Hill+Knowlton Strategies

Last month saw the much anticipated opening of Balthazar in Covent Garden and whilst the Food Bites blog has not been lucky enough to eat there yet, we already feel as if we will love it. Owned by Keith McNally and bearing the same name as his highly successful restaurant in NYC.

Balthazar, Covent Garden. Image via http://bit.ly/ZMnivK

The menu features everything you would expect from a traditional French Brasserie and the décor of bright leather banquettes, mirrors and high ceilings helps to create to the buzzy, informal atmosphere that makes this type of restaurant a pleasurable experience.

Balthazar has big boots to fill in the form of the other leading grand cafes The Woslely, The Delaunay and Brasserie Zedel but we have high hopes for this newcomer and if the reviews are anything to go by, the hype definitely matches the reality.

The Woslely. Image via http://bit.ly/13HOAo1

There was once a time when sparkling wine was a treat for only the most significant of occasions – New Year’s Eve, birthdays, weddings etc. – unless of course you were a Formula 1 driver. If Champagne was a bit out of your price range then you could reach for the Cava or the Prosecco, but whichever variety of sparkling wine you chose, momentous occasions would be accompanied by much fumbling and straining followed by that loud, satisfying pop. A toast really doesn’t feel quite like a toast unless there’s an elegant long glass of something fizzy in your hands.

We like fizzy wine

However, new market research this week predicted that the Britain will soon become the world’s biggest importer of champagne and sparkling wine in the next five years. People are increasingly drinking champagne and other sparkling wines as a fairly standard way to end the week or as a default request at a bar. We in the H+K Food + Drink team are certainly not immune to this trend and many have experienced the wrath of the team for not buying enough bottles of Prosecco on a Friday night. The H+K Healthcare team behind the app Apple a Day blog are equally enthusiastic about the fizzy stuff.

The variety of sparkling wines available in the UK today has also increased, and southern England is becoming world renowned for the quality of its sparkling wine (as discussed previously on the Food Bites blog). There are currently over 400 active vineyards in the UK, but it is the chalky soils of the South Downs that are attracting the most attention. Experts say that the same seam of chalk running underneath the Champagne region extends across the channel to the Downs. This gives some English sparkling wines the same characteristic qualities as some of their more famous Gallic counterparts.

Having the wine of your life: Tamara Ecclestone's bar bill. Image via http://bit.ly/Te70In

So, now that sparkling wine has been turned into everyday humdrum bar-fodder, what can you do to add some fizz into your nights to really impress your friends? Well, if you’re looking for something really spectacular, you could always try to the master the art of “sabrage” – the ceremonial opening of a Champagne bottle with a specially made sword. Of course, if you have more money than sense you could always just take after the young rich socialites of this world and work your way up the list of wonderfully-named super-size champagne bottles: the Jeroboam, Rehoboam, Methuselah, Salmanazar, Balthazar or the gigantic 15 litre Nebuchadnezzar.

However, if you don’t have £30,000 to spend on a night out, but still want a glass or two of bubbly, try to savour it and remember the words of Napoleon:

“Champagne! In victory one deserves it; in defeat one needs it.”

As the world’s most stylish people descended upon Somerset House for London Fashion Week, the past week has seen London submerged in a sea of designer talent, supermodels and fashionistas. Recognised by a global audience, London Fashion Week is renowned for its edge, individuality and inventiveness. So we thought we’d take a look into how London Fashion Week has inspired the world of Food and Drink.

Shoe Bar at The Mayfair Hotel

Image via http://bit.ly/OsKS9V

Fall head over heels for London Fashion Week with iconic shoe inspired cocktails at The Mayfair Hotel. Effortlessly combining the two loves of any fashionista; their expert mixologists have unified six classic shoes with six classic cocktails. If you see yourself as the next Anna Wintour then think of The Devil Wears Prada and go for the Red Stiletto, a frozen raspberry vodka laced with cherry liqueur and charged with champagne. Or if you’re more of a Manolo Blahnik girl think of Carrie Bradshaw and indulge in the Strappy Sandal with the girls.

The Hummingbird Bakery backstage at Matthew Williamson

Image via http://on.fb.me/XX7hyO

Fashion loves a Cupcake and these pretty little treats never miss a chance to get in front of the camera often appearing in magazines and ad campaigns. This time however, they’ve been spotted mingling backstage at Matthew Williamson’s pre show at The Royal Opera House. Opting for Mini Delights, smaller (and of course lighter) cupcakes were devoured backstage in Williamson’s signature colours whilst red velvet, fought with chocolate and vanilla for the limelight.

Reed Krakoff for Laduree

Image via http://bit.ly/XOyO4G

It wouldn’t be fashion week without a collaboration. Following in the footsteps of Marni, Christian Louboutin, Lanvin and Matthew Williamson, Reed Krakoff has created an exclusive box of black chocolate Macaroons for Paris pattieserie Laduree. These simple yet stylish, matte black indulgences are a winner this season.

Molly Bakes fashion Inspired Cake Pops

Image via http://bit.ly/15MxvZB

Fancy taking a bite out of Karl Largerfeld or Donatella Versace. Well now you can with these fashion inspired Cake Pops. The pops are made of little balls of cake mixed with icing sugar dipped in candy and come fresh out of Molly’s East London Bakery. The range includes many faces of the fashion elite such as Victoria Beckham (quite literally is a head on a stick), Vivienne Westwood, Anna Wintour and Andre Leon Tally.

There is nothing better than a well-crafted cocktail, saying that there is nothing worse than a badly made cocktail, so we thought we would share our favourite cocktail bars in Londontown with you!

Artesian Bar @ The Langham

http://www.artesian-bar.co.uk/artesian.html

Image credit: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/activity/food-and-wine/no-ordinary-pub-crawl-20120830-252t6.html

This chic and glamorous bar has been voted as one of the world’s top bars and never fails us. The service is impeccable, and if you arrive just after 6pm on any weekday you will be greeted with a buzzing atmosphere and a charming host. Once seated, you will have a fully loaded cocktail menu offering anything from your classic cocktails through to the bars own famous creations. Saying that, if you just can’t decide what you feel like, ask your host to recommend something.

Trailer Happiness

http://www.trailerhappiness.com/

Image via http://londoncocktailscholars.co.uk/trailer-happiness/

Don’t let the look from outside fool you, this place is a fantastic cocktail bar with a relaxed atmosphere in the heart of Notting Hill. We stumbled across Trailer a few months back and it was an instant winner in our books. The staff are extremely friendly and provide a calm and relaxed service. Cocktails are priced competitively, with a G+T coming in around £8.

Worship Street Whistling Shop

http://www.whistlingshop.com/

Image via: http://www.designmynight.com/london/reviews/worship-street-whistling-shop-bar-review

Has been open for a few years now, and if you are ever looking to experience a new type of cocktail, we highly recommend it. Entering through a black doorway from a quiet street (Worship Street), you head down a few steps in to a room that appears like you have gone back in time. With its Victorian gin palace concept, expect to find an array of cocktails here that come with one or two ingredients you most likely will not have tried before.

ECC

http://www.chinatownecc.com/

Image via http://www.sergetheconcierge.com/2010/12/seeing-is-believing-experimental-cocktail-club-london-now-open-in-chinatown.html

Situated in the middle of Chinatown, unless you are looking for this place you will never find it. Hidden behind a small door, you are greeted by security who asks if you are on the list! Depending on how busy it is, sometimes you need to be on that list! On entering the townhouse building, you are greeted with a few decisions – drinks at the bar being our normal choice rather a table! Now a warning, the cocktails here are amazing, but watch out as they tend to be a little strong! A classic cocktail bar, with a lively atmosphere.

Wilkommen, bienvenue and welcome once again into Food Bites’ warm, slightly suffocating embrace. Let’s be honest, this week’s been a bit rubbish hasn’t ok? Ok, the snow was fun for about an hour, but then everything in London stopped working, all life became about 20% harder than it normally is and, worst of all, it’s still only THURSDAY (or Friday, if for some reason you’re late to the party). This week also saw Blue Monday, everyone’s favourite scientifically dubious national day of misery. Which means, if you’re reading this, that you’ve somehow managed to survive. So well done you. Food Bites very much approves of resilience in its readers, so as a reward we thought we’d compile this thoroughly entertaining list *cough* shameless link bait *cough* for your enjoyment. We’re nice like that. Read the rest of this entry »

Black Beauty. Ketchup optional.

 I’ll have the Black Beauty please – with extra cheese and onion rings on the side.    

Jokes aside (and there are many) as the nation reels at the recent discovery that horse meat DNA has been found to be contained in some ‘beef’ burgers sold in supermarkets in the UK, it got me thinking… Read the rest of this entry »

The international trade in garlic is a whiffy business. According to AP, Sweden has issue an arrest warrant for “two Britons suspected of masterminding a garlic smuggling ring.” Quite how much garlic smuggling constitutes a “ring” and how much “masterminding” this entails are slightly beyond us. However, the story piqued our interest in the trading of international foodstuffs. As the world becomes smaller, trade becomes faster, and we all get a taste for more exotic ingredients, food is crossing borders like never before.

  Read the rest of this entry »

Let’s be honest, Food Bites hasn’t been at its best this week. Most of today has been spent staring gormlessly at a flickering computer screen trying to remember what it’s like being a productive member of the workforce. After two weeks of doing nothing more taxing than playing a few rounds of Cluedo: Sherlock Edition, office life seems deeply surreal. Also, we might still be a *little* bit hungover. December was one long bacchic orgy of decadence punctuated by only occasional bouts of sleep, and we’ve a hazy memory of spending the wee hours of New Year’s Day with a bottle of tequila on an abandoned council estate in Elephant and Castle. It’s been emotional. Read the rest of this entry »

The elusive Sushi Samba has finally made it to Londontown after being quite a hit in in America. I first went to the New York restaurant 7 years back with a bunch of girlfriends (yes because of Sex and The City) followed by the one in Miami. I’ve always quite enjoyed it, especially since it came at a time when fusion dining was very popular. So, yes, I was quite excited for it to launch in London, albeit knowing that the reputation of the franchise has steadily declined over the past few years. Read the rest of this entry »

This Friday (7^th December), the Vauxhall Tea House Theatre, will be transformed into an Oompa Loompa filled, chocolate covered paradise, as it is transformed into a pop up restaurant, which brings the children’s classic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to life.

For one night only, guests will enjoy a three course Charlie and the Chocolate Factory inspired meal featuring all of the tomato soup-roast beef-blueberry pie references you could possibly imagine, whilst enjoying Butterscotch and Buttergin cocktails and everlasting gobstoppers. Personally, I can’t imagine a better way to spend a Friday evening… Read the rest of this entry »