2 Restaurant Review: Jimmy’s Lodge

What’s the word for a fondue expert? A Fonduesier? A Cheeselier? Fondanatic? Whatever it is, I like to feel in my own way, I am one. I’ve had two birthdays in a row at Soho’s famous St Moritz and am the first to go for fondue whenever I’m visiting an even remotely Swiss country. Rule number 1: it has to be cheese. I’ve never understood the appeal of cooking small slithers of meat in bubbling hot oil. It doesn’t make for a better meat dish and you just end up burning yourself. Don’t even get me started on chocolate fondue (not a thing). Rule 2: it has to boozy. Have a fondue in America and there’s a risk you get the under-21 version, I want...

14 Restaurant Review: Roast

You probably haven’t looked up in Borough Market very much. Sure, the trains may have caught your eye once or twice, but if you’re anything like me you’re usually distracted by the array of (increasingly expensive) cheese, ham and bread available at one of London’s best markets. Roast Restaurant: The Lowdown It was only recently that I discovered – perched above the market – Roast Restaurant which differs from many of the stalls below by focusing on deliciously British produce. The room itself is amazing, with high ceilings and loads of natural light. Be sure to ask for a table near the window so you can watch the hustle and...

0 Hotel Review: Mas De Pierre

The South of France divides opinion: some go for the rolling countryside, the rustic chateaus, and tiny neighbourhood restaurants – then there’s the other side – the vast bottles of rosé, fish that’s more expensive than gold and beaches where every grain of sand is chopped up and sold to the highest bidder. At times Cannes, St Tropez and Antibes (to name a few) seem to cater purely for the haves and the have yachts with the less opulent travellers still paying through the nose for fairly average French fare. Then there are French waiters, if you haven’t been humiliated by a French waiter, it’s a unique experience. The up-down look, the English...

3 Restaurant Review: Smiths of Smithfield

As someone who lives in Farringdon, I’ve been coming to Smiths of Smithfield for many, many years. It has always been one of the area’s most reliable spots for a buzzing atmosphere and, naturally, great meat. So it was with a touch of trepidation that I returned following a recent refurbishment. It turns out that Smith’s has been brought by big boys pub group, Youngs. They’ve spent the last few months putting their own twist on a restaurant which hasn’t changed in a decade. The ground floor looks fairly similar: it’s the menu that’s changed. Although I didn’t eat here, they’re now offering a lighter menu with healthier options...

4 The Bull in Ditchling: Hotel Review

The World Cup has finished, Wimbledon slipped by under its shadow and there’s even talk of the end of the very un-British weather. It’s no wonder that heads are drooping and spirits are deflating in offices and homes across London. There’s only one thing for it: it’s time to pack the bags and get out of the city. And no sooner was I planning on a countryside break, when I was contacted by the kind folks at The Bull in Ditchling. Admittedly, I’d never heard of Ditchling, but it turns out it’s just over an hour out of London. Get off at Hassocks on the train to Brighton where you can either walk or grab a quick cab to the chocolate-box town....

0 Tonica: Restaurant Review

There’s a certain nervousness when one of the best chefs you know flies into London for one evening only. Luckily for me, I live within walking distance of what might just be the nicest foodie street in the capital. There’s no shortage of great restaurants on Exmouth Market, with a buzzing atmosphere and no cars – it’s usually only the weather you have to worry about. Berber & Q, Morito and Caravan already provide very reliable spots for food and drink (provided you can get in), but this time I was here to try something new. Tonica Review: The Lowdown Portobello Road Gin, the team behind The Distillery, has just launched Tonica their...

0 Restaurant Review: Claw

Carnaby Street is usually somewhere I only associate with buying shoes. However, hidden behind the Office and Schuh shops, Kingly Court now houses several of London’s best up and coming restaurants including Señor Ceviche, Rum Kitchen and Pizza Pilgrims. It was only after five minutes of searching there that I realised that Kingly Street (not court) is where Claw has opened its first site, on an even nicer, more hidden, street running parallel to Carnaby. Nestled next to zagging ad agency BBH, Claw is a cosy, perfectly lit venue that immediately makes you feel welcome on entry. The room is buzzing with an energy and passion that really only...

0 The 5 Best Documentaries You Haven't Seen

It's great to see that documentaries are slowly becoming more and more popular. They even have their own category now at the Oscars. The only problem is that most people only ever watch mainstream docs, the Michael Moore's, Man on Wire, Project Nim etc etc. I guess the problem is that the lesser known but equally brilliant ones are difficult to find. If only someone curated a list on their obscure blog...the wait is over: 1. My Kid Could Paint That. This is a brilliant doc, totally absorbing. It's in the same style as other, more well known factual films like 'The Imposter' in that it's full of twists and turns and you never know...