Tag Archives: London.

Café Rouge unveil their new re-furbishment and this time there’s Escargot

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With a recent study showing that the restaurant industry has reported a 39% growth since 2010, it’s no wonder that well established much loved chains are willing to up their game to keep them one step ahead of the newer more trendier restaurant scene. Café Rouge established since 1989 has been serving up Eggs Benedict long before younger, quirkier establishments such as The Breakfast Club and The Riding House café, so it’s no wonder that they’ve invested in a new re-furbishment to unveil their ‘New Rouge’ theme to remind customers why they are still firmly on the map and are staying put.
The appeal of eating out has always been with me as a child but being a fast-food nation it was a real treat passing an actual restaurant and looking into the window to discover this other world in which a civilised eating atmosphere existed. Passing through Southgate on a weekend, Café Rouge with it’s Parisian style decor and ambient lighting and huge windows, I would always look in and wish that I was in there, and certainly old enough, to be enjoying a glass of wine and a chit chat over amazing food which is what I often saw. When I did finally become a customer, all of my expectations were met and more. The Poulet Breton became a firm favourite and I often did pop in just for a quick coffee and a Croque Monsieur or a Croissant to try and pretend to be Parisian if only just for the afternoon. Nothing much has changed, the Café has always retained it’s same charm and appeal, but after 26 years, it is quite rightly going re-furbishing all of the restaurants and rejuvenating the menu and we were lucky enough to test it out.
We were greeted at the Kingsway branch by very happy Wait staff always a plus in my book who were attentive and genuinely delighted to see us there regardless of the fact that there was a private function when every table was almost full. Despite the restaurant being packed, there was never a moment were the restaurant felt crowded at all and there was no sense of rushing around and hectic-ness that you normally get in a full house. The new decor designed by Keane Design Studio has ensured that the Bistro has regained it’s authentic design with even more Paris with the addition of antique chandeliers, rouge leather banquettes and velvet curtains. A slightly sexier feel in my opinion with more private sections and booths giving the option for date-nights or slightly larger parties!

 

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The head chef asked me straight away if I was brave enough for the Escargot! Mais Oui! If there is something definitely worth trying on this menu, let me recommend to you The Ragoût D’escargots, this dish is delicious without being daunting. The snails are presented in a large pastry with mushrooms in a rich truffle sauce. Best of all, there’s no snail shell so perfect for anyone deciding to give snails a go for the first time.

We also tried the Croquettes du Canard which were tasty, rich and light all at the same time. Not too filling as a starter and just the right balance of duck, potato and salad.

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For mains I was split between all of the delicious options and The Poulet Breton obviously appealed to me because it really has become one of my favourite Café Rouge dishes, but with all of the tempting steaks on offer I had to opt in to the 10oz Rib Eye with Truffle Mayonnaise. Personally, this was a risky option having eaten Steak in many a chain restaurant, it’s often hit or miss knowing what the quality of the meat is, how fresh it is and how accurately it’s being cooked to order. French restaurants are often berated for cooking everything rare and I ordered medium so I was nervous, but when it arrived it was cooked to utter perfection, the Steak was fresh, and the truffle mayo went perfectly with it, the staff inform me it’s from Argentina and the quality of it was just the correct amount of fat on a rib-eye. Having ordered steak in a few chains (rival chains) previously, the standard has always been mediocre/unsatisfying and left me regretting my decision but Café Rouge blows all competitors out of the water on this one. Bang on. My friend quite conveniently opted for Poulet Breton to my joy and it still tastes as good as I remember it the first time. Generous portions, tasty, satisfying and incredibly comforting. The Sauce is rich and delicious with courgette and Mash and the Chicken is also cooked to perfection. With all of the meals, they were paired by recommendation by a selection of delicious wines from the impressive wine list.

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When it came to dessert, there were a few options we wanted to try so we ordered a selection. First up the Ganache au Chocolat Noir which was a creamy chocolate mousse served with a dark chocolate and lime sorbet. This was certainly not as rich and heavy as it appears and the balance between light as air mousse and rich sorbet balanced out perfectly to cleanse your palate nicely. The Trio De Desserts featured miniature Tarte Tartin, Tarte au Citron and Chocolate Fondant. All delicious, all absolutely faultless and a perfect combo if you want to try bites of everything without the fullness and feeling of over-indulgence after. The Salted Caramel ice cream was not too sweet and also portioned generously and what struck us, was the amazing glassware that the desserts were served in which seemed to take away the fullness and need to eat every single bite when served in a simple bowl. The showstopper for me was the Strawberry and Black Pepper Sorbet. Utterly tasty, refreshing and no guilt afterwards, an absolute taste sensation.

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For me the overall experience was that I remembered exactly why I used to come to Café Rouge in the first place and it was only more enhanced by the new additions to the menu and fabulously light but still charming interior and staff. Dining here was an absolute treat and with constant voucher codes and promotions being offered on Café Rouge restaurants nowadays, I would thoroughly recommend you to give it a go. Above all competitors, the staff were consistently attentive and full of joy all evening.

To Find your nearest Café Rouge : www.caférouge.com

Celebrate National Snail Day at Café Rouge this Bank Holiday #RougeSnails

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In case you didn’t know, this Sunday is National Snail Day and to help celebrate, Britain’s best loved Parisian Bistro Café Rouge are offering you the chance to sample them for free. In the same month that they unveil their brand new look and ‘Rejuve’ Menu, Café Rouge are offering all diners a taster pot of the famous escargots simply by asking the waiter. Trust me you won’t be disappointed and the benefits of these delicacies are that they are high in protein and low in carbohydrates and calories. The tastiest diet food.

If you’re feeling extra adventurous in the snail department this Sunday and want to have a go at preparing them yourself then Duncan McEwan, Head Development Chef at Café Rouge, has come up with two fab recipes to try out:

1. Snails on toast! Why not try garlic mushrooms on toast, and throw in a few snails for good measure. The crunch from a beautiful toasted wholemeal slice, with mushrooms, garlic and a touch of parsley, finished with a squeeze of lemon is delicious.

2. A twist on the classic! Keep it simple and go for the traditional Parisian way, sautéed in a little melted salted butter with plenty of chopped fresh garlic and finished with parsley. The addition of chopped chilli and a squeeze of lemon juice would lift this to another level, but it all depends how hot you like it and how much of the snail you want to taste!

To find your nearest branch check out www.caferouge.com

Make it an ‘Al Fresco’ Summer at Gaucho Piccadilly’s Rooftop Terrace

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With the summertime quickly creeping up on us, (wishful thinking), there really is no better place to enjoy the warm rays than in the privacy of your own little Rooftop Terrace. Right at the top of the sexy and stylish Gaucho Steakhouse, retreat to the daylight and grab a breath of fresh air whilst enjoying a cocktail.

The Roof Terrace is open now for all to enjoy, and if you’re planning a little summer soirée, you’ll be pleased to know that the booths are available for private bookings but get in there quickly because there’s no doubt that they will be booked up soon! We hope you all get to experience the luxurious cocktails among this private little sanctuary Gaucho have created away from the hustle and bustle and fear not, it can never rain on your parade out here as Gaucho rooftop comes with fully retractable roof and outdoor fireplace.

www.gauchorestaurants.co.uk

Gaucho Piccadilly,
25 Swallow Street,
London,
W1B 4QR

Phone Number:

020 7734 4040

Opening Times:

Monday – Saturday: 12:00 – 00:00
Sunday: 12:00 – 23:00

Sake no Hana, St James’ Street Restaurant Review

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Sake no Hana, St James’ Street Restaurant Reviewexterrior Sake no Hana, St James’ Street Restaurant ReviewsushiCherries are one of my favourite fruits. As a child I loved picking the ripe, deep-red pearls from my grandparents’ garden as I continued to practice handstands on the same patch of fading green grass.

 

So when hearing of the new menu at Sake no Hana (part of the Hakkasan group) to celebrate the Japanese cherry blossom season, I was very much looking forward to the experience.

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The evening promised a meal under sweet-smelling cherry blossom trees and behind the somewhat ordinary exterior, we were seated in the bar area, which was alight with blossoming pink flowers.

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We would be dining from the new Sakura Gozen menu (£32) and to get our evening started, we sipped on the violet risshun two-part cocktail, with its fruity and sour blend that got the juices ready for the main.

 

It consisted of a carafe with jinzu gin, green chartreuse, grapefruit juice, shiso, burlesque bitters and in a miniature jug which accompanied the gin, there was belsazar rose vermouth, maraschino cherry, cranberry and lemon juice.

 

Oliver, the charismatic bar manager advised us to start with the jinzu gin before adding the vermouth and the combination stirred both a sweet and sour taste on the palette.

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The white miso soup was steaming hot with slithers of spongy tofu and specks of spring onion. It was wholesome, with a hint of garlic and it was a pleasant starter to the evening.

 

Next, our waitress, Manon bought over the sesame spinach with cassava chips. The spinach was wonderfully slimy and the nutty sprinkle of sesame seeds contrasted with the texture of the wood flavours of the crispy cassava chips.

 

As it made its way to our table, I couldn’t help but wait in anticipation. The Sakura crystal box was simply beautiful. It consisted of kuro kampachi, salmon, seabream sashimi otoro, chu toro, akami nigiri, spicy tuna, salmon avocado and California maki.

 

The translation – succulent strips of prime, fresh fish encasing mouth-size nodules of rice, accompanied with strips of ginger and a green ball of hot wasabi.

 

The raw salmon and sea bream slithered on the tongue and both mine, and my fiancé’s favourite was the spicy tuna slice.

 

We thought the evening was over, until our waitress bought over the baked Sakura cotton cheesecake with fresh cherries, cream cheese and cherry sorbet (£8).

 

Just like the crystal box, the cheesecake was alluring with specks of sweet cherries, slices of crunchy pavlova and it was accompanied by the tangy cold taste of the cherry sorbet.

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It cleansed the palette while the cherry blossom and vanilla macarons, with cherry blossom tea ganache, (£1.80 each or 5 for £8) was the perfect ending to a fine dining experience in the heart of Mayfair as each bite oozed a rich chocolate flavour in the mouth.

 

At the end of our meal, Oliver showed us around the Grade II listed restaurant just upstairs which boasts a £6 million renovation project.

 

Diners enter via a single escalator and as it’s considered bad luck to go back on yourself, the exit is via an escalator which loops around the other end of the restaurant.

 

I was impressed by the sheer number of customers on a Friday night and by the authentic Japanese decoration that included walls lined with bamboos.

 

The bar area where we dined was quieter and more intimate than the restaurant and we enjoyed a very fine meal in Mayfair (it’s also very reasonably priced), just around the corner from The Ritz.

 

 

Icebar London celebrates its 10th anniversary

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Frost Magazine, left the sunshine of Heddon Street Food Quarter off Regent Street to step into an environment where the walls, bar, tables and even one’s own personal hand-carved glass is made of the purest ice. Best not to slip one into your handbag as a memento. But absolutely best to go.

So what’s it all about?

ICEBAR LONDON is the UK’s only permanent bar made of ice and is kept at -5°C all year round but if that sounds a bit close to the bone, it isn’t. There are warm cloaks you can wrap around you, whilst you see London’s equivalent of Tom Cruise (in Cocktail), doing his stuff behind the bar to produce perhaps a Lavender Margarita at £8.70 or maybe a Walk in the Green at £9.50.

Images by Photographer Peter Kindersley

40 mins is the optimum time allowed in the Icebar, after which you can slip out and warm up in the Lounge Bar, move on to the theatre or club, or try the newly opened Restaurant downstairs offering great cocktails, a light snack or sit-down meal with a wide selection of modern British dishes.

The menu looks interesting: spring lamb belly with Jerusalem artichoke puree, gordal olives, tomatoes and preserved lemon at £18 sounds just the job for warming the cockles.

 

ICEBAR LONDON, which celebrates it’s 10th anniversary this year,  is designed by ice artist Jens Thoms Ivarsson and created by a team of skilled ice designers and sculptors, using fresh ice from the Torne River, Northern Sweden, a source highly regarded for its unique purity.  It truly is extraordinarily clear. Within the ice are flowing lines which are artistic features in their own right. I assumed these lines were a reaction to the artists and craftsmen wielding their chainsaws and other glinting tools but no, they are natural contours.

 

A new theme is created annually, and each new design is built on the tradition of the ground- breaking innovation and style for which ICEBAR LONDON has become famous. This year’s theme is‘Frozen Food’.

Jens Thoms Ivarsson and his team are obsessed with using ice to transform everyday products into something extraordinary. As well as creating this amazing bar and the world’s largest ICEHOTEL, Jens has even worked with ICEHOTEL to create catwalks for Chanel.

Matthieu Bourgogne, General Manager of ICEBAR LONDON says, ‘10 years from first opening its doors and ICEBAR LONDON is now firmly established as a permanently frozen feature on any list of iconic London venues. During this time we’ve created 14 incredible themed bars with  the talented team from ICEHOTEL, imported and displayed over 1000 tonnes of beautifully pure ice from the Torne River in Northern Sweden, and welcomed over 1.8 million guests through our doors for a -5 ̊C ice cocktail experience.

Our current Frozen Food theme is one of our most popular ever, with crystal clear cupcakes, frozen fruit sculptures and a full-sized hipster food truck bar all carved from ice, and our newly refurbished restaurant and team of expert mixologists behind the bar means that, whatever the temperature, we’re more than ready to offer a warm welcome to our next 1 million guests.’

Minors are welcome to join during our daytime sessions (last entry at 17:45) accompanied by an adult, after that the age limit is strictly 18 and older. Children five years and over will require a separate ticket. Valid ID may be required. Management reserves the right to refuse entrance if guests are intoxicated or underage.

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The nearest underground stations are Piccadilly Circus (on the Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines), Oxford Circus (on the Victoria, Central and Bakerloo lines) and Leicester Square (on the Northern and Piccadilly lines). The nearest rail station is Charing Cross.

@ICEBARLONDON Please see http://www.icebarlondon.com/ to book tickets

Photos courtesy of Peter Kindersley

 

 

Visit The London Gin Club – Go On – Dare Ya By Michael Rowan

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With ice cubes capable of sinking the Titanic, I could only be in one of my favourite watering holes, The London Gin Club.

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This gin lover’s paradise is situated 100 metres off Oxford Street, equidistant from Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road tube stations, essential knowledge, as driving is not an option following a visit.

Reminiscent of a discreet 1920s speakeasy, it hides behind the facade of a typical London boozer named The Star, on the corner of Great Chapel Street and Hollen Street. People scurry by without a second glance, but when this temple to gin opens its saloon doors, the London Gin Club signs are put in place, to alert those of us in the know.

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Despite its name you don’t need to be a member, but you do need to love gin, which fortunately for your reviewer is no hardship. Booking whilst not essential is advisable, particularly Thursday to Sunday and you will be asked for how long you wish to reserve the table. A weeks’ notice is sufficient for small groups and 2 weeks’ notice for larger gatherings would be my top tip, but I have been known to pop in alone, on the off chance of finding a seat.

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Being faced with a choice of 190 different gins can be intimidating, but the friendly team behind this venture are on hand to guide you through the menu depending on your tastes.

For the less risk averse, there is the Gin Wheel of Fortune which purports to take the angst from ‘Gindecision.’ A spin of the wheel will decide the type of glass and another, the type of gin.

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Inside the ground floor continues the typical London boozer look, wooden tables and chairs and walls covered with enamel advertising signs from the 1930s and 40s, but walk down the spiral staircase and you are presented with a modern basement area replete with clean lines and modern seating.

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The staff dressed in black, bustle between tables delivering drinks and advice on gin in equal measure amidst the hubbub of conversation and the jazz playing in the background. The enthusiasm for gin is infectious and it is difficult not to covet the gin being brought to neighbouring tables.

Gin in all its botanical, spicy glory comes in a huge balloon glass, imported from Spain, big enough both to allow flavours to mingle and to swirl satisfyingly in the hand.  Garnished with orange peel, thyme or a myriad of other colourful additions and sparkling with carefully selected tonic water, at £8.00 to £9.50 a glass, this is gin to be savoured.

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Some food is available, but this is more to soak up the alcohol. Here gin is the thing.

My favourite? Well I haven’t had time to sample them all, but a man should have an ambition.

To date I’d choose the ‘Sacred Cardamom’ which comes replete with a thick slice of blood orange, though I am told that this is an acquired taste.

Thankfully I seem to have acquired it.

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For details of booking and opening time please visit http://thelondonginclub.com

 

 

Pizza Rossa Restaurant Review

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Pizza Rossa Restaurant Review

Last month Frost paid a visit to Pizza Rossa at Leadenhall Market. A popular restaurant in the City. Business was brusque. The restaurant is casual with a number of tables that fill up quickly, if you want a seat be quick. As well as pizza, they also have fresh home made meat or vegetarian lasagne,  and a parmigiana which is only 300kcal per portion.

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We tried a few different pizzas and they were all delicious. They tasted fresh and light. Unlike a lot of pizza, they are much healthier some of their pizzas start at 200kcal and provide at least one of your five a day, plus the dough, proved for almost 20 hours, is very digestible, naturally low in gluten, very low in yeast and salt, with no sugar or preservative added  (which is what makes the dough rise quickly for a fast turnaround) – they are an artisan pizza maker, and the pizza is served al taglio –  by the square slice, like you will find in Italy where street food vendors specialise in this type of lunchtime urban staple, especially in Rome.

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We were very impressed at the delicious food. As my colleague put it: “All of the yum”.

Pizza Rossa is at 4-12 Whittington Avenue, corner of Leadenhall Street at Leadenhall Market, London EC3V 1AB Tel: 020 7621 0676 Nearest Tube: Bank www.pizzarossa.com @pizzarossaUK www.facebook.com/pizzarossa

 

 

The Exhibit, Balham Restaurant Review

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The Exhibit, Balham Restaurant Review–         Location: check

–         Atmosphere: check

–         Great food: check.

 

As a born and bred Londoner, I’m embarrassed to write that I’ve never ventured to the restaurants or bars of Balham.

But yesterday evening, we stepped inside The Exhibit, a pretty venue just round the corner from the station.

On the ground floor we were impressed by the well-stocked bar and an array of colourful cocktails clasped in the hands of the trendy post-work crowd.

We headed one floor up to the dining area and were warmly welcomed by the waiting staff.

I loved the décor; white washed brickwork, glass blocks separating the two distinct dining areas and the open kitchen where you can see the chefs literally cooking up a storm.

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My fiancé Marcin ordered the salmon tartare with guacamole, sesame seeds and soy dressing. The salmon, more red than pink, was smokey while the tang of the soy dressing and delicate taste of the guacamole all fused together beautifully.

I opted for the pulled pork terrine with chef’s piccalilli and the stringy pork had a char flavour which together with the spice of the piccalilli, was a pleasant starter.

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For my main, I fancied trying the 24-hour honey and rosemary marinated lamb neck, with tomato bulgar wheat and aubergine croqueta. Having never tried this cut of the meat (it’s much cheaper than say a shoulder of lamb), I found it to be tender, fairly lean and with a more distinct lamb taste. The aubergine croqueta was crispy and the bulgar wheat was similar to a Mediterranean couscous.

For his main, Marcin chose from the special board – Galloway 32-day aged 8oz ribeye, café de Paris butter and chips. He said cutting into the steak was a real pleasure as the knife seamlessly sliced into the tender, juicy meat which was seared well on the outside while the inside was deliciously pink.

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With a naturally sweet tooth, I plumped for the sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce and vanilla ice-cream. The sponge was moist, the butterscotch sauce sugary and the vanilla ice-cream provided a refreshing coolness to the palette.

We did swap puddings half way though and I devoured the remains of Marcin’s chocolate and amaretti cake with crème fraiche. It was made of dark chocolate and was intensely rich while the little crispy puffs layered on top added a nice crunch to the bite.

The atmosphere was really chilled, the diners all had a fun vibe and our date night was accompanied by Torrontes white wine – a delicate, crisp and fruity wine which seemed to compliment each of our dishes.

We took a wander around The Exhibit – in one room speed-dating was taking place, while upstairs, it boasts an additional bar and best of all, an intimate plush cinema-come-karaoke room. On its website, The Exhibit prides itself on being “your go-to neighbourhood eating, drinking and entertainment choice for the people of Balham.” I only wish I’d left Clapham, Shoreditch and Camden behind and headed to Balham sooner – whether for post-work drinks, date night or even a sing-along, The Exhibit is a fabulously versatile venue for any event, large or small. No doubt we’ll be returning there soon.