Food and Drink

Make this Father’s Day a special one

Recipe by Ben Murphy - Smoked Eel, Scallop & Ponzu

Since he first started at the restaurant three years ago, Murphy has electrified the menu with his signature dishes that are seasonal, playful, and pleasing to the eye. The Launceston Place offering is made up of a la carte menus alongside tasting options with both vegan and vegetarian diets catered for. Some standouts include lobster with celery, yuzu, and coriander; burnt leek with chive and truffle; and passion fruit with Champagne, white chocolate, and meringue. Whilst their doors are still closed, Chef Murphy shares his recipe for a smoked eel, scallop, and ponzu dish with The Sybarite’s readers so that you can elevate your work from home cooking game and bring a touch of luxury to your next meal.

Review of Ceviche, Soho – a Peruvian food haven

“When I was growing up in Peru, I was lucky to taste the most exquisite flavours and have access to the most fascinating ingredients,” says Martin Morales, Chef and Founder of the Ceviche Family, which also includes the Andina in Shoreditch and Casita Andina in Piccadilly. “The Peruvian larder is mind blowing, and so one day, I hoped I could share it with other people.” We visited Ceviche on busy Frith Street on a chilly winter evening. The staff were as welcoming as the bold colours that greeted us when we stepped inside. Despite its name, Ceviche’s menu isn’t solely around raw fish—though we did make sure to try their delicious Ceviche Peruano with sustainable sea bass in a citrus-based “tiger’s milk” marinade with sweet potato, red onion, Andean corn, and crunchy corn nuts for texture. Morales talks about how today’s Latin culture has influences from East Asia, Africa, Spain, Italy, and the Middle East, and these are all reflected in the dishes you’ll come across in the region as well. He wanted to make sure that Londoners got a taste of what makes up modern Latin flavours and with a glass of Pisco Sour and a bottle of wine on the way, we decided to make our way through the menu to find out.

The King of Pop-Up Restaurants - An Exclusive Interview...

Hailed as the ‘King’ of pop-up restaurants, Jimmy Garcia has made his name through his popular festive Igloos (and summer BBQs) on the Southbank, Sky High Dining and not to mention the cable car suspended 90m above The River Thames. More recently, Jimmy catered at the Henley Festival 2020 at the Moet & Chandon London headquarters in Belgravia.

Meet the Coffee Experts: Annie Mitchell and Charlotte...

Together with partner Charlotte Dales, the American duo decided to launch their cold brew coffee company upon realising they couldn’t find the authentic cold brew that they grew up drinking in New Orleans in London. Mitchell’s enthusiasm and confidence in her product is highly visible every time she talks about it. Clearly, cold brew isn’t just a drink, but a movement that she and the Bottleshot team hope will really take flight in the capital. From partnering with Soho House to the support she’s gained from the local small business community, food and drinks writer Ina Yulo chats with Mitchell about her life as a founder and all things coffee.

Ask the Gut Expert: Yalda Alaoui on Gut Health

After suffering a series of health issues, Alaoui decided to take matters into her own hands and researched more holistic ways of curing her ailments. “Gut health is at the source of most health issues,” she shares. “A healthy gut also helps have less anxiety, improves body composition and helps achieve optimal health.” The Sybarite chats with Alaoui about how anyone can improve their gut health and how she keeps fit.

Callooh Callay: A Hidden Gem

The Lewis Carroll theme doesn’t just stop at the name – Callooh Callay bar invokes all of the curiosity and kitsch of the Jabberwocky poem with an eclectic interior that really does feel like you’ve passed through to the other side of the looking glass.

Review of Ampeli - A great greek addition to London’s Charlotte Street

Being superbly located across the road from The Charlotte Street Hotel, Ampéli is set across three floors, with a wine bar, mezzanine and more intimate dining space, totalling 80 covers.  When we arrived we were greeted by the general manager and the vibe in the restaurant was relaxed. Diners were enjoying a menu which is designed to encourage sharing over a glass of wine, featuring dishes such as feta saganaki with tomato jam and okra and goat’s cheese fritters.

Review of Bancone Golden Square

When Will Ellner, founder of Soho pasta hotspot Bancone, announced he was opening another restaurant in Covent Garden’s Golden Square, some wondered how he planned to expand on his humble pasta offering. Enter new Culinary Director Claudio Melis. The Michelin-starred chef has injected his creativity into the Bancone Golden Square menu with creative new pasta dishes and monthly grilled specials like opening month’s crispy suckling pig belly with apple and hazelnut, pickled mustard seeds, and Primitivo; and pan-fried stone bass with samphire and sweet and sour beets. “With Claudio boosting the team, we’re in a really strong position to enjoy a successful foray into London’s restaurant heartland,” says Ellner.

Sake & Seafood

This coincided with World Sake Day (1st of October), called Nihonshu no Hi in Japanese, to commemorate Japan’s favourite rice wine beverage.  The Sybarite was invited to the launch of a three-day pop-up event in Shoreditch which was hosted by JFOODO in collaboration with London seafood restaurant The Oystermen. The Sake & Seafood event welcomed us to “Escape the Ordinary” and discover that although seafood is traditionally accompanied by white wine, sake actually makes for a better pairing.

Review of The Clove Club | One of the best restaurants in the world!

The restaurant which earned its Michelin star in 2014 has been on my foodie radar for a very long time and finally, for my 6th wedding anniversary, the time had arrived to grace my tastebuds with its culinary delights.  One of the first things to strike you upon arrival is the small, unassuming dining room. It’s not the grand interiors you’d perhaps expect when you walk through the big blue doors. No airs and graces – A sign from the start that the food will be doing all the talking. The high ceilings, dark wood and pale walls make up the simple decor. The beating heart of the room, though, comes from the blue-tiled open kitchen where Chef Isaac McHale and his brigade produce wonderfully original food.

A Glistening Christmas

In partnership with Champagne powerhouse Laurent-Perrier, the team at Angler, led by Chef Gary Foulkes, has launched a holiday pop-up called “A Glistening Christmas”. The Sybarite was invited to kick off the festivities, learn more about Laurent-Perrier’s unique history, and taste the winter warmer dishes that Angler has paired with the Laurent-Perrier offering.  We made our way to Angler’s heated rooftop terrace which was decked out in lights, greenery, and rose gold baubles. The colour scheme reflected one of the stars of the evening, the Cuvée Ros. Launched in 1968, the Laurent-Perrier team told us about how the brand’s focus on continuous innovation led to the creation of what is considered to be the original “modern” rosé Champagne. We were welcomed with some Winter Cocktails, namely The LP Winter with Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée, honey, sloe gin, lemon juice, clove, rosemary, and berries; and the Rosé Mémoire with Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé, redcurrant jelly, clementine juice, and redcurrants.