Bar Arabica, Borough Market, 2/5
A relatively pleasant martini was let down by bad service and poor value for money. It wouldn’t take much to perfect their martini but some of the fundamentally poor elements of the restaurant will be more difficult to rectify. Nestled under a railway arch in Borough Market, I had high hopes for this Levantine restaurant. However, the service wasn’t particularly attentive, the portions … Continue reading Bar Arabica, Borough Market, 2/5
The Skylon Bar, London 4.5/5
If you’re in London, treat yourself. It’s not that expensive and you’re guaranteed a good quality cocktail in an excellent setting. This is a lovely bar in a wonderful, all-welcoming part of London. The brutalist Southbank Centre with its grand but minimalist polished concrete slabs enjoys a wonderfully soft form of acoustics. The diverse array of visitors range from pondering thespians to the philosophical … Continue reading The Skylon Bar, London 4.5/5
Shime Saba (pickled mackerel sushi)
I love mackerel. You’ve got to eat it fresh, it looks beautiful, it tastes really strong and it reminds me of fun times trying to catch them in the summer from a very young age. Look at the deep colouration and beautiful patterns of their skin. I also love sashimi, or meat and seafood that is lightly cured, smoked or marinaded rather than cooked outright. … Continue reading Shime Saba (pickled mackerel sushi)
Mamuśka Polish bar and restaurant, E&C, London
This isn’t strictly a post about martinis but I am making a special mention of this tasty bar/restaurant Mamuśka, not least because of the way they treat their spirits (which is well, by the way). The ultimately satisfying carb-fest ‘placki ziemniaczane’ (pancakes made out of potato) will put you into a sumptuous ‘food coma’. For years Mamuśka restaurant has been a regular visiting … Continue reading Mamuśka Polish bar and restaurant, E&C, London
Martinis ad infinitum
So many martinis… Here’s one at home with a sprig of lavender. In the garden during a hot summer sunset. Dawn breaks over London. Yes, this happened at dawn. Whoops. A more strategic martini, here with the Lewis Chessmen in the background. Martinis, wine, olives and walnuts on a tree stump in the garden on a summer’s evening. A … Continue reading Martinis ad infinitum
The Sri Lankan Arrack Martini – the Serendipitini
I have been working on this concept for a long time. It’s not a true martini, but it aims to serve a similar purpose, especially for those in Sri Lanka, perhaps without access to gin or vermouth. I resisted pressure to name it the Tamil Tiger Martini (it’s fiery, complex and deadly) as this would feel wholly inappropriate after Sri Lanka’s bitter internal tragedy. … Continue reading The Sri Lankan Arrack Martini – the Serendipitini
MEATMission in Hoxton
A trendy-gritty burger bar with a creative menu and sinful atmosphere. A sister of Meat Liquor, MEATMission excels at ‘the dirty burger’ concept. Expect greasy, gluttonous, satisfying burgers in good quality buns (or wrapped in lettuce if requested) to the backdrop of dark decor and an imposing musical selection (you might find it too noisy but I enjoyed it). Their drink selection is also … Continue reading MEATMission in Hoxton
Beef yakitori snacks
I had a couple of people round for a catch up (over drinks of course). I was trying to think of something quick and I easy I could feed them between martini drinking when I came across some beef mince on special offer at the supermarket. I bought a kilogram and decided to make yakitori, a type of Japanese skewer kebab, inspired by izakaya/yakitori-bar type … Continue reading Beef yakitori snacks
Even More Martini Snacks
Here is some more food to go with your martini. I like to use things that are simple to make (or that you can make in advance), easy to eat (preferably with one hand) and either carbohydrate or protein based, especially on the savoury side of things. There are loads of potential categories from you to choose from. Let’s start with some simple pretzels. They are … Continue reading Even More Martini Snacks
A Spicy Umami Michelada
A London variation on the classic Mexican drink. As I’ve said before, I don’t always drink martinis. I also like beer and lager, to name but a few alternatives. I recently wrote about the Mexican drink Micheladas and here I’ve come up with another variation. In its most simple terms, a Michelada contains beer/lager, the juice of a lime, a dash of Worcestershire sauce and a … Continue reading A Spicy Umami Michelada
The Martini Socialist 