The Henri Toulouse Lautrec in Kennington, 3/5

  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, 3/5

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

Salmon tartare canapés

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

Mini blini

 Here is a highly tasty and versatile nibble from Russia; a country with a huge amount of expertise when it comes to drinking and tradition.    While I would normally encourage making things at home, I saw some miniature blini for sale in the supermarket and decided just to buy them for a martini accompaniment. Otherwise, I have seen several good recipes online. I found this … Continue reading Mini blini

The Peruvian Tiger’s Milk Martini (con Leche de Tigre)

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 a Pisco Sour over most other cocktails. Seafood plays … Continue reading The Peruvian Tiger’s Milk Martini (con Leche de Tigre)