Gourmet

Gourmet

The Complete French Cooking Course

A Culinary Education in One Magnificent Volume

At 696 pages and close to 30 centimetres tall, The Complete French Cooking Course is not a cookbook to balance beside the hob. It is a culinary monument, the kind of volume that demands a clear stretch of worktop, a sturdy shelf and ideally, several years of use. Produced by Ferrandi Paris, the professional school founded in 1920, the book approaches French cooking properly, that is, as a discipline to be learnt in the correct order. Its 143 recipes are supported by 147 illustrated techniques and more than 1,300 photographs, moving from equipment, ingredient seasonality and foundational sauces to fish filleting, meat cuts, mushroom identification and technically demanding preparations such as potato soufflé. Unlike other cookbooks, here one should follow the the structure, because it is set out to explain why things work and how competence is built. The timing of this volume is also quite spot on. French food is firmly back in the conversation. Recent restaurant coverage has traced a return to bistros, brasseries and recognisable classics in Paris, London and New York, with diners again responding to proper sauces, pâté...

Gourmet

Zuma Saint-Tropez

A Glamorous Dinner Before Legendary Partying

Zuma and Hôtel Byblos were always going to get on. Both are international names with nothing left to prove; both understand that luxury is much more enjoyable when it loosens its tie. Byblos has been part of Saint-Tropez mythology since 1967, born from founder Jean-Prosper Gay-Para’s admiration for the late Brigitte Bardot, the screen icon […]

Gourmet

Above The Eternal City

Sunset Aperitivo at Hotel d’Inghilterra

High above the heat and clamour of Rome, Terrazza Romana offers a welcome pocket of calm. Crowning Hotel d’Inghilterra, the beautifully designed rooftop bar feels pleasantly removed from the busy streets below, while remaining unmistakably part of the Eternal City. Recently reopened for the season, the terrace looks across Rome’s rooftops towards Villa Medici, San […]

Gourmet

Swift Borough Bar

Cocktails with Precision, Charm and a Little Market Buzz

Borough in London has always been known as a hub for multicultural and diverse dining, From the world food pop up stalls in Borough market to the fine bars and restaurants along Borough High Road, many of us have experienced a taste of their flair. This week, I was invited to Swift, an acclaimed, two-story cocktail […]

Gourmet

Nora Canary Wharf

A Modern Chic Turkish Experience

Something interesting is happening in Canary Wharf’s West Lane District. With its pedestrianised streets, pocket parks and independent shops, the area has the feeling of a newly imagined urban quarter, part New York, part nod to the district’s industrial past. Canary Wharf’s dining scene is expanding too, and slightly tucked away among all this development […]

Gourmet

Cé La Vi London

Asian Flavours Above the City Skyline

Cé La Vi arrived at the top of Paddington Square a few months ago with all the advantages money can buy: Renzo Piano architecture, a handsome double-height perch on the 17th and 18th floors and a sweep across London that makes even the most jaded local stop mid-sentence. The brand has an impeccable history. Cé […]

Gourmet, Travel

Grenada’s Gastronomic Renaissance

The Spice Isle Emerges as an Epicurean Destination

Perched between emerald hillsides and the turquoise sweep of Grand Anse Bay, Grenada was once known primarily for its prolific production of nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and cocoa. Today, it is cultivating a new gastronomic identity rooted in sustainable agriculture, farm-to-table innovation and a reverence for heritage and cultural fusion. Indigenous, African, British and French influences […]

Gourmet

Gourmet Treats for Mum

A Few Delicious Reasons to Plan a Proper Day Out

Sharing food is a multi-sensory, neurochemical, and social experience that goes far beyond simple nourishment. Scientifically, it acts as a “social glue” that builds trust, reduces stress, and creates emotional bonds through the release of hormones like oxytocin. In this edit, we invite you to feel closer to your mum with a series of gourmet […]

Gourmet

Celebrate Love: Valentine’s Restaurant Picks in London

From Art-Deco Glamour to Michelin-Starred Views – Four Unforgettable Date Night Hotspots

Valentine’s Day in London is an invitation to create an unforgettable experience. Whether you’re marking new love or many years together, a thoughtfully chosen restaurant can set the mood and become part of the memory. From century-inspired glamour and elevated American retro fare to sweeping city panoramas and Italian sophistication, here are four unforgettable restaurants […]

Gourmet

China Tang London

A Descent into Cantonese Culinary Theatre

Over 20 years ago, China Tang opened its doors in London, at one of the most emblematic hotels of the capital: The Dorchester. Since then, it has built a reputation for serving some of the finest Cantonese food outside China. The experience starts long before the starters. Descend into a subterranean world that will take […]

Gourmet

Automat Mayfair

American Retro-Comfort with a Mayfair Polish

Secluded behind the British luxury leather goods shop, Tanner Krolle, this speakeasy-style American restaurant has become a magnet for the young and beautiful of Mayfair. The proposition is quite fun: retro-diner food reimagined as fine dining. In décor and ambience, Automat offers an intimate setting to while away the evening. Dark woods, soft leather, metal […]

Gourmet

Angler Rooftop – South Place Hotel

A Michelin Escape Above the City

Elegant, minimalistic, magnificent. These are three words that immediately come to mind when I think of my recent experience at the Michelin-starred Angler Rooftop, quietly hidden on the seventh floor of the South Place Hotel in the City. Designed by Conran and Partners, the space oozes sophistication. Clean lines and floor-to-ceiling windows flood the room […]