Food and Drink

Christmas is a magical time in London. Father Christmas once said that “if it wasn’t for the abundance of skilled seasonal labour in Lapland, I would have set up shop in London”, but if we missed out on the workshops, we certainly got his sales floor. Harrods lit in all its glory in Knightsbridge, Selfridges on Oxford Street, Fenwicks in the heart of Mayfair and the behemoth Westfield shopping centres located to the east and west of the capital makes...

By Jack Peat, Editor of The London Economic  I'm not one to blow my own trumpet, but I've long championed the use of more natural tonics as spirit mixers. For years on end I'd watch punters muse over which overpriced gin to taste from behind a bar only for them to ask for a sugar heavy, artificially flavoured Schweppes mixer to overpower it. Philistines, I thought, but it's their cash, not mine. Thankfully, this weekend I found long awaited solace...

Christmas is almost here which means a guilt-free month of indulgence. We sent our very own David de Winter to sample the delights of Champagne and cheese in the run-up to the festive season, and now you have the chance to sample the fizz for yourself thanks to Cattier Champagne which is giving away three bottles in the run up to the festive period. Cattier Champagne, one of the oldest, family-owned Champagne makers, has been growing grapes since 1763. The...

By Jack Peat, Editor of The London Economic  Life for the residents of London is all about finding new things before they become too popular. I used to dine in dynamic stone-baked pizza eateries in Soho before the queues began to stretch down the road, I even ate lobster and burgers and sipped champagne with hotdogs before the notion of finding a table in such eateries became laughable. But we persevere, because the next big thing is never far away....

By Jack Peat, Editor of The London Economic In London, the land of the real deal, poor imitations stick out like a sore thumb. Described as being a 'stylish nightclub with 1970s-themed disco, a club room and restaurant with an eclectic menu', The Sway is more akin to a Wetherspoons with a bit of icing sugar on top. The ballroom interior with private leather booths and chandeliers lulls you into a false perception of grandeur when you first arrive which...

By Charlotte Hope, Lifestyle Editor @TLE_Lifestyle A rainy Wednesday evening normally warrants a big bowl of comforting chilli, something on the TV and probably an enormous chocolate based dessert. Last week, however, I braved the elements and ventured North, to Camden, playground of the early noughties indie darlings (see: The Libertines et al). In the hunt for my dinner venue I inadvertently took the scenic route, through the stables and past CyberDog (still open, by the way) until eventually I...

Chichetti (pronounced Chi KET tee) is a deceptively large restaurant that at a glance could be mistaken for a Cafe-esque type eatery. Nestled in the heart of Covent Garden's theatreland, it is a high-end haven of Italian delicacies. The restaurant has been open for a little over a month now and definitely looks the part. As soon as you get in the door the small front opens up to a huge opulent dining room, smartly dressed (and easy on the eye) waiters greet...

I disembarked the train at London Bridge to be welcomed by a dark, wet, cold platform. A Tuesday evening such as this is usually spent with a box set in front of the TV, but I managed to pull myself around tonight on account of my meal reservation at the Hilton. Bravely (?) I battled down Tooley Street and into the TwoRuba bar. It recently opened following a £500,000 revamp of the Ruba Bar that previously occupied this space. Once through the...

By Paul Jurowski - Food writer I can’t admit to having been to Portobello Road on a gastronomic adventure for quite some time, if at all, but let me begin by saying the trip out to Goode and Wright was certainly worth the mission from work, to arrive in time for our reservation. Tucked away in between a Reggae bar and a railway bridge lies a cosy wood-panelled bistro, staffed by friendly, knowledgeable people, who were happy to discuss the...