Monthly Archives: August 2016

Welcome the Night Tube!

So the Night Tube starts tonight!

You’re preparing your clubbing plans across London as the 24 hour Central and Victoria lines come to life tonight, how about some words on late night food and cocktail bars around the city to indulge in before drunkenly stumbling into Vauxhall at 3AM?

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City of London:

A short walk from Chancery Lane station, it’s the last week to enjoy the successful Game of Thrones menu for the fans here at Bird of Smithfield, so enjoy some seasonal British fare and five floors of dining and boozing till midnight tonight before just crossing the street to Oriole. The critically acclaimed bar, open till 2AM, boasts a massive collection of sophisticated and unique cocktails with a tropical jungle theme. A relaxed venue, studded with international treasures comes to life with a live band and a Saligo Bay (Bruichladdich, baked oat syrup, peated barley, green walnut liqueur, peat dust) in hand.

Bird of Smithfield Game of Thrones

Bird of Smithfield’s Dragon Egg Salad

Or, hop further East at Liverpool Street to pop into the 24 hour Duck and Waffle before a short jaunt to Black Rock Whisky Bar across from sister cocktail bar, the Worship Street Whistling Shop for 2AM tipples.

The Nutella Negroni

Duck and Waffle’s Nutella Negroni

Central London

There is no shortage of late night venues in London’s never-sleeping beating heart.

Meaty late night bar snacks and sensational cocktails to be found in the red arena of MASH Steak (or both, in the Mexican Smuggler cocktail)

MASH Soho London Cocktail Bar

MASH’s Mexican Smuggler

Not far, there is the enormous subterranean Brasserie Zedel, which will be serving French fare till midnight, whose Bar Americain will be open till 1AM for cocktails in a snug Art Deco setting.

Soho is still up late, with celebrated cocktail bars like the spectacular El Camion dishing out the tequila till 3AM, and Balans still going strong at 6AM. A midnight meal of Korexican can be had at Bo Drake, before a little bit of everything and a dance at 100 Wardour St till 2AM!

Bo Drake's Bo Ssam and Brisket Bao

Bo Drake’s Bo Ssam and Brisket Bao

After some late night Chinese, there is always Opium Chinatown serving up dim sum and cocktail till 3AM. And something closer to the theme, Cahoots cocktail bar will be shelling (sorry) out the cocktails in a 1940s style tube carriage of a bar!

Opium's 'Born on the Baijiu'

Opium’s ‘Born on the Baijiu’

East London

If you’re willing to walk a little further to Shoreditch, the amazing NOLA is open late till 3AM for one of their award-winning Sazeracs.

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If not, hop on the Central for a 4 course midnight dinner at Sager+Wilde Paradise Row, before hopping over to Peg+Patriot for some seriously experimental cocktails.

The excellent Sun Tavern – tonight open till 2AM! Serving free oysters and 5 pound Poitin Boilermakers, you can’t miss this. And PS: keep the receipt and hop on the Central to Liverpool St after. Until 2AM, Discount Suit Co. will be giving 50% off your tab if you are carrying your receipt from the Sun Tavern!

Discount Suit Company London cocktails Aldgate

DSC’s Royal Rhubarb

West London

Notting Hill is the place to be for Central line late – pop by the legendary Trailer Happiness for 1AM shenanigans fueled by copious amounts of rum, or at the Little Yellow Door, serving up American fare till 1!

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Trailer Happiness

North London

Highbury and Islington‘s got some late night fun – the recently opened Little Bat Bar – sister to the famed Callooh Callay, will be serving up dinner and drinks till 1AM tonight, and after pop down to The Doll’s House for late night live music and carousing till 4AM!

Dolls House Islington Negroni

The Doll’s House Negroni

Or, grab a late night biryani at the King’s Cross St. Pancras Dishoom before 1AM cocktails at the Pancras Hotel, or Shaker & Co. at Euston/WarrenSt!

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Sonia’s Negroni at Dishoom

South London

Brixton has exploded in popularity, and isn’t lacking in late night venues from late nights. Three Eight Four, who serve up a mean Brooklyn and Smoked Manhattan go on past midnight, or run under the arches to cocktails at Ekcovision till 4AM!

If you’re looking for a quieter night out, find yourself sampling unique and experimental cocktails over dinner at the hidden away  Shrub and Shutter till 3AM!

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Three Eight Four Brixton

 

 

And that’s just the Central and Victoria lines! Travel safe, and for god’s sake don’t lose your Oyster card.

All info on the Night Tube can be found at the TFL website.

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Game of Thrones Menu at @Bird Of Smithfield, Clerkenwell

Type of Bar: Bar/Restaurant, Also optional Basement, Rooftop
The Iron Price: Three courses £30
Ideal for: Food, Date, Small Groups, Large Groups, After Work

 

Game of Thrones Menu available 15th – 26th August 2016

Okay, you know we love Bird of Smithfield – we’ve covered their drinks and a solid 4/5 was in order. Simple, elegant, get the job done.

And for this week only, the restaurant unveils a dedicated set menu (horse hearts and incest not included) celebrating the Game of Thrones fandom – or at least staving off GoT deprivation during the hiatus!

The menu appeals to the theme of the series while maintaining the approachable simplicity of British fare – and in BoS tradition, managing to amp up the everyday to a meal worth travelling for.

Bird of Smithfield Game of Thrones

Okay. This is gorgeous.

The Dracarys Salad felt like bit of a crime to eat, really.

Marbled quail eggs nested on salad with bacon lardons presented beautifully on a noodle nest. The eggs just perfectly runny and shimmering in the streaming light, and crisp of bacon for that little Dothraki touch.

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Then, what is a party in Westeros without a pie (and several casualties)?

Joffrey’s Wedding Pie is suitably hearty and incredibly filling: Chicken , quail and leeks spill from the pie, sizzling. Once the quail stabbing through the pie is dealt with, the perfectly crisp and flaky pastry is broken through to the chicken underneath.

Bird of Smithfield Game of Thrones

Finally, the meal ends with the Ice and Fire, a vanilla Baked Alaska comes with Wildfire!

Green Chartreuse is spilled around the dessert to be set alight – keep your vial of Wildfire to drink as a digestif after.

The vanilla gelato encased the the cake might be slightly firmer than we’d like, but the browned meringue is just right, and spiced up with the Chartreuse for just a little bit of kick for a twist.

Bird of Smithfield Game of Thrones

 

Bird of Smithfield manages to chic up most Game of Thrones/ASoIaF themed meals and keeping the simplicity of British fare – and all for a modest price. Highly recommended for the GoT fan – and certainly on Friday night to welcome the Night Tube as you saunter away from your Westerosi dining at midnight.

(Look out for our Night Tube launch party recommendations tomorrow!)

Game of Thrones menu only till Friday 26th August 2016! To book, call 0207 559 5100

 

Bird of Smithfield

26 Smithfield St, Clerkenwell
London EC1A 9LB

http://birdofsmithfield.com/

Amaro di Angostura Release

The House that brought us the legendary Angostura bitters have come back with a winner!

We have already reviewed the range of rums provided by the House of Angostura, so it’s time we look at their latest release that people won’t stop talking about.

Amaro Angostura launch london cocktails

The Amaro di Angostura is a bitter liqueur in honour of their bitters, and in keeping with the trends in bitter aperitivos and digestivos from Italy this year.

Both spicier and sweeter than your usual amaro, the Amaro di Angostura is directly inspired by their own rums and bitters.

A deep red-brown, the liqueur has a nose strong with cola and licorice, and filled with spices like cinnamon, clove, pepper and cardamom – even notes of chocolate.

On the first sip, the mouthfeel is syrupy and coating, the palate is dry and bitter-sweet, with the same spiciness (particularly cinnamon) and cola of the nose, with a bit of honey and even chilli. The deep rooty flavours extend into the length, and end with bright, uplifting chilli notes.

A superb tipple after dinner.

 

 

Amaro Angostura launch london cocktails

Amaro Angostura launch london cocktails

Released at the London Cocktail Club, Islington, the bar served up a few cocktails for the Amaro di Angostura, including the wonderful Tamarind Sour, a flavour perfectly complimenting the Amaro.

I casually through in a little bit of Ancho Reyes because the spiciness of the chilli is wonderful with the tangy tamarind and spice.

 

A superb drink, the Hoodooist highly recommend for your next casual digestivo or nightcap.