Nopi, Soho

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For me, Ottolenghi is all about the small cafés with big bowls of healthy, yet irresistible salads. So when Nopi arrived in Soho, a proper sit down all-day restaurant I had to reassess my ideas.

Nopi is an upmarket brasserie, serving dishes with robust and bold flavours, typically from the Middle-east and Asia, throughout the day, this restaurant caters for everyone. Upstairs the design is open and relaxed, with smart marble and attractive brass fittings. Downstairs the big open plan dining room invites big groups to dine whilst watching the open kitchen.

In need of a centrally located breakfast location, my best friend and I tried out Nopi for our most recent morning meeting. Flat white coffees, and big glasses of freshly squeezed orange juice were an immediate must, followed soon after with French toast, star anise sugar, berry compote and orange yoghurt. A twist on the American favourite, the French toast was filling and delicious. Very eggy sweet bread was browned carefully and accompanied by fresh citrusy yoghurt and tangy berry compote. The most intriguing flavour was the star anise, commonly used in South-east Asia, this spice gave a delightful aniseed hint to the dish.

Ottolenghi is a champion chef particularly known for his delicious healthy and vegetarian food. Nopi demonstrates how his relaxed and fresh cuisine can be translated brilliantly into a successful, welcoming and lovely restaurant.

More information and book here: www.nopi-restaurant.com

Things to do in Alicante

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Of all the wonderful Spanish cities Alicante is not the most obvious destination for a weekend break, however on a recent girls getaway I discovered delicious food, stunning sights and a heavenly hotel. With 300 days of sunshine a year and very cheap daily flights from London airports, Alicante is sure to suit those in need of a warm minibreak, all year round.

STAY AT … Asia Gardens is an oasis of calm and luxury 30 minutes drive from Alicante city centre. This Asian inspired exotic hotel offers indulgent rooms, sparkling pools and a traditional Thai spa. Of the restaurants on site, Koh Samui was my favourite, serving the finest Oriental cuisine.

LOOK AT … Coves del Canelobre is known as the largest and deepest cave system in Spain. Millions of years old and glistening with impressive stalagmites and stalactites, it is a magical sight.

EAT AT … La Taberna del Gourmet  won best tapas restaurant in Spain in 2009 and the food still excels. Hams hang from the ceiling, locals chat at the bar and the smell of garlicky alioli tints the air. Charming service and phenomenal traditional tapas make this restaurant a must in Alicante. Very reasonably priced too.

DRINK AT … If you can bear the blare of Benidorm head down to the concrete coastal town to watch a hysterical drag show and enjoy some Sangria.

SHOP AT … Visit a Spanish supermarket and stock up on local delicacies. I left with a bag full of Manchego cheese and Iberico ham! If you are only travelling with hand luggage Alicante airport is a good place to buy a bottle of Rioja to savour once you get home.

More information on things to do in Alicante here.

Dirty Bones, Kensington

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A hidden den serving hot dogs and cocktails sounds very much like an East London venture, Dirty Bones however brings the grime and groove to West London’s elite.

With a few notable characters in the Dirty Bones team including Ross Clarke, of Fat Duck fame, there has been much hype about this Kensington opening. The name has perhaps been detrimental to its initial reputation, liable to be confused with similarly titled outlets – Dirty Burger, Bones in Dalston, Bone Daddies, and Fishbone.

From the American diner style exterior, you are led to believe this is just a retro takeaway joint, indeed during the day that is exactly what it is… but at night the camouflaged door leads down to a bright neon lit, vintage-styled drinks and dogs den. An old pinball machine is the welcoming desk and a scruffy drinks dispenser is a secret door through to a dining area. Cocktails are served in the bar, there is a selection of creative long and short drinks. I particularly enjoyed the Mutt’s Nuts: a smoky warming combination of Woodford Reserve and vanilla infused maple syrup, lemon and apple juice. For a pre-dinner tipple, the sugary sweet Big Apple is a caramelised treat.

There is a limited selection of fast food: dogs, bones, sides and salads. Dogs are available in different meats with the choice of pork, beef or veggie sausage. We tried the Mexican with a pork sausage, it comes with pulled pork, cactus salsa, lime sour cream and guacamole. It was a nice balance of soft brioche style bun and meaty, spicy filling. The crispy, spiced fried chicken is a must-try, tender chicken thighs and wings coated in an addictive crunchy coating and spritzed with charred lemon. Fries were a massive disappointment however – a tiny portion of limp supermarket-type chips, but glazed sweetcorn is a tasty alternative.

You’ll want to steal the playlist from the sound system, it comes from miracle music man Rob Wood of Music Concierge. It is a carefully curated soundtrack which adds to the character of the place and will make you want to dance whether you’re sitting or standing.

In the first weeks of service a few discrepancies can be forgiven, though Dirty Bones did try my patience. We waited for over an hour for a table, and nearly another for the food and then got asked to move to a neighbouring table. The embarrassed waiter apologised profusely and offered complimentary cocktails, but the hanging around was a tad tiresome.

Big groups can book at Dirty Bones, which I would definitely recommend. The venue is thoughtfully designed and the vibe is painfully trendy; better still, the food and drinks are tasty and reasonably priced. The grungy retro look definitely encourages a cool crowd and I feel blessed that my side of town finally has a desirable dive.

More information here: dirty-bones.com