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Spiegel Saloon at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

by Andrew on December 2, 2011 in Eating Out, Tasting Events/Shows with 1 Comment

Spiegel Saloon at Hyde Park Winter WonderlandThis Stunningly Festive Bar & Restaurant Returns To The Heart of London’s Hyde Park A stunning winter retreat and a beautiful entertainment space, The Spiegel Saloon is part of Hyde Park Winter Wonderland.

Presenting hearty winter food, a fully stocked and inviting bar and an abundance of free, live entertainment, The Spiegel Saloon is open for 6 weeks only and offers a cosy escape from the seasonal weather and the hustle and bustle of London at this busy time of year, Harking back to the days of old – Spiegel Tents were traditionally travelling ballrooms and entertainment salons that originated in Belgium in the early 19th Century – Winter Wonderland’s Spiegel Saloon is a charming structure hosting live entertainment each evening that includes cabaret, live bands and DJs. Plus a special Piano Juke Box night each Tuesday, in aid of the Kenyan Orphan Project. Entertainment is free and open to both diners and those at the bar.

The perfect meeting place for the festive season and with a warm welcome ready for all-comers, the Spiegel Saloon‘s 200-seater restaurant offers a delicious fixed-price menu with a selection ranging from seasonal dishes, such as The Spiegel Christmas Plate to firm favourites such as Bangers & Mash, Roasted Ham Hock and Fish Pie. With 2 courses for £14.95 and three courses on offer for £19.45, the Spiegel Saloon is a fun-filled experience for all the family that wont break the bank.

A well thought out Children’s menu is available for only £9.95 for two courses and is hugely popular with little ones who need refuelling after a fun time on the Winter Wonderland rides. If you’re just visiting for a drink, wrap your hands around body warming tipples such as Spiced Hot Farmhouse Cider, Mulled Wine or a Hot Toddy and watch the passers by at the Spiegel Saloon’ outside bar, or defrost inside in the welcoming and spacious bar area, complete with comfy sofas, lounge seating & live entertainment.

The Spiegel Saloon is the only fully heated and enclosed bar and restaurant within Hyde Park Winter Wonderland. This beautiful structure offers families, groups, diners and drinkers a warm and cheerful space in which to celebrate the festive season together. Please see below for a brief summary of some of The Spiegel Saloon’s Prix-Fixe Menu’s highlights: Starters include a mouth-watering Game & Port Pate, consisting of pheasant, venison and duck served with plum & apple chutney and warm, rustic bread, Roast Parsnip Soup or an Old School Traditional Prawn Cocktail. The Spiegel Christmas Plate offers a modern twist on the classic Christmas Dinner with succulent turkey breast served on a bed of bubble and squeak with all the trimmings. Vegetarians can enjoy the Spiegel Nut Roast and there are many other much-loved dishes to choose from. At only £19.45 for three courses, the desserts are not to be missed! Choose from a divine selection of Lemon and Ginger Cheesecake, Traditional Christmas Pudding or for something truly special; The Chocolate Soup Platter, a warm, rich bowl of melted chocolate for 2, complete with waffles, strawberries, marshmallows and profiteroles to dip in at your leisure! To book a table or to find out more information about listings, please go to http://spiegelsaloon.co.uk/ www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com T

The Spiegel Saloon at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is open 10am -10pm all week Restaurant open from 12pm Mon- Fri and 11.30am Sat & Sun Booking through the Spiegel Saloon Website: http://spiegelsaloon.co.uk/ Group or party bookings 0203 137 5416

River Cottage Canteen & Deli Plymouth Opens

by Andrew on November 22, 2011 in Eating Out with No comments

river cottage staffThe new River Cottage Canteen & Deli at Plymouth’s Royal William Yard opened a few days ago, and true to its ethos of delivering fantastic food in a sustainable way, took delivery of local produce by boat.

Tamar Grow Local, SailTrade and River Cottage teamed up to trial the sustainable transportation of local produce at the launch of the new River Cottage Canteen & Deli in Plymouth for the launch. A locally built ‘Yealm Crabber’ sailed down the River Tamar, a designated area of outstanding natural beauty, with a trial amount of fresh vegetables and honey from local producers destined for new River Cottage Canteen, at Royal William Yard. The boat carried sample potatoes, pumpkins, honey and Tamar Valley Apples for the Canteen to try. When it arrived at the harbour at Royal William Yard, Head Chef Joe Draper, and his chef team, took delivery of the produce for use in the Canteen.

“The boat trip, although a trial is historically how food used to be transported in the region. It’s a pilot to test if it works for River Cottage on this occasion, but the ambition is establish a more routine service once properly endorsed and certified to do so.” said Simon Platten from Tamar Grow Local. “We are very excited as this is another way Tamar Grow Local might help promote local producers in the area with one of the most important ethical food brands in the UK.”

The boat is a traditionally rigged and locally built Yealm Crabber well suited to travel using the wind and tides. It will be skippered by Andy Whiteford of Sailtrade and his son Jim. “SailTrade is hoping to make an environmentally friendly and low carbon contribution to local supply networks,” said Andy. “We have been encouraged by the enthusiastic response to further develop the idea and are grateful for the support received, especially from Tamar Grow Local and the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty”

The new Canteen is based on the successful River Cottage Canteen & Deli in Axminster, which was originally set up by Hugh Fearnley – Whittingstall, campaigner, broadcaster and food writer, who’s River Cottage TV series, on Channel 4, captures the Nation’s interest in food provenance and sustainable living.

“River Cottage is committed to creating fantastic food that is seasonal, local, organic and wild. For the Canteen this is a fantastic way to source and transport local produce. We are really looking forward to working with Tamar Grow Local and SailTrade to create and transport great local food,” said Head Chef, Joe Draper.

“River Cottage support locally sourced produce and sustainable methods of transport wherever possible,” said River Cottage MD, Rob Love. “We are very interested in this project – it’s a great example of how River Cottage likes to get involved with the local food community.”

Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall said: “We are very much looking forward to contributing the vibrancy of the local food community in Plymouth. The city and region have a strong market garden heritage and we have a great opportunity to source the best ingredients and create some fantastic food in a wonderful location.”

Experience Traditional Spanish Tapas Tours In London This Autumn

by Andrew on September 28, 2011 in Eating Out with 1 Comment

tapas_tourThis autumn Londoners will be able to experience traditional Spanish style tapas crawls in the city. Eat tapas, drink Rioja wine and experience a taste of Spain with the ‘Tapas Tour’, brought to you by Wines from Rioja and London Restaurant Festival in October. The Rioja Tapas Tour recreates the spirit of bar hopping that is typical to the Riojan region, where people pop into different tapas bars tasting speciality tapas dishes alongside glasses of Rioja.

On sale now, Londoners can purchase a Tapas Tour ‘passport’, allowing them to hop across five of London’s best tapas restaurants, where they will be offered a different tapas dish expertly matched to a glass of Rioja wine in each location. Visitors will be able to make their way around tapas restaurants Brindisa, Pix, Copita, Fernandez & Wells, and Ibérica during the weekends of the 8th, 9th and 15th, 16th October.

Ricardo Aguiriano from Wines from Rioja comments “The Tapas Tour is the perfect way to learn more about Spanish food and wine matching at London Restaurant Festival. Your passport will take you on a unique journey – tasting mouth-watering dishes such as Jamón Ibérica croquetas and delicious boquerones on tomato toast. With each dish matched perfectly to a glass of Rioja, you can guarantee fun conversation alongside fine wine and food during the Rioja Tapas Tour at London Restaurant Festival!”

Rioja Tapas Tour passports are available through London Restaurant Festival and are priced at £50.00, visit http://www.londonrestaurantfestival.com/2011/05/22/tapas-tour/ to purchase tickets.

Harrods New Boulangerie and Patisserie

by Andrew on September 15, 2011 in Delicatessens, Eating Out, Specialist Shops with No comments

Harrods has unveilled its brand new Boulangerie and Patisserie department, located in the heart of the Ground Floor Food Halls. Expect a delicious range of new pastries, cakes and breads, all freshly crafted each day by some of the UK’s most celebrated bakers.

Each morning Harrods team of expert pastry chefs prepare over 100 new pastries, desserts and cakes for the department – from fresh fruit clementines and fraiser tarts to innovative green tea-infused crème brulées.

And in response to the latest demands from shoppers, an array of gourmet marshmallows flavoured with orange blossom and strawberry has also been created, alongside a range of savoury mini muffins, including sautéed leek and thyme and bacon and cheddar.

Complementing Harrods own selection are exclusive patisseries from award-winning chocolatier William Curley and renowned artisan baker Paul Hollywood. The Boulangerie and Patisserie is now home to Curley’s stunning patisseries, including a cream-filled Paris brest and a Venezuelan chocolate cadeaux, while a variety of Hollywood’s freshly made, exclusive breads – such as a Stilton and walnut loaf – are delivered from Kent each morning.

Completing the area is a brand new, beautifully designed counter. Here shoppers can enjoy perusing endless displays of patisserie, special occasion cakes, baskets of gourmet breads and a host of freshly baked seasonal exclusives.

Become A Seasoned Wine Buff At Mercure Hotels

by Andrew on August 29, 2011 in Eating Out with No comments

Whether you’re a seasoned gourmand or someone who simply takes pleasure from trying new things, Mercure Hotels’ Wine and Dine experience brings the opportunity to broaden your field of discovery by experiencing an extensive taster menu and sampling fine wines during a stay at selected Mercure hotels around the UK.

An overnight stay at one of 18 stylish Mercure hotels includes a five course dinner of delicious dishes from a taster menu unique to each hotel, featuring seasonal, locally-sourced produce with a wide selection of traditional European fare. As part of the Wine and Dine experience, the meal is accompanied by two glasses of wine from Mercure’s acclaimed Grands Vins fine wine collection, specially selected to compliment the day’s dishes.
A long-time champion of regional cuisine and locally-sourced produce, Mercure features local speciality dishes on its menus of freshly prepared food on offer at each hotel, as well as wines distinctive to the region.

Mercure’s Grands Vins offering is one of the hallmarks of the hotel brand – an extensive wine list of high quality regional and international wines, sold by the glass as well as the bottle. This unique concept is designed not only to introduce grapes and varieties people may not be familiar with, but also to give guests the chance to sample high-end wines at an affordable price. The Grand Vins are categorised into four different flavour areas: “Fresh & Tasty”, “Fruity & Light”, “Balanced & Elegant” and “Spicy & Full-Bodied” and guests will be guided through the unique matching process by specialist staff at the hotels.

The wines are selected by experts including Mercure’s own Echansons. The Mercure Echansons are wine specialists – knowledgeable about everything from winemaking processes to wine regions to the all-important tasting – and are on hand to guide guests and offer advice on wine selection. Every year in more than 10 countries, a number of tasting panels are set up to make blind tests and select the wines that will be incorporated into the list of Grands Vins for the following year. The taste panels include enthusiasts and professionals who like sharing their passion for wine, including outstanding Mercure Echansons.

The Wine and Dine experience is available from just £65 per person, at participating hotels and includes a hearty breakfast the following morning. For further information visit mercure.com

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