I'LL confess that Covent Garden isn't my go-to-place for food in London but a recent discovery of Augustus Harris has me changing my mind. This cafe/ alimentari is modelled on a classic Venetian bacaro - a local neighbourhood bar specialising in midday cicheti, spuntini and crostini. The menu offers an appetising selection of Italian little and larger bites, perfect for a light lunch or pre-dinner aperitif. Open to late, it is perfect meeting place for a intimate cocktail and during the day, a haven against the crowds of Covent Garden. As for Augustus Harris, he earned his fame as one of the theatre heroes of Drury Lane. All in all, it's the perfect homage to the father of modern Pantomine.
33 Catherine Street, London WC2B 5JT
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IN the lead-up to Christmas, we are thinking of bubbles and what better way to get in the mood that with the through of a chilled sparkling number. So you can image our delight, when we learnt about Forty Hall Vineyard based in Enfield London. This community-based vineyard is the first commercial scale vineyard in London since the Middle Ages and is run by a group of dedicated local volunteers. The vineyard is selling its wine to the public for the first time after a successful 2015 harvest. You can buy it at the cellar door at Forty Hall Farm. There will also be a limited release of its FHV London Sparking Brut - its 2014 vintage late next year. To get this special vintage, you need to participate in sponsorship of the vineyard. You can learn more about the vineyard here.
Words by Fiona Symington. Photos courtesy of Barnes & Webb.
DECEMBER 2015.
KNOWN for their postcode honey, Barnes & Webb talk about beekeeping, rooftops, and the best views in London.
It’s a quiet time of year for Barnes & Webb. Come April, bee season will have started and any opportunity to talk to Paul Webb and Chris Barnes will be near impossible. With over 40 hives across London and each one receiving a weekly visit, there’ll be little rest for these two urban beekeepers. Winners at the recent Urban Food Awards for Heavenly Honey, Barnes & Webb has brought a new localism to London food. They rent beehives across the city, selling the honey that they collect, while helping support the local honey bee population and our appreciation of them. Like the index of London’s famous A-Z street directory, their honey is named after the postcode from which it is collected. From EC2 (Shoreditch) to SW15 (Putney), each one varies in flavour, offering a very local taste to those who buy it. WE'RE thrilled to be publishing our interview later this week with the marshmallowist, Oonagh Simms. Here's a quick preview. From a stall on London’s Portobello Road to Selfridges food hall, the marshmallowist is one of the city’s most successful food entrepreneurs. We speak to Oonagh Simms about the sweet taste of success and the enduring delight of marshmallows. Oonagh is late to our interview but not for the reasons that you would imagine. Her mixer has broken and she is midway through a batch of her delightfully light marshmallows (She calls them mallows). Such are the perils of this very successful pâtissière and chocolatier. The amazing thing is when we finally speak, she is a sheer delight: warm, enthusiastic and despite her success, wonderfully humble for someone who has rubbed shoulders with everyone from Paul Hollywood of The Great British Bake-Off fame to television and radio presenter Fearne Cotton. RECENT INTERVIEWS
WE just fell in love with Botanique Artisan Store and Flower Shop on a recent trip to Exmouth Market. Sister shop to In with the Old, this pop-up concept shop opened this month and will be in residence in one of London's best streets for the next five months. Open seven days a week, it is the perfect store for truly inspiring blooms and unique gifts. including some must-have tableware and artisan products, some of which are produced onsite. Beautifully curated, Botanique is a sheer delight. As they say, "we are making bouquets for you".
37-39 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QL Mon– Sat: 10.00 - 19.30; Sun: 11.00 - 17.00 |
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February 2017
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