Heather’s Food & Drink List
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THE LAUNCH:
The Delaunay Afternoon Tea
For quick meals in central London, The Delaunay Counter has long been a favourite spot of mine (I always order the chicken soup with spätzle). The Delaunay itself – a more refined all-day brasserie inspired by the old-style grand cafés of Europe – is even better. This month it launched an Alpine afternoon tea. Available every Saturday and Sunday from 3pm to 5pm, the tea is a traditional experience complete with Viennese flair and flourishes. As well as classic sandwiches and scones, the pastry tier includes Delaunay Counter heroes such as sachertorte and Austrian käse-sahne-torte – a melt-in-the-mouth cheesecake.
Visit THEDELAUNAY.COM
THE CUPBOARD STAPLE:
Atavi Vortici
If you’re looking to upgrade your mid-week staples, Atavi is the pasta brand created by legendary Catalan chef Albert Adrià. It launched in the UK last year, but it’s the new Vortici shape that’s really caught my eye. Made with just wheat and water, Vortici is a short pasta with a spiral shape and rough texture that’s designed to hold sauce impeccably. Two flavours are available: Sourdough and Smoked. The Sourdough pasta has the taste and aroma of freshly baked bread with a hint of sourness, while the Smoked version (which is smoked in vine cages) has a toasted, rich and smoky taste profile.
Visit ATAVI.UK
THE MACHINE:
Aarke Coffee System
My Aarke filtered water jug has been one of my most useful – and stylish – purchases this year. And now the Swedish design brand is expanding its chrome collection with the addition of the Aarke Coffee System. Launching on 29th October, it comprises three individually sold products that work together to create high-quality drip filter coffee with consistent flavour: the Aarke Coffee Maker, Aarke Coffee Grinder and Aarke Thermal Jug. As you’ll spot throughout this edit, I love stainless steel – and this new set-up will fit into my kitchen perfectly.
Visit AARKE.COM
THE CAFFEINE HIT:
Elsewhere Coffee
I’m always on the hunt for new coffee brands and Deptford-based Elsewhere is one I’m excited to have discovered. The team has just renovated its flagship brew bar and roastery in south-east London, but its online shop means anyone can enjoy its roasts at home. My pick is Daydreamer, which is designed to be a next-level everyday coffee. With smooth notes of chocolate, caramel and cherry, this season’s Daydreamer is made from single-origin beans from a small family run cooperative in Brazil. I can’t wait to use it in my new Aarke set-up.
Visit ELSEWHERECOFFEE.COM
THE COCKTAIL:
Black Lines White Negroni
I think Black Lines bottled cocktails are some of the best out there. New for the season is the team’s take on the trending white negroni. It’s made with East London gin, Suze and Dolin Blanc. Described as ‘the ultimate transitional drink’ as autumn lands, you’ll find notes of melon and grapefruit among the juniper-rich gin. As ever, to serve just chill the bottle in the fridge prior to drinking, fill a rocks glass with ice, pop the bottle and pour, before garnishing with a twist of lemon peel. Pro tip: for a white sbagliato, add a splash of sparkling wine.
Visit BLACKLINESDRINKS.COM
THE HOMEWARE:
Maison Balzac – Le Jardin
Last year, I shared one of my favourite homeware finds to date – this Maison Balzac glass prawn coupe glass. Now, I’ve got my eye on its new collection, Le Jardin Chapter III, which is keeping summer alive with some garden-inspired dinner party accessories. As the Aussie brand itself explains, ‘It wouldn't be a Maison Balzac collection without some unique guests.’ This time that translates to an etched fly on the edge of a carafe, a chic collection of butterfly napkins and a snail atop its revamped cutlery. It’s the latter I love the most – each knife, fork and spoon is decorated with the elegant spiral of an escargot shell. I’ve also fallen hard for the fig leaf placemats constructed from European linen and decorated with ivory piping.
Visit MAISONBALZAC.COM
THE FRIDGE FILLER:
Yew
One of my favourite recent drink discoveries is Yew, a natural soft drink company that’s just landed in Selfridges. Produced in the UK by friends Francesca Zampi and Angela Howard Stone, Yew is sparkling water made with natural ingredients – each can is sugar and sweetener free, with virtually no calories. There are currently three bold flavours to choose from: Crisp Apple, Pink Rhubarb and Zesty Lemon, all packaged in colourful, 90s-inspired tallboy cans.
Visit YEWDRINK.COM
THE ACCESSORY:
Sous Chef Pasta Bowls
A couple of times a year, I do an online order at Sous Chef to stock up on hard-to-find ingredients – from cans of tomatillos for my favourite Tart London Mexican green eggs brunch to dashi powder for making authentic egg sandos at home. A recent rummage through the website saw me hovering over the buy button when I spotted these colourful pasta bowls. Handmade in Puglia, the striped ceramic bowls are hand-painted with ‘spaghetti alle vongole’, ‘penne alla vodka’ or ‘cacio e pepe’ and would make an eye-catching addition to at-home pasta parties.
Visit SOUSCHEF.CO.UK
THE RESTAURANT:
Café François
Café François is the new little sister restaurant to the magnifique Maison François in St James’s. And it’s done the almost impossible – breathing life and atmosphere into a newbuild. Part of foodie hotspot Borough Yards, the restaurant draws influence from the classic cafés found in Paris, with a great menu that pays homage to affordable French classics. It’s open from morning pastries through to night-late dinners. During a recent lunch I enjoyed excellent steak frites, unmissable comte gougeres and leeks vinaigrette. Sadly I didn’t have the time or stomach space for pudding, but I’m still thinking about the contents of its glass dessert case – paris brest, eclairs and a twist on a tarte tartin are the ones that got away. You’ll also leave googling French chore jackets as – like at MF – the staff uniforms are pure Parisian perfection.
Visit CAFEFRANCOIS.LONDON
THE SERVING SUGGESTION:
Serve Studio
I’ve long been fixated on stainless steel serveware – thanks, St John. But until recently, it was tricky buy, unless you got lucky in a charity shop. So I was happy to stumble upon Serve Studio, a Melbourne-based brand that focuses on all things metal. Durable and eye-catching, the products right at the top of my wish-list include its butter dish, ice-cream coupes, egg cup holders (complete with extra-cute matching spoons) and coffee cups and saucers.
Visit SERVESTUDIO.CO
THE CONDIMENT:
Chimac Korean Hot Sauce
Chimac sauces are made in Dublin and inspired by the flavours of Korea. Its Korean Hot Sauce is the newest condiment to become a staple in my fridge. This particular sauce gets its heat from gochujang – fermented chilli paste – and. while it’s not overly spicy, it definitely has a pleasant warmth. As well as being a decent marinade, I’ve been using it to create dips and add a final flourish to breakfast sandwiches and stir-fries.
Visit SELFRIDGES.COM
THE GIFT:
Nine Tines X On The Table
Made using potatoes grown nine miles from its distillery in north Yorkshire, Nine Tines vodka delivers a silky palate and clean finish that stands out when served over ice or in a cocktail. This month, its team has joined forces with On The Table, a delivery brand that’s all about small-batch products. Together, they have created a lovely Vodka Martini Box, with everything you need to shake up a super smooth martini at home: there’s a recipe card, a 750ml bottle of vodka, a 500ml bottle of The Aperitivo Co dry vermouth – plus a can of my favourite Gordal olives from Perello for those who prefer their martinis dirty. All packaged in a stylish box, it will make a perfect present for a cocktail lover.
Visit ONTHETABLECO.COM
THE GLASSES:
Sophie Lou Jacobsen
Sophie Lou Jacobsen is a French-American designer based in NYC. I love her Totem glasses. Inspired by the colourful totem poles of postmodern design, the solid base and proportions of these stemless cocktail glasses were designed for longer drinks such as spritzes. Then there’s her set of Piano glasses. Two cocktail glasses reminiscent of the jazz clubs of New York’s Gilded Age, they’re sold in mismatching (but complimentary) colour combinations, with two stainless steel garnish skewers. I’ve gone for the green and pink set to match my living room.
Visit NET-A-PORTER.COM
For more food, drink and restaurant ideas, follow Heather at @STEELEHEATHERRR
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