City Eating

Date For Your Diary: January Game Night At Charlotte’s Bistro

On Monday 23rd January, executive chef Wesley Smalley will be hosting Game Night at Charlotte’s Bistro in Chiswick. The restaurant is well known for its accomplished modern British cooking and cosy neighbourhood vibe. The event will start promptly with drinks on arrival at 7pm, followed by an impressive seven course menu celebrating seasonality and top quality local produce.

The menu includes inventive game-focused dishes like venison tartare with anchovy sabayon and bitter chocolate; pheasant sausage with red cabbage and liquorice puree; and confit wild rabbit tortelloni with espelette pepper ‘Café au Lait’. After a palate cleansing mandarin sorbet, diners will round off the meal with a decadent Valrhona chocolate dessert with vanilla milk, dulce de leche, and bitter endive. The full menu can be viewed online.

Charlotte's Bistro owner Alex Wrethman will be looking after diners throughout the evening, alongside Matthew Mawtus, Charlotte's Operations Director and resident wine expert. Chef Wesley will join diners after the meal for a chat about food, cooking and anything else that springs to mind.

Tickets are priced at £58 per person and can be booked online here. A wine pairing option will be available on the evening at an additional £38 per person.

Don’t miss out on the chance to banish the January blues and experience a truly unique seasonal menu. If you can’t make it, you can still take advantage of some great special offers running at Charlotte’s Bistro this month. The set lunch and early diner deals are exceptionally good value for cooking of this standard – don’t miss out!

News Bites: London Cocktail Week, Jose Pizarro, CUT & More

London Cocktail Week is back this year with an extended run from Friday 7th to Sunday 16th October. There will be tastings, parties and boozy master classes with top mixologists happening all over town, plus the LCW bus to take you from one to the other. (The buses are sponsored by Bacardi so there will be bartenders serving mini cocktails at each stop). This year the ‘week’ has been extended to include The Whisky Show at the Vinopolis (7th-8th October) and RumFest at Olympia (15th-16th October). Register now for a free wristband so you can enjoy bespoke £4 cocktails at over 100 London bars - twice as many as last year. We’ll be posting maps, suggested crawls and more info nearer the time, so watch this space.

Can’t wait for Cocktail Week? Head for Pearl Restaurant & Bar in Holborn where executive chef Jun Tanaka and mixologist Anthony Balik have created a quirky liquid salad bar. From now until 30th September, cocktail aficionados can enjoy three summery cocktails with side salad garnishes, priced at £13.75 each. Try the classic Waldorf – walnut vodka muddled with celery, apple and grapes – or the Greek – a Mediterranean blend of gin, delicate tomato consommé and cucumber, served with feta and olive mini skewers. We like the look of the Thai – a sunset yellow blend of chilli-infused cachaça, mango, papaya, lime and palm sugar syrup. The Thai noodle salad on the side is a perfect amuse bouche before moving on to the dinner in the restaurant.

Following the success of last year’s £1 sale, Cafe Luc will be doing it all again from 8th August to 8th September. If you book a table on the designated secret booking day, you could enjoy a set menu for lunch or dinner at their Marylebone brasserie for a quid! You can choose your preferred date between 8th August and 8th September and there will be ten set menus to choose from each day. To find out when to book, simply subscribe to their mailing list, join them on Facebook or follow them on twitter.

D&D London have announced their plans to redevelop the ground floor and basement of the Old Bengal Warehouse on New Street off Bishopsgate. The 10,000 sq ft development will include a specialist wine shop, bars and two restaurants – a steakhouse and a fish restaurant. Both venues will have al fresco seating within the building’s walled courtyards. It is set to open to the public in Spring 2012.

This September, Wolfgang Puck will launch his first European restaurant, CUT, at the Dorchester’s Park Lane Hotel. The restaurant, which is named after the original in Beverly Hills, will feature a 76-seater ground floor dining room and a central staircase leading up to a mezzanine library and Bar 45. The recently revealed menu boasts ‘the widest and best selection of beef available in London’, with prime cuts sourced from the USA, Australia, Chile and New Zealand. Diners can also enjoy dishes like bone marrow flan with mushroom marmalade; Scottish lobster with black truffle sabayon; and strawberry and cream Baked Alaska. The breakfast menu includes American-inspired treats like blueberry buttermilk pancakes with whipped bourbon-maple butter and salt beef hash cake with poached eggs. 

Spanish Openings – Jose Pizarro’s tapas bar has received rave reviews from critics and locals alike, so it’s great to hear that his restaurant – Pizarro – will open in October. The more formal eatery will be taking over the Bermondsey Kitchen site at 194 Bermondsey Street and will feature a traditional Spanish menu and London’s first Cava bar. Meanwhile, Iberica’s excecutive chef Nacho Manzano will open a second restaurant at Cabot Square this Autumn. The Canary Wharf outpost will offer the same traditional Spanish dishes as the Great Portland Street original, as well as beers and wines that were previously not exported outside Spain.

News Bites: Pitt Cue Co, Street Kitchen, 4th July & More

STREET KITCHEN – This summer, the Street Kitchen’s vintage silver airstream will be parked at Finsbury Square near Moorgate. From June 27th, they’ll be there Monday to Friday for two weeks and then Tuesday through Thursday until the end of September. Jun Tanaka (executive chef at Pearl) and Mark Jankel (chef and founder of the Food Initiative) will be serving British bistro-style lunches to City workers between 11.30am and 2.30pm. Dishes are priced between £4.50 and £7.50 and include slow-roast lamb shoulder with tomato and goats cheese salad; black bream with smoked aubergine and roast tomato vinaigrette; and cheesecake mousse with summer berry compote. All the food is sustainable and the food boxes are compostable so you can have a guilt-free gourmet lunch for under a tenner. Follow @StreetKitchen on twitter for daily news and updates from the van.

HAWKSMOOR AT PITT CUE CO - Richard Turner (head chef) and Will Beckett (co-owner) of Hawksmoor will be taking over the Pitt Cue Co truck on Wednesday 6th July for one night only from 6 to 10pm. In addition to the full Pitt Cue Co menu (which includes some seriously good pulled pork, ribs and wings), Richard will be serving Hawksmoor ribs, kimchi and the intriguing 'Not Dog' (made with pork, beef and Richard's top secret spicing). Will’s in charge of drinks and will be serving the two new Hawksmoor beers (Seven Barrels Red Rye and Devil's Architect Pale Ale), Shaky Pete's Ginger Brew, and Red Rye and Rye Whisky Boilermakers (beer and a shot). The van is parked under Hungerford Bridge on Southbank – just follow the smell of smoked meat.

INDEPENDENCE DAY - To celebrate Independence Day this year, the Big Easy and The Blues Kitchen are hosting gut-busting eating tournaments on July 4th. At the Big Easy in Chelsea, ten guys and girls will go head to head in a rib-eating race to see how many they can eat in 30 minutes. The winner will receive a £100 Big Easy voucher and have their name engraved on the wall of fame. Entry is free and the competition starts at 6pm. If you’re not into speed eating, you can go along to watch and take your time over their all-American crispy fried chicken, chilli dogs and apple pie. There’s live music from 8pm and red, white and blue Margaritas at £6.95 so ex-pats and Yankophiles can party into the early hours.

In Camden, hot dog fans will have the chance to win £100 worth of Blues Kitchen vouchers in an all-you-can-eat showdown from 8pm. Contestants will have just half an hour to beat the current record of 13, with plenty of water and sauces on hand to help the dogs go down. If just one hot dog will do, simply turn up dressed in red, white and blue and your dog is on the house. If you’re lucky enough to actually be American, show your passport at the bar and they’ll treat you to a free beer, spirit or glass of wine.

SENSES OF THAILAND AT SELFRIDGES – From 14th – 30th July, Selfridges will be hosting a celebration of Thai food and culture with live cooking demos, food tastings and Thai dance and puppet shows. Some of London’s top Thai restaurants will be selling authentic snacks like Som Tam (spicy papaya salad) and Mieng Kham (nuts, dried shrimp, chilli and shallots wrapped in betel leaves). There will be a Thai dessert cart and a tropical fruit stand and juice bar offering healthy and exotic drinks. Renowned Thai Chef Pongtawat Ian Chalermkittichai will be taking up a temporary residence at Hix Restaurant & Champagne Bar, offering a Thai menu of regional specialities together with Thai inspired cocktails. Nahm will run a guest menu at the Oyster & Seafood Bar and Singha Beer will run a temporary bar in Gordon’s Cafe where customers can enjoy a traditional Thai snack menu, washed down with an ice cold lager and Thai cocktails.

Coming Soon: Bonnie & Wild Game & Seafood Pop-Up

THE LOWDOWN: Open from 7pm every Saturday, The Bonnie & Wild is more of a ‘part-time’ restaurant than a pop-up. It’s a unique collaboration between London based catering companies Bonnie Gull Ltd, purveyors of quality Scottish seafood, and the Wild Game Co, who specialise in seasonal game from the Highlands. A mix of both, cooked predominantly on BBQs, will be on offer at their Islington restaurant.

THE LOOK: The Bonnie & Wild team have found a suitably historic and unique setting in M. Manze’s pie & mash shop on Chapel Market in Angel. The Grade II listed venue is an institution in its own right and has traditional marble tables, wooden booths and tiled walls. On Saturday evenings, the pies and jellied eels will be swapped for fresh seafood and game and the room will trade daytime buzz for candlelit cool with a Motown soundtrack.

THE FOOD: The menu will change on a weekly basis but the food will always be organic, seasonal and sourced within the UK. The kitchen will be run by Iain Sim, who is head chef at Edinburgh’s award-winning Mussel Inn. Starters will include Scottish smoked salmon; ½ dozen Loch Fyne oysters; pigeon salad with caramelised apple, chorizo and balsamic syrup; and barbecued squid, scallops and king prawns (tandoori-style with lime and creme fraiche).

From a list of reasonably priced mains, carnivores can choose from dishes like seared venison haunch or roe deer fillet with Dauphinoise potatoes and asparagus. Fish fans are spoilt for choice with barbecued salmon, coley, langoustines and whole sea bream with chilli, lemongrass, ginger and coriander. There’s also a full-on mixed seafood blow-out available for £32 per head. Desserts are light and simple – chocolate, Drambuie and orange mousse; affogato; and Scottish strawberries with vanilla cream and balsamic syrup.

THE DETAILS: The restaurant will be open from 7pm every Saturday. The venue is cash only, BYOB and laid out mainly in booths for 4 and 6. To make a reservation, send an e-mail to bookings@bonniewild.co.uk. (There are still a few tables available for their previews this month – check out their Facebook for details).

If you can’t wait until July, you can find Bonnie Gull selling fresh oysters and Inverlochy smoked salmon at Leadenhall Market every Thursday and Friday. The Wild Game Co are at Whitecross Street Market (near the Barbican Centre) from Monday to Friday and Broadway Market every Saturday. (Just follow the smell of venison and look out for dashing young men in kilts.)

Camden’s Blues Kitchen Hosts Week-Long Blues Fest

If the grey weekend weather is getting you down, head for Camden and warm up with music, bourbon and soul food at The Blue’s Kitchen’s week-long blues festival. From Sunday 29th May to Sunday 5th June, the laid-back bar-diner will be laying on an impressive line-up of rhythm and blues talent with performances from established blues and rockabilly artists from the UK and across the pond. There’s even the chance to learn how to swing dance and play the harmonica! Check out the line-up below; most nights are free entry before 9pm.

 Sunday 29th - Mud Morganfield (the eldest son of legendary American blues artists Muddy Water’s); The Caezars (the UK’s freshest new rockabilly band); Dollar Bill; and Hipbone Slim & The Knee Tremblers. 6pm-3am, free before 9pm, £3.50 after.

Bank Holiday Monday, 30th May - Jamaican born Big Joe Louis and his Blues Kings. 7pm - midnight, free entry.

 Tuesday 31st - Mark Flanegan, best known as Jools Holland’s guitarist and right-hand man. A rare opportunity to see him do his own thing for one night! Support from Sam Hare. 7pm - midnight, free entry.

 Wednesday 1st June - Award-winning UK blues man Ian Siegal. Ian played the Blues Kitchen Festival last year and was so popular that he was asked back. For this show Ian will begin with a solo set and then be joined by The Blues Kitchen’s house band for a full-on electric performance. 7pm - midnight, free entry.

 Thursday 2nd - The Groundhogs, with an original line-up featuring guitarist Tony McPhee. Support from Rodeo Massacre and Roll n Tumble DJs until 2am. Free entry before 9pm, £3 after.

 Friday 3rd - Gumbo Rumble club night with music from Slims Cyder Co, Charlie Hangdog & The Lowdown Highs and fire eater Anna the Hulagan. Free before 9pm, £3.50 after.

 Saturday 4th - Jack Rabbit Slim, widely thought of as the finest Rockabilly outfit in the UK, with support from The Blues Kitchen house band. Hits Don’t Hurt DJs until 3am. Free before 9pm, £4 after.

 Sunday 5th - Festival closing party with secret special guests. 6pm - midnight, free entry.

Blues fans can also enjoy a taste of the Deep South with The Blues Kitchen’s £12 taster paddle, featuring six rye whiskies including the full-bodied Pikesville Supreme Rye Whiskey and Jacquin’s Rock and Rye infused with rock candy and oranges. To soak it all up, the paddle comes with a sharing plate piled high with buffalo wings, BBQ ribs, sweet potato wedges, padron peppers, homemade chilli, dips and tortilla chips. Throughout the festival, the bar will be serving bespoke cocktails inspired by the evening’s line-up. Don’t miss the ‘Mudslide’ (in honour of Mud Morganfield) and the ‘Hillbilly Rock’ (Jack Rabbit Slim). If you arrive early (between 6-8pm), you can tuck into a starter, main and a cocktail for just £10 - a pre-show stomach-lining bargain.

On Bank Holiday Monday, there’s a free harmonica lesson at 4.30pm with professional teacher Captain Bliss, while on June 4th, also at 4.30pm, Swing Patrol will be hosting a free blues and swing dance session.

Check out the The Blues Kitchen website for more info and follow them on twitter @TheBluesKitchen. We’ll see you down there for a bourbon or two.

Shamrock 'n' Roll - Celebrate St Patrick's Day In London

Thursday 17th March is St Patrick’s Day – the annual celebration of the patron saint of Ireland and a great excuse for the rest of the world to down pints of Guinness and bowls of Irish stew. London’s official St Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival will take place this Sunday (March 13th), with colourful floats and marching bands proceeding from Green Park to Trafalgar Square from 12 noon. The square will host the festival programme of live Irish dance and music – a great family day out, and it’s free!

Throughout the week and on the 17th itself, lots of London restaurants and bars will be celebrating with Irish-themed menus, drinks, offers and events. Here are some of the best places to enjoy the craic.

Corrigan’s – In Mayfair, at the culinary home of Irish chef Richard Corrigan, they are celebrating with a week-long festival of Irish food. An Irish Market Menu, available at lunchtime Monday to Friday, will be available for just £27 for three courses, including a carafe of wine. The a la carte will feature daily Irish specials like crubeens, braised collar of bacon, and Oyster Stout rarebit, and the restaurant’s cheese trolley will feature only Irish cheeses for one week only.

Bentley’s – At Corrigan’s other restaurant, Bentley’s on Swallow Street, they will be hosting an Irish buffet in the private Jameson Room. Guests can expect plenty of oysters, smoked salmon, Irish stew, whiskey apple pie and Irish cheeses, along with live music from the Kilburn Cowboys. (Tickets are priced at £45 per head, or £20 each for late afternoon tickets. For more info or to book, please call 020 7734 4756).

The Rubens at the Palace – At the Rubens Hotel on Buckingham Palace Road, the cocktail of the month is the Black Velvet – a Guinness and Champagne cocktail invented in Dublin in 1861. In the Old Masters Restaurant, a special prix fixe menu will include wild smoked salmon and soda bread; Irish stew with bacon and cabbage; and fine Irish cheeses accompanied by a selection of Irish beers and stouts. (2 courses £24.50, 3 for £29.50).

Lutyens – In the City, Lutyens’ Irish head chef David Burke has put together a selection of Irish-themed menus to showcase some of his favourite ingredients and recipes. City slickers can pop in to the bar for the prix fixe menu (2 courses £17.50) or three Galway Bay oysters with a Black Velvet cocktail for £12.50. In the restaurant, diners can enjoy the Menu Compris – three courses, half a bottle of wine, water, coffee and petits fours for £39.50. The menu will include dishes like Claire Island smoked salmon; seared scallops with pea purée and Clonakilty white pudding; Drumlin Gold sirloin steak; and chocolate mousse with whiskey and honeycomb ice-cream. The menus will be available from Monday 14th to Friday 18th March.

The Water Poet – On March 17th, The Water Poet gastropub in Spitalfields will be serving a three-course St Patrick’s Day menu all day. City foodies and Irish ex-pats can tuck into traditional dishes like boiled bacon and cabbage; Irish stew with soda bread; and pan-fried salmon with colcannon and whipped Irish whiskey butter. Save room for a dessert of Baileys cheesecake, Guinness sticky toffee pudding or an Irish cheese platter.

Support British Pie Week At Top London Gastropubs

From 7th-13th March, London pubs and restaurants will be laying on special pie-themed menus and offers in honour of British Pie Week – a week-long celebration of the home-grown comfort food favourite.

At The Windmill in Mayfair, they’re offering daily-changing pie specials like chicken, bacon and leek; mutton; venison; and their award-winning steak and kidney. From Monday to Saturday, each pie will be served with a free 1/3 of a pint of matching beer or cider. The last time they ran an offer like this, they sold almost 1000 pies   over 12 days – pretty impressive and proof that we’re a nation of pie and ale lovers. The popular pub is situated just off Regent Street and you can follow them on twitter @tweetiepie_W1 where they will be announcing the pies of the day.

South of the river, the Renaissance Pubs are offering a home-made pie and a pint for just £10 at The Avalon, The Stonhouse and The Abbeville in Clapham, The Bolingbroke in Battersea and The Tommyfield in Kennington. That’s a saving of over a fiver and the best news is that it’s on offer until March 20th. Take your pick from traditional pub classics such as steak and ale (dry-aged Herefordshire beef with Timothy Taylor’s Landlord) or fish pie complete with haddock, shrimps and cockles, as well as innovative combinations such as wild boar and chocolate; pork, apricot, sage and caramelised onion; and – one for the veggies – goat’s cheese, sweet potato, spinach and pine nuts.

A special mention goes to the hearty cow pie, featuring rump, ox cheek and tongue, and the classic apple and blackberry pie with clotted cream for pudding. Choose your pint from a selection of leading British ales such as Sharp’s Doom Bar bitter from Cornwall, Battersea brewed Wandle Ale, Sundancer from Twickenham or Thatcher’s Gold Cider from the heart of Somerset.

The ETM pub company are celebrating in style at The Gun in Docklands, The Well in Clerkenwell and The Cadogan Arms on the Kings Road. There’s a pie to please every palate, including a traditional Cornish ‘Stargazy’ pie made with cod cheeks, salmon, mackerel and Scottish langoustines. In keeping with its location, The Gun will be serving the East End classic pie mash and liquor made with potato skins, vinegar, parsley and stewed eel water. Not your thing? Try the decadent queen scallop and wild crayfish pie or skip straight to dessert and try the seasonal rhubarb pie with stem ginger ice-cream.

At The Well in Farringdon, there’s a suitably wintry venison pie on offer, alongside a pea, broad bean and quail egg option with banoffee pie for pud. Across town in Chelsea, pie lovers at The Cadogan Arms can tuck into a wild rabbit and Herefordshire snail offering, with lemon meringue pie for dessert. One course will set you back £12 or you can splash out with a two-course pie feast for just £16 or three for £20.

Flipping Great Places To Celebrate Pancake Day In London

Shrove Tuesday was originally celebrated by Christians as the last day of indulgence before the fasting period of Lent. Now, it’s better known as Pancake Tuesday – a great excuse for foodies of all faiths to break out the batter and start flipping. You can make your own, of course, but if you’re feeling lazy, why not try the pancake offerings at some of these lovely London restaurants on Tuesday 8th March?

In Chelsea, The Botanist – that oh-so-chic Sloaney favourite – will be celebrating with a selection of crepe creations courtesy of pastry chef, Boyne Kleynhans. From 3.30pm to 6pm, diners can ditch their diets and enjoy a caramelised apple crepe with homemade vanilla ice cream or a sticky-sweet banana and chocolate crepe with pistachio praline for just £6.75. Alternatively, skip lunch in favour of The Botanist’s afternoon tea (£25) – traditional sandwiches and scones washed down with tea and Champagne, followed by your choice of crepe.

City slickers in Liverpool Street should head for The Water Poet - a Spitalfields gastropub  offering an impressive Pancake Day menu from midday on March 8th. Savoury options will include classic chicken and mushroom; salmon and cream cheese; and a veggie option of sprouting broccoli with walnuts and stilton. The sweet options look even better, ranging from traditional lemon and sugar – a bargain at £4 – to the Aspall Cider pancake with slow-roasted apples, cinnamon sugar & cream. At £7.95, the priciest option is the decadent Black Forest pancake filled with Meantime Chocolate Porter, cherry compote, fresh cream & a drizzle of chocolate sauce.

On nearby Leadenhall Street, Prism Brasserie - popular with the business lunch crowd - will be serving blood orange and Grand Marnier pancakes with ginger bread ice cream for £6.

In Soho, legendary Hungarian restaurant The Gay Hussar will have five pancakes – or ‘palacsinta’ – on the menu. If you’re tired of the traditional, try the hearty main course pancake served with rich veal goulash or the walnut ‘Gundel Palacsinta’ with chocolate sauce, invented by Hungarian cook Karoly Gundel.

Looking more something more creative? The family-friendly Giraffe chain is offering you the chance to ‘Pimp Your Pancake’ from 8th to 11th March. From 8pm to 4pm, Giraffe’s American-style pancake stacks will be served with your choice of toppings so you can ‘pimp’ and devour it in your own foodie style. You can stack them as high as you like and top with tasty treats like marshmallows, blueberries, maple syrup and caramel sauce.

Better still, pimps can win prizes! Post a picture of your pancake dish on their Facebook page and send in your recipe or method to be in with a chance of winning a foodie feast for you and up to five of your friends. (Pictures can be posted from 8th-20th March and the King Pimp will be chosen by popular consensus by 28th March). Visit giraffe.net for full details

Another family-friendly option can be found at Sam’s Brasserie in Chiswick, or their sister restaurant Harrison’s in Balham. On Tuesday 8th March, both restaurants will be hosting a special afternoon ‘Kid’s Pancake Party’ from 4pm and 5.30pm. Mums and Dads can bring the kids in on the way home from school to try freshly made pancakes topped with lemon and sugar, chocolate sauce, or bananas and cream. For lunch and dinner, the restaurants will also be offering pancakes for grown-up foodies including a delicious crab and chilli starter pancake and an Eton Mess pancake for pud.

With all those pancakes to choose from, there’s no excuse not to get stuck in on March 8th. If you need more inspiration or want to share your pancake tips, leave a comment below or get in touch with us on twitter.

Books For Cooks: Four Of The Best Food Books Out This Year

Even London’s greediest gourmets can’t eat out every night of the week, so here are five of the most exciting food books due for release this year. Add to your wishlist or pre-order them now – go on, treat yourself!

Barrafina: A Spanish Cookbook by Sam and Eddie Hart and Nieves Barragan Mohacho

Another Soho restaurant cookbook to add to the wishlist, this time from the eternally busy tapas bar, Barrafina. Written by owners Sam and Eddie Hart and Basque-born head chef Nieves Barragan Mohacho, it features step-by-step instructions to help you recreate authentic Spanish dishes at home. The recipes range from delicate to gutsy, simple to sophisticated, with dishes like fried pimentos, salt cod fritters and razor clams that the restaurant’s regulars will recognise. Learn to cook the perfect tortilla or wow friends with turbot with cavolo nero or roast cumin-rubbed pork with quince sauce. It’s due for release in July and looks set to be a hit with tapas fans and Barrafina devotees.

Bocca: Cookbook by Jacob Kennedy

In June, Jacob Kenedy will publish a collection recipes inspired by the rustic, regional Italian cooking at his Soho restaurant, Bocca di Lupo. His food was once described by Giles Coren as ‘utterly authentic, unbelievably winning’ and the recipes in Bocca: Cookbook reflect Kenedy’s passion for regional specialites where nothing is lost in translation. He travelled the length and breadth of Italy to taste and perfect dishes like Lazian suckling pig, Sicilian fried mullet, Tuscan porcini soup and Venetian tagliatelle with pigeon ragu. The recipes are full of bold Italian flavours but reassuringly simple and achievable – perfect for food-lovers hoping to create some Bocca magic at home.

The Ginger Pig Meat Book by Tim Wilson and Fran Warde

From award-winning butchers The Ginger Pig comes a suitably meaty reference book and recipe collection, due for release in May. The book is packed with expert info on buying, preparing and cooking meat and there are over 100 recipes arranged according to season. Tuck into summery dishes like Moroccan chicken or sticky citrus-marinaded pork chops, or wait until winter for slow-baked herb-crusted leg of mutton. There are dishes to suit all abilities, including simply roasted partridge and easy-but-delicious venison burgers on toasted ciabatta. At £25, it’s a pricey addition to your collection but with so many meaty recipes to dip into, we reckon it’s worth it – (especially if you buy it for less on Amazon!)

Grillhouse: Gastropub At Home by Ross Dobson

Following the success of his barbecue book Fired Up, Ross Dobson’s latest offering focuses on hearty, homely dishes inspired by gastropub cooking. The Sydney-based chef might be new to British foodies but his recipes for pies, puds and steaks are reassuringly familiar. The food is beautifully photographed and the chapter intros are kept short and sweet so that the recipes can take centre stage. Try your hand at meaty treats like crispy pork belly and devilled chicken wings, or go retro with prawn and avocado cocktail, mac ‘n’ cheese, and chicken in a basket. With its focus on simple, satisfying dishes, Grillhouse is on sale now and deserves a place on your kitchen bookshelf.

Nothing you fancy? Keep an eye on Amazon's Hot Future Releases for all the latest foodie titles. Later this year, cookbook addicts can look forward to titles like Heston at Home; Raymond Blanc's Kitchen Secrets; Springbok & Spice (a South African recipe book from Shaka Zulu's Barry Vera); and Supper Club - recipes and notes from Kerstin Rodger's now famous Underground Restaurant.

Win Golden Ticket Prizes At ETM Pubs This December

To celebrate the festive season, Tom and Ed Martin, owners of eight award-winning London pubs, have hidden ten golden tickets in amongst their Christmas cards. The first 5,000 people to pre-book a table at one of their pubs this December will receive a card and could win themselves a fabulous early Christmas present.

The Botanist is excluded from the fun and games but The Gun, The Well, The Hat & Tun, The Empress of India, The Cadogan Arms, The White Swan or The Prince Arthur are all taking part so get booking! Here are some of the top prizes on offer:

• Drinks and canapé reception for up to ten people at The Gun, The Hat and Tun or The Cadogan Arms, including six bottles of Champagne.
• A three-course meal for four, at The Gun or The Botanist with Champagne on arrival, two bottles of ETM house wine, water, tea or coffee and petit fours.
• A personal chef to provide a three-course dinner plus canapés for eight people in your own home.
• A day for two at Royal Ascot Ladies Day 2011, including breakfast at The Botanist, courtesy coach to Ascot, Champagne and sumptuous buffet lunch, before returning to enjoy High Tea back in London.
• Dinner for four at the monthly Fine Wine and British Seasonal Food event at The White Swan, The Empress of India or The Prince Arthur.

But that’s not all. Every Christmas card includes one of ten treats that can be redeemed in January or February 2011 so everyone’s a winner. These include complimentary glasses of Chapel Down wine or prosecco; a bottle of ETM house wine; a platter of Duchy Native Oysters with a glass of Black Velvet; two free hours of pool at The Cadogan Arms; The Gun’s beef shin burger with Keen’s cheddar and hand cut chips; and other complimentary main courses and desserts. These could come in handy in the typically frugal weeks after Christmas.

If that’s not enough to get you in the festive spirit, then head for The Well on St John Street where  they’re hosting a pop-up ski lodge throughout December. Head downstairs and immerse yourself in fake fur, glittery reindeers, gorgeous Christmas trees and a Scandi-pop soundtrack. Winter hostesses will be on hand to serve you ice cold glasses of vodka and Scandinavian-inspired snacks like citrus gravadlax; elk tartare; Swedish meatball brochettes; and crayfish and dill bread cones. If you’re looking for a Christmas party show-piece, pastry chef Boyne Kleynhans has created a giant gingerbread house which is edible and up for grabs – just buy a raffle ticket for a chance to win it. (All proceeds go to homeless charity StreetSmart). The pop-up closes on December 24th so wrap up warm and get there before it’s gone!