Tagged: pizza

April 5, 2013

Friday drinks ideas

TGIF! Yes… finally the end of a long week. And what’s the best way to relax? A drink or two with friends. But today, instead of the pub chain around the corner from the office, why not try something a little different?

CANDLE LIGHT

The Candlelight Club is a clandestine pop-up cocktail bar in a secret London venue, a stunning, tucked-away den with a 1920s speakeasy flavour, completely lit by candles. Each party offers a one-off cocktail menu, with special themes, plus dancing to live 1920s jazz bands and vintage DJing. They run most Fridays, just take a look at their website for the next available dates. To buy your ticket click here.

THE SKYROOM

Platterform re-open the doors to their beautiful rooftop venue - The Skyroom. This year promises exciting collaborations with London’s top chefs, mixologists, sommeliers, beer makers and artists to curate a truly diverse program of food and drink experiences. Today, Friday 5th April, they launch COCK ‘N’ DOODLE night. Chicken, Cocktails, Art. £15. Every Friday.

RUM SHACK

Floridita has recently launched its brand new Rum bar, a Cuban ‘beach shack’ inspired drinking experience in the heart of London, with the most extensive selection of rums in Europe. Guests can choose from cocktails such as Hemingway Punch: a delicious blend of Bacardi Superior and Maraschino Liqueur inspired by Ernest Hemingway, In a Barrel: a concoction of absinthe, gomme, lemon & orange juice, shaken with Pussers Blue Rum and served in a barrel vessel, and Cheeky Monkey: a blend made using Chairman’s Reserve – mellow on the palate with a complex mix of ripe raisin fruit, tobacco and spice – served in a tiki glass.

B-SOHO

B-SOHO, located on buzzing Poland Street, is an Italian inspired, fashionable cocktail and pizza bar, with an impressive drink menu – over 30 different variations of cocktails – pizza to nibble, cooked in a specially hand-built brick oven, for just 90 seconds, a foosball table, and live music sessions every Friday. Signature cocktails include Neopolitans, grappa blended with gin, sweetened with limoncello, shaken up with fresh grapefruit and lemon and served in a coupette with a flamed grapefruit zest; or Prescott’s Punch a medley of tequila infused with Lady Grey tea, laced with apricot conserve, dried out with white wine and pressed apple and balanced with lemon and a cheeky hint of absinthe.

Have a great Friday night!

September 3, 2012

No frills dining in Trastevere

If you have been following my blog, you probably already know that I spent the last weekend in Rome for a friend’s wedding. I took Friday off work, just to be able, for once, not to storm out of the office and run to the airport. Instead, on Friday morning, albeit by getting slightly lost somewhere near Tottenham Hale, I managed to reach Stansted Airport, perfectly on time for lunch, feeling very relaxed.

After going through the grumpy and slightly rude security checks, that literally pushed me through the body scan, I was so pleasantly surprised to find out that they opened a new YO! Sushi branch in the main departing lounge; and happily joined the other hungry punters sitting around the shiny brand new belt.

I grabbed a couple of salmon sashimi plates, a seaweed salad and ordered chicken Gyoza, miso soup and a cup of green tea from the hot menu.

My verdict: just ok, or better, not so ok considering the price I paid: £18. My advice, you are better off buying the takeaway mixed box. Sashimi not memorable, miso soup way too bland. Green tea was bitter, that I recently found out means poor quality. Service, it’s the kind I call ‘catch me if you can’. I think Pret a Manger is still the best option if you are planning to grab a quick lunch while waiting for your flight.

Anyway, I’m digressing. I landed in a sunny and pretty hot afternoon at Ciampino airport and reached the city centre by coach. I was so amazed by the cheap price I paid for the swift 40 minute coach ride to Termini train station: €3.90! A bargain! From Roma Termini I boarded the H bus and got off in Trastevere where my hotel was, and joined my friend that checked in at lunchtime.

After a brief change of outfit, we headed out for a light dinner, looking for a laid back trattoria. Walking around the maze that the Trastevere neighborhood is, we stumbled upon Osteria and pizzeria da Otello and we comfortably sat at one of the outdoor tables, enjoying a chilled glass of white wine, watching people go by.

We ordered prosciutto and melone as a starter, Margherita pizza with buffalo mozzarella (for my friend) and Pasta allo scoglio (with seafood) for me.

The pizza was delicious, flat and crispy. My pasta was lovely too, the sauce w

Traditional and unpretentious place for a chilled dinner. Good food. Fantastic service. Strongly recommended.

For dessert we decided to visit the nearby gelateria Fior di Luna: dark chocolate with orange and pistachio for me; nut and Crema Catalana for my friend. Lovely ice cream, a great selection of 6 different types of chocolate flavours. Must try if you are in the Trastevere area.

Dinner for two under €40.
Otello in Trastevere
Piazza Sant’Egidio, 53, Roma
Italy
http://www.otellointrastevere.com/

Gelateria Fior di Luna
Via della Lungaretta, 96
00153 Roma,
Italy
+39 (0)664561314
http://www.fiordiluna.com/

July 28, 2012

Nosing around East London: Crate Brewery in Hackney

A couple of weeks ago, Mum called to communicate her spontaneous decision to spend the weekend in London, and two days after… here she was! When I have guests over I normally plan activities and dinners in detail, but this time, because of this short notice, and to tell you the truth, it was my second week at my new job, and I was feeling still a little overwhelmed and incredibly tired, I didn’t.

Luckily, she came up with a plan. Since her recent visit a few months back, she has developed an insane enjoyment in shopping at ehm… Primark and she requested a visit to the nearest one
Feeling really lazy, and not wanting to venture to Marble Arch, I decided to drive to Hackney Wick, and then take the overground train for one stop to Westfield Stratford (since the mall carpark is now closed for the Olympics. Sigh).

After parking my car, we headed for the short walk to Hackey Wick station. All of the sudden, we noticed quite a few people briskly walking in the opposite direction. At the unison, looking at each others, we had an ‘Alice in Wonderland following the white rabbit’ moment and we kind of ehm… Followed them. Don’t ask, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
Well, turns out.. They were going.. Home.

However, the detour brought us to discover a little gem. Just tucked away behind an anonymous gate closing an industrial park, we bumped into a new micro brewery and art space that had just been open two days before: Crate Brewery. And the Italian in me got ever more excited in finding out that is a pizzeria too! Yum!

Crate is a light and trendy converted industrial space, overlooking the canal, with a big bar in the middle, pizza oven on the back and solid wooden tables all around to share ‘a la Hackney’. The decor is industrial, but cosy with a very interesting handmade lightening with iron wires and bulbs.

The atmosphere is extremely laid back, and the crowd pretty arty. The guys working at the bar were extremely busy, but friendly.

We just looked at each other in excitement for the discovery and decided to stay for lunch. Sage and truffle potato pizza for me and mum sweet potato, walnut and Gorgonzola pizza for mum. Both washed down by half pints of Crate own brewed beer.

I loved the pizza, thin and crispy with mouth watering toppings, truly heavenly. The combinations of the ingredients seemed to work like magic, perfect balance of flavors! Well done Crate team!

Great spot for a lazy lunch, maybe a laid back daytime date.. I will definitely come back.

www.cratebrewery.com

Avg lunch for two including drinks £35.

May 25, 2012

Culinary adventures in Ostuni, the white city – part 1

Not long ago, with my sister and a group of friends, I spent a short break in Ostuni, a beautiful town in the Italian Puglia region. Ostuni is a little jewel, and is commonly referred to as “the White Town” (“La Città Bianca”, in Italian) for its typically white-painted architecture and white walls very similar to the ones of the Greek islands.

We rented a beautiful small apartment in the old town, close to the Cathedral and the Bishop’s Palace, and for four days we enjoyed a very simple beach life during the day and a very relaxing ‘town life’ at night.

We soon found out that Ostuni is a paradise for foodies and our short break turned into a fantastic culinary adventure.

On our first day, shortly after landing, we drove from Brindisi airport to Ostuni, where we arrived just in time for lunch.

Walking to the summit of the old town, on our way to our rented apartment, we stopped in a small grocery shop, where we sampled some of the local delicacies.

My sister and I shared a tasting plate with Burrata (my favourite), a very rich and heavenly fresh local cheese, made from mozzarella and cream, some local Ricotta and Fiordilatte, a few lovely Taralli (sort of Italian pretzels, so crispy and moorish), black olives and Tomato dressed with local extra virgin olive oil, and assorted cured meats.

During our stay we were lucky enough to make a few great restaurant discoveries scattered around the old town.

First in the list is ‘Il Pozzo dei desideri’. We found this amazing place while walking around the old town to catch a glipse of the sunset and take a couple of pictures. We went back for dinner, and without any reservation, we managed to get one of the best outdoor tables in the little piazza.

We ordered a huge selection of mouth-watering antipasti. They have very generous servings, and the four of us sharing really struggled to finish it. As mains we ordered some Broccoli Orecchiette with a huge and tasty Parmigiano crisp and a Margherita pizza, both to share.

This restaurant is perfect is you are looking for great food in a lively, nice and typical atmosphere without breaking the bank. Perfect for a dinner with friends or a romantic date. Service is very attentive and friendly.

IL POZZO DEI DESIDERI

G.Tanzarella Vitale,34

72017 Ostuni

Italy

website: http://www.ilpozzodeidesideri.net/

Dinner with drinks from €25-30 per person.

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