn. The extensive cocktail list is told in stories, with fictional descriptions in place of ingredients. Sip on a Scandal and Espionage, made up of vodka, brandy and honey syrup. Book a booth in advance as this place gets busy.
www.disrepute.co.uk

Cahoots

Cahoots is a 1940s-themed bar located in the heart of Soho. Set in an abandoned train station this speakeasy serves up spiffing cocktails and live music seven days a week. The venue was once used as an air-raid shelter and has been transformed into an Underground station, complete with tube carriage and sandbags. Get in a round of Vera Lynn cocktails, a delicious combination of gin, ginger wine, apple juice, lime juice, peach puree and elderflower.
www.cahoots-london.com

Archer Street

This is a great venue to get together with the girls. The sumptuous décor, candle lit tables and fresh flowers are more like a hotel lounge than a Soho bar. This is a cocktail bar with a twist, once your waiter has served your drink don’t be surprised if he jumps on the table and bursts into song. The staff at Archer Street are made up of West End performers and throughout the evening they all grab the mike and belt out some classic hits. After a couple of cocktails, you’ll be dancing on the tables.
www.archerstreet.co.uk

Tonight Josephine

Tonight Josephine is an Instagrammer’s paradise with more glitter and neon than you can shake a stick at. This basement cocktail bar is oozing sass and a great place to go with your girl gang. The drinks menu is as pretty as the venue, try The Violet Femme, a purple, gin-based drink, which comes with a tube of Parma Violets balancing on its fluffy egg-white top.
www.tonightjosephine.co.uk

The Blind Pig

Tucked upstairs from Jason Atherton’s Social Eating House is The Blind Pig. It’s easy to miss from street level, hidden under the vintage ‘Optician’ sign is a blindfolded hog doorknocker, give it a tap and you are in. There’s a real retro feel to this bar, lots of dark wood panelling and antique mirrors are peppered around the copper topped bar. The mixologists here are super talented and are always experimenting with new flavours. Signature drinks include the Silver Screen, which is comprised of popcorn-infused Buffalo Trace bourbon, a “bespoke-a-cola” reduction, “3D” bitters, and lemon oils, served with a tiny striped bucket of popcorn pinned to the glass. Reserve one of the leather booths for you and your gals and make your way through the cocktail menu.
www.socialeatinghouse.com

Food & Drink September 28, 2019

Coco Crush: International Coffee Day

Did you know that there is an International Coffee Day? How did we not know at #TeamCoco, especially as coffee is our ‘go to’ morning fix for most of us! We like to drink it black, we like it milky and sweet, we like it strong with a froth, we like it flavoured and with chocolate powder on top, and we like it on the go.

With International Coffee Day (1st October) on the horizon, #TeamCoco have asked the experts at illy, the premium Italian coffee brand, to share their top 5 tips on how to create a barista-style coffee at home, as well as providing their recommendations on the best supermarket coffee offers and machines for caffeine lovers to celebrate with on the international day of coffee!

In the UK we drink an average of 95 million cups of coffee a day and with 65% of this enjoyed at home, being able to create the perfect coffee at home is at the top of many peoples’ wish list.

Here’s 5 simple tips by illy, to recreate a barista-style coffee from the comfort of your own kitchen:

1. Get freshly roasted coffee beans

There are two main types of coffee beans – the Arabica (sweeter, softer taste) and Robusta (strong, full-bodied). Finding the right coffee bean for you is essential to prepare the perfect beverage every time.

2. It’s all in the grind

The grind of your coffee will greatly influence the end result, as it impacts the amount of contact time between the hot water and the beans. Grind it too fine and you will have a bitter coffee, whilst grinding it too coarsely will give you a watery blend. Invest in a quality coffee grinder or machine to ensure every cup tastes like it was made by a professional barista.

3. Storage wars

Many underestimate the importance of proper coffee storage and its effect on taste. It must be stored in a cool, dry place but never in the fridge or freezer, as the defrosting process can actually damage the coffee beans, making them lose their original flavour. Keep coffee in an airtight container where you’d normally store your other cool dry goods.

4. Use a filter

Water hugely affects the taste of your cup of coffee, as it makes up 90% of the drink. Tap water can contain impurities such as minerals, metals and salts that can alter the taste, so the best thing to do is to use filtered water to give your coffee the best flavour.

5. Keep it fresh

Don’t forget that coffee goes stale. Ideally you want to drink it within a month of being roasted to savour that fresh taste. If you buy your beans whole you can choose to only grind what you need, when you need them.

Best Supermarket Coffee Offers for International Coffee Day

Illy Instant Smooth Taste – Velvety smooth and perfectly balanced

Discover the rich and perfectly balanced taste of the unique illy blend, now available in an ultra-convenient instant coffee version. Tapping into the trend for premium instant coffee, which is driving growth of the instant category, this velvety smooth and perfectly balanced coffee is ideal with a touch of milk.

RRP: £5.85 Now: £4.50, Stockists: Sainsbury’s

Ground Espresso Medium Roast Coffee – mild and balanced

illy’s distinctive blend of fine Arabica coffees with a smooth, rich and full-bodied taste is created from the skilful blending of 100% sustainably-grown Arabica beans, meticulously selected from different growing regions around the world. The result is an authentic Italian coffee that is flawlessly consistent, smooth, balanced, and never bitter.

RRP: £6.50 Now: 5.00, Stockists: Sainsbury’s

Best Coffee Machines for International Coffee Day

Going retro – Francis Francis X7.1 Espresso Machine

This retro-style, new generation appliance is effective, fast and simple to use. The illy patented pannarello milk frother is perfect for creating a soft, velvety foam, and it’s able to rapidly switch from cappuccino to coffee mode to suit every coffee order. For those in search of a café-quality espresso in the convenience of their own home, this machine could be the perfect treat this International Coffee Day.

RRP: £156 (will be 50% off in Black Friday sales), Available from Amazon and illy.co.uk

For technology lovers – Y5 BT Espresso & Coffee Machine

Forget Alexa, this is the technology you want in your kitchen! illy has connected with Amazon to integrate its popular coffee machine with the latest Amazon Dash Replenishment system. Using this new technology, coffee-lovers no longer have to fear morning coffee deprivation as the machine can automatically track your capsule usage and reorder before you run out. Perfect For those that love both technology and great coffee.

RRP: £183.50 (will be 50% off in Black Friday sales), Available from Amazon and illy.co.uk

The space saver – Y3.2 Espresso & Coffee Capsule Machine

This elegant and compact machine creates the perfect cup of coffee at the touch of a button. The secret is in the capsules, each one is created to give the harmony and essence of the famous 100% Arabica illy blend in every coffee preparation. Designed by architect, Piero Lissoni, this sophisticated machine offers an intuitive and easy-to-use experience.

RRP: £110 (will be 50% off in Black Friday sales), Available from Amazon and illy.co.uk

Whatever your personal coffee preference, enjoy a cup of the brown stuff this coming Tuesday and raise a cup to International Coffee Day.

Behind the bar September 25, 2019

Behind the Bar: East London’s newest watering hole, The Arches

The Arches is situated in Bethnal Green and it one of East London’s coolest and also newest drinking spots. The space is ideal for pop up food events to shake up London’s food scene. We checked out the Spanish Supper Club with the Modest Merchant. These Supper Clubs, intimate, fun and entertaining are set to run on the last Thursday of every month.

The bar in the venue, aptly named Bubbles, is situated in the railway arch of an old car wash. It was truly fizz galore with an amazing choice of tipples from around the world. The Bubbles menu features 15 sparkling wines from around the world. Each wine paired perfectly with different dishes from the spectacular tapas style supper that we were served.

The Modest Menu supper club series returns to The Arches on 26th September with an evening extravaganza by Oxalis and The Modest Merchant. Expect an evening filled with wonderful wine and a Modest Menu focused on the Oxalis specialty, Game.

The Arches is situated in South Bethnal Green and housed underneath 6 Victorian railway arches, of which exist 3 brand new venues – 640East, Taproom by Bethnal Green and Drop Yard. The Arches can be found at: Railway Arches, 157-162 Malcolm Pl, Bethnal Green, London E2 0EU.