Tag Archives: prosecco

Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Lake Como

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Locals flee Milan in August, desperate to avoid the stifling heat. Many head to the idyllic Lake Como, where the gentle breeze and beautiful views provide the perfect summer retreat. If you do find yourself in the vicinity of the azure waters of Lake Como I can recommend one very special property…

Grand Hotel Tremezzo is family owned and family run. Dating back to 1910, it combines five-star luxury with welcoming and homely service, and is truly one of a kind. Ideally located beside the lake, Grand Hotel Tremezzo has spectacular views of the town of Bellagio, Riviera delle Azalee and the epic Grigne Mountains. The design is elegant and traditionally Italian with gorgeous Art Nouveau features.

There are 80 rooms (some of them overlooking the lake, others offer views of the secular park) plus 4 historical suites and 8 rooftop suites. The new luxurious suites are cleverly hidden on the top floor, ideal for special occasions, private meals and stargazing. Guests are spoilt for choice with dining options: chef Gualtiero Marchesi’s fine cuisine at La Terrazza or the more casual T Pizza and L’Escale Fondue and Wine Bar. We tried the simple but delicious pizza in the hotel gardens, soaking up the sunshine whilst gorging on crispy thin pizza, flavoursome salad and fresh pineapple juice.

The main attraction for me is the unbelievable floating pool. Having admired this unique feature in photos, I was beyond excited to see it for myself, it took my breath away. Arriving by boat, I could see this sky blue pool glistening in the distance. Stepping onto the floating platform is a strange sensation, you remain steady as the structure bobs gently on the lake. Then for an extra treat we were taken out on the lake in the hotel’s water limo, a Venetian motor launch dating back to 1961. With a glass of Prosecco in hand, this was a moment I knew I would cherish long after leaving the lake.

More information and book here: www.grandhoteltremezzo.com

Bubbly Brunch, The Grill on the Market, Smithfields

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I can imagine The Grill on the Market is overwhelmed with visitors during the week, but when it comes to the weekend this amazing British bistro is eerily empty. So it seems logical that for weekends only, diners can opt for the Bubbly Brunch, a great incentive and a brilliant way to celebrate Saturdays!

All you have to do is book ahead, go along with two or more friends and each order a main course either from the Brunch or Lunch main menus. Then, like magic, (for a two hour period) your bottomless glass of Prosecco will appear, always full. With brunch courses starting at just £9 it is ludicrously good value for money!

Full of enthusiasm, our waiter was wonderfully entertaining throughout our lunch at the restaurant. He was efficient, knowledgeable and friendly, so nice that I wanted to give him a hug when we left. Even now, a week later, the stand-out service remains one of the most memorable things about my experience at Grill on the Market.

Near to the famous Smithfields Market, the produce is the very freshest and finest. After delicious garlic rub bread we had to make the difficult decision of what to have for main course. It was inevitable at a grill restaurant that we would both be wooed by the tempting assortment of steaks. Alongside the standard Aberdeen Angus steaks, Grill on the Market offer a speciality ‘Best of British’ shortlist of seasonal treats. We chose the Limousin x Galloway Fillet with Bearnaise sauce and the Red Hereford Ribeye with peppercorn sauce. Both were exquisite specimens of meat: juicy, tender, with lovely marbling and unforgettable flavour. Although I’m not usually a Ribeye fan, I couldn’t fault this cut.

One portion of hand cut chips and petits pois a la Francaise suited us perfectly – plump peas coated in indulgent buttery onion sauce, and fat soft chips to dunk in our steak juices. Along with the endless Prosecco, it was the ideal Saturday brunch.

Unable to resist we finished with two desserts from the list of classics: scrumptious sticky toffee pudding and wonderfully warm chocolate fudge cake to complete the ultimate luxurious lunch.

More information and book here.

Assaggetti, Piccadilly

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Most of the places to eat round Piccadilly Circus are hideously touristy and unpleasant… but I have discovered the perfect restaurant to enjoy petite plates of food with a glass of Prosecco. My cousin and I needed a good gossip and catch up and found that Assaggetti suited the occasion well. Walking in (pretending to be) stylish ladies who lunch, we settled into our seats by the window and surveyed the menu of all star Italian dishes.

The philosophy at Assaggetti is simple, they offer light bites without compromising on taste, all at very affordable prices. Aesthetically it is an attractive modern eatery with accommodating oak tables.

We perhaps overdid it a bit on the ordering but I couldn’t help getting excited at the delicious sounding prospects. After a few sips of the fine bubbly Prosecco, I was ravenous, my taste buds encouraged by the garlicky smells wafting from the kitchen. My eyes widened as the platters arrived and I soon realised I was eating so fast my new white t-shirt from Beirut was seriously endangered by accidental meatball splattering. I slowed down and appreciated the range of vibrant ingredients.

Every dish is available in a small size, so the menu easily translates to a tapas style meal. If you like to taste a variety of different dishes it is ideal… I certainly enjoyed the concept of Italian tapas, and now feel I’ve tried about half the dishes on offer! We ordered a long list of plates to share: Prosciutto and rocket pizzettine (£5.50), meatballs (£3.25), baked aubergine and pesto (£3.75), zucchini fritti (£2.95) and mixed Tuscan salami (£4.75). It was a well balanced range: strong scrumptious cured meat and light wholesome pizza bread layered with thinly sliced tomato and creamy mozzarella. I noticed the immaculate seasoning – nothing needed anything extra, it was all beautifully prepared. If I HAD to choose two I would go with the addictive fritti and the delightful aubergine dish. The ultra thin and super crispy courgette chips were divine and lasted precisely sixty seconds, we hoovered them up. Soft, salty and very lightly battered they moreishly melt in the mouth. The aubergine was a classic Italian dish, using quality ingredients and baked gently, it was a lovely contrast between meaty aubergine and soft gooey cheese.

Mains are rather easier to choose as seafood makes up a large proportion the list. We chose small plates of goats cheese ravioli (£5.00), handmade spaghettoni & duck ragu (£4.75), Tuna tartare (£5.75) and Tomato and onion salad (£3.25). It sounds like a lot, but actually disappeared fairly quickly, to give you an idea each plate is about five mouthfuls. The pastas and salads worked well accompanying each other, I adored the tomato salad which was garden-fresh with crunchy red onion and drizzled in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The ravioli was covered in a surprisingly yellow sauce, creamy with a flavour I couldn’t quite identify. The filling was pleasant but average. The spaghetti was very thick and delicious, the duck ragu had a gorgeous rich and smoky taste.

The desserts on the menu are typically Italian, classic recipes that Assaggetti really excel in creating. The Tiramisu (£3.50) was insanely good, very creamy but miraculously light… I began to wonder why I have previously never liked this pudding. Wild Berry panna cotta was less inspiring but also very edible, simple indulgent vanilla panna cotta with a decent serving of fruity wild berry compote. Coffee completed the meal perfectly.

Assaggetti offers comfort food that feels healthy. In terms of a taste and quality vs price ratio, this restaurant ranks very high and I was impressed. This relaxed Italian eatery would be particularly good pre or post theatre as service is quick and uncomplicated and food is light but satisfying and most importantly, utterly delicious.

Visit the website here for more information.