Category Archives: Drink
The UK’s 50 best tea rooms
In honor of National Afternoon Tea Week this week, check out The Independent’s 50 best tea rooms! I’m sad to say I haven’t been to any of these (I’ve only ever been to the Ritz Hotel in London for tea!) but will add them to my list for a future visit!
Ever been to any of these? What’s your favorite British tea room?
10 ingredients for a jubilant 4th of July bbq
Happy 4th of July! Whether you’re stateside or in Blighty, here are Boden‘s ingredients for a jubilant 4th of July bbq.
I’ll see you back here on Monday! Enjoy the long weekend!
Infographic: The history of high tea
I spotted this charming infographic by Confused.com on Pinterest!
Espresso heaven
Ever since we got back from the U.K. this spring, I’ve been hankering for a good cappuccino, a flat white, an espresso. The kinds of coffee that was so plentiful and rich and wonderful over there.
I finally decided a new coffee maker was in the cards and after much research, I bought a Nespresso Citiz with Aeroccino Frother this week ($299, Crate and Barrel). The machine arrived yesterday and like a kid on Christmas morning, I woke up this morning and made a cappuccino! And wow! Best cup of coffee – dare I say – uh, ever?!
The espresso (I used Arpeggio) came out so beautifully I could’ve cried. The milk frother made perfect steamed milk with froth. There was zero clean up. Nespresso heaven!
Pub Heaven at the Duke of York
We spent a day in North Devon and had a pub lunch in the Duke of York Pub in the little village of Iddesleigh.
I was in pub heaven! The Duke of York is a 15th century pub that is the local for British author Michael Morpurgo, who got the seed of the idea to write the novel “War Horse” (which later became the blockbuster play and film) while in this very pub. More about this here!
It was homey and cozy and a little hobbit-like and included all of the things that I look for in a good pub:
Cheers to gin!
I’m delighted to hear that gin is apparently the spirit of the moment. Consumption has increased by 7 percent across western Europe in the past year!
The last gin and tonic I had was on this month’s Virgin Atlantic flight of all places (side note: my return flight from the U.K. to the U.S. was MUCH better than my trip going over. We went Premium Economy, I didn’t eat the Gu and didn’t vomit once! Score!). Our flight attendant was charming, ebullient without being ingratiating and could make a mean drink! I spotted her bringing out a big bottle of Bombay Sapphire (yes, no minis!!) as she served a man in front of me and something about that cool, soothing blue shade of the bottle inspired me to order one. It was phenomenal!
There’s something extremely luxurious about someone fixing you a real drink, when you’re 30,000 feet up, using a real glass (not plastic), with a real lime and real ice cubes with a decorative swizzle stick that makes one feel positively pampered. It remains one of the top 10 best gin and tonics I’ve ever had!
How do you feel about gin? Yay or nay? And where’s the best gin and tonic that you’ve ever had?! Spill! 🙂
Infographic: How to make tea
I love this simple little infographic, detailing ways to make three different cups of tea, courtesy of Stephen Wildish.
How do you like your cuppa? I like a good builders’ tea, without the sugar!
A hotter toddy
Photo credit: F. Martin Ramin for The Wall Street Journal
Is it just me or is this cold/flu season hitting particularly hard?
I suffered the better part of November with a lingering cough that I couldn’t kick (although I would’ve kicked it hard, wearing a pair of steel-toed Doc Martens, if I could) – and the more people that I talk to, the more I realize that this is one monster of a cold going around. But never fear … there are remedies! Good ones! In this weekend’s Wall Street Journal, a suggestion for an outstanding one went something like this:
Hot Toddy
In a large cup, combine 1 spoonful honey, juice of 1/4 lemon, 1 cinnamon stick, small dash of cayenne (optional but recommended) and the tea bag of your choice. Stick 3 cloves into 1 small lemon wedge and add to the cup. Pour in a slug of bourbon, as much or as little as you like. Fill cup with boiling water, stir well and let steep 5 minutes. Savor slowly; repeat as necessary.
Yes! Cayenne and tea jazz up this classic recipe. The writer suggests Earl Gray, Chai, ginger tea or, indeed, chamomile, if you’re seeking a little sleeping solace. I have whiskey in the house, but no bourbon (and I do think that Jim Beam would be a delightful choice in this scenario), but now have a good (and health-giving) reason to buy some.
If you try this recipe, please tell me what you think!
Call it a good cuppa
I spotted this in the December issue of Matchbook Magazine and fell in love! If you’re shopping for an anglophile, I’m sure they’d love this London Calling Tea-for-One Set as much as I do! This little teapot-and-cup set is on sale at Urban Outfitters for $20.
The hunt for Plymouth Gin
Last weekend, we ran out of gin, just hours before we were expecting some dinner guests.
I needed a bottle of Plymouth Gin (our favorite brand of gin and the local choice in my MIL’s neck of the woods in Southwest England) and I needed it quickly! The last bottle we had was brought over from England from visiting family. After a search online, I discovered that BevMo now carries Plymouth Gin, as well as Nugget Market! I dashed out and was back within minutes. Great to know that our lesser-known but much-beloved brand is now available close by!
BRITRISH.COM 