Hazelnuts have been consumed by humans for thousands of years. I am currently on the Island of Mull in the Hebrides. On the nearby island of Colonsay evidence suggests that local residents were consuming large amounts of the nut in 7000BC. The Hebrides can often feel very far from civilisation so the fact that people living here enjoyed this tasty snack several millennia before … Continue reading Hazelnut snacks
The Henri Toulouse Lautrec is no ordinary venue. People travel here from all over the world for its live music performances. It also serves fantastic food. However – the martinis do not hit the mark just yet, but with a little re-adjustment this place could be a cocktail bar with real punch – a Moulin Rouge of south London. I would struggle to … Continue reading The Henri Toulouse Lautrec in Kennington
My friend invited me out to lunch at the Foxlow Restaurant just around the corner from Balham tube station in south London. The decor has a 1970s Scandinavian feel to it, with lots of wood and chunky fixtures that say practicality as well as style. The staff were also helpful, friendly and knowledgable. The food menu is unpretentious comfort food – but of very high … Continue reading The Foxlow in Balham 4/5
“Oh god… is my face melting?” I didn’t invent this one. Some other crazy person did. What’s more, it’s evidently been ordered and drunk often enough to have earned itself a name: the Mystic Martini. Absinthe is typically 45-74% ABV and therefore highly potent. Invented in Switzerland, its alleged psychoactive properties led to its prohibition in many countries for decades, before decriminalisation led … Continue reading A Martini made with Absinthe
Passionate, friendly staff, a wide selection of vermouths and a respect for the classic martini make this place a top scorer. I don’t get out to Shoreditch nearly often enough so I have to thank a lovely friend from back home for getting me out this time. It was a great err… afternoon. Drinking martinis in the daytime is a dangerous pursuit but I … Continue reading The Merchants Tavern in Shoreditch 4/5
An Izakaya is essentially a type of Japanese pub that specialises in food to accompany drinks. It’s basically my favourite type of drinks setting. I love the post-work, instantly friendly and relaxed atmosphere, completely free of pretension. Comparable to Spanish tapas or Turkish meze, the Izakaya-way is healthier than simply guzzling down a bucket of booze before staggering off for some fish and chips or … Continue reading Martini Izakaya Dishes
I’ve been looking forward to this one for a while. A very good friend and reader of this blog presented me with a bottle of this gin from Haymans. I instantly loved the branding and packaging. The colours, dark blue and gold, were positively regal. So I put the bottle in the freezer and awaiting a visit from my friend so we could have … Continue reading A Martini with Hayman’s Gin
A sweeter alternative to the classic martini. This one is very straightforward. You will need gin/vodka, sweet vermouth and a jar of maraschino cherries. The following recipe is for a 150ml glass: Add 3 teaspoons of maraschino cherry liqueur to a chilled martini glass. Add sweet vermouth to taste (between 2tsp and 30ml). Add chilled gin/vodka (between 120-140ml depending on the amount of vermouth … Continue reading The Gypsy Martini
Wake up to something magically taboo. Marmalade cocktails have been around for a long time but the decadent breakfast martini was invented by Salvatore Calabrese in the Lanesborough hotel in London in 2000. It involves gin, marmalade, lemon juice and Cointreau or Triple Sec. Those nice people at Fragata sent me a jar of Marmalade from their native Spain. It tasted so good … Continue reading The Breakfast Martini
Serving a cocktail in a martini glass and adding a -tini suffix to the end of its name does not make it a martini. A real martini should contain a small amount of vermouth and a large amount of gin or vodka. If you start messing around with this too much you no longer have the genuine article. Acceptable variations include the dirty … Continue reading The Fiery Ginger Martini
The Martini Socialist 