Category Archives: Lifestyle

A Rutte Distillery Experience in Dordrecht

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I knew little about genever was when I was invited to visit Rutte Distillery in Dordrecht. All I did know was that this mysterious spirit was the predecessor to gin, a very familiar spirit to me! I later found out that genever, and more specifically Rutte Genever, is a specialist malted grain-based spirit which originates from particular areas of Holland and Belgium. The spirit is clear and botanically rich, and is a blend of two of more distillates: a juniper-infused distillate and malt wine. Many consider it to be a cross between whiskey and gin. It can be served straight up or within a more complex cocktail.

Rutte

And so a group of us embarked on a journey to Holland to discover more about the Rutte range of genevers and gins. The Rutte company was founded in 1872 by Simon Rutte in Dordrecht near Rotterdam and is famously the smallest distillery in the Netherlands.

It was fascinating to visit the historic house where Rutte Genever started and still today is produced. We toured the tiny distillery (which is found below the little old-fashioned shop) with the knowledgeable Master Distiller Myriam Hendrickx… here the genever and gin is made using the traditional method; blending exotic botanicals and ingredients to produce a spirit which is completely unique and distinctive in quality and taste.

Rutte

The Rutte team organised a wonderful 24-hour itinerary in Rotterdam and Dordrecht, the perfect Holland mini-break, where we got to experience a few of the fine food and drink experiences which use the Rutte brand with such innovation and flare.

In Rotterdam we enjoyed a special meal at FG Food Labs, a creative Michelin-starred restaurant that presented a meal of food and cocktail pairings. Tuna ceviche with Yuzu vinaigrette (Japanese mayonaise, spicy tomato, hoisin, sweet-and-sour celery, tapioca krupuk & squid ink) was paired with the Luscombe Lime Crush cocktail (a mix of Luscombe St. Clements, Rutte Celery Gin, and Pink Peppers) and Poussin de Loire (with merquez de Turqui sausages, seasonal vegetables, rosemary, lemongrass, ginger & garlic) was matched with a spicy Loopuyt Ginger Beer concoction (Luscombe Lime Crush, Old Simon’s Genever, Juniper berries and Rosemary). The food dishes were thoughtfully and creatively prepared but I found the cocktails a little sweet and overpowering.

Rutte

After dinner we were treated to an extra special round of drinks at the city’s award-winning prohibition bar, Dr. Rotterdam. This immaculate little bar has strict rules, first and foremost: no phones and no photos, to ensure the mood is maintained and the secrets kept within the walls of the bar. It was a great relief to enjoy the drinks without the usual pressure of ‘getting the perfect instagram shot’. Here we sampled a range of seasonal cocktails as well as the 2017 Official Cocktail Competition winning drink, a recipe which includes Rutte Genever created by Zachary Faden of Mirabelle in Washington D.C.

Rutte

On the second day in Holland we had the opportunity to try some of Dordrecht’s speciality foods: cheese from Gert Jan De Kaasboer, raw Herring from the street stalls and chocolate from ‘Njoy Chocolate shop. My favourite thing we tried was at Vissers Poffertjes, a much-loved cafe serving traditional tiny Dutch pancakes coated in icing sugar and Rutte Genever!

After just 24 (sunny) hours in Holland it was clear to see just how many uses the unique and delicious Rutte Genever can have. I know some of London’s best restaurants (Hoppers, for example) and bars are already beginning to introduce this incredible spirit into their cocktail and spirit repertoire and I can’t wait to see more Rutte on menus soon.

More information on Rutte Genever and gin here.

We stayed at the characterful Hotel New York in Rotterdam, which has spacious rooms, plenty of personality and a lovely location on the waterfront.

Honest Tea x Groundwork

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Last week, on a very sunny Thursday morning I joined a group of tea enthusiasts on the picturesque Southbank for a celebration of all things honest and healthy with Honest Tea.

Honest Tea

Honest Tea was launched in 1998 by Seth Goldman and Barry Nalebuff in Bethesda, MD. The company was born from a desire to create a thirst-quenching drink that was refreshing without being too sweet. Both Seth and Barry believed there was an opportunity to create a less saccarine, but equally flavourful beverage, with no calories and no nasty additives. Honest has been run for the last 9 years with a strong ethos based around helping communities and being a responsible business which is why they decided to team up with Groundwork.

Honest Tea

At the entrance to the ‘Honest Garden’ pop-up we were greeted with bottles of refreshing Honest Tea. We then joined TV presenter Julia Bradbury in a boutique tent for a informative and inspiring chat about Honest Tea’s partnership with the environmental charity Groundwork. Julia revealed that new research shows how the nation wants to go back to the good life, and spend more time in nature. Groundwork are working tirelessly to transform urban spaces into community gardens, including building and nurturing vegetable gardens in London Overground stations.

To continue the healthy theme YouTuber John Quilter (The Food Busker) demonstrated the importance of using organic ingredients in your home cooking and showed us all how to make delicious homemade granola with Coffee Flour and Medjool Dates, amongst other ingredients.

Honest Tea

Lastly we were treated to a brilliant display from upcycler and eco artist Sarah Turner who craftily illustrated how to make small planters by upcycling Honest Tea plastic bottles. Sarah expertly made these inventive little pot plants so quickly it tempted me to turn every plastic bottle into plant perfection.

Honest Tea

This calm and pretty pop-up gave me the opportunity to take time out from my hectic schedule and indulge in Honest Tea’s beautiful green sanctuary of delicious food and drink. I’m excited about the Honest Tea and Groundwork future plans, hopefully we’ll all be noticing more greenery and life at our London train stations soon.

More information about Honest Tea and their projects here.

Sponsored post in collaboration with Honest Tea.

Rosewood Hotel, London

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The Rosewood London has got the balance just right between luxury and style. This 5-star hotel in Holborn is achingly cool and yet also caters to wealthy tourists who wish to stay in this conveniently located area. I visited for a weekend staycation earlier in the month and was stunned by the beautiful bedrooms, faultless service and unmissable food & drink offering.

Rosewood London

One minute you are standing outside manic Holborn station wondering which way your Google Maps is telling you to go and moments later you are standing in a historic courtyard, looking up in amazement at the architecture and excitedly wondering what’s inside. This is the Rosewood London experience… full of sparkling intrigue and wondrous sophistication.

After a swift check-in we wandered up to our first floor suite, which I estimated at around triple my Peckham flat size. On the way, we passed the singing birds who sit in the light of the Edwardian windows on each floor landing.

Rosewood London

In total, the Rosewood London has 262 rooms and 44 suites. Our signature suite, named Noble House was one of the largest I have come across in London, a true urban sanctuary. The design was beautiful, with a sophisticated bedroom, relaxed living area, cosy snug den and guest powder room. The suite overlooked the central courtyard and had plenty of natural light streaming in through the large windows.

The indulgent king-size bed was blissfully soft with plentiful pillows and a extra blanket for warmth. In the bathroom, things became rather more regal, with Italian marble throughout and hand-beaten Alpaca silver accents. The huge deep bathtub had a high-tech tv screen as an extra extravagance and the walk-in shower was bigger than my entire bathroom at home! Toiletries were by a Jermyn Street brand called Czech & Speake toiletries – they smelt delicious and worked wonders on my hair.

Rosewood LondonRosewood London

There was plenty of space to relax and unwind in our amazing suite. We enjoyed the self-service bar and living room, complete with a selection of inspiring books.

Scarfes Bar

When the sun began to go down, we wandered downstairs to the sophisticated Scarfe’s Bar for cocktails. The latest menu features a range of creative drinks inspired by Gerald Scarfe’s iconic caricatures. I recommend trying the ‘The Iron Lady’, a strong short drink with whisky, porcini and spiced malbec.

Holborn Dining RoomsRosewood LondonRosewood London

Dinnertime is a real treat at the Holborn Dining Rooms where chef Calum Franklin serves up the finest British cuisine. Specialities include inventive gin & tonics from the extensive gin bar, finely made pies (including the delicious Mutton curry pie) and classic puddings (don’t miss the lemon tart).

We also loved the Monkshill Farm Scotch Egg which has won the ‘Best Scotch Egg in Britain’ prize more than once and the beautifully made Rabbit and Bacon en croute. It was lovely, and rare, to visit a London hotel restaurant which truly celebrates our country’s cuisine.

Rosewood London

Breakfast doesn’t get much better than in-suite dining at the Rosewood. After a leisurely lie-in we awoke to the smell of freshly made waffles, fresh healthy juices, exotic fruit salad and indulgent eggs benedict. While gorging on the fabulous feast we read the papers and turned on the radio to Classic FM. The best way to start a Sunday, or any day in fact.

The Rosewood London is one of my favourite hotels I have visited in London. Managing to create the perfect balance between luxury and style, with the finest facilities on site, I can’t think of a visitor who wouldn’t enjoy staying in this exceptional accommodation.

More information about the Rosewood London and book a stay here.