Giles has created the fantastic Lover’s Cup which is the perfect cocktail to share at home this Valentine’s Day, it’s a simple recipe that looks brilliant and tastes even better.

www.southerncomfort.co.uk

Elysee
13 Percy Street
London
W1
Tel: 020 7636 4804

It was a strange feeling to leave a restaurant at around midnight on a mid-week evening and to feel something of a party pooper. But as I was collecting my coat to brace myself for the freezing night outside there was group after group filing in past me heading the other way. Elysee is a restaurant with something of a split personality. By day and into the evening it’s a restaurant specializing in traditional Greek cooking with a refined twist. Whilst later on it becomes more of a nightspot. Complete with a live jazz band, singers, dancers, bouzoukis, and a license to party until 3.30am, six days a week. This is one of the oldest Greek restaurants in London and after a year-long refurb has recently re-opened.

A family concern, the restaurant was started by a great uncle back in the 1930’s and it is now being run by a third generation of cousins who are as passionate about the business as their forefathers. Located in what is now trendy Fitzrovia, which, (if this has left you scratching your head), is not far from Goodge Street tube. This is a part of London full of great independent shops, bars and cafes and an antidote to the sterile West End experience.

We ate downstairs in the 1930’s inspired restaurant, attractively decorated in shades of brown hues, with low lighting, elegant mirrors and banquette. Upstairs there is a private dining area, a stylish cocktail bar and a huge heated roof terrace with a retractable roof, which is no doubt essential for the great unpredictable British summer.

Elysee-restaurant

We began with a medley of starters including Uncle Meli’s secret recipe for Taramasalata. This was almost white in its colour and very delicately flavoured with a lemony bite. We also tried the charcoal grilled squid with courgette, chilli, garlic and parsley. This was terrific, the charcoal flavour really coming through and adding bite to the tender flesh of the fish. We also tried some grilled halloumi cheese served with grilled watermelon slices for a refreshing contrast on the palate and some tasty spanakopita parcels filled with feta cheese and spinach. With this I tried a glass of the house wine, Heritage de Baron Louis 2009, reasonably priced at £5.50 a glass, £20.50 a bottle and pleasing both on the palate and wallet.

To follow, our feasting included some sweet beetroot tart with a light filo crust, de-boned tender and scented lamb kleftiko that came with kritharaki, a herb scented semolina based pasta, plentiful greek salad with a salty moreish feta cheese and some lemony scented sea bass with some very good spinach. To finish, we could only nibble at our dessert, a plate of nutty and rich baklava and some pistachio and vanilla ice-cream flavoured with ouzo which gave it an added kick.

Before I left I was introduced to Uncle George, the nephew of the original owners in his mid – eighties. He told me how he had worked in the restaurant all his adult life, and still to this day pops in on a regular basis. He was known back in his younger days for his party piece – when he could carry up to 19 glasses on his head and dance at the same time. He also told me some fascinating stories, how he had subsequently learnt that The Great Train Robbers had planned their infamous plot in the upstairs bar in the 1960’s and that the 1966 English Football Team celebrated with them the day after their victorious World Cup win.

Elysee is a place that celebrates life, with a passion that its people seem to have in spades. Remember, as you get ready for bed with your slippers and cocoa, that down in Percy Street the party has only just started.

Louise Elgin. November 2010.

A meal for two with 4-5 sharing plates and wine is around £50.00 a head.
Set lunch menu available at £15.00 a head.

Reviewed by Natalie Lamb

London Road
East Grinstead
West Sussex
RH19 2BH
Phone: 01342 337700
Fax: 01342 337715

The Felbridge Hotel and Spa is located on the A22 near East Grinstead, 10 minutes drive from Gatwick Airport. It has a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Each time I had anything to do with reception they were not only efficacious, but frequently had me laughing with their humour and engagement. The energy and mood of the staff often reveal the nature of the heart of a hotel, here they are helpful, healthy, and happy.

I noticed staff seem trained on affirmation not criticism, and generally worked well as a team. The culture they created rippled into me, making me feel like a wanted friend that they were happy to see and serve. The porter shared with me that they have a very low staff turnover. Many staff had been there much longer than his 2 years, even up to 3 decades. We had a long time to talk to the room at the far end of the hotel, and I truly received what a positive environment this was.

The Junior Suite was gorgeous: spacious, comfortable, and stylish. The cost is £159 a night, or £135.15 with the 15% discount for booking 14 days in advance. Definitely worth a stay, if only to enjoy the ‘special touch’ in all they do. It comes with a little something added beyond the usual that leaves you with a satisfying smile at their “extra thought” into small details. For example, with the tea were scrumptious homemade chocolate biscuits. In the roomy bathroom with double sinks and a power shower large enough to dance in, came a collection of luxury Elemis products (including facial cleanser). Our dinner was no exception – it exceeded my expectations and then some.

We dined in the fine dining Anise Restaurant. I can fully understand why it won the Fine Dining Experience of 2009/2010. The review of the meal can be found here

After my dining companion went home, I meandered through the hotel finding the Qube Bar. On Friday evenings they have a DJ playing Funky House music. Even though I was shattered I stayed awake for another drink just to enjoy the music longer it was so good. DJess shared that some Friday’s the room is packed, and others it is rather quiet. If I lived in the area it would definitely be a voguish place to rendezvous with friends or business colleagues. It hosts an atmosphere that is upbeat and cool, though with music that doesn’t drown out connection. It has class, buzz and hospitality. The menu included pub meals (ranging from £5.75 for a sandwich to £20 for sirloin), to afternoon teas and a full selection of cocktails. Like with most things in the Hotel they go beyond the call of duty. The Qube Bar also had a fine touch to what they do: after sitting down, the barman brought a flickering candle and a bowl of cashews to my table. Nice! It wasn’t done with the energy to impress, rather the delivery was like this was the natural free flow of heartiness and reception to all guests.

After my drinks, I made my way back to the room – gathering up the peppermint tea and honey the reception staff secured for me.

The Super King Sized bed was glorious to stretch into, and extremely comfortable. Sadly I didn’t sleep well as the air-conditioning was dripping. It was not like counting sheep where you know when the next number is coming – it was like Chinese torture where you don’t know how soon until the next drop so you wait poised in that pregnant pause unable to relax. This lead me to the very well laid out and professional Hotel Guide to find out how to turn it off. Sometimes Hotel guides are so confusing you come away wondering what your own name is! Not this one: very clear, indexed, and thorough. It even made me excited reading about the spa waiting for me in the morning.

The very charming staff told me the Spa Pool was closed for cleaning, and as there was a child in the pool I didn’t fancy swimming. On the weekend the pool is open to adults only from 10-4, had I not needed to leave the Hotel, I would have spent the day enjoying the health club. I took the opportunity to look around. It has a lovely ambiance, maintains a clean and fresh feel to it, and all together has really good facilities. The amenities I saw were the tennis courts, fully equipped gym, 10 person Spa pool, a steam room, a sauna and a kidney shaped pool. Also available is the Chakra Spa with a variety of treatments for maintenance, relaxation, enhancement and beauty. The prices are good for single treatments, through to full packaged pamper parties (check their website for details).

Feeling a tad disappointed, I went on to breakfast. A feast awoke my eyes! The buffet had a delicious spread of mini pastries, cold meats, fruit, yogurts, as well as a fresh toast maker. I opted for a cooked vegetarian breakfast as shout out to the vegetarians given one option in the restaurant. It was large – eggs, sausage, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, and hash browns. I had some frustration getting exactly what I wanted for breakfast (eggs cooked the way I requested) – but the staff got there in the end.

Had it not been for the frustration at breakfast, the dripping air conditioning and the Spa Pool being closed for cleaning, the experience would have been perfect. The accommodation is amazing and the facilities are fabulous.

Overall the attitude and approachability of the staff create a great atmosphere – leaving me with a positive imprint each time I pass the hotel.

http://www.felbridgehotel.co.uk

The Anise Fine Dining Restaurant

Reviewed by Natalie Lamb

The 2 AA Rosette Fine Dining Restaurant Anise has won the award for ‘Best Eating Experience in Sussex’ voted by the Sussex Food & Drink Awards 2009/2010

Located at
The Felbridge Hotel & Spa
London Road East Grinstead
West Sussex RH19 2BH

Call 01342 337700 to make a reservation.

We dined in the Anise Restaurant which is open to both guests and non-residents for lunch and dinner. What a truly delicious experience worth the £32 for four courses. My dining companion, who frequents Michelin Star restaurants , remarked that the quality was not far off in quality and professionalism. The Executive Chef Frederick Tobin needs to be congratulated for his creative and compelling combinations that lit an effulgence of joy on my taste buds.

From the moment I sat down I felt like Royalty – thanks to the respectful attention, the awareness to our needs, and the “on the ball” service. I never felt like I had to wait, or catch the waiter’s attention. They were proactive professionals that took care of us well and often. After supplying us with the menu, the first thing I noticed was the lack of vegetarian options. There was one starter option, and no main vegetarian meals. While I’m sure the chef would create something given warning, there was no publicised option in the menu.

After ordering our food, we were gifted two breads: artichoke and Parmesan, and rosemary and sea salt. Unusually this came with three butters: tomato, black truffle, and regular with sea salt on the side to taste. Without a doubt the tomato butter triumphed. It offered a subtle while strong, distinctive taste that added a rare nuance to the bread.

While the silky flavour was not one I needed removing, the Amuse-bouche – French for “fun in the mouth” – truly met its meaning at the Anise. The palate cleanser was a single fresh raspberry, half a boiled quail egg, and marinated lobster with radish, spring onion and raspberry sauce. What an explosion of joy to wake up the senses for the starters.

I chose the fresh crab salad topped with Avruga caviar, served with soft boiled quail eggs, caper, and shallot dressing. The crab, caviar and caper concoction created a compelling composition that played off their flavours in sweet harmony. My dinner guest ordered the one vegetarian option: a fine tomato tart, tomato and vodka jelly, goats cheese fondant, with black olive and fennel salad. He affirmed his choice with smacking lips of appreciation. I just had to share his jelly – which was a delectable delight. The potions were perfect. There was enough food to get a full sense of the taste, without filling us up for the main meal.

The seared fillet of line caught sea bass, flamed langoustines and baby gem, herb gnocchi finished with sauce Vierge and citrus foam called my name. The herb gnocchi was perfect- not overbearing in taste, and not so subtle that you couldn’t capture its essence. The bass and langoustines with Vierge hummed together in fitting fusion. My guest enjoyed the Cutlet of Sussex lamb and braised breast of lamb, onion puree, baby aubergine, confit shallot and garlic, caramelised sweetbreads. He offered me a few morsels which I’m pleased to say were succulent and juicy.

My eyes lit up at the Anise version of a class lemon tart served with lemon syllabub, lemon curd terrine and a lemon sorbet. In addition, I had to go for a crazy shot at the chef’s homemade Limoncello as a £3 supplement. As I tasted the shot first I felt like I’d had an orgasm of the spot. It was an exquisite state awakening where I felt lit up in poignancy. Altogether, the lemon dessert was a zinging mouthwatering scrumptious delight. Tremendous! What a titillating temptation that tingled in textures and tang. My dining companion opted for the chilled vanilla rice pudding with praline tuille, cherry soup and pistachio ice cream. He felt I had to taste that pistachio ice cream as it was completely moreish. I have NO idea I could eat so much, but with food so irresistible how could I decline?

By the time it came round for coffee, I had completely had my fill. Though with eyes bulging at the luscious looking chocolates I just had to sample each one. There was a Baileys, Honey, Crème Mint Truffle and my favourite – a fresh raspberry with white chocolate. They were outstanding. The waiter sweetly created an artistic take away handbag out of tin foil for me to take the extra chocolates for my children. They were devoured in an instant!

The Anise shone! I can fully understand why it was voted the Best Sussex Eating Experience. I can not find a single fault in the eating aspect. I would only have preferred that the toilet was a little closer – it’s situated through another restaurant, up stairs and round into the foyer of the hotel. Possibly this is a good thing in that that added exercise increased appetite? The food was both appetising and scrumptious. The staff were sharp, committed and present. The environment was peaceful and classy without being pretentious.

Ring them and book your experience, it will be worth every penny.

http://www.felbridgehotel.co.uk/anise-restaurant.html

Julia Pearson reviews…

The Viet Grill is located on Kingsland Road amongst a host of other Vietnamese restaurants. But despite stiff competition from their neighbours the Viet Grill still manages to be bustling every night. The décor is nice, the staff are great but as I found out the food is the real winner here!

We started off with the Mango salad and Beef Vinh both dishes recommended by the chef. The Mango salad served with Sun dried squid, mint, smashed nut, julienned mango and sweet chilli sauce was fab. This was the first time I had tried mango salad usually opting for Papaya but it won’t be the last!

The Beef Vinh a roll of five-spice charcoal-grilled beef fillet was cooked to perfection, the meat was tender and the spices really complimented the meaty flavours.

For mains I opted for Seabass Chien Gion, a personal favourite from my visits to Cay Tre, Viet Grill’s sister restaurant, Bong xao sup lo, egg fried rice and plain noodles with bean sprouts and onion. First up the Bong xao sup lo, pork with tiger prawns, shitake mushrooms, cauliflower, wood ear mushrooms and Thai celery, what a dish! For £9 you could literally feed a family of four on this, I had never come across a dish that listed tiger prawns as an additional ingredient and actually contained more than three. Great value and a big thumbs up!

The Seabass served with mango in fish sauce was tasty, a good piece of fish in a light, sweet sauce. As one of my favourite dishes it never fails to impress. The noodles and rice were good, both none greasy and massive portions that we struggled to finish. There is also a good wine menu which you don’t often get in Vietnamese restaurants.

I finished with a glass of Thanh Mai, fermented plum apricot wine, on the rocks, a Hanoi local drink. A little too strong for me but worth a try.

All in all a quality meal and great value. Definitely one of the best Vietnamese meals I have tasted!

Viet Grill, 58 Kingsland Road, Shoreditch, London, E2 8DP

http://www.vietnamesekitchen.co.uk

About Julia Pearson:

Julia Pearson has travelled the world tasting the best dishes from every continent. She is now living and eating in London and her mission is to find the best restaurants and share them with you, our readers! She knows just how frustrating it can be visiting a new town or trying a new restaurant when the food is not up to scratch and it is her personal goal to stop that happening to the public by giving honest, genuine reviews!

To request a review of your restaurant please submit your request here

David Constable Reviews:

Recently I had the delight in tasting Grana (“grain”) Padano cheese at Identita London, held at Vinopolis.

Grana Padano is the best selling PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) cheese in the world and we were presented with three vintages which were chosen to particularly meet the diverse requirements for chefs who enjoy Grana Padano cheese to enhance their recipes.

Now this is a serious cheese, let’s be clear. It’s one of the world’s first hard cheeses, created nearly 1,000 years ago. The cheese is ripe and powerful through all three ripening stages, and is reasonably priced back in Italy, making it preferable to many over Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Sommelier Andrea Rinaldi and Marketing Manager of the Consortium, Elisabetta Serraiotto, were our guides through the combinations of cheese and Italian red wines, the wines chosen specifically to highlight the characteristics of the differently-matured cheeses.
12 month Grana Padano: consisted of a pale yellow colour. The structure of the cheese was soft and delicate and had a creamy, milky texture. Accompanied with “Solane” Valpolicella classico Superiore Ripasso 2007.

18 month Grana Padano: had the same colouring as the 12 month but a denser consistency and when cut, crumbled easier than the 12 month. With a greater ageing came calcium lactate crystals, evident when held to the light and upon tasting, resulting in a mild crunch. The taste is stronger than the 12 month but not overpowering. Accompanied with “Vigneti La Selvanella” Chanti classico Riserva 2006 and our second wine, “Aiace” Salice Salentino Riserva 2006 Castello Monaci.

27 month Grana Padano Riserva: only the ‘most refined’ Grana Padano becomes a “Riserva” – a truly excellent product. The colouring is again similar to the 12 and 18 month matures, and with aromas of butter, nuts and a hint of hay. It’s a tougher cheese and not as soft as the 12 month. There is a greater concentration of calcium lactate and a grainy structure when crumbled. Accompanied with “Proemio” Amarone della Valpolicella 2005 – wowzers! A heavyweight plonk. Full of personality and structure, often referred to as a complex wine, with tobacco, dark berry and a spicy intensity. Full of flavour and warm on the palate.

About David Constable:

David Constable was born in Kent and studied in both the United Kingdom and United States where he found it very difficult living on the student diet of baked beans and super noodles. Once released from academia and thrust into the ‘real world’ he found comfort in an eclectic mix of British, French, Italian and Mexican cuisine. His favourite restaurants in London are Roast and Launceston Place – precision of dishes and fine British game – and he enjoys red wine as much as he does his food. Amarone being his beloved tipple.

Along with his restaurant reviews, David also writes television reviews for Broadcast and a weekly media blog for Production Wizard. His website is: http://davidconstable.wordpress.com

In the following video food writer Gizzi Erskine shows you how you can liven up your daily lunch.

With everyone working harder than ever at the moment, the long leisurely lunch break appears to be a thing of the past. You may find yourselves lucky if you are able to grab 15 minutes halfway through the day, and even then, how many times do you stay at your desk catching up on household bills or emails from friends? This summer Gizzi Erskine and recruitment specialist Monster are on a mission to ‘Bring Back Britain’s Lunch Hour’!

If you are one of these desk junkies then it is often difficult to make sure you have a nutritious lunch. If you are getting fed up of the daily cheese sandwich then Gizzi has the answer.

You can easily bring new live to your lunches with simple changes. Perhaps alter the bread you use, try having a nutritious soup or delicious, healthy salad.

The key is to prepare the night before, remember any left over’s you have can be turned into a delicious meal for the following day. And for those with really hectic lifestyles, make a large quantity at the weekend and then you can take portions throughout the week.

You will be amazed at the difference a healthy tasty lunch can make on your productivity and general well-being come the end of the day. Monster believes the lunch hour is time to enhance work/life balance by spending time away from the desk. Eating good food, learning something new, reading, exercising or just relaxing, will enable smarter working in the afternoon.

In order to help liven up your lunch hour, food writer and presenter Gizzi Erskine has teamed up with Monster.co.uk to provide you with some nutritious and delicious recipes.

In the following video she talks you through a week’s worth of recipes

The missing ingredient that could take your wine appreciation to a new level

It goes without saying that when we’re out for dinner most of us spend a considerable amount of time pouring over the wine list.

Some of us have become so wine obsessed that it even takes precedence over the food menu when we’re at a restaurant.

But even if you know your claret from your Beaujolais and your wine knowledge is the envy of all your friends, you still may not be getting the most out of your bottle, and surprisingly it could all be down to what you are drinking alongside your wine.

How many times have you carefully picked out water when out for dinner. None. Well you wouldn’t be alone. But the practice of ‘water and wine harmonisation’ is growing around the world, with even one of the world’s top sommeliers Andreas Larsson now advising wine lovers on the best water and wine matches to bring out the flavour of your food.

And just as picking the perfect wine can make or break a dish, Andreas believes sipping the right water can enhance even further the food we are eating.

Andreas, who was crowned ‘Best Sommelier of the World’ in 2007, will be conducting water and wine harmonisation sessions on behalf of S. Pellegrino at the Taste of London Festival, which takes place in Regents Park from 17th to the 20th of June.

Now in its seventh year, Taste of London brings together the capital’s finest chefs and restaurants with an extraordinary range of quality food and drink from Britain and around the world.

In the following video Andreas runs through some of his top tips for making sure you’re getting the most out of your wine by selecting the perfect water accompaniment.

Parents are increasingly recognising the importance of offering their child a balanced, nutritious diet in order to promote healthy growth and development. This is particularly important in the early stages, where studies show 40% of children with predisposing clinical conditions (neurodisability, cystic fibrosis) have some degree of under-nutrition1. Thankfully there is a simple way to make sure your whole family gets the nutrition they need, without the hassle of having to prepare different meals.

Steam cooking is recognised as a highly effective and convenient way for busy parents to prepare their children’s food. The versatility of steam cooking means that you can prepare every type of food –vegetables, fruit, cereals, milk, meat and fish – to offer a more varied and balanced diet. For extra convenience, Miele recommends making large batches of baby food which can be frozen into portions, for easy defrosting and reheating at a later date.

Chef Silvana Franco is a food writer and mother of two small children and in the following video she shows you how to create easy capsule style cooking for your whole family.

Taking place 13-16 May 2010 at Olympia in Kensington London, this is surely the summer’s most stylish boutique shopping event where visitors can find inspiration for summer living, pamper themselves and discover beautiful summer getaways.

With an array of carefully selected exhibitors, this event brings together a collection of the season’s most beautiful things, from accessories, fashion and alfresco living to gifts, gourmet food and wine.

Exhibitors already confirmed include ever-popular Jan Constantine with her latest cushion designs, Culinary Concepts with their inspiring homeware and lanterns and Mandarina Silk offering beautiful bespoke silk bedding. To ensure you look your very best this summer, fashion exhibitors already lined up include designer shoes by Gwendolyn Carrie, perfect tailoring by Katherine Hooker and the ultimate in resortwear from Elizabeth Hurley Beach.

Mosimann’s Summer Picnic
Royal caterers and private dining club Mosimann’s provides the ideal venue to relax and indulge, as they offer a fresh and vibrant menu featuring the best seasonal ingredients in their stylish Summer Picnic with beautifully presented food, wine and Champagne.

The Food Hall
As well as sampling the delights of Mosimann’s, discover companies who share a passion for food & wine, and enjoy some of the tempting treats on offer. Gastro Nicks brings the very best in oils and vinegars direct from family producers in Italy, whilst the Truckle Cheese Company will be sampling their latest offerings of renowned cheeses. For food lovers, there are further treats in store with Harvey Nichols Foodmarket offering a plethora of flavours to tantalise the taste buds, plus the new Great Taste Awards area offering you the chance to sample and purchase a selection of gold-award winning food and drinks.

Spirit of Summer Workshop
The Spirit of Summer Workshop offers seasonal inspiration with demonstrations and talks hosted by leading experts. Kate Cook, The Nutrition Coach will be giving advice on how to improve your diet for the perfect summer body. Paula Pryke will be sharing top tips on how to make a beautiful lady’s corsage whilst you create your own using stunning summer flowers, and Mich Turner from the Little Venice Cake Company will demonstrate cake-decorating skills and offer advice on which cake to bake for different occasions, while Cookie Girl and her cupcake expert, Xanthe Milton will introduce you to the wonderful and fun world of cupcake icing and decorating. From creating your very own stunning headpiece at the millinery workshop with hat designer Caroline Morris, presented by The London Ladies Club, to a modern take on Sherry in a tutored tasting with José Collado, wine expert at Harvey Nichols – there is a wonderful selection of interactive workshop sessions offering essential tips and inspiring ideas to make the most of the summer season.

Official Fair Bookstore
For great summer reads, travel guides or recipe books, make a bee-line for The Travel Bookshop (stand C26). As well as hosting book signings after most of the interactive workshop sessions, the stand will feature vintage travel posters from Christie’s (South Kensington).

Enjoy a superb day out at Spirit of Summer Fair – the perfect place to shop, dine and socialise.

Tickets: To book tickets visit www.spiritofsummerfair.co.uk or call 0844 412 4623