THEGAYUK

Category: Food And Drink

  • We can’t wait to get our hands on this Pride cocktail by Lambrini

    Lambrini boys just want to have fun

    We’ve never seen so many pretty colours in one drink… plus it’s a drink that comes with edibles, so sensibly you’re lining your stomach before you go to town!

    Brilliant

    Here’s how to make the Rainbow Road cocktail.

    METHOD:

    Blend six ice cubes with the 15ml Blue Curaçao. Pour into the bottom of a jam jar style glass that’s been dipped in hundreds and thousands.

    Blend the pineapple juice, lemon juice, vodka and bubblegum gomme with six ice cubes and pour gently on top of the Blue Curaçao.

    Top with crushed ice and pour over the cranberry juice and Very Cherry Lambrini.

    Garnish with fizzy rainbow strips, marshmallows a slice of watermelon and other colourful sweets.

    INGREDIENTS:

    50ml Lambrini Very Cherry
    25ml Vodka
    25ml Cranberry juice
    15ml Blue Curaçao
    15ml Bubblegum gomme
    15ml Lemon juice
    25ml Pineapple juice
    Coloured sweets

  • COMPETITION: Win A Box Of When In Rome Falanghina White Wine

    COMPETITION: Win A Box Of When In Rome Falanghina White Wine

    When in Rome, the premium bag in a box wine company, will this month officially launch its fundraising campaign with leading LGBT+ youth charity, Just Like Us, in support of its work empowering young LGBT+ people to promote equality in education and the workplace across the UK. Even more exciting is that THEGAYUK has five boxes to give away.

    To be in with a chance to win one of these wine boxes simply answer the question below. Winning entries will be drawn on 17th July 2018. You must be over 18 years to enter.

    When in Rome will donate the profits from every box of Falanghina white wine sold in Waitrose stores and online between June and the end of August 2018 to Just Like Us to assist in the charity’s mission to enable teachers and pupils across the country to tackle homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying by organising activities that celebrate LGBT+ equality in education. 

    When in Rome Co-founder, Rob Malin says of the partnership: “Just Like Us is doing great things for young people who can find it tough navigating through a subject that still has stigma attached to it. We just want to show our support and help raise a bit of money for a great cause” 

    Those opting to buy a box of Falanghina this summer will get a crowd-pleasing wine perfectly suited to the summer months and do their bit for a great cause. Typically, restaurants around the bay of Naples, and as far away as Rome, serve Falanghina as their house white. Fruity and refreshing, it is coastal Southern Italy in a glass. With a hint of minerality, it goes down a treat with seafood, fish and chips or a weighty bowl of pasta and ragu. 

    To celebrate the partnership, When in Rome will be hosting tastings in selected local Waitrose stores during selected Pride weekends, such as Brighton and Edinburgh. 

     

    This competition has now ended.

     

    Terms & Conditions Of Entry

    • Entrants must be over the age of 18 years – subject to proof of date of birth.
    • Winners will be drawn and notified on the 17th July 2018.
    • If prizes are not claimed within 7 days of notification they will become disqualified and a new winner will be drawn.
    • Prize includes one box of Falanghina wine and cannot be exchanged for cash or other prizes.
    • Entry requires the addition to our standard “The Update” newsletter. To see the GDPR statement and privacy policy click here.
    • Prizes will be posted out by the company directly and THEGAYUK cannot be held responsible for lost prizes.
    • Our standard Terms of Service and Privacy Policy stand.

    Boxes of Falanghina are available from over 230 Waitrose stores across the country, including the John Lewis Foodhalls on Oxford Street and in Bluewater. The boxes can also be purchased online at waitrose.com. Find out more about the partnership here: www.wheninromewine.co.uk 

  • This fast food chain is saying bye bye to single use plastic straws

    This fast food chain is saying bye bye to single use plastic straws

    YAAASSSS.

    McDonald's is to phase out single-use plastic straws by 2019
    McDonald’s is to phase out single-use plastic straws by 2019

    The world is literally thanking McDonald’s RN.

    The mega-chain McDonald’s has announced that it’s to quit using plastic straws. It currently uses 1.8 million straws every day, according to the BBC – most of which are single use and end up in the trash.

    It is estimated that we use over 8 billion plastic straws in the UK each year and considering there is under 70 million of us in the country – that’s a lot of straw per person.

    The restaurant is to phase out the plastic in all 1361 of its UK and Irish store by 2019. The eventual aim is to make all of McDonald’s packaging sourced from renewable or recycled sources by 2025.

    Hans / Pixabay

    The new policy follows on from a successful trial in a few restaurants earlier in 2018. The company said, “Reflecting the broader public debate, our customers told us they wanted to see a move on straws”.

    Environment Secretary Michael Gove called it a “significant contribution” to helping the environment, adding that it was “a fine example to other large businesses”.

    But the change isn’t happening globally. BOOO.

    However, some users, have said that the banning of plastic straws could have unforeseen consequences for people who are disabled, who argue that plastic straws enable people to be able to drink independently, particularly for hot drinks. The eco alternatives either conduct or disintegrate with hot liquids.

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Ember Yard, Soho London

    ★★★★☆ | Ember Yard

    A feast is waiting for you at Ember Yard.

    Conveniently located on the Soho side of Oxford Street, Ember Yard is a welcoming restaurant that feels just as warm and cosy just like your grandfather’s log cabin. And on Sundays they roll out their Sunday Feast meal – and boy is it a feast! For a mere £35 per person, it’s a meal of four courses with free-flowing drinks, and did I mention it’s a yummy feast?

    The first course – Antipasti – is just superb. The Jamon Serrano was just tasty, and there was a lot of it! The Gorgonzola Dulce was superb enough to wow my dining companion. The Grilled Flat Bread, topped with thyme and smothered with smoked butter, was bread to kill! Lest I forget the Jasper Baked Mushrooms topped with a quail egg, and a smattering of walnuts, crackers, and honey to top it off – bravo!!!

    Then came Primi – which was another round of excellent yet different combinations of foods that you’d never make at home. One dish consisted of Salt Cod, peppers topped with potato crisps, and the other dish was tasty Pecorino Soft Polenta, expertly grilled stem broccoli, and pecorino cream and smoked almonds. It was more than plenty for two people. And our waiter Fabio recommended a pairing with what is perhaps the lightest white wine I have ever drunk – Alasia Piemonte Cortese – as mentioned it was very light and crispy – it was superb wine – enough so that I plan to seek it out again, and I am not a wine drinker.

    The Secondi was certainly the best for last. Smoked and Grilled Lamb Rump, that was perfectly cooked, was just superb. And the dish came with Pancetta Braised Lentils that were just as superb as the lamb, and a carrot puree on the same wooden plate gave the dish an amazing colour and look. The other half of Secondi was Smoked Haddock Risotto, soft eggs with spinach and Gremolata, served as one in a bowl. Just so much food, paired with Spanish Borsao red wine which complemented both the meat and the seafood. But we were not done yet – there’s always room for Dolce. We were given Pistachio cake topped with ice cream and blood orange sauce with unique slices of grapefruit that was a very good combination. The other choice was Lemon and Limoncello Posset, Poached Rhubarb and yoghurt sorbet cleverly served in a glass.

    We were offered, and couldn’t say no, to two espresso martinis – and they were some of the best I’ve ever had. Served nice and chilled, with espresso grounds sprinkled on top, it was a delicious, and perfect way to end the evening.

    Ember Yard’s Sunday Feasts change weekly, so what I had may not necessarily be what you are served. But you can guarantee that you’ll get excellent food with both a Spanish and Italian twist, using their method of cooking over charcoal and wood. Ember Yard is a lovely two-story restaurant and bar, with an open plan kitchen and a cosy bar on the lower ground floor. It’s a cool place for dinner, drinks, tapas or whatever you fancy, all in all, it’s a great place to be.

    60 Berwick Street
    London
    W1F 8SU

    OPENING TIMES:
    MONDAY – FRIDAY: 12PM – 11PM

    Saturday: 12pm – 12pm

    Sunday and Bank Holidays: 12pm – 10pm

    CONTACT:

    +44 (0) 207 439 8057

    info@emberyard.co.uk

    http://www.saltyardgroup.co.uk/ember-yard/

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | The Lost And Found, Birmingham

    ★★★★☆ | The Lost And Found, Birmingham

    The Lost & Found recently refurbed the whole of bar and restaurant area, and when I entered, there was a lot to catch the eye.

    When I arrived, Jack offered us a friendly reception and took me round to see the new Bookcase bar. He also explained how it is for private hire. The upstairs terrace bar was a stunning new addition where folks could a have drink without needing to book. This is named The Gallery which is adorned with leaves etched into the ceiling.

    Jack showed us to our table and I had a great view of the whole bar. The bar has changed its position towards the back creating more room for diners and drinkers to take a more centre-stage. I also noticed more room between tables, so there is more of intimate feel with each party. The cosy, Victorian feeling never left.

    I cannot help but get excited when I think of the cocktails we had. My first drink was TO BETTY’S FOR TEA containing Masons Dry Yorkshire Gin – Tea Edition, Briottet Crème de Bergamote, Teapot bitters, Egg white, Lemon juice & sugar syrup, Milk & cream (£8.95). Served with a chocolate digestive, said the menu, but I think they ran out of chocolate ones today, but it’s just as well I like plain digestives too. This was a feast for the eyes as well as for the palate – it was like drinking cheesecake. Dunking my digestive was definitely a good shout, thanks Jack! My lady friend, Danni put my manlihood to shame with her OLD FASHIONED cocktail, persisting of Bourbon/Rye whiskey/Rum of your choice, Angostura bitters, Orange peel, Maple syrup (£8.95). She said the advice for sweet whiskey was a good one. She must have liked it, she ordered it twice!

    For starters, I had the SMOKED SALMON gin & tonic pickled cucumber, lemon cream cheese and malted brown bloomer (£8.50), and Danni had the LIGHTLY DUSTED SQUID Asian slaw, sriracha mayonnaise and charred lemon (£7.50). My salmon was a work of art – colourful, symmetrical, and so much fun. Though petite in size, it sure satisfied the first bouts of hunger; while my friend’s starter was a mixed bag. The portion was very generous, and I had to help her finish – this is not a bad thing! However, as much as the salad was scrumptious, the squid was very tough and rubbery resembling mini boxing gloves. It was hard to cut and chew; don’t know if it was an old animal or overcooked? A small shame as the rest of the dish was dreamy.

    We both opted for steak mains. I had 8oz FILLET served with confit tomato and your choice of peppercorn sauce, Béarnaise sauce or garlic butter (£24.00). I went with peppercorn sauce as I always do, and a side of Fried potatoes, garlic mayonnaise & rosemary (£3.50) while Danni had the 8oz SIRLOIN STEAK served with confit tomato with garlic butter (£18.00) and a of Blistered green beans, chilli, garlic & sesame seeds (£3.50). Both steaks delivered in flavour and presentation, and it had us feeling very full by the end. The fried potatoes were very moreish too. But, there is always room for pudding, is there not? Jack described some dessert options and warned they are not what you would expect. True he was. EARL GREY PANNA COTTA with blackberries and mini shortbread biscuits (£7.00) was a delicious, neat pudding. Small portion but it was accompanied by a very tasty and citrusy cocktail called Haymans Old Tom Gin for an extra £3. However, the star of the show was Danni’s MILLIONAIRE’S SHORTBREAD with dark chocolate, sticky whisky caramel, honeycomb and a rich chocolate ice cream shortcake (£8.00), it was a field day for the senses. I use the field pun unashamedly since the dessert resembled a wild brook. It was beautiful to look at and very tasty too.

    Meanwhile. my second cocktail was a palate-boggler, still not sure what to make of it; it was called SANTIAGO SWIZZLER, containing QuiQuiRiQui Matatlan Mezcal Espadin, Velvet Falernum, Briottet Crème de Mûre, Damson plum jam, Plum bitters and Lime juice (£8.50). I didn’t recognise many of the ingredients, but I took a gamble. Danni didn’t like the taste of it, and I asked Jack about it who said it is a very popular drink during Christmas time, but almost extinct from the menu. I don’t think I would have it again, yet intrigued by its eclectic bursts of flavours and colours.

    What I always love about The Lost & Found is the atmosphere- the music was on point with the swing-style beats. The service is always on point and overall the food was delicious, fun and unexpected, with minor errors in cooking with one dish.

  • This is the world’s largest Key Lime Pie

    nom nom nom

    This is the world’s largest Key Lime Pie

    Culinary masters have created the world’s largest Key Lime Pie, one of Key West’s most famous of exports.

    Florida Keys, one of the gay-friendliest places in the US,  has just delivered one epic pie, overseen by chef and restaurateur Bobby Stoky who led a culinary team on Saturday, 24 March, to prepare a gargantuan Key lime pie to serve about 2,000 people.

    Measuring 8 feet in diameter – the size certified by the World Record Association as the globe’s largest – the giant pastry was made from ingredients including the juice from 5,766 Key limes, 200 pounds of graham crackers and 55 gallons of sweetened condensed milk. The finished dessert weighed around 1,000 pounds.

    “It’s a balance between sweet and tangy that makes this pie absolutely delicious,” Stoky said.

    Key lime pie is the official pie of Florida, as designated by the state legislature in 2006. Most historic accounts indicate Key lime pie was first created in the kitchen of the Curry Mansion in Key West and referred to as Key West pie.

    “The 8-foot pie was prepared in Atlanta, Georgia, at an upmarket shopping mall to showcase the culinary delights available to visitors holidaying in the Florida Keys”

    International visitors keen to get in on Key lime pie action can travel to Key West in early summer to attend the annual Key Lime Festival. Running from 30 June, to 4 July, the festival’s events include a ‘Mile High Key Lime Pie Eatin’ Contest’ on America’s Independence Day, where competitors attempt to be the first to devour a 9-inch Key lime pie.

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Baluchi, London

    ★★★★ | Baluchi

    Baluchi review
    Amazing food in an amazing location

    Step into a place where the decor is sumptuous, the staff very nice and attentive, and the food very good. The place is a restaurant called Baluchi.

    Baluchi is a restaurant so unlike any other south of the river (literally right next to the road that becomes Tower Bridge). Inside the gorgeous hotel called The LaLit, Baluchi the restaurant is a one-room affair, with stunning chandeliers and plenty of space in between tables so as not to feel overcrowded and busy. And it’s Indian-style menu has all sorts of food for just about anyone, even those who are not quite familiar with Pan Indian food.

    We were delighted to choose two very good, and refreshing, drinks to start out with. My dining companion had the Mad Honey while I had the Mango Mai Tai, which was very sweet, which is the way I like my drinks, as well as beautifully coloured, with a dried lime on top for a nice touch!

    Amazing food in an amazing location

    These two drinks were just a small sampling of what was on offer in their drinks menu – a stunning multi-page book of every type of cocktail you want. While they don’t come cheap (£10 to £15 each), they are worth every penny!

    As for the food, you are really and truly spoiled for choice. Dishes from the menu include all sorts, from seafood (Sea Bass, Peterhead Cod, Tandoori Prawns), to the fantastic Vegetarian dishes (Dal Baluchi – Black Lentils, Grilled Tofu) to an amazing array of meat dishes (Butter Chicken, Murg Adraki – Free-range corn-fed chicken, and venison) to lamb, which is what we ordered. I had the splendid and meaty Lamb Chops. At £21.50, I received three very large and perfectly cooked chops, with smoked aubergine and yummy potato mash and an avocado dollop, in a lovely coriander, mint and garlic chutney. I highly recommend this dish. My dining companion ordered the Lamb Shan K Gush Taba (gluten free), and as expected it was tender, moist and extra good in its not too spicy sauce. She and I loved our lamb – superb!!! Mango and coconut-flavoured naan bread was served with our main course – absolutely delicious, along with the mandatory rice.

    We had also ordered starters which were presented very beautifully. We wanted the Kamal Kakdi, but unfortunately, they were out, so we ordered the fantastic Subz Kl Thal, which was an amazing array of edibles that included corn tikki, papad and paneer – and suitable for sharing which is what we did. It was a wow dish, and at £14.50, a good bargain. We also ordered the Bharwan Zucchini – a courgette with various sauces. It was a bit small, but nice taste and flavour nonetheless. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the papadums served with berry and tomato chutney – great starters!

    Of course, for those with a sweet tooth, The Baluchi offers quite a few dessert choices. My companion had the Coconut 3 Ways – jelly and espuma, hazelnut mousse and curry leaf smoke – while I had the Carrom Seed Shortbread – an unusual array of a poached guava, guava sorbet, pistachio and caramel popcorn. Both desserts came in at £8 each – respectable because they are different but they did not have the wow factor that we expected.

    I almost never write about the coffee but the decaf coffee I was served after the meal was one of the most delicious I have ever had in recent memory, while my dining companion really enjoyed her tea.

    Despite a mix up with the bill (the drinks the table next to us had were on our bill), everything about the evening was impeccable, from the presentation of the food to the way it was served to us by the wait staff, from the amazing decor to the gracious chef who paid a visit to our table, and to the extreme care and attentiveness our server was to us. The whole evening was very memorable, and while our bill came to about £150 for the two of us, sometimes it’s worth this kind of money to make the experience memorable and very enjoyable. Baluchi is definitely a one-of-a-kind restaurant that’s practically in its own world right in the heart of the hustle and bustle of London.

    Find out more at https://www.thelalit.com/the-lalit-london/eat-and-drink/baluchi/

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Las Iguanas Restaurant, Royal Festival Hall

    ★★★★ | Las Iguanas (Royal Festival Hall)

    It’s a new year, so it’s time to try new things. And I highly recommend Las Iguanas restaurant – they’ve got a new menu, and it sits perfectly alongside their other yummy dishes and drinks.

    With branches practically all over London, including Spitalfields, the Brunswick Centre, Stratford, the O2 and many more, the most centrally located is located on the busy walking path between Charing Cross Bridge and Waterloo Train Station. Right next to the Royal Festival Hall – it’s a pathway where people are in a rush to catch their trains home, so they’re focusing on either the north or south of the river train station. Well, I highly recommend a stop at Las Iguanas because there is so much on offer you’ll have a hard time deciding what to eat, so will need to go back just to satisfy your curiosity.

    Their new menu has an excellent selection of new dishes that must be tried. First and foremost may I recommend the Seco de Cordero (Dry Lamb) – but it is not dry at all! It’s a lamb shank (a huge portion), slow cooked in a golden ale, red wine and Amarillo chilli sauce, served with amazing roasted sweet potato mash & crispy chilli and onions, and at only £18.95 it’s worth every pound! From their Mexican menu, try their Vegetarian Burritos. It’s sweet potato, butternut squash & chickpea chilli all nicely rolled up in a wheat tortilla and also stuffed with rice, refried beans and comes with crunchy slaw & cheese with salad, sour cream, guacamole & roasted tomato salsa on the side, and that’s a whole lot of food for only £10.50. How about going for something entirely different and try a Cuban Sandwich. If you’ve never had one before, I highly recommend one. It’s Roasted pork belly, Emmental cheese & ham with sweet mustard & green pickle relish layered in a buttery toasted bun, with slaw & choice of fries or salad (£10.50). Also very very different is the Cauliflower & Corn Quinotto. What’s a Quinotto? It’s Peruvian-style quinoa risotto that comes with smoked cheese, roasted cauliflower & charred baby corn, topped with puffed quinoa & crispy chilli (£9.95). Besides these amazing (and new) dishes, Las Iguanas still also serves your favourites from Brazil. Dishes like Bahian Coconut Chicken being one of them, Cuba (Havana Club & Jerk BBQ Pork Ribs – yummy!), Argentina (Gaucho Steak will do nicely thank you), and Mexican (Enchiladas, Chilli Con Carne, Fajitas, etc.).

    I mean there’s just so so so much on the menu I could go on and on…like, for instance, their amazing Taco Planks where you can mix and match what type of filling you want. Tortilla chips & dip while you are waiting to order; as well as of course Nachos, Calamari, Mussels, salads – there are just too too many to mention. And speaking of a mention, you also need, need, to try their Piña Colada Mess for dessert. It’s Piña Colada ice cream with caramelised pineapple salsa, crispy pineapple pieces & toasted coconut chips (£5.50).

    Now, why else would you go to a Latin Amercian restaurant if you weren’t going to sample their drinks, and Las Iguanas has it all. From their refreshing Strawberry Daquiris to their amazing Mezcal Watermelon Smash, and of course, you really need to have one of their Mojitos if you are feeling Cuban, or if you are feeling a bit Mexican than of, course have a Margarita. I urge you, urge you, to have a look at the drinks menu as you will not be able to narrow your choices down to five – there’s just so much to choose from.

    Las Iguanas lives for, and brings, food alive. They also bring and deliver, an entire Latin American experience with energy and enthusiasm. Everything on the menu is mouth-watering, and you’ll have a good time, I guarantee it when you visit one of their many restaurants. You will discover more tastes, experience new things, and will want to return again and again, like I did, to try different dishes and drinks. It’s a fun experience I want to repeat muchos veces (many times!)

    To find your nearest Las Iguanas, and for opening times visit: https://www.iguanas.co.uk

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Victory Mansion, Stoke Newington, London

    ★★★★★ | Victory Mansion

    Dalston is a hive of Kabob shops, loud bars and clubs, and lots and lots of Turkish supermarkets. But a bit further north in Stoke Newington is a place that stands out on Stoke Newington High Street just down the road from the local Wetherspoons – it’s Victory Mansion.

    Victory Mansion is both a restaurant and a bar and is doing things a bit different, delicious and decadent, than most, if not all, of the places on this side of town.

    Victory Mansion, named after a mansion block that used to be on this site, is a restaurant/bar that intertwines its food and drinks with literature to create an amazing and memorable experience.

    Victory Mansion, first off, has an absolutely amazing cocktail menu that’s practically scientific in its design. There’s an amazing array of drinks, drinks that are named after characters in famous books. There’s the Holden Caulfield (Catcher in the Rye), a drink includes Aylesbury duck vodka, lillet rose, raspberry, apple and soda and the Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird) which has Wild turkey bourbon, plum sake, lychee, lime, chilli & peach bitters and ginger, among many others. We had a few of the others – one was the Patrick Bateman (American Psycho) which was a superbly delicious blend of Calle 23 tequila, banana and chocolate wine – it needs to be tasted to be believed! If you like it sweet, and who doesn’t, then please try the Henry Chinaski (the literary alter ego of Charles Bukowski) which was blended with Plantation pineapple rum, cognac, limoncello and pineapple sugar – it’s so sweet and so good. Victory Mansion’s cocktail menu is like a book, and I recommend you read it from cover and cover and sample as many as you can. It’s is an absolute standout menu.

    But it’s not just the drinks where Victory Mansion is king, it’s their new Ta-Ko menu, introduced a month ago, that’s also a standout.

    There are so so many choices of tacos (or as they would like to call them Ta-Ko) that you’ll be spoiled for choice. I highly recommend their Crispy Cauliflower, black bean & tamarind ragu with avocado and pepper mayo. It’s crunchy and is absolutely delicious. The charred sprouting broccoli & spring onion is also a standout – it sits in a nice dollop of salted duck egg relish for a creamy delight. Both the Nahm jim chicken and the Palm Sugar glazed beef short rib are deliciously filled – the chicken with pickles, crispy onions and mayo – and the short rib with pickled watermelon and blackberry sriracha, which were a burst of flavours in the mouth. All their Asian-inspired tacos are so good they really need to be tried. And while they are not Mexican-style (i.e. large) tacos, if you order several of them they will quickly fill you up. Each flavour comes with two tacos – so perfect for sharing for two so that you both are able to try each one. Other tacos that we didn’t get to try, but no doubt probably just as delicious as the ones we had include tacos with Blackened river trout, torched seabream, red pepper pork neck as well as one with fermented yellow bean leas, halloumi, sweet potato and mustard relish – it’s one I would definitely go back for. As a matter of fact, I would go back to Victory Mansion for pretty much the entire experience again. My dining companion and I enjoyed everything so so much, we want to go back again, and next time bring more friends. It’s just that kind of place, warm, hip but not trying to be, knowledgeable and very friendly staff, it just ticks all the boxes. Even the prices – those amazing cocktails previously mentioned go for between £8 to £10 each, and the Ta-Ko’s range in price from £3.50 to £4 and their absolute must sides (Asian cole slaw, charred corn, shredded beetroot, and MSG fries – basically Nori friend potatoes that are a must), all go for between £3 to £4 each. So there you go, all the above are reasons why you should go to Victory Mansion – what are you waiting for?

    Victory Mansion does a 2 for 1 – 12 pm to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday Brunch where you get brunch Ta-Ko’s and £5 brunch cocktails.

    There is also a basement that is perfect for private birthdays or dinner parties, for 30 – 70 guests.

    18 Stoke Newington High Street
    London N16 7PL

    https://www.victorymansion.co.uk

    Closed Mondays
    Bar
    Tuesday – Thursday
    5 pm – 1 am
    Friday
    5 pm – 2 am
    Saturday
    Noon – 2 am

    Restaurant
    Tuesday – Friday
    6 pm – 11 pm
    Saturday and Sunday
    12 pm – 5 pm
    6 pm – 11 pm

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | The Lost and Found: Bottomless Brunch, Birmingham

    ★★★★★ – BOTTOMLESS BRUNCH LAUNCHES AT THE LOST & FOUND

    The weekends are for great nights and slightly late mornings, and of course good food to awake your spirits, as well as supping on some alcoholic beverages at lunchtime and forgetting the week. The Lost & Found take this occasion seriously with their Bottomless Brunch bonanza.

    The choices of Bellinis, Mimosas, Bloody Marys, in any order, are a delightful motivation to get out of bed on a Sunday morning. From 11 AM to 3 PM, you can indulge yourself in as many Prosecco glasses in a two hour booked period. The Bellinis were moreish with a raspberry floating in each glass – having one of my five a day (in abundance). What is lovely about the brunch food menu is that there is something there for any appetite. From delicate porridges to hearty breakfasts, one can take pleasure in eating rich, tasty and well-presented dishes. The hearty ‘English breakfast’ was incredibly delicious with tasty sausages and poached eggs cooked to perfection. My plus one opted for a bun-less ‘Bacon & cheeseburger’ with a fried egg and skinny fries, and according to him the dish was oozing with flavour and juices, and it definitely did not need a bun.

    What contributed to the superb event was the Victorian backdrop and out-of-time ambience that The Lost & Found encapsulates very well. The mood is just terrific for a Sunday brunch and chill. Josh looked after us again, and I must say his dedication and attention to detail rivals any other host I have met. Josh took time to explain to us how the menu worked, putting us at ease when making a decision, as well as letting us know in advance that due to staff shortage the meals may take longer than we might expect. Also, Josh made sure we were well and truly Bellini-ed and I was left feeling very fuzzy and cosy sitting comfortably in the booth.

    For just £22 per person, you are getting a very good experience with endless drinks for two hours, plus good quality, top-notch food and with an ambience that provides an escape for a weekend.

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Smashburger, Wednesbury

    ★★★★ | Smashburger, Wednesbury

    Smashburger launches the first site in the Midlands, and what a messy affair it was!

    The method of smashing is a unique way of enhancing flavour into the burger as the meat is cooked in its freshly pressed juices. The result is a delicate, intense and a full-flavoured burger inside your soft bun. According to General Manager Colin, the ingredients are prepared and cooked fresh every day, and the burgers are almost smashed to order. Situated at the heart of Gallagher Retail Park in Wednesbury, this restaurant is certainly worth a sharp right on your way out.

    The Beef Bacon Cheeseburger, made with Applewood smoked bacon and American cheese, mustard, ketchup, pickles and red onion served on a multi-grain bread is probably one of the best burgers I have had in my mouth. The bread was soft and complemented the burger beautifully soaking up the juices and sauce oozing out of the burger. There is no way to avoid running mustard/ketchup sauce down your hand as it is a truly messy encounter. The sour pickles married well with the tangy mustard and galvanised the whole meal – Fourth of July happened in my mouth. My plus one had Spinach, Cucumber & Goats Cheese Beef Burger on a brioche bun which was very well presented and it had plenty of fresh vibes to it.

    What was very impressive about Smashburger was the excellent customer service experienced throughout the joint. Chloe was particularly pleasant and very hospitable offering us to try the churros at the end which was an offer you could not refuse. The atmosphere was very busy but the staff bantered and looked after every customer with genuine care.

    There was a problem with the fryer as a couple of items of the meal were slightly over-fried, particularly the Haystack Onions, and the Churros also were overly cooked on the outside and undercooked on the inside. It was not a happy ending, but I would read this book again! I would like to think it was a one-off blip.

    The service was second to none. The quality and concept of the burgers through smashing was ingenious. The highlight for me of it all was the Oreo Hand-spun Shake – O.M.G! The best chunky shake I have had – it is going to take a lot to beat that!