 |
White
Rabbit! Am I only the person in the world who says that
at the beginning of the month? It's been a family superstition
for as long as I can remember... But now that everyone at
Castle UJ is looking at me with one eyebrow raised, it makes
me begin to doubt so many other family traditions. Don't
tell me none of you guys had Champagne Sunday? What about
Tequila Races? Oh, go and enjoy your weekend and stop mocking
me.
Remember to RSVP
for tonight, the first event in the Thursday Night Hydration
Club series, with free glacéau vitaminwater cocktails and cracking
music. This week's wonder: Beard Appreciation, with prizes
for the best beards, a live game of guess who? and a performance
by, you guessed it, Beardyman. See you down there!
Thursday July 31, 6-9pm • 3-4a Little Portland St,
|
|
 |
|
|
|
FRI
LADY LUCK • SAT
BROKEBACK
MOUNTAIN • SUN
HORSE MEAT DISCO |
|
| FRIDAY |
|
 |
|
 Mucha
Marcha
As a child, I longed to dance. Which seems pretty reasonable,
until you factor in that I was a rather broad chap in an
all-boy's school best known for its proficiency in rugby
(Rudolph Nuriwho?). So when, years later, I finally make
it to a dance school, imagine my confusion to discover that
there is very little schooling, no formal dancing, and Prinzhorn
is sadly not a famous maestro. But gods it's fun.
|
|
Time: |
|
8pm-2am |
Place: |
|
Proud, Stables Market, NW1 8AH |
Cost: |
|
£8, £6 before 9pm |
Info: |
|
atproud.net |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| SOUTHERN
COMFORT: COME PARTY |
|
|
|
|
|
| SATURDAY |
|
 |
|
 Innocent Village Fete
We're done with debauchery. It's not big, it's not clever,
and it's not - hey, put that paddle down - funny. Thank
goodness for the Innocent Village fete, packed full of do-goodery
nonsense; cakes, teas, a poetry boyband, random scarecrows,
village idiots and grumpy farmers, not to mention ferret
racing, duck herding, well wanging and alfresco dancing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| SUNDAY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| EAT |
|
Oxo
Tower Restaurant
Oxo isn't the first place you think
of when you think 'fancy restaurant'. It's not
particularly hip or of the moment, and, after
twelve years of service, the decor could do
with a bit of updating but, and there's a big
but, how many other restaurants have a terrace
with views like this one over the Thames and
across the London skyline?
Not only is the view probably amongst the top
five in London, but the food's not bad either.
Chef Jeremy Bloor has created a sort of contemporary
fusion menu that may not be ground-breaking
but is done with such finesse that it puts less
polished attempts to shame.
There are things like lobster tempura with
daikon and wasabi and red mullet with squid
ink linguine, crayfish and pork gyoza, the flavours
of which were perfectly balanced, but the dish
that most impressed me was a tagliatelle with
girolles, butternut squash, pea sprouts and
summer truffle that almost convinced me to become
vegetarian.
If you do sit outside you may have to put up
with the odd waft of something being barbecued
on the brasserie terrace but I wouldn't say
this is a bad thing - it almost adds to that
feeling that you could be on holiday.
|
|
 |
|
Hours: |
|
Mon-Sat 12-3pm & 5.30-11pm / Sun 12-3.30pm & 6-10pm |
Place: |
|
Oxo Tower Wharf, Barge House Street, SE1 9PH |
Cost: |
|
£45 |
Web: |
|
harveynichols.com |
Book: |
|
020 7803 3888 |
|
|
Viva
Verdi
I'm not generally a fan of gimmicky eateries
that take one thing, chickpeas say, and offer
them served in a variety of different ways -
it just always seems a bit, well, cheap.
Viva Verdi on the other hand, despite the cheesy
name, is definitely worth a visit. A new addition
to the South Bank, in typical Italian style
it pays homage (or, some might say, makes a
tenuous link) to the composer Verdi who was
born in Parma, also the home of the famous cured
ham.
Prosciutto, in its various forms, is the main
ingredient here.There's classic prosciutto crudo
as well as Culatello (a more intense version),
thin slices of pancetta that melt in the mouth
and a variety of salamis and a good selection
of Italian cheeses, including a nice tangy cream
cheese called squacquerone.
There are also simple salads, pastas and paninis,
all made with proper care and attention and
to be enjoyed with an excellent list of very
reasonably priced wines (a glass of Nero D'Avola
can be supped for £4.95, and Prosecco for just
£3.65) - or to take away.
Currently only open Monday to Friday, it still
makes a pretty good spot to kick off the weekend.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
La
Gioconda
Lady
Luck
