Restaurant Reviews - Dine Online

Nuts Magazine creates the ultimate cooking guide for real men- The Nuts MenU

Nuts Magazine the leading men’s magazine and voice of the modern British male has created the Nuts MenU- the indispensible guide for young men on what to eat to help deal with the toughest of everyday REAL male situations.

The Nuts MenU is not about complicated diet regimes but food which directly improves performance in key situations that are relevant to the modern man. These situations break down into 5 key areas; Energy; Concentration & Performance; Libido; Ageing and Body Hygiene.

The boffins at Nuts with the help of renowned nutritionist Nigel Denby RD then devised dishes that would help men deal with these pressing issues within these categories. These include meals to help you succeed at work, drinks to keep the gas away and even how to make great British dishes such as the Cornish Pastie make you clever!

For example:

Need to feel you’re fittest for that crunch Sunday League game but had a few too many the night before?

Why not try a minute steak and fresh black olive aioli breakfast rich in iron to beat fatigue and high in B Vitamins to boost energy metabolism. The combination of nutrients like zinc, vitamin C and magnesium help make sure nothing gets in the way of your performance on the field.

Need to get rid of the girlfriend’s unwanted “headache”?

Don’t go for the obvious oysters and truffles but for glazed pork and a carrot, potato and watercress salad? The pork is a great source of Vitamin B6 which helps raise happiness hormone levels, carrots are a known, ancient aphrodisiac and watercress and potatoes are rich in magnesium needed for hormone regulation and muscle control!

Worried the nights out have taken their toll and you look like your dad 20 years too early?!

Make a liver and olive pate served with berry compote. Liver is high in nucleotides needed to help the body reproduce new cells whilst blueberries and other deep coloured berries, are rich in anthocyanins which help to support blood capillaries and collagen fibres, keeping wrinkles at bay.

Want to stay up all night and finish Call of DutyIV on Xbox Live?

Get the boys round “Jamie Oliver style” and prepare a delicious pear, walnut and chicken salad. Chicken contains Tyrosine which our brains use to produce dopamine and noradrenalin. These in turn help concentration and to keep focus. Walnuts high in Omega-3 essential fatty acids help aid better cognitive function and pears not only taste great but US research suggests that Boron, a mineral found in pears, helps electrical activity in the human brain.

Got a bad case of gas before the girlfriend comes round?

Get on the herbal teas and try making your own fennel and ginger tea. The fennel and ginger will calm the gut right down and make sure you’ve got a scent free home for her visit.

The Nuts Magazine MenU addresses all these problems with easy to make recipes, useful and practical nutritional information and uses a mix of known and a few less well known ingredients. The MenU also turns its attention to local traditional dishes with a few great MenU twists on regional favourites. These include a clever Cornish pastie (great for the brain), a welsh rarebit that keeps flatulence at bay and a Lancashire hotpot that’s good for the skin!

Nuts Editor-At-Large Pete Cashmore says,

“You don’t have to be a Bridget Jones-reading salad-leaf-nibbling freak to be interested in diet, and the Nuts MenU shows you that the nosh that you nosh can directly affect your everyday life – for the better! Some of the ingredients may seem a little odd – in fact, they sound flipping weird – but this is nevertheless essential reading for all blokes who are looking to better themselves, and get a quick snack in as they do so.”

For a full and free list of all the Nuts MenU recipes and tips check out www.nuts.co.uk/nutsmenu

A Warm Scottish Welcome at Uplawmoor Hotel and Restaurant

Uplawmoor, Neilston Road, Uplawmoor, Glasgow, G78 4AF

www.uplawmoor.co.uk

Uplawmoor Hotel and Restaurant offers true Scottish hospitality at it’s finest. The independent, family run hotel is situated in the picturesque village of Uplawmoor, just 10 miles from Glasgow yet representing the tranquilities of rural Scotland at its best. The hotels recently refurbished accommodation offers luxurious homely comforts and the restaurant is the perfect place to experience the finest Scottish cuisine.

Since 1992 husband and wife Stuart & Emma Peacock and their dedicated team have been continually striving to meet and live up to their mission statement:

“To be the best Scottish Village Inn by continuing to exceed our customer’s expectation with both our product and service”

Their hard work and dedication has been confirmed by the number of awards and accolades they have been presented with. Their most recent success is a shortlisting for the Customer Care Thistle award; they share the nomination with The Old Course St Andrews and Skirling House, both 5 star establishments.

Emma commented:

“It would be a dream to win, but even to be one of the final 3 in Scotland is an amazing achievement. It is a common misconception that the number of stars display the level of service offered, Uplawmoor is proud to offer 5 star service at 3 star prices, and hopefully this will be recognised”.

The winner will be announced at a ceremony held at the Edinburgh International Conference centre on Friday 24th October.

Las Iguanas-a Latino affair in Soho

Jacklyn Swiecicki reports from the Launch Party!

The launch party for the new Las Iguanas Latin American restaurant in Soho sounded fabulous from the get-go. On offer: Latin cocktails, tapas, and the promise of entertainment sized up to `carnival proportions’!

Upon entry, Las Iguanas was heaving with patrons, all shuffling to the thumping drums of the Carnival themed music. Showgirls with large feathered head pieces – and not much else- sashayed through the crowds and added to the real Carnival party atmosphere that everyone seemed to be blissfully lapping up.

Brazilian Caipirinha sugared cocktails flowed freely, as did other colored concoctions of watermelon and orange muddled drinks. Whilst drink prices are steep, £13 for a jug of cocktail and £5.30 for a glass of house white wine, the Soho crowd didn’t mind too much about parting with their pounds for these addictive, fresh and potent drinks.

As expected, the bar and waiting staff were all very sexy, adding to the whole exotic ambiance of Las Iguanas. Carrying around samples of tapas the staff were all friendly and festive, without a hint of snobbery or un-approachability. The tapas on the other hand, seemed incompatible amongst the Latino party. With tapas dishes starting at £4.70 and main dishes at £7.50-£15, the chicken skewers were somewhat bland and the seafood risotto balls were too fishy and a tad dry. I was expecting some Jamón (cured ham) or at least some authentic tapas dishes, but I was instead disappointed with the ‘Western’ canapé selection. Thankfully, one gorgeous waiter did finally bring me some fried-up Chorizo, a spicy Spanish sausage – that was more like it!

Las Iguanas is perfect for after work drinks where you really need to break free from the daily office grind, and kick back and soak up the carnival buzz that is so seamlessly achieved. The regular menu does look tempting, and I am keen to sample some more traditional Latino dishes. I am hoping that perhaps the tapas menu for the launch party was not entirely reflective of the true capabilities of the resident chef.

Whilst my small sampling of tapas was not exactly spot-on, the atmosphere and vibe was definitely infectious. I know that I, and the guests surrounding me, will definitely be visiting Las Iguanas again to hit the dance floor and Salsa! Viva La Carnival!

Las Iguanas

Soho, London, W1D 4PS

www.iguanas.co.uk

Jacklyn Swiecicki

UK’S TOP CHEFS AND CRITICS JOIN RESTAURANTS AGAINST HUNGER – OCTOBER 2008

Every five seconds a child dies of hunger. Shocking isn’t it? Over 500 restaurateurs and chefs up and down the country think so and have joined forces to take part in Restaurants Against Hunger this October. A campaign from humanitarian charity, Action Against Hunger, Restaurants Against Hunger asks you to help fight hunger simply by eating out.

Throughout the month of October, to coincide with World Food Day on the 16th, restaurants, cafes and gastropubs will be busy fundraising by either donating a part of their takings to the charity, adding a small optional donation to their bills or hosting special events. All you have to do is pop along to a participating eatery and enjoy a great meal knowing that you have helped people in some of the world’s poorest countries feed their families.

Supporters of Restaurants Against Hunger include chefs Michel Roux Jr, Raymond Blanc (OBE), Giorgio Locatelli and Antonio Carluccio whilst restaurants signed up to date range from groups such as Carluccio’s to fine dining establishments including Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, The Cinnamon Club, Restaurant Sat Bains, Saf, Pied a Terre and The French Horn and gastropubs like The Gun and White Swan. For a full list of participating venues around the country, please visit www.restaurantsagainsthunger.org

Rick Stein puts the case simply: “I believe it is important to take positive action. Together we can work towards a hunger free world; a world where everybody can have enough food to eat and access to safe drinking water; a world where no child goes to sleep hungry.”

One event destined to be the highlight of Restaurants Against Hunger month is Too Many Critics – an exclusive fundraising feast featuring the UK’s most renowned restaurant reviewers and celebrated chefs. Taking place on 19th October at the Royal Exchange Grand Café & Bar, this dinner will see a brave band of a brave band of ten food critics, including Charles Campion (The Evening Standard), Jay Rayner (The Observer), Matthew Fort (The Guardian) and Tom Parker-Bowles (The Mail on Sunday) being unleashed on the kitchen. Whilst diners enjoy an evening of fantastic food, fine wine and convivial company, tensions in the kitchen will run high as tables will be hosted by more than a dozen high-profile chefs. This is your once in a lifetime chance to dine alongside the likes of Raymond Blanc OBE (Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons), Shane Osborn (Pied à Terre), Fergus Henderson (St.John), Atul Kochhar (Benares) and Oliver Prince (Royal Exchange Grand Café and Bar).

From a kitchen in full sight of guests, the critics’ culinary labours will be beamed to large TV screens around the dining room, exposing every foible. During the evening, master of ceremonies and BBC Radio foodie, Nigel Barden, will be disrupting the cooks on duty for a chat and will invite dining chefs to pass comment on their technique. A charity auction featuring unique ‘money can’t buy’ lots, such as a one-off plate specially designed by Gordon Ramsay, will also take place.

Tickets for Too Many Critics are £130 and include a Champagne Taittinger reception, fiver course dinner and rare breed British pork tasting, with all proceeds going towards the life-saving work of Action Against Hunger. Special discounts are available for group bookings, with 10 tickets at £1200. A very limited number of Golden Tickets are also available for £250, allowing the lucky holder to sit right next to the chef of his or her choice and spend the evening in the company of a food hero. To purchase tickets for Too Many Critics, please contact Aimee Rowlands on E: a.rowlands@aahuk.org or T: 020 8293 6138.

Last year saw the Restaurants Against Hunger campaign in the UK raise over £300,000, with all funds going directly to support the vital work of Action Against Hunger. This year, why not give the campaign a special 10th birthday present by helping them to reach their target of £450,000.

Ping Pong Bow Bells

BOW BELLS CHIMES TO THE SOUND OF
‘PING PONG’

To be a true cockney you should be born within the sound of Bow Bells, however to be a cool and contemporary Londoner you should have discovered the delights of 21st century teahouse and dim sum emporium, Ping Pong. With this chic eatery having just opened its first City branch on Bread Street, in the shadows of St Mary-le-Bow’s church, this September, hard working suits can now take a well-deserved break from the credit crunch and savour Ping Pong’s fantastically affordable and delicious cuisine.

Following on from successful launches in Hampstead and St Katherine Docks earlier this summer, Ping Pong is continuing to add to its expanding portfolio with Bow Bells being the tenth venue in the capital. Opening in Bow Bells House, the restaurant will serve over 40 hand-made dim sum dishes muddled with the finest fruit cocktails and infused with exotic flowering teas.

Ping Pong Bow Bells provides capacious, open plan dining, serving up to 204 eager dim sum enthusiasts. Floor to ceiling glass walls draw the outside in, whilst circular dining tables, communal benches, and high and low stools provide a choice of settings for breakfast, light lunches, afternoon tea, cocktails and evening dinners. For those at the dim sum bar, the culinary theatre of steaming baskets adds to the experience, and a dedicated lounge bar area is ideal for casual get-togethers or informal business meetings with the added benefit of free wifi. Drawing on Ping Pong’s signature style, the interior is delightfully sleek and modern.

Maintaining their value for money ethos, Ping Pong continues to serve a range of dishes to share at remarkably affordable prices with many delights starting from just £2.99 each, including steamed dumplings, buns and salads. Combined with an excellent cocktail, fruit blend and aromatic tea selection, Ping Pong is an all day venue for all day diners.

Ping Pong Bow Bells will be open;
Monday to Wednesday from 10am to 10pm
Thursday to Friday 10am to midnight

Ping Pong Bow Bells
Bow Bells House, 1 Bread Street, London, EC4M 9BE

Firing up Festival New Orleans

Friday and Saturday 24th / 25th October will be a weekend to celebrate - ‘New Orleans style’, as the deep South’s’ finest exports have joined forces to provide what can only be described as two days of ‘food for the soul’. Not only is there going to be entertainment from some of the very best jazz performers in the world, but there will also be a plethora of the most delicious, typically Louisiana Cajun / Creole food. Nearly all traditional Cajun / Creole food contains one key ingredient – Tabasco. Tabasco is the native New Orleans hot pepper sauce, it was created in 1868, so has been a staple ingredient in the Louisiana culture for 140 years.

In addition to soul moving performances from the likes of Dr John and Allen Toussaint, there will be cookery demonstrations from Tabasco’s very own UK chef who’ll be more than happy to give out some samples and may even need a hand from the audience. Festival New Orleans promises to be a ‘fun filled’ event full of mouth-watering delicacies and musical excellence. And what with the New Orleans All Saints over for Sunday’s NFL game, there’ll be no other option than to really embrace the Deep South’s way of life.

Festival New Orleans, O2 Arena, London, SE10 0DX – Friday 24th October 5pm – 11pm and Saturday 25th October 3pm – 11pm

The Jolly Gardener, 214 Garratt Lane, London

Reviewed By Simon Jobson

date of Visit: 21st September 2008.

I was in two minds to recommend this establishment as it’s getting busy on
it’s own and I still want to be able to get a table.

My wife’s favourite place to eat and now mine too. Eaten there on many occasions and the menu
always seems to be varied and well thought out and the food is always
excellent! Great, great place, especially for a lazy Sunday lunch. After
asking the Head Chef, (Ian I think?) about various aspects of the food on
offer it seems that virtually everything is made from scratch in the
kitchen, starting with the bread, which can only be a good thing… Try
the place, I think it’s excellent.

The Jolly Gardener
214 Garratt Lane, London, SW18 4EA
Tel No = 02088708417

Lands of Loyal Hotel, Alyth, Perthshire

Luxury Perthshire hotel under new ownership and new hotel group created

The Lands of Loyal a luxury four star Perthshire hotel has been bought by David and Verity Webster. The purchase of this exquisite property means that the couple now own and operate three independently owned country house hotels across Scotland, which they will consolidate under the name Webster Hotels.

The Websters bought their first property Castleton House Hotel in Eassie – just six miles away from historic Glamis Castle in 2000 followed in 2006 by Raemoir House Hotel at Banchory on Royal Deeside.

Commented on their recent acquisition, the couple advised that that they had long admired the Lands of Loyal, which is just a 15 minute drive away from their company base at Castleton and they are delighted to have secured ownership of the property for a undisclosed six figure sum.

Located at Alyth, near Blairgowrie the Lands of Loyal is an early 19th century Historic Scotland listed mansion house built in the 1830’s by Sir William Ogilvie on his triumphant return from the Battle of Waterloo, for his family, on their extensive Airlie Estates.

Built in an elevated position on the four acres of the south slope of what is known as Loyal Hill, this magnificent red sandstone property is surrounded by extensive mature gardens and benefits from beautiful southerly views over the Vale of Strathmore to the Sidlaw Hills beyond.

The house became a hotel in 1945 and still retains many of its original features – from its neo-Tudor porch to oak panelled great hall with its vaulted ceiling, central cupola, grand open fireplace and sweeping winged staircase, modelled on the interior of the famous steam ship - The Mauritania. Some of the hotel’s fixtures and fittings are also believed to have come from the ship herself.

Other facilities include 17 spacious luxury bedrooms (one of which is a stately four poster room) complete with several pieces of original furniture and antiquities. The rooms also include recently refurbished bathrooms and state of the art flat screen televisions, restaurant, three interlinking light and airy dining rooms with stunning views over the Strath and lounge bar.

The hotels key areas of business are it’s a la carte restaurant, weddings and short breaks markets and the new owners are keen to build upon this and keep the existing character of the hotel, which is well respected and established in the nearby locality and across Scotland.

Lands of Loyal Hotel, Alyth, Perthshire, PH11 8JQ, Tel 01828 633151, www.landsofloyal.com

Castleton House Hotel is a 3AA red star country house hotel in glorious Tayside, with a well earned reputation as one of the best places in Scotland for food ambience and service. Head chef Matt Dobson serves award winning cuisine and the restaurant was awarded an EatScotland Gold award in 2007, grouping Castleton amongst Scotland’s elite restaurants, and currently holds the highest grading awarded to an Angus hotel. There are six beautiful spacious bedrooms, each individually decorated to the highest standard, with the very latest fabrics and furnishings. www.castletonglamis.co.uk / Tel 01307 840340

Raemoir House Hotel is one of the most beautiful country house hotel and working estates in the Highlands. Dating back to the 16th Century, this magnificent stately house is situated in 3,500 acres of parkland and forest. A popular conference and wedding venue the hotel has 20 bedrooms and is only 30 minutes drive from Aberdeen. The hotel also has its own private helipad and recently hosted an event attended by the Prime Minister and Secretary for Trade.
www.raemoir.com

David and Verity Webster

Prior to owning and operating Castleton House Hotel David had an illustrious career in management at some of the most prestigious hotels in Britain; whilst Verity came to hotel management by a less direct route from nursing and interior design.

David’s 20 year career in the catering industry has included spells working at some of the most prestigious hotels in London and Scotland. From serving Royalty to working with the doyen of boutique hotel style Anouska Hempel. Roles have included 1990’s - Consultant to Royal Scotsman luxury train, General Manager of Roxburgh Hotel and Golf in Kelso (part of the luxury estate in the Scottish Borders owned by The Duke and Duchess of Roxburgh), Manager at Blakes Hotel London, Deputy Manager at Westin Turnberry hotel and golf course, and at the outset of his career in the 1980’s various roles over a four year period at Claridges as part of the Savoy Management training programme culminating in the role of House Manager at aged 27 years, he was highlighted as one of the top 30, under 30’s and received and Acorn Award.

Verity began her career in nursing. She specialised in palliative oncology and coronary care. Verity’s talents lie in her attention to detail, flair for interior design and creativity. Verity first developed her passion for gardening whilst still nursing when she worked part-time as a gardener at four Scottish gardens whilst working in occupational health with the British Nursing Association. These attributes have been invaluable in making Castleton what it is today as she single handedly designed the décor and layout for Castleton House and has tirelessly maintained the 10 acres established gardens at Castleton, which include a manicured croquet lawn, established borders and productive kitchen garden and fruit orchard. Verity has always had an interest in interiors and property and she later moved to a role working with an Edinburgh based antique and interior design specialist and holders of a Royal Warrant, which means much of their design work, is often seen in Royal Residences and National Trust properties.

What’s close by

The hotel is perfectly located for the easy access from the nearby cities of Perth, St Andrews, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee. Nearby tourist attractions include Glamis Castle – childhood home of the Queen Mother, Scone Palace, Discovery Point at Dundee, Kirriemuir, Blairgowrie and the beautiful lush countryside of Perthshire and Angus.

The Fire Station, Shepherds Bush Road, London

The Fire Station - a unique restaurant & bar set in a historically preserved early 20th century Fire Station.

The Fire Station
244 Shepherds Bush Road,
Hammersmith
London W6 7NL

Reservations and Information: 0333 240 2000

Email: info@firestationhammersmith.co.uk

Web: www.firestationhammersmith.co.uk

The Fire Station is a unique restaurant & bar set in a historically preserved early 20th century Fire Station. Preserved under guidance from English Heritage, The Fire Station brings a relaxing and comfortable environment to Hammersmith and asks you to feel and treat it like a home-away-from-home.

The Fire Station is an iconic piece of British history and the food offering reflects this traditional feeling.

At the Fire Station Hammersmith we are passionate about our ingredients and their provenance. We are dedicated to using seasonal produce from Organic, free-range and artisan producers.

Buying directly from farms, growers and fishermen ensures that only the freshest possible ingredients are delivered to our kitchen. In the kitchen we believe that with ingredients of this quality, the simplest thing done properly will produce some of the finest and honest food in London.

The Canteen:

The Fire Station will be offering both a canteen menu for those who wish to remain more informal or are undecided, or alternatively the main dining room menu.

The Dining Room Menu:

The Fire Station menu is based upon home-cooked, locally sourced fresh food. It is a healthy but hearty combination of the finest ingredients.

From Cornish squid to Weymouth crab through to Essex Pork and Norfolk bronze turkey the Fire Station will take you on a tour of the UK’s fields and farms.

Some Examples….

Starters:

Maldon Rock Oysters
Mushroom tart with truffled egg
Weymouth crab cocktail
Telmara duck pastrami

Main Courses:

Portland fish pie
Chicken spago and vegetable succotash
Bridgette lamb rump with Jerusalem artichoke
Ribeye steak with handcut chips, sweet onions and house butter

Puddings:

Cheeseboard of the day
Poached peach melba coupe
Sticky toffee pudding
Vanilla ice cream and lemon parfait sandwich.

The Dining Room is open from 12.00pm until 3.00pm then closes in order to prepare the fresh produce for the evening. The Dining Room opens for supper at 6.00pm with last orders at 10.00pm

Canteen Menu:

The bar menu offers a range of fresh soups, sandwiches and salads, including onion n’ale soup, roast free chicken sandwich with sage & onion stuffing on crusty white home-made bread, grilled rump steak with rocket or why not try a healthy salad consisting of your classic caesar with garlic croutons & poached egg or a Greek meze-falafel, aubergine caviar, cucumber relish with hummus. The bar menu however bows down to the Fire Station Club Sandwich – we need say no more.

Drinks:

A selection of wines and a very broad range of premium continental lagers, such as Sagres on tap, some of which are exclusive to the Fire Station. Come along and try out a new fruit beer, many of which are proving to be ever increasingly popular.

In an exciting twist The Fire Station’s Beverage Director has spent some time in Belgium recently at the headquarters of the Duval Brewery. After extensive negotiations and much tasting, The Fire Station is proud to announce that it is the first UK restaurant and bar to carry the revered Vedette White as a draft beer.

In addition to the real ales, draft beers and Belgian beauties, the wine list is wonderfully chosen for a light and refreshing change to the typical high street offering. Bought straight from the vineyards themselves, the taste of the rolling vineyards is literally a breath of fresh air.

Fire Station Opening Hours:

11am - 12 midnight, Monday to Saturday
12 noon - 11.30pm Sunday

The Docklands Bar and Grill

Reviewed By Sebastian Chang

The Docklands Bar and Grill
Royal Victoria Dock
Western Gateway
London
E16 1AL

I’d heard a few good things about this new restaurant from some
work colleagues so I thought I’d try it for myself. I took my parents
there for dinner, it had been a while since I last saw them and my boss
said it had a very ambient atmospehere, perfect for a pleasant catch up
with the folks.

We went on a Wednesday night in September and although it was surprisingly
busy, we were seated immediately by friendly staff. The first thing that
struck us as we sat down was the wonderful view of the Royal Victoria Dock
as well as the 02 Dome and Canary Wharf. Before even ordering our food we
felt settled and comfortable; the dining area was busy but not overly
crowded, we enjoyed the atmosphere and could hear each other talk.

The menu was impressive. A nice, original selection of meat, seafood and
vegetarian dishes were available for both starter and main. Being big
desert fans, we skipped the starters even though a number of them
appealed, particularly the marinated sea bass and guacamole and the
sauteed chicken livers with roast figs. I ordered the scallop, cod and
prawn fish pie(£13.50) whilst my parents ordered a tuna ratatouille (£14)
and a calf’s liver with mash (£12). The portions were abolutely spot-on,
we felt satisfied but certainly had room left for desert. My mother, a
great cook in her own right, deemed the ingredients very fresh and of good
quality though this should really be expected. The waiting time was ok
but I’m always happy to wait a bit longer if it is obvious due care and
attention has been given to the meal.

We were all looking forward to our deserts and weren’t disappointed when
they arrived. We ordered three apple & blackcurrent crumbles(£5.50), each
served with a generous helping of freshly made custard and fresh fruit.

The bill came to just less than £80 including drinks and service charge
which, whilst not affordable on a regular basis, felt was fairly
reasonable for the quality of our food and good service. We had a great
evening and it was all the better for the style and atmosphere of the
restaurant. We left well fed and watered; this is definately a great
place to come for all sorts of occasions and I will certainly be returning
in the future.

The Docklands Bar and Grill
Royal Victoria Dock
Western Gateway
London
E16 1AL
tel: 0207 055 2119
http://www.docklandsbarandgrill.co.uk/index.php