Food and Drink

  By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food   A mere stone throw from London Bridge station, Tooley Street’s Fire Station has been saving lives and protecting properties since 1879. And although no longer serving as a Fire Station, the Bar & Bistro that now take residence upon the site do maintain some similar values. The Brigade is not just a restaurant. It’s a social enterprise. Working closely with Beyond Food, a homeless charity that was also set up by The...

By Nathan Lee, TLE Correspondent  Costa Coffee has announced it is to trial a bizarre 'Coffee and a Kip' service that lets customers nod off and have a power nap when they hit an afternoon slump. The coffee chain is importing Japanese inspired Ostrich Pillows and will turn tables into relaxation zones. Customers will be able to place their coffee order, let staff know what time to wake them using the specially designed table clocks and take a nap, before...

  By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food   Chick ‘n’ Sours – Dalston Set to open in Dalston on April 17th, Chick 'n' Sours is Carl Clarke’s brand new Chicken restaurant, but a little different from the rest of the area’s cheap and cheerful Chicken shops. First off, all of the free range, herb fed Chicken on offer is sourced from Pilmoore Grange Farm in Yorkshire, and will be served in a range of different ways. Also, the restaurant will...

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food Designed in accordance with the five elements of Chinese philosophy, (wood, metal, water, earth and fire) Chai Wu is the latest restaurant to have opened within Harrods. Opening as the sister restaurant to Pan Chai and Mango Tree, based in Harrods’ Food Halls, as well as Mango Tree in Belgravia. However, as expected by the name Chai Wu offers an exhilarating fusion of traditional and contemporary Chinese cuisine, displayed through the menu designed by...

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food Two decades into their magical career of crafting bespoke cakes and a whole range of extraordinary chocolate treats, Christine Taylor and Christine Garratt’s Choccywoccydoodah have finally released their first ever cook book – “Choccywoccydoodah: Chocolate, Cake and Curses”. Following on from the flourishing of two successful stores, in Brighton and in London, as well as having starred in five series of their television show with celebrity fans including Whoopi Goldberg, Gok Wan, Derren Brown,...

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food Tying in with World Malbec Day on April 17th – a celebration of one of the Argentina’s most popular wines – M Restaurants will be hosting a week-long celebration, between April 13th-18th, to honour the popularity of this seductive Argentine varietal. As would perhaps have been expected from Martin Williams, the former Managing Director of Gaucho Restaurants’ debut solo venture, M Grill and M Raw will be celebrating the event in style. Set to...

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food Located on the corner of a swanky Leicester Square hotel, Spice Market is the London outpost of World-renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, inspired by the Pan Asian street food that he fell in love with upon his travels of the Continent. Offering a menu that includes a number of tasty Asian inspired treats, although delivered in an atmosphere that’s far more refined than street huts. Instead, Spice Market obtains a stylish ambience of dark wood...

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food Since opening the doors of The Refinery in Bankside, back in 2008, award-winning bar and restaurant group Drake & Morgan have gone on to open a total of eight sites, each scattered around London. Situated within Regents Place, The Refinery is the latest addition to the company’s hearty line up of bars and restaurants and is there most central to date. The newly opened restaurant includes a capacious dining area, deli, outdoor dining terrace...

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food The concept of socialising does become very different upon being surrounded by local bankers and city folk out on business, making more noise than a bull in a china shop. The social element of dining out is, obviously, very close to Jason Atherton’s heart – the owner of London’s City Social, Pollen St. Social, Little Social, and Social Eating House… The list goes on. Of course, there’s the conversationally riveting chance to pour glass...