1 | For A Burns Night Twist: Corazon X Mac & Wild
Just in time for Burns Night on the 25th, the Fitzrovia branch of game specialists Mac & Wild has teamed up with its Mexican neighbour Corazón to create a venison taco. How delightful. Available at both restaurants this week and next, the venison carne asada uses topside of Mac & Wild’s Ardgay Game venison, which Corazón’s head chef grills and teams with spiced achiote marinade, pickled turnip, crispy fried kale and chipotle mojo, topping it all off with redcurrants. A fiery twist on the usual Scottish fare.
Corazón, 29 Poland Street, London, W1F 8QR; corazonlondon.co.uk
Mac & Wild Fitzrovia, 65 Great Titchfield Street, London, W1W 7PS; macandwild.com
2 | For Drowning Winter Sorrows: Hot Gin Roof
There are two paths open to you in the first month of the year: the first is Dry January, and you don’t need to harp on about it. The other is known as Ginuary, and we can whole heartedly advocate sauntering down that one thanks to the Ham Yard Hotel’s annual winter terrace, which opened on Wednesday.
Their rooftop is not normally open to the public but, for the next month, you can book tickets to their snazzily transformed Hot Gin Roof, where a big list of warm Sipsmith gin punches awaits you. And these aren’t just shoved in the microwave. Oh no. They're heated up by red hot blacksmith pokers, specially crafted for the purpose. It’s an old technique, employed by Sipsmith’s master distiller (and drinks historian) Jared Brown to bring his concoctions to life, and there are plenty to choose from, taking you on a journey through the ages. Your £18 will get you a ‘poked’ G&T and another hot cocktail of your choice, and whilst the first batch of tickets sold out within a day, put yourself on the waiting list for when more become available on the 24th.
One Ham Yard, London, W1D 7DT; Tickets available at Design My Night
3 | For All Things Nice: Bread Ahead Soho
New Year dieters look away now, because a new Bread Ahead café has just opened in Soho. They of Borough Market’s famous doughnuts have set up their very first eat-in section in addition to selling their breads, pastries and cakes to take away. It means that breakfast meetings have just got seriously good (and, we must admit, seriously dangerous). The star of the menu is the Croque Monsieur which, at £7.50, is an absolute steal since it will fill you up for several days; cooked in copious amounts of butter until the outside is golden and crunchy, this pepped-up cheese and ham toasty is a thing of pure joy. You could also opt for the satisfying stack of waffles topped with red berries or the brioche French toast with maple syrup and bacon, or pick up a box of sandwiches for later in the day. And in addition to coffee and tea, these guys are rather proud of their hot chocolate, which comes in shot form (in an espresso cup) for a pound.
21 Beak Street, London, W1F 9RR; breadahead.com
4 | For Aussie Dining: Antipodea
On the healthier side of things, Australian restaurant Antipodea has opened in Richmond, bringing the taste of warmer climes to a dreary London winter. This is a mini-chain of just three locations, all in West London and all proving incredibly popular.
The daytime food is a brunching dream (think sweetcorn fritters, smokey beans, treacle-cured bacon sarnies and plenty of tomato jam), and the evening menu offers a refreshing variety of dishes, many cooked on a Robata grill, like the sliders – perfect if you’re indecisive since you get a halloumi, a duck and hoisin, and a traditional beef burger all in one go. Asian sea bass comes with ribbons of fresh courgette and pistachios, and buttermilk fried chicken is tender and delicious. Elsewhere on the menu are wood-fired pizzas, grilled lobster, and mussels. And don’t skip the cocktails either.
30 Hill Street, London, TW9 1TW; antipodea.co.uk/Richmond
5 | For Cheering Up Dry January: Little Bat Mocktails
And for the virtuous, temporary teetotallers among you: if Dry January is starting to get a little dull, then jazz things up with a mocktail at moody Islington bar Little Bat. Honestly, if you haven’t heard of Seedlip by this point in the month, then we’re not sure what you’ve been drinking (or have you simply been hibernating to avoid all temptation?) but this non-alcoholic spirit is swiftly taking over the world with its wonderfully tart and not-at-all-sweet flavour that can fool even the hardiest drinkers. Either go for a simple Seedlip and tonic, or order a Driving Miss Daisy (with apple and nettle shrub, citrus, bitters and soda) or a New Year, New Brew (with cucumber juice, matcha tea, lemon, honey and egg white). You can thank us later.
54 Islington Park Street, London, N1 1PX; littlebatbar.com
