Presenting... Aspall Cyder at The Grove

We have all heard of wine parings, perhaps you’ve even been to a cocktail and food event. However last night a compact group of locals gathered to enjoy a rather unique event, Aspall Cyder pairing dinner. Now cider is about the only thing I will not order but the other half is a fan and I am always looking to learn so here is how it panned out.

Arrival drink: Aspall Cuvee Chevallier (the name of the family who started Aspall’s back in 1728 and still run it today) served from a champagne style bottle in flutes. Your mind says “Champagne” but the palate says “cider”, which is weird. Nice and light.

Scallops with Aspall Lady Jennifer: named after the grandmother who added apple juice or water to her glass to “keep up with the boys”, the additional apple juice means this is a lighter 4% offering and has a nice spritz. Works very well with the seafood (which was delicious, love the edible flowers)

Duck with Aspall 2012 Imperial: bit of a beast at 8.2% and a darker colour but this comes from the addition of Demerera sugar. I liked the first few sips but then it became…cider. One to try though! The confit

duck leg that unravelled from the cabbage was a huge hit!

Apple and Rosemary Tarte Tatin (with apple jellies, sorbet and crisps) with Aspall Perronelle’s Blush (added Blackberry Juice): what can I say, this blew me away. Not the cider but the dessert, delicious  and the chef gave us the recipe! The cider was a little lacklustre against the previous, I would have enjoyed drinking more of the Imperial with this. However it was suggested that you can use this as a cassis so top up with the Cuvee.

So what did I learn? Well a lot about cider, the (actual) difference between White Lightening and “proper” cider beyond quality. A lot about a family owned business with a lot of success. I met the lovely Nathan of Aspall (thanks!) and now have a very valid alternative to Champagne which some friends – for some reason – do not enjoy.

(But as a Champagne Academy alumni I’ll stick to the real fizz for the mo!)

Youngs are running several events with Aspall throughout the summer and I urge you to go and learn and taste and then spread the word yourself. The specialties are available in some Waitrose, Sainsburys but it never hurts to ask your local to stock something you want. #quackingcyder seems to be the twitter tag to follow, @nathansloane or @youngspubs or @aspall 

And thanks to The Grove (who I wrote about just before!) for great food and hospitality

Presenting...Beer, with Melissa Cole

I was lucky enough at the Hampton Court Foodies Festival to attend the beer masterclass run by someone I have followed on Twitter for a while – Melissa Cole, Somm-ale-ier. And following my recent post on great pubs in my area I wanted to follow with a little piece on beer itself.

Did you know there are over 1000 breweries in the UK, and 43 of those are in London?

I learnt was that larger is a German word meaning “to store” or mature – and cheap larger, you know who I mean, cuts this maturing phase out of production leaving a cheaper, less tasty beer.

Then I learnt that ale uses a different yeast which works faster and at higher temperature for a fuller beer and with a little bit more sweetness.

Also, gypsum rich water, such as you find at Burton on Trent, is best to make pale ales.

But most importantly what did we drink (lost my notes, from memory!):

Korev - a Cornish lager at 4.8% - nice, refreshing

Fuller's Bengal Lancer IPA 5.3% - another nice, refreshing IPA

Brains Boilermaker (Penderyn whisky cask finished) IPA 6.5% - not such a favourite but maybe

that is also a reflection of a big brewery trying to "do craft"! 

Hogs Back RIP Snorter 5% - fruity 

Eden Brewery (Bourbon Cask Finish) - all you need to know is THIS St Andrew's brewery blew me away, it tasted just like milk chocolate. In fact it was so good I went and bought an Islay finish and a rum cask finish too but the bourbon has to be my favourite- match made in heaven. 

Pubs in Clapham: a mecca for "kicking it"!

Beer. I love it. In a job where cocktail bar visits are a must, the joy of an anonymous pint at your local cannot be underestimated. And in my area I am spoilt for choice. Also, although I know this does not extends cross all my “trade” friends, if you are interested in different tastes in spirits and wines this tends to cover beer too.

My love for beer started, as silly as this is, when I moved to London. Unfortunately despite the brewing talent in Scotland the offerings in pubs extend to Stella and Guiness only. So it is a delight to live near three fab pubs: The Nightingale, The Avalon and The Grove.

The Nightingale   http://www.youngs.co.uk/pub-detail.asp?PubID=430

Yes, it is a Young’s Pub but they also have a whole range of Meantime, both on tap and bottled. In my time I have tried everything from IPAs to Porters and the highlight is always Tuesday pie night when artisan pies are served with yummy fresh veg and paired to beers – genius.

When I first walked past the pub I was a little afraid it was your standard “old man pub”. You know the type, when you feel like the pub might grow very quiet as you timidly push open the door. But that is not at all true as this tardis manages to encourage a friendly prop-up-the-bar area at the front where I have enjoyed friendly banter with the old timers, darts at the back, tables out front for smokers and a huge garden at the back as well as a fire for when the nights draw in. Winner all round with a brilliant land lord and dogs welcome (to my other half’s delight).

The Avalon   http://www.theavalonlondon.com/

Part of the Renaissance Pub Group these guys offer a more upmarket option, especially when

it comes to dining. Another space of extraordinary size, there is a front, side and back garden; all are huge. The front half of the pub has the traditional sweeping oak bar with sport regularly shown, the back extends into an upmarket dining space, worth looking out for website deals and taste card offers as it can get pricey, gastro-pub style. They think out their wine list well and the beers cover the basics, with a specially brewed offering now to celebrate their 10 years.

Although the crowd can be a little…boating shoes and chinos at dawn kind of thing… it is friendly and a great Saturday night alternative to a big night out as it never feels empty here but there are enough couches, to go with the Victoria cornicing and high ceilings, to tuck yourself away if you want.

The Grove   http://www.grovebalham.com/

Fast becoming a favourite I am afraid to say, despite the outdoor space around the edge of the

building seemingly developed in a wind tunnel so perhaps more Autumn onwards! This pub offers everything from film clubs to sport on the big screens, cookery classes and very good food better priced than the above. Spirits are not the main attraction but the beers are and especially their experiments with unfiltered beers, straight from large casks at the bar (Meantime again).

The lay out is also brilliant with smaller tables at the front (and another curved oak bar) leading to areas separated by draped materials and filled with couches, perfect for larger groups and often accompanied by children, then the bright back area is mainly set aside for dining with a kind of “kitchen table” too but it makes a great viewing area too. Free popcorn during their film if it helps.

Clapham – it may not be pushing the boundaries of cocktails, but to kick back with a beer there is nowhere better. 

Presenting… World Whiskies (with Mark Thomson)

You may already have heard of Dramatic Whiskies. Or at least Drinking Classes; an initiative that has taken the UK by storm with small gin masterclasses in London now happening on a regular basis across 20 cities and expanding to cover whisky, tequila, rum and even aperitivos.

However Mark Thomson is now using his experience of the industry and making a bid for independence, running classes to his own speciality – whisky – and on a smaller scale. Why? To ensure that the person taking you through the class is a top class expert in their field. And this is what I was invited to, on World Whisky Day, so no Scotch here but all international offerings.

The event took place in the back room of Match – revamped and now led by the inimitable Andy Mil – and was a comfortable fit for about 30 people. Mark - jeans, t-shirt, brogues and stubble in case you are wondering if this is your tweed clad brand ambassador of yore, it’s not – started off with an extremely potted but enjoyable history of alcohol starting with the middle Eastern origins of the word which funnily enough I had never considered. We whizzed through the development in Scotland (and Ireland) of distilled spirits and then quickly cracked onto a smell (only!) of new make spirit, a bit of peat and a bit of cask to play with and an explanation of the process itself. The audience was mainly men – shame – and although the level of expertise was mixed Mark pitched this information in a fun easy-to-absorb manner.

So… world whisky #1

Ichiro’s “The Floor Malted” from Chichibu, Japan
3 years old and 50.5% at first it was just “different” though it was difficult to say why, development in the glass  led to pear and floral notes. Nice, not my favourite even after everything else was tasted

#2 Bain’s Cape Mountain from Wellington South Africa
5 years old and 43% this stunner asserted my love for grains. It was toffee flavoured, some cinnamon, oily and reminded me more of Irish that Scottish whisky, developed Christmas cake and brandy butter.

#3 Paul John “Brilliance” from Goa, India
3 ½ years old and 46%, this was the first UK consumer tasting and was quite European with sherry salty notes, will only be released in UK for now to develop "serious image"… interesting

#4 St Georges Chapter 11 from Norfolk, England
3 years old and 46%, this just feels wrong; South Africa – fine. England – bad form! The best I can say, despite prejudice, is  that this did not really impress. The exression was lightly peated, a little sweet, but no one asked for a second taste…

#5 Balcones Baby Blue from Wako Texas
Butter popcorn, sweet but also remains fruity. Really liked this too but been advised to look for the even better Brimstone so will report back!

#6 Limeburners Cask M98 from Albany South Australia
60% at cask and only 123 bottles IN THE WORLD. This was thick with lots of prunes and raisins but for the price against the day’s other winners (Bains, Balcones) it didn’t convince.

Thanks to Mark (and his assistant Rihana) for letting me taste such a diverse range of whiskies and opening up the world's offerings beyond Scotland. If you are interested in learning more visit dramaticwhisky.co.uk

Brixton Village #4: The Joint

You sit outside The Joint, because this tiny little BBQ joint cannot hold any more than their kitchen! Tables and chairs are "upcycled" plastic crates and there is space for about...20 people. 

Service is very efficient and very friendly with great advice through the short menu and a smile.

You basically choose whether you want a bun or a wrap, whether you want that stuffed with BBQ pulled pork or BBQ chicken and what slaw you want with that then await your mighty sized order. Starters are available in the form of wings or ribs for voracious appetites. 

Starting with spicy wings, not knowing how filling the main would be, they were deliciously flavoured but not quite crispy as I enjoy. Very nicely sized though (take note Wishbone!) and lucky there was tasty mint infused water though as the chili crept through. Then onto the main event, a tasty brioche type bun stuffed to the gunnels with  pork (why bother with chicken?!) and a fresh coleslaw with crisp lettuce.

It was all delicious, and everyone else around us seemed delighted at finding themselves at The Joint too. I would highly recommend this little place, bravo guys! 

Brixton Village #3: Wishbone and Franco Manca

Wishbone, Brixton

On finding myself in Brixton – quelle surprise! – with 45 mins to eat and get back to The Ritzy and no preference on what type of food, we decided to try Wishbone since we both agreed it was unfair to avoid a restaurant on someone else’s bad review.

We sat just outside and managed to order from the friendly staff just a minute before the kitchen 

Wet wipes (& dirty cutlery)

closed. We were going more for a “snack” so opted to share the Buffalo wings (with blue cheese sauce) and the “spicy hash brown mess”. The cocktails looked tempting – and similar in lay out to Seven just across the way – but we held off with 3 hours of viewing ahead so no comment there. (It did take 10 minutes to get cokes but with apologies).

So the food. The four wings were spicy. Really spicy. Like REALLY painfully spicy. And I like spice. I described the blue cheese sauce – to my cheese loving accomplice – as not for amateurs. He did not believe me and soon declared it “too blue”. The wings were one big leg which you had to stickily, difficultly, messily tear apart into three if you did not want wing over your face. The hash browns were…hash browns, with jalapenos, and spicy sauce. They were spicy. REALLY spicy.

Wings left, hash browns right

To be honest I ate quickly not only to get to the cinema but to get through the pain and mess. They may have wet wipes on the tables but I think, like a lot of the Meat Liquor franchise, this is a bit overdone. I will not return but am not heartbroken either as I have been told local fav “Wings and Tings” is the place to head and with more to explore I will continue my quest!

As an aside, got Franco Manca take-out pizza finally too. Under cooked dough, £1.95 for a scattering a mushrooms (and that is being generous to them) and surly staff. Not sure this is one to hit again but considering the queues may give it ago, perhaps its Northcote Road outlet.

City of London Distillery Bar, Blackfriars: 20/20

Location: 22 - 24 Bride's Lane, London, EC4Y 8DT

Website: www.cityoflondondistillery.com 

Visit: Any evening of the working week

To Note: Definitely a week night place so impress your work mates 

Scores
Ambiance 5/5
Design 5/5
Drinks 5/5
Staff 5/5 

Part of me feels guilty that I have not reviewed COLD (City of London Distillery) before, but the other part is glad I waited to see how it has evolved ; and that is from a large space filled with ex-pub furniture to a home from home.

There is a lot of PR out there about how COLD developed so I will keep it short but Jamie Baxter – previously of Chase Distillery – set up small vodka and gin still in this basement bar with owner Jonathon just a couple of hundred yards from Blackfriars Bridge down a small side street and both distils and offers tours here. And from that has developed COLD bar, taken over by the inimitable London Bar Consultants and sporting 130 gins with various tonics, garnishes and classic cocktails.

But you want to know what you get here. Well dark green walls lend a warm feeling to this bar and although it is a very large space, there are intimate cubbies with couches at the back, large tables suited to groups that the City will inevitably attract and best of all, plenty of seats at the bar. On top of that every time I have walked through the door it has felt like a bar-hug. (Yes, it is becoming difficult to visit without bumping into someone I know!)

The drinks are presented in this lovely menu (see pic!) and break the gins into regional, style but frankly the staff are SO well trained here just ask them, they all have knowledge and different preferences or go for a flight. The cocktails are beautiful and The Ford is still my favourite adapted from the late 1800’s and showing the cocktail pedigree of the team behind the menu – Lewis and Nate.

But if it wasn’t for the fact that COLD bar hugs you, if it wasn’t for the brilliant drinks (and very generous platters of food) I would still come here for the service. The team has been together from the start and it shows. There is great banter, camaraderie and all underlined with total friendliness to customers. Nate often runs classes there and will show various gins against their own gin, Alfie wears a permanent smile and is a sponge for gin knowledge and Leon – just down from Manchester – is another welcome addition to a strong team with several cocktail competition wins already under his belt.

So all that is left to say is, what are you waiting for?! And for once this space is large enough that you do not need to worry about telling your friends, a nice benefit amongst London’s ever increasing tiny basement joints. Oh and if you are looking for a private party venue…look no further. Superb.