Miami Cocktail – The Conscious Cocktail Company

We’re officially in spring and things are heating up this week, so to celebrate the extra long weekend we wanted to introduce a touch of Miami to Britain. Introducing; Miami Cocktail and their selection of the most delicious organic pre-mixed craft cocktails on the market. The foundations of the company are built on using honest ingredients which make up authentic cocktails crafted to perfection, and tasty.

The proof really is in the tasting with three delicious cocktails to choose from; Margarita, Sangria and Blood Orange Mimosa. This has been the most authentic and honest pre-mixed cocktail we’ve tried and trust me…we’ve tried a lot. The packaging, the flavour and the low cal, additive free ingredients are only some of the reasons why you HAVE to try Miami Cocktail. The first thing that sets them apart from many other companies is that not only is the flavour refreshing and heavenly, there is no tacky aftertaste, a far cry from the batch made sticky pre-mixers we have tried. The same points can be awarded for the following day with no nasty hangover, (this came from a number of trustworthy testimonies.) The brand screams chic and this would be a tip top gift to bring to a party, the bottle comes in a beautiful recyclable glass and will look iconic on your table top counter.  

We love the serving suggestions they have offered us; so cheers to a Bank Holiday made better by Miami Cocktail;

Copper Pot Margarita

The quintessential three ingredient organic margarita:

-100% pure organic blue agave wine
– Organic key lime juice
– Organic Valencia orange juice 

12% abv

The Copper Pot Margarita is perfectly balanced and delivers a wonderfully “more-ish margarita” 

Blood Orange Mimosa 

The “Sunday Funday Everyday” organic mimosa. Organic Sicilian blood oranges and tangerine juice. A touch of organic Florida grapefruit juice lightly infused with organic sparkling wine. 

We call our Blood Orange Mimosa “dangerously delicious” as we have yet to leave any in the bottle once it is opened. Admittedly, a good problem to have…until you run out. 

 8.5% abv

Sunset Sangria 

The keeping it real organic sangria. Organic tropical juices of mango, pineapple, lime, and orange, all delicately infused with organic craft red wine. 

8.5% abv

The moment the Sunset Sangria touches your lips, you will be whisked away to the last summer you spent in Spain. While heating it up in winter time, makes for a wonderful alternative to your favourite mulled wine. 

Miami Cocktail have hit the ground running and are already available to buy in Harvey Nichols stores in the UK and online RRP £16.95 per bottle. You can also find them on thedrinkshop.com and amazon.co.uk priced at £14.95 and are hoping to hit the festivals this summer. We couldn’t think of a more perfect place for these sexy little cocktails. 

Miami Cocktail also have a line of Organic Spritz which is set to come out soon featuring two more cocktails, Bellini Spritz and Paloma Spritz. These will be available in 250ml cans and at only 110 cals per can and no added sugar you can definitely indulge in a few Miami Cocktails. #DrinkClean

 

Fashion Meets Food As Yauatcha & Harvey Nichols Team Up for Chinese New Year

This February sees a unique twist on Chinese New Year with an exclusive collaboration between Michelin-starred Chinese dim sum teahouse Yauatcha, by the internationally acclaimed Hakkasan group, and global luxury fashion destination Harvey Nichols. Renowned for their fantastical and elaborate store windows, the Harvey Nichols visual display team have designed a spectacular one-off window display, to be exhibited at Yauatcha in Soho from 20th January to 10th February.

chinesenewyear

Inspired by the Chinese tradition of spreading luck by gifting friends and family red envelopes containing money, Yauatcha and Harvey Nichols designed the display to capture the essence and ethos of Chinese New Year, the most auspicious date in the Chinese calendar. As 2014 is the Year of the Horse, the creation focuses around a large red origami-style Perspex horse jumping into the front window, with a flowing mane and tail brought to life with almost 1,000 bright red folded envelopes, hand made by luxury paper merchant GFSmith. The window display will extend back into the restaurant, with red paper envelopes flying from the horse and forming patterns in the air above and around guests. Smaller origami horses will also appear along the front and side windows.

 

Throughout the collaboration each guest at Yauatcha will receive a red envelope containing vouchers for fashion and beauty treats, along with a bespoke Chinese New Year cocktail created by the Yauatcha and Harvey Nichols bar managers and available at the Fifth Floor Bar. During the campaign eight special golden tickets will be given to guests at random, containing lavish prizes such as meals and cocktail masterclasses at Yauatcha and makeovers at Harvey Nichols.

 

In addition, Hakkasan group’s Executive Pastry Chef Graham Hornigold has created bespoke macarons and petits gateaux, which will be added to the existing array of award-winning desserts, macarons and handmade chocolates. The limited edition flavours include:

 

Red Macarons depicting the Chinese character for the Year of the Horse, filled with mandarin ganache and mandarin pâte de fruit. Mandarins are traditionally given at Chinese New Year, and symbolise luck and fortune.

Red Petits Gateaux in the shape of a traditional Chinese New Year lantern, depicting the Chinese character for the Year of the Horse. A jasmine mousse filled with a honey panna cotta centre, with caramelised mandarins and sesame brittle. The mandarins symbolise luck and fortune, the sesame seeds fertility.

 

Price: Macarons – £1.60 each, £9 per 6 pieces, £18 per 12 pieces. Petits gateaux – £5.90 (retail), £8.50 (a la carte).

Guests at Yauatcha on the afternoon of Sunday 2nd February will view the spectacle of the traditional Chinese dragon dance, with the raucous theatrical procession of the dragon visiting every table with its colourful and noisy celebratory performance.

 

Ampersand Hotel Review

The Ampersand Hotel is in a very convenient location, a few minutes walk away from South Kensington tube station. It is also near the Victoria & Albert Museum, Harrods, Hyde Park, The British Museum and Harvey Nichols. So if location is your thing, the Ampersand Hotel should already be at the top of your list. The hotel itself is beautiful, brilliantly designed, classy and elegant. The staff are friendly and helpful.

The room is beautiful. It has everything you could possibly need. You do expect a hotel of this caliber to have everything and it does not disappoint. It has free wifi, a hairdryer, air-conditioning, TV, a desk, cable, tea, toiletries by Miller Harris and even ice. The bed is comfortable and the curtains are good and heavy, blocking out the light and some of the London noise.

The bathroom is great, with a bath and a shower. It also has lots of handy kits for sewing or vanity. The towels are lovely and fluffy. A dressing gown and a pair of slippers also comes with the room. The only thing I can complain about is the lack of bubble bath.

The lighting is good, the soft drinks in the minibar are free. One of the things that I really liked about this hotel is that you do not feel like a customer, constantly being fleeced of your money, but instead like a guest.

There is also a Business centre, a library, a wine room, a games room and a gym.

The Apero restaurant in the hotel is good. With an emphasis on sharing. We had serrano ham mikado ,(delicious and different) ,Plaice goujons with avocado mayonaise , Grilled neck of lamb with harissa & onion salad and Gnocchi with chard & smoked scamorza and an amazing cocktail called Elixir of Love.

In the morning we had a delicious full English breakfast and read the papers. Our stay in the hotel was relaxing and luxurious. This hotel is highly recommended. One of the best hotels to stay at in London.


Harvey Nichols A/W 2012

I have always though of Harvey Nichols (or Harvey Nics as us Londoners call it) as a young person’s Harrods. It has all of the luxury items, but is a bit more laid-back. I went to check out there Autumn/Winter collection and…wow.

 

My favourite clothes were by Jenny Packman (a Catherine Middleton favourite, and one that women who have more curves look just as amazing in. I find I would look too ‘booby’ in some of the things Middleton wears), Osman, Rag & Bone (divine), Erdem, Roksanda Llincic, McQueen, Preen and Mary Kantrantzou. A lot of amazing British designers are supported.

Lots of patterns and even some Lady Gaga type heels. All in all, a brilliant collection.

 

Rag & BoneRoksanda llincic

Erdem

Alexander McQueen


Mary Katrantzou