Food and Drink
The Weekly Cocktail Recipe – Las Iguanas’ ‘Carnival Kitsch’
By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food Today (February 5th) marks the start of the world famous Rio Carnival, so to tie in with celebrating the festival carrying on into the weekend, Latin American restaurant chain Las Iguanas have created their own celebratory cocktail. Combining Malibu, blue curacao, mango and orange, ‘Carnival Kitsch’ is available from Las Iguanas until Tuesday (February 9th) priced at £8.95. Alternatively, the restaurant has shared the simple recipe for readers to celebrate Rio Carnival and make...
S.Pellegrino Launches UK & Ireland Leg of 2016 Young Chef Competition in London
By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food As we press further into the new year, S.Pellegrino’s Young Chef competition has returned once again for a 2016 instalment. Last year’s contest was a resounding success, especially for the UK & Ireland heat, with Irish chef Mark Moriarty winning the overall competition, named champion in Milan last year, having been coached by mentor Clare Smyth, previously Head Chef at Gordon Ramsay’s three Michelin-star restaurant in Chelsea. Applications for this year are now open...
Beer of the Week – Toast Ale
By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food It’s no secret that food waste in the UK is a real issue, and with Brits wasting an estimated 15 million tonnes of food each year, it’s bread that’s wasted the most. In fact, recent figures have shown that UK households are throwing away a collective mass of approximately 24 million slices of bread each year. Yes, bread does have a short shelf life, and although there are obvious ways of saving bread, most...
What is Matcha?
Wellness has become somewhat of a goldmine in the food and drink industry, so it perhaps shouldn't come as a surprise that an antioxidant rich, weight reducing cancer deterrent such as Matcha is all the rage. In very basic terms, matcha is a stone-grounded powder which is in effect a very concentrated green tea. The powdery substance is a more versatile version of its tea leaf counterpart and is used to serve lattes and iced drinks in cafes and everything from...
London’s Best New Restaurant Openings – February 2016
By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food With plenty of exciting restaurant openings constantly taking place across the Capital, here’s our pick of the best new restaurants arriving in London over the coming month. Patty & Bun – Soho Since initially setting up as a pop-up restaurant, Patty & Bun have become renowned for producing some of London’s finest burgers. And with three permanent sites already open across London, as well as a popular street food van, the team are currently gearing up to open...
The Weekly Cocktail Recipe – Balans Soho Society’s ‘A Slap on the Rum’
By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food Renowned just as much for their fun cocktails as for their food, Balans Soho Society now has five restaurants in London: one at each Westfield Shopping Centre, a branch in Kensington High Street a Soho Café and of course, the Soho original. While it would seem that their Porn Star Martini is often the most popular choice and recommendation, the bar team have provided a recipe for their simple ‘A Slap on the Rum’...
Restaurant Review – M, Victoria Street
By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food Just over a year ago, Martin Williams formerly of of Gaucho, opened his first solo venture ‘M’ within the heart of the city’s square mile on Threadneedle Street. Split into two concepts, both M Grill and M Raw, the single dining space offered two menus for diners to choose from, while a bar upstairs was on hand to provide drinks for the legions of city slickers that would pour into the restaurant after hours....
Beer of the Week – Hitachino Nest White Ale
By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food Strength: 5.5% ABV Brewed: Kounoso, Japan First established in 1823, it wasn’t until 1996 that the Kiuchi Brewery started to produce Hitachino Nest beer, formerly better known for its sake production. Located in the small Japanese village of Kounosu, the beer’s name is inspired by the Kounosu’s literal meaning – “nest” – and has become hugely acclaimed over the past 20 years for both its beer and the quirky owl logo that adorns every...
The Top 50 Gastropubs in Britain
The 2016 'Top 50 Gastropubs in Britain' have been announced today by the Publican's Morning Advertiser. The industry title ranked Stephen Harris’s Michelin-starred Kentish pub the Sportsman in top space. After coming second twice in 2013 and 2014, Harris claimed the top spot for the first time at the 2015 awards and has regained the title again this year. Yorkshire pubs fared well, with The Pipe and Glass of South Dalton and The Star at Harome of York claiming second and third spots...