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Tomatoes and stracciatella

Of course a Negroni isn’t just for Negroni Week bu

Of course a Negroni isn’t just for Negroni Week but this annual celebration of gin, sweet vermouth and bitters is upon us again so here’s a quick and entirely subjective collection of editorial favourites in London if you’re looking for somewhere to imbibe, all highly recommended (some of these will be familiar so consider it refresher training; others are new entries). In no particular order:

First, Amaro in Kensington (naturally) (photo 1). What a bar. But virtually next door is the often overlooked Stables Bar at The Milestone (photo 2) - always great attention to detail there as evidenced by the clear ice and gorgeous glassware.

Then, the Negroni at Brutto which is still an inflation-defying £5 (photo 3), the Termini Negroni (photo 4) served sans dilution and to the brim (seasoned barflies will dip their heads and sip directly to avoid spillage).

The Donovan Bar (photo 5) serve parmesan and olives with any cocktail but these complement their Negronis (and martinis) particularly well. Down the road, The American Bar at The Stafford (photo 6) allows you to fully customise your Negroni (and rightly so). They serve this with an origami orange twist which may tickle your nose.

In the same neck of the woods, the bar at Bellamy’s is also often overlooked, which is silly because you get a very generous serve here (photo 7). (Also excellent direct martinis.)

For a boozier Negroni, Upstairs at Rules (photo 8) and St John (various sites) (photo 9) where the gin is dialled up a tad.

And finally, some twists. Baudry Greene with their delicious Rouge Clair Negroni (photo 10), the “Davaroni” on request at The Thin White Duke in Soho (if you know you really know - photo 11), and last but not least, the carrot and watermelon Negroni at lovely Bar Gemišt in Holloway, one of the nicest bars to open in London in the last year (photo 12)
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#negroni #negroniweek #cocktails #wheretodrink #londonbars

From the boulevards and ruin bars of Budapest back

From the boulevards and ruin bars of Budapest back to Simpson’s in the Strand by train, here are some highlights of the refuelling pit stops on the way back including Vienna and Paris…

Starting with Callas Café and Restaurant in Budapest next to the Opera House (and its Bistro) a delightful al fresco space and lovely veal paprikash (photos 1-3).

An Aviation at Boutiq Bar, a bar with a neighbourhood, relaxed vibe not dissimilar to The Prince on Old Street and they can make any classic (as well as their own Hungarian Negroni) (photo 4). Oh and yet more veal paprikash at Gettó Gulyás (bit noisy and service chaotic there) (photo 5).

Onto Vienna (oh, Vienna!), which is about two hours by train from Budapest (and the train where Céline and Jesse met in the 1995 film Before Sunrise) and a very long overdue return to the legendary Café Hawelka, once a bohemian meeting point for artists and writers (photos 7 & 8). Last visited 16 years ago and it hasn’t changed in the slightest (which is a good thing). Then the beef in chocolate and chilli sauce outdoors at Ef16 Weinbar (photo 9) - this dish surprisingly worked well (with Austrian wine of course).

Then, the pure serendipity of discovering Bar Campari (and yes they do a very good Campari Shakerato) (photos 10-12) and a mandatory Wiener Schnitzel at Zum Schwarzen Kameel (another legendary resto) (photos 13 & 14).

Skipping over Liechtenstein and Switzerland (but here’s a picture of a Swiss “Thameslink” for you - they run on time there), a final stop in Paris for braised beef cheeks at Juveniles (photo 16), checking up on Bar De Vie (photo 17) who are doing very well, and also just to verify that the July review of Le Bon Saint-Pourçain wasn’t a fluke, lovely veal with a jus rôti and carrots in tarragon there (with plentiful splishy-splashy - such superb service) (photos 18 & 19).

Finally, to “acclimatise” back to London and to celebrate not missing a single train, glorious roast beef at Simpson’s in the Strand (photo 20)

Some full-length reviews of restaurants not featured here to follow soon on the main site but first a diet is probably in order…
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#travel #travelgram #europe #foodgram #traintravel

St Pancras to Budapest entirely by train, done! S

St Pancras to Budapest entirely by train, done! Sometimes you just have to take the scenic (and more delicious) route: morning Eurostar to Paris, then a civilised two-hour interlude to have lunch at Les Enfants Perdus near Gare de l’Est and a wander around Canal St Martin (no metro or taxis required, all within walking distance of the Eurostar), then the connection to Germany for dinner and cocktails in Munich (including a return to Vinothek and, of course, a Negroni and Campari Shakerato at the legendary Schumman’s, still as glorious as ever)…

Next morning, the Railjet train to Budapest with its incredible views, lunch in the restaurant car (Wiener schnitzel and Gemischter Satz as the train passes through Austria - when in Rome), arriving in time for a martini at the bar above the New York Café in Budapest and its string quartet, then dinner at Borkonyha Winektichen (arguably the Noble Rot of Budapest)

Right, Budapest, lock up your paprika and Tokaji
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#travel #travelgram #traintravel #howtolive #slowtravel

A restorative spot of lunch at Bouchon Racine (and

A restorative spot of lunch at Bouchon Racine (and a St John Negroni) before heading off to the continent by train again - you know, just to get into the mood

That filet au poivre 👌
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#bouchonracine #filetaupoivre #frenchfood #foodgram #wheretoeat

September is here (ah, la rentrée) and we have new

September is here (ah, la rentrée) and we have new reviews and articles published on the main site, including reviews of smoking hot Café Clement (and whether it’s worth the hype), lovely independent neighbourhood restaurants Mirtala in Chiswick and La Tana in Tufnell Park, and a gourmand’s guide to a road trip around Alsace and the Black Forest in Germany. Available to read now at palatemag.co.uk or link in bio

Pictured here:

The martini, menu and the terrace at Café Clement in Temple;

The risotto Milanese and lamb with agrodolce lentils at La Tana in Tufnell Park;

The Mirtala Barbacao taco at Mirtala in Chiswick (photo and review by Daniela Toporek); and

The Black Forest and the frogs’ legs with truffles at Waldhotel Sonnara (article by returning Palate contributor J Khou)
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#foodgram #restaurantreview #foodguide #instafood #travel

A long weekend of loveliness at some old (and new)

A long weekend of loveliness at some old (and new) favourite places in London including, in rough order, a Negroni at the Zetter Bloomsbury followed by Café Deco (where no two meals will ever be the same but will always be excellent - here are the mozzarella with marinated peppers and ruby chard and a pork chop with creamed corn and spinach). To follow, a Rouge Clair Negroni at Baudry Greene in Covent Garden.

Oh, and a direct Egerton martini (with Welsh rarebit, not pictured), another excellent meal at Medlar and an Aviation at Amaro. And for good measure, a visit to Authentique Epicerie in Tufnell Park and trying out the Riesling and flammkuchen combination (£12) at the delightful Bar Gemišt in Holloway. Busy old weekend to round off the summer.
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#bankholiday #londongram #goodtimes #toplondonrestaurants #cocktails

A sublime Campari Shakerato at Brutto in Farringdo

A sublime Campari Shakerato at Brutto in Farringdon
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#farringdon #campari #camparishakerato #bar #italian

Delicious times at Osteria Vibrato again, confirmi

Delicious times at Osteria Vibrato again, confirming (not that it needed confirming really) that it is one of the best openings this year. Also good timing as this was just before their well-deserved little summer break this week. A martini, naturally, then sublime aubergine caponata and baccalà, that risotto bianco with 24-month Parmigiano Reggiano you could bathe in (its wan appearance may be as visually appealing as bumpy wall paint but there is huge flavour here), veal alla Castellana with Fontina and prosciutto, oh and some salad. Too stuffed for dolci alas - just fed too well
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#osteriavibrato #soho #italianrestaurant #londondining #wheretoeat

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