Heather’s Food & Drink Hot List
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THE EXPERIENCE:
Carriage Club With British Pullman
Last week, I upgraded my usual commute from Victoria station with an evening on the gorgeous British Pullman. As well as being a great excuse to break out a Batsheva dress I’ve been saving for a special occasion, the night on Carriage Club was a wonderful celebration of all things food and drink. After a quick French 75 on the platform, we boarded the 1930s train for a five-course meal with paired wines and champagnes – while various cabaret acts kept us entertained in our individually decorated, wood-panelled carriage. On various Fridays over the summer, menus are likely to feature lobster cocktail, saffron risotto, fillet steak with asparagus, and apple tart – and plenty of Veuve Clicquot.
Visit Belmond.com
THE MERCH:
Anya Hindmarch Kikkoman Raffia Tote
For the third year on the bounce, Anya Hindmarch’s much-loved high-summer concept store, The Ice Cream Project, has landed at The Village in Belgravia. From its line-up of weird and wonderful ice-creams and sorbets, I’ve got my eye on a tub of the Perello gordal picante green olive flavour. Amid the fun branded tees and caps emblazoned with slogans such as ‘BRAINFREEZE’, I’ve taken a shine to one of the brand’s newest bags – this soy sauce shopper woven to resemble a Kikkoman label.
Visit AnyaHindmarch.com
THE LOW-ABV DRINK:
Quarter Proof
If you’re looking for a lighter drinks option this summer, take a look at Quarter Proof. At 15% ABV, the brand is pioneering a new category, bridging the gap between traditional high-strength spirits and non-alcoholic options. Currently, the range features three spirits: London Dry (gin), Blanco Agave (tequila) and Three Grain Spirit (vodka). Quarter Proof is being poured at top bars, restaurants and hotels across the UK such as Soho House, The Newt, Granger & Co, The Pig, Gaucho and JKS Restaurants – and is available to buy at Ocado, Fortnum & Mason, Planet Organic and Whole Foods.
Visit QuarterProof.com
THE COOKBOOK:
Liguria: Recipes & Wanderings Along the Italian Riviera
Interiors mag Apartamento and luxe hotel group Belmond have teamed up to release Liguria: Recipes & Wanderings Along the Italian Riviera. The cookbook and photo essay is the first of a new series that combines the traditions of regional cuisines from around the world with artistic perspectives from renowned photographers and writers. The gorgeous photography of Laura Jane Coulson leads readers on a visual journey through Liguria’s beautiful landscapes. Complementing the imagery are essays by celebrated writers and chefs Luca Cesari, Andy Baraghani and Gilda Bruno, plus 22 recipes by chef Corrado Corti and Max Rocha of Café Cecilia – there’s even an introduction by Ruth Rogers of The River Cafe. From aromatic pesto genovese and classic focaccia to a refreshing Portofino spritz, each recipe will transport you to the Italian coast.
Visit PaperCutShop.se
THE GOURMET FRAGRANCE:
Loewe Tomato Leaves Room Spray
While not strictly a food launch, the latest in Loewe’s Tomato Leaves collection is a room spray, which I think would look great in any kitchen. Like the brand’s viral candle, the fragrance is reminiscent of the fresh, verdant scent of tomatoes on the vine. I can’t think of a nicer spray to get rid of any post-cooking aromas – plus, it would make an ideal summertime hostess gift.
Visit Loewe.com
THE SPREAD:
All Things Butter Cinnamon Bun
Disruptive dairy start-up All Things Butter has become a staple in my fridge, especially the chilli block, which is my secret weapon for creating a punchy cheese on toast. It has just paired up with Great British Bake Off star Ruby Bhogal to make a cinnamon bun-flavoured butter. Great on toast and pancakes, it has a rich, creamy texture with a lovely blend of cinnamon, sugar and a hint of lemon. I also like the idea of replacing normal butter with Ruby’s blend in bakes and cakes.
Visit Ocado.com
THE DINING ACCESSORIES:
Seafood Embroidery Cocktail Napkin Set
In need of some fun summer dining accessories? Our recipe columnist Alexandra Dudley has teamed up with Pink City Prints to create a range of gorgeous tablescaping linens. Alongside yellow and blue lemon napkins and summery, stripy tablecloths, my favourites are these fun hand-embroidered linen cocktail napkins, each decorated with a lobster, clam or prawn. Each pretty napkin is trimmed with a contrasting scalloped edge, adding a pop of colour to the table.
Visit PinkCityPrints.com
THE CHOCOLATE BAR:
Fatso Sweet Tart
I was never a huge dark chocolate fan until I tried Fatso, which infuses single-origin and ethically sourced dark chocolate from Colombia with fun flavours. Next in its line-up is Sweet Tart, which combines dark chocolate with cherries, almonds and buttery shortbread for a fresh take on a bakewell tart. If it’s anything like it’s Mor’ N Glory bar – crunchy cornflakes with a side of toast and orange marmalade – I suspect it will have a frequent place in my kitchen cupboard.
Visit SoFatso.com
SAM A HARRIS
THE SUMMER BOTTLE:
St John Mâcon Villages
Cult London restaurant St John’s own-label wine portfolio aims to remove the stigma around own-label wines, which are often perceived as a lesser ‘value’ option. In fact, these bottles are the wines that founders Trevor and Fergus most want to drink. For the warmer months, the pair’s go-to is St John Mâcon Villages, a 100% chardonnay blend. One rare sunny afternoon last month, I opened a bottle with friends and can confirm it’s just the wine to reach for if you’re after a light, fruity drink without the sweetness of a rosé. On the rosé front, I recently tried a bottle of Islington/Cornwall restaurant Prawn On The Lawn’s Quinta da Boa Esperança and it was so good, I've already stocked up ahead of my next girls weekend.
Visit StJohnRestaurant.com
THE BBQ ESSENTIALS:
Home By Simon Rogan
If you’re looking to give your summer BBQ a special-occasion twist, look to the new Home by Simon Rogan BBQ collection. This year, the range – which is prepped by the team behind L’Enclume and Aulis using lots of ingredients from Our Farm in Cumbria – features a curated selection of prime cuts prepared with homemade rubs and marinades. These cuts can be bought individually or as a whole collection to create the ultimate BBQ box. Boxes will be delivered every Thursday, Friday and Saturday until 31st August. My picks? The beef burgers with milk buns (which are the perfect mix between soft and sturdy, holding all the fillings together effortlessly), Our Farm gherkin ketchup, cheese and mustard cress; the Mojo pulled pork with milk buns, pickled red onions, Our Farm beetroot and black garlic ketchup, served with a wonderfully messy Birria dipping sauce; plus, the sweet-and-sour Our Farm brined hispi cabbage with cabbage dressing and a yeast and chive crumb, which brings freshness to the feast.
Visit SimonRogan.co.uk
THE FIZZ:
Krone Cap Classique
This year saw the UK arrival of South African vintage-only sparkling wine producer Krone Cap Classique. Its Borealis Brut is perfect for those who enjoy sipping on something sparkling in the sun – expect notes of winter melon, white peach, and fresh pineapple, alongside fresh acidity and a refreshing mineral finish (my favourite). It’s designed to pair with summery dishes such as salty sardines or oysters with lemon and went down an absolute storm when I unveiled it at a recent family birthday.
Visit Krone.World
THE TIME SAVER:
Mob
I’ve followed Mob for years – I remember founder Ben coming on the SheerLuxe Show back when we launched – and last month I finally caved in and signed up as a member. Since then, I feel like I’m cheating on my vast shelf of cookbooks, as I’ve been planning all my meals through the website. As well as accessing recipes from some of my favourite cooks – Sophie Wyburd, Ben Lippett, Xiengni Zhou and Kitty Coles among them – I’ve loved trawling through the different categories, capitalising on a recent trip to Greece by cooking saganaki and my new lunchbox go-to, spanakopita orzo, to keep the holiday buzz alive. Maths isn’t my forte, so my favourite hack on the site is being able to select how many people I’m cooking for, which ups the ingredient measurements in an instant.
Visit Mob.co.uk
@NINE_TINES
THE VODKA:
Nine Tines
Next on my must-try spirit list is a bottle of this award-winning small-batch vodka from Yorkshire. Made using Yorkshire potatoes grown nine miles from the distillery, Nine Tines delivers a silky palate and clean finish that will stand out when served over ice or in a cocktail. Serving suggestions from the team include a Jalapeno Margarita, which uses the natural sweetness of Nine Tines vodka, with a little sugar syrup to balance the spice of jalapeno and zesty sourness of lime. I also like the sound of the Citrus Sour, which is made with a little honey, zingy grapefruit and lemon. Simple to make, it promises to be complex and super refreshing.
Visit NineTines.co.uk
@LSANDSIA
THE DESTINATION RESTAURANT:
Linou Soumpasis K Sia, Athens
On a recent getaway to Athens, we accidentally walked into one of the city’s best restaurants – and got a table. I was initially attracted by the Psiri eaterie’s stainless-steel furniture and all the modern artwork on the walls, but the food at Linou Soumpasis K Sia was sensational. Describing itself as a ‘new-age taverna’, it occupies an ex-candle shop, which explains the candles and stainless-steel candle holders on every table (they’re available to buy on the way out, as I did). It was here that we sampled some of the best horta in Greece (who knew boiled greens could be so good?), a magnificent heap of lamb chops and a tangle of handmade pasta with bottarga. Definitely one to bookmark for your next city break.
Follow @LSAndSia
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