The Un-Unemployed

This is a piece I wrote for the Employment issue of the fantastic Pea Soup magazine. If you don't already, follow Pea Soup on Twitter and Like them on Facebook. 


THE Un-Unemployed

In a city that’s full of people moaning about their jobs, and others miserable because of a lack of one, spare a moment’s thought for those stuck in the middle who aren’t quite sure. The hermaphrodites of the employment world. Yep, we’re talking about you, freelancers...

But do they have double the burden or the best of both worlds? Pea Soup spends a week with a selection of London’s most prolific in a bid to separate the fact from the fiction.

We meet our first freelancer at 9 o’ clock on a Monday morning, promptly knocking on his door and secretly hoping to find him still in his pyjamas. After all, don’t freelancers always wear pyjamas? Well, apparently not. Freelance journalist Adam is awake, dressed and ready to head off to his place of work: the local Costa. On arrival he buys a coffee and heads instinctively to the far corner of the room, his reasoning becoming clear when we spot a plug for his laptop. It all seems very calm and civilised until it transpires that today the coffee shop’s wifi is as dodgy as its coffee, and his webmail account won’t load because it keeps timing out. It’s not so much the waste of precious work time which makes this a true freelance disaster, but the waste of a whole one hundred and ninety five precious pennies on a cup of watery liquid filth. This may sound like a bit of a first world problem, but as Adam puts it, “Living without Gmail is pretty much like living in the third world”. Well, quite.

Restaurant Review: Ravensbourne Arms

I've reviewed a fair few Antic pubs for my South London Press column before, and they're reliably good if not hugely exciting. The Ravensbourne Arms has something a bit special, though. Worth heading to Lewisham, even...

New pub openings get a hard time sometimes, especially if the word ‘gastropub’ comes into play. But the response to the transformation of old boozer The Coach & Horses into this smarter, food-led pub has been overwhelmingly positive. Residents and local bloggers alike can be heard singing its praises, grateful of a much needed safe, decent pub in a largely bereft area of Lewisham.

Ravensbourne Arms is the latest opening from the Antic group, a growing collection of pubs around south east London which are individual in style but reliable in standard. Previous successes in the area include Brockley’s Jam Circus and The Royal Albert in New Cross, and anyone familiar with these venues will quickly spot the resemblance.

Shabby, reclaimed furniture, wooden floor and an abundance of nic-nacs has become a calling card for the pub group, and pretty much sums up the styling here, too. There’s a large bar area for drinkers and a rotating selection of ales, whilst the menu hovers somewhere between homely comfort food and ever-so-slightly poshed up pub grub. 

Pull Your Own Pints At The Thirsty Bear

The Thirsty Bear is a London first - a pub where you can pull your own pint from the comfort of your table. And it's local to me. If only they had a few more beers on offer... Here's my post originally written for www.londonist.com. 


You build your own furniture because it makes it cheaper. Before you head to the airport, you check in online because it’s faster. When you go to the supermarket you scan your own shopping because you like arguing with electronic women who think you’ve bagged double the weight you ought to. We are in a D-I-Y era.

With the opening yesterday evening of The Thirsty Bear at Waterloo, self-service has come to the service industry, with London’s first pull-your-own-pint pub.

The venue, which replaces the old man friendly Stamford Arms, is the first venture by the appropriately named Robot Pub Group, and though we’ve been made aware of this place in Manchester which uses a similar concept, it’s a brand new one to us.

Restaurant Review: Kimchee

How long would you queue for a restaurant? Kimchee in Holborn has boasted one of London's biggest waits for the duration of January. Here's my review for Scout London.

We know that London’s foodies are dedicated, but queuing round the block on a cold weekday evening in January for a relatively unheard of Korean restaurant named Kimchee is something out of the ordinary.

As we walked down High Holborn and saw the 7pm queue snake its way round the corner and right down Old Red Lion Street, our mind went into overdrive wondering just what could be going on. Has John Terry popped in for a bite and this is a very polite lynch mob? Is the Big Society in such a sorry state that this is the queue for a bar job? Are TfL rehearsing for what it will be like topping up your Oyster card during the Olympics.

Restaurant Review: Lovage

I've always thought that Indian restaurants shouldn't try too hard to be fancy, and for my money Lovage near Tower Bridge gets the balance of sophistication and simplicity just right.This is my review for South London Press.

A stone’s throw from the foodie bustle of Borough Market and mere minutes’ walk from touristy Tower Bridge, Lovage feels like it’s in a different world.

This vast Indian restaurant occupies a corner spot on a residential Bermondsey street and makes the space its own. A tout dressed in traditional Indian costume stands outside, acting to attract attention from passers-by as much as to greet customers. Giving a first impression which recalls the bartering and competition of Brick Lane, albeit in a competition-less area, it’s ironic that our waiter later finds the time to tell us how the restaurant isn’t like the majority of establishments on the famous East London curry street, but rather a higher end dining establishment offering a series of unique and specially prepared dishes alongside the classic options.

The People's Olympics

This is a piece I wrote for the 2012 issue of the fantastic Pea Soup magazine. If you don't already, follow Pea Soup on Twitter and Like them on Facebook. 


THE PEASOUP PEOPLE'S OLYMPICS

Yep, it’s the Olympics this year. You know that. The media has only been going on about it for, like, seven years. But what does it actually mean to us as Londoners? Considering most of us aren’t actually able to compete in the games, and that it’s only relatively few of us who have even managed to get tickets to see anything, perhaps the answer is: not a lot, really.

With that in mind, we’ve put together our own set of more relevant games, which we can all participate in together this year. This is the Peasoup Peaple’s Olympics, designed around the influx of visitors both the Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee will bring, as well as some of our favourite everyday London habits.

Perhaps if any of you put in a good performance in one of the below games and are able to send us YouTube evidence, then we’ll dig out a medal or two. And if you have any more Games suggestions, why not let us know on Facebook or Twitter.

On your marks. Get set. Go!

A Visit To Chipotle...

What do you get if you cross an enthusiastic American with lots of avocados and a member of Blur? Well, this article for Scout London, since you ask...

Fast food is fast food, right? Well, we’re not so sure. Whilst some establishments enter the race pumped up on steroids in the form of artificial additives, MSG and the cheapest of cheap ingredients, others focus on natural nutrition and plenty of prep to get the desired results.

We couldn’t possibly comment on most of the establishments out there, as their techniques are shrouded in behind-the-scenes secrecy. Though from the looks of this recent ‘insightful’ article, it seems The Sun’s hard-hitting food correspondent Alex James was convinced by a few factory tours that a Greggs’ sausage roll and a piece of deep-fried chicken “in a nice box” can be almost as good as coffee and TV.

Breaking News: There Is A Plan

This isn't real news, just so you know. What it is is a witty and insightful piece that comments on the state of our society, politics and economy in 2012. Well, it amused me  a bit, anyway. This was originally written for the brilliant Pea Soup magazine's New Year issue. Follow Pea Soup on Twitter and Like them on Facebook for more such stuff...


BREAKING NEWS: THERE IS A PLAN

2012 is upon us, folks. And just in case it is, indeed the last year before our planet goes kaput, we’d better make it a good one.

For those of you worried about the burden of more budget cuts and financial austerity, a repeat of last year’s riot-filled summer of discontent, and the ongoing scandal that is our corrupt banking system: worry no more.

In an exclusive story (not learned from listening in on imaginary governmental voicemails) we can exclusively reveal that contrary to popular belief, our fine leaders do actually have a plan.

Restaurant Review: Boisdale, Canary Wharf

Here's a post originally written for www.londonist.com, as part of their Dining Beyond Zone 1 series of restaurant reviews. Follow Londonist on Twitter to keep up with their daily posts on all things London.



Think of Canary Wharf and the words that come to mind. We’ll take a conservative guess that “vast” and “bankers” are amongst them. Incorporate this into a restaurant, add a little Scottishness and you have yourself the newly refurbished Boisdale Canary Wharf. And what better time than Burns' Night to tell you all about it…

A few superlatives to get you going. Not only is the impressive art deco Boisdale building which overlooks Cabot Square Canary Wharf’s largest restaurant, it also boasts London’s widest selection of whisky, the city’s biggest cigar club and is one of the leading jazz, soul and blues venues in the UK.

Add to this a fully stocked crustacean bar, a spot of haggis and a trademark tartan carpet, and what you have is a deliriously different kind of restaurant that you’re unlikely to find elsewhere. Even the smaller, more subdued Boisdale restaurants in Belgravia and Bishopsgate can’t compare.

2012 Is A Ham-tastic Year For Cured Meats & Bad Puns

Is there much better in this world than ham? I reckon not. Bring it on! Here, I indulge on behalf of Scout London.

The Italian riverside retreat which throughout December kept our cockles warm in a custom-built chalet by the Thames has found a new way to our hearts for 2012. And whilst doctors might advise it really isn’t what our heart needs, we reckon we’d all be happier with a bit more ham in our lives.

Paying homage to the regional variations so abundant in Italian food and cooking,Cantina is refraining from putting all their charcuterie (excuse our French) in one proverbial basket. Instead, they’ve taken the ingenious decision of placing us on a meaty, porcine drip-feed; taking us month-by-month on a tour of the different products made in the northern, central and southern regions.

Restaurant Review: Soif

Here's a post originally written for www.londonist.com, as part of their Dining Beyond Zone 1 series of restaurant reviews. Follow Londonist on Twitter to keep up with their daily posts on all things London.

Following in the footsteps of older sister Terroirs, Brawnopened on Columbia Road just over a year ago to critical acclaim and a giddy amount of cool credentials.We certainly loved it.

We were therefore excited for the birth of offspring number three from this group, which has added ‘natural wines’ to the vocabulary of London’s restaurant goers, and done more for nose-to-tail eating than anywhere since St. John.

Adding to Terroirs’ touristy West End location, and Brawn’s trendy East End spot on Columbia Road, the brand is working towards a complete compass with the arrival of new southern outpost, Soif in Battersea.

Restaurant Review: Dego

Dego is an Italian that likes to do things differently. But it's had far from unanimously good press. I give it a visit for Scout London.

As desirable restaurant openings go, that of Degó was far from ideal. It became embroiled in an unfortunate Twitter furore after a slightly unfavourable blog review spawned public attack from an over-zealous promoter who obviously graduated from PR school before the introduction of the social media module (just read the comments). As a result, the food was largely overshadowed.

Run by a passionate young Italian couple, the concept is a bold one. They’ve merged the notion of a homely osteria (tavern) with that of more experimental cooking and tasting,degustazione. It’s the shunting together of these words which gives the place its name.

Restaurant Review: Caparossa

Here's a post originally written for www.londonist.com, as part of their Dining Beyond Zone 1 series of restaurant reviews. Follow Londonist on Twitter to keep up with their daily posts on all things London.

It’s hard to know what to expect from an Italian restaurant before visiting. They’ll have mostly similar menus and near-identically described dishes, but while some are the real deal serving patriotically authentic, regional food cooked with Italy’s trademark passion, others are a catch-all option taking advantage of the cuisine’s almost ubiquitous appeal.

A look at the outside of Caparossa situated at the foot of one of the stark new builds at Putney Wharf in Wandsworth, and you really wouldn’t know which of these restaurant types to expect. The moment you swing open the doors, though, it’s clear that passion is key here.

Restaurant Review: Potli

Here's a post originally written for www.londonist.com, as part of their Dining Beyond Zone 1 series of restaurant reviews. Follow Londonist on Twitter to keep up with their daily posts on all things London.

Who’d have known that a westbound District line service could take you so far east? It’s a superb Vietnamese restaurant, a couple of Chinese eateries and a Thai ‘lounge bar’ which dominate the stretch of vibrant King Street close to Ravenscourt Park tube.

Potli is the latest Asian on the block, replacing a shabby tandoori grill with an Indian that’s about as far from a curry house as you can get.

A cosy square of restaurant space is adorned with Indian knickknacks, tribal masks and nostalgic paintings. Vibrant reds and rich browns add a feeling of authenticity and back up the warmth of the staff’s welcome as they show us to the table and take the time to explain the restaurant’s concept of bringing regional Indian food, which has been passed down through generations, into London.

Restaurant Review: The Hideaway

Here's a post originally written for www.londonist.com, as part of their Dining Beyond Zone 1 series of restaurant reviews. Follow Londonist on Twitter to keep up with their daily posts on all things London.

Just as we know we shouldn’t do with books, it isn’t always wise to judge a restaurant by its name either. After all, how can each and every Best Chicken & Kebab truly offer London’s superlative supper?

Onto a place that entertains a higher class of service, though, and The Hideaway in Streatham can most certainly be labelled as true to its title. Tucked down a residential side street at the back end of the neighbourhood, this intriguing venue is one of the capital’s premier jazz haunts, as well as playing host to other occasional musical events and live comedy. Call us cultural masochists if you want, but we quite like the fact that it’s less than conveniently located, that we have to hunt to find it, and that even when you’re there it’s tricky to know which door actually leads you in.

Restaurant Review: 16" West Brasserie

Here's a restaurant review originally written for my South London Press column - hits, misses and a look that's pretty much a Jubilee line tube station...

Off the beaten track isn’t really a description that should be used to describe a restaurant adjoined to one of London’s most popular and world renowned attractions. But when visiting this new opening at the Old Royal Naval College in Maritime Greenwich (named as it’s apparently sixteen seconds west of the meridian line) of an evening, it certainly feels that way.

The fact that the website cites the address as being on the perimeter of the Naval College grounds (presumably the official address for the whole complex) when it’s actually smack bang in the middle of it is one problem, and leads to a fair bit of unwarranted circle walking before dinner. The time of my visit is another factor. Although the brasserie is open all day, come evening all the attractions around it are closed off and plunged into darkness, meaning it’s effectively marooned in the middle of a somewhat large and intimidating park.

Restaurant Review: Capote Y Toros

This is a review originally written for Blue Tomato magazine and I think I need say no more than "100 varieties of sherry". Yep, it's great.

Expectations

Modern Spanish restaurant Cambio de Tercio and tapas bar Tendido Cero have put Old Brompton Road on the map as a destination for Spanish dining. The man who runs them, along with newer restaurant Tendido Cuatro in Parsons Green, is Abel Lusa, one of the most hospitable restaurateurs in the industry. When we heard that he was gracing the road with another venue, a ham and sherry bar, we knew we had to pay it a visit.

Experience
Capote y Toros is small. Tiny, in fact. There’s barely more than a handful of tables and a small bar area at which diners can sit, but no space is wasted. Legs of ham hang from the ceiling, 

Ski Chalet On Thames

Riverside Italian, Cantina Del Ponte have constructed a ski chalet for the winter months. I take a visit for Scout London.

The combination of a sunny spot overlooking the river and lots of space to sit outdoors absorbing the striking cross-Thames views has helped Cantina Del Ponte gain its reputation as one of London’s classiest Italian restaurants, and certainly the best located. Come winter, though, few are hardy enough to brace the full fall-out of the Great British Winter.

The masterminds at D&D, the restaurant group formerly owned by Terence Conranand Cantina’s parent company, certainly aren’t going to sit by and watch their most vibrant traits turn grey for months on end. If they can’t bring some South Italian sun to our shores, they can at least bring a taste of North Italy’s après-ski to our river banks, converting Cantina’s outside terrace into a wintery homage to the chalets of Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy’s most glamorous ski resort.

London's Buzzing - The Rise of London Honey

Take that countryside, London is literally buzzing with bees! Here's a piece I wrote  for Scout London on the rise of London honey. Sweet.

As bees throughout the countryside face growing problems from disease, infection and something called Colony Collapse Disorder, their street-wise inner-city cousins are faring up rather better. London’s bee population has shown the biggest increase of anywhere in the UK, with our city said to be the perfect place for them due to the enormous variety of flowers and trees, the large park spaces and the temperate climate. Now London’s entrepreneurial foodie types are turning to honey making as a way to capitalise on the phenomenon. And before you ask, NO – pollution does not affect the honey one iota.

The World's Hottest Cocktail. Done.

A spot of bravado here, in the form of me consuming what is reputedly the world's hottest cocktail. That's in terms of chilli, not degrees. I fearlessly (sort of) devour the fiery Illiana cocktail at Zenna bar in Soho.

Named after a mythological Indian golden dragon, the rum-based cocktail comes topped up with a bespoke chilli sauce and requires the signing of a waiver form before consumption. It's also thoughtfully paired with a 'fire extinguisher' filled with Gin Fizz to help tame the inevitable burn.

Thanks to fabulous food blogger and general wino about town Lucy Shaw for filming and providing commentary. And, of course, for persuading me to drink it in the first place. Follow Lucy @lucylondon and read her gastronomic tales at http://finewineandthecity.blogspot.com/.