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Burrata and tomatoes

by J A Smith

Negroni Week is now in full swing so here’s a qu Negroni Week is now in full swing so here’s a quick and entirely subjective collection of editorial favourites in London, all highly recommended. In no particular order:

The Stables Bar at The Milestone in Kensington (photo 1). Well, just look at this beauty. Clear ice, perfect glassware, and the first question Angelo the bar manager will ask you is which gin you would like for your Negroni. Wonderful.

Conveniently, Amaro (photo 2) is virtually next door. Negronis are made to order here as well. Superb service and ambience.

Then, of course, St John (photos 3 and 4) (various sites) for its standard Tanqueray, Punt e Mes and Campari serve, or its boozier counterpart, the “Fergroni” (garnished with lemon).

A stone’s throw from St John in Smithfield and you have Brutto (photo 5) where the Negroni is still just £5.

Over to Rules in Covent Garden (photo 6) the bar upstairs is magnificent and Brian Silva’s classic Negroni is delightfully gin-forward with a special vermouth blend. 

The American Bar at The Stafford (photo 7) allows you to fully customise your Negroni, served with origami orange peel. 

Bar Termini (photo 8) and its direct Negroni filled to the brim. Seasoned pros will dip their heads and sip directly without lifting the glass to avoid spillage. 

The Rouge Clair Negroni at Baudry Greene (photo 9), almost martini-esque, comprising gin, rosé vermouth and French bitters. Ideal with those comté and gruyère puffs.

Last but not least, Dav’s Negroni at The Thin White Duke (photo 10) available on request and made to a secret recipe…
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#negroni #negroniweek #cincin #campari #gin #vermouth #cocktailhour #londoncocktails #cocktailgram #aperitif #digestif #clearice #toplondonbars #barfly #londonbars #instadrink #negronigram #londongram #londonbylondoners #wheretodrink #cocktails
Last orders at The Gothic Bar which quietly and ve Last orders at The Gothic Bar which quietly and very sadly closed this week. All closures are sad but this one is particularly painful - lots of great memories of this wonderful venue, both as The Gothic Bar since 2023 and as the Gilbert Scott / George’s Bar from 2011-2021. A new chapter awaits. Pictured here: a final Hanky Panky and Campari Shakerato for the road. Cin cin 
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#thegothicbar #cocktailbar #kingscross #stpancrashotel #closure #hankypanky #hospitality #hotelbar #toplondonbars #cocktailhour #ginstagram #gin #ginoclock #fernetbranca #cocktailgram #hospitalitynews #londongram #cincin #camparishakerato #cocktails #nightcap
It’s another homemade penne alla vodka kinda day It’s another homemade penne alla vodka kinda day, following Russell Norman’s recipe (pp.78-79 of the Brutto cookbook). Never fails 
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#penne #penneallavodka #pasta #pastadish #brutto #rustic #homecooking #instacook #italian #italianfood #tubestrike #cookingwithvodka #retrofood #comfortfood #delicious #foodgram #foodie #foodstagram #cucina #tasty #eat #foodinspiration #onmytable #homemade #cooking buonappetito #tomatosauce
Over in Finsbury Park, whilst a lot of attention h Over in Finsbury Park, whilst a lot of attention has been on Tollington’s (justifiably so), there’s also this lovely southern Italian neighbourhood gem a few streets away. Osteria Tufo has a rustic charm: menus printed that day look like they were formatted on Word 95, a waiter displays his opera singing skills, food is served generously with no real regard to fancy presentation. And if this visit was anything to go by, said food is delicious. Pictured here are the supremely comforting parmigiana di melanzane, a beautiful veal chop (skilfully-cooked, retaining its moisture and flavour), and, of course, tiramisù. 

Decent vino and Negronis too (with clear ice). 

With a Tube strike on now’s a good time to be paying local restaurants like these a visit 
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#osteriatufo #trattoria #neapolitan #finsburypark #italian #italiancooking #cucina #neighbourhoodrestaurant #vealchop #parmigiana #tiramisu #londoneats #eat #wheretoeat #hiddengem #londonfood #foodielondon #foodwriter #buonappetito #italianfood #localrestaurant #comfortfood #goodfood #instachef #supportlocal #tubestrike #vibes #rustic #delicious
A Hanky Panky at Under The Stairs, a new speakeasy A Hanky Panky at Under The Stairs, a new speakeasy cocktail bar in Brussels (link in bio for the full review). Here they honour the great cocktail bars of Europe with interesting twists on classics through a lens of art and fashion. The Hanky Panky has its own fascinating history, being invented by The Savoy’s first female bartender, Ada Coleman, for actor Sir Charles Hawtrey (the Victorian actor, not the Carry On one). At Under The Stairs (hidden away in Brussels’ new Corinthia Hotel) this version retains the classic elements but with some peppermint cordial, lemon verbena and Picon Amer. And it’s delicious. (Yes, serving on ice isn’t orthodox but at least it’s clear.) Overall, a promising new bar in a city not so known for its cocktail scene, and with particularly impressive service! 

For the full review head to the Palate Cleanser section at palatemag.co.uk or tap the link in our bio 
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#hankypanky #underthestairs #corinthia #corinthiahotel #brussels #bruxelles #brussel #speakeasy #cocktailhour #cocktailbar #clearice #barreview #belgium #newbar #instadrink #imbibe #bartender #artdeco #design #travel #instatravel #cocktails #gin #ginstagram #piconamer #cocktailsofinstagram #mixlogy #brusselsguide #wheretodrink #wheninbrussels
A seafood restaurant in an unusual location stuck A seafood restaurant in an unusual location stuck in a 1980s time warp... If you’ve ever been to Oslo Court in St John’s Wood this is basically the Hamburg equivalent (complete with an oyster and champagne bar). Fischereihafen is well worth the journey and for the whole randomness of it all. From the outside it looks like a derelict harbour office in Felixstowe and you’ll think you’ve come to the wrong place. But inside it’s a different story: expect silver cloches, old school service, views of the Elbe river and truly excellent fish cookery. You can read the full review at palatemag.co.uk or click on the link in our bio 
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#hamburg #hamburgrestaurants #germany #deutschland #fischereihafen #quirkyrestaurants #oldschool #fish #oysterbar #champagnebar #lunch #bucketlist #travel #uniquerestaurants #foodie #instachef #travelgram #poisson #seabream #herring #wanderlust #goodfood #oslocourt #bonvivant #hospitality #restaurantreview #foodwriter #wheretoeat #foodguide #foodheaven
French fine dining in the student quarter of Colog French fine dining in the student quarter of Cologne? Yes, it’s possible, and delicious at La Société, part of a series of quirky European restaurant locations in this month’s edition (and to our knowledge not covered by the British press). Link in bio for the full review or head to palatemag.co.uk

Very good food here and lovely service. If you’re in this part of Germany and looking for something daintier than pork knuckle or blood sausage, this is the place to go 
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#lasociete #cologne #köln #germany #finedining #michelin #neighbourhoodrestaurant #artofplating #eat #hiddengem #cuisinefrançaise #travel #instatravel #instachef #foodie #foodwriter #foodphoto #colognerestaurants #europe #toprestaurants #wheretoeat #moreismore #delicious #amusebouche #colognefoodguide #whenincologne #tastingmenu #discovery #foodheaven
It’s September and new content publication day. It’s September and new content publication day. We have a somewhat eclectic range of reviews this month, from a shopping centre in Margate to a French restaurant in Cologne, from a new bar in Brussels to an old school seafood restaurant in Hamburg. But first, Pomus in Margate, a delightful wine bar serving delicious small plates - pictured here are the Whitstable oysters, charcoal carrots with red onion, elderflower and zaatar, the chicken hearts (anticuchos) and the Picante (spicy margarita). Click on the link in our bio or head to palatemag.co.uk for the full review!

✍️📷Review and photos by Daniela Toporek 
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#pomus #margate #kent #thanet #whitstable #oysters #chickenhearts #offal #picante #peruvian #foodie #foodwriter #restaurantreview #eclectic #september #travel #foodgram #travelgram #instatravel #foodstagram #foodguide #foodwriting #travelguide #travelinspiration #foodtips #smallplates
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