Food and Drink

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor   Upon approaching acclaimed chef Mark Hix’s first outpost situated south of the river, you’d be forgiven for instantly relating the neon signage and general exterior demeanour to one of those seedy clubs in Soho. However, after being escorted through a corridor that contains just one of the restaurant’s impressive bars, you’ll end up feeling comforted by the unexpectedly airy dining space (unless a trip to a sordid bar and an STD was, in fact,...

By Jack Peat, TLE Editor A taste for more artisanal and authentic produce has given birth to a ‘source market’ in London where produce is both made and prepared in house. The movement is a natural evolution of a gastro drive which has seen demand for locally sourced produce shoot up as punters seek a seal of authenticity which is often local in nature. The craft/ real ale surge is a manifestation of this. Camden Pale Ale, Meantime Brewery and...

  By Jack Peat, Editor of The London Economic Oh how I miss spontaneous, local, seasonal food. For nights on end I bellow “where art thou market-based cuisine” across the rooftops of London, my desperate whimpers reverberating against the constant stream of wagons bringing food from afar. A city founded on the bustling markets of Camden, Portobello, Borough and Smithfield is crumbling under the weight of mass-produced foods marketed as being artisan, organic, ethically sourced and the rest (when will...

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food The new solo restaurant venture from Gaucho’s Martin Williams is set to go above and beyond in embracing this summer’s Polo season. Currently throwing a weeklong celebration for World Malbec Day, M Restaurants is set to team up with the UK’s finest Polo tournament – Chestertons Polo In The Park – as their official partner. So throughout the season, the restaurant’s upstairs M Bar is set to serve a specially created exclusive cocktail The...

  By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food   Due to the location of the City, it’s never too easy to find perfect fresh Fish that’s readily available. Juxtaposed to the surrounding Kent and Essex coastlines, positioned a fair distance from the beating heart of the Square Mile. However, the seafood that’s on offer at the D&D’s Michelin Starred Angler, seems as though it’s been reeled straight from the sea and placed onto headed up by Executive Chef Tony Fleming’sprettily presented...

By Nathan Lee, TLE Correspondent  This Sunday the River Thames will host the 160th boat race between Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Along with Wimbledon Tennis Championships, the FA Cup final and the Open Championship it is one of the most quintessentially British sporting events to be hosted each year. For those of us looking to watch the race in its entirety and in relative warmth and comfort Brew Cafe in Putney is offering a unique viewing experience. Food and drinks...

By Charlotte Hope, Lifestyle Editor @TLE-Lifestyle How’s your sommelier knowledge? Personally, the graph with which I work when drinking wine used to be ‘drinkable’to ‘not that drinkable but I’ll drink it’to ‘that’s just probably vinegar’. Over the last few years I’ve really thrown myself into drinking heaps of wine, on the ultimate selfless journey to find you, dear reader, the optimum bottle for the food that you’re ingesting. With this in mind, I bring to you four offerings for your...

  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...