Umbria’s Autumn Gastronomy with Valentina Harris – travel review
Valentina Harris is perhaps our most celebrated and prolific Italian food writer, TV presenter and chef. Yes, the lady truly is Italian, although one could...
The Sparkle of Vilmart & Cie – travel review
The Champagne house Vilmart & Cie was founded in 1890 by Désiré Vilmart and is considered by many an authority to be perhaps the leading...
Discover Japanese Sake with Discovery Channel – travel review
We are invited to ‘Travel with Sam to Japan and uncover the secrets of sake’. But the first questions are likely to be ‘Who is...
Koichi Saura – Samurai for Sake – interview
We, at least in London, are becoming more familiar with Japan’s iconic national beverage. We are tempted to take our first sips in the increasingly...
Toshie Hiraide, Sake Samurai Japan – interview
Japan has many icons. Sumo, sushi, kimonos are among the first that spring to the non-Japanese mind …along with sake! Japanese food and sake are...
Sake in London? It’s an education – drinks review
Half a decade ago one could find Japanese Sake in London. Yes, of course one could. The ordering of such a beverage would usually elicit...
Winter Cocktails by Maria del Mar Sacasa – review
Cocktails! We tend to have a vision of summer evenings, flowery dresses, sipping colourful libations in some place exotic. But for those of us who...
Port and the Douro – travel review
I would love to tell my readers that I am an expert on that full and iconic beverage but until recently Port was that festive...
The Perfect Drink for Every Occasion by Duane Swierczynski – review
Well the title The Perfect Drink for Every Occasion encouraged me to think that this was going to be a rather serious tome, probably penned...
Whisky & Cheese Matching at the Athenaeum – bar review
This was our first visit to this most charming of central London hotels. Its location is hard to beat, being on Piccadilly and between Green...
Smoothie Heaven by Wendy Sweetser – cookbook review
I love cookbooks and consider them things of beauty and joys to behold. It is equally true, however, that up until a few weeks ago...
500 Beers by Zak Avery – review
Yes, dear reader, another in the 500 series from Apple Press. I make no apology for its inclusion in this cookbook review journal because they...
World Whisky by Charles Maclean – review
Who knew? There are many hundreds of whiskies. I had suspected that there might be perhaps a hundred from small distilleries in Scotland and Ireland...
Cool Waters by Brian Preston-Campbell – review
Sounds like the name of a town from an old Western. In truth Cool Waters is a book offering 50 thirst-quenching and non-alcoholic drinks made...
The Connoisseur’s Guide to Whisky by Helen Arthur – review
Wine, and French wine in particular, has a high profile but what of the Water of Life? The Connoisseur’s Guide to Whisky tells the story...
Traditional and Modern Healthy Chinese Soups and Drinks – review
Well, it’s a lengthy title but it sums up the contents of this book. It’s about health-giving liquids, or at least what Chinese tradition would...
The Connoisseur’s Guide to Tea by Jane Pettigrew – review
The Connoisseur’s Guide to Tea is another in the lovely Connoisseur’s series by Apple Press. The author, Jane Pettigrew, is a celebrated tea professional and...
500 Cocktails by Wendy Sweetser – review
Apple Press has a series of books and all are called 500 something or other. They are great value, chunky books and this one, 500...
500 Juices and Smoothies by Christine Watson – review
Apple Press has a series of books called 500 something or other and this is one from that very series. They are chunky and colourful...
The Cocktail – 200 Fabulous Drinks by Jane Rocca – review
Ths is Sex in the City for cocktail sippers! It’s this year’s book for girls to give their girlfriends. It’s frilly, fluffy, gorgeous and a...