City Eating

Brasserie Roux Heathrow: An Unexpected Delight

Linked to Terminal 5 by a sleek walkway, the Heathrow Sofitel's marble maze of bars, boutiques and luxury bedrooms wouldn't look out of place in Mayfair. It's only fair, then, that it's got a suitably stylish restaurant to match. Overseen by Albert himself, Brasserie Roux is a smart but unpretentious space with grey banquette seating, plush plum-coloured fabrics and an impressive water feature designed by David Harber. Diners can sit under clever pagoda-like structures, which shield them from the prying eyes of hotel guests in the rooms above, and the space is so well sound-proofed that you can only tell you're in an airport if you look out of the window.

Under the watchful gaze of manager Thierry de Magneval, the staff provide refreshingly attentive but understated service. We were left to enjoy each course in peace but were never left waiting for our glasses to be topped up or our questions to be answered. Our waiter, for example, was only too happy to list the herbs in the vinaigrette that accompanied one of our starters - a warm leek salad served with a perfectly poached egg and crisp croutons. Proof, if it were needed, that the most enjoyable dishes are those where the flavours are allowed to speak for themselves.

Fast Food Fragrance: Burger King Launches 'Whopper' Body Spray

Over at The Feedbag, one of our favourite NYC gastro-blogs, Josh Ozersky has stumbled upon possibly the best Secret Santa present ever. For the man who has everything…Burger King Body Spray!

Now available to buy online and in the US, Flame promises the ‘scent of seduction with a hint of flame-broiled meat’ which sounds pretty good - unless you’re trying to make a move on a vegan.

This latest stunt follows the hilariously bad taste ‘Whopper Virgins’ ad campaign, which saw Burger King offering a Whopper to the last few people on earth who had never eaten a hamburger. They hired Stacy Peralta, a director better known for making movies about skateboarders, and sent him abroad to give Greenland Inuits, Hmong tribesmen in Thailand, and Transylvanian peasants their first taste of global commercialism.

The body spray is less controversial, but we're still not sure if anyone is going to pay $3.99 to smell like their favourite food. (Couldn't you just roll around in Whopper wrappers instead?) Lets just hope the other fast food chains don't want to get in on the act - Big Mac lipgloss would be a step too far.

Ban The Bird: London's Best Turkey-Free Christmas Menus

Next week, dining room tables across the UK and beyond will be groaning under the weight of traditional Christmas fare. Deliciously crisp roast potatoes, tender brussel sprouts, parsnips, cranberry sauce, pints of gravy, and lest we forget – the driest, least flavoursome bird that money can buy. We admit that if you pack it full of stuffing and wrap it in bacon, you might actually get it to taste like something but does anyone really want it?

If you'd rather not spent Christmas morning up to your elbows in gizzards or plucking out stubborn feathers with your Mum's tweezers, here are ten of the best alternative Christmas menus on offer in London this year. There's a cuisine and price to suit everyone and not a turkey in sight!
 
1) One of our favourites - The Establishment in Parsons Green - is serving up a great British Christmas menu until December 23rd. At lunchtime, it's priced at £25 for 3 courses which is a bargain for the top quality dishes we've come to expect here. Fulham foodies can start with spiced parsnip soup or seared scallops with crispy pork, and then feast on hearty mains like braised Galloway beef shin and roast breast of wild pheasant. Their puddings have had us in raptures on more than one occasion, so we recommend saving room for egg nog crème brulee or chocolate fondant before heading to the bar for cocktails.

2) Vegetarians facing the prospect of yet another nut roast might want to head for Saf instead, where there's a much more appealing menu on offer. Chef Chad Sarno cooks many of his dishes below 48°C to preserve optimal flavour and nutrition, so you won't find any of the usual Christmas stodge here. The tasting menus, ranging from two to five courses, feature delicious dishes that are 100% free from animal products, dairy and processed ingredients. Vegan gourmets and raw food enthusiasts can feast on chestnut crepes with wild mushroom and walnut stuffing; beetroot ravioli; and sweet pumpkin pie with espresso syrup - all washed down with a glass of biodynamic wine, recommended by Saf's sommelier, Joe McCanta. For guilt-free dining, this Shoreditch gem is hard to beat.

3) While a yuletide trip to Paris would be ideal, a trip to Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester is certainly the next best thing. The restaurant itself is a neutral space in understated shades of beige but we like to think that's to help the Michelin-starred food take centre stage. The £285 Christmas menu features decadent dishes like duck foie gras and chestnut ravioli; crab with truffled minestrone; seared scallops; and roasted 'Jaune des Landes' capon breast with seasonal vegetables. It's a bit of a budget buster but who cares? Tis the season after all...

Snap Of The Week: Rossopomodoro’s Got The X-Factor

Rossopomodoro, Italy’s leading Neopolitan pizza chain, have immortalised the X-Factor judges in pizza dough to mark the show’s final on Saturday 13th December.

The chain now has three restaurants in London – based in Notting Hill, Chelsea and Covent Garden – and the inspiration for these incredible pizzas came from managing director Simone Falco, who is a huge fan of the show.
 
Simone says, “I'm originally from Naples and we have our own version of the show in Italy but in this case, Britain's is best. I absolutely love the X-factor, so my tribute to the programme was to task the team at Rossopomodoro to make the pizzas – I think the resemblance to the judges is uncanny!”

Since the finalists were announced, Simone has been selling pizzas named after the three X-Factor finalists, and keeping a tally of who is the public's favourite choice. Diners can nibble on the Eoghan Quigg Corbarella – a simple but delicious mix of mozzarella, mushrooms, ham, cream and fresh basil, or go for the Alexandra Burke Massese with tomato and spicy salami. If you’re a JLS fan, you can feast on a traditional four-cheese pizza topped with Neapolitan cheeses.

All of the X-Factor pizzas are available at the bargain price of £9.00 and you can book a table at the Notting Hill branch on their london-eating page.

Snap Of The Week: The Real Greek Rides Into Spitalfields

To celebrate the opening of The Real Greek’s new restaurant in Spitalfields Market, local City folk were treated to donkey rides to and from their offices. The chain supports the animal welfare charity, Corfu Donkey Rescue, and found that Londoners were equally enthusiastic about their unique alternative to taxis.

Managing Director Liz Williams said: “We’ve had a tremendous response to our special service. It might take a little longer but it’s certainly a relaxing and green way to get to your destination and the city workers aren’t afraid of making an ass of themselves – it’s just a bit of fun!”

Like its sister restaurants, the Spitalfields branch is a relaxed and informal eatery serving up authentic Greek food. The menu features traditional mezedes, which are perfect for sharing, and their infamous souvlaki - chargrilled kebabs wrapped in flatbread and served with tzatziki and tomato relish.

If you don’t work in the City, don’t worry – you can sample some of The Real Greek’s great food at their other branches in Hoxton, Clerkenwell, Bankside, Putney, Marylebone, Covent Garden and the Westfield Shopping Centre.

Festive Fare: Christmas Shopping For London Foodies

So, December has arrived in all its arctic glory and we’re finally ready to admit that Christmas is coming. We know that most shops have had their decorations up since mid-August and some people have already got their presents wrapped and their turkey in their freezer, but if - like us - you’re taking a more laid-back approach to the holiday season, here are some of the best places in London to do your festive food shopping.

- From 20th to 23rd December, the Southbank Centre will host the Slow Food Christmas Market - the ideal place to stock up on sustainably produced fresh food for an eco-friendly larder. This year there are over 25 stalls selling things like Sheepdrove Farm's organic turkeys; Perry Court bio-dynamic vegetables; rare breed pork; game pies; Somerset cider brandy; and Ping Pong's flowering teas.

- There are still tickets available for Gordon Ramsay’s Taste of Christmas, which runs from December 4th to 7th at ExCel in Docklands. There will be plenty of cookery demos, wine tastings, sample dishes from top London restaurants, and a huge range of stalls selling unique gifts and seasonal food and drink. Some of our favourites will be there, so look out for The Garlic Farm, Kellys Turkeys, the Japanese Knife Company, and Daisy’s Dog Deli - the only place to buy treats for your pampered pooch this Christmas.

- There’s Christmas music at Borough Market from 4th December, and BBC3’s Choir of the Year are performing on Saturday 6th. As usual, you can pick up quality cuts of meat, excellent cheese, fine wine and plenty of chocolate and fudge - just go bright and early to avoid the crowds. Check out the seasonal opening hours on their website.

- The Moet & Chandon Pop Up Shop is open throughout December on New Bond Street and it’s the perfect place to pick up a bottle of festive fizz. If you have guests to impress, parties to attend or just fancy treating yourself; you can’t go wrong here. Prices start at £50 for a 75cl bottle and there are 1500cl Nebuchadnezzar bottles available if you want to bathe in the stuff. To add a little extra sparkle to a gift, get the Moet maestros to customise your bottle with a name or date in Swarovski crystals. The shop is open from 11am to 7pm and you can call 0845 871 1743 for more details.