Happy Hour Archives - London: Tea Time in Wonderland

Happy Hour : Earth Ale Brewery

by Chocoralie April 09, 2015 in Uncategorized 0 comments tags: Alex Lewis, American amber, Balham, beer, craft beer, dandy stout, Earth Ale Brewery, Happy Hour, London, spicy weiss

On one hand, you have industrial beer. A lot of focus on the financial turnover, not so much on personality. On the other, you have craft beer and they never cease to amaze me. Micro-breweries rarely plan on making a fortune. It might happen and that’s great but at first, there is passion for taste. Their luxury is time: giving the beer those extra few weeks that will infuse it with amazing flavours. They may only make 200 bottles of a particular batch but oh, will it be worth it. Here is a new name for you to look out for: the Earth Ale Brewery. Alex Lewis is 26 years old but quite a full life already. Rather an extraordinary chef. Loves, loves travels and learning. He even spent two months training at Noma before going to San Francisco and later Cape Town. He worked in amazing kitchens along the way, including one in a vineyard – vegetables and fruit growing on site, picking figs from the tree… As a hobby, he starts making beer. From his love of foraging come ideas – why not add herbs from the garden like sage? Cranberries? A beer loyal to the local terroir, infused […]

Happy Hour – apéritif time with Sipsmith Gin & Unearthed

by Chocoralie March 02, 2015 in Happy Hour 2 comments tags: apéritif time, cocktail, grapefruit gin cocktail, Happy Hour, London gin, olive gin, rosemary martini, Sipsmith Gin, Unearthed

Ah, the apéritif… A sacred moment for us Froggies. Contrary to what you might think, it does not happen daily. You rarely have apéritifs alone, this comes with a group of friends and lots of savoury treats, finger food only, while dinner is cooking. Champagne usually celebrates an important event. Cocktails go with an elegant bar (and should be associated with mixology) or a holiday feeling (think swimming pool, beach, usually in bright colours). The apéritif is simpler – it simply is the joy of catching up with loved ones before sharing a good meal. They may all look alike but there is a complex reasoning behind each. Speaking of which, I recently received a really fun foodie parcel. An apéritif kit, containing a bottle of Sipsmith (a mix between sip and smith, to highlight their artisanal methods), a London gin made in small batches in Hammersmith. Very much on the juniper to start with, it then slides towards spices and finishes on a lovely citrus note. That’s not all – there were goodies from Unearthed, a brand passionate about products of the terroir and authentic flavours. They travel throughout Europe to find the very best treats to wow you. I will […]

Happy Hour – Kraken Hot Buttered Rum

by Chocoralie February 20, 2015 in Happy Hour 0 comments tags: Caraïbes, caribbean, cocktail, Happy Hour, hot buttered rum, Kraken, rhum, rum

Come over to the dark side. The Kraken side – a darn, mysterious rum from the Caribbean. Molasses and dried fruit on the palate, a vibrant finish, yes, spicy: no less than 11 ingredients! Cinnamon, ginger, cloves, vanilla… And look at that bottle – so unusual. It is actually inspired by Victorian ones, the two handles proving more practical for transport, decreasing the breakage risk. The label pictures a giant octopus. Legend has it that a ship transporting rum disappeared suddenly, attacked by a fierce sea creature… A really warming, yet refined drink. Try it as a buttered rum cocktail, to heighten the spicy notes and give it just a little creaminess. You will need: – a teaspoon of unsalted butter – two teaspoons of maple syrup (or brown sugar) – half a teaspoon of mixed spices – 50 ml Kraken rum – 20 ml apple or pear juice – a cinnamon stick In a saucepan, melt the butter gently with the maple syrup and spices. Add the rum, the apple juice. Once warm, pour into a glass. The final touch? Heat the cinnamon stick a few seconds over a flame, to bring the flavours out and use it as a […]

Happy Hour : Winter Spice Sangria

by Chocoralie February 13, 2015 in Happy Hour 0 comments tags: agrume, citrus, Echo falls, fruit fusion wine, Happy Hour, sangria, Winter Spice

Planning a girly evening, catching up, chatting, laughing? Then you need wine. A cheerful, elegant one. Light enough to be enjoyed throughout the evening, enough to relax you from the week, without the heavy tannin of a Saint Emilion – too serious. How about a Californian wine? Echo Falls has designed a collection called Fruit Fusion, very refreshing, that can be easily chilled, served over ice, used as a base for a cocktail. There are 5 to choose from – White Peach and Mango (white), Summer Berries (rosé), Raspberry and Cassis (red), Strawberry, Rhubarb and Vanilla (rosé) and Winter Spice (red). The last, playing on juicy berries and cinnamon, sounds ideal for a mulled wine, don’t you think? I decided on a sangria for a more vivid, refreshing effect, just adding all kinds of citrus – oranges and blood oranges (always spectacular), a little lime, tangerines. Leave it in the fridge overnight. Trust me – it will be drunk quickly. If you’re out of time, simply press a couple of fruit – a blood orange and two tangerines for example – and add 100ml of wine. Feel good effect guaranteed and you’re working on your 5 a day, right? ♥ […]

Happy Hour – Vinoa (Wine Tasting box)

by Chocoralie January 30, 2015 in Happy Hour, Uncategorized 0 comments tags: box, Happy Hour, tasting, Vinoa, wine, Wine Tasting box

I was 21 when I arrived in England, straight from Bordeaux. I did enjoy a glass of wine with a meal but I have to admit I did not know much about it in general. Being a froggie, though, I was expected to choose well in restaurants, have expertise. It’s supposed to be part of my DNA somehow. Oh dear. I bluffed my way at first by proposing a Bordeaux (thankfully we produce red, rosé, white, claret and dessert wine and rarely go wrong) each time. I then ordered Wine for Dummies rather quickly. Yes the book really exists and is actually a rather good place to start. Since then, I have learnt a lot. Wine vocabulary. Malbec, Sancerre, Malborough… A love for Grüner Veltliner when in Austria. I even spent a day in Napa Valley trying to love Californian wines (sadly I failed but would be delighted to be proven wrong). It’s like a giant puzzle. Adding a little piece here and there. I wish I had time to go to more professional tastings. Doing it at home? It’s possible of course. You can try them randomly, bottle by bottle. Or you could do some research, order a selection that […]

Happy Hour – Chase Marmalade Vodka

by Chocoralie January 26, 2015 in Happy Hour 0 comments tags: Chase, Chase Marmalade Vodka, Happy Hour, marmalade, potato vodka, vodka, william chase

The first time I tasted this vodka, a few years back, it was only a limited edition. It proved so successful this is now one of their signature drinks. A British one, by the way – the distillery is based in Hertfordshire. It all started with William Chase who decided to make crisps from his potato crops. You know them well – we’re talking about the delicious, super crispy Tyrells… Travelling through the US, he discovers a factory using potatoes to make spirits. Inspired, he creates his own vodka line, distilled 3 times for the purest experience. For the marmalade version, the liquid is then infused with Seville Orange peels and filtered a fourth time. I love… that very first sip, refined then warming. Suddenly the roundness of the orange compote finishing with a bitter touch, the citrus zestiness. It calls for a breakfast martini. Paddington would have approved, I’m sure. Chase Marmalade Vodka – at Harvey Nichols Cheers – what are you drinking for this Happy Hour?

Happy Hour – Kah Tequila

by Chocoralie January 16, 2015 in Uncategorized 0 comments tags: anejo, bianco, Happy Hour, Kah, reposado, Tequila

Shall we party tonight? Let’s go back to a combination we loved when we were young, put aside for a while – tequila, salt, lemon. It can be deadly if you buy cheap stuff. The secret is to go for real quality, 100% agave, always. It’s time to rediscover it. Not by downing shots randomly, one by one but like one would approach a good whisky. With the same anticipation too. For that, start with Kah’s trio of mini bottles, perfect for a tasting with friends. Smooth. Velvety. You’re in for a treat! Why skeleton heads, you ask? In South America, death is as much celebrated as life is. Theatrically, sometimes, sure, but de-dramatized too. So each bottle has its little story. The white is about calaveras, sugar skulls distributed on the day of the dead in Mexico, a way to sweeten the transition from one world to another. The black represents Nicaraguan traditions: sleeping – or resting in peace – close to your loved ones’ graves. They may be gone, but the connection is still there. The yellow flask is all about El Diablo. Did you know there is a yearly festival in Peru in his honour, along the […]

Happy Hour – festive wines tips by The New Zealand Cellar

by Chocoralie December 19, 2014 in Happy Hour, Uncategorized 0 comments tags: Christmas, festive wines tips, Happy Hour, Melanie Brown, new zealand, the New Zealand Cellar, wine

Hello, hello… We’re almost there! Some of us are even officially on holiday, Christmas parties are going full power. Time to get the nicest glasses out and the best wines too. You know me – my heart of course goes towards Bordeaux but this year, I fancy a change. I was looking at pictures from a December feast, a long time ago, in Mount Cook and decided to take may tastbuds on a trip down memory lane. Of that country, people are mostly familiar with the Marlborough nectars (if you do not know anything about wine and have to choose a white – it is ALWAYS a good choice. I am yet to try a disappointing one). But Hawke’s Bay does superb Syrahs, the North some amazing Pinot Noir and the South Riesling to die for. Want to try more? Then go straight to The New Zealand Cellar. The founder, Melanie Brown has created the wine list for The Providores in Marylebone. It is not only the widest NZ wine selection in London and the UK but Europe as a whole. What a business card! She now offers her expertise online with a fascinating catalogue of wines made by kiwis. Going through her […]

Happy Hour – 10 winter cocktails to try in London

by Chocoralie December 12, 2014 in Happy Hour 1 comments tags: 10 winter cocktails to try in London, cocktail, Happy Hour, hot buttered rum, hot cocktail, London, mulled wine, toddy, winter cocktail

Since I shared my eggnogg and Disaronno coffee recipes, I have been asked a few times for tips – where to go in London for a mulled wine or cider? For this Happy Hour, here are 10 winter cocktails you should try in the city to warm up… Some are served hot, others are super Christmassy. Cheers, my friends, enjoy! 1. The bar of the brand new Hoxton Hotel in Holborn serves a hot buttered rum (above) with a twist… It’s flavoured with truffles! 2. One Aldwych has designed 3 magnificent hot cocktails inspired by Alice in Wonderland: the Queen of hearts (Maximon Trijol Cognac, Luxardo Cherry Liqueur, cinnamon liqueur, wild berry syrup, lemon juice), the quite extraordinary Hot Benjamin (Maximo Trijol Cognac, mandarin liqueur, home-made Old Fashioned syrup, Marmite jam!, grapefruit bitters and hot water) and my favourite, served in a teapot, the Mad Tea (Smoked Chase Vodka, Italian amaro, home-made cinnamon and lager syrup, lemon juice, truffle). 3. The Golden Arrow, the Pullman bar near St Pancras has a Red Hot Wine on its menu, served in a bain marie. Maury sweet wine and zesty fruit, garnished with an eye-catching flaming cinnamon stick – quite a show! They […]

Happy Hour – William Hardy Chardonnay

by Chocoralie December 05, 2014 in Happy Hour 0 comments tags: chardonnay, Happy Hour, Hardys, William Hardy, wine

My kitchen looks like a crazy laboratory at the moment. Bottles and bowls, wooden spoons and all my cooking tools are out. It’s all about the Christmas turkey. Which flavours should I go for? Which should I match? Yuzu? Ginger? Grapefruit? Tangerine? Lillet? Apricot? Cranberries? A Greek yogurt marinade? Or go for a more simple option as Michel Roux recommends, an ale sauce? I leaf through books and magazines, I peel, mix, pour, cook, try, compare… the only constant is a glass of Australian wine. The Chardonnay William Hardy advises to match with a roast turkey, you see. Swirling aromas of lime zest, gooseberry and green apple. Sharp notes of pear, vanilla and nectarine on the tongue. Makes your mouth water for more. And subtle oak on the finish, framing it perfectly. Just imagine that with juicy, tender meat, the skin nicely crisp… How about you? What are you drinking for this Happy Hour? Hardy’s wines