Heeltap London

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Sarah Bacchus

Perfect evenings spent outside with great food, fabulous cocktails and our trusty camera in tow. Food photography is one of my total favourite pastimes. Food reviews are even better as we actually get to eat the food after shooting it. We get to sample delicious meals so you guys know where’s hot and happening. Heeltap is a heck of a find and if you already know this place you need to revisit it as soon as possible. Once you do you will know why we are about to give it rave reviews. If you don’t then you need to seek it out. Tucked in a little corner off London Bridge you could miss it if you didn’t know it was there. Now we eat out and shoot at countless places all the time but this is in our top 10 of all time. Yes we are rating this heavenly place 10/10. They have recently revamped all the offerings at this little bar and we can say hand on heart they have got it spot on. Its buzzing and thriving, so whatever they are doing its working.

The entire evening we spent sampling their new menu and it was divine. The cocktails where superior, the staff incredible and the food was so delicious we’d happily eat there every day of the week.

We arrived and settled in our seats with a couple of cocktails. An Espresso martini for me and a Long Island iced tea for Ian. These set us up perfectly for our food.

The new menu is packed with simple and ravishingly dribblsome dishes. If you like burgers this is the place to come. Home cooked brioche buns cooked fresh using the chefs grandma’s secret recipe! Just these alone will make you want to eat here all the time.

Our dishes where served and we got stuck in straight away. If your ready for some serious foodie snaps that will make you groan with delight then here goes….Ian went for the jerk chicken burger with fries and I had the spicy option. Jalapeño and chorizo burger with sides of Parmesan, truffle oil fries and a fresh tomato and basil leaf salad. Yes my eyes are always bigger than my belly and I endeavoured to eat it all!

We washed all this down with a bottle of fizz and a side of fruit flavoured water, trying to be a little good.

The chat at this point stopped while we savoured each and every morsel. Jealous on lookers stated that the food looked spectacular and we can report it was as good as it looked.

My burger was perfectly seasoned with heavenly hot spices. It was garnished with Gherkins, tomatoes, onions, lettuce and the dressing created the most amazing kick. Simply the best burger tower know to mankind!

Ian’s burger was pretty much devotedly demolished along with satisfied mumblings! As he took bite after bite the dressing oozed out and made the ideal amount of mess. Finger licking goodness to satisfy any soul.

Now normally I’m all about the burgers but here we have a slight problem. I have a real addictive nature when it comes to Parmesan and truffle oil fries. They where definitely the best thing about the entire meal. They know me and I was allowed to order these off menu. I’m sure if you take a visit and mention this article you might just be able to get the chef to rustle you up a plate or 3!! They are simply the best.

Then…it was time for pudding….Not just any old pudding either!

Now at this stage we where really rather full….But pudding, you guys need to know what to expect don’t you…We do what we do for you. Remember that if you ever see us out stuffing our faces! And the fact that you can’t not have a sticky toffee Sunday when it’s up for grabs. An odd mix but by gosh was it good. Custard is a thing of the past my friends. Velvety ice cream is the only thing to serve with toffee these days!

So the verdicts in….We give Heeltap one of the biggest thumbs up for excellence, staff attentiveness, friendliness and a double thumbs up for the fabulous food!

Find them on Twitter here and now dash off to see them near London Bridge. Get those taste buds working over time as your in for one gastronomic ride of your life! They are just opposite Borough market and down a little side ally. Worth a little wander we think.

Holborn Dining Room

Posted on July 25, 2015 by Sarah Bacchus

The Holborn Dining Room is a beautiful classy and chilled establishment. The interior is splendid but isn’t as impressive as the outside area in when the sun is shining. We headed out for a wander mid afternoon to grab a few drinks and stumbled upon this place. The menu was basic, delicious, and very impressive. We plumped for good old fish finger sandwich and a classic chicken and bacon salad. Washed down with a few Gin cocktails.

With seasonal, locally sourced British cuisine on the menu this place will go down very well when needing to impress a lady or friends. Grab yourself a pint of local lager a burger or a glass of fizz and a pint of prawns. Fine wines are on offer at this renowned restaurant.

Holborn Dining Room is a welcome find for us. London life is so very grand when you find places just like this to share with all of you. It’s possibly one of the nicest bars on the scene in the city.

The first cocktails we tested where the Hendricks and the G Vine. The G Vine was simply amazing flavoured with elderflower tonic and garnished with grapes. I happily sat and sipped while we waited for the food to arrive. This place is where you need to chill and soak up the amazing atmosphere. Their is no rush, just take your time to relax.

Another cocktail before we ate… This one was the Smooth Amber, garnished with cinnamon and orange zest. Pocky and pretty darn good. Ian went for a more simple one. The sipsmith, flavoured with juniper, lemon and orange. Both had us feeling chilled in a matter of moments! Ready for some food by this point and we where not disappointed. Out came our dishes served by a lovely waitress. We chatted for a few moments about how grand it would be to stay in one of the many rooms on offer. You can actually rent an entire floor in the hotel, POA of course! Other rooms start from around £250 per night if you are tempted.

Who would have thought a simple chicken and bacon salad could look this divine and taste so utterly wonderful. A side of chips as thats just how we like to roll! Ian’s fish finger sandwich was severed on sourdough bread. A little fiddly to eat but impressive none the less. It was garnished with horseradish and by all accounts was really rather a good choice. The menu is made up of simple dishes with a twist. All the other dishes being served to various tables looked and smelt divine. This is most certainly one place we need to come back to review the evenings offerings.

Well worth a little trip very soon if your in the area. The prices reflect the area and the quality of the food. Not an everyday treat for some but possibly the nicest of afternoons you could have. We spent the rest of the day wandering back home with full bellies and happy smiles.

Find them at NO 252 HIGH HOLBORN, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM WC1V 7EN

Ling Ling in Mykonos, at Hakkasan, Hanway Place

Posted on July 19, 2015 by Paloma Kubiak

The first of the Hakkasan realm of restaurants, Hanway Place plays host to a celebration of food, drink and dance (known as the Izakaya concept) with its limited edition summer menu.

Mirroring the dishes launched in Hakkasan, Mykonos in Greece, diners will be able to opt for one of three choices from the Ling Ling menu:

– Fish and seafood

– Meat and seafood

– Vegetarian.

And this week we sampled the variety of Cantonese-style dishes which are “perfect for island living and late night revelry”.

But on our own English island and in the heart of London, the vibe was fun, the food had flair and the drinks were flowing. While we sipped on bubbly, a signature cocktail to accompany the dishes has also been released – the Ling Ling Collins.

My favourite was the grilled Chilean seabass in honey, oozing with taste and textures. The seabass slithered on the tongue; it was smoky yet sweet which contrasted with the crispy deep fried mushroom nestled on top.

Next the spicey prawn with lily bulb and almond left an explosion in the mouth – hot but moreish and the plump prawn was beautifully juicy.

The homemade pumpkin tofu was deep-fried and a rather nice alternate dish among the seafood dishes. Crispy on the outside and squidgy on the inside, there was just the right hint of pumpkin to mask the distinctive flavour of the tofu.

And the steamed dim sum platter of scallop shumai came beautifully presented in the bamboo steamer.

The array of macarons were a feast for the eyes, each with their own distinct flavour. I bit into a pink macaron which radiated flowery tastes in the palate, a rose-water-like tang.

And I also sampled a macaron filled with sweet chocolate, ending the evening on a sugary high.

The limited edition Ling Ling summer menu will be available at Hakkasan Hanway Place and Mayfair until 31 August, priced at £35/person and £45/person respectively.

HEMYCA

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Sarah Bacchus

We attended an amazing fashion launch a few days ago in the heart of London. HEMYCA is a luxury womenswear label, launched by designers Helen Clinch and Myra Nigris.

The girls met whilst studying at the London College of Fashion. With a vast passion for fashion and devotion for ultimate luxury and design they launched Hemyca. The Designs are all works of art and they will have you desperate to own the entire new collection. Even the calico toiles where simply stunning and very wearable. The company recently held a pop up event and we nipped along to snap alway at the latest collections launch.

The designers are so talented, both are really lovely and the entire company where some of the nicest people we have met in a long time. They all ooze passion for style and grace. Each item we pondered on left a mark on my heart. We excitedly chatted about a fashion shoot and I for one have my little eye on one very stunning strapless numbers for an event coming up soon.

Hemyca’s range is for all ages and would look just fantastic on anyone in their late teens to a more mature lady. The cut of the pieces are so well thought out. It had my brain working overtime, back to my early fashion design technology and pattern cutting days! Precise, pretty and perfect are the only words to describe this incredible luxurious new line.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcd6s9Vi0i0]

At the event we drank white wine, raspberry cocktails and ate loaded crab buns. All in all a very delicious evening filled with fine food a fashion. Check out their website here for more details.

For any enquiries regarding specific items or purchase info, please call us at our Studio. HEMYCA STUDIO, 193b Whitechapel Road. E1 1DN, London email: STUDIO@HEMYCA.COM or Call +44 (0) 207 655 4950

The Diner, Ganton Street, London Review

Posted on July 2, 2015 by Paloma Kubiak

The 4th July menu – coined as the “gorge of July” by my accompanying colleague – is not elegant or pretty or petite, but that’s its huge selling point.

Generous portions with lashings of gooey cheese and chocolate leave you licking your fingers, wiping your mouth and hoping you don’t have to carry on a conversation while you’re trying to chomp your way through a man-size burger.

The Diner is right in the middle of tourist hotspot slash hippy-heaven Carnaby Street but it has a warm and homely feel to it as the walls are covered in mock wood cladding and American-style booth seating areas line the restaurant.

As part of the special Independence Day menu which will only be available on 4 July, we started off with the Frito pie – a bag of frito corn chips topped with beef chilli, sour cream, jalapeños and coriander.

It nestled inside a crisp-packet-like wrapper and we were told this was a popular snack ordered by American football fans during half-time.

The beef was tender and stringy, a bit like pulled pork and each mouthful had a real kick to it.

Next we sampled the Chicken skins – shredded BBQ chicken potato skins with Monterey Jack sour cream and jalapeno. Beautifully greasy, the potato skins were well done and the smokey chicken pieces complemented the cooling sour cream.

For our mains, we had the Taco crunch burger – an 8oz brisket burger cooked pink (though the staff were accommodating when I asked for mine to be cooked a little more well done) with queso cheese sauce, crisp tortillas and caramelised onions.

Meaty and filling, the burger was a real hit with myself and my friend, and this dish seemed to have a Jewish influence as the brisket was topped with a lightly toasted brioche bun.
Apparently the chief operating officer at The Diner loves Jewish food after he was inspired by the cooking-style and recipes during a trip to Miami over the festival of Hanukah.

It was accompanied with a side of corn of the cob which was rolled in lime mayo, grated cheese and chilli powder and it’s spice tingled on my lips.

Just when we thought we couldn’t eat anymore, the dessert, or S’mores as it’s known, was bought out to our table.

The graham crackers were smothered with melted Nutella and marshmallow and again, there’s no lady-like way to eat this. It was sweet and warm and a great finish to our evening.

Kettner’s: Quintessentially British Dining and Drinking in the heart of Soho

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Kesh

Amongst the hustle and bustle of our amazing capital London, lies the iconic Kettner’s. Elegant, glamorous and classy, Kettner’s stands out from the frenzy of the quirky, hip, pop up joints and offers customers everything which is quintessentially British.

Originally opened in 1867 by the Chef of Napolean III, the Grade II listed Georgian building stands proudly in Soho boasting a brasserie, Champagne Bar and eight private functions rooms. If you’re looking for somewhere with a little history and old school glamour look no further. As well as the cocktail menu being rather impressive with a host of Champagne Cocktails, they have a clientele list to match. So if you’re looking to dine somewhere up to the standards of Oscar Wilde, Agatha Christie and Bing Crosby look no further.

There really is an enchanting feeling when you walk through the door of Kettner’s. It’s everything that’s glamorous, traditional and old school without feeling stuffy and pretentious and with a price list that doesn’t leave you feeling bankrupt after a cocktail, this is the perfect place to come and admire the stunning decor, have afternoon tea or indeed enjoy a date here.

Kettner’s can be found

29 ROMILLY ST. SOHO,
LONDON W1D 5HP

Face The Music at Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre, Walthamstow

Posted on June 22, 2015 by Paloma Kubiak

What struck me most about the All Star Productions cast was how much each actor seemed to enjoy their time on stage, despite the show being set against the backdrop of the ‘Great Depression’.

Face The Music, originally written by Moss Hart with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, has been resurrected for a twenty-first century audience at the Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre in Walthamstow, but it maintains the character, costume and camaraderie of 1930’s America.

The play centres on the ‘make or break’ theatre show to be directed by Hal Reisman, but in an age of austerity, he struggles to find the financial backing to get the show on the road.

Spurred on by love’s young dream, Kit Baker (Joanna Hughes) and Pat Mason (Alessandro Lubrano), the three meet with bent copper Meshbesher and his eccentric wife Myrtle who are only too happy to splash the cash in a bid to avoid having their haul discovered by the government.

In fact the more the play’s a failure – they’re happy to sink 800,000 dollars into the production – the happier the couple are, as it will cover their dodgy money trail.

And so a round of auditions ensues which sees jazz hands, tap dancing and catchy sing-alongs such as ‘On a roof in Manhattan’, ‘My beautiful rhinestone girl’ and ‘If you believe’.

I particularly enjoyed the relationship between plain PC O’Rourke (James Holbrooke) and the sultry streetwalker (Joanne Clifton) as she woos him to avoid being sent to prison and instead is given the opportunity to join the cast.

However, the play is missing one big thing – sex. As they say, ‘sex sells’ and once the ladies start to strip off, the show is a success, even with the most critical of reviewers.

Ultimately, the show’s success is the cause of the Meshbesher’s failure, as they’re dragged to court to answer to the charge, of corruption, extortion and embezzlement.

Leading lady, Joanna Hughes, had a serene yet authoritative presence on the stage and James Holbrooke’s facial expressions capture each emotion portrayed by his character perfectly.

Directed by Brendan Matthews, Face The Music is a fun and enlightening production and a big round of applause should also go to the orchestra tucked away in the corner of the stage area.

Face The Music is on at Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre, Walthamstow until 3 July, tickets available from the box office on 020 8520 8674. Ps, you may want to arrive early to sample the pizza from the make shift hut just outside the pub…

Blooming Brilliance Pop-Up Bar Creates New Summer Sanctuary In Knightsbridge…

Posted on June 15, 2015 by Corinne Tuddenham-Finn

BLOOMING BRILLIANCE POP-UP BAR CREATES NEW SUMMER SANCTUARY AT THE RIB ROOM BAR & RESTAURANT

• OPEN DAILY FROM 4PM, 8 JUNE-2 AUGUST
• LAUNCH OF SEVENTEEN BOTANICAL-INSPIRED COCKTAILS & SEASONAL LIGHT CUISINE
• EXCLUSIVE TASTING & SHOWCASE EVENINGS IN JUNE

On 8 June 2015, The Rib Room Bar & Restaurant at Jumeirah Carlton Tower in the heart of London’s Knightsbridge unveiled Blooming Brilliance, its first pop-up seasonal bar, offering an enchanting escape from the heat of summer in the city with a series of innovative botanical cocktails and exclusive tasting evenings.

Creating a direct connection with the manicured splendour of Cadogan Place Gardens, guests will experience a floral journey from the moment they arrive outside the hotel, through the lobby into the restaurant and bar itself. The decoration reflects a summer theme with imaginative planting of botanical herbs, vibrant flowers and citrus shrubs that add an intoxicating fragrance.

Guests may also enjoy sipping al fresco in The Rib Room’s outdoor terrace.

As part of this seasonal spectacle, Saverio Vicari, the Rib Room’s Head Mixologist has devised a specially crafted menu offering seventeen cocktails with a botanical twist.

The menu will incorporate classic English favourites, plus some contemporary concoctions featuring summer staples of Bombay Sapphire Gin and Grey Goose vodka, with some refreshing non-alcoholic choices as an option.

Just some of the botanical cocktails to launch will include; the thirst-quenching Jack and Shrub – a horticultural concoction of Gentleman Jack Bourbon, Amaro Lucano and strawberry shrub with dashes of lemon juice and Peychaud bitters, sweetened with sugar and served in a copper mug decorated with mint and strawberry.

Inspired by the fragrant herb, the Basil Sour is a heady mix of Beluga vodka, lemon juice and ginger syrup complemented with a teaspoon of basil olive oil. Lavender Cutie offers a non-alcoholic summer bouquet of blueberry purée mixed with equal measures of lavender syrup and lemon juice, topped up with soda water and garnished with blueberry on a stick of lavender.

For the cocktail aficionado, Blooming Brilliance will host a series of showcase evenings including; a Sipsmith Gin experience on the 18th June, Cocktail Creations on the 25th June, and on the 2nd July a summer botanical food demonstration for £30.00 per person.

Michele Caggianese, Manager of The Rib Room Bar & Restaurant said: “Blooming Brilliance creates a casual ambience for enjoying carefree summer evenings in the heart of Knightsbridge – whatever the Great British weather. Our imaginative drinks menu, savoury treats and experiences promise to refresh and reinvigorate, and restore seasonal bloom.”

Blooming Brilliance at The Rib Room Bar & Restaurant opens daily from 4pm, 8 June to 2 August. Visit theribroom.co.uk or call 020 7858 7250.

About The Rib Room Bar & Restaurant…
The Rib Room Bar & Restaurant is located on the ground floor of Jumeirah Carlton Tower, in the heart of London’s Knightsbridge. Awarded three AA Rosettes for culinary and service excellence, The Rib Room Bar is an intimate destination for drinks and bar cuisine, bringing together expert mixologists and contemporary design to evoke a chic ambience of indulgence. Located on the corner of Sloane Street and Cadogan Gardens, The Rib Room Bar serves a superb selection of world wines and cocktails – including Cocktail of the Month, and premium gins and bespoke bitters. The al fresco terrace offers a cocktail menu and a cigar menu. See: theribroom.co.uk

About Jumeirah Carlton Tower…

A beacon of British style and sophistication, Jumeirah Carlton Tower is a renowned five star hotel in London, located in the heart of the city’s central area.

Located on Sloane Street, the hub of Knightsbridge, this luxury hotel is one of the best hotels in London and boasts 216 guest rooms including 58 suites. These include the exclusive Royal Suite, offering superb views of the London skyline and spacious Executive Suites, ideal for business travellers.

Home to one of London’s most exclusive health clubs, The Peak Health Club and Spa, you can enjoy a relaxing spa treatment or invigorating workout in the gym. Combined with award-winning restaurants and elegant bars, Jumeirah Carlton Tower is the ideal destination for your next London city break.

Key attractions close to Jumeirah Carlton Tower include Hyde Park, and the city’s finest luxury shopping at Sloane Street’s boutiques and Harrods and Harvey Nichols are within easy walking distance.

See: https://www.jumeirah.com/en/hotels-resorts/london/jumeirah-carlton-tower

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