One of London’s most interesting and vibrant restaurants, the venerable Ivy, turns 100 this year. Having undergone a complete re-invention in 2015, who would have thoughts that today’s go-to restaurant for cinematic and theatrical royalty had somewhat humble beginnings. What is now The Ivy started life after the Great War as a simple Italian…
Category: Food & Gastronomy
Why are Guylian chocolates shaped like seashells?
This past Christmas, I gave away packets of Guylian chocolates as little “tree presents” to friends and – for the first time ever – tried a box for myself. Instantly turning into a Guylian fan, I found myself wondering about the origin of the brand and just why their delicious chocolates are shaped into seashells…
Rocking Dorking’s Rooster!
The Dorking Cockerel, Deepdene Roundabout, courtesy of Visit Dorking There’s a large silver rooster sitting in a roundabout, just outside of Dorking town centre. Why, you might ask? Well, I’ll do my best to answer. The Dorking Cockerel, Deepdene Roundabout, courtesy of Visit Dorking It is better known locally as The Dorking Cockerel and the inhabitants of…
Burford Garden Centre – a shopping utopia!
Having worked with The Lygon Arms in the heart of the Cotswolds in the past, I made a point of familiarising myself with the surrounding area and this, some blah blah years ago, was how I first discovered the Burford Garden Company. I still visit regularly and have just taken another peak at this shopping…
Café culture experienced!
I wrote recently about the sudden influx of cafés arriving on Southsea Beach and I have finally made it to eat at the newest, Southsea Beach Café. We sat outside with The Hound who was immediately made welcome and offered a bowl of water which of course, he turned down scornfully. He was waiting for…
Café culture finally makes it to Southsea!
It’s like waiting for a bus for ages. First one comes and then another in close succession. So it is with the former catering wilderness that was, until recently, Southsea Beach in Portsmouth, Hampshire – even The Guardian picked up on the new Southsea buzz a few weekends ago. Taking The Hound for walks along…
HP: The Passion for Brown Sauce
The British are falling out of love with brown sauce according to the newspapers this weekend, citing a Mintel report indicating a drop of 19 per cent in sales last year. Can this be true, I wondered? My brain swiftly went into panic mode. It’s my fault. I haven’t bought HP Sauce since, well, I…
The story of the Christmas Tree
It has to be said, I love a good Christmas Tree. It brings a joy to my heart with the anticipation of Christmas and the start of a new, better year beyond. I was a little hazy on the origins of the Christmas tree however. It’s a northern Europe tradition, said my brother, and so…
A place of serenity: LeDomaine Estate, Castile y Leon
Even if this Estate was not one of my clients, I would be drawn here. Every time I visit, my brain appears to reboot, my body seems to relax and I feel contentment in the very heart of my being. For LeDomaine (in the Castile y Leon region of Spain) is a former monastery dating back to…
Country Pub Series: Horse & Jockey
When I take a few days holiday, there is nothing nicer than visiting a local pub for lunch which has been recommended by a friend. This is how we came, one sunny day, to visit the Horse & Jockey in Hipley, Hambledon, Hampshire, sitting in their flower-laden beer garden. Even better, it has a story to…
a3traveller.com 