Food and Drink

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food For a short while, I thought that our most recent reservation at Oblix would never have gone ahead. Thankfully, the restaurant understands that Southeastern can be a cruel beast, with it a train service that’s more temperamental than the British weather. Located upon the 32nd floor of London’s tallest skyscraper – The Shard – it’s a real shame that the view is often more famous than the restaurant’s food. Having visited Oblix twice beforehand,...

By Jack Peat, TLE Editor  Take the Pulaski Bridge from Long Island City in New York and you will arrive at the most northerly tip of Brooklyn in Greenpoint. The borough, once home to a thriving immigrant community, is now awash with art studios, trendy residential conversions and artisanal gin. It’s not quite Williamsburg, but it’s a poignant representation of how Brooklyn has slowly succumbed to gentrification. Vauxhall could almost be twinned with Brooklyn’s chic refurbished boroughs. Once reserved for...

A simple guacamole recipe from the famous restaurant chain.

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food Inspired by the culture of the streets, the local produce, and the people of Guatemala, The Rooster Cocktail is named after the bird that symbolises the colour, the life and the energy of the Guatemalan streets. Newly available to the bar at Oblix (the first of The Shard’s restaurants) The Rooster is the first Cocktail to feature Zacapa XO Rum, which is accompanied by a contraption of specialty ingredients that include Spiced Orchid Vermouth,...

At the peak of summer, it can be hard to find the perfect spot for all your friends to gather. What if there was a place where you chose your own playlist, created your very own cocktails and didn’t have to talk over the chatter of other revellers? This place can exist, much closer to home than you may already imagine. Hosting your own summer BBQ, at home, can be a great alternative to meeting your friends in an overcrowded...

Placed on the corner of London’s Mayfair Place and Berkeley Street, just a stone’s throw from the famous Nobu, Novikov is the eponymous London branch of highly successful restaurateur Arkady Novikov’s restaurant empire. A premise so vast that it has space for 540 seats, it’s split into two restaurants and a swanky Lounge Bar. Upstairs, on ground-level, an Asian restaurant serves the sort of expensive Pan-Asian food that needs a burly security guard to send any passing riff-raff quickly on...

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food With thousands of restaurants open across London, there’s always been a disappointing lack in popularity that surrounds Moroccan cuisine. Thankfully, however, a brand new seven-week summer pop-up has arrived at the top of London’s iconic 30 St. Mary’s Axe – best known as The Gherkin. Not only does the new Moroccan Sky Riad bring a slice of North Africa to East London, the views that accompany the experience are absolutely sensational. The weather, upon...

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food Bringing something extra special to the West End, for one night only, next month, Soho’s new underground bar Cahoots will be teaming up with the Basement Galley for an afternoon of fine dining and cocktails in a post-war inspired environment. Taking place on Sunday August 9th from 5pm, Chef Alex Cooper behind the increasingly popular Basement Galley (a Supper Club that operates from a decommissioned Victoria Line train situated in Walthamstow) will be delivering a...

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food Strength: 4.8% ABV Brewed: Southfields, London Arriving just in time for the summer, Oddbins has teamed up with London-based Rocky Head Brewery, set up by Ex Oddbins Buying Director Steve Daniel and a group of friends as a micro-brewery, marking the latest instalment in Wine, Beer and Spirits merchant’s range of collaboration artisan craft Beers. This time around, Oddbins No 5 is a tasty Saison that offers aromas of Orange Zest and Grapefruit with...