Lumiere: London's Coolest Bar

I believe I may have discovered London's coolest bar. Really. I'm not sure when you can get in, though. Read on in this article for Scout London to find out why...

Fast Random discoveries are one of the best things about living in London. No matter how much time you spend flitting between pubs, bars and restaurants (we’ve spent quite a bit) there’s always a new discovery to be made. A hidden gem as other publications would say.

Well, few gems come as hidden as Lumiere on Chatsworth Road.  It sits round the corner from Homerton Hospital and looks fairly normal from outside. To many a passer-by, its most distinguishing feature is that it’s usually shut. A step inside, however, and you’ll be transported into a utopian cornucopia of madcap cocktails, exuberant juices and voluptuous cakes. You’ll lose hours of time and emerge bleary eyed wondering what the heck happened. As regulars have come to say, you will have experienced Lumiere.

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.

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.

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: 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.

Indian Intoxication at Carom

I didn't say no to the offer to partake in a bit of mixology and whisky drinking at new Indian-themed bar Carom. Here's the piece I wrote for Scout London about it.

The build-up to Christmas last year saw new Indian dining concept Carom swing open its doors in the spot above Cuban bar Floridita at 100 Wardour Street. It’s the latest newbie from restaurant behemoth D&D London, and their first foray into Indian dining.

The bar here is key, and it takes just a glance around the carefully orchestrated decor of lanterns and curtains to see the effort that’s been put in to transforming the potentially cavernous space into a cosy sub-continental retreat.

Restaurant Review: Iberica Canary Wharf

I've made do bones about the fact that Iberica on Great Portland Street is one of my favourite restaurants in London, so I was excited to visit their new Canary Wharf branch. Here's my review for Scout London.

Almost three years since Michelin starred Asturian chef Nacho Manzano made his mark on London’s landscape, he’s doing it all over again.

Iberica Food & Culture opened up on Great Portland Street without the loudest of bangs, but quickly gained a symphony of praise for their undeniably high-end but refreshingly laid-back modern tapas concept.

Restaurant Review: East Street

Pan-Asian fusion is a term which penetrates with a deep sense of reluctance. How does the latest attempt pan out? This is my review of the new East Street in Fitzrovia for Scout London.

Effectively bunging a number of eastern Asian cuisines onto one menu, it’s easy to see why East Street has come in for some criticism amongst bloggers who’d rather not have the best part of a continent amalgamated into one confused being.

Perhaps this is a particularly Londony point of view. After all, we’re spoilt by having authentic versions of virtually every cuisine imaginable on our collective doorsteps. East Street comes from the owners of popular Northern chain Tampopo (yep, they obviously saw the film) but an attempt to open a branch in Fulham recently was less successful. All credit to their tenacity, as they’ve reworked the concept to return with a new venue, a new name and new decor in a bid to earn some London love. The menu, however, has not changed one iota.