This is a very simple variation on the classic martini. Thyme is one of my favourite herbs. The mouth-watering smell evokes summertime, or some of the delicious za’tar manouche (savoury thyme-flavoured Lebanese wraps) I’ve eaten in Beirut, London and Dubai. Take a sprig of fresh thyme (I’ve been growing some on the balcony), wash and dry it, then rub it around a chilled … Continue reading Martini with a sprig of thyme
Behold, the oddest blog title I have ever produced! But you will see what I’m talking about in the bar review below. I award the above-mentioned cocktail bar 4/5 for its variation on the classic Vesper Martini. Given the strict criteria of my Martini Ratings I could only offer full points upon trying a proper classic martini but if I offer my review in word form … Continue reading The Beet Up Vesper Martini at the Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town 4/5
A recipe for a parmesan martini made by infusing vodka with parmesan cheese. Continue reading The Parmesan Cheese Martini
A tasty, black-coloured snack for an unusual martini accompaniment. Continue reading Bamboo Charcoal Peanuts
Overall a fantastic experience. I really enjoyed this restaurant. The martini I had was also very good, although I would prefer it a little colder (keep everything in the freezer) and with more lemon (squeeze the peel into the glass when pouring). Otherwise it was beautifully served. While I’ve seen this on the Internet, it was the first time I had actually drink a martini … Continue reading The Tramshed, Shoreditch: 4/5
Laura Santtini is a London-based chef with a recipe book that changed the way I looked at food. She describes herself as the genetic equivalent of a Molotov cocktail: half Italian, quarter Persian, pinch of Sephardic and then an English-Irish mix. Her recipe book is full of things you can prepare in a matter of minutes (ie before your friends get to your home via … Continue reading The Laura Santtini Umami 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)
I went with some friends to this French restaurant in London, located on Greek Street in Soho. It was an occasionally perplexing and even tense experience, although the martini I drank before my meal was nice. The staff were friendly and pleasant but there was a strange, intense and even chaotic element to the service. It was difficult to book a table, despite the fact … Continue reading L’Escargot Restaurant, Soho, London, 3/5
It’s a thing now. What do Thais and Texans have in common? A penchant for spicy food. I have a good friend, currently in Texas, who recently announced his addiction to Sriracha hot chilli sauce, a fiery concoction from Thailand. A US national and an Arabist, he has a very interesting career and academic background, with some very intriguing (and often hilarious) tales from London … Continue reading The hot hot Sriracha martini
With fast, friendly staff and value for money, this chain of bars is the Burger King of the martini world. When serving a classic martini they get full points for their lemon peel usage. They squeezed a fresh strip of peel over the glass and even rubbed some on the stem to add to the citrus aroma when you drink. I was also offered a … Continue reading London’s Dirty Martini Bar
The Martini Socialist 