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Adventures

Wake up here: Crown & Garter, Inkpen, West Berkshire

Staycations are here to stay. The Crown & Garter in idyllic Inkpen near Hungerford, West Berkshire is the perfect spot for a great British getaway, in any season. Crisp country air, long leafy walks and cycle routes with award-winning, wholesome food waiting for you by a fire. This is exactly what we all need after the events of 2020. Come away feeling totally refreshed and rejuvenated without getting on board a plane, or indeed applying any sun cream.

The Crown & Garter has ten stylish rooms, just adjacent to the pub property for a relaxed night sleep, each with plush super king beds. The rooms make for the perfect cosy base to head off on glorious walks nearby. Cobwebs, be gone. Inkpen Common is right next door and contains beautiful and ancient heathland, a myriad of flowers, birds and wildlife. We opted for the ten kilometre walk that begins at Inkpen Common but there are options to go on for even longer. The staff at the Crown & Garter are extremely helpful in recommending routes to help to get the most out of the surrounding countryside and to advise which ramble is best for the specific season. On our arrival back, we enjoyed a well-deserved local ale in the Crown & Garter’s large beer garden in the sun, taking in panoramic views of the Berkshire countryside.

The pub offers fresh, seasonal food and a large selection of drinks from local distilleries, breweries and producers. The wine served is exclusively sourced from small producers in the UK and Europe. Food aficionados will appreciate the Crown & Garter’s commitment to sourcing a large portion of its ingredients locally with the fish served in the restaurant coming from UK coastal waters and rivers. The pub’s menu is small, concise and expertly curated. Mouth-watering starters include the broad bean and pea bruschetta, soused mackerel and mini scotch eggs to have alongside a crisp and cool glass of white wine. The dinner menu includes the hearty British pub classics as well as some superb vegetarian options such as a vegan aubergine and chickpea stew with a homemade flatbread, dukkha and soya yoghurt and lighter bites such as the heritage tomato salad with buffalo mozzarella and a roast carrot and spelt salad. The award-winning pub is part of the Honesty Group, which includes nine coffee shops, a bakery and a cookery school across the Berkshire countryside. As a result of being part of Honesty Group, bread is extremely important to the Crown & Garter. Fresh loaves and rolls are supplied from the pub’s local Honesty Bakery and of course the butter is homemade (and delicious).

The private garden is a tranquil setting where guests can start their day with a newspaper, coffee and a freshly-baked croissant, or a full English of course, before embarking on the day’s activities. Although the Crown & Garter feels like it is tucked away in one of the most glorious and secluded parts of the country, guests are not far away from activities and well-known places to visit. The historic Bombay Sapphire Distillery is in the neighbouring county and nearby lies UNESCO World Heritage Site, Blenheim Palace, making the Crown & Garter well located for visitors wishing to experience some quintessentially British days out.

Bombay Sapphire Distillery

Just thirty minutes away from the Crown & Garter lies Laverstoke Mill and the home of Bombay Sapphire. The extremely knowledgeable staff take visitors on a journey right from the beginning of the brand’s origins to the present day. The history of Laverstoke Mill is recorded as far back as the 1086 Doomsday Book. The Mill has been under the ownership of William the Conqueror, Henry VIII and enjoyed four royal visits, most recently Queen Elizabeth in 1962.

Guests to the Bombay Sapphire Distillery learn about the ten botanicals which make the gin so delicious in the iconic glasshouses designed by Thomas Heatherwick. Guests are then able to configure their own gin flavour profile during a hands on activity that incorporates all the senses. Once the flavour palette is chosen, visitors can match their preferences with a complimentary speciality cocktail that is enjoyed at Mill Bar at the end of the tour.

Blenheim Palace

Great Britain in all its glory. Grand, majestic and seeped full of history. Guests can enjoy the expansive grounds with awe-inspiring views of the property or wander inside and take in centuries of pomp and pageantry. The palace was home to the 12th Duke of Marlborough and his family and was also the birthplace of one of the most famous Britons, Sir Winston Churchill. Grab yourself an audio tour and go back through three hundred years of history or take a ride on the miniature train which runs through the grounds between the palace and the Pleasure Gardens. For the more glamourous ‘staycationer’, sip a glass of Searcys Selected Cuvée Champagne in The Orangery and enjoy Blenheim Palace’s famous Afternoon Tea with delicious cakes, scones, pink rhubarb choux buns and strawberry macarons. What could be a more British ritual.

Until the 3rd January 2021, guests to Blenheim Palace can enjoy a major solo collection by acclaimed British female artist, Cecily Brown. Brown’s works display various stylistic influences from Francisco de Goya and Francis Bacon and the exhibition is the first to be comprised solely of new work created in response to the Palace’s history as an English country estate and as the home to successive generations of the Spencer-Churchill family and their impressive collection of paintings, tapestries and decorative arts.

Holidays within the UK are certainly not going anywhere soon with travellers discovering that there is so much to explore, right on the doorstep. Having stood on the same spot since 1640, we predict we will be seeing more of the Crown & Garter as exploring more locally becomes the order of the day. The staycation at the Crown & Garter was everything a luxurious short break should be and a great place to escape from London or any big city. In the words of Sir Winston Churchill who resided just forty-five minutes away at Blenheim Place, ‘my tastes are simple: I am easily satisfied with the best’.

To book and for more information, see: www.crownandgarter.co.uk

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Italy

PASTA REMOLI ANNOUNCE MONTH LONG ‘PASTA-FEST’ FOR OCTOBER

This Autumn Pasta Remoli, the London pasta stalwarts founded by Simone Remoli, will launch a month long celebration, centred around their famous homemade pasta. The Remoli ‘Pasta-Fest’ will include an Eat Pasta to Help Out initiative, a one off giveaway for World Pasta Day and a spooky halloween special.

Throughout October, Simone will be offering guests 50% off their food bill across all Pasta Remoli restaurants from Monday-Wednesday, to encourage food lovers to continue eating pasta to help out. Diners will be able to indulge in Remoli signature dishes from their fan favorite Truffle and mushroom ravioli to Caciao e Pepe or Tuscan sausage ragu. All of Pasta Remoli’s dishes are made with authentic homemade pasta in a host of shapes, accompanied by a choice of either white or tomato based sauces, and finally, guests’ choice of Italian cheeses to top things off.

Next up, and to celebrate World Pasta Day, on Sunday 25th October Pasta Remoli will be giving away 30 of their pasta dishes at each of their restaurants across London to the first lucky guests through the doors who quote ‘pasta lover’ to the Remoli team. There will be a choice of three dishes to choose from if you’re one of the early birds, including: Gnocchi arrabbiata, Truffle ravioli in a butter and sage sauce or Maccheroncini bolognese.

Finally, to see out the month in a suitably spooky fashion, Simone has created two halloween specials, which will be available across the restaurants from October 26th-November 1st. The first is a seasonal dish of Pumpkin ravioli with crispy guanciale and toasted chestnuts, whilst a Pumpkin and hazelnut cheesecake with an amaretti base, served with chestnut cream and clementine chips, will finish things off on a sweet note.

Simone and his team will continue to serve up their menu of perfectly made pastas and Italian specialties throughout October, and look forward to welcoming guests into their restaurants for a true taste of Italian hospitality.

The Pasta-Fest at Pasta Remoli will run from October 1st – November 1st. For bookings and more info visit: https://www.pastaremoli.co.uk/ | @pastaremoli

Eat Pasta to Help Out:

  • Will be available at all sites excluding pop up cart at Sourced Market, St Pancras Int.
  • 50% off, up to £10 off pp, Mon to Wed, excludes seafood dishes and drinks

World Pasta Day: Sunday 25th October:

  • Will be available at all sites excluding pop-up cart at Sourced Market, St Pancras Int.
  • Complementary pasta dish for first 30 people that visit on 25th October quoting ‘pasta lover’
  • Maximum group size of 2 people – 1 comp dish pp
  • Subject to space for walk-ins
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Cocktails

UK Coffee Week offers £10 bottomless Gin Espresso Martinis in London

Coffee Gin creators Lava Spirits Co have teamed up with Peckham’s Coffee & Cocktails (@coffeecocktails_peckham) to offer bottomless Gin Espresso Martinis throughout the whole of UK Coffee Week which runs from 19th to 25th October. With the weather getting colder and potential restrictions getting stricter, this is just the positive news that Londoners have been waiting for. To make the offer sweeter, 25% of the proceeds go to Project Waterfall which is UK Coffee Week’s official charity and combats the water crisis in some of the world’s poorest areas.

To celebrate UK Coffee Week in its tenth year, cocktail bar Coffee & Cocktails will be offering bottomless Gin Espresso Martinis throughout the week on a walk-in basis from 5-7pm or 4-6pm on Monday, for just £10 a pop. The Gin Espresso Martinis will be made with award-winning Lava Spirits Co Coffee Gin.

Lava Spirits Co, launched by female entrepreneur Laura Bridge, has crafted a truly delicious blend using South American sourced Arabica coffee beans with comforting aromas and satisfying richness, alongside wonderfully sweet notes of marzipan, chocolate and cherry. The gin is ideal for creating the perfect Gin Espresso Martini (drunk on a bottomless basis) for coffee lovers to enjoy throughout UK Coffee Week or to purchase in order try your own hand at recreating the perfect cocktail at home this autumn.

lavaspirits.co.uk

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Food & Drink

Arros QD launches a three-month virtual guest chef series with top Spanish paella chefs

London’s home of authentic paella, Arros QD has announced a virtual guest chef series with three of Valencia’s most recognised paella chefs to celebrate the signature dish. From now until December, Michelin starred founder, Quique Dacosta will do a live cookalong per month, alongside Vicente Rioja (Restaurante Rioja) Luis Rodríguez (Casa Elías) and Rafa Margós (El Paeller) to create regional, traditional and unique paella dishes. The special guest chef’s paella will then feature on the menu at Arros QD for a month for guest to try for themselves.

Kicking off on Saturday 17th October at 12pm will be Vicente Rioja, head chef and owner of Rioja restaurant in Benisano. The historic restaurant, which opened in 1924, is famous for making one of the best traditional paellas in Valencia. 96 years strong, the restaurant is now lead by Vicente Rioja, a fourth-generation master paella chef. He’s modernised the menu while keeping the paellas as authentic as his predecessors did. Vincente will be making a classic Valencian paella with chicken, rabbit and beans.

The second masterclass of the series will be hosted by Luis Rodríguez from Casa Elías in November, who will be creating a unique rabbit and snail paella. A famed Spanish restaurant with a long family history, it has manged to move with the times without losing touch with its traditional heritage. Luis is admired for the respect shown for traditional regional recipes and his cooking methods, with many dishes grilled over the embers in time-honoured fashion. These include different meats, unusual local dishes and one particular speciality, the spectacular rice with rabbit and snails.

The third and last in December, will be a seafood paella with Rafa Margós from El Paeller. With over 25 years of experience, each of his paellas are identifiable by its aroma, colour, texture, and magnificent flavour. His expertise and control of wood-fired cooking have made him the consultant of renowned chefs such as José Andrés and Quique Dacosta when they prepare their wood-fired paellas.

After each paella masterclass, the bespoke dish will also be available as a special at Arros QD for a month with a £10 discount per person on all paella dishes every Monday to Wednesday, an extension of the pre-existing Eat Out to Help Out Scheme. The cook along masterclasses will also be on offer for any private groups or corporate events all available on Zoom, the perfect 2020 Christmas party for friends, colleagues or families.

Dates:

17th Oct: Paella Valenciana with Vicente Rioja from Restaurante Rioja

14th Nov: Paella con Conejo y Caracoles (rabbit and snails) with Luis Rodríguez from Casa Elías

12th Dec: Seafood paella with Rafa Margós from El Paeller

Guests will be able to enjoy a discount on the dish from Monday to Wednesday if they reach a min spend of £30 on food and drink per person.

For more information:

Website: https://www.arrosqd.com/

Social: https://www.instagram.com/arrosqd/?hl=en

How to book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/paella-valenciana-cook-along-with-vicente-rioja-tickets-124051729061

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Coco Kitchen

Acclaimed British restaurant The Ethicurean is paving the way for change in the hospitality industry

British restaurant The Ethicurean is getting ready to re-open its door. The past six months have been difficult for all hospitality venues, with the future still very unknown. For brothers and owners of The Ethicurean, Matthew and Iain Pennington, the forced pause gave them time to reflect, to consider and to imagine. After ten years of existence, they have decided to design the kind of experience that they have always wanted to give their customers. At the same time, they have decided to reinvent their approach to the business of running a restaurant. Matthew and Iain have always endeavoured to create a place of opportunity, security and enjoyment for everyone who chooses to work with them. For this reason, they have implemented an innovative new reservations system and a new business structure that they think will benefit both guests and their team.

The Ethicurean is situated in a bountiful Victorian Walled Garden set against the backdrop of the Mendip Hills. Guests are invited to slow down, to take time to be guided around the garden, to be curious and reconnect to the land. The fully immersive experience takes guests on a truly unique culinary journey. Following a walk through the walled garden, guests are welcomed by the team, then led into the cosy restaurant. Bunches of dried herbs cover the walls and dried flower arrangements sit along the windowsills and tables. The recently refurbished space drew inspiration from the local surroundings. Matthew and Iain worked with local craftsmen and kitchen fitters to create an environment that highlights the sustainable principles of the business.

With ingredients sourced from the garden, nourishing and homely food is served alongside wild libations. Naturally curious and guided by the seasons, The Ethicurean offers an ever-changing menu that draws on the freshest ingredients, with most of the vegetables and salads coming from the walled garden. Techniques such as curing, pickling, lacto-fermentation and smoking feature heavily across both the food and drinks menus. Pairing flights of natural and biodynamic wines, and an alternative no or low flight which includes non-alcoholic cocktails, cider vinegar shrubs and kombuchas are offered to compliment the meal. Bottles and jars of their inventive creations adorn the shelves of the restaurant, they become a talking point for guests and allow for curiosity to take hold. To round off the evening, guests are invited to have a warm fireside sweet treat out on the lawn nestle into the Mendip hillside.

Pairing flights of natural and biodynamic wines, and an alternative no or low flight which includes non-alcoholic cocktails, cider vinegar shrubs and kombuchas are offered to compliment the meal. Bottles and jars of their inventive creations adorn the shelves of the restaurant. They become a talking point for guests and allow for curiosity to take hold.

The Autumn menu draws on the bounty of summer where insect pollinators, for a few months of lockdown, had the run of the place. The uniquely warm spring—blossom in abundance, busy bees, moths and wasps doing their uninterrupted work. This culminated in the most remarkable year for wild fruits, berries, cobnuts and garden growth that the restaurant has ever known. Much of the joy for Matthew and Iain has been capturing and preserving this harvest to serve a menu that reflects a sense of what is possible when nature and the natural cycles are given space and time. After a slow meal full of wonder and enjoyment, guests are invited to have a warm fireside sweet treat out on the lawn nestled into the Mendip hillside. This is field to table dining at its best. A unique culinary adventure that provides nourishment for the mind, body and soul.

The past twenty years have seen a race to the bottom for the majority of UK restaurants. Operating margins were historically around 15% annually near the turn of the millennium. Now, an industry-wide survey shows it closer to 3-4% for those that manage to break into profit. Most independent restaurants are competing with international corporate giants that use complicated accountancy to offset costs and lessen their tax burden. Those same outfits use low welfare ingredients to increase margin, meaning that customer expectation on price or value of food has shifted. It’s not working in favour of independent restaurants; even those that get past the most challenging first three years (during which most will go out of business). Six years into the project, The Ethicurean almost went the same route and faced near financial collapse. Determination, personal financial sacrifice and choosing not to dilute their principles ensured they made it through.

As an employer, The Ethicurean strives to offer inspirational, secure and long-term employment opportunities to everyone that commits themselves to business. In practice, this means that they invest in training, operate as a meritocracy, and offer a caring, supportive and open culture. It also means that they are committed to paying their staff the living wage, something rarely seen in the hospitality industry. Matthew and Iain recognise that there is a lack of clarity around service charging and tipping, which can impact on the straightforward enjoyment of a meal out. As part of the reinvention of The Ethicurean format, they are introducing two new elements to their booking policy. Payment will be required upon booking to give the business confidence that income can be generated to pay their staff and related costs. Secondly, service charge will be included on food in the overall cost.

The Ethicurean are looking to the future for positive change. They plan to re-open in October as a restaurant with a smaller capacity and just Friday – Sunday services. Long hours and short breaks are common in the industry, and the mental health of workers can be directly impacted by this. The reduced number of covers and services at The Ethicurean means that work life balance will be much more even for their team. By including service charge into the bill and making changes to their service structure and booking system, they hope to run a business that serves and nourishes both guests and staff in equal measure. It will take years of undoing the flaws in the industry to get to a point where the energy put in by the workers is reflected in their financial gain. The Ethicurean team are paving the way for change, the hope is that others are able to follow suit.

Booking for ‘The Ethicurean Experience’ and ‘The Ethicurean Lunch’ are open and full details can be found at www.theethicurean.com.

The Ethicurean Experience:

Friday Dinner 17:00 – 19:00

Saturday Dinner 17:00 – 19:00

The restaurant closes at 10pm.

The Ethicurean Lunch:

Saturday Lunch 12:00 – 13:30

Sunday Lunch 12:00 – 15:30

Mondays-Thursdays: Closed

The Ethicurean

Barley Wood Walled Garden

Long Lane

Wrington

Bristol

BS40 5SA

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Australia

TOZI REOPENS IN VICTORIA: RESTAURANT CREATES A NEW ‘STAR’ TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THEATRE WORKERS

To celebrate with its official reopening, London’s favourite cicchetti haunt, TOZI Restaurant & Bar, has partnered with actress Harriet Thorpe to develop an especially indulgent dish to benefit Acting for Others. The charity provides financial and emotional support to all theatre workers in times of need through the 14 member charities and now, more than ever, their role is vital.

Known for her previous on-screen roles as Fleur in Absolutely Fabulous and Carole in The Brittas Empire, and many West End performances including Cabaret andLondon Victoria’s own Wicked (which reopens on 2 November 2020), Harriet has lent her talents to TOZI Head Chef, Maurilio Molteni, and together they have created a mouth-watering Scottish Scallop Carpaccio, with samphire, dried tomatoes & lemon oil.

Starring on the menu for £12.50, the new Scottish Scallop Carpaccio will be available until the end of October. Importantly, £1 from every dish sold will be donated to Acting for Others, alongside an optional, discretionary, £1 donation on every bill.

Inspired by the casual dining ethos and culture of the Veneto region of Italy, the critically acclaimed restaurant in the heart of London’s Victoria, focuses on high quality, seasonal ingredients, serving small plates that are bursting with flavour and take guests to the heart of Venice with every bite.

Maurilio Molteni, commented:

“We’re very excited to reopen our doors and it’s been a pleasure to work with Harriet to create this special dish, that will help us play our part in supporting the theatre industry as it recovers from the impact of COVID-19. With two of London’s most revered shows on our doorstep, we wanted to support to our friends during these incredibly challenging times.”

Harriet Thorpe added:

“I’m excited to be working with Maurilio and create something that will directly benefit those in our industry. Support for the arts has never been more important, and I implore all of TOZI’s guests to try our Scottish scallop carpaccio, which combines my personal favourite of the intense samphire with sumptuous scallops – it’s truly delicious, even if I say so myself!”

It has also implemented a range of robust measures to ensure the health and safety of its customers and teams, whilst maintaining its top-quality service. These include enhanced cleaning regimes, with special attention to high touch-point areas, hand sanitiser stations at both entry and exit, staggered bookings and physically distanced tables. A digital menu and daily temperature checks for team members and diners have also been introduced.

Open for dinner only during September, booking is recommended. For more information and to reserve a table, visit www.tozirestaurant.co.uk or call +44 20 7769 9771.

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Food & Drink

Restaurant To Trek To: The Drumming Snipe

Opt for a staycation in Surrey or jump on the train or in a taxi thirty minutes outside of London and, trust me, your tummy will thank you for it. Having opened its doors only months before the country went into lockdown, The Drumming Snipe is back up and running and is proof that good food minus any entitlement is easy to find outside of Zone One.

With a large beer garden and patio, featuring a couple of quirky horse trailers, there’s more than enough outdoor seating to satisfy those minimising time in indoor spaces, as well as offering more tables for a high number of bookings – something from which the smaller spaces of central London restaurants suffer.

I always order snacks for the table (yet somehow they always make their way to sit right in front of me…) and the beef shin croquettes with truffle mayonnaise definitely did not disappoint. Oozing with meat, you most certainly get your bang for your buck here and with or without the truffle mayonnaise, they are a delightful start to the meal. The crispy Cornish squid had just enough tang to its taste with its salt and pepper flavour and chilli dipping sauce – however it could have been cooked a little longer for my liking.

The trick to eating well is going out for a meal with your family who will feel compelled to let you assist them with their orders and let you sample a bite or two (read, ten). The Jersey potato soup with spring onion comes in a glorious bright green and is the perfect warming appetiser as we move into the colder months. Brixham King scallops feature on the starters menu, in case you were fretting that leaving an obnoxious London postcode would mean any less fanciful dishes and ingredients. Served with truffled sweetcorn and garlic, these were up there with the croquettes. I believe the suffolk chicken, smoked ham and crayfish terrine was a dish enjoyed by the whole table as it was devoured almost entirely before it made its way round to me. There’s always one… Fresh, flavoursome and fruity, with its addition of celeriac, grape and apple salad.

“Everything you could want from a dish”

The mains menu offers a variety to choose from; there’s everything from gurnard with summer girolles to grilled peach with goat’s curd almonds but also the humble shepherd’s pie, fish and chips and burger plates for those who prefer the safer home comforts. Then comes to the specials. Considering three out of four at the table selected from this additional menu, I’d say it’s worth paying a bit of attention to. The pork chop with pork stew was met with a gasp and then silence, as mouthful after mouthful was greedily golloped up. The rib of beef comes on an impressive board, accompanied by bone marrow; triple-cooked chips and its own cast-iron bonus pot of beef stew. I’d advise going for the bar above your usual ‘doneness’ for steak as this medium was a little pinker than expected. An absolute feast, – that might make you temporarily comatose – these two will surely satisfy all meat-eaters out there. Advice: don’t order extra chips with these dishes – and that’s coming from someone who states fries as one of her love languages.

I chose from the à la carte menu and could not have been more pleased with my plaice swimming in shrimp butter sauce and smothered (in such a positive way) with samphire and shrimps. Everything you could want from a dish and it is one that I will definitely re-order upon my return to this friendly little gastropub.

Accompanying our mains came carrots and peas in chervil butter and Cornish new potatoes in seaweed butter. These butters are small but mighty and did their job perfectly, adding both flavour and complexity to these simple side dishes. I used to work in a restaurant where the mother of the owner would order miso soup and a bowl of rice upon each visit, without fail. She said if these two foundation dishes were done right, she could trust the rest of the menu. If they lacked in any way, it was likely the rest of the food would also be compromised. This has never resonated more with me than when I was eating these carrots, peas and potatoes. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever spent more time thinking about carrots, peas and potatoes, let alone writing about them.

“I’m a strong believer in the existence of a separate dessert stomach.”

I know, you’re thinking, how can she possible have room for dessert? Now I’m a strong believer in the existence of a separate dessert stomach. Not only this but I also truly believe that eating something sweet after a large and/or heavy meal can actually aid the digestion process. Im serious and not just looking for any way to justify dessert – although this is something I would absolutely do. Regardless, if you think I’m passing up my cheesecake or sticky toffee pud, you can think again. We did opt to share the gooseberry crumble, peach and almond tart with clotted cream and the sticky toffee pudding. My winner was the latter, with the honeycomb ice cream and butterscotch ginving it that little bit of an edge.

Yes, it’s a little bit of a trek from London but we also forget how long it takes us to move across London most of the time. Here, what you pay in cab or train fare you make up in fair prices, large portions and some pretty good pub-style grub.

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Cocktails

Forget about Indian summer, enjoy an Italian summer with O’ndina gin

Our thoughts might be moving towards damp, grey autumn, but Ondina gin and Harry’s Dolce Vita are keen for us to embrace the remaining days of warmth and sunshine in the capital. They’ve launched a stunning partnership which runs until the 1st October where the restaurant is offering a limited-edition, bespoke O’ndina Gin cocktail menu along with an external floral display that transports you to the heart of the Italian Riviera complete with a retro-looking Vespa that adds a touch of class to the proceedings. The glorious floral display certainly adds a touch of colour to the sometimes austere surroundings of Knightsbridge. The restaurant has a charming outdoor terrace space which is ideal for people watching and social distancing.

O’ndina is a super premium Italian gin brand that embraces the La Dolce Vita spirit. It is inspired by the effortless glamour of coastal Italy in the 1960s. It is a herbaceously refreshing spirit that contains 19 botanicals including fresh basil from Liguria and citrus from southern Italy. It works perfectly as a Mediterranean gin and tonic or making a tantalising negroni.

The highlights of their menu at Harry’s Dolce Vita I can recommend include Lavender Sunset, which contained O’ndina gin with Lavanda syrup, Bottega Rose Gold, and lemon. It’s light, it’s refreshingly harmonious and dangerously sippable. It paired particularly well with the seafood dishes at Harry’s such as the lemon sole with vongole, with the citrus notes from the gin amplifying the freshness of the produce.

The second cocktail I can recommend is the Basilica Sour, which contained O’ndina gin with Grand Marnier, lime, egg white, and basil. I was initially hesitant about trying cocktails with basil. Shouldn’t that be on my main course plate rather than in my cocktail glass? But no, it wells superbly well. It is a great palate cleanser, so if you are ordering any rich-tasting dishes, it helps to prepare your palate for other courses. The presentation is classy rather than ostentatious and in all the cocktails on the menu, they find the right pairings without over-complicating the concoctions.

Make sure you check out this temporary collaboration before the end of the month.

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City breaks

Wake Up Here: The Fontenay, Hamburg

Destinations are finally opening up and are ready to be explored after months of lockdown; people are coming out of their homes with wide eyes, ready to dive back in. Hamburg, the sophisticated water city which is just a short plane ride from the UK, is the perfect place to start. At Hamburg’s heart lies Lake Alster and the lush oasis of parkland that hugs it. The Fontenay, is located on the shimmering shoreline and encapsulates lakeside luxury. The five-star hotel opened in March 2018 and represents the perfect balance of nature and urban living which is exquisitely found throughout the whole of Hamburg.

Hamburg is known for being a green city, and not without reason, 27% of the city comprises of natural areas that surround the lake at the heart. Designed to be a reflection of modern Hamburg and the natural urban shoreline, The Fontenay has a free-flowing, sculptural architecture, stylish and spacious interiors and luxury living spaces. The ‘Heaven Mirror’ fountain in front of the hotel, which weighs one hundred tonnes, greeted us and we were welcomed in the lobby by the gracious staff and accompanied to our room which had freshly made pink macarons on arrival and sweeping views of Lake Alster.

The lake provides a great way to get a different view of Hamburg. Locals set sail on picturesque wooden boats, canoes, pedal boats, rowing boats or even venetian gondolas. We jumped aboard for an Alster Boat Tour which circumnavigates the lake in just under an hour and gives a glimpse of the centre of the city. We meandered from the south of Lake Alster to the older parts of the city, taking in the imposing Rathaus and Gothic Revival church, Mahnmal St. Nikoli. The jewel in the crown is the Elbphilharmonie concert hall in the HafenCity quarter of Hamburg which showcases the maritime history of the city as well as its elegant present. The building resembles a hoisted sail and has a free viewing platform to see the working port on the Elbe River from above. The city’s port, known as the ‘Port of Dreams’, was the last stop for millions of migrants from Europe before traveling to America. Fascinating tales of discovering the New World can be heard at the Ballinstadt Emigration Museum. Rich historical tales of when Hamburg was the ‘Gateway to the World’ should not be missed.

After a full day of exploring, we were welcomed back to the hotel and enjoyed a drink at The Fontenay’s 500m² outdoor bar terrace with a 320° view of the Hamburg skyline. All five of Hamburg’s main churches, the inner and outer Lake Alster dotted with sailings boats, the Elbphilarmonie and the Town Hall can all be seen from the bar. Lakeside al fresco living continued with dinner in the grounds at Parkview restaurant. Foodie highlights included the chef’s sashimi, beef tartar, crustacean ravioli, all paired with the house white, named after the hotel itself. Not forgetting the sorbet we had with champagne in between courses. We learnt a new word after our feast – ‘fertig’ which in German means ‘full up’ or ‘completely finished’. We definitely were, and it was fantastic. As we indulged our full feeling, we enjoyed the restaurant views of the lake and watched locals trickle out to the water for an after dinner walk with loved ones, after months apart.

From The Fontenay, it is a fifteen-minute walk along the banks of Lake Alster into the city centre, making the destination a perfect weekend break. Although close to the centre, the hotel remains incredibly peaceful and tranquil. The entire lake can be conquered on foot in just over two hours, or longer if visitors linger over cafes, museums and piers en route. The Fontenay also has bicycles to borrow to explore further afield for more active tourists. Our guide Tomas took us via bike to the fresh and green boulevards surrounding the hotel, to St. Pauli, the ‘shoulder blade district’ and we ended at the Ratsherrn Brewery for some refreshing beverages. We knew the St. Pauli region was more than meets the eye and headed back to chow down on delicious Levantine food at Salt and Silver, overlooking majestic and gigantic ships on the water, as the sun went down.

The day at The Fontenay starts in relaxed luxury with breakfast at Parkview. Tiered stands full of delicious regional delicacies are placed on the table for each guest including a range of cheeses from Northfriesian Backensholzer Farm, a selection of local charcuterie and smoked fish specialties. Egg-based dishes like omelettes, pancakes with local speciality Rote Grütze (berry compote), or buttermilk waffles with fresh berries can be ordered additionally. The weekend stay ended with time reflecting at the rooftop spa pool at the hotel, looking over the city. Hamburg is chic yet down to earth, which is also the same as The Fontenay; sophisticated and welcoming, never stuffy. The city has a high-end foodie scene but fantastic local cheap eats, is a working, industrious city yet laid back with huge open spaces. The balance was just right and the hotel refreshed and revitalised, just like fresh water.

A Deluxe Room at The Fontenay, Hamburg is priced from €350 (from £309) per room per night including breakfast. Rate includes full breakfast, Wi-Fi, a selection of drinks from the minibar, in-room coffee machine, VAT, city tax and service. To book, visit www.thefontenay.com. For more information about Hamburg, visit www.hamburg-travel.com.

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Top London restaurants that now deliver to your door

With the Eat Out to Help Out scheme now over (thank you Rishi) and the nights beginning to draw in, cosy evenings at home are the order of the day. Food fanatics no doubt rushed back to their favourite restaurants as soon as they could during the summer but as the weather now turns colder, House of Coco have rounded up a selection of top London restaurants that are now delivering to your door. Fire on, feet up and let the fine-dining feasting begin.

Aquavit London

The Michelin-starred Nordic-inspired restaurant located in St James’s Market, sister to the highly acclaimed two Michelin-starred restaurant of the same name in Manhattan has launched a new delivery and takeaway menu. Bringing the Michelin-star to you, Aquavit London has partnered with food delivery service platform Supper and Deliveroo. Head Chef Jorjon Colazo’s food is defined by clean flavours, simple presentation and healthy ingredients. Stand-out choices include the Nordic salad with hot smoked salmon, pickles, lettuce and rye; langoustine bao buns with torched infused seaweed oil, a Swedish twist on the classic steamed Chinese bread roll and traditional Swedish meatballs served with mashed potatoes, pickled cucumber, mushrooms and lingonberries. To create the perfect at home restaurant experience, a selection of fine wines, beers and inventive soft drinks are also be available to order. The perfect choice for a hygee night in.

Available to order from Wednesday to Sunday. Delivery is available within a 4km radius of the restaurant. aquavitrestaurants.com

Lina Stores

Everybody has heard of Lina Stores. The stalwart and equally sumptuous pasta provider for the capital. For those living outside London and unable to make it to the delis (Soho and Kings Cross), Lina Stores now offers nationwide delivery. Having successfully developed its online shop, the team at Lina can now provide their most popular Italian products to the whole of the United Kingdom. From antipasti and olives straight from the deli counters, Lina Stores also offers a wide selection of cured meats and cheeses including Prosciutto di Parma, Mortadella with truffle, Parmigiano Reggiano DOP, smoked Mozzarella Scamorza and creamy Gorgonzola amongst many others. For those looking for the essentials, the online shop is well stocked with everything needed for the store cupboard, from the deli’s own brand of dried pasta and olive oil, to tinned San Marzano tomatoes and a selection of specialist flours, risotto rice, Italian beans and pulses. It time to live la dolce vita, in your own kitchen.

National delivery is now available four days a week. linastores.co.uk

Lina Stores

Ormer Mayfair

The new delivery and collection service, Ormer at Home is led by Executive Chef Kerth Gumbs (BBC TWO’s Great British Menu 2020 finalist). The Mayfair menu is bursting with a wonderful bounty of Channel Island and British fare that is simply prepared and cooked to perfection. Dishes include Yellowtail Ceviche with avocado, tomato and Vietnamese dressing, Black Cod with pickled squash, orange, pack Choi and sake dressing, or Dorset Lamb Cutlets with spiced aubergine, pomegranate and pine nuts. Ormer Mayfair has consistently been rated as one of the top ten restaurant in London for fine dining, perfect for a high end date night in the comfort of your own home. On Sunday, a high-end sharing roast for two will be available and desserts including Ormer’s signature apple crumble and rhubarb and white chocolate panna cotta will also feature, alongside wine, beer, cocktails and champagne.

Available for delivery and collection from Tuesday to Saturday from 12pm to 9pm. Delivery is available within a 2-3 mile radius of the restaurant. flemings-mayfair.co.uk/fine-dining-london/ormer-mayfair-restaurant

FishWorks Fishmonger and Restaurant

FishWorks has launched a new delivery service including an at home Oyster Box for those looking for a more epicurean night in. The delivery menu is carefully prepared and packaged to order by FishWorks’ expert chefs and fishmongers. Ready-to-eat dishes will include oven roasted sea bass with lemon and thyme, seared yellow fin tuna and garlic butter lobster with chips. The gourmet Oyster Box includes a mixture of a dozen Jersey, Carlingford and Morecambe Bay oysters. Covering all preferences, an assortment of condiments including lemon, merlot vinegar, and Tabasco will be included – all to be perfectly paired with a bottle of FishWorks’ Fernão Pires white wine. For those new to the oyster game, FishWorks have you covered with a shucker and a link to a ‘How to Shuck an Oyster’ video tutorial. Delicious British and Irish oysters can be brought to your doorstep at £60 per box.

Available to order seven days a week for London zones 1 – 4. fishworks.co.uk

FishWorks Fishmonger and Restaurant

OPSO

Greece is well and truly having a moment. The white-washed towns of Mykonos and Santorini have featured in every enviable holiday snap this summer. For those who have missed out this year, the team at high-end restaurant OPSO, serving up modern Greek dishes, have introduced OPSO at Home for you to have a taste of Greece in your own kitchen. Centred around a special menu of home-cooked authentic dishes, this new collection and delivery initiative reflects the favourite childhood memories of the executive chefs/co-owners Georgianna Hiliadaki and Nikos Roussos. The menu features seasonal dishes such as Chicken Lemonato – roasted chicken thigh with lemon-oregano gravy and creamy potato mash; Beef Stifado – braised beef shin with onions and sweet onion gravy; and Spanakorizo – spinach rice pilaf with fresh herbs and barrel matured feta cheese. OPSO is an ancient Greek word for a delectable morsel of food, and with sumptuous Greek tapas dishes using the finest ingredients and an exclusively Greek wine list to pair with the delicacies, you will quite literally, savour every last bite.

Opso at Home is suited for two or more, the delivery menu is also available throughout the week delivered to doorsteps in Marylebone and nearby neighbourhoods. opso.co.uk

OPSO

Bocca di Lupo

Bocca di Lupo at Home will see Head Chef Jacob Kenedy introduce a menu featuring some of Bocca di Lupo’s most popular dishes. Echoing the restaurant’s focus on stripped-down, regional Italian cuisine, diners will be able to choose from antipasti dishes such as creamy burrata with grilled aubergines and caramelised datterini tomatoes, spinach and ricotta Malfatti pasta, Orecchiette with ‘nduja and the umami-packed Spaghetti with Bottarga. For the risotti there is an earthy Girolle, an indulgent Chard & Scamorza and a classic Venetian Risotto Nero made with cuttlefish ink. The menu aims to bring the gourmet buzz of Soho into your own home. Each dish comes with a step-by-step recipe guide and video tutorial, making them accessible to even the most unaccomplished home cook. A few bottles of ever elusive orange wine also feature on the menu making it the perfect option to sip something unusual on your own sofa!

Bocca di Lupo at Home is available for delivery Wednesday to Saturday with free delivery on orders over £80. Delivery to a wide variety of London postcodes. athome.boccadilupo.com

Bocca di Lupo

Wun’s Tea Room & Bar

The restaurant and bar located in the heart of Soho, where Old Compton Street meets Greek Street is offering the delivery of one of its most beloved dishes, the mouthwatering Iberico Char Siu pork. The launch of the Iberico Char Siu home delivery kit means that Londoners can taste authentic Cantonese flavours at home. The kits can be cooked to perfection and easily assembled within 25 minutes. The kit includes Iberico Fatty Char Siu, pillowy Blini Buns, House Spiced Sugar Pack as well as cooking instructions and is designed to serve between two and three people.

Delivery is available from Wednesday to Sunday or can be picked up from the restaurant. Delivery within a 4 mile radius of the restaurant. tearoom.bar

Benares

Vibrant and inventive Indian cooking with modern British flair with Executive Chef Sameer Taneja at the helm. Using his classical training and experience working alongside some of the best chefs in the world, Sameer embraces and elevates traditional Indian cuisine which can now be enjoyed at home. Fan favourites include a lamb seekh kebab, prawn kasundi, chicken makhani, dal makhani and saag aloo.

Delivery is available from Monday to Saturday from 12pm to 9pm and Sundays 12pm to 8pm. Collection is available from Tuesday to Saturday only. Delivery is available across Greater London and for delivery further than a 6 mile radius, three hours’ notice is needed. benaresrestaurant.com

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