Okay so the title may sound a little bit melodramatic. Nonetheless, I like the style of this simple lemon garnish. I first saw it in the Skylon bar in London’s southbank. It’s very easy to put together. Once you’ve squeezed your lemon peel into the martini glass (remember why this is important) cut it into an elongated diamond shape. Cut a long slit … Continue reading A garnish like the wings of Hermes
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
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)
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
This isn’t a standard martini post but the Gin Monkey very kindly gave me some advice on tonic water for those of you who would like some guidance for making G&Ts. I don’t drink G&Ts very frequently anymore but they were my drink of choice before I discovered the simplistic power of a martini. Her basic rule for tonic is to stay away from artificial … Continue reading Gin and Tonic advice courtesy of @GinMonkeyUK
Olives are the nibble most closely associated with martinis but I always think that seafood is one of the best matches. It’s fresh, cold and goes well with citrus, just like a good martini. Consuming seafood also brings its own element of danger (food poisoning? Mercury?), much like the danger associated with drinking a strong martini. So here is a simple and easy recipe for … Continue reading Salmon tartare canapés
This recipe is very much inspired by Peru. However, I was once accused of being “an evil agent” working for the Chilean government to sabotage the reputation of Peru… a little unforeseen side effect of my unusual career in the murky world of intelligence. Nonetheless, despite the attempted slander I am a firm fan of Peruvian cuisine and drinking culture. I love Pisco and prefer … Continue reading The Tiger Milk Martini
Yes, yes, non-alcoholic. I can’t drink all the time you know. After serving martinis, you might, as I do, find your fridge to be full of bald lemons, shaved of their peel but still bursting with juice. You can use them for all sorts of things, like cooking, putting them in hot water to drink in the morning, making ice cubes, or, as I have … Continue reading Non-alcoholic rose and lemon drop martini
Today was a good day. For a start, it was the first day I left the office this year and it was still daylight for my walk home. However, more importantly… Today is Pancake Day! My favourite saint’s day of all. Valentine’s Day is a horrible endurance of emotional intensity and commercially enforced feelings of low self-worth if you’re single. St Patrick’s Day might have … Continue reading A martini for Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday)
Two days later and I’m still sick, at home, restless but lethargic at the same time. So here is a post about a hot drink I made to try and alleviate some of my cold symptoms. You will need: -Lemon -Ginger -Garlic -Hot water -Turmeric (optional) -Chilli flakes (optional) -Whisky or brandy or rum (optional) Take a piece of ginger around the size of your … Continue reading A hot drink for a cold
The Martini Socialist 