Tag Archives: Shoreditch

The Worship Street Whistling Shop, Shoreditch

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The Worship Street Whistling Shop is more laboratory than cocktail parlour… the most experimental of the Fluid Movement’s ventures. In a dark and moody Victorianesque cellar, guests lounge in velvet armchairs and sip extraordinary drinks created from only the strangest and most imaginative ingredients.

Don’t go expecting the same dramatics as Purl, the sister establishment – this bar, they will tell you, is much more about science and discovery.

We tried three drinks from the wildly innovative list:

Pell Mell Cup No. 2 – Woodford Reserve, WS Plum & Pear winter preservation liqueur, ‘Orstead’ treated pomegranate, Tio Pepe, vanilla smoke, malt of ‘Opium’.

Throat Oil – Jose Cuervo, Dubbonet, Cointreau, Heat treated blueberry Tawny Port, Chater peaberry coffee tincture, ‘Orstead’ solution, Vanilla Salt. Spoonful of Milk Porter (to help the medicine go down).

Panacea – Whyte & Mackay 13, Honey and Lavender shrub, lemon juice, sage dust.

They are certainly weird and wonderful… each recipe is presented in a different glass cup or beaker, garnished with exquisite seasoning. Suffering from a winter cough, Throat Oil seemed like the logical choice. It is perhaps the most eccentric drink on the list… a straight strong cocktail accompanied by vanilla salt and cream jelly which alter the taste accordingly. Pell Mell had a very pleasant flavour though some might think it slightly bitter.

Panacea is the most drinkable of the three, though I wasn’t sure about the sage dust on top, which looked (and smelt) more like cigarette ash. Floral but with a kick from the citrus, for the unknowing drinker it could be described as a kind of flavoured Martini.

The majority of the concoctions are priced around £10, reasonable considering the work and time which goes into creating them. Prepare to be surprised and amazed, these are not your average cocktails.

More information here.

http://www.whistlingshop.com/

Nightjar, Shoreditch

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Nightjar is surreptitiously squeezed in between two greasy spoons on City Road, near Old Street Station. This bar is a hidden gem filled with an air of desire and attraction, a cabaret den for music and magic.

Once allowed in, you follow the steps downstairs and are greeted by a sultry hostess and taken to your seats. The interior is typical speakeasy: velvet sofas, dimmed lighting and a low ceiling. If you can, try to sit at the bar where you can see the mixologists at work and challenge them to create you a bespoke drink. It is a stylish venue and guests often dress up for the occasion. Dressed in drab work clothes, I felt painfully low-key so trotted off to the loo before my friend arrived to doll myself up a bit and apply a bit of much needed lippy. This is the kind of place where lipstick is a must.

Nightjar offers my two favourite things: cocktails (obviously) and tapas… authentic small plates of yummy treats for peckish visitors. In need of something to nibble, we ordered a Charcuterie plate and a Manchego cheese board, a substantial snack which was perfect for picking. They arrived promptly, rustically presented on artisan wooden boards with olive oil and cornichons. The food was delicious, the kind of meat and cheese you would find in a top deli.

Cocktails arrived with little amuse-bouche snackettes and glasses of water. The choice is dazzling, there are too many weird, wild and wonderful creations to choose from, I felt overwhelmed and a little sad that I would miss out on so many. Explaining our preferences for rum and gin, the coquettish waitress advised us on suitable combinations and I was too weary to challenge her suggestions. Beachcomber’s Punch (buttered Bacardi 8 year rum, mamajuana cordial, splash absinthe, fresh pineapple juice, mastiha honey, fresh squeezed lime, chia tea and soda) for me and the Kama Aina (G’vine Floreaison gin, elderberry infusion, triple sec, mastiha honey, fresh squeezed lime and sparkling coconut water) for my friend. They were both spectacular, each presented beautifully. Mine was served in an exotic towering high cup with crushed ice toppling over the brim, burnt coconut, a carved cyclinder of pineapple, and a cherry, dusted with a mysterious spice. The drink was strong but soothing, a fruity concoction with a softness from the honey and tangy twist from the lime and absinthe. The gin drink was enchanting, arriving on fire – we knew at once the taste would be equally dramatic! It is a summery cocktail, perfect for the beach with a wonderful hint of elderflower and coconut, an innovative combination of flavours.

The prices at Nightjar are high, especially for Shoreditch, with most drinks costing around £10. However as soon as you have seen the stunning concoctions and the flair and attention given to each and every glass they seem worth the expense. Suddenly supper doesn’t seem so important, when the money could be spent on another masterpiece drink.

We were tempted to stay for the musical entertainment, but the start time was just a little too late, especially for a school night. So wandered out woozy and jolly into the night. Nightjar offers some of the most glamorous cocktails in town, I’m already planning my return visit.

Visit the website here for more information.

http://www.barnightjar.com/

The Meter, Shoreditch

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The Meter looked a bit dull and dark from the outside, and yet once I experienced the vibrant Italian food and exquisite cocktails, my first impressions were reversed. This new eatery (only three weeks old) has opened in the happening area of Shoreditch, a few steps from Old Street tube. I am always surprised by how grey this part of London is, no green to be seen anywhere… and yet behind the doors of the independent cafes, bars, shops and restaurants some of the most exciting creative activity in the city takes place.

Though the interior is all still quite makeshift, there is an obvious New York vibe… cool and laid back. The Meter offers simple Italian cuisine with a clever and appealing menu. I was incredibly impressed with the cheap prices, and after tasting the food was even more surprised that they could be kept so low with such high quality ingredients.

I’m embarrassed to say we tried about half of the cocktail list between us. Unique combinations and inventive ideas that really worked. My absolute favourite was the Rhubarbomb – a sweet mix of Santa Teresa anejo Rum, home-made rhubarb compote, lime juice and vanilla sugar… it is a summery drink, fruity with a sour kick. My friend tried the W.T.S Collins made with Gin, Poire Williams, cucumber, lemon and sugar… served very cold, this is the ultimate refreshing cocktail, mixed to perfection. Later on in the night I ordered a more grown up Rhum Blazer which was made at our table, a little performance with fire and dramatics producing an incredibly strong but wonderfully aromatic drink.

Our waitress was adorable, helping us choose from the menu and suggesting her favourites. An array of attractive food arrived promptly and I suddenly realised how starving I was… wolfing down herby olives, peppery salami and lightly toasted focaccia bread from the beautiful board of classic antipasti and finishing off the small dough fritters with spicy homemade tomato sauce very easily. The Antipasti sharing plates are generous and would be ideal for a light lunch with wine.

Pizzas feature prominently on the Meter menu, priced per 0.25 m. We decided on the Broccoli e Salsiccia with wild broccoli, pork & fennel sausage, chillies, cream and mozzarella… they are artisan-made and delicious, though I think I chose the wrong topping, as the pizza on the next door table looked more interesting. The ingredients individually were lovely, but together without a tomato base it was disappointing and a little bizarre. Next time I will be trying the Melanzane (aubergines, parmesan, tomato, mozzarella, ricotta and basil) or the Salame Piccante (spinata calabra, black olives, tomato, chillies, scamorza).

From the rest of the menu, we tried the veal and almond meatballs and the grilled aubergine and pine nuts salad. The meatballs arrived with polenta in a sweet tomato sauce, a comforting and rich dish, I loved it. The salad was fresh and crunchy, but needed a more punchy vinegary dressing.

Desserts were very typically Italian, served in small glasses they looked and tasted divine. Tiramisu was the star of the show: silky, creamy, sweet. I have never tasted such an insanely yummy tiramisu! We also tried wine poached pear, yogurt cream, ginger crumble, cinnamon, chocolate – a unique pudding with layers of contrasting textures and tastes.

The Meter offers the best of both worlds, innovative cocktails and delicious reasonable food, I think once word gets out this understated venue will be a hit eatery.

Visit The Meter website here.