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London Wine shops: Vini Italiani I just read a nice review by Denise (The Wine Sleuth) about probably one of the largest Italian Wine Specialist in London: “Vini Italiani”. Italy is one of my favourite wine countries because I’m always discovering a new wine or variety or sometimes, both!  Everyone knows Barolo and Chianti, perhaps Nero d’Avola  and, of course, the ubiquitous pinot grigio but there are so many other varieties and wines waiting to be discovered. Couldn’t agree more, Denise. Come and visit the North East: Collio is waiting for you! Read more (source The Wine Sleuth)

London Wine shops: Vini Italiani

I just read a nice review by Denise (The Wine Sleuth) about probably one of the largest Italian Wine Specialist in London: “Vini Italiani”.

Italy is one of my favourite wine countries because I’m always discovering a new wine or variety or sometimes, both!  Everyone knows Barolo and Chianti, perhaps Nero d’Avola  and, of course, the ubiquitous pinot grigio but there are so many other varieties and wines waiting to be discovered.

Couldn’t agree more, Denise. Come and visit the North East: Collio is waiting for you!

Read more

(source The Wine Sleuth)

Filed under London italian wines wine wine shops wine specialist vini italiani

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Where to eat during the British summer of the Olympics I just finished reading a nice review for food enthusiasts visiting London during this summer Olympic Games. You are really spoilt for choice in London and when you have tried the classic roast beef and Yorkshire pudding there is everything you can imagine and more. This year, the city’s culinary landscape, bolstered by a whole score of new openings, is as international as its visitors — from the Russian Mari Vanna to the Peruvian Lima and Ceviche, there’s bound to be something for everyone. Visitors don’t have far to go either. Right outside the main Olympic Stadium is the recently opened Westfield Shopping Centre, offering a small cluster of eateries. The likes of Franco Manca, Pho and Comptoir Libanais, all part of small chains, wave the flag for good food at accessible prices. Read the full article here The list, courtesy of DJConstable: Franco MancaThe BalconyWestfield Stratford City, LondonE20 1ES0208 522 6669£15 PhoThe BalconyWestfield Stratford City, LondonE20 1ES0208 555 5737£15 – 2 courses, no dessert option Comptoir LibanaisThe BalconyWestfield Stratford City, LondonE20 1ES0208 811 2222£15 Viajante and Corner Room both at Town Hall Hotel and Apartments, Patriot Square, LondonE2 9NF0207 871 0461Viajante from £65 for six-course tasting menu, Corner Room £20 Callooh Callay65 Rivington Street, LondonEC2A 3AYCocktails around £9, bar snacks available Nightjar129 City Road, LondonEC1V 1JB0207 253 4101Cocktails around £9, bar snacks available DegoPortland House, 4 Great Portland Street, Market Place Area, LondonW1W 8QJ£40 Terroirs5 William IV Street, LondonWC2N 4DW0207 036 0660£30 NOPI21-22 Warwick Street, LondonW1B 5NE0207 494 9584£40 – mix of small plates HIX66-70, Brewer Street, LondonW1F 9UP0207 292 3518£40 Polpo41 Beak Street, LondonW1F 9SB0207 734 4479£35 – mix of small plates Bob Bob Ricard1 Upper James Street, LondonW1F 9DF0203 145 1000£45 Yauatcha15-17 Broadwick Street, LondonW1F 0DL0207 494 8888£30 – mix of small plates The Ledbury127 Ledbury Road, Notting Hill, LondonW11 2AQ0207 792 9090£80 St. John Bar and Restaurant26 St. John Street, LondonEC1M 4AY0203 301 8069£50 Hibiscus29 Maddox Street, LondonW1S 2PA0207 629 2999£80 Roganic19, Blandford Street, LondonW1U 3DH0207 486 0380£55 – 6 course tasting menu Dinner by Heston BlumenthalMandarin Oriental Hyde Park, 66 Knightsbridge, LondonSW1X 7LA0207 201 3833£55 Rules35 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, LondonWC2E 7LB020 7836 5314£50

Where to eat during the British summer of the Olympics

I just finished reading a nice review for food enthusiasts visiting London during this summer Olympic Games. You are really spoilt for choice in London and when you have tried the classic roast beef and Yorkshire pudding there is everything you can imagine and more.

This year, the city’s culinary landscape, bolstered by a whole score of new openings, is as international as its visitors — from the Russian Mari Vanna to the Peruvian Lima and Ceviche, there’s bound to be something for everyone.

Visitors don’t have far to go either. Right outside the main Olympic Stadium is the recently opened Westfield Shopping Centre, offering a small cluster of eateries. The likes of Franco Manca, Pho and Comptoir Libanais, all part of small chains, wave the flag for good food at accessible prices.

Read the full article here

The list, courtesy of DJConstable:

Franco Manca
The Balcony
Westfield Stratford City, London
E20 1ES
0208 522 6669
£15

Pho
The Balcony
Westfield Stratford City, London
E20 1ES
0208 555 5737
£15 – 2 courses, no dessert option

Comptoir Libanais
The Balcony
Westfield Stratford City, London
E20 1ES
0208 811 2222
£15

Viajante and Corner Room
both at Town Hall Hotel and Apartments, Patriot Square, London
E2 9NF
0207 871 0461
Viajante from £65 for six-course tasting menu, Corner Room £20

Callooh Callay
65 Rivington Street, London
EC2A 3AY
Cocktails around £9, bar snacks available

Nightjar
129 City Road, London
EC1V 1JB
0207 253 4101
Cocktails around £9, bar snacks available

Dego
Portland House, 4 Great Portland Street, Market Place Area, London
W1W 8QJ
£40

Terroirs
5 William IV Street, London
WC2N 4DW
0207 036 0660
£30

NOPI
21-22 Warwick Street, London
W1B 5NE
0207 494 9584
£40 – mix of small plates

HIX
66-70, Brewer Street, London
W1F 9UP
0207 292 3518
£40

Polpo
41 Beak Street, London
W1F 9SB
0207 734 4479
£35 – mix of small plates

Bob Bob Ricard
1 Upper James Street, London
W1F 9DF
0203 145 1000
£45

Yauatcha
15-17 Broadwick Street, London
W1F 0DL
0207 494 8888
£30 – mix of small plates

The Ledbury
127 Ledbury Road, Notting Hill, London
W11 2AQ
0207 792 9090
£80

St. John Bar and Restaurant
26 St. John Street, London
EC1M 4AY
0203 301 8069
£50

Hibiscus
29 Maddox Street, London
W1S 2PA
0207 629 2999
£80

Roganic
19, Blandford Street, London
W1U 3DH
0207 486 0380
£55 – 6 course tasting menu

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, 66 Knightsbridge, London
SW1X 7LA
0207 201 3833
£55

Rules
35 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, London
WC2E 7LB
020 7836 5314
£50

Filed under Olympics food London eating out British summer

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Posh Pub Crawling at ETM Group Pubs - ETM Gastro Gallop for London Restaurant Festival Interesting Pub Crawling suggested by the London Foodie: In the run-up to London Restaurant Festival (LRF), a group of food and wine writers and I were taken on a gastronomic tour of five of ETM Group’s establishments. For one day only, 5th October 2011, you can experience the same trip as part of LRF for only £60 per person inclusive of five courses in five different venues plus fine wines, cocktails and transport. For more information, visit the London Restaurant Festival website here. Read more here (source The London Foodie)

Posh Pub Crawling at ETM Group Pubs - ETM Gastro Gallop for London Restaurant Festival

Interesting Pub Crawling suggested by the London Foodie:

In the run-up to London Restaurant Festival (LRF), a group of food and wine writers and I were taken on a gastronomic tour of five of ETM Group’s establishments. For one day only, 5th October 2011, you can experience the same trip as part of LRF for only £60 per person inclusive of five courses in five different venues plus fine wines, cocktails and transport. For more information, visit the London Restaurant Festival website here.

Read more here

(source The London Foodie)

Filed under the london foodie London pub crawling london restaurant festival food events

2 notes

Visiting London

London is a great city to visit – full of vitality and fun. We suggest some of the best things to do for people of all ages in the capital of England and the UK.


London, capital of the UK and home of the 2012 Olympic Games is a buzzing and exciting prospect for anyone looking for somewhere interesting to travel to. The city is a smorgasbord of exciting and fun things to do and offers its own wonderful English twist to activities.

London was the first mega city and is one of the most multicultural cities in the world. The city itself also has a deep and interesting history in every cultural walk you could consider, from architecture, to transport to literature.

It is also a spectacular looking city, from the buildings of old – such as Christopher Wren’s St Pauls Cathedral to the modern wonders of buildings such as The Shard or The Gherkin – London is a fascinating city to view.

There is no better place to view it than the infamous London Eye. The Eye, which is located on the South Bank offers beautiful panoramic 360 degree views of the city. Look from the Houses of Parliament right across to Canary Warf when on the eye, then go for a bite to eat in some of the many South Bank restaurants and sit outside and enjoy the Thames with a quintessentially English, Pimms in hand.

The Tate Modern is also just a quick walk along the infamous river away. Built inside an airy and spectacular looking power station, The Tate Modern houses some of the most wonderful art in the world and often has huge exhibitions from artists from the UK and abroad including Miro and Bacon. The building itself is spectacular and the space wonderful and it is certainly a must see if you are in the proximity.

St Pauls Cathedral, which you may have seen from the Eye is also a wonderful piece of architecture, with an astounding history. Built outside of planning laws by Christopher Wren, who had to construct it behind a giant sheet to avoid the authorities, the building is a beautiful one and a worthwhile visit in the capital. It’s only a short walk across the millennium bridge which also offers great views of the city.

If you’re more inclined towards a relaxing foodie evening, then why not go to Hampstead and grab some bits to eat in one of the many deli’s there and head for Hampstead Heath or Primrose Hill. The area is a great one for those who enjoy their food and wine and offers a wonderful lively but quaint atmosphere.

For something a bit more upbeat, hit Camden Town for a few drinks and to catch a band or a comedy set. The area is packed with pubs and live music and is an enjoyable and dun night out for those that need a break from being tourists. It’s also not far from the city centre and night buses run throughout the evening.

London is a great spot and has everything for people of all ages, and there is no better time than now to visit this wonderful city.

Getting to the city couldn’t be easier with flights to London coming into either of the two biggest airports in the UK, Gatwick or Heathrow. Or you could drive and catch a boat into Dover, which is only a few hours from London.

(source  properrandom)

Filed under tourism travel London Olympic Games UK