Tag Archives: Restaurant

Le Secret des Rôtisseurs Restaurant Review

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The family-run Le Secret des Rôtisseurs has a lot of things going for it. First of all, it has introduced the art of rotisserie-roasted chicken to London’s Canary Wharf. You can watch as the chicken is slowly flame-roasted (This method of roasting also ensures the meat is cooked without retaining fats and oils, resulting in a chicken that is healthier and juicier than any other). The restaurant smells amazing.

photo 2 (12)This newly opened riverside French restaurant comes with a stunning view of the Thames and is beautifully designed, everyone is knowledgeable and friendly. The furniture includes unique pieces that originally furnished Altitude 95 in the Eiffel Tower. Designed by the highly esteemed Vassilew Slavik, the furniture graced the national landmark until 2007, when Alain Ducasse took over the license for the restaurant. It all feels very authentically French.

For our entrée we had snails on toast with mushrooms in butter and garlic. This was the first time I had ever eaten snails and they were actually very tasty. They were cooked well and came with a lovely garlicky sauce with a hint of lemon. The salad on the side was also good and came with a delicious dressing. A very good entrée.

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We also had a salad francaise classique. Baby leaves, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms and Parmesan. It had nice flavors and the Parmesan was delicious. I did find it a bit leafy and too large for my taste. I would like to have seen a larger range of starters to choose from, there were only three available, although the focus is on the rotisserie roasted chicken.

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For a main course. I had the roast chicken with “secret” sauce and fries. When the waiter brings it over I say that looks amazing. ‘That’s because it is’, he replies. He’s not lying. It is amazing, the best chicken roast I can remember eating and the secret sauces is great, I am later told it is based around tarragon with sixteen different ingredients. The free-range birds are from carefully selected English farms to ensure the quality of the poultry. photo 1 (12)The roast is the best I have ever had in a restaurant.

Master Roaster Maistre Benoit, who has worked with France’s most elusive rotisserie oven craftsman, ensures all meat is cooked to his exact, secret standard, making it the best chicken in town. The technique dates back to 1248, when King Louis IX ordered the establishment of guilds, which included ‘Les Oyeurs’ or ‘goose roasters’.

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If you are in the mood for something other than chicken, on weekends (Fri-Sun) meat changes weekly, with carnivorous delights such as the rolled shoulder of pork and succulent veal shank served with Le Secret des Rôtisseurs’ special sauce.

We also tried a beautiful piece of pork. The pork was succulent and moist but had a tasty crispy skin giving a beautiful different texture. It was cooked perfectly, something tophoto 1 (13)ugh to do well with pork.

It came with a rhubarb ketchup. It was a great accompaniment and worked very well with the pork. Our sides of chips and broad beans were well seasoned and well cooked.

Throughout our meal we were treated to some superb wine. We started out meal with a glass of delicious Chablis from Burgundy. One of the very few wines at Le Secret des Rôtisseurs which is not from Bordeaux. The restaurant is justifiably proud of its wine list.They have an amazing cellar of Bordeaux wines that you can see if dining upstairs, or going to the bathroom. The restaurant goes to great lengths to bring the best wines direct from the vineyards and cuts out aphoto 1 (11)ny middle man. Some of the wine they get is exclusive too only a few restaurants.

The chateaux Clauzet is a rich indulgent opulent classic red Bordeaux wine. It was particularly warm and comforting on a cold day.

For dessert I have the special, which is a chocolate mousse. It was beautifully presented and not only delicious but had a texture that was more like a cake. Yum.

We also had a great plate of different French cheeses.photo 2 (15)photo 2 (11)photo 3 (9)

 

37 Westferry Circus, Canary Riverside, Canary Wharf. E14 8RR

Le Menu Parfait, £18.95
Half roasted chicken with any entrée and any accompagnement, £18.95.

www.eatlesecret.co.uk

Texas Joe Pop Up Restaurant At Brewdog Shoreditch Review

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We traveled to Shoreditch for a taste of the US: The Texas Joe food is proper American food from the heart of Texas. Well, almost. Quite a lot of it is spicy, there is a lot of meat, and it all tastes and looks authentic.

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I had the sampler; beef brisket- cooked perfectly and very tender, smoked chicken-very tasty and well-smoked, Brewdog Shoreditch had to remove two doors to get the smoking machine in, hot link sausages- proper meaty sausages, taste great and slightly spicy, beef rib-the rib was huge and very well done. The sampler also comes with beans, chilli and sauce.

On the side we had chilli cheese fries and jalapenos stuffed with brisket and cheese and then wrapped in bacon. Rather stupidly, I underestimated how hot the jalapenos would be. The chilli is also hot (I know, obviously). My colleague had the hot link sausages, he pointed left to right to the food (chilli cheese fries, hot link sausages and stuffed jalapenos) hot, hot and hotter he said.

If you love meat and you love spice you will love the Texas Joe pop up restaurant. There are things that are not spicy though. Like the smoked chicken. The food is good and authentic. It is hearty, filling and very American. Very different.

On the side we had beer from Brewdog. I don’t like beer but I had a raspberry fruit beer which was actually nice. My colleague loved the beer he had, which can be seen below. Brewdogs ‘punk’ beer is anti the big brand generic lagers. Brewdog refuses to compromise on ingredients for its beer to save on costs just to boost profits. It shows in the taste as well. The beer is excellent and noticeably better.

photo 4 (4)Dragon’s Den star Joe Walters has today announced the launch of his pop-up Texan BBQ at BrewDog Shoreditch. The maverick cowboy will be cooking up a storm in the East London venue, following his standout pitch for his beef jerky company on the BBC 2 entrepreneurial show in August. Texas Joe’s BBQ will serve a full range of smokin’ Southern delights including slow-cooked brisket, beef ribs, chili-dogs and fresh cornbread.

The first Texas Joe’s BBQ will be hosted at BrewDog Shoreditch, and the company plans to open a series of standalone restaurants in the coming months.

The opening of his first pop-up BBQ joint completes a rollercoaster period for the cowboy, which saw him officially launch his jerky company and secure a nationwide deal with Sainsbury’s to stock his product.

photo 1 (6)Millions of viewers watched Joe pitch his beef jerky company in a rhinestone suit and Stetson this summer on the Den– a pitch that included a performance of the song ‘Put that jerky in your mouth’ by Sunday Best’s recording artists Kitty, Daisy and Lewis.

Joe secured a £50,000 investment from Peter Jones of immediate edge, although the Texan is now operating without the assistance of the ‘Dragon’.
However, BrewDog co-founder James Watt saw the potential in the Texas Joe’s brand and invested.

Watt was recently named Scottish Entrepreneur of the Year and BrewDog beers have previously been used in Texas Joe’s jerky recipes.

Texas Joe’s founder Joe Walters commented:

“Since appearing on the show, the response to our Texan jerky has been so phenomenal that we knew we had to expand our offering and bring a little South hospitality to London. With our first pop-up BBQ joint we’re giving people a taste of authentic Texan BBQ and we know they are going to love it.”

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Restaurant News: VIVO – An All Day Italian Dining Experience in Islington

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If you are anything like us you love Italian food and are always looking for somewhere new to go. So we are pretty excited that a new Italian bakery, Vivo, is open on Upper Street in Islington.

restaurant new, new Italian restaurant open in Islington, Vivo

Vivo, a vibrant Italian bakery, is now open in the heart of bustling Upper Street in Islington, North London. Inspired by the traditional gastronomia and pasticceria of Italy, Vivo is an all day casual dining affair serving authentic and regional cuisine. The neighbourhood restaurant is an informal venue for both locals and visitors to the area. Vivo is the first venture from brothers Will and Ben Thompson who have drawn upon their travel experiences and passion for Italian food and culture for this exciting project.

 

The focal point of Vivo is a striking, 14 metre granite counter with a separate drinks bar, from which orders are taken and the food and drink served.  Dishes include freshly baked ciabattas and focaccias; torte rustica (Italian savoury pies), authentic Roman pizza ‘al taglio’ (rectangular slices); speciality cheese and meat boards. Guests looking for heartier dishes can opt for hot signature favourites such as beef or vegetarian lasagne and pork cannelloni. A selection of Italian desserts, pastries and sweets are also available such as Gianduja, hazelnut and raspberry tart and Strawberries and prosecco tiramisu. The varied menu makes Vivo the perfect destination for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

 

In keeping with continental cafe culture, coffee supplied by renowned Neapolitan roaster Kimbo is a key staple at Vivo. Guests can also choose from a selection of wines from various Italian regions as well as Prosecco on tap and a range of Italian beers, spirits and cocktails. Customers visiting during the early evening can enjoy aperitivo hour: complimentary snacks served to accompany drinks.

 

Vivo’s interiors balance modern, monolithic features with rustic earthy tones. Design features include the use of split face timber panels, dark granite surfaces, Portland stone walls and a combination of oak and York stone flooring. The ground floor caters for up to 50 covers with a mix of communal and individual tables whilst the open air roof terrace (seating 35) offers the perfect setting for al fresco dining in the warmer months.

Co-owner Will Thompson says, “The Vivo concept has developed from a love and study of Italian cuisine. We have travelled extensively throughout Italy, discovering unique regional dishes served in traditional ‘gastronomia’, high-end bakeries and Pasticcerie in the cosmopolitan, style conscious cities of Milan, Turin and Rome”.

 

Offering a delicious slice of Italy in the heart of North London, local restaurant Vivo is a colourful addition to the London foodie map, now open on Upper Street, Islington.

 

www.vivotaste.com

London’s First Beer Trolley Has Arrived At Honky Tonk

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cocktail, cocktails, where to go,London’s first beer trolley has arrived! Diners at both Honky Tonk Chelsea and their brand new venture Honky Tonk Clapham, will be able to try and taste the most delicious and refreshing beers on the market, all from the comfort of their seats. The trolley will be wheeled around the restaurant by a specially trained beer sommelier allowing you to pick your beer of choice. There will be a large selection of everything from the extra malty to the light and fruity, so that all needs are catered for. So whether you’re a regular beer drinker or more used to ordering fruity cocktails there will be something for everyone.

Honky Tonk is the brainchild of Mark Cutler, one of the founders of Notting Hill institution, supperclub London and looks set to become West London’s destination diner of choice. supperclub London is well loved for its innovative performances and creativity and Mark has developed this in Honky Tonk too. There will be regular live music and entertainment, with a particular emphasis on a variation of the blues, jazz and rockabilly played over a hundred years ago when the first honky tonks sprung up in the Southern and Southwestern United States.

This autumn a little slice of the big apple has also arrived in Clapham in the form of a second Honky Tonk. Following on from the success of Honky Tonk Chelsea, the venue offers an American-inspired restaurant, late night bar and live performances.

Honky Tonk Chelsea
6 Hollywood Road,
London
SW10 9HY
Tel: 0207 351 1588
W: www.honkytonklondon.com/

Opening Times: Tues- Sat, 6pm-12.30am

Honky Tonk Clapham
16A Clapham South Side
London
SW4 7AB
Tel: 020 7627 6257

Opening Times: Monday-Wednesday 5 pm to 12 pm, Thurs 5pm -1am,
Friday 5pm-1.30 am, Sat 12pm- 2am, Sunday12pm-11.30pm

Lima Becomes Europe’s First Michelin Starred Peruvian Restaurant

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It was announced this morning in the 2014 Michelin Guide for UK & Ireland that LIMA restaurant in London’s Fitzrovia has achieved the distinction of becoming the first ever Peruvian restaurant in the UK and Europe to be awarded a coveted Michelin star.

 

The announcement was made at 7.00am this morning by Michelin which is arguably the most revered of all restaurant guides.   Having opened in August 2012 to critical acclaim, LIMA is the creation of executive chef Virgilio Martinez and the Gonzalez brothers. The menu, overseen by Martinez and head chef Robert Ortiz, integrates both traditional and contemporary Peruvian cuisine, representing the gastronomic expansion that has taken place in Peru in recent years.

 

Gabriel Gonzalez, co-owner of LIMA, said, “A Michelin star is an incredible accomplishment. I am so proud of Robert Ortiz and the team at LIMA who work to exceptional standards at every service, and feel this really is a testament to all of our hard work over the past year. To be the first Peruvian restaurant to achieve a star in UK and Europe is a huge accolade.”

 

Having opened only 13 months ago, Lima has undoubtedly played a huge part in the growing recognition and popularity of Peruvian food in the UK.

 

LIMA

31 Rathbone Place

London

W1T 1JH

www.limalondon.com

@Lima_London

Bermondsey Square | London Gems

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Bermondsey SquareI completely forgot about this wonderful part of London until I stumbled upon it last week. It is tucked away, but upon finding it there is plenty to entertain yourself with; an independent cinema; Shortwave, a hotel; The Bermondsey Square Hotel, the restaurant of Masterchef presenter Greg Wallace: Greg’s Bar & Grill, a Sainsbury’s Local and even a ping pong table.

Bermondsey Square has a lot going for it. Even if you are feeling poor and just want to watch the world go by you can buy a snack from Sainsbury’s and sit down on one of the benches.

Last week there was music coming from Shortwave and a thriving night life. The cinema is also a bar with seats outside. People enjoyed themselves and there were people playing ping pong. People with suitcases walked past on their way to The Bermondsey Square Hotel. Bermondsey Square was voted South London’s coolest quarter in Vogue’s annual Secret Address Book. Vogue are bang on. This is a London Gem.

Perfect for: Eating, fun, drinking, ping pong, watching a film, people watching, staying at the hotel…like I said, for such a small square, it certainly packs a punch.

Honky Tonk Chelsea Offering Customers 50% of Food Bill For Their Birthday | News

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HONKY TONK CHELSEA CELEBRATES ITS FIRST BIRTHDAY!


Honky Tonk Chelsea, a New York-inspired restaurant and bar, will be hosting a three day extravaganza to celebrate its first birthday. On the 5th, 6th & 7th September Honky Tonk will be offering its customers a massive 50% off their food bill for any bookings before 8pm, plus a free brunch per diner if you bring in your bill from one of the above dates. There will be live music and entrainment every night of the birthday bonanza. So come and wish your favourite American diner a big happy birthday this September!

Honky Tonk is the brainchild of Mark Cutler, one of the founders of Notting Hill institution, supperclub London and has readily become West London’s destination diner of choice. supperclub London is well loved for its innovative performances and creativity and Mark has developed this in Honky Tonk too. There is regular live music and entertainment, with a particular emphasis on a variation of the blues, jazz and rockabilly played over a hundred years ago when the first honky tonks sprung up in the Southern and Southwestern United States.

This autumn a little slice of the big apple will also arrive in Clapham in the form of a second Honky Tonk. Following on from the success of Honky Tonk Chelsea, the venue will offer an American-inspired restaurant, late night bar, and live performances.

HONKY TONK 1ST BIRTHDAY
5th,6th & 7th September

Honky Tonk
6 Hollywood Road,
London
SW10 9HY
Tel: 0207 351 1588
W: www.honkytonkchelsea.com/

Opening Times: Tues- Sat, 6pm-12.30am

Toulouse City Guide | Travel

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Sometimes it is hard being a writer and editor, especially one with their own magazine. Going to the South of France to review Toulouse was not one of those times. In fact, it is now one of my favourite places in the entire world and I will definitely be returning. The Pink City of Haut-Garonne is called the pink city because of the brickwork of the buildings. It is the 4th largest city in France with 437,000 inhabitants and it is beautiful, dynamic and friendly.

toulouse

We flew with BMI Regional via Birmingham. We also had a great time in the No.1 Traveller lounge at Birmingham Airport before flying to Toulouse Business Class. The flight was incredibly enjoyable and included free food and drink. The service on-board was also great. Our air steward, Michael Love, seemed to know what we wanted before we did and kept us happy with Gin & Tonics and brilliant, yes it is possible, plane food.

BMI Regional plane

Toulouse is the birthplace of Concorde, the Ariane Rocket and the home of Airbus.Toulouse has also had a 100-year love affair with rugby. Stade Toulousain are one of the Northern Hemispheres best teams. 7 million passengers are transported via Toulouse Blagnac Airport every year.

Toulouse has more than 2000 hours of sun a year and more than 1000 restaurants. Sold yet? Whether the answer is yes or no, read on….

We arrived in Toulouse via Toulouse Blagnac Airport, a beautiful and stylish airport and made our way to our hotel, the Citiz Hotel, a modern four star hotel in the heart of Toulouse. It opened in 2010. The hotel has air-conditioning, free wifi and a car park near the hotel entrance. The hotel faces Wilson square and is only a 15 minute drive from Blagnac airport. My hotel room was incredibly stylish, the bed was large and comfy, the bathroom was elegant and the shower powerful. There was a minibar, safe and a flatscreen TV. I also had a balcony and a wardrobe. The hotel also does a great breakfast spread and the staff are very helpful.

Rio Loco, the world music festival that happens every year on the 21st of June to get all of France partying, happened while we were there. We had lots of fun listening to all of the different music and went to bed in the early hours.It was like one huge street party. Definitely recommended.

National Music Day in Toulouse

We went on a walking tour offered by the Toulouse Tourist Board.This was informative and very enjoyable, a great way to see the city. Great things to see include The Capitole (the City Hall), Saint-Sernin Basilica, The Jacobins Convent, The Hotel d’Assezat (built by Nicholas Bachelier for Pierre d’Assezat who made his fortune from Woad, a plant used in dyeing. More of which later), the river Garonne and The Augustins Museum, an amazing fine arts museum with beautiful pieces. It has a lot of 19th century sculptures.

J'GO Toulouse

J’Go, 16 Place Victor Hugo, 31000 Toulouse. Tel: 05 61 23 02 03. They accommodate people regardless of importance and budget and have authentic cuisine from the love of Gascon culture. The fruit and vegetables are grown by farmers in the South West and is in season. They also buy the whole carcass of animals from farmers in their region. The food we had was amazing and a brass band started playing outside while we were eating. The waiter also really knew his stuff.  Check the pictures out here.

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Cite de L’Espace. Avenue Jean Gonord – BP 25855 – 31506 Toulouse cedex 5. This wonderful space adventure theme park is dedicated to space. We went to Mars (Almost), walked on the moon thanks to the Moonrunner (I was six times less than my usual weight, which was great!), and saw a documentary on the Hubble Telescope in their glorious IMAX Big Screen 3D cinema. The theme park covers 5 hectares and receives 270,000 visitor a year, but it should be more, Globally, 50 million Euro has been invested into the Cite de L’Espace and it shows in the quality. They do tours in English in the summer and have had over 4 million visitors.

There is also a 53 meter high Ariane rocket, I am now one of the privileged few to go into Soyuz Vessel, the indestructible Russian spacecraft. There was authentic Moon Rock on loan from NASA which was brought back by astronauts during the Apollo 15 landing, rock from Mars, great photos which show how the earth looks from up close, to outer space, there is also exhibitions, a children’s area, a planetarium, restaurant and lots of experiments to test yourself on. Do not go to Toulouse and not go to the Cite de L’Espace. It is a must visit.

Cite de L’Espace is accessible to disabled people.

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Le Chai Saint-Sauveur, 30 rue Bernard-Mule- 31400 Toulouse. Tel: 05 61 54 27 20

This was a brilliant restaurant with a rustic, country feel. The food was amazing and so were the staff. Highly recommended. See the food here.

Terre de pastel

Terre de Pastel is a museum, boutique, spa and restaurant opened in June 2013 in Toulouse-Labege. The spa is amazing, with lots of different treatments, an idyllic swimming pool, sauna, Turkish bath, jacuzzi, herbal tea shop and a gym. The museum is informative, telling the story of the woad plant which is responsible for the pastel, the wonderful blue colour. You will learn about the history of blue, the symbol of blue, traditional applications and all about the woad plant, which grows in a field and looks like a rapeseed field; pretty and yellow. Sandrine Banessy, the owner and also author of books on woad, showed us how the woad dyes fabric. It was incredibly interesting and the woad will continue to dye the fabric blue until the fabric is dry.

The shop at Terre de Pastel made me want to spend all of my euros and go over my luggage allowance. There is a great selection of homeware, cosmetics, food, haberdashery and books. It is almost all blue. There is also a restaurant with great food and wine.

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Le Py-R. 19 descente de la Halle aux Poissons – 31000 Toulouse. Tel: 05 61 25 51 52. Chef Pierre Lambinon has won many awards and it was easy to see why, the food in his small gastronomic restaurant was amazing and unique. Pictures here.

victor hugo marketplace

The Victor Hugo Marketplace. This is the most prestigious marketplace in all of France. It has 5 small restaurants on its upper floor. I bought some great cheese here.

All of the above places are where you should go if you visit Toulouse. It is a wonderful city and everyone I know loves it. Frost loves….

For more pictures check out Toulouse in Instagram Pictures Part 1, 2 and 3.

Get the Toulouse en Liberte City Card at the Tourism Office to get more than 250 discounts on hotels, restaurants, museums, shops and tours.You can also explore by boat.

www.toulouse-tourisme.com

www.toulouse-visit.com

www.tourisme-midi-pyrenees.com

www.uk.toulouse-tourisme.com

Have you ever been to Toulouse? Make recommendations below.

About No.1 Traveller – fast facts

· No.1 Traveller specialises in premium hospitality and provides a complete ‘driveway to runway’ service – smart Chauffeur-driven airport transfers, express train tickets, airport parking, airport meet-and-greet and airport lounges (No.1 Traveller’s own collection, plus associate lounges abroad)

· It works with airlines, businesses and individuals to offer a convenient and comfortable service to take the stress out of going to and through airports – the smart traveller’s choice

· No.1 Traveller can be booked by anyone at www.No1Traveller.com or passengers can make their way to the reception of the airport lounge on the day

Airport lounge: Birmingham

· Opened October 2012; the first of No.1 Traveller’s lounges outside London

· Accessible to all passengers travelling through the airport

· Open daily from 0430hrs – 2030hrs; facilities include a range of seating areas across two levels, fully-tended bar, bistro area serving complimentary hot and cold dishes, complimentary newspapers, magazines and internet access

· Entry £27.50 per adult at reception, for up to three hours access (children £17.50 each), £22.50 if booked in advance (children £15)

BMI regional operates over 450 flights a week throughout the UK and Europe with one way prices starting from £59. bmi regional flies from Aberdeen, Antwerp, Bristol, Bremen, Billund, Birmingham, Bristol, Brussels, Copenhagen, Glasgow, Gothenburg, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Esbjerg, Frankfurt, Hannover, Hamburg, Lyon, Milan, Munich, Norwich, Manchester, Toulouse and Zurich. All flights include complimentary food & drink on-board, free 20kg hold baggage allowance and 30 minute check-in. bmi regional is the world’s most punctual airline having recently been crowned the title for the 8th consecutive year.  For more information, visit www.bmiregional.com.