LoveScotch pop-up at The Drift

19-10-2016 Local Black BookCity, City of London, event, London, lovescotch, masterclass, mixology, pop-up, recommendation, Restaurant, review, Scotch whisky, the drift, whiskyLeave a comment

Neat, on ice or with soda.

That’s pretty much the only options you have when it comes to Scotch whisky.

Lovescotch Pop-Up at The Drift

Or rather, had, before the #Lovescotch pop-up opened.

An exclusive partnership between swanky City restaurant The Drift and upscale spirit brand Diageo, Lovescotch aims at proving that Scotch is much more versatile that it’s given credit for.

Until March 2017, you can get stuck into ‘Scotchtail’ (understand classic cocktails with a whisky twist) masterclasses and experiential tasting and just generally soak up the gorgeous surroundings.

I mean, how pretty does the pop-up look? Very antique-store meets boudoir, super-intimate and just my kind of place.

Add in the opportunity to experiment with cocktails you already know & love (each with an exciting twist!) and you’re in for a treat from up North!

The Scotchtail Masterclasses shows the diversity of Scotch by experimenting with it in classic cocktails, where traditionally other spirits would have been used.

Combining Johnnie Walker Gold, passionfruit liqueur, vanilla & pineapple juice and served with a Champagne chaser, the Goldmember is a clever take on The Drift’s Pornstar Martini bestseller.

The same tangy flavour as the classic, but with a more grown-up, complex finish – the perfect way to make any whisky-hater change their mind!

And a great accompaniment to The Drift’s generous Meat Platter!

Piled high with chicken Satay skewers served with smooth peanut sauce, mini beef sliders, fiery chorizo, more-ish Scotch egg, served alongside piping hot fries and onion rings and unbelievably addictive smoked paprika mayo…

But the fun doesn’t stop there, there’s still a world of Scotchtails to try!

My favourite was the Seven Flowers, a citrusy mix of Haig Clubman scotch, elderflower syrup and lemon juice, all topped with Champagne.

Sweet, sour and incredibly elegant.

Lovescotch Pop-Up at The Drift

And incredibly easy to make, should you want to give it a go: just pour, shake, sieve and serve!

Or you know, let the amazing people at The Drift do it for you! Whether you’re a Mojito fan, an Espresso Martini aficionado, a Pornstar Martini lover, or a French 75 addict, LoveScotch is really quite a neat place to be.

Masterclasses are available for private bookings and would make for the perfect start to a girls’ night out (or a brilliant way to switch up the office’s traditional Christmas party for something a bit more un-usual!).

#LoveScotch pop-up at The Drift / until March 2017 / More information on The Drift’s website

The Drift, Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AY

*I got invited by The Drift to try out the #Lovescotch pop-up but all cocktail lovin’ and slider addiction my own.

Dinner on offer at The White Swan with CityMunch

26-07-2016 Local Black Bookapp, British, City of London, CityMunch, deal, discount, gastropub, London, offer, pub, recommendation, Restaurant, review, The White SwanLeave a comment

Dining out in London can be quite an expensive habit. Especially if you do it as often as I do.

Of course, there are always some offers out there, but seriously, who has time to scroll through picture-heavy Facebook pages or billions of tweets to be rewarded with ‘faffy’ discounts (half price SIDES? Are you kidding me?).

I don’t know about you, but I’d rather know what’s available around me in real-time, thank you very much. And thanks goodness there’s an app for that!

Let me introduce: CityMunch.

With hundreds of restaurants and offers to choose from, CityMunch is a savvy foodie’s best friend!

Indeed, CityMunch offers the latest real-time dining discounts (of up to 50%!) all in one place, can be use with any group size…

And the discount is a straight forward amount off of your food bill! Hurray!

You also have access to restaurant information, directions, sample menu & more all in one place!

And best of all, it’s absolutely FREE to use! Download the free app here: iPhone / Android

Great deals at great places?! I say yes PLEASE!

Especially when said place is as much of a gem as The White Swan!

Located at the heart of the City of London, right between Chancery Lane & Covent Garden, The White Swan is a little gem of a gastropub and, through CityMunch, you get 50% off the food every evening.

The menu focuses on a handful of classics with a little bit of a twist, and at half price, it’s an absolute bargain!

Things started on a high with homemade sourdough bread & butter.

Soft, chewy bread, melty butter & a generous sprinkle of salt flakes… it doesn’t take much more to make this French girl happy!

… but that was only the beginning!

Torched Cornish mackerel with pickled carrot

The White Swan gastropub | Cake + Whisky

A beutifully fresh starter where the crunchy, sweet-pickled carrots highlighted the oily flesh of the mackerel.

And that crispy torched skin!

Our second starter, Roast Norfolk quail with Scotch egg & pickled onion, was even better.

Succulent, melt-in-the-mouth quail leg, with a beautifully crafted mini quail Scotch egg & a super rih, meaty sauce…

Needless to say it didn’t take long to polish the whole lot off!

… and then the same thing happened with mains!

Milk-fed Herdwick lamb, Jersey royal croquette, nettle & sorrel puree

Soft braised leg of lamb, perfectly grilled cutlet, rich gravy and just a touch of mint… it was a true gastropub classic and an absolute triumph.

45 day-aged Cumbrian Shorthorn steak with chips & Béarnaise

And a side of Spring greens with bacon.

All washed down with a little bit of wine…

And followed by the dreamiest of desserts!

Buttermilk pannacotta with strawberry & basil

A silky smooth, just-set panna cotta, served with a lovely strawberry syrup, fresh strawberries and mini basil leaves…

Basically Summer on a plate!

Last but not least, the chef’s speciality: Treacle tart & frozen lemon yoghurt

Crumbly pastry, and the most intricate of fillings, with both gooey and crunchy bits thanks to an elaborate thrice-cooked processed…

A real wonder and one you must make sure you try out for yourself very soon (alongside with pretty much everything else on The White Swan’s menu)!

Just make sure you use CityMunch to book & you’ll get 50% off your bill if you visit for dinner (from 6PM)… So what are you waiting for?

PIN FOR LATER:

Disclaimer: I dined as a guest of CityMunch but all love of nettle & basic dessert fan-girling my own.

Bleecker St. Burger, Spitafields

29-01-2016 Local Black BookBleecker Burger, Bleecker St. Burger, Burger, burgers, cheeseburger, City of London, Liverpool Street, London, London best burgers, Moorgate, recommendation, Restaurant, review, Spitafields, street food5 Comments

Last weekend’s lovely weather was clearly a sign to go out and explore some more of London.

With its glittering towers and unexpected modern sculptures at every turn, the City is simply to lovely in the sun, so we settled on exploring the area.

But it’s also worth leaving all of this behind and heading East.

Tucked between buzzy Liverpool Street and burstling Brick Lane, Spitafields is one of London’s oldest and most vibrant neighbourhoods.

Home to some of the capital’s best restaurants and food stores. An absolute foodies’ paradise.

And don’t get me started on how pretty the doors are. Unless you have a couple of hours to spare.

Spitafields is also home to Old Spitafields Market, London’s oldest market still trading today.

Built in 1876, it’s an absolute gem of Victorian architecture.

If you’re into antiques and/or fashion, you’ll have a great time strolling the brightly coloured stalls.

Whether you’re after up-and-coming designer creations, or if your style is more bohemian-, vintage- or ethnic-inspired,it’s impossible not to find something you like.

But my favourite part? The food of course!

From pizzas to salt beef sandwiches, donuts, paella and coffee, all your lunch dreams will come true.

Choosing what to have, very much like finding a seat at one of the in-very-high-demand table, might be a bit tricky considering the number of possibilities.

But we were on a mission.

A burger mission.

Bleecker Burger, Spitafields | Cake + Whisky

So Bleecker St. Burger really was the only option we’d consider.

Bleecker St. offers a no-nonsense short burger menu, plus fries, sweet potato fries and a couple of shakes.

The bacon cheeseburger is everything a good, basic burger should be.

Excellent, rich, cooked to perfection beef patty, crispy fried bacon, melted American cheese. Done.

When the quality of the meat and the seasoning are that high, there’s really no need to fuss around with anything more.

The Bleecker Black is even better.

Two just seared signature beef patties, with umami black pudding, melted cheese and a sweet onion garnish to balance it all off.

Very, very naughty but so, so good.

Mixed fries are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, with just a touch of salt and zero greasy taste. Just as delicious as everything else.

Top it all off with a Black & White shake and you’re in for the best burger lunch you’ll ever have. Garanteed.

Bleecker St. Burger, Old Spitalfields Market, Unit B, Pavilion Building, London E1 6EA

Cake and Whisky

Life in London and other almost-grown-up tales

Menu

City of London

LoveScotch pop-up at The Drift

Dinner on offer at The White Swan with CityMunch

Bleecker St. Burger, Spitafields