Rosé Sainte Marie is the latest release from South Devon’s Salcombe gin distillery. The rosé gin joins the star-studded line-up of incredible gins they’ve produced; from the flagship Start Point gin (a favourite of mine) to the collaborative Voyager series gins created together with chefs Michael Caines MBE, Mark Hix MBE, Monica Galetti, and port producer Dirk Niepoort.
I’ve been exploring batch making cocktails, in particular: negronis. The idea of making up a cocktail can often feel like a bit too much effort after a long day so sometimes you just want something chilled and ready to go. Inspired by negroni nights with friends, I decided to give it a go myself…
I recently visited the Silent Pool Gin distillery in Surrey (see my blog about our tour) so was very excited to be invited to return so soon for a supper club evening with fellow Silent Pool-based business Mandira’s Kitchen. I’d never been to a supper club before, let alone one hosted at one of my favourite gin distilleries!
Chances are you’ve seen this copper and blue design before. It’s incredible how fast the intricate pattern that adorns Silent Pool gin has grown to reach such recognisable status across bars, homes and supermarkets.
Earlsfield in South West London, tucked between the much better known Clapham and Wimbledon, is my home. It has also been home to Ben’s Canteen since 2014, which has for the past years been our go-to for brunch, countless dinners with friends and hosting big birthday parties. Now it’s entering a new chapter and has evolved into Bloody Bens bar, distillery and kitchen. I caught up with founder Ben Walton to talk about his latest venture.
Before the intense Tuscan summer sun kicked in, we made for the shady side streets of Florence, the region’s capital, for a tour with a difference. We were joining Taste Florence, and our guide Carine, to eat our way around the city and the many flavours it has to offer.
For my wife‘s birthday this year, we went on a surprise trip to Stockholm for the weekend. It’s a city that we’d both been wanting to visit for a while having heard such great things, so one Friday we met at Gatwick after work and we were off.
Each year, coinciding with World Gin Day, more than 70 distilleries from all around the world descend on London for the Junipalooza gin festival. It’s Christmas day for gin fans across the country.
Having experienced New Zealand‘s breathtaking beauty at the end of 2018 we wanted to travel somewhere a little closer to home that might offer some similarities. As neither Kirstin or I had been to the Highlands before we decided on flying to Inverness in Scotland to stay in the beautiful Muckrach Country House Hotel in Speyside, at the north west of the Cairngorms (the largest national park in the UK).
I think street food is brilliant. It’s the most incredible way of experiencing different cultures and broadening your horizons through your stomach. I love to support small independent business, but what’s not so great is all the packaging and cutlery waste that often goes with it.