Food and Drink

Within Gare de Lyon train station in Paris, Le Train Bleu epitomises a golden era of glamorous railway travel. Befitted with cavernous ceilings, grand frescoes, chandeliers and immaculately dressed waiters, the restaurant has been a fine dining institution since first opening in 1901. It’s also one of the most storied restaurants in Paris – arguably the fine dining capital of the world. Although a fast-paced traveller’s menu is available, the restaurant seems completely removed from the train station dining we’re...

With each new year, countless New Year’s Resolutions are made. According to a recent YouGov survey, some of the most popular resolutions made by adults in New York include eating healthier, exercising more, saving money, and focusing on self care. Moreover, with additional push from initiatives such as Dry January and Veganuary, January has become a month synonymous with health. Set up by qualified health coach, Nutritionist and food technician Geeta Sidhu-Robb, Nosh Detox is the UK’s first home detox...

Towards the end of 2016, research conducted by Forum for the Future suggested that a third of the UK population now identifies as ‘flexitarian’, which was set to increase by 10 per cent last year. Also in 2016, figures released to coincide with World Vegan Day announced vegan food sales had increased by a whopping 1,500 per cent in just one year. In 2018, veganism is more prevalent than ever – with a record number of Brits taking part in...

A restaurant has been fined £50,000 after it continued to use wooden “plates” which could not be cleaned – despite being served with an improvement notice. Ibrahim’s Grill and Steak House was first visited in October 2016 after an alleged food poisoning outbreak affecting a party of 14. The steakhouse, in Acocks Green, Birmingham, was served with improvement notices by officers. A number of issues of concern were found, including a high-level reliance being placed on the use of disposable...

According to research from the University of Warwick, brandy is the UK’s favourite Christmas spirit – beating gin and whisky. Though Christmas has passed, it’s clear that brandy is an ideal (generally under-appreciated) spirit for the colder months at the beginning of the year. This week’s cocktail recipe – the Courvoisier espresso martini - for instance, replaces switches traditional vodka for brandy, bringing a rich sweetness perfectly paired with coffee. Moreover, the drink is incredibly easy to recreate at home. Ingredients...

Of London’s many ills, our capital is plagued with an intolerable toll of bad museum and gallery cafés. Almost every gallery or museum in London is joined by a glorified tea room, many of which are also touted as restaurants in their own right, yet most are magnificently awful. Bucking the trend, however, The Garden Museum (Britain’s only museum dedicated to the art, history and design of gardens) reopened during the summer, as did the affixed Garden Café - open...

An Indian restaurant has been fined more than £20,000 after a customer found a COCKROACH in his pilau rice. Environmental health officers visited the The Maharajah Restaurant in Luton, Beds., after the diner complained about the dead insect, which was buried in his meal. Inspectors from Central Bedfordshire Council found a build-up of dirt, grease and food debris to the pipework throughout the premises. The skirting boards throughout the kitchen were also so thick with grease and dirt that the...

Cadbury have been accused of short changing customers and wasting packaging after selling a variety box of treats – with just EIGHT biscuits inside. Pictures and video posted on social media show one disgruntled customer opening the ‘Cadbury Biscuit Assortment’ after receiving it as a gift. The customer’s wife, who works as a teacher, was given the box by one of her pupils before Christmas. The husband, from Birmingham, who does not want to be named for fear of embarrassing...

Originally founded in Cornwall by Walter Hicks in 1851, St Austell Brewery is still 100 per-cent family owned and renowned for brewing some of the South-West’s most popular beers. In addition to brewing their own beers from a brewery overlooking the bay of St Austell, their Small Batch Brewery builds on the success of a previous micro-brewery, allowing St Austell’s team of brewers to constantly experiment with new flavours and styles. Black Square Russian Imperial Stout, for instance, is a collaborative effort between...