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Food & Drink

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Food & Drink

#CocoKitchen: Adventures Of The Yorkshire Food Guide In March

Spring has officially sprung. With an abundance of ingredients now available, restaurants are showcasing new menus with exciting seasonal and fresh produce. This month #TeamCoco’s Food Writer Tara Harris from the Yorkshire Food Guide sampled Spring menus from some of Yorkshire’s finest restaurants, got the low down on a new street food hub in York and on two Yorkshire foodies who recently appeared on Channel 4’s Hidden Restaurants series.

STAR INN THE CITY YORK REVIEW – WAR OF THE ROSES DINNER

When I heard that Head Chef Steve Smith from the Michelin Starred Star Inn at Harome and Steve Smith of the acclaimed Freemasons at Wiswell were going head to head for another epic event at the Star Inn the City York, we had to book our place.

From East Coast juicy scallops to melt in the mouth Yorkshire Dales beef and West Yorkshire’s own rhubarb, Head Chef Steve of the Freemasons had a tough menu to beat and an even tougher crowd. Another excellent event from the team at The Star Inn the City York.
Read full review.

CHANNEL 4 HIDDEN RESTAURANTS WITH MICHEL ROUX JR FEATURES YORKSHIRE’S OWN GONDOLA RACLETTE

Read about how two Yorkshire foodies and their quirky new street food venture serving melted raclette cheese from a converted ski gondola caught the eye of the one and only Michel Roux Jr, to star in his Channel 4 series ‘Hidden Restaurants’.
Read full article.

SPARK:YORK UNIQUE DEVELOPMENT PLANS TO BRING
A NEW STREET FOOD SCENE TO CITY CENTRE

I interviewed Spark:York Director Joe Gardham to find out more about the proposed development made entirely from shipping containers, that could bring a whole new street food and early evening social drinking and dining revolution to York city centre.
Read the full article.

THE TALBOT HOTEL, MALTON REVIEW
DAN GRAHAM’S INCREDIBLE NINE-COURSE TASTING MENU

I couldn’t resist a visit to ‘Yorkshire’s foodie capital’ to sample Head Chef Dan Graham’s 2AA rosette spring tasting menu. With Dan being a finalist and runner-up in the BBC series of Master Chef: The Professionals, training at Roux restaurants in London and working for such well known establishments as Le Gavroche, we were very excited for the meal ahead.
Read the full article.

RISING SUN INN SHEFFIELD REVIEW

Following the launch of the Rising Sun Inn’s new dining room and spring menu, as well as drooling over their delicious Instagram posts I paid a visit to sample their new dishes.
Read the full review.

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Behind the bar

Behind the Bar: A genius-themed evening at TT Liquor

Last week, Team Coco babe Hannah Tan-Gillies headed down to buzzing Shoreditch for a genius cocktail evening of epic proportions at TT Liquor’s Cellar Bar.

TT Liquor’s Cellar Bar – A Cocktail Wonderland

Now there’s no better way to get over the winter blues than by indulging in a few cocktails (or five), and we’ve just discovered the best place to explore some genius new cocktail combinations.

Located on Kingsland Road, TT Liquor may look like a specialist liquor store on the outside but offers plenty of surprises. Once inside, you are immediately greeted by floor-to-ceiling shelves of spirits and curiosities. Beyond that, you are led to another sitting room where you can catch a glimpse of the private cinema, and eventually down the subterranean labyrinth of TT Liquor’s atmospheric Cellar Bar.

TT Liquor’s Cellar Bar – Where History Meets Mixology Brilliance

Back in the Victorian era, TT Liquor used to be an old police station; and you can definitely feel the history of the building when cosily tucked into the dimly lit alcoves of the cellar bar. These alcoves used to be the holding cells for prisoners, but now feature handsome leather banquette seats and plenty of charm.

Here, we experienced TT Liquor’s new genius-themed cocktail menu. The entire menu is an homage to some of the greatest inventors of our time from Marvin Gaye to Madame Cliquot.

Elevate Your Cocktail Experience

The genius menu has been hailed as the Cellar Bar’s most ambitious one to date, with each cocktail individually crafted by a member of TT Liquor’s team. Some highlights include a Liberace-inspired concoction that offers a refreshing twist to a traditional whiskey sour. It is made with Bling, Balvenie 12, Montenegro, Disaronno, Cranberry, and Citrus.

The ‘Death Ray’ — which was inspired by Serbian American inventor Nikola Tesla — is another instant favourite and is TT Liquor’s version of a hot buttered rum. It is made with a special mix of Rebel Hell Rye and hot spiced butter & brown sugar.

Unforgettable Evenings at TT Liquor’s Cellar Bar

During our visit, we were also treated to one of TT Liquor’s ‘Thirsty Thursdays’ tasting sessions, which brings together groups of people looking to learn more about a specific spirit. That Thursday, we learned all about the history and different kinds of rum. We were also treated to a few funny stories from our friendly bartender Sacha and even had a few sips of ‘Diplomatico’ as well. Diplomatico is a Venezuelan dark rum that will surely leave a lasting taste sensation for rum lovers and rum novices alike.

But no matter what your poison may be, one thing was clear. The Cellar Bar at TT Liquor is the best place to enjoy an evening of fantastic cocktails with equally fantastic company.

TTLIQUOR.CO.UK

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Behind the bar

Behind the Bar: Don Papa’s Festive Cocktail Recipe

Here at House of Coco we are always on the look out for a new cocktail. Is the cocktail festive? Even better. We were introduced to the warming and perfectly sweet cocktail named ‘Flip the Don’ by the team at Don Papa.

Don Papa is a premium aged, single-island rum from the Philippines. The Philippines harbours an extraordinary rum heritage thanks to its unique climate, which yields some of the world’s best and sweetest sugar cane. The nation’s best kept rum secrets lie within the Island of Negros, where Don Papa is produced. The lush island, known locally as Sugarlandia, is home to an active volcano, Mt. Kanlaon. It’s this rich volcanic soil in the volcano’s fertile foothills that provides the ideal conditions for growing the sweet Filipino Noble Cane that gives Don Papa its distinctive flavour. This Noble Cane is harvested by hand and transported to the island’s well-worn sugar mills that have generations of expertise, before being ground to create the sweet, rich molasses that are distilled and blended to perfection within every bottle of Don Papa.

For a festive, decadent and sophisticated cocktail to serve this Christmas, try the sumptuous ‘Flip the Don’ cocktail. See below for the step by step.

Recipe…

50ml Don Papa 7-year-old

15ml Amontillado Sherry

10ml Single Cream

10ml Sugar Syrup (1:1)

1 egg

2 dashes Jerry Thomas or other aromatic bitters

Combine all the ingredients in a shaker. Dry shake, then add ice and shake hard. Fine strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a cinnamon stick or dehydrated orange wheels for that festive feel. You have the perfect Christmas cocktail.

donpaparum.com

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Beauty

SPA Social at Mondrian London

Here at House of Coco, we are known for our love of good cuisine, our ability to work hard and relax even harder. So when we heard about the new concept Mondrian London have recently launched we were beyond thrilled. SPA Social at agua Bathhouse & Spa is the stuff of dreams.

With fitness, health and eating well becoming more and more of a lifestyle choice rather than a trend, people are becoming more conscious of what they do to and put into their bodies. So, the idea is designed to bring people together through health, wellness and social interaction.

There isn’t one of us that doesn’t love a spa day or eating out and catching up with friends but who has the time to balance it all? Spa Social allows you to, in the evening and on a week day.

The spa itself is a blissful getaway from London life, tranquil and with all the facilities you could possibly need. From steam rooms, mud masks and massages to manicures and waxes, you can fully pamper yourself in one place in one evening.

The food available is from Sea Containers and is unbelievably delicious and healthy, with Skinny Champagne available; you can have a guilt free evening.

The lounge area boasts a water feature, ambient lighting, comfy sofa beds in which you can either seclude yourself with a curtain (to finally read that book you have been trying to finish for months) or there are sofas and bean bags were you can truly make yourself at home and socialise, all whilst in a fluffy bathrobe and slippers.

SPA Social is definitely a different approach to anything we’ve experienced before; you can experience treatments solo, book couples days or even book a group slumber spa.

So if you’re in need of a weeknight re-boot or just a re-boot in general, we advise making your way to SPA Social. You’ll wonder how you ever made it through a week without it.

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Food & Drink

Meat-free Magic At The Meet, Clapham

Our resident vegan, Rachael Lindsay, is popping down to the new vegan pop-up, The Meet in Clapham, London. Occupying an old railway arch in Clapham North and serving up vegan plates by Dominic Taylor, let’s hear what The Meet is all about…

I immediately love the design of Fu Manchu, the location for The Meet pop-up in Clapham. Bare railway arch brick, colourful graffiti, spotlights onto the food, the rumble of the train overhead, so hip that it is a bit too hipster you might say. It creates a laid-back but underground atmosphere, and a great backdrop to get tasting some modern vegan fair.

We dive into the menu with a trio of small plates: a Nugget of Gold, Green Giant and Mac Daddy O. I love the creative dish names almost as much as the tasty food. Nugget of Gold is a play on the chicken nugget but completely meat-free with crispy seitan and a very yummy ‘curry sauce’ dip. Green Giant is one of my faves; satay-smothered charred broccoli, edamame, tofu and avocado, all topped with crispy peanuts, and the Mac Daddy O is some of the best vegan mac n cheese I’ve ever tasted. And mac n cheese is one of those dishes that I seriously miss as a vegan.

The mains don’t disappoint. We go for Jerkin Around, jerk tofu with fried plantain and pineapple salsa in a wrap, and I Don’t Give a Lamb, three bean vegan koftes in flatbread. Jerkin Around bursts with Caribbean flavours plus there is a scotch bonnet mayo which comes through strong so go for this if you are into your chilli. I Don’t Give A Lamb was a nice twist on the traditional lamb kebab and, although it was one of the most straight-forward sounding dishes, it was one of my favourites of the night.

The Meet prides itself on vegan versions of classic cocktails and I enjoy a Machito, made with Bacardi and Macha Powder which gives an earthy green tea undertone and a classic-Mojito lime zing. Other mouth-watering varieties are the Rhubarb and Vanilla Custard Martini and the Vegroni with vegan Vermouth.

I have to admit that dessert was a bit of a push after all those cocktails and savoury delights so I opted for the Baileys Almande Hot Chocolate complete with raspberry puree, vegan whipped cream and deep, dark chocolate! Ok so I admit it is an odd choice for someone looking for a light sweet but I have no regrets, it was devilishly good, again one of the best vegan hot chocolates I have ever had. My partner in crime enjoyed three flavours of vegan ice cream which were top notch, and I hope we will be back to sample the Run Forest (chocolate, forest fruits and hazelnut vegan cheesecake) and Topsy Turvy, the pineapple and almond upside down cake.

Overall, head Chef Dominic Taylor is doing a great job at plating up experimental vegan dishes that riff on meat favourites. The flavour pairings are excellent, the cultural influences diverse and it is all at excellent value. With burgers, bottomless vegan brunch on the weekend and Sunday roasts, there is far more to try so I would highly recommend, whether you are vegan or just vegan-venturous.

The Meet is open from Tuesday to Friday, 5pm-10pm and at weekends, 11am-9.30pm. For more information, visit themeet.co.uk.

Cover photo credit: Deliveroo

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Arts

History brought to life in Harrods Windows: LOUIS XIII

If, like #TeamCoco, you have an unhealthy obsession with 80s movies you may also have an obsession with an expertly curated window display (and wonder if Hollywood Montrose is behind it all?! Maybe that’s just us…) . Window displays don’t come much more innovative and decadent than last month’s displays at Harrods by prestige cognac brand, LOUIS XIII.

To celebrate a new chapter in their brand history, Lois XIII launched their very first pop up boutique in store. The installation immersed visitors in the world of the brand, bringing to life precious moments from the brand through 3D mapping! After after their cognac is ‘One Century In a Bottle’

Check out the video of the pop up below and pop yourself over to www.louisxiii-cognac.com to learn more about this astonishing brand…

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Food & Drink

A Burns Night Dinner at Wilton’s

On a quiet Mayfair Street in the middle of dry January, we made our way to the discrete entrance of the second oldest restaurant in St.James . Wilton’s has been an institution since 1742, and on this evening — we’ve got the chance to experience a pre-burns night like no other, in true Wilton’s style.

It’s easy to see why Wilton’s has maintained its impeccable reputation throughout the years. The restaurant is immaculate, and the staff are faultless. As we made our way to Wilton’s handsome private dining room for our pre-burns night dinner; we were greeted with a welcome glass of bubbles. A cheerful clink amongst friends before our gastronomic tour of Scotland in a (pre) celebration of Burns Night.

It makes sense that our Burns Night meal was hosted in the Jimmy Marks Room, which is named after arguably one of London’s best restaurant managers cum-oyster purveyors. Because we start our fabulous 6 course meal with some fresh loch Ryan oysters paired with a cheeky little whisky sour. As is expected at Wilton’s, these oysters were second-to-none and seasoned with samphire and Scottish sea vegetables. Nothing less than perfect from London’s most impressive oyster purveyors. This was followed by Smoked Loch Duart Salmon, and then a lovely little palette cleanser in the form of a clear Cock-a-leekie soup. Our next course was what I considered to be the highlight of the meal, the deep fried haggis with tatties. Believe me — you will not taste better haggis in your life than right here at Wilton’s. Here, it is beautifully cooked; and is the perfect balance of flavour and texture.

Afterwards, this is followed by the Scottish venison with turnips and kale. Venison is usually quite tricky to get right, but here, Chef Daniel Kent executes it perfectly. After a little bit of breath, we finish the meal with Scottish cheese and whiskey followed by a Balvenie 14-year old cask rum — the perfect ending.There is undeniably no more authentic a Burns night meal that can be found anywhere else in London.

The Burns Night menu will be priced at £85.00 per person with option of adding the wine flight for £68.00. Prices are inclusive of VAT and excluding a 12.5% service charge. The menu will be available from 5.30pm to 9pm exclusively on Burns Night only (Friday 25th January).
www.wiltons.co.uk
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Vegetarian Dining at Franco’s

Franco’s is believed to London’s oldest Italian restaurant, located in the heart of St. James on Jermyn Street. A well-groomed clientele can be spotted sitting outside reading copies of the International Herald Tribune and Financial Times, sipping from their cups of coffee or English breakfast tea served in plush tea pots. From the exterior, there’s that classy continental feel that mixes up Jermyn Street’s traditionally English suit shops, boutiques and hotels. Inside, the mood is polite and friendly and during lunch, there’s a charged atmosphere that’s formal without being too pretentious or serious.

I’m not a vegetarian, but I have many friends who are. I feel for them when they’re given a menu with two measly options to choose from. This can sometimes be the case in Mayfair, a traditionally fancy part of London which is usually associated with expensive sizzling steaks and pricey seafood.

I almost spluttered my fresh mint tea when the waiter handed over an entire two-page menu dedicated to vegetarian and vegan dishes. It’s diverse: from first courses, to soups, starter salads, side salads and the main show. Within each section, there’s at least two or more dishes to choose from—nine altogether for the main course. It was the surge of plant-based diets that inspired Chef Stefano Turconi to develop a complete menu that would offer a wide range of dishes separate from the regular menu, revealing a modern twist to one of London’s long-standing restaurants.

It’s definitely worth bringing a close acquaintance or colleague with a hearty appetite so you can both exchange and try as much as possible. Notable dishes include the grilled English asparagus with goat’s cheese mousse and quail eggs for starters followed by the vegetarian lasagne shrouded in cheese. The creamy tagliatelle with mixed mushrooms and shavings of truffle is another standout dish that’s worth mixing and matching with the lasagne, though it might be tempting to have it all for yourself. Alba white truffles are very rare, grown in a specific time frame between October through December in Northern Italy, which makes them highly sought after from chefs and restaurants all over the world. But Franco’s isn’t interested in scrimping and saving, spending £5,000 last October on 1kg of truffle to last the season. And the shavings on my tagliatelle were certainly substantial.

This all goes down very well with a glass of rosé to replicate the classic Portofino dolce vita artwork sprawled across the walls. It would be rude not to try Stefano’s Amaretto crème brûlée and homemade profiteroles served with vanilla ice cream —the sort of cream that tastes like edible silk it’s so smooth. And it would be rude not to gobble it all up and sit back in complete contentment, watching the world go by in a food-coma haze from the large restaurant windows.

www.francoslondon.com

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#COCOFOOD: LE PETIT CITRON OPENS ITS DOORS

London boasts an array of on-trend and happening eateries, but none quite as interesting as those which have landed on its burgeoning French-bistro scene. Our friend from across the channel seems to be influencing the capital’s newest foodie spots in a big way, and West London’s newest addition to this exciting group of restaurants in Le Petit Citron.

Sitting pretty on Shephard’s Bush Road, right in the heart of Hammersmith’s Brook Green, this gorgeous hideaway makes a welcome change from the area’s sprawling coffee shops and Italian cafes. It has been founded by husband and wife duo, Lawrence and Emily Hartley, who have a passion for Provencal cooking, wine and garlic (naturally).

It struck me immediately that it is not only the pair’s indisputable flair for European creations that has had Londoners flocking to the doors in its first few weeks of opening, but the stylish interiors too. Think Parisian chic: dim lighting, vintage prints and exposed brick work, which all work together to make the place equally perfect for a date night, dinner with colleagues or family get together.

I paid my visit on a Thursday night, and from 6:30pm the restaurant started to fill up. It helps that LPC is located in close proximity to the corporate hub of Hammersmith; the restaurant is the perfect post-work spot for hungry professionals after a long day at the office. Once I’d sufficiently admired the interiors, it quickly came to my attention how attentive the staff were from the get-go. This is another huge part of the experience at Le Petit Citron – thanks to the team’s undeniable knowledge of, and passion for, French cooking, you’ll learn about your choice of dishes and where they’ve come from before you even place your order.

To start, the petit pot de girolles & woodland mushrooms were recommended. This bubbling mushroom dish is creamy and rich and served with toast and is totally delicious. If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, the chicken liver and Armagnac parfait with pistachios and onion confit is equally great.

Mains range from bourride to the refreshing option of lemon and garlic baby chicken with French beans. Alternatively, the onglet steak frites with a pastis, garlic and herb butter comes in highly recommended, best served rare.

The dinner menu is nicely complimented with a delicious selection of weekend brunch offerings, ranging from smoked salmon and scrambled eggs to waffles topped with ice cream and blackberry compote. Good luck deciding what to tuck into.

One thing you’ll be pleased to learn about this place is that the prices are seriously modest. Forget splashing three quarters of your weekly budget on a meal just because of the restaurant’s central London location – here, starters range from £6-9 and mains will set you back between £12 and £18. Not bad, hey?!

By the time my dessert of sticky toffee pudding was devoured I felt suitably full and relaxed. I can confirm I will most definitely be back.

Le Petit Citron, 98-100 Shepherds Bush Road, W6 7PD, Tuesday-Friday 12:00pm-3:00pm & 5:00pm10:00pm; Saturday 9:00am-10:00pm; Sunday 10:00am-4:00pm.

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City breaks

#CocoCityBreak : 6 Reasons Why Galway Is Our New Favourite Weekend Away

Forget the Ed Sheeran song, Galway has more to offer than annoyingly catchy ditties.

Here’s 6 reasons why a #CocoCityBreak in this vibrant city is the one for us.

1.The city’s colourful cobbled streets

Galway has got to be one of Ireland’s most beautiful cities. Full of cobbled streets, colourful building and history, just taking a walk is enough to lift off the stress of the week and transport you back in time. Start your exploration at Coffeewerk + Press (@coffeewerkandpress, 4 Quay Street) , get caffeinated and amble from there.

2. The foodie scene

In addition to delicious pub grub, the city’s brimming with creative small businesses serving up great food. The Dough Bros pizza parlour spot (@thedoughbros, 1 Middle Street) is not only delicious but brings their entrepreneurial journey to life with a timeline of the shop build splashed across the walls. The city’s West End won’t disappoint if you are hungry with popular new street-food-done-good burger spot Handsome Burgers (@handsomeburgergalway , 49 Dominick Street) and the ingeniously named Crust Bucket pizza bus located in the beer garden of charming pub Carroll’s (@crust_bucket_galway, 39 Dominick Street).

For something a little more upmarket, you’ll want to keep walking in Galway’s West End to the endearing Kai (@kai_galway , 22 Sea Road) for their rustic, seasonal fare.

3. Welcoming pubs

I’m not going to lie to you, when we were in Galway it was wet! But somehow, the city’s charm overcame our soggy shoes and saw us bouncing from cosy pub, to cosy pub and Galway has so many that you won’t get bored. For Irish Coffees we popped into the quirky The Quays surrounded by the inlaid wood, pews and stained glass windows (Quay Lane). Then for our first daily dose of trad music, the nook filled Tig Neachtain (@tighneachtain, 17 Cross Street) followed swifty by more live music at Tig Coili (Mainguard Street).

4. Hidden cocktail bars

After all that beer, you might need something a little lighter. Back in the West End, we fell head over hills for the retro tinged, slice of LA, America Village Apothecary tasting room (@americavillage_galway, 31 Dominick Street). America Village is the brainchild of #GirlBoss Claire Davey and they craft syrups, tinctures and bitters from locally foraged ingredients; bringing the cocktail drinker closer to nature.

Near Kai (see above) you’ll find the delightful The Universal (@universal.the, 9 William St West) with craft cocktails, beers and delicious small plates.

5. Hazel Mountain Chocolate

On the way to number 6, 35 minutes from Galway, deep in a remote, windswept part of Ireland you will find Hazel Mountain Chocolate bean to bar chocolate factory (@hazelmountainchocolate, Bellharbour, Co Clare). A fairytale come to life, you can visit the factory and cafe nestled in The Burren 7 days a week to sample fair trade, small batch chocolate made with inordinate amounts of love. Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming chocolate factory tours for your own rustic Wonka experience.

Not heading out that way? Don’t worry, Hazel Mountain have a shop in Galway City Centre (9 Middle Street)

6. The Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher are so popular that we were actually advised not to go there by tourism colleagues but, with the impressive cliffs gracing our screens in films like Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, their draw is to hard to ignore. A stunning natural sight with a great interactive museum and cafe for when the unpredictable Irish weather turns for the worst – we cried with laughter about how wet and windswept we got, but when the mist lifted for all of 5 minutes, the view was breathtaking.

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