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Christmas Party Idea - The Well in Clerkenwell

Popping up this December only and providing the perfect Christmas party solution in a stylish Swedish ski lodge at Tom and Ed Martin's acclaimed gastropub, The Well in Clerkenwell.

Go underground at The Well and you’ll discover a magical wonderland of fake furs, glittery reindeers, a giant gingerbread house and party poppers pinging off Christmas fir trees. Swedish winter hostesses will be on hand to serve you ice cold glasses of vodka and snowflakes will be falling as you celebrate the Scandi way to the sound of Swedish classics, Abba, Ace of base, Roxette.

Decked out chalet style with vintage skis, moose antlers and wooden logs, you’ll also be eating and drinking Scandinavian. Arm yourself with a glass of Aquavit, a local schnapps and tuck into a traditional smörgåsbord of Swedish canapés including smoked reindeer and baby pickles; elk fillet tartare on rye; Swedish meatball brochettes with tomato fondue; soused herrings, mustard and dill; citrus gravid lax with pickled cucumber and rye bread; crayfish and dill polar bread cones; soft boiled quail egg with herring roe; and onion, herb and potato cream tarts with keta caviar.

It’s the season of giving and eating so talented pastry chef Boyne Kleynhans has handcrafted a traditional giant gingerbread house which will be on display throughout December and it’s up for grabs. Simply buy a raffle ticket to be in the chance to win it. All proceeds will be donated to StreetSmart, a charity which works with restaurants to raise money for homeless people across the UK. The lucky winner will be notified on 23rd December, just in time to make it the best Christmas present for someone, ever.

The Well Swedish Ski Lodge can host parties of up to 70 people. Better yet, there is no hire charge. Private hire only. Minimum spends will apply. Canapés cost from £12 per person for six.
Get there before it’s gone!
The Well, 180 St John Street, Clerkenwell,London, EC1V 4JY
T: 020 7251 9363
www.downthewell.com
www.twitter.com/thewellpub

New Chef at The Thatched House in Hammersmith

With a new chef, new management and a new look, The Thatched House takes you back to the way things used to be. A place where you’re greeted like a local, where proper pub fare is chalked up on blackboards and real ales are supped from frosted glasses. Where you can pop in for a pint and stay all night. A slice of country life in the big city with roaring log fires in winter and a secret garden for sizzling BBQ’s in the summer.

New chef Jimi (James Gill) sharpened his culinary skills under the acclaimed Thierry Laborde at The Kitchen in Parsons Green and opened The White Horse on behalf of general manager Ossie Gray, of River Café fame. He knows his food. Lunch is a casual romp through the country’s best ingredients with affordable, tasty dishes – sourced from Britain wherever possible. Pull a stool up to the bar, and spread a flavoursome wild boar, venison and rabbit terrine on to thick cut toast or sink your teeth into a marinated steak sandwich with fat chips.

The house special is the pub’s mussels and chips – enjoy a steaming pot with a choice of broths, from shallot, garlic and wheat beer to traditional white wine and butter. Dinner is full of hearty seasonal fare; try deep fried pig’s cheeks with tomato and chilli jam to start, order spatch-cocked quail wrapped in vine leaves with autumn vegetables; confit duck leg with dauphinoise potatoes, green beans and star anise jus; or a roast whole sea bass provencale with a warm potato salad for main course. Desserts are a return to old favourites and homely apple crumble and Sticky Toffee Pudding.

Young’s first ever pub, The Thatched House is a true Brit - its recent transformation is a return to its roots. A grand Victorian corner building, inside it is quintessentially British. A large wooden bar is at its heart, surrounded by comfy green Chesterfield sofas, an open fireplace, mismatched wooden tables and chairs, and sunlight streaming in through the stained glass windows. Decked out with period style wallpaper, old fashioned station clocks, faded photographs of London underground, antique lamps and leather bound books lined up in bookcases, it has the familiar feel of an old-school London pub. For more intimate eating, the conservatory tucked at the back is perfect for a table for two or for large groups to privately hire. It leads out onto the hidden garden, a suntrap so great for al fresco eating, you’ll never want to leave.   

Christmas Salad at Tossed Westfield

What could be more fantastic than tucking into gorgeous Christmas food knowing that is actually good for you, and without counting the calories?

Christmas has never tasted so good at Tossed, the healthier eating place at Westfield London, W12.

Shop ‘till you drop for all those Christmas presents, and when you need a break head for Tossed in the Balcony area, overlooking the stunning atrium.             

For £12 including a glass of festive Möet & Chandon champagne and a Christmas cracker, discover pure indulgence without the guilt. The ultimate treat for a Christmas lunch ‘on the go’, Santa’s salad at Tossed is a very tasty combination of turkey, pigs in blankets, sage and onion stuffing, roast parsnip and potatoes, carrots, cranberry yoghurt served on mixed leaves freshly tossed in French dressing. It’s high in protein, low in calories and saturated fats (just 2.4g), with no added salt and nutritionally balanced, and at only 547 calories for a very large serving, this is where health meets pleasure…. in a bowl.

Or ask for the veggie version, same price, 468 calories. Pull the cracker quickly, because this is no ordinary cracker. Many of the crackers offered with Santa’s salad contain vouchers for tasty treats from the Tossed counter, from freshly made smoothies, freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices, to frozen yoghurt desserts, redeemable on the spot or on another occasion at Tossed Westfield only. 

The Christmas salads are also available at all other Tossed in the West End’s high streets, selling at £5.95 for a large portion without alcoholic drinks (£5.25 for the veggie option). Taking healthy eating to a whole new level with its upscale healthier foods, Tossed counts calories and nutritional content, ditches mayo and uses low GI carbs. It’s just that you wouldn’t know it because everything tastes so good. Packed with superfoods and protein, the quality, presentation and creativity of Tossed’s healthy choices is on a par with those found in restaurants.

www.tosseduk.com

MORI Japanese Restaurant to Open in Chelsea

MORI, the casual restaurant group focusing on healthy, quality Japanese food,which launched in London’s St John’s Wood just one year ago, has just signed on what will be its third branch, in Chelsea.

The site, at 99 King’s Road, is scheduled to open in early 2011. It offers 1,500 sq.ft of space, which will include an expansive chilled cabinet housing the full range of MORI dishes, a feature display of MORI’s frozen yoghurt together with 20 seats for eat-in. The site will also offer a delivery service to addresses across South West London.

For more information on the group, visit www.mori.uk.com

Giraffe Restaurant Now Open in Blackheath

Blackheath residents, families and visitors now have a world of cuisines on their doorstep thanks to the arrival of global restaurant, Giraffe on Tranquil Vale. 

Positive energy exudes from the moment you enter the warm and welcoming, restaurant with the big heart. Open from morning till late, all your needs are catered for. Whether you’re catching up with friends for a quick coffee, looking for a long leisurely breakfast, a three-course meal with the family or a romantic dinner for two, Giraffe is the ideal destination.

 Located in heart of Blackheath village, the open plan, split level restaurant has been stylishly decorated in muted colours with a striking feature wall made with gold leaf and cork, as well as fretwork panels that imitate the irregular pattern of a Giraffe’s skin.

Unique chrome aero bubble lights, hand blown lamps lights, and a stunning tribal style graffiti mural of a Giraffe emblazoned with their global message ‘love, eat, live’ complete the picture. Taking a culinary tour across the globe, Giraffe’s reasonably priced menu reads like a guide to the world’s favourite foods.

Carefully crafted from the freshest ingredients sourced from favoured suppliers, there’s something to suit every taste and challenge the adventurous to try something new. Kick-start the day with a breakfast worth getting out of bed for such as organic porridge topped with honey, sunflower seeds, strawberries and bananas; a granola sundae brimming with fresh fruit; or spicy huevos rancheros – free range fried or scrambled eggs, chorizo, black beans, cheddar and jack cheese, adobe sauce, avocado and tomato salsa on a warm tortilla. 

For lunch or dinner delve into a combination of nibbles, snacks, starters and mains. Highlights include crisp fried tiger prawns with sweet chilli dip; farmers’ market vegetable burrito – filled with roasted squash, feta, spinach, mushrooms, kidney beans and Mexican green rice; handmade beef and Abbot Ale pie served with mash and gravy; or healthy winter salad made up of spiced roast pumpkin, spinach, beetroot, edamame, green beans, broccoli, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, mixed leaves and cashew nuts topped with herby house dressing. 

Deliciously tempting desserts include milky double bubble chocolate cheesecake with warm chocolate sauce; a rustic apple crumble topped with deliciously crunchy hazelnuts and oats and a winter berry compote; and a gooey, indulgent chocolate brownie with vanilla ice-cream - all the better when shared with a friend. 

Giraffe’s global dedication extends to drinks. Coffee is hand-crafted using the finest Arabica beans, carefully sourced from two family owned farms in Brazil and Guatemala. Roasted in the UK by their friends at Union Coffee Roasters, every time you enjoy a cup you can be assured that you are giving something back. In Brazil, this means there are now weekly food baskets for the workers whose children will now be educated at the local school. In Guatemala, coffee sales help build homes for migrant workers and develop sustainable farming methods. Teas are by Teapigs who also pledge to help the communities they work with, and there’s even Giraffe’s very own Moroccan mint variety. 

Just like the menu, the wine list is international with every bottle available by the glass. Cocktails make their mark with a combination of old school classics such as a retro piña colada and more contemporary innovations including vanilla breeze – vanilla vodka, Bombay Sapphire gin, passion fruit and pineapple. 

Little ones are loved just as much as grown ups and have their very own menu complete with puzzles and games to keep them entertained. Sit back and relax as they tuck into a host of healthy, fresh dishes such as salmon fingers with mash, broccoli and sweetcorn; grilled chicken burger or a mini brunch with sausage, eggs, Heinz beans and toast. For a Christmas dinner with a global flavour, Giraffe has the answer. Their fantastic value festive menu, two courses for £15.95 and three for £19.95 is a tasty alternative to the norm; try delicious starters such as crayfish and prawn cocktail or sweet potato, pumpkin and ginger soup. Mains are equally appetising with goats’ cheese and zucchini lasagne or a double roasted crispy duck with green chilli and potato hash. For dessert, a steamed hot chocolate and cherry pudding is a sweet touch. 

Owner Russel Joffe said: “Blackheath is a lovely part of the world with lots of character. We are delighted to be able to takeover this gem of a restaurant and look forward to bringing Giraffe to locals.”

Giraffe
58-62 Tranquil Vale, Blackheath, London SE3 OBN
T: 020 8463 9155
www.giraffe.net