A Taste of Summer – The perfect G&T

30-05-2017 Local Black Bookcocktails, Drake & Morgan, event, G&T, gin and tonic, London, masterclass, recipe1 Comment

When life gives you Summer, you better have G&Ts at the ready!

Introduced by the army of the British East India Company in India, Gin & Tonic is the perfect drink for when the weather’s hot and the sun is shining.

Zesty, refreshing and -most importantly- super easy to make, which is just as well, because in that heat, the least there is between you and a cold drink, the better.

G&Ts are the ultimate no-sweat cocktail -1 part gin to 3 parts tonic (better measure to taste), with a squeeze of lime for good measure (and extra freshness).

It’s the perfect drink to make for one or a crowd – just make it in a pitcher, pour over ice and go wild with the garnishes.

From the classic citrus twists and wedges, to delicate edible flowers, cucumber ribbons ‘a la Hendrick’s’, fresh herbs a little sprinkle of cracked black pepper…

That’s where the magic of the humble G&T truly is – it’s so simple, yet there are so many possibilities.

That said, I can’t ima-gin any better version than the pink gin and tonic below!

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:13]

Want to brush up on your botanicals? Besides its limited-edition Taste of Summer cocktail menu (including the above Pink Gin and Tonic recipe under the lovely name of ‘Lavender Vida Loca’) , Drake & Morgan is offering a series of complimentary mixology masterclasses at selected bars & restaurants across London.

The ultimate chance to learn the tricks of the trade whilst sipping on classic and contemporary creations!

Masterclasses will run from 6-8pm according to the following calendar:

31st May – The Happenstance – Ocho Tequila with Jesse Estes

7th June – C&B devonshire Terrace – Gobernador Pisco with Chris Dennis

14th June – The Otherist – QuiQuiRiQui Mescal with Melanie Symonds

21st June – C&B Lime Street – Gin Mare with Sarah Moorhead

28th June – The Refinery CityPoint – Capucana Cachaca with Tom Blay

5th July – The Happennstance – Ocho Tequila & QuiQuiRiQui Mescal with Tom Blay

19th July – C&B Devonshire Terrace – Campari with Joseph St Clair Ford

To book your place, please email stuart.cambell@drake-morgan.co.uk & let the good time be-gin!

Chelsea in Bloom – Floral Safari

25-05-2017 Local Black BookChelsea, Chelsea in Bloom, John Lewis, London, tea, WedgwoodLeave a comment

Chelsea is pretty every day of the year.

But even more so during Chelsea in Bloom, Chelsea’s prestigious annual floral art show.

Organised by Cadogan and the Royal Horticultural Society, the annual competition transforms the streets of Chelsea with breathtaking, creative floral displays.

No need to plan ahead (though you can get a map of all the displays here); just follow the hordes on the tracks of the prettiest urban floral safari!

Take along a pair of binoculars, it’s an absolute jungle outthere!

There are gigantic giraffes at Rag & Bone…

A blooming gorgeous elephant in the middle of Sloane Square.

Some monkey-ing around happening at Hackett’s…

As well as a leopard walking through the glass.

Absolutely paw-some!

Another favourite is Kiki McDonough’s brightly-coloured, gem-inspired giraffe.

Complete with lavender mane and tail!

Once all the walking makes you feel like you couldn’t hit an elephant at 2 feet (which considering the amount of wild life lion around, really means something!), make your way to Peter Jones for a well-deserved break.

Nestled at the heart of the chic department store and opened for a limited time, Wedgwood Tea Conservatory is just the place to enjoy a quintessentially British tea experience.

Inspired by the tropical plants and exotic influences discovered and brought back to the UK during the Grand Tour of the 19th century, Wedgwood’s new Wonderlust collection is the perfect match to Chelsea in Bloom’s safari-themed displays.

The floral afternoon tea includes flower-inspired treats, including beautiful open-faced Smoked salmon and nasturtium sandwiches.

The most delicate spinach and goat’s cheese tartlets…

And iced tea-based mock/cocktails!

Once you feel refreshed and ressourced, pop by a flower shop to take a little piece of Chelsea in Bloom home.

Chelsea in Bloom runs until May 27th, and the Wedgwood Tea Conservatory at Peter Jones is open until June 16th.

Book your table here, put on your best tropical outfit and get lost in Chelsea.

It’s bloomin’ lovely down there!

Shake Shack

22-05-2017 Local Black BookBurger, Covent Garden, London, Restaurant, review, Shake Shack, vegetarian2 Comments

When it comes to London’s best burgers, the queues usually know where it’s at. Which can be both practical and absolutely infuriating.

Unfortunately, Shake Shack is no different in that regard.

But then again, they do cheese fries…

With actual cheese sauce [insert raising hands emoji]

Absolutely irresistible!

On the menu, there’s a really quite nice cheeseburger, but also a mean chicken burger (the Chick n’ Shack).

But the best thing you can order (and that’s really quite out of caracter coming from me) is the Shroom vegetarian burger!

A crumbed & deep-fried mushroom ‘patty’, with cheese oozing from its centre and all the trimings. Absolute Shroom perfection!

Oh, and also, REALLY GOOD shakes…

Plus it’s one of the best options (aka. delicious while not requiring you to sell any body part to be able to afford the bill) right on Covent Garden Plaza.

(this place is good too btw, and there’s a Pizza Pilgrims nearby if you fancy a pizza that!)

And if that’s not worth queuing spore, I really don’t know what is!

Shake Shack, 24, Market Building, Piazza, London WC2E 8R

Also on my ‘London best burgers’ list

Bleecker St. Burger

Lucky Chip

Patty & Bun

New Covent Garden Flower Market

21-05-2017 Local Black Bookflower, flower market, London, market, new covent gardenLeave a comment

The early bird gets the worm prettiest blooms.

At least, that’s how the saying goes at the New Covent Garden Flower Market.

With 21 wholesalers and 10 florists under one roof, supplying 75% of London florists, the trade-centric market is a flower lover’s dream come true.

Home to the finest flower suppliers, the market offers the widest selection of the freshest flowers, plants, foliage and sundries.

Fields of rainbow-coloured blooms everywhere you look.

Boxes upon boxes of heaven-scented, British-grown wonders.

Pastel-coloured hydrangea clouds.

Provence-worthy fields of French lavender.

Walls of greenery of all sorts, ready for eager green-thumbed gardeners to plant.

Many a lily of the valley bit.

The prettiest, barely-blooming peonies I ever did see.

Some more quirky choices, like these vibrant artichoke flowers!

And walls of the prettiest faux flowers, for those from you who like me can’t even keep a cactus alive…

Recently relocated to a new spot down Nine Elms from its previous home, New Covent Garden Flower Market is the ultimate spot to get the prettiest flowers at the very best value.

A must visit for florists, hotel managers, eager gardeners and brides-to-be alike.

Or you know, anyone wanting to treat themselves/their loved ones to a home filled with pretty blooms.

No matter why you go, one thing’s for sure – you won’t be going home empty handed!

New Covent Garden Flower Market, Nine Elms Ln, London SW8 5BH – 8:30am to 10:00am, Monday to Saturday

(Google Maps doesn’t seem to have registered the change of address just yet though, so if you plan on heading to New Covent Garden Flower Market, your best bet is to locate the Nine Elms Booker store as the entrance to the market is just across the street.)

Eat, Play, Shop – A local’s guide to Angel Islington

18-05-2017 Local Black Bookarea guide, Islington, local guide, London, Restaurant, Shopping4 Comments

You don’t know what to have until it’s gone.

That’s true for pretty much anything in life. But especially my moving out of Islington.

Not that I’m complaining (having moved to Clerkenwell, I don’t exactly get to do that…).

But with fanstatic brunch places, more independant pubs and restaurants than you can shake a stick at, a booming coffee scene, adorable knick-knack stores that definitely are conspiring to make you spend all your money (…) Angel Islington really has it all.

Perfect destination for a weekend stroll you think? You don’t say!! So put on your nicest striped top (the N1 sure-fire camouflage) and follow the guide to Angel Islington’s very best bits!

EAT

First things first – cakes & sweet treats!

There’s plenty of choice on Upper Street, from gluten-free delights at Romeo’s GF Bakery and Bread & Beyond, to ice cream, traditional French pastries and more.

The very best of the bunch at to be found at Ottolenghi (287 Upper St, N1 2TZ), whose window display is very difficult to resist. But then again, so is their ever-changing buffet of fresh salads…

Also good: Udderlicious’ ice cream (187 Upper St, N1 1RQ – the seasonal flavours are always especially good)

If you’re after a good pub, The Old Queen’s Head (44 Essex Rd, N1 8LN) is the one. Not only do they have a good selection of beer & wine, but they also make very good cocktails at quite okay prices for the area.

Also, they’re home to this baby:

Because you see, The Old Queen’s Head is also home to Lucky Chip. And their burgers are far, far better than your usual pub grub…

That said, Angel Islington is also home to some of London’s best gastropubs and The Pig & Butcher (80 Liverpool Rd, N1 0QD) is at the very top of my list.

Serving up beautiful seasonal plates, it’s a great place to take guests and friends along for a leisurely lunch or a casual dinner.

…and their Sunday roasts aren’t half bad either, in case you were wondering!

Also good: sister-restaurant The Smokehouse (63–69 Canonbury Rd, N1 2DG), forever-on my to-visit-list Drapers Arms (44 Barnsbury St, Islington, N1 1ER)

For a quick pick-me-up, nothing beats mini juice bar Ginger & Lime (191 Upper Street).

Boasting a 50-something strong juice & smoothie menu & lovely, personable service every single time, it’s the perfect way to stay hydrated / treat yourself without blowing up the calorie counter / work towards your 5-a-day all at once!

Another one on my always-a-good-idea list is Oldroyd (344 Upper Street, N1 0PD).

It’s a great place for a nice lunch (they serve up an excellent value set lunch menu), a small bite (their croquetas are always on point), dinner, pudding and even brunch (when they serve up the above, to-die-for carbonara-like pasta).

I could happily dine there once a week, though I can be challenging to get a table in the evening, so make sure you book ahead or go late!

While we’re on the topic of brunch, let’s make something really clear. There is absolutely no reason why you should queue up at The Breakfast Club when there is Radicals & Victuallers (59 Upper St, Islington, N1 0NY) down the street.

A favourite with the afterwork drink & weekend party crowds (they have live music & cocktails ’til late), they also have a great brunch menu and always plenty of room for you to seat! And also a small courtyard, board games & sports on the telly if you ever wanted to make a day of it…

Also good: Kipferl (20 Camden Passage, N1 8ED – for an Austrian take on your traditional brunch), The CoffeeWorks Project (96-98 Islington High St, N1 8EG – for coffee & cake)

Last but not least, quite possibly my favourite place in Angel: The Afghan Kitchen (35 Islington Green, N1 8DU).

A tiny, always packed gem of a restaurant, where husband-and-wife team dish up traditional Afghan dishes. Think India-meets-the-Middle-East stews, homemade bread, rice dishes and baklawa.

It tastes like food my grandma would cook (if my grandma was Afghan, that is) and makes for the best takeaway you’ll ever have. Perfect for a picnic at nearby Islington Green or a Netflix-and-chill sesh’.

Also good: Little Viet Kitchen (2 Chapel Market, N1 9EZ – for the best spring rolls in London, amongst other wonders!)

PLAY

One of the oldest running cinemas in the country, Screen on the Green (83 Upper St, N1 0NP) will ruin you for ‘regular’ cinemas.

Not only is the selection, mixing new blockbusters and old favourites, absolutely brilliant, but you get to enjoy your movie from the comfort of plush red velvet armchairs & sofas, with a perfectly crafted cocktails from the cine-bar in hand and delicious snacks from the cine-kitchen served at your seat.

Not going back to Odeon any time soon, are you?

SHOP

Whether you love vintage finds, hipster trinkets or quality kids’ toys, After Noah (121 Upper St, N1 1QP) is an absolute Aladdin’s cave. No lamp-rubbing needed, just a bit of patience (and the self-control required not to buy half the store)!

Also good: Gill Wing Cookshop (190 Upper St, N1 1RQ – great selection of quality equipment for all your kitchen needs)

SMUG (13 Camden Passage, N1 8EA) is another store in the don’t-need-any-but-want-it-all category.

Specialising in stationary & homeware, it’s also the perfect spot if you’re after the perfect birthday gift for you best/girl friend(s).

A touch less glamour but far more useful is Upper Street DIY (204 Upper St, N1 1RQ).

True to their motto, they have everything you could possibly need, from lightbulbs to glitter tape and much more. They also offer DIY services, should you need help with any of your home upper-fixer projects…

Anyone else living in/loving Angel Islington? Would love to hear about your favourite bits!

Kiln, Soho

16-05-2017 Local Black BookAsian, Kiln, London, recommendation, Restaurant, small plates, Soho, Thai2 Comments

With so many new restaurants popping up in London every ~~month~~ week, coming across something that’s not already been de- and re-constructed 25 times over is a rare thing.

And yet it’s just what super-popular, Thai-inspired Kiln does.

With a succession of 5* reviews under their belt, as well original Thai-inspired small plates cooked with first-class British ingredients and very keen pricing to top it all, scoring one of the few bar stools overlooking the open kitchen is no easy thing.

Which is why when you finally do, you better make the most of it and order up a storm!

Starting with a couple of drinks…

A green peppercorn daiquiri for him…

And a tall glass of super-refreshing lemongrass iced tea for me!

Aged lamb & cumin skewers.

Crispy, intense, fatty in the best sort of way.

Was I not so curious and set on trying as many dishes as could possible handle, I could happily have eaten a plateful of those and left a very happy customer!

Smoked sausage with turmeric.

Spicy, complex and not unlike top-quality BBQ-ed merguez sausages…

Beautifully plump, sweet langoustines, kaffir lime and sweet mint.

Summer supper perfection.

Clay pot baked glass noodles with five spice ducks and offal with aged soy.

Warming, comforting and interesting all at once!

Last but not least – Wild ginger and short rib curry from Burma.

A beautiful, delicate curry, with melt-in-the-mouth beef rib slices, lifted by the fresh flavour of anise-sweet Thai basil.

With stir fried Cornish greens & soybrown and brown jasmine rice on the side, because wasting any of that curry sauce would be a crime.

Much like not serving dessert is usually one in my book. But with Crosstown and Gelupo nearby and open ’til late(ish), I suppose in Kiln’s case, it’s not that much of a big deal!

Soooo, get there early and get queuing!

(or if you can get a few people together, they also take bookings for 6+ people… #just saying)

Kiln Soho, 58 Brewer St, Soho, London W1F 9TL

Climbing Montjuïc, Barcelona

13-05-2017 Local Black BookBarcelona, europe, montjuic, Spain, travel2 Comments

For our second (and last ? – for this time at least) day in Barcelona, we were determined to keep to exploration going.

But even the most seasoned of explorers knows that you won’t get anywhere on an empty stomach, so we first set off in search of breakfast.

Which we found at the ultimate Barcelona food Mecca, La Boqueria (La Rambla, 91).

Freshly pressed juice, fruit, fish, meat, the most beautiful fresh produce the city has to offer is to be found there.

If you’re lucky, you might even be able to pull up a pew at one of the very sought after tapas bars located in and around the market place and call patatas bravas and padron peppers brekkie like we did…

Not the healthiest start to the day you say? You really needn’t worry about that…

Because the plan (besides stumbling upon gorgeous golden-light-bathed colonial-style buildings) was to climb all the way up Montjuïc…

A broad shallow hill with a relatively flat top, Montjuïc can be accessed via a variety of funicular and cable car options…

But you’d miss out on those incredible views of the harbour and the southwest part of the city centre!

Not to mention the heavenly smell of jasmine, rose and wild flowers filling the air!

Keep climbing and very soon, the entire city is at your feet in all its 50 shades of pink glory!

Though the views on the way down are no less magical!

Back down to see level, the shade of Barcelona’s narrow streets is more appealing than ever…

Our grumbly stomachs led our feet to Morro Fi (Consell de Cent 171) for one last tapas-and-vermouth feast before heading back to London.

The perfect, laid back ending to a perfect, laid back weekend!

More weekend break travel-spiration?

Mini guide to Brighton

Copenhagen 3-day itinerary

Dublin travel guide

Walking in Barcelona

12-05-2017 Local Black BookBarcelona, europe, Spain, travel, weekend break4 Comments

They say it about Paris, but the truth is, Barcelona is also always a good idea.

It’s small enough so you can walk pretty much anywhere, and the more you wander, the more you’ll discover.

No matter what your feet take you, there’s plenty of little streets to get lost in and always something nice to do/see/eat/drink/shop.

Coffee (con leche) and croissant at family-run Pastisseria Escriba (La Rambla, 83) is a good place to start.

With its wonderful & wonky sweet creations and its amazing art deco storefront, it’s the perfect place to ease into the architectural and sensasory overload that is Barcelona… before setting out to explore the real deal!

aka. Gaudi’s wonderfully crazy (crazily wonderful?) creations.

His most famous piece is the Sagrada Familia (which should you want to visit, you’ll to book well ahead – as in, months ahead – of your trip as tickets run out veeeeeeery quickly!), but smaller, more accessible masterpieces are studded around the city.

A weekend in Barcelona ● Travel Guide ● Cake + Whisky

Including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Casa Milà (Provença, 261-265)

A weekend in Barcelona ● Travel Guide ● Cake + Whisky

And my personal favourite, the colourful, ceramic covered Casa Battló (Passeig de Gràcia, 43).

A weekend in Barcelona ● Travel Guide ● Cake + Whisky

When the sun gets higher in the sky and the temperatures rise, seek shelter in the narrow shaded streets of El Born.

A weekend in Barcelona ● Travel Guide ● Cake + Whisky

Take your time as your explore.

Slow down your pace, take a peek into small courtyards and go down tiny streets that seem to go nowhere.

A weekend in Barcelona ● Travel Guide ● Cake + Whisky

You never know what treasures you’ll find, be it incredible street art…

A weekend in Barcelona ● Travel Guide ● Cake + Whisky

… or some lovely shop (Impossible (Carrer d’en Tantarantana, 16) being quite the textbook example) that’ll make you consider getting a checked-in piece of luggage on the spot!

Make a pitstop for lunch at Can Cisa/Bar Brutal (Carrer de la Princesa, 14), a beautiful, informal bodega-style wine bar.

Pull up a seat at the cosy bar or take a pew at one of the wooden tables.

A weekend in Barcelona ● Travel Guide ● Cake + Whisky

Take your peak of the 300-something-strong international organic or biodynamic wine list.

A weekend in Barcelona ● Travel Guide ● Cake + Whisky

(some of which comes straight out of the barrel and into wall-mounted taps!).

And then a few bits to share…

Fruity purple olives, pork rillettes with crisp flatbread, smoky chorizo…

Gorgeous anchovy fillets.

And the most amazing porchetta sandwich there ever was.

Then walk it off while taking in a few more architectural wonders!

Take a look at the majestic Arc de Triomf (Passeig de Lluís Companys).

Explore every inch of orange-tree shaded Parc de la Ciutadella…

Or if you feel so inclined, take it to the Gothic Quarter’s streets again!

Relish into the quiet of the streets and take advantage of locals and visitors being respectively enjoying their daily siesta and turning themselves into a bright red lobster on the beach to tick off a few more sights off your list.

The stunning neo-gothic ‘Bishop’s Bridge’ (Carrer del Bisbe 1) ranks very high on my list.

But then again, not quite as high as the un-missable Palau de la Música Catalana (C/ Palau de la Música, 4-6)!

Stroll slowly down towards to the seafront, stopping at Mercat del Born (Plaça Comercial, 12), a former market-come-city-museum on the way.

One more pitstop at Vioko (Carrer del Sombrerers, 3) for a few scoops of Barcelona’s best ice cream…

Then go bury your feet into the sand at one of the nearby beaches!

When the sun goes down and the sky turns all kinds of glorious pastel shades, it’s almost time for the best part of the day!

By which I obviously mean: tapas!

Now, there are many tapas bars in Barcelona, but my favourite is a little local gem called Jai-Ca (Carrer de Ginebra, 7, 9 y 13), where you can truly feast on the best small plates the city has to offer at a very reasonable price.

A weekend in Barcelona ● Travel Guide ● Cake + Whisky

Miracle of the century, they also take table reservations. All you have to do is messaging them on Facebook and then make the most of it by ordering up a storm!

Jamon, croquetas, fried artichoke, crispy chipirones, seafood a la plancha… No matter what you go for, you’ll go home really full and very, very food-happy indeed!

Spring vegetable quiche (V)

10-05-2017 Local Black Bookgreen vegetables, greens, lunch, quiche, Spring, vegetable, vegetarian2 Comments

Asparagus & pea season is one of the best seasons, if you ask me.

After never ending months of winter, where your 5-a-day is basically made up of carrots, some sort of cabbage and apples (booooooooring), the appearance of the first spring vegetables brings back memories of sunny afternoons spent preping the haul from my parents’ garden.

Popping peas out of their pods, removing stems from green beans and strawberries, peeling and chopping tomatoes…

Perfect ambassadors of the beautiful days to come, asparagus, peas and all their spring vegetable friends taste just like a crisp spring day: green, light and fresh.