Category Archives: Restaurant & Hotel Reviews

Saturday Brunchin’ at Gaucho

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The Electro Brunch Menu is back with a bang and Gaucho have ensured all your brunchin’ needs are met. Every Saturday across nine of their sites, customers can treat themselves to a two hour session of unlimited Gaucho food and drink, yes, that means two whole hours of Gaucho steak on tap. If that’s not all, the menu has something for everyone and not just the steak lovers. May we tempt you with smashed Avocado on toast… we thought that might get your attention. That’s still not even the best part, the updated menu comes with the introduction of french toast with dulce de lece and Gaucho Benedict with salt beef to name but a few and we simply had to see for ourselves.

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Having brunched here at the launch of Electro Brunch, Gaucho seems to have build itself quite the reputation with the brunch crowd. From humble reservation numbers when launching, Gaucho revellers have truly spread the word with almost every session fully booked full of anticipating diners soaking up the luxury and ambience of the enigmatic Gaucho. I have to admit, I haven’t stopped raving about this place since they launched Electro Brunch and even convinced a few to cancel their reservations elsewhere in favour of Gaucho… needless to say they are solid converts to the unique brunch style Gaucho have to offer and we believe you will be too. What we love the most about Electro Brunch is that aside from their excellent flowing drinks menu, a must at any bottomless brunch, the real star of the show is the food and quality of food. I have to say, so many brunch deals seem to overlook this when they are offering a menu of flowing drinks however, Gaucho are leading the way with an outstanding food menu to match. They deliver on every dish in the same way you would expect to get your meal when ordering off the à la carte and with a focus on the food, the kitchen have made sure you get to try each and every dish by making their portions just the right size for you to make your way through everything.

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Once you are seated, within minutes your host will be at your every call for the next couple of hours anticipating your every need so that you’re never without a plate of tasty goodness or an empty glass. The service is everything. Food is made to order, fresh and in abundance. Of course, it wouldn’t be Gaucho without their incredible steak and if you like it, order it again. No need to worry about diets in Gaucho, there is enough protein going around to supplement Arnie and if you order smartly there doesn’t have to be a carb in sight. However, we recommend you experience absolutely everything you possibly can. The menu is completely varied and each dish complements the next.

Gaucho Benedict with Salt Beef

Gaucho Benedict with Salt Beef

To give you an idea of what is on offer, drinks include; unlimited Aperol Spritz, Gaucho Bloody Mary’s, Domaine de Chandon, Pilsener Lager and a selection of fresh juice from the juice bar. The food on offer; French Toast, Beans on Toast with Chorizo, Fried Provoleta, Steak and Eggs, Gaucho Benedict, Eggs Benedict, Eggs Florentine, Eggs Royale to name but a few… we suggest you take a look for yourself. This entire deal comes in at under £50 per head and if you have a large appetite, this will not be a wasted trip! The updated menu have few more sweet additions with a selection of medialuna or mini croissants with peanut butter dulce de lece, french toast and of course, their famous banana pancakes just in case you want to balance out any of the savoury but our real showstopper was the Gaucho Benedict with salt beef. A Saturday well spent, we guarantee you will not be disappointed with your Electro Brunch rezzies. This is not just your average boozy brunch, if you are a real foodie, this is the place to be.

Reservations Here

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Cheers.

EatFirst x Kra Pow LDN; Thai Street Food Fresh to You

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Londoners… just when we thought take away’s couldn’t get any more tempting, accessible and down right delicious, we now have revolutionary delivery service EatFirst to add to the list.

To give you an idea, EatFirst does not sit in the category of Deliveroo or Hungryhouse. EatFirst is an online restaurant delivering chef-made meals around London. Serving everything from Mac Cheese to Beef Jerky, EatFirst are now starting a very special residency with Kra Pow LDN to serve you up some fine, tasty tasty Thai treats.

Get to know Kra Pow LDN. Their food will do the talking. Formed by two pals inspired by their love of Thailand, they planned to bring the fiery taste of Chang Mai Street food to London. Feeding hungry Londoner’s since 2016, the pair have been serving up their take on Thai Street food in markets around the Capital and for the very first time, you can try their menu at the click of a button. Frost were lucky enough to try out some of the menu at their rooftop launch party and we can safely say, there are some pretty mind-blowing dishes to choose from. We recommend the Kra Pow a delicious Pork and Basil stir fry, with rice and poached egg. We could’ve eaten this all day long but we’ll let you try for yourself.

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The full menu is available NOW from EatFirst which you can view online;

EatFirst

Delivery is also available from the EatFirst app via Android GooglePlay and iOS App Store

An Authentic Mexican Experience: Peyotito Review

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After paying homage to our favourite cocktail, the Margarita, we decided to tail end National Margarita week with a trip to one of London’s most hotly tipped Mexican restaurants, Peyotito. As well as delving into their perfectly executed cocktail collection, we also ventured into their predominantly gluten and dairy-free menu to get a taste of the honest flavours of Mexico.

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Having sampled many a Tex-Mex menu travelling through America, it’s not easy to come across Mexican cuisine outside of Mexico which is truly accurate and it’s something I certainly find lacking in London. Well thank goodness for Peyotito and well done to them for restoring the reputation of Mexican cuisine. The menu is a far cry from burritos and chimichangas and something much more accurate to the authentic dishes of Modern Mexico without the Texan twist and it goes without saying, the drinks list is authentically Mexican too.

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Our favourite, the signature ‘Peyotito’ Margarita made with Mezcal instead of Tequila, packs a smokier punch than tequila but much more evocative of true Mexican style. You’re encouraged to sip slowly rather than knock it back and my favourite touch is that the ‘Peyotito’ Margarita contains a vial of mezcal inside your glass to add as you please or to enjoy on the side. Tajin coats the rim of the margarita which completes the well rounded flavour profile. Mezcal is much appreciated here at Peyotito with the old Mexican saying: Tequila to wake the living, Mescal to wake the dead’ emblazoned on it’s wall, gives you an idea of how to drink and dine the Mexican way and I thoroughly recommend trying some of the mescals they have on offer. Famously it’s the only spirit to not give you a hangover.

It’s the little of touches that really add class and panache to a place like Peyotito, which is the sister venue of Mayfair’s Peyote. Set in an indoor garden-like haven, you’re really a far cry from having mariachis and sombreros thrust in your face which is a rarity. On arrival you are presented with corn chips and three different accompaniments, Salsa Verde, a deeper, smokier and fiery chilli dip and a refreshing peanut dip. The chilli dip comes with a warning and with the deep flavours of Habanero which comes before the heat, it’s hard to not want to keep delving back in to experience the richness of the sauce. We recommend going for a bowl of their chunky Guacamole on the side to offset the heat.

Our waitress gave us a run down of all that was on their menu and recommended that most of the dishes are good for sharing. We were keen on trying a lot of what was on their menu and there really was a varied and mouth-watering selection. In terms of smaller dishes, they offer a couple of soups dishes, salads and crudo which is mainly comprised of sushi-grade yellowfin tuna but true to Mexican style served alongside corn, avocado and salsa. We decided to go for one of three ceviches on offer their signature dish, which is a scallop ceviche made with fresh coconut, cucumber and serrano chile. We then opted for a fish taco and a 24 hour braised lamb taco and from the mole side of the menu which means cooked in a sauce, we opted for the short rib.

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When the food arrived it’s presented with no extra frills, simple, authentic and naturally stunning. The colours of the tacos and the different ingredients just bounce off the table. The portions are reasonable, not heavy but also bursting with zesty and vibrant flavours. A real feast for your eyes, there be no heavily starchy food here covered in cheese with a side of beans. This is really impressive, honest cooking made with typical Mexican flavours and enough to transport you straight to the food carts of Oaxaca. The first thing you notice when you start your dining experience is at how fresh everything tastes and how well balanced all of the dishes are.The food is of the highest quality and this is noticeable from dish to dish. Having chosen the signature ceviche dish ‘Blanco’ it was interesting to see how the delicate flavour of scallop would be complimented but the coconut, cucumber and chile are not overbearing in the slightest. The coconut is presented as an almost delicate soup in the bottom of the shell and is just the right combination of zesty and subtle.

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Both taco dishes are presented on soft corn tacos, which I much prefer to it’s crunchy counterpart, the dishes are easily manageable with a knife and fork here. The sea bream is well cooked with a crispy skin left on and soft fish melting underneath. Bravo for our skin-on fish tacos this is much appreciated and adds an extra complementary texture to an already stand out dish. The lamb tacos are also robust in flavour bursting with a herbaceous yet smoky and sweet note; every mouthful is as divine as the last. The short rib is decadent, presented in a similar style to a beef dish you may encounter in a french bistro it’s full of the rich, chocolatey mole and served alongside seasonal veg. It personally resembled an elegant Sunday roast but with a flaky, fondant meat served with intense robust flavours of mole. After making our way through the dishes, we were happily full and well satisfied at the varied selection we had chosen but opted to go for the Flan De Vanilla to share. This baked custard dish was creamy, more-ish but still light, a theme which seems to go through all of the dishes we tried.

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If authentic Mexican dining is what you’re after with a side of London’s best Margarita, in my opinion, Peyotito is definitely the place to be. The restaurant is vibrant, attention to detail is on point and the dishes are honestly first class in terms of quality of the food, flavour and value for money. Great for a quiet date, dining alone or with a group of friends, the staff are attentive and will make sure your every need is catered for. It’s a refreshing change to a lot of Mexican restaurants I have tried in the city and also fills a gap of sophisticated Mexican dining with a much more laid back and edgy feel to it. So if a slice of authenticity is what you’re after make sure to make your rezzies at Peyotito.

Peyotito

31 Kensington Park Road, London, W11 2EU
Notting Hill, London
020 7043 1400
reservations@peyotitorestaurant.com

http://www.peyotitorestaurant.com

The Fiesta Continues

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Argentine Pop-Up Barullo delivered and conquered the appetites of many an anticipating guest this week. Hosted by Wines of Argentina and catered by Mauro Colagreco, we danced, drank and dined our way through the South American splendour in the heart of Hoxton. Barullo delivered to us Argentina with an extra serving of wine. My aim was to make my way though the extensive wine list but found myself somewhere after my 4th glass of Torrontes before I found that to be ‘wishful drinking’. Mauro Colagreco, owner of renowned Two Michelin Star French restaurant Mirazur, served up a sumptuous four-course meal perfectly suited to the supper-club style dining area making it an evening full of the delights of Argentina.

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The end of Barullo does not mean the fiesta has ended though as our equally esteemed Argentine friends at Gaucho have come up with another night to remember with another appearance from Mauro himself. On the 11th November. Gaucho welcomes “The 10 Hands”. Featuring 5 of the most influential and creative chefs of Argentina; Mauro Colagreco, Fernando Trocca, Narda Lepez, Guido Tassi and German Martitegui, are to showcase their gastronomic expertise just for you. Centered around the infamous Asado (Argentine Barbecue), Gaucho Piccadilly’s terrace will be transformed into a night of Argentine bbq indulgence featuring five-courses of pure Argentinian fayre served with pairings from their sumptuous wine list.

Tickets are priced at £100 and will be available from the Gaucho Website;

www.gauchorestaurants.com

Celebrate National Mezcal Day at Peyotito

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It’s time to get your fiesta on because Friday 21st October is National Mezcal Day. Well “What’s Mezcal?” I hear you utter and what’s more, “why does it deserve it’s own day?” Well in the case of this very fine spirit… If you know, you’ll know! Peyotito, recently launched Mexican restaurant in West London, want us all to know about mezcal so you can celebrate with them and get to appreciate the mystery of mezcal for yourself.

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We were fortunate enough to be party to a mezcal tasting workshop in the private dining room of Peyotito and as our host explains, if tequila is the child of agave spirits then mezcal is the mother. Made for centuries throughout Mexico, for non mezcal drinkers, it can be likened to it’s companion tequila in that they are both made from agave in a process where the piñas, the heart of the agave, are cooked underground in ovens. The 7 steps to making any agave spirit remain the same, you plant, grow, harvest, cook, crush, ferment, distill it twice then bottle it. The main difference with tequila and mezcal is that in tequila, the deeply flavoured agave pulp is then discarded whereas mezcal’s fermentation and distillation process includes all the fibres and the meat. In turn, the flavour of mezcal is much richer and smokier. The quality of the spirit can really be tested when you drink each one alongside one another and really pick out the different nuances of each of the mezcal’s.

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We go from ‘Mezcal Los Dazantes’ which is a deep smoky Mezcal made from 100% Agave Espadin and reposed in French Oak, to a Mezcal so rare that only 20 bottles have been made. Produced by distillers, Los Siete Misterios, they have an assortment of mescals made by different agaves and different processes, our very rare find has been hand-made meaning the process of extracting the pulp from the agave is done manually. There are also a host of other unique milling techniques including using a horse to crush it. It is not unusual for Mezcal to have interesting production methods and most of the delight behind this spirit is that every producer has a story behind it. Many of the distilleries are small and from indigenous tribes in Mexico so this is their offering for the World to enjoy.

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Each bottle is uniquely designed to suit the mescal and the iconic Mexican illustrations laden the bottles. The method of drinking mescal is also relative, in ceremonies, mescal is drunk out of a dried fruit shell and offered around. This is a spirit made with soul, from the soul made to enrich your soul and if you’re still wondering why many of the mescals don’t have the little worm in the bottom, well, that was only a method used to differentiate tequila and mescal. We think that now the mescal really does speak for itself.

Mescal is the perfect drink in a social setting and we really loved the inventiveness Peyotito have put into their laid back restaurant. As the sister branch of Peyote in Mayfair, Peyotito have their individual identity while still offering the same great and authentic Mexican Fayre. The menu is mainly dairy and gluten-free while still retaining the earthy base flavours of Mexico. On weekends Peyotito offer up a brunch with classics such as, Huevos Rancheros and Chilaquiles Rojos. Of course, no trip to Peyotito would ever be complete without making your way through their expertly crafted drinks menu. Before we got stuck into the mescal, we were served their signature Mescal Margaritas which in true Peyotito panache was served in a tajín rimmed glass and included a vial of mescal to add as you please.

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The smokiness of the house mescal complements the sour lime and once you try this, you’ll never want to go back to a regular Margarita again. Their cocktail list is perfect for Peyotito, only offering tequila and mezcal cocktails alongside a list of wines. We recommend however, trying out some of the mezcal’s neat and we think you will be pleasantly surprised at the aromatic flavours that will compliment the vibrant dishes on the menu.

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Here’s hoping Peyotito will help to make mescal known all around town so if you’re looking for a real modern take on Mexico with the honest flavours they’ve always honoured, make those ressies now! And don’t forget, Friday 21st is National Mezcal day and Peyotito will be celebrating in true Mexican style. Arriba!

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For more info visit peyotitorestaurant.com

Ekachai Showcase their Brand New Spot in Flat Iron Square

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Smack bang in the middle of Bankside you’ll find brand new foodie hub, Flat Iron Square, and we think this is just the tonic Bankside needs. With a fresh, urban in/out vibe, this is a spot you’re more likely to find in East London but now it’s accessible South of the river too making it handy for all the city dwellers looking for a unique and vibrant new hangout. Made for pretty much everyone with a good appetite, Flat Iron Square will feature food stalls and trucks from well established and quality kitchens from around London as well as a flea market which will run alongside it on the weekend. We were lucky enough to have a tour around the site prior to opening and as you can imagine we are met with… a building site but amongst the hubbub of vendors frantically fixing up signage and getting their kitchens in order, there is one kitchen which is ready for business.

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Ekachai, the kitchen famous for South East Asian cooking have been operating a truly Zen ship since 1999 and it’s no different today. Opening their first site in Liverpool Street, more and more outlets have opened throughout the country and it’s no surprise really. Speaking to one of the co-owner’s, he explains the ethos is to create honest and authentic cooking which is true to South-East Asia and moving away from mixing five different kinds of Asian food into one take out box. Well we think the proof is in their fluffy Bao Bun’s, this has certainly warmed up our cold October morning and with a simple but varied menu, they want customers to enjoy quality cooking which promises to be evocative of the street vendors of the Far East. From what we’ve tried the Dim Sum is absolutely dreamy and a refreshing take on street eats so try for yourself. Ekachai is now open for business at Flat Iron Square but also operate outlets in Selfridges London and restaurants in Wandsworth and Liverpool Street.

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www.ekachai.co.uk

www.flatironsquare.co.uk

Flat Iron Square
68 Union Street
Borough
London, SE1 1TD

Where do congressmen go to eat? The best steaks in Washington!

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The Capital Grille in Washington DC – a great place for upmarket steak

Washington DC is the home of Government in the USA. As a result it has a number of restaurants where the Presidential staff, the congressional staff, the senior lobbyists and all the congressmen get wined and dined – at great expense. So when I visited Washington, a friend of mine insisted on taking me to one.

When it comes to feeding congressmen, there are a couple of places that fit the bill. We tried to book the Caucus Room, but it was closed for refurbishment. So we decided to go to the Capital Grille. This is part of a chain of restaurants – but a particularly plush one. When you eventually stagger out, filled with good food and drink, you get a great view up Capitol hill to the Capitol building: the big place with the dome that you’ve seen on all the postcards.

If you are a lobbyist, trying to get a congressman to see things in your way, this is the place to go. It is all oak panelling and very plush. And yet it is also very American: there is a large head of a bison behind the bar.

The place absolutely shouts money – but in a restrained way. It is designed to look like an exclusive gentlemen’s club. The carpets are very thick, the flooring around the bar is marble. When you sit down you are given huge steak knifes which must cost around $30 each and the table napkins are of the finest linen.

As in some private members clubs, where members have their own bottles of whiskey in a locker, this one also has lockers for the private supply. But this is obviously done in a tongue-in-cheek fashion. One of the lockers had the name of Frank Sinatra (the singer who died 18 years ago) and another had a brass plate with the name Strom Thurmond. Thurmond was probably the best known Senator in Washington: he lived to 100 and served in the senate for 48 years. But as he died in 2003, his name plate was probably an in-joke for the Washington crowd.

So what do you eat? Well naturally you eat steaks – and the very finest steaks that money can buy. But as we were splashing out, I decided to start my meal with half a dozen oysters. They were lovely little things – very fresh, juicy with a choice of toppings. I dressed mine with shallots and vinegar. I thought the horseraddish, which I was offered, would have killed the taste of the oysters. My wife had asparagus dripping with butter.

Oh, the bread was very good – crispy and incredibly fresh and yielding. It was quite perfect. In fact it was so good that we asked the waitress to take it away, lest it should ruin our dinner.

So how should I describe the steaks. They were wonderful. I ordered a ribeye with porcini mushrooms and balsamic vinegar. It had that lovely crust that you get when you fry a well aged steak in butter. And the meat was wonderfully – marbled with just a tiny bit of fat. And the meat hadn’t been trimmed, so I got to eat a slice of that full, rich fat, which is probably dreadful for cholesterol levels, but which tastes so good.

We ordered two bottles of Dutton Chardonnay – at $70 a bottle. We had brought two bottles of our own red wine. Normally we’d have expected to be charged for corkage – opening the wines – but when we looked at the bill we hadn’t been charged. And for dessert, I shared a superb creme brulee with my wife.

The meal costs $550 for four, which I have to admit is the most I have ever paid for a meal. If we had had four starters and four desserts (rather than sharing them), and bought all the wine at the restaurant and a rounded off with a decent brandy, the bill could easily have been $1000.

New York Delis – the best of the best!

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New York Delis – Junior’s, Katz’s, Carnegie Deli and Russ&Daughter

According to Allen Ginsberg – the famous New York poet -‘Allegories are like lettuce in reality sandwiches’. The implication is that a sandwich should have very little lettuce; the important thing is the meat.

New York sandwiches traditionally have vast quantities of meat – often far more than anyone would actually want to eat. This is particularly true of the delis – some of which are very famous.

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One of the giant corned beef sandwiches at Carnegies in New York

Possibly the most famous is Carnegie Deli near Carnegie Hall on Seventh Avenue, which specialises in corned beef sandwiches (in Britain we would call it ‘salt beef’) and pastrami. A corn beef sandwich at Carnegie is an eloquent argument against the American way of life. I visited two years ago. The corn beef sandwich costs $30 and is about the size of a small football. I split one with my wife and between us we managed to get through about half of it. They do a nice chicken and matza ball soup, but the matza ball is slightly larger than a tennis ball and has about a zillion calories. We did ask the Chinese waiter if anyone ever finished the food. He told us that such events are a rarity.

Carnegie is a New York institution. The walls are literally covered with photos of celebrities eating there. It’s a lovely place to sit and talk and to push the food, that you can’t possibly finish, around your plate.

Katz’s is another institution. It is in the Jewish area around the East Village. If you ever watched the film When Harry Met Sally, you’ll remember the scene in which Meg Ryan is sitting in a deli and fakes a very noisy orgasm. This was filmed in Katz’s and there is a banner above the seat where Meg Ryan sat.
Mercifully the portions are smaller in Katz’s than at Carnegie. The corn beef is better at Katz’s but the soup is more flavoursome at Carnegie.The thing I love about Katz is the old posters including one with the slogan ‘Buy a Salami for your boy in the army!’ I bought a T-shirt with this slogan on it.

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Juniors Deli at Broadway – nice food, good prices and manageable portions

These delis are about 80 years old. There are some great new places. After going to the theatre one night, we dropped into Juniors on Broadway. The food is reasonably priced and very good. I shared a corned beef sandwich and a cup of matza ball soup with my wife.The corn beef is manageable – not too big – and very tasty. The soup is delicious – although a bit heavy on the salt. And the chopped liver was absolutely wonderful – very creamy, deep flavours of onion and lots of mashed up egg. The burger, which my son ordered, was nicely cooked and the chips were crisp and well sized. It cost $70 for four, which I thought pretty reasonable.

More recently there has been a move towards upmarket deli food. Russ & Daughters has for many years operated a traditional Jewish delicatessen shop in the Jewish area around Houston Street. It sells salmon, bagels, dried fruit etc to take away. More recently, the firm has opened a sit-down restaurant on Orchard Street. They sell large platters of traditional Jewish deli food – and it’s all very classy. You can buy caviar and shots of vodka, as well as various types of herring. It is served by neatly dressed women in suits and – in addition to the elderly Jewish couples – there are lots of businessmen at lunchtime.

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A quiet meal at Russ and Daughters – a new upmarket deli

We ordered one of their large platters, which will serve three or four people. In our case, the platter, which cost $90, contained smoked salmon, sturgeon, smoked trout, smoked cod and wild Alaskan roe – along with bread, cream cheese, onion, tomato salad and capers. By the time we’d ordered a couple of side dishes, the bill came to around $150 for four. It’s not a bargain, but the quality is good.

If I lived in New York, I’d probably go to Russ and Daughters every few months, Juniors about once a fortnight and Katz’s about once a month. And I’d go to Carnegie if I got tired of life and decided to eat myself to death.