Food and Drink

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...

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food With six restaurants now spread out across the city, the original Rosa’s Thai Café can be found just between Spitalfields Market and East London’s bustling Brick Lane. Set up by husband and wife duo Alex and Saiphin Moore, following the success of a Brick Lane street food stall, it seems that the premises is often filled to capacity with tourists and locals alike. Upon arriving, our booking is nowhere to be seen, fortunately there...

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food For as long as there’s been fine dining restaurants, creativity in the kitchen has always been encouraged. Sure, sometimes the classics are very difficult to improve upon, yet without such focus it’s unlikely that chefs such as Heston Blumenthal, whose cooking is often reminiscent of a stereotypical mad scientist, or Pierre Gargnall – the artist behind London’s über trendy Sketch – would have risen to such prominence. However, as far as extreme creativity is...

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food Set to launch on July 31st, Storeys is an exciting new London pop-up. We’ve already heard of car parks making the ideal setting for a great food and drink experience with incredible views, yet none are placed within locations as iconic as the BBC Car Park at their old White City Television Centre. Set up by event company Afternoon Delight LDN, Storeys will feature some of the UK’s most popular street food vendors such...

Chef Jesse Dunford Wood's take on the classic dessert

By Jack Peat, TLE Editor  Last summer I started writing a book exploring the understated role of wood in bringing to life regional qualities that lay at the heart of the most lauded drinks in the World. A trip to North Yorkshire, a trip to Bordeaux, a trip to Porto, a trip to Switzerland and a trip to the Inner Hebrides of Scotland later and I have 35,000 words of gold on a hard-drive doing not very much. But the...

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food With the first Hawksmoor restaurant having opened its doors in 2006, there are now six outposts scattered across the country (five in London, one in Manchester). Positioned just a short walk from Liverpool Street Station, the original opening in Spitalfields also boasts a separate basement bar that’s so strong it could stand alone without the help of the adjoining Steakhouse. Accessible via a door that’s hung just a few metres from the main entrance,...

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food Residing within The Westbury, a five-star Mayfair Hotel, the award winning Polo Bar comprises a grand selection of Cocktails as well as fine Wines, premium Spirits and Champagnes. Headed up by head mixologist Carmine Catena – having joined the bar in 2008 – who is in charge of curating the exciting cocktails: one of which he has shared the recipe for. Featuring Ilegal Mezcal Joven, Campari, Barolo, Orange Jam and Lemon Juice, here’s a...

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food Since 1936, Orangina has been hailed as a delicious soft drink that’s sparkling and made with real Orange pulp and zest that requires a “shake to wake”. However, over the past years it’s become increasingly difficult to find Orangina on shop shelves across the UK. Thankfully, the thirst-quencher that’s perfect for the Summer months has made a grand return. The taste is the same as before, but there’s a new plastic bottle that’s bigger...