Tag Archives: restaurants

Taste of London 2016, Regent’s Park

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London continues to grow as a food capital of the world and this year Taste of London seemed bigger, better, and more popular than ever before. I went along on opening night to eat my weight in food and wander round the culinary stalls.

taste of london

The list of restaurants exhibiting included some of my favourite London establishments: Duck & Waffle, Jose Pizarro and Ember Yard. Each eatery offered four dishes for hungry visitors to choose from, and with over 30 restaurants at the festival there were plenty of cuisines to choose from. Each day special guest chefs attended Taste to offer exclusive tasters of their signature styles, and iconic masters of the kitchen gave talks and demonstrations to enlighten the crowds about their cooking techniques and secrets.

taste of london

It was almost impossible to decide which dishes to try from the never-ending list of tempting recipes. My favourites included the Cappelletti di vitello – handmade pasta stuffed with slow cooked veal and pancetta with porcini mushrooms, the addictive and spicy Aloo Chat from Trishna and the Lamb Cutlets with korean spices from Roka.

taste of london

After sharing about 10 plates the four of us decided to take a wander round the stalls. We had the opportunity to taste sensational British Jubilee strawberries, learn about sponsor AEG’s kitchen equipment and admire handmade pottery and plates at the Sytch Farm Studio stall. When we needed a drink there was plenty of cocktail, beer and cider bars to choose from. It was particular lovely to discover the Fishers delicious gin which makes a great g&t.

taste of london

For dessert, the Duck & Waffle Golden Grahams soft serve with toppings was unmissable. Luckily we got to the queue earlier in the evening, as apparently later on the ice-creams ran out. With a subtle taste of breakfast thanks to the cereal infused milk and topped with indulgent caramel sauce and chocolate flakes this decadent ice-cream was the perfect sweet ending to a brilliant evening eating at Taste.

More information on Taste of London here.

Best Food in Queenstown, New Zealand

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Queenstown is the tourist capital of New Zealand and consequently has some of the best dining experiences in the country. From high-quality fast food to reasonably priced fine dining, there is a restaurant to suit every budget and occasion in this beautiful, buzzing town.

rata

Rata by Josh Emett

I recommend heading to this special restaurant at lunchtime when it is less busy and you can choose from the bargain set lunch menu. I enjoyed a refined three-course meal, with complimentary additions from the chef, for just $38 (about £17). Particularly memorable was the delicate white onion velouté with mushroom tortellini and crispy pancetta.

sherwood

Sherwood

This new venue is a great hotel for design-conscious travellers, but locals know it for its destination restaurant. Creative chef Ainsley Thompson presents inventive comfort food with a twist. Opt for their Tantric Dining menu with matching wines, to sample the best dishes. I loved the addictive creamy polenta with smoked tomato salsa, and the beautifully light rosé wine from Central Otago, which they buy by the barrel and bottle inhouse.

sasso

Sasso

Chef Rob Essenburg has recently taken over the kitchen at Italian restaurant Sasso and will soon be refreshing the menu of classics. The atmosphere is relaxed and the food is vibrant and tasty. The stand out dish was the comforting homemade spinach & ricotta ravioli with pancetta, pine nuts, parmesan and butter sauce. To accompany your meal choose a local wine like the Mount Edward Riesling.

Amisfield winery

Amisfield Winery

A little out of town, this boutique winery produces some of the best wine in the region. Once you have tasted the variety of reds, whites, sparklings and rosés, head through to the dining room for lunch. We tried a few exquisite seasonal dishes, my highlights included: Wild Nettle Tortellini with fresh cheese mousse, sage, lemon & garden spring tendrils; and the Organic Chicken with verjus, parsley & Hogan’s gully miners lettuce. The strikingly simple dessert of Brulée poached pear, pinot gris, yoghurt ice cream & hokey pokey was sensational, a perfect mix of tart and sweet tastes. The knowledgeable waiters will assist with the ideal wine to have with your food, my favourites were the light white Fumé Sauvignon Blanc 2014; and the Lake Hayes Noble 2013 dessert wine, though the vineyard is most known for its Pinot Noir.

fergburger

Fergburger

This burger venue is an institution in Queenstown and recently they even extended the pavement to accommodate the huge Ferg queues! Made with high quality local beef and freshly baked buns (Ferg bakery is next door) surprisingly the burgers do live up to the hype. Order the classic Fergburger with cheddar, or a slightly more exotic Swine Burger with avocado and bacon. Fries are delicious too, served with creamy aioli.

madam woo

Madam Woo

This trendy Malaysian eatery is a great evening hang-out when groups of friends visit to enjoy the cocktails and flavoursome cuisine. Order the turmeric chicken grilled satay with peanut sauce and pickled cucumber, or the Woo family favourite – Malaysian beef Rendang curry served with Nasi Lemak and an assortment of traditional condiments.

Sandals Grande, St Lucia

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The Sandals empire is growing thick and fast across the Caribbean, with the newest opening in Grenada just announced. There are three Sandals on the island of St Lucia, each with their own specialities and qualities. We spent the final two nights of our epic Caribbean trip at Sandals Grande St Lucian in the north of the island. Totally relaxing and luxurious, it was the perfect hideaway for our precious last days of sunshine.

Every Sandals destination sits directly on a stunning beach, with impressive stretches of white sand and expanses of clear turquoise water. Grande St Lucian is no exception and in fact is often described as the “closest location to a picture postcard”. As many will already know, Sandals is adults only (there are many alternative family focused resorts) and they offer all-inclusive holidays, so you need not worry about a thing.

The resorts all provide a transfer service to and from the airport so that your holiday can start the moment you step off the plane. We were very excited to be met by a chauffeur driven car with chilled champagne and chocolate ready for us to munch on during the journey to Le Grande.

Moments away from Rodney Bay and Pigeon Island, there is plenty around to entertain visitors, though I can understand why some are reluctant to leave the resort. After a thirty minute drive we arrived at our destination. The three storey lobby provides a very grand entrance, a highly polished and decorated palace, not necessarily to my taste but impressive nonetheless. We were greeted by smiling staff with cold flannels, introduced to our butlers (yes there were two) who escorted us to our living quarters.

We were staying in an Ultra Grande Luxe Rondoval Suite with our own Private Plunge Pool & Whirlpool. After a long tiring journey it was blissful to arrive in this fully equipped mini apartment. Decorated with warm neutral tones and soft comforting furnishings, it is an ultra relaxing suite that we felt instantly at home in. The bed was luxuriously big, soft and bouncy… the kind you immediately sink into. Every additional amenity is available, with fully stocked fridges and unlimited champagne and spirits for thirsty guests. The ‘his and her’ bathroom facilities are lovely and spacious with a gloriously big jacuzzi bath, indoor and outdoor showers. My only complaint concerned the internet, which is not free and is difficult to access from the rooms.

Everything aquatic is available during your Sandals stay, with an alluring dive reef just five minutes away. There are five fresh water pools on offer including the Sandals signature energy pool with swim-up bar and the romantic beachside heart-shaped pool for lovers (a bit schmaltzy). For more adventurous guests a variety of watersports and boating activities are available, many are free of charge and should definitely be taken advantage of.

The dining options are numerous, with eight international restaurants at Le Grande and a further twelve eateries on offer at the other two St Lucia Sandals branches. We were lucky to try some of the best, including the renowned over-the-water Gordon’s and the fine French restaurant La Toc in the other Sandals branch. Whilst eating in the warm evening air, you can enjoy the nightly entertainment which includes live music and performing acts. For lighter meals during the day, beachside grills and pizzerias are available for peckish sunbathers. I found I enjoyed the simpler food at Sandals, where the qualities of the delicious Caribbean produce can really be noticed and appreciated.

Before leaving the resort we were lucky enough to try the spa (see review here). I can recommend this as a truly lovely addition to your holiday with very experienced therapists and individually tailored treatments, it is a refuge of ultimate indulgence.

Anything you could wish for is possible at Sandals where they strive to make every couple’s dreams come true. For many, a ‘once in a lifetime’ holiday becomes a yearly anniversary… the Sandals way of life is certainly addictive, I was very sad to leave.

More information here.

http://www.sandals.co.uk/