Five International Glamping Spots You Need to Know About

Camping holidays are cool again in a slow tourism, sustainable and back to nature kind of way.

Read my full post at Seen in the City.

 

 

 

 

London Bridge has a brand new local bar

London Bridge has a brand new, swanky local bar with all the hallmarks of a good place for a drink; swinging atmosphere, great service, wonderful drinks and very good food. Let’s not forget the location; 31 Thomas Street. It’s the closest bar to London Bridge station and if you’re walking by you won’t miss the buzzy atmosphere through the floor to ceiling windows. You’d be forgiven for thinking that it’s another among many. Here’s the thing; this is no ordinary bar. It’s Shangri-La’s Bar 31 created by the locals for the locals. Here’s what that means for us.

Food

All the produce for the menu comes from neighbouring Borough market. Expect the best; rice Buddha bowls with egg and kale, pickled avocado, Vietnamese avocado rolls and daily specials such as spiced chicken wings and shepherds pie. It’s world cuisine on a plate via Borough Market. I had the Vietnamese avocado rolls and pickled avocado when I attended the opening and they were sublime. With quality local produce and a menu curated by none other than chef Daniel Mcgarey their sharing plates are nothing short of spectacular.

Drink

For drinks Shangri-La has flexed it’s giant sourcing muscle and gone as far as…their doorstep. (I did say the bar was local). Beers come from Bermondsey Breweries, Hiver Brewery and Anspach & Hobday. Bermondsey Distillery’s Old Tom gin and a whole host of cocktails and Champagnes have also made the cut. A sure-fire summer hit might well be their homemade lemonade followed by an ice cold glass of rosé.

Music

Want to know who provides the live music on Friday and Saturday nights? Buskers. London’s finest street singers from Bermondsey to Piccadilly Circus have been scouted for Bar 31. On opening night we were entertained by Sherika Sherard, Piers Dashfield and Tim Cronin who’s soulful renditions were the perfect backdrop to a beautiful evening.

Verdict

As a Londoner, I can tell you that Bar 31 is as good as London gets. It’s in the heart of the city at an iconic landmark, is a great spot for meeting-up and perfect for showing visitors to London what the city is all about. A mesmerising piece by graffiti artist Mr.Cenz greets you as you walk in, the atmosphere is relaxed and the service is flawless. Add to this Shangri-La’s commitment to the local economy and you’d have to agree that Bar 31 is a credit to London.

A Taste of Puglia: Michelin-starred dining with Chef Felice Sgarra

London was graced with a magnificent event at Sauterelle at Royal Exchange last month to mark the beginning of summer. It’s event A Taste of Puglia brought to an unforgettable evening of fine dining from chef Felice Sgarra. Chef Felice is the Chef Patron of the Umami of Andria, Puglia, a Michelin-starred restaurant. I was invited review this wonderfully special dinner showcasing the sublime quality of artisan produce of Puglia.

 

A langoustine tartare with red lentils, lemon and wild chicory consommé was a fitting introduction to the evening. The combination of citrus flavour and the texture of lentils on the dish prepared the palette for what was an exceptional menu. The main dish of stone bass and black chickpeas from Murgia were as expected a wonderful display of taste and texture. Sautéed cardoncelli mushrooms with courgette flower and orange gel were a firm reminder of Chef Felice’s ability to create palatial dishes from simple ingredients. The subtle hint of citrus on a beautifully balanced dish of flavours was an incredible feat.

If all this was not enough, the dish that won me over, was extra virgin olive oil ice cream served with fresh ricotta, almonds and dark chocolate shavings. Olive oil wouldn’t be my first choice of flavour for ice cream. However, once I tasted it I wondered why it hadn’t been. It was not only utterly sumptuous but felt rich and indulgent; exactly what we must expect from a fine dessert.

The evening was a resounding success in establishing exactly why Puglia has set the bar for Southern Italian cookery. With such delightful produce created from its soil is it any wonder that the region is home to renowned restaurant Umami. We owe much gratitude to Sauterelle’s Executive Head Chef Stefano Leone for this collaboration. I only hope that Sauterelle will treat London to another fine evening with Chef Felice in Autumn.

 

Sauterelle at Royal Exchange is located at: The Royal Exchange, Bank, London, EC3V 3LR. For more information visit: Sauterelle at Royal Exchange

A Taste of Puglia at Sauterelle at Royal Exchange

There are two very exciting things happening at Suaterelle at Royal Exchange  next week. On the 15th of May Michelin starred chef Felice Sgarra, of Umami Restaurant in Andri, will team up with Sauterelle Executive Head Chef Stefano Leone to host an evening of flavours of Puglia.

The evening promises to be a wonderfully indulgent affair with three courses of the best Mediterranean flavours cooked by Chef Felice who in just two years secured the first Michelin star for Ristorante Umami. Chef Felice transformed this 19th century villa restaurant with simple Southern Italian cooking that captured the palettes of its patrons. The Japanese philosophy of umami inspires his delicious and regional cuisine served at Restaurant Umami. As such we can certainly expect an exceptional evening of fine dining at Sauterelle.

Dishes of Puglia

For £45 per person, guests will enjoy bubbles on arrival followed by a three course dinner starting at 7pm. Italy’s Puglia region is celebrated for its natural recipes which are often passed down through generations. Chef Felice will create classic dishes starting with red lentils and wild chicory consomme, prawn tartare with pork guanciale, artisan pasta with sweet olives and asparagus and traditional burrata from Andria. They will be followed by octopus, black chickpea, orange, courgette flower and gin. Dessert is expected to be ricotta, almond, figs and bitter chocolate as well as petit fours.

Puglian Artisanal Products

In addition to this evening of elegant dining Sauterelle will also showcase artisanal produce from Puglia on the 14th May to deepen our understanding of this regional cuisine. Suppliers such as Sinisi, Dono Dorato and Azienda Agricola Di Tria will be in attendance. A mozzarella workshop will be held at 4pm for guests enjoy the process of mozzarella-making in Puglia.

Both events promise to deliver more than a mere dining experience. Food is always better appreciated when we have a deeper understanding of it. I have no doubt that we shall enjoy our Taste of Puglia.

Tickets can be purchased at: www.dandlondon.com