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When offered the chance to visit a restaurant championing Jamaican flavours in the heart of Brixton, I had to jump at the opportunity. Growing up with a Jamaican grandmother, a woman who was very much the matriarch of our family unit I was introduced to Jamaican flavours at an early age – the story goes my first solid food was curried goat. From as young as I can remember, every August bank holiday was spent on her stoop in Notting Hill watching the carnival go by – vats of that curry goat perched on a fold out table, ladelled into paper bowls to not only family and friends but any passers by that wanted a taste. To accompany the curry there were wash tubs and I mean wash tubs, of rum punch. This stuff started potent but as the day went on and Gran got more and more ‘loose’ , generous glugs of rum were replaced with whole bottles and before you knew it, most guests were putting on their own carnival.

As I entered my early twenties I moved to Brixton – this was the place we were warned of as kids. A bit rough with not much going on. I remember sneaking to a gig at the age of 16 at the Academy feeling like Mrs Big Balls until I emerged from from the tube station into a gust of cold wind, tentacles of pungent incense wrapping around me and muffled voices singing what sounded like sinister nursery rhymes advertising all the wares on offer. I was terrified. When a room came up in a house that was too good to turn down, I ventured back. Friends had been living there for a year and casually commented “it’s fine, I’ve only been mugged once and the police were really good that time we got broken into”. We were there before the gentrification came into full force. Brixton market was just that, a market selling giant african snails (I still don’t know why), pigs trotters (which my Gran made me buy a bag of every time I went to visit her – side note, my Gran and I’s meeting place was the 5th Floor Bar at Harvey Nichols. Do you know how weird you feel hiking a bag of pigs feet into Harvey Nichols?) and a hundred other things that I didn’t know what to do with. Walking down Brixton Hill felt like a hike to the ends of the earth, there was no scattering of coffee shops and low lit bars to break up the journey, just many many questionable off licenses. But with all that in mind, it truly was the most magical place to spend your uni years – the energy, the diversity, the peopler – I wouldn’t change a thing about it, not even the break ins because they made for some fantastic dinner party chat.

Heading back ten years later, I knew the Brixton I had fallen in love with had changed. I was prepared for the glaring lights of Foxtons estate agents, although I can’t tell you how happy I was to see the clothes shop ‘RISKY’ is still steadfast right next door to them. From the tube I walked down Electric Avenue but instead of following the familiar path into the market, nipped out onto Coldharbour Lane and into the warm, welcoming arms of Wood and Water.

I’m not quite sure how they’ve done it but the two things I feared the most – the loss of heritage and the over the top ‘place to be’ vibe – they have managed to amalgamate into a near perfect setting. The restaurant is small – perhaps twenty covers in the main seating area with a long bar with additional high tops for those looking for a cocktail and a snack – for which I applaud you, the cocktails are worth the trip alone but I’ll get onto that in a minute. A combination of low lighting, sumptuous velvet chairs and gorgeous dark wood accents can only be described as a hug. This place literally hugs you as you walk in. Totally juxtaposed from the bustle that is going on a mere twenty feet away – here is sanctuary and intimacy. It is the kind of place you get lost in a date and only realise once the staff gently start sweeping around you. April Jackson has truly created something magic here.

Jackson told Sophie Witts of The Caterer that “After a hard year, it is time to go back to the reason I started six years ago, which was to share my love for Jamaica through delicious food, rum cocktails and warm hospitality.” And in summary, she’s bloody nailed it. We were welcomed in with warm arms by Julien, perhaps the best mixologist south of the river. Instantly you could feel what April has strived to create oozing out of every part of the set up – the menu, the cocktail list, the staff – I was sitting in a boujee restaurant in Brixton but I had been transported to memories of my wonderful Gran and my Jamaican roots.

The cocktail menu was a work of art in itself. My dining partner and I settled on one each, the Pistachio Sour and Birds of Paradise – two very different offerings but both laced with artisanal rum. The Pistachio Sour creamy from the nut milk with a refreshing hit of lemon, the Birds of Paradise, long and fruity with everything you would expect from a drink with such a name – passion fruit and pineapple aplenty. This guy certainly had notes of that infamous rum punch I grew up with but rest assured, there were no wash tubs to be seen. To compliment our cocktails we were offered some snacks – let it be known, I NEVER turn down a snack. Paella popcorn laced with prawn jus & chorizo. I was a little confused when I saw this on the menu, I couldn’t tell you why my head instantly went to the weird chicken popcorn the colonel down the road sells but turns out it was the regular popcorn – for which I am pretty grateful. Packed with a deep prawn flavour that you only really get through roasting the shells and straining of the juices – for something as ‘simple’ as a popcorn bar snack, the bar had been raised. To get this much flavour into such a tiny morsel of food is nothing short of impressive and I was beyond excited for what was to come next. We also snacked on Cancha, a roasted corn nut which was also delicious and moreish.

When taking in the main menu it was apparent that fusion was a key component, Jackson went on to explain to Sophie Witts that “Brixton is still changing and we are eager to change with it. I am excited to serve small plates that have familiar ingredients alongside some less familiar Jamaican elements, in a newly renovated space, with an interesting collection of rums and an energy that keeps you wanting more.”

I am always a little suspicious when the word ‘fusion’ raises its head but here April has identified a need so accurately that I can’t see how this restaurant wouldn’t succeed. Hopping on the trend of small plates for those busy bees that are a simply too pressed for time to eat a full course meal, bringing together familiar ingredients to appease the less adventurous diners and gently introduce them to Jamaican ingredients in a safe and secure setting such as a pumpkin veloute and roast poussin served up like a roast dinner is inspired.

We were advised that four or five plates would suffice. So of course, true to form, we went for seven – no regrets.

To start, slow cooked goat croquettes with plantain ketchup and king prawns with scotch bonnet, lemongrass and ginger. The croquettes. Oh my days. That was it. I was back in Notting Hill living my best life. Meltingly soft meat, crispy coating, the plantain ketchup was perfectly balanced offering sweetness and heat. They were a revelation and I could have eaten a whole bowl full. The prawns came shelled but with their heads (I like to think the shells were used to flavour the popcorn). Perfectly cooked and again, the perfect balance of heat and sweet which is a theme throughout this menu. Again, this dish took me right back to my Gran who I remember would order fresh shellfish when we were in Jamaica and suck the heads within an inch of their life.

For our ‘mains’ we feasted and I mean feasted on the roasted pouisson, braised short rib with potato puree & petit pois. Salted cod, breadfruit, ackee and more of that plantain ketchup (which they really do need to bottle and sell) plantain in a honey and ginger glaze with pineapple salsa and charred baby gem.

The stand out dish for me was the shortrib – April’s take on a cottage pie was nothing short of perfect. Rich, deep braised beef and peas, topped with creamy mash – someone that can elevate the humblest of dishes to that level is pretty spesh. The salted cod and breadfruit is an acquired taste and quite unusual to the English palette. I have eaten it when in Jamaica but I wanted to try it in a more refined environment, for me it didn’t quite hit the mark but that’s not to say it wasn’t great. I would encourage anyone trying this restaurant to sample it given how important it is within Jamaican cuisine – if you are going to try it anywhere, try it here. The veg dishes of plantain and charred baby gem were fantastic – I have had many an experience with plantain some definite hits, some definite misses. This was a hit, caramalised to perfection to create a sweet crust encasing the soft fruit, and of course, perfectly paired with a subtle heat running through the salsa and ginger glaze. My least favourite dish was the pouisson, unfortunately the skin was not crisp as it should be meaning it had to be removed from the legs which is not ideal. However, the flavours were there and seeing the dish plated like a twist on a chicken roast dinner next to the humble (not really humble) cottage pie, it was clear what April was doing here.

For dessert we shared the cheesecake laced with ginger and rhum agricole – sugarcane juice rum. Again, putting a clear Jamaican stamp on an otherwise very American pud. It was punchy but holy moly it worked. Along with this we had banana bread with rum caramel, the notes of rum so strong it was almost medicinal but when drizzled over the sweet cake, perfectly balanced. By this point my liver had admitted defeat – we washed down our meal with the most delicious rosé – so threw caution to the wind and signed off the night with a couple more cocktails. Enter the Bounty Killer – a very Jamaican twist on an espresso martini which was TO DIE FOR and the Showstopper, so named because of its effervescent gold bubbles – very instagrammable, very delicious.

Wood and Water is the perfect escapism from the fast-paced outside world. It’s a place where you can relax, unwind and gently be cradled into the world of Jamaican cuisine. A couple of dishes perhaps need a bit of refinement to take this place from amazing to out of this world but all is forgiven when it managed to transport me back to one of the happiest times of my life.

Visit Wood & Water here

For anyone powering on with veganism since this Veganuary, or if you just want to try what’s out there vegan chocolate wise, this guide is for you. From a Lindor-like Ombar to Lindt vegan chocolate itself and Ritter Sport’s new vegan offering, we have you covered.

1 – Ombar Oat M’lk Salted Caramel Truffle

Launched last October, Salted Caramel Truffle is part of Ombar’s Oat M’lk range. Taste reviews during Veganuary included the accurate comment that it tasked just like Lindt Lindor – just as creamy but with none of the real milk. Instead it is made with oat milk and has less than half the carbon emissions of regular milk chocolate. I love all of the Ombar chocolate range but this is something really special.

Find out more: ombar.com.

2 – Smooth and Hazelnut Vegan Lindt Chocolate

Speaking of Lindt chocolate, the brand has just launched two new varieties in the UK. Swiss chocolatier Lindt & Sprungli has made this new range with gluten-free oats and almond paste. Good enough to rival the original, you can also get the smooth or hazelnut variety depending on your texture preference.

Find out more: lindt.co.uk.

3 – Ritter Sport Vegan Chocolate

Brand new this year, Ritter Sport has launched a vegan chocolate bar. I used to love dairy Ritter Sport chocolate before I was vegan so I was very keen to try this out and it did not disappoint. Full of creaminess and nuttiness with almond paste instead of milk, you still get the classic Ritter Sport slab with thick chunks of chocolate delight. This is currently on trial in the UK so get your hands on a bar in case they aren’t around for long.

Find out more: shop.ritter-sport.co.uk.

Oh Pancake Day – waking up in the morning to your usual cup of tea, but this time there are brilliantly tasty pancakes to enjoy, with Nutella, strawberries, sugar, lemon juice. Our mouths are watering at the thought of it!

And this year the hotly-anticipated day that is Shrove Tuesday will be landing on March 1 (can I get a hell yeah?!) We’re flippin’ excited, excuse the pun, so much so that we’ve sussed out five London hotspots to get some of the best pancakes in town – for those who know their mix will stick to the pan, we’ve got you covered.

Without further ado…

Langan’s Brasserie

It’s no wonder Langan’s is a hotspot for celebs, what with its dreamy little bundles of fluffy pancakes. You can have them topped with whipped, cream berries and maple syrup… and do a little bit of celeb spotting while you’re at it. We’ve heard it a Poppy Delevingne fave, and even Rod Stewart likes to pop in for a pancake.

www.langansbrasserie.com

Where The Pancakes Are

Well if the name didn’t already give it away, this is Where The Pancakes Are! These pancakes are where you head if you want a bit of Shrove Tuesday on the ‘gram. Their pancake serves are perfect for vegans, meat eaters or those who are dairy free, and you’ve got a whole host to choose from. Lip-smacking ingredients include pancakes griddled with baby leaves, cumin, spring onions, green chilli and for the sweet tooth there’s one dubbed the ‘Banana Praline Marshmallow’ with sea salted caramel and chocolate. OMG.

www.wherethepancakesare.com

Christopher’s

Christopher’s are a dab hand at delicious pancakes for vegans, and it’s in the heart of Covent Garden make it easily accessible for you pancake fiends. Not only does the American restaurant deliver on vegan pancakes, but they’re renowned for their ‘Build-Your-Own’ pancake too. This year, you’ll discover the ‘The Lobster One’, complete with sea kale and chorizo. Or, to satisfy your sweet tooth, why not opt for ‘The French Toast One’ based on, yep you guessed it!

www.christophersgrill.com

The Little Blue Door

Not only is The Little Blue Door an awesome venue, but they do awesome pancakes too. Double trouble! The delicious pancakes can be washed down with bottomless Prosecco to give your day that extra kick. We’re talking chocolate smothered pancakes with strawberries and maple syrup.

After all, pancakes are for life not just for pancake day!

www.thelittlebluedoor.co.uk

Avobar

If you’re looking for something a little different this Pancake Day, try Avobar! Their yummy offerings include green matcha pancakes and they’ve got a big thumbs up from us. Not only do you get fluffy American-style pancakes, but a health kick too.

www.avobar.co.uk

Team Coco whipped out our best dancing shoes as we were transported back to the roaring twenties for an evening with London Cabaret Club. Set in the heart of Bloomsbury, London Cabaret Club is unlike any other show on the West End and offers a fully immersive experience unlike any other.

As soon as you step inside Victoria House, you enter the world of Great Gatsby. From the art-deco inspired motifs, classic cocktails, to the absolute showmanship of the performances, London Cabaret Club is certainly dinner and show with a difference.

Our evening’s theme was ‘All About Gatsby’ and started with aperitifs at the cocktail lounge. Here, you are welcomed with a cocktail of your choice and greeted by perfectly quaffed actors and actresses dressed in period clothing. A chanteuse serenades guests before they are led into the main ballroom, where the show gets ready to tantalise.

Playing fast and loose with the source material, what the show lacks in narrative accuracy it certainly makes up for in style. The singers filled the vast ballroom with their stellar performances, while the dancers chasséd and pas de bourreed the hell out of tha dazzling choreography, oozing enough charisma to reach even the furthest tables.

Each set was choreographed to outdo the last performance. Between aerial performances, doggy talent shows, tap dancing and acrobatics that would surely rival Cirque du Soleil, there was plenty to feast your eyes on at the London Cabaret Club.

The three course set menu celebrated classic British cuisine with a twist. We started off with amuse-bouche, followed by a smoked salmon starter then a fillet steak with chips, finishing with a delightful chocolate dessert. The meal, which was undoubtedly delicious, wasn’t exactly breaking any new ground in the culinary world, but what surely amazes at London Cabaret Club is that it offers an entertaining escape from the day to day.

So, you are looking for some escapism of your own, and maybe to time travel to the roaring twenties and really get wowed by a truly spectacular show, then we could not recommend London Cabaret Club more. After all, a little party never killed nobody?

WWW.LONDONCABARETCLUB.COM

Sofitel London St James has teamed up with Balmain and Z2 Comics to celebrate the new Balmain Dreams OR book with a Fashion Afternoon Tea. Team Coco Fashion Editor Hannah Tan-Gillies attended the exclusive media preview to check out the US$50,000 Balmain Dreams 10: OR edition, which celebrates Olivier Rousteing’s most iconic runway creations in the last decade.

The Afternoon Tea is served in the hotel’s stylish Rose Lounge from and is available from 3 February to 3 March. To celebrate the occasion, the Rose Lounge has been decked out in striking illustrations from the Balmain Book, which is currently on a world tour with Z2 Comics and Sofitel. Balmain Dreams OR is available via digital tablets at the lounge, but we got to see the striking US$50,000 Balmain suitcase and some of the iconic Balmain pieces that were featured, in vibrant colour, on the pages of the book.

Crafted by Head Pastry Chef Jamie Warley, the Fashion Afternoon Tea connects guests with the traditional French flavours in homage to the heritage of Balmain Creative Director Olivier Rousteing. Much like Olivier moves away from classic runway tropes, so does Sofitel’s Fashion Afternoon Tea move away from classic finger sandwiches.

Pastries inspired by Olivier’s bold and colourful runway creations

Instead, it offers delicious savoury dishes like leek and potato soup, pulled pork gyoza with soya and ginger and truffle Gougères. The sweet courses, of which the Citrus Choux Bun, Praline and Caramel Delice and Cappuccino Macaron were all highlights, were inspired thematically by Rousteing’s sketches in the book.

Sofitel St James is the first hotel to host the Fashion Afternoon Tea which will be moving to other Sofitel locations in Dubai, Singapore and Seoul.

The Fashion Afternoon Tea will be served from Thursday to Monday in the Rose Lounge, 12pm to 4pm, from 3rd Feb to 3rd Mar at £55 per person or £65 per person including a glass of Champagne. To book, please visit The Rose Lounge at Sofitel London St James.

For those thinking Hungary is just about goulash and Tokaji dessert wine, it is high time they took a visit to this stunning country in central Europe which is only 2 hours by plane from London. The capital of Hungary, Budapest has no less than 7 Michelin-starred restaurants. Since Hungary won Bocuse d’Or Europe in 2016 (the Olympics of the culinary world), they’ve been going from strength to strength and they will be hosting the European final of the Bocuse d’Or in March 2022.

The Bocuse d’Or Hungary success was down to Tamás Széll at Stand Budapest, which is also Michelin-starred (Tamás is now also the trainer at the Hungarian Bocuse d’Or Academy). Securing a table at Stand can be a tricky affair as they are busy on all days of the week. Whilst seasonal changes do occur, they’ve always kept Tamás’ award-winning dish, sterlet with cucumber salad and clam sauce topped with caviar. It’s decadent and it encapsulates the best of Hungary, with sterlet traditionally caught from the Danube. One thing to note is their vegetarian tasting menu which is quite an advancement for a nation that thrives on meat-eating, especially mangalitsa pork.

Café culture has been a crucial part of the Hungarian way of life and particularly since the end of communism in 1989. The New York Café is one of those iconic venues you must book in early to savour their world-famous afternoon teas.

Michelin-starred dining isn’t all about glitz and glam, you can get equally inventive food in a relaxed brasserie-style environment at Borkonyha Wine Kitchen. The key to Michelin success is often championing local ingredients, so at Borkonyha you get an extremely refreshing sturgeon with grapefruit and dashi. You will also often find beetroot in Hungarian dishes, so at their restaurant, it is served up to compliment quail and black salsify. The saturated colours make the dish visually appealing but the sweetness is the perfect foil for the mildly gamey flavours of the quail.

The wine industry has come on leaps and bounds since communism ended in Hungary in 1989. Arguably their most famous export is Tokaji dessert wine and dining at the fine dining restaurants mentioned previously, you’ll learn they are rated from 3 to 6 puttonyos. The higher the number, the higher is the sugar content and generally more valuable. Although you have to give careful consideration not to pair the sweetest dessert with a 6 puttonyos wine.

Much like the English wine industry, Hungarian sparkling wine is experiencing a booming market. One winery tour I would strongly recommend taking is to visit Kreinbacher estate in Somló. You get to sample exquisite wine with wonderful minerality due to the volcanic heritage of the area but also admire the stunning award-winning architecture of their winery with buildings that seamlessly blend in with the natural surroundings.

Why not combine winery tours with a spot of sightseeing? The ideal place for this is the historic town of Pannonhalma. The Benedictine Pannonhalma Archabbey and the accompanying library is one of the most impressive destinations in Hungary to visit and being situated on a hill in a relatively flat landscape, means you get unrivalled views of the countryside. Wine-making started here in 996 by Benedictine monks and has since been revived again post-communism.

The other destination to consider whilst you are exploring the scenic countryside is Lake Balaton. It is the largest lake in central Europe and where plenty of locals have their second homes and decamp over the summer months. A ferry ride across the pristine lake whilst admiring the sunset is one of those bucket list moments you will remember for the rest of your life. There are worthy dining options to consider in the area including the restaurant Kistücsök, which arguably started the modern Hungarian culinary revolution back in 1992. You can try classic Hungarian street food dishes like lángos, which is a deep-fried flatbread, and Mangalica ham.

Finally, if you are concerned about the calories, there are plenty of sightseeing opportunities to burn off the excess energy, particularly in Budapest. Budapest has one of the most spectacular parliament buildings in the world. Their grand staircase is truly a sight to behold and the best thing is they offer regular guided tours for you to enjoy. You get to tour half of the parliament building which used to be the House of Lords but that was abolished in 1945.

The other must-visit historic part of Budapest is the Buda Castle District filled with superlative attractions like the Moorish-influenced church Matthias and the recently renovated, St Stephen’s Hall of the Royal Palace. And you can’t say you’ve been to Hungary without having visited their world-famous bathhouses, like Spa Széchenyi. It’s the largest medicinal spa in Europe, the most visited attraction in Budapest, it has 18 pools and 10 saunas/steam cabins. This is just the kind of destination that reminds you why you’ve missed travelling so much in the last few years.

For more information on their beautiful country, please check out https://visithungary.com/

As Spain has eased entry requirements for UK children and teenagers aged between 12 and 17, travel experts HolidayPirates are excited to share five reasons to visit beautiful Valencia this spring.

Valencia, Spain’s third-largest city, is on the beach, is a design-forward hub and is beautifully melded to its Mediterranean roots, making it perfect for a short city break or as a base for exploring the coastal plains and striking mountainous areas of the Valencian region. It is also blessed with a good year-round climate and is the birthplace of paella.

1. World Design Capital of 2022

Valencia is the eighth city to have been designated World Design Capital and proudly holds the accolade in 2022, which brings with it a full year of cultural events and exhibitions. The city has spent several decades building its reputation as a creative hub and visitors can enjoy the work of architects, interior designers, illustrators and graphic design across the city.

Impressive urban infrastructures coexist harmoniously with the natural and built environment and the city has become a leading example of design in public policy to effect social change. Visit the Turia Gardens, the Central Market, the City of Arts and Sciences to see some of the most striking examples of Valencia’s unique take on its Mediterranean heritage.

The city has also been chosen by the EU to be 2022’s co-capital of smart tourism for its work on sustainability, inclusivity and its respect for its citizens and cultural heritage.

2. Voted the best city to live in

According to Expat City Ranking 2020, Valencia has been named the best city to live in the entire world by expatriates of more than five different nationalities. With 320 sunny days a year, many beautiful beaches to choose from and plenty of leisure options, it truly deserves this nomination. The city is bike-friendly and provides the option to tour around on bikes, which helps with fitness. In addition, the city has amazing and diverse gastronomy offering that will please even the pickiest tastebuds.

3. Do not miss Las Fallas which returns in March

Valencia’s highly anticipated Las Fallas festival will be back in the streets this March. The festival, which always takes place in March, due to the pandemic last year, was shortened and celebrated in September, however it is coming back bigger and louder. The festival, which dates to the 18th century was inscribed in the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016 and takes place in March. Each year residents make hundreds of colourful puppet-like sculptures from wooden, cardboard, or papier-mâché known as ninots, which are burned in a massive bonfire while the city’s sky is filled with fireworks. The festival which combines Valencia’s tradition, satire and art is a must-see once in a lifetime event.

4. Sustainable, high-end gastronomy and the birthplace of paella

As the birthplace of paella, and a centre of excellence when it comes to showcasing local produce, visitors need to sample the city’s most famous and international dish. Valencian chefs banded together a few years ago to create Wikipaella, to police paella around the world. Valencian-made paella will either be made with rice and vegetables and animalprotein such as chickenor rabbit, OR, the seafood version is made with fresh produce from the Mediterranean. Visitors will not be short of high-end dining options either. Locally-sourced produce, served locally with flair makes Valencia a foodie paradise. The Michelin Guide for 2022 gave three new stars to restaurants in the city, which join four others.

5. The year of Berlanga – the great chronicler of Spanish society

Valencia is in the midst of celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Luis García Berlanga, in the city. Heralded as Spain’s greatest ever film director – Berlanga was an irritant to fascist dictator Francisco Franco and his regime – when many others in the artistic community fled the country.

His legacy includes the films The Executioner (1963), a comedy of manners satirising capital punishment; Plácido (1962), a black comedy mocking false piety, based on real events where a small town’s grandee’s each adopt a poor person for Christmas eve and Welcome, Mister Marshall! (1953), which lampooned Spanish hopes for a slice of US money to rebuild Europe after WW2. They are films which are useful insights into Spain’s tumultuous 20th century. Visitors can join a guided tour which outlines how Valencia influenced his filmmaking, and takes in locations from Berlanga’s childhood, the historic district and his personal relationship with the world of the Fallas Festival.

Last minute lovers can still bring the wow factor this Valentine’s Day thanks to luxury delivery brand SUPPER London. Instead of calling in a local take-away, go all out and treat your loved one to a Valentine’s meal from one of the capital’s finest restaurants.

SUPPER London has teamed up with English Sparkling Wine producer Nyetimber to send out a fleet of Valentine’s Day bikes, delivering delicious dishes to your doorstep, as well as thoughtful gifts or foodie delights from established retailers including Fortnum & Mason.

Impress your beau with your own at home dining experience without all the fuss and stress of cooking. Expect Valentine’s menus and specials from renowned restaurants including 45 Jermyn Street, NOBU, Holy Carrot, ROKA Aldywch and many more alongside a beautiful bottle of Nyetimber Classic Cuvee MV, which is available to add to your order exclusively on 14 February, making your dinner even more memorable this Valentine’s Day. Don’t panic if you have forgot to get your significant other a gift, as well as ordering a slap-up fancy meal, SUPPER London can pick up a special treat from stores like, Fortnum & Mason and deliver it via SUPPER London today, meaning your Valentine will still feel the love and be none the wiser.

Whether you are spending today with your lover, friends or family, relax, put your feet up and enjoy some irresistible cuisine from your favourite restaurant.

In fromage to the day of love, we have put together our cheesiest gifts and date ideas for those that are budget conscious or boujee. Love doesn’t have to cost the earth, but it better taste delicious…

£

Chicago Town Pizza

Chicago Town Pizza offers the ‘Stuffed Crust Takeaway Loaded Cheese’ pizza for couples who want to raise a slice but don’t want to break the bank this Valentine’s Day. Perfect for a cosy date night with some bubbly without having to be in the midst of PDA dinners out on the town. Keep the cheese in your own home! From £3.75, chicagotown.com

££

The Fine Cheese Co.

What could be more cheesy than a cheese gift that takes the theme of a classic love song? The ‘Stand By Me’ Valentine’s Day cheese celebration cake by The Fine Cheese Co. is just that. Cute and cuttable, the ‘cake’ featured two heart-shaped soft cheeses, a French goats’ milk cheese, and a big hunk of delicious cheddar. Aesthetically pleasing and absolutely perfect with crackers alongside a lover’s ballad. From £30, finecheese.co.uk

£££

José Pizarro

José Pizarro is the king of special occasion food and the ‘Valentine’s Spanish Board with Rioja’ is no exception. The gorgeous hamper has been carefully curated to showcase the very best of Iberian pork cold cuts and Spanish cheese on offer, plus some extras to complement the items on the board. The hamper includes melt-in-the-mouth delicacies such as Manchego sheep milk cheese, Idiazábal sheep milk cheese, José Pizarro picos and a bottle of Marqués de Vargas Reserva. The hamper brings the magic of José Pizarro into your own kitchen this Valentine’s Day. £70, shop.josepizarro.com

We’re fast approaching Valentine’s Day 2022 – and while there are a myriad of romantic things to do and gestures to make to celebrate love, we can’t think of a better way to do so than through our stomachs.

Now, the great thing is, whether you’re in a relationship or not, you can enjoy these tasty treats regardless of your relationship status.

Choose to spend the weekend or actual day with your significant other – or celebrate by eating and drinking with friends, family or even solo. After all, sometimes there’s nothing better than some quality time to yourself.

From finish-at-home meal kits to a cosy winter’s walk with your favourite cup of hot chocolate, we’ve got you and your tastebuds covered this Valentine’s Day.

A night in with Restokit

Sack of the cooking and avoid any arguments in the kitchen, thanks to these easy but delicious finish-at-home meals from Restokit. Enjoy a quiet night in with a wide range of meal kits to choose from – so you can order whatever romantic meal you’re craving that evening. Order from restaurant favourites such as Bocca di Lupo, Chick’N’Sours and Gymkana – or go for a Spanish sensation from Ibérica. Tapas lovers can dive into these limited-edition meal kis, featuring a selection of hot and cold tapas dishes; artisan cheeses, truffled Ibérica salchichon; toasted bread with tomato; aubergine with pine nuts and honey – and not forgetting a bottle of delightful Catalan sparkling wine, of course.

Order a finish-at-home kit of your choice from Restokit here.

A romantic walk with Knoops hot chocolate

Aside from Knoops’ romantic gift set contianing its best-selling 34 per cent chocolate flakes and limited-edition heart-shaped marshmallows, why not do something alternative with your favourite hot drink this Valentine’s Day? Take a romantic stroll with your significant other, friends or family, or even have a day to yourself – and be sure to pick up a hot chocolate for your crisp, cold day’s walk. To add a little more romance, a special Valentine’s sleeve can be added to any hot chocolate tube for just £1 in-store.

Knoops’ Richmond store opened in 2021 so why not pay it – or your local branch – a visit?

Love at first bite with Crosstown

Donut dreamboats Crosstown have done it again and come through with a limited edition Valentine’s Day special menu of tasty treats. Featuring three unique flavours, you can feast upon Candy Apple (a vegan sourdough, filled with candy apple compote, dipped in a grenadine glaze and topped with popping candy crumble and edible glitter); Passion Fruit (vegan sourdough again, glazed with a Passoa liueur icing and decorated with dried edible lily flowers) and, finally, a Chocolate Hazelnut (decadent chocolate hazelnut custart encased in the black cocoa dough, dipped in dark chocolate ganache and finished with choclate curls and gold dust).

The perfect plant-based night in or treat to yourself this Valentine’s Day, the brand is also offering gift boxed donuts to celebrate properly.

Order your romantic donuts here.

Love at first slice with Yard Sale

This February Yard Sale Pizza is back with its famous heart-spaced pizza. Yes, that’s right – what better way to celebrate the day of love with everyone’s first love: pizza. The pizzas will be available as a Margherita (with a vegan option avaiable) and the famous Holy Pepperoni – across Sunday 13th February, as well as Valentine’s Day itself. Get a slice of the action at home delivery or dine-in at Dulwich, Crystal Palace, Crofton Park, Finsbury Park, Hackney Road and Leytonstone.

Find your nearest Yard Sale Pizza here.

Valentine’s Day menu with José Pizzaro

You can’t always rely on British weather but you can reply on Spanish food – so why not stay in on the special day and devour a 30 day–aged steak with triple-cooked chips, available to order nationwide for £80 and serving the perfect couple, generously. Served with scrumptious sides including confit piquillo peppers, bitter leaf salad with lemon vinaigrette and red cabbage with beetroot and vermouth, all finished off nicely with a chocolate ganache with Maldon salt, olive oil and shortbread, make this year’s celebrations truly unforgettable with this feast.

Order your Spanish steak supper here.

If dining out is your special thing, then fear not – Pizarro Restaurant Bermondsey has you covered for the most romantic day of the year, offering an indulgent 8-course Valentine’s tasting menu featuring delicacies from earth and sea including Ostras con manzana (Oysters with apple vinaigrette); Canelon mar y montaña (Mediterranean prawn and Iberian pork Catalan canelon); and Txuleton Gallego (Galician rib eye steak on the bone served with green salad and baby potatoes). Wash it all down with José Pizarro’s Brut Nature ‘Gran Reserva’ and finished off with homemade Turfs de chocolate (chocolate truffles).

True Romance at Nine Lives Bar

Head to your new-favourite local taco and cocktail bar for a screening of one of Tarantino’s greatest creations – the romantic classic True Romance. The film will start at 7pm on Monday 14th February and movie-lovers can purchase tickets for £22 – which will include a Blood Orange Negroni or Margarita Picante cocktail, ceviche, an ice cream treat from Happy Endings and a bucket of popcorn. Dress for the theme or just to impress, enjoy tacos and Tarantino wit your significant other or your friends.

Book your Valentine’s Day movie ticket here.