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Our Caribbean Reporter Kered Clement discovers the most authentic Caribbean dining experiences in London.

It is with great pleasure that I officially announce, Caribbean dining is having a moment! That tummy comforting Sunday dinner I couldn’t wait for granny to serve up. Those homemade crispy fried chicken legs I’d save for leftovers and that juicy Jerk chicken wrapped in foil, I devoured at a roadside stall in Jamaica, is finally being offered on the London foodie scene at these cool spots.

Levi Roots’ Caribbean Smokehouse | Westfield, Stratford, London

When you walk into a Caribbean restaurant, and most of the diners are Afro-Caribbean, then you’re in the right place, because let’s face it, competing with our home-cooking is a tall order (no pun intended). It’s no wonder ‘Reggae Reggae Sauce’ creator Levi Roots decided to partner with Eren Ali to bring authentic Caribbean cooking to as many people as possible.

The setting, similar to a traditional Caribbean living room scattered with vintage vinyl records, antique furnishing and red, green and gold memorabilia, was buzzing and vibrant. Even the huge pot filled to the brim with rice and peas resembled the dutch pots found on the burning stoves of most West Indians on a Sunday. Stepping into Caribbean Smokehouse was rather like stepping into the warms arms of Granny smothered with the scent of slowly cooked Caribbean food.

When our pleasant waitress Charlotte presented us with the menu, we were overwhelmed but in a nice way. One things’ for sure, the Caribbean Smokehouse team haven’t adopted the bad customer service habits that have made Caribbean takeaways notorious. But, be warned! Selecting a side to accompany your main is probably the same feeling an indecisive woman, in a shoe shop with a shoe fetish, gets. We contemplated for quite some time, before settling on the Veggie Food Platter, which allowed us to have a bit of everything from ‘Sweet Plantain Slices’ to ‘Jerk-spiced Mushrooms’. Pescetarians et al. will be pleased to know, that there’s a separate menu with vegetarian, vegan and Ital dishes.

From ‘Barbadian Fish Cakes’, ‘Trinidadian Doubles’ to ‘Martinique Coconut Chicken Curry’, there was a good representation of local favourites across the Caribbean and (queue drum roll), it tastes just like the cooking passed down through generations. What’s more, Levi also takes the liberty of introducing you a bit of patois while you release the ‘Reggae Rum Punch’ in the loos.

If you’re yearning for authentic Caribbean cooking, then Caribbean Smokehouse have got it on lock. The good news is, expansion is on the horizon. And as they say in Jamaica ‘Once You Go You’ll Know’. caribbeansmokehouse.com

The Rum Kitchen | Notting Hill, Carnaby Street and Brixton

When serial restaurateurs with a fondness for the Caribbean region, food and dining experiences open restaurants, you get ‘Roti Pizza’ topped with jerk chicken. And #TeamCoco can’t get enough of it!

Founders Alex Potter and Jonny Boud have cleverly merged the best bits of Island life and dining in London, and plot it under a Caribbean beach shack style roof, to give Londoner’s a place where they can leave their worries at the door. To sum it up they’d say, ‘No rain, no rainbow’.

With over 100 varieties of rum, mouth watering dishes and the latest Soca, Reggae and Dancehall tunes playing over the chatter. Rum Kitchen stands out amongst the rest as a spot that gives you a sense of Caribbean lifestyle and dear I say it, a feeling that it’s all “No Problem”, in the stress-induced heart of London.

Opening the door to Rum Kitchen’s branch in Kingly Court, Carnaby Street is like entering a travel machine that zaps you to a Caribbean rum shop near the beach. The atmosphere was warm; people were smiling, the latest hit from soca mogul Machel Montano was blazing, Jerk chicken was sizzling on the grill, with a box of Bajan beers stacked on the side. We almost knelt down to dust the sand off our feet before remembering we were still in Westminster and not the West Indies.

The menu is easy to understand and reasonably priced, very similar to the uncomplicated chalkboard menus of Caribbean food huts. From ‘Proper Jerk’ with watermelon, pineapple and jerk gravy to ‘Curry Mutton’ with coconut and black-eyed pea rice, each dish flavoured with something to remind you of the tropics. While we nursed a hibiscus and coconut water mocktail and a ‘Zombie’ cocktail served up in a skull glass complete with a flaming passion fruit (we kid you not), we had high hopes for the food. After all, what’s a Caribbean restaurant with all the right aesthetic if it doesn’t nail the recipe that leaves you pining for paradise.

A simple request about how spicy the jerk chicken is shattered all our doubts when the chef gave us a taste of jerk chicken straight from the grill. We got sold after one bite! Not only were we sold, but our mouths and minds had also hoped in the time machine, and as far as they were concerned we were in Jamaica, on a beach, under a thatched roof, experiencing the real thing.

Everything about Rum Kitchen was so spot on, so much so that we ended up interrogating the manager with a raised Jack Sparrow eyebrow. Simply put, if a trip to the Caribbean is a distant memory or a long shot, Rum kitchen’s three cool locations are the place for you. therumkitchen.com

Turtle Bay Restaurant | Ealing | Nationwide

Turtle Bay Restaurant is by far the largest Caribbean chain with 18 restaurants across the country that set out to offer something new and exciting to the food scene that would appeal to everyone.

What stands out the most is their ability to capture the creativity of Caribbean people in a restaurant setting that leaves you gawking at the attention to detail and Instagramming everything you see. When we popped into the Ealing branch, the artistic smartphone snap onslaught began instantly! From the Red Stripe beer cans flattened to create table tops, a mural of old speaker boxes and TV’s, collaged iron containers and our favourite, sinks made of steel drum barrels, it was like entering an exhibition on the resourcefulness of Caribbean people. Turtle Bay Restaurants do a good job at showing dinners how Caribbean people make the most of their resources through up-cycling and transforming what’s available to them.

From Trinidadian style doubles to ‘Jamaican Browned Chicken’ and rums from Barbados to Bermuda, the menu draws inspiration from dishes across the region. The key word is inspiration. Our waiter explained, the idea is not to try to emulate the home-cooking styles of the Caribbean, but offer diners a unique experience and take on Caribbean food.

Our ‘Prawn and Mango Wrap’ sauteed with herbs, spices and fresh mango and ‘Mo Bay Chicken’ cooked in a spiced jerk sauce with sweet plantain went down a treat and served as a great light bite for lunch. If you’re looking for authentic Caribbean cooking, then you won’t find it at Turtle Bay, but if you’re looking for a pretty impressive, artistic setting that transcends you to the dancehalls and block parties of Jamaica, with a wide selection of rum. Then this is the place for group celebrations, after work drinks and any occasion that needs a sprinkle of island vibes. www.turtlebay.co.uk

Let’s start by saying, we need more BBQ emojis to do justice to the joy of this dinner trip with girlfriends in Los Angeles. But, never fear, do we have some foodporn shots for you!

Through the excellent online guides of Discover Los Angeles (discoverlosangeles.com/what-to-do) we discovered this Californian / Filipino BBQ restaurant nestled in hipster hot spot, Echo Park. A deceptively simple decor and menu doesn’t hint at the complex flavours hidden within. I mean, who knew a carrot could taste so good, especially in a meat-eaters heaven?

We flopped down in the banquettes and decided it was only fair on you, dear reader to pretty much order one of everything. We all have hungry friends and flatmates to share in our leftovers, don’t you worry.

Our picks included Sixteen Hour Slow Roasted Pulled Pork, Beef Tri-Tip, a medley of US and Filipino Hot Link Sausages and Cornbread Bibinka to soak up all the juices. BBQ to one side it was the Coconut Beef that blew all of us away; smoked chuck steak in coconut cream. Oh. My. Days.

We grazed on the goodness in between sips of local beers from Eagle Rock Brewery and Stone Brewery until we had to beg the friendly team to pack it away as we’d never stop eating.

As for our hungry friends and other halves; they ended up with the same meal we’d had thanks to the generous portion sizes and we got change for $90!

We couldn’t recommend this spot more, come hungry; maybe at lunch time, so you have the best chance of doing justice to all the tempting dishes!

You can, and you really SHOULD, visit The Park’s Finest (theparksfinest.com) at 1267 W Temple St, Los Angeles

For more information on what to do with your time in Los Angeles, visit the official visitor information website discoverLosAngeles.com, join the more than one million people who follow facebook.com/LosAngelesFan, or follow @discoverLA on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Put down the pulled pork roll and step away from the turkey and stuffing sandwiches that are leftover from Christmas. As much as we love these holiday staples, tis the season to try something new. In London everything runs at double speed so street food is the optimum way to cram in a great tasting meal while consuming just minutes of your day.

New year diets aside, now is the optimum time to sample the infamous street food of London and we have got the rundown on the best places to go…

London Street Food: A Brief History
London is a melting pot of people from the world over and is saturated in rich culture. Street food can be traced way back to Roman times and their fondness for street sellers purveying British oysters. Through medieval times, fruit and berry sales became increasingly popular and after that, the Victorians attempted street snacks serving a questionable array of seafood like hot eels and winkles.

The past few decades brought us ice cream vans, fish and chips and hot chestnuts, but food is changing and we should grab it – all of it – with both hands! London is proudly home to a wide range of multi-ethnic communities therefore many food stalls in the city now reflect its vibrant population.

This is good news for the British public who are known for their love of ethnic foods; from fragrant Indian curries to sweetly spiced oriental dishes, a taste from afar has defined the British palate for decades.

For the Everyday Brunch Explorer
Brunch is a meal currently growing in popularity and we found the ideal twist on traditional midday fare at Poke. Hawaiian food may not be on your radar right now, but after perusing their menu you’ll never go back to a tepid Elevenses crumpet again!

The sunshine bowl is the total opposite of your lowly mid-morning snack, jam packed full of goodness and flavour. Spicy ahi tuna, kimchi and black rice are a revelation to the taste buds compared to store bought sushi

If you fancy something crispy, swap the usual soggy toast for Poke’s delectable Hawaiian fries – pineapple fritters coated in yuzu mayo, lime salt and chilli seriously hit the spot

Poke can be found at Kings Cross Kerb and across London and UK based events and markets.

For the Post-Football Match Alternative

Following a rainy football match say ‘no’ to usual the greasy burger van and opt for a sandwich with a stateside twist from the Liberty Cheesesteak Company. You’ll get the beef, bun and cheese satisfaction tenfold, the authentic taste of a Philly favourite right on your doorstep.

The Liberty Cheesesteak Company offer up an ideal combination of rib eye beef layered across a soft Italian ‘hoagie’, both of which are smothered in a homemade 99.9% cheese based sauce. It’s enough to make any self-respecting football fanatic sincerely say the word ‘soccer’.

Liberty Cheesesteak Company can be found at Spitalfields Market, Moorgate and across London and UK based events and markets.

For the Animal Friendly Fare

Veganism has taken the world by storm and now more than ever plant based food options have been permeating the street food arena. Gone are the days when meat free options were considered bland and unappetising and vendors like Club Mexicana have helped to give vegan food a good old shake-up.

To show the world that filling and tasty vegan food exists (and prove that it isn’t ’rabbit food’) Club Mexicana decided to challenge negative perceptions, all while maintaining an animal-friendly approach to eating.

The BBQ jackfruit satisfies the desire to eat healthy fast-food without the arduous feeling. Substantial portions leave you feeling refreshed and energized rather than sluggish and lethargic, and the best part is that no animals were harmed in the process – win win!

Club Mexicana can be found at Hawker House in Canada Water, Kings Cross Kerb and across London and UK based events and markets.

For the Seriously Sustainable British Favourites

We’ve all become increasingly conscious of the food we eat and the way in which it was produced; The Roadery is the perfect example of all that makes our home grown, locally sourced food great.

With the approach of sourcing ethical produce and focusing on a small but solid menu and, The Roadery offers up more than a filling alternative to your standard sandwich.

The flat iron steak and wild mushroom sandwich contains perfect slices of tender beef done just right (medium rare). Topped off with locally foraged wild mushrooms, a fresh garlic sauce and nestled between Brixton sourdough buns, this sandwich is fresh, flavourful and wins top marks for its ethically sourced, top quality ingredients.

The Roadery can be found at Bishops Gate, Kings Cross Kerb, Camden Market, across London and UK based events and markets.

A burger, in its purest form, is simply a thing of beauty. Complete love and care goes into the local sourcing of the meat, the perfect amount of sauce so as not to overpower the taste of the thick, medium-rare, beef patty and just a little smattering of lettuce gives you a bit of crunch.

Burger Bear not only have the goods but the personality to back it up. These guys seem to be hosting a non-stop disco and appear to genuinely love what they do. Friendly staff rustled up what they call a ‘Greedy Bear’ (which is possibly one of the biggest burgers we’ve ever witnessed) and it’s clear to see why these guys were backed by a Kickstarter campaign that raised £36k to see them make a permanent mark on London.

Burger Bear can be found at The Magic Roundabout at Old Street Underground across London and UK based events and markets.

For the Tropical Taste Traveller

When you need a pick-me-up, base your food choice on vibrancy and flavour. After a week of bleak weather and your colleagues repeating the same Christmas songs all day long, an uplifting visit to White Men Can’t Jerk will get you out of your festive funk.

Caribbean twists on traditional dishes provide a much needed lunch time pick-me-up, with offerings such as curried mutton shepherd’s pie and steak and ale winter warmers.

For the slightly more adventurous, the signature jerk chicken is the only choice when it comes to dining at White Men Can’t Jerk. Homemade BBQ chicken, jerked to perfection alongside traditional rice and peas, coleslaw and pineapple & mango to cut through some of those richer flavours, offers a sensational taste bud experience.

White Men Can’t Jerk can be found at Hawker House in Canada Water, across London and UK based events and markets.

The true testament of quality came down to the moment of sampling the enormous chicken wings from White Men Can’t Jerk. Moreover, gauging the reactions of two people who ‘generally wouldn’t eat chicken on the bone’, with the overall sentiment resting at; “this is the best chicken I’ve ever had!”, I believe that it’s safe to say, White men definitely can jerk!

White Men Can’t Jerk can be found at Hawker House in Canada Water, The Magic Roundabout at Old Street Underground across London and UK based events and markets.

For The Alternative Asian Cuisine
Is there anything more British than an adaptation of the traditional burger? We’ve seen it all; peanut butter and bacon burgers, donut burgers and quadruple stacked burgers.

As a nation, we love to add eastern influences to our everyday dishes and The Sticky Bundits have done just that. Taking your average burger bun and twisting it up with sesame-infused rice is not only healthier but creates a totally different texture and taste sensation.

These incredible burgers are almost too good to eat, stuffed to the brim with spiced chicken thighs and dripping with Okonomiyaki sauce, Kewpie mayo and pickled ginger to top it off. The Okonomi-YUMMY burger befits its name in every sense of the word and is definitely a top alternative for when you can’t decide between a burger or sushi – you can have both!

The Sticky Bundits can be found at Hampstead Market and Chatsworth Road Market and across London and UK based events and markets.

For Noodles That Are Far From Normal

Noodle pots are the ultimate lazy lunch; drab flavours combined with half a cup of boiled water is enough to make you fill the remaining half cup with tears, although perhaps that would add more flavour.

Hanoi Kitchen consists of a couple of friendly guys serving up hot and spicy noodle boxes, jammed to the gills with Vietnamese goodness. In the past tofu might have been considered a reasonably dull flavour, but Hanoi Kitchen has taken it to a whole new level offering a spicy honey infused vegetarian option that could entice even the most avid meat eater.

Hanoi Kitchen can be found at Kings Cross, West India Quay, Broadway Market and across London and UK based events and markets.

For The Stateside Super Sundae

Made-to-order food options are great but a made-to-order cookie ice cream sandwich is better; that’s why Blu Top Ice Cream is the ultimate way to have your ice cream and eat it too.

With clear state side influences and offerings such as cinnamon snickerdoodle cookies, brown toast, jam ice cream and toppings such as pretzels and lucky charms, these sweet treats offer up a nostalgic childhood ice cream experience.

One of the key reasons you simply must sample Blu Top’s creations is for the marshmallow sauce, a fine art that you simply can’t find anywhere else.

Creator and owner, Richard, has spent endless hours perfecting the ultimate homemade desserts, accompanied by logical packaging so good you won’t end up with ice cream running down your arm.

Blu Top Ice Cream can be found at Camden Market in the West Yard and across London and UK based events and markets.

For the Replacement Pastry Pick-Me-Up

If the weather isn’t ideal for ice cream (although who can resist when they’re that good), Crosstown Donuts have got your back. Nestled in a quiet corner of Old Spitalfields Market, the welcoming sight of the sourdough donut vendor was comparable a port in a storm.

Thick and savoury dough that pulls apart to reveal hidden fillings, slathered in some of the richest toppings imaginable. Multitudes of icings and flavours, offer a plethora of choice, all with a unique twist. Even with even the most standard everyday option, Crosstown are dealing us up the likes of a Tongan vanilla bean glazed delight. Pumpkin flavoured treats make a brief appearance for Thanksgiving Day and other unusual choices include Chai Tea, featuring a custard filling flavoured to match the name.

Chilli chocolate featuring a slither of candied chilli, beetroot lemon and thyme and crème brûlée, all feature on Crosstowns flavour roster offering sweet, vegetarian friendly treats to suit every taste.

Crosstown can be found at Spitalfields Market and across London and UK based events and markets

Why Street Food?
These culinary connoisseurs are responsible for creating some of the best food in London, in tiny spaces. Utilising their prep kitchens before the day’s trading begins means they can create enough dishes to easily distribute incredible food to the hungry masses, day in, day out. Working tirelessly in tight kitchens to be able to deliver constantly evolving flavours and ingredients, the London locals have never had it so good.

Street food is a great way to experience cultures and tastes from around the world, often exceeding restaurant quality in half the time. As many vendors articulated, it is important to be able to create one or two dishes very well, rather than offer an extensive menu that is sub-par.

Safestore chose to profile some of the best street food in London, to highlight how great things can truly come in small packages… or airstreams… or a vintage H van! We love to see the great use of space and this way of working allows people to compete in the foody arena with ease, complete freedom and lower overheads. Incredible cooks with a savvy business mind are now able to share their skills and creations with wider communities without the need for large restaurant spaces to showcase their talents. A simple idea that we love!

With the sun shining, and spring flowers blooming – London’s parks will soon be populated with sun-seeking picnic enthusiasts. If you’re in a sunny mood and already whipping out the afternoon prosecco; then don’t keep the fun to yourself and treat your fur-babies to some ‘dogtails’ too!

Enter Smith & Whistle. Located at the Sheraton Grand, and ideally positioned between Hyde Park Corner and Green Park, Smith & Whistle is the ideal spot for masterful martinis – both for humans and pooches. Not only do they have a mean cocktail list for humans looking to indulge in some tipple, they also have a permanent ‘dogtail’ menu for man’s best friend too.

Designed by David Jackson, Smith & Whistle’s dogstail menu is made of pet-friendly ingredients that will certainly get some tails wagging. TeamCocopup Charlie tried the ‘Hound’s Hops’ which is a special brew of dog beer with fresh mint. Afterwards, we went for the super healthy ‘Poochie Colada’, which is an organic green smoothie made of coconut water, kale, and broccoli – which keeps coats shiny and pups happy. Oh and did we mention that the Poochie Colada is made fresh by Smith & Whistle’s lovely bartender Alessio?

While Charlie was enjoying his dogtails, I was enjoying some masterfully mixed cocktails of my own. I recommend starting off with ‘The Pink Panther’; a delicate gin and Goji berry mixture, balanced with egg white and sparkling rosé — it is THE perfect aperitif. Afterwards, enjoy Smith & Whistle’s hearty lunch menu filled with several British favourites. We had the pork belly and the steak sandwich — both absolutely scrumptious — and washed it all down with a dessert (cocktail). The‘Catch me if you can’is a sinfully sweet mixture of Havana Club, dark chocolate, Luxardo bitter, lime, and gingerbread, made by the lovely Sergio. So before your next jaunt to Green Park this summer, definitely visit Smith & Whistle. ‘Keep the Poochie coladas coming please!’

www.smithandwhistle.com

One of the world’s best bars, The Broken Shaker, pops up at the iconic Madison’s in London for London Cocktail Week. The open-air rooftop bar sits eye-level with the impressive dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral and looks across to the River Thames running through the city. As the sun begins to set; a pink orangey glow casts across the sky and the city lights of the capital slowly begin to twinkle. But the night is young, for you are at the Broken Shaker pop-up…

The award-winning Broken Shaker has taken Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York by storm, and now, for the first time, Miami’s tropical hotspot is bringing its world-renown cocktails to London to celebrate London Cocktail Week.

You’ll find Bobby Eldridge, the Broken Shaker’s very own cocktail connoisseur, behind the Madison bar shaking up cocktails for you himself from Tuesday 2nd until Friday 5th October. You might even see him out and about on Saturday as he’s taking a day to explore the city before heading back home to Miami. We all dream of summer-livin’ in LA and spending a cosy Christmas in New York, but born and bred American Bobby told me that he’d choose London over any other city in the world, and yes, we were of course sipping on a cocktail or two whilst we had this chat.

The Broken Shaker’s pop-up drinks menu will feature some of it’s finest inimitable creations, as well as a few firm favourites of Madison’s. Try the refreshing grapefruit and garden shrub infused Lion’s Club, whiskey-based Thai Tea Sazerac, or our favourite (naturally), the Coco-nut Case. The Coco-nut Case is a distinct concoction of Olmeca Altos Plata Tequila, Koko Kanu, fresh lime, and kaffir agave and is finished with a coconut citrus sea salt rim. With each sip you’ll forget entirely where you are and you’ll almost be able to feel the Miami sand between your toes.

Although, why would you want to forget entirely where you are? After all, you’ll be sipping cocktails at one of London’s most sought-after social settings. Perched on the penthouse spot of One New Change, Madison’s glamorous bar and restaurant boasts an award-winning rooftop terrace like no other. With uninterrupted views of the London skyline, a DJ, and let’s not forget the killer cocktails; it’s an experience to be had by all Londoner’s.

Currently ranked 18th on the prestigious list of the World’s Best 50 Bars – yes, the whole world – The Broken Shaker is here to offer you an unrivalled cocktail experience. Sit back in the Broken Shaker’s signature “backyard” style tropical décor atop one of London’s most popular rooftop bars and sip on a Mocha Negroni, or two, or tell Bobby exactly what it is that you like and he might even whip something extra special up – just for you.

You can catch Bobby and the Broken Shaker for a taste of Miami at Madison’s rooftop in St. Pauls, London, from Tuesday 2nd until Friday 5th October.

@brokenshaker / @madisonlondon1

#shakerlife / #londoncocktailweek

San Diego is a city that lives and breathes that SoCal lifestyle. The North Park district in particular, is a wonderful little neighbourhood that combines colourful independent boutiques, cozy vegan restaurants, second hand bookstores, and a selection of some of the best breweries in America.

One little known fact about San Diego is that it is one of the biggest brewing hubs in the world. With over 120 working breweries in the county alone, San Diego has countless delicious beers on offer. Following an afternoon of tasting the best of what the local brewing scene has to offer, it becomes clear why San Diego is such a destination for aspiring small craft breweries all over America. So, to help you drink your way through sunny San Diego, here’s our roundup of some of the best independent breweries in town.

Modern Times
Located in the laid-back North Park neighbourhood, Modern Times Beer is all about aroma driven and flavourful session beers. Founded by Jacob McKean, Modern Times was inspired by a turn-of-the-century utopian community in Long Island, which according to Jacob was a “forgotten little paradise”. With Modern Times Beer, Jacob hopes to recreate this utopia, even if its just a familiar place for people to drink delicious, well-made beer.

The tasting room is a hodge podge of quirky art installations; from countless vintage lampshades hanging from the ceiling to a wall decorated with floppy disks. Their hybrid concoctions combine all the best qualities from different kinds of beers — resulting in fantastic beers like the Fortunate Islands, which combines the zesty hoppiness of an IPA, with a wheat beer’s nutty malt body. Their flagship beer, the Lomaland, is a return to the classics and is a wonderful mixed grain bill, fermented with Belgian yeast strains using Co2 gas.

Mike Hess
Mike Hess Brewing is probably one of the biggest players in the San Diego brewing scene. An avid home brewer of fifteen years, Mike Hess opened his first nano-brewery in 2010, after eight months of gruelling preparation. Eight years down the line, and Mike Hess is now the 11th largest San Diego brewery, distributing all over California and beyond. We checked out their 30 barrel NSI System in North Park and experienced their great tasting beers first hand.

Claritas Kölsch, their 2016 World Beer Cup winning ale, is worth a try. This German beer is infused with the fruity aromas of German Pilsner malt, hops, and yeast — making it a super refreshing drink, perfect for a hot San Diego afternoon. The Grapefruit Solis India Pale Ale is another favourite. A San Diego Style IPA that is bursting with citrusy grapefruit flavour, complemented by the hops and subtle malt.

Eppig Brewing
With a legacy that goes back 150 years, the Eppig family’s brewing roots began in the 1800s in Brooklyn New York. Today, Stephanie Eppig, Henry Joseph Eppig’s great-granddaughter, along with her business partners, resurrects their family’s brewing tradition with the opening of their North Park brewery.

With a brewing legacy that has been passed down for over a century, the new Eppig Brewing family is dedicated to getting it right. Their brewers, Nathan Stephens and Clayton LeBlanc, are committed to creating the perfect brew, and an un-compromised customer experience. Try their gold medal winning Zwicklebier Dry hopped unfiltered lager; a smooth, light, and flavourful brew. Another favourite is their Japanese Style Dry lager, a pale lager, combining the subtle aromas of starchy sushi rice, light pilsner malt, and lemon blossoms.

VisitCalifornia

Deck the halls and pour the mulled wine, December is finally here. The month of festive feasts, romantic winter terraces and the inevitable onset of gout, it’s an age-old excuse to spend the best part of the next three weeks slowly topping up, mouthful by mouthful, until by Christmas Day itself you daren’t look at another bowl of pigs in blankets for fear of the button of your jeans pinging off and landing in someone’s drink.

Navigating your way around the dishes of December can be a monumental task, so we’ve done some of the hard work so you don’t have to. You’re welcome.

1. Indulge in a Traditional Goose Feast

Clapham’s Trinity is embracing the traditional this December with the return of its Festive Goose Menu, available throughout the month for groups of 4 or more. A long-time entry on my dream dinner list, the restaurant received its first Michelin star in 2016 and from menus like this it’s clear to see why.

With the bird accompanied by goose fat potatoes, confit leg, baked stuffing, buttered sprout tops and cranberry sauce, following the starters of gin-cured salmon with pickles, creme fraiche and dill, barbecued sprouting broccoli with bagna caudal, hazelnuts and parmesan and burrata with spiced pumpkin and pickled walnuts, it’ll be tough to leave room for the chocolate cremosa with clementine and salted caramel ice cream for dessert. At a very reasonable £55 per head it’s a feast fit for a king.

www.trinityrestaurant.co.uk

2. Find a Vegan Chocolate Fix at Copperhouse Chocolate

Spare a thought for the vegans this Christmas; given the amount of chocolate that found its way in to my house last season, I struggle to comprehend how hard it must be to get through the season without a single After Eight, Terry’s Chocolate Orange segment or Quality Street (but on the purple ones, obviously).

Islington’s Copperhouse Chocolate is the only vegan chocolate shop and café in London and this year they’ve developed a new range of dangerously moreish vegan nut butter chocolate cups, in no fewer than seven delicious flavours including peanut butter & sea salt, almond butter & cherry jam and coconut salted caramel. For the festive season the café will also stock a range of vegan edible products including chocolate mince pies, gingerbread, fudges and biscotti, making light work of finding sweet treats for the vegan in your life. Warm up with a mug of their lusciously thick hot chocolate, unlike any other vegan hot chocolate and finished with deeply indulgent whipped coconut cream. The café also has a host of new vegan food on the menu including delicious new vegan sweet waffles, customisable with a host of toppings and all are served with thick chocolate sauce. Customers can choose to have them for breakfast by adding toppings such as fruit, nuts, yoghurt, homemade granola, or have as a dessert with coconut-based ice cream, caramel and marshmallows. Accompanied by one of the famed hot chocolates it’s a sweet tooth’s paradise.

www.copperhousechocolate.co.uk

3. Enjoy an Aussie Brunch at a City Oasis

December sees the Daisy Green Collection opening their second City of London site in Barbican. Located within the historic London Wall Place, Barbie Green will see the Aussie brunch kings serving up a brand new pizza offering.

Fully retractable glass windows will open up onto over an expansive al fresco terrace and over an acre of ancient gardens (perhaps more one for summer…) while huge Barbican meets Bondi-inspired artworks will ensure the new spot has just as much of a quirky interior as its siblings. We’re big fans of their sweetcorn and spring onion fritters and indulgent banana bread sandwich with mascarpone and fresh berries.

www.daisygreenfood.com

4. Get a Peek Inside a Hidden Members’ Club

Soho Members’ club TRADE, run by restaurateurs and Master Sommeliers, Xavier Rousset and Gearoid Devaney, is opening its doors to non-members for the very first time. This month the club has partnered with Mark Jarvis, chef-patron of Anglo Restaurant, to launch Anglo@TRADE, a residency bringing Anglo’s simple yet refined cooking from Farringdon to Soho.

Dishes include Beef Tartare, oyster cream and powdered horseradish, sustainable sea bass with brown crab, confit of red peppers and sea vegetables, plus snacks such as ‘Anglo Cheese on Toast’ comprising malt loaf, Keen’s rarebit and shallot chutney.

www.tradesoho.co.uk

5. Try a Christmas Dinner Burger

Yes, you read that correctly. For those who just can’t wait until the big day, St. Pancras’ Prime Burger has introduced their ‘Festive Feast’, a limited edition burger offering a full turkey feast with all the trimmings.

It features a juicy, succulent turkey patty, alongside a heavenly combination of crunchy Brussel sprout slaw, melted French Brie, pickled red onions and homemade cranberry sauce – topped off with not one, but two mouth-watering pigs in blankets, served in a bun spread with mayo and accompanied with fries. You certainly can’t complain that Christmas dinner is always boring…

www.prime-burger.co.uk

6. Swap Turkey for a Lobster Feast

Gird your waistbands, Burger & Lobster has introduced the biggest lobster showstopper you can buy in a restaurant. With four out of ten in the UK apparently moving away from traditional turkey in search of something different, each giant lobster is heavier than a bottle of Dom Pérignon.

The world’s first Christmas Lobster Feast includes mountains of rosemary and garlic roast potatoes, seasoned British buttery winter market vegetables including Brussels sprouts and carrots, a delicious side of strong cheddar and mozzarella cauliflower cheese topped with breadcrumbs and a deeply indulgent roast lobster and thyme butter.

The Giant Lobster Feast is available now at all London Burger & Lobster restaurants, for a limited time for groups of up to nine, at £54 each.

www.burgerandlobster.com

There are very few hotels in London that are as classically stunning as The Lanesborough. Last weekend, TeamCocopup Charlie made his way to the Lanesborough, for a doggy afternoon tea at one of London’s most prestigious addresses.

As a member of the esteemed Oetker Collection, The Lanesborough Hotel is the absolute embodiment of London luxury. Cross the street and you’re immediately within the green expanses of Hyde Park. A quick hop skip and jump away and you’ll be in Knightsbridge, the world’s most exclusive shopping district. Perusing the carefully curated shop windows at Harrods, and Harvey Nichols. Charlie and I learned that a quick game of fetch in Hyde Park is the best way to calm the doggy nerves before afternoon tea at The Lanesborough.

Designed by Alberto Pinto, this grand luxury mansion features 93 beautiful luxury suites and bedrooms. After being greeted by the hotel’s chivalrous doormen, we were led to the Lanesborough’s beautiful Withdrawing Room – where we would settle in for our afternoon tea. Sumptuously decorated with gold details, luxurious velvet trim, hand-painted trompe l’oeil marbling and shimmering chandeliers; The Withdrawing Rooms looks exactly like how you’d imagine the Queen’s Royal drawing room to be –and here, both mums and pups get the royal treatment. We sat down in a prime spot right beside the fireplace, and Charlie was given to his own little doggie bed too.

Afternoon Tea is such a quintessentially British pastime, and it doesn’t get more British than at the Lanesborough. Every afternoon tea begins with the perfect brew, and The Lanesborough has one of the widest tea selections in London. With over 40 choices of tea to choose from, The Lanesborough’s afternoon tea menu is as exhaustive as it is indulgent and includes black, green, and aromatic herbal infusions. Our lovely waiter Luca took us through their expansive menu, and soon our stunning three tiered afternoon tea stand arrives. A mix of perfect cut finger sandwiches, wonderfully rich clotted cream, fresh fruit preserves, and freshly baked scones, and scattering of delightfully flavoured pastries and cakes. Our instant favourite were the incredibly light blackberry cheesecakes which sat on the top tier of our cake stand. Kudos to head pastry chef Fabio Bardi, because not a single pastry was too sweet or soggy, with even the most subtle of flavours brought to life. Charlie got some treats of his own, care of Bob and Lush at The Lanesborough. Bob & Lush is completely natural and is made of 100% freshly prepared meat, and are basicallyirresistible for any hungry pup. These treats are free from any artificial preservatives or colorants which means they are perfect for any sensitive puppy tummies. Safe to say — it was almost impossible to keep Charlie away.

Throughout the years, the Lanesborough has gained the reputation of being one of the best luxury afternoon teas in London – and for good reason! Incredible service, sumptuous surroundings, and an utterly delicious afternoon tea mean that the Lanesborough is really where the magic happens. The Lanesborough is a definite must-visit for tea and cake loving mums and pups the world over, especially for those looking for a very special way to spend a doggy afternoon.

www.oetkercollection.com

The renowned cocktail bar and lounge, Rockwell, has launched the Nootropical Garden. This is a new mind-enhancing drinking and dining experience featuring natural and exotic nootropics. We sent Rachael Lindsay to check it out.
The Nootropical Garden is part of Rockwell’s Curiosity Club, a series of unique and experiential events for inquisitive guests like us. It features a food and cocktail menu using natural herbs and ingredients to restore and stimulate.
Ingredients include Ginseng, Gingko Biloba and Guarana – all renowned for their ability to invigorate.
The decor is divine with lush green foliage cascading down to red velvet seating. We sip our cocktails in quiet awe. I go for Guarana Utopia which features citrus, Amontillado Sherry and Guarana Soda. My partner tries the Eden of Gotu Kala featuring an Eastern herb which is a member of the parsley family and said to balance both hemispheres of the brain. It is laced with ginger beer, coconut oil, lime and delicious powdered pineapple.
The food is just as adventurous. I opt for a vegan curry which also features Gotu Kala as well as cauliflower, butternut squash and soothing lemon balm. Each vegetable is tender and full of flavour – far beyond what you would imagine from such simple ingredients. We also go for rosemary fries on the side for a salty kick.
I opt for an espresso chocolate mousse for dessert, topped with hazelnut sauce and caramel popcorn. Coffee arabica and cacao stimulate endorphins in the brain and boost metabolic rate. My partner tries the matcha mochi with maca and berry syrup. It delivers all the matcha antioxidants with a punchy fruit flavour.
Rockwell has put together a handy guide telling you more about each of the special ingredients on the menu. I love learning about the properties of the herbs and superfoods in each dish in a culture where we often lack information about where our food comes from. A great foodie experience right on London’s Trafalgar Square, Rockwell comes highly recommended from #TeamCoco.

For more information or to book, visit www.rockwellsw1.com.

Afternoon Tea at Hotel Chocolat

One of #TeamCoco’s absolute favourite things to do is enjoy Afternoon Tea with friends, it’s a luxury that we simply adore. Such a leisurely treat, and for once it’s not about grabbing lunch and heading back to the office, it’s also not about rushing round the city, it’s entirely about being decadent and chilling over quaint sandwiches, extravagant cakes, mouth watering nibbles, pots of the British favourite ‘tea’, and a glass (or two) of something fabulously fizzy.

Our writer Rachel McAlley recently experienced the wondrous Afternoon Tea at Hotel Chocolat on Boar Lane in Leeds city centre, where she sat next to the giant glass windows while busy shoppers passed by. Feeling like she was in a slow motion film, she watched the world pass by at one hundred miles an hour.

As soon as the Afternoon Tea menu arrived so did a traditional champagne glass filled with bubbly Prosecco. This was going to be good!

The Afternoon Tea arrived to much ‘oohing’ and ‘aahhing’ from Rachel and her guest, because not only did the cake stand have rare beef with white chocolate horseradish sandwiches, and cocoa gin cured salmon and avocado sandwiches (yes, that was gin in a sandwich), plus chicken with cocoa nib aioli sandwiches, and cucumber, dill, cream cheese and cocoa nib sandwiches, it also had house made banana bread, chocolate and orange scones with divine chocolate cream, caramelized white chocolate banana cheesecake, and caramel slices. It didn’t stop there, as it also had a top tier filled with ‘made in Leeds’ chocolates, fudge and cocoa nibs…wow!

It was an afternoon of total and utter chocolate heaven, and our stand out faves of the Afternoon Tea included the super moreish rare beef with white chocolate horseradish sandwiches, gin salmon sandwiches, house made banana bread, cheesecake, and of course the chocolatier’s very own fudge.

If you’re looking for something beyond special, then Hotel Chocolat may just be the perfect place to visit. Priced at £25 per person, plus £5 for a glass of Prosecco, this is a very special treat for serious chocolate lovers.

Available from Hotel Chocolat on Boar Lane Leeds.