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
Happiness Forgets in Hoxton 4/5
“Great cocktails, no wallies.” A dreamy basement cocktail bar in central London with attentive, knowledgeable staff. The low level lighting is sublime but it means that my photos are a bit rubbish. Just trust me and pay them a visit if you’re anywhere near Hoxton square in London. A classic martini wasn’t even on the menu – they have a wide range of other … Continue reading Happiness Forgets in Hoxton 4/5
Korean spinach – Sigeumchi-namul
A tasty and healthy vegetarian ‘banchan’ style accompaniment for your martini. Continue reading Korean spinach – Sigeumchi-namul
The Botanist Gin
“Which martini would you drink in the event of a zombie apocalypse?” Bear with me as I explain the link… I have mentioned before that I come from the Hebrides. I was therefore very keen to taste this gin, crafted on the island of Islay. In the event of some kind of apocalypse or worldwide catastrophe (zombies etc), I always thought that my … Continue reading The Botanist Gin
A martini with sage
This is a very simple recipe for a snack that may or may not taste like fragrant Pringles made for the Gods… While coriander is my favourite herb (controversial, I know), I also love sage. I previously made a sage-infused gin which goes nicely in a gin and tonic. However, this sage recipe is very easy and infinitely faster than making an infusion. Instructions Pick around … Continue reading A martini with sage
A Sho-Chu Martini
We had a family get-together but we ran out of gin mid-way through the night. I know. Luckily I found a bottle of Japanese sho-chu which I thought I could use as an experimental substitute in a martini. Sho-chu is a spirit distilled from things like barley, rice, sweet potato or one or two other ingredients. It’s normally between 25-35% strength so is … Continue reading A Sho-Chu Martini
The Martini Socialist 