Places in London – The Cultural Exposé

Can you guess the best neighbourhood in London right now?

Matilda — Wed, 24 May 2017 21:30:05 +0000

If you picked up Time Out London this week, you’ll see I did the cover feature which profiles the 15 best neighbourhoods in London nowadays. The list is based on a massive survey we did last year, our editor’s picks and input from the ‘postcode champions’ community I set up a few months ago.

Well, guess which area topped the list (if you don’t already know)?

…

HACKNEY CENTRAL!!! WOOP WOOP!

There’s loads to love about my manor, but it came out on top because it was voted best for green spaces. Check out the full list here.

Do you agree with the list? If not, what’s your favourite area in London? Let me know in the comments!

The post Can you guess the best neighbourhood in London right now? appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

Go Ape has opened in South London (SW11 to be precise)

Matilda — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 08:48:59 +0000

It was only last month that I found out that Battersea Park would be getting its very own Go Ape tree top adventure course – and I, for one, can’t wait to try it out (it’s literally on my doorstep). It’s come just in time too – the Tokyo marathon training is starting to feel a bit samey now, so maybe climbing some trees will shake things up a bit!

It opened December 10th and you can find all the details here.

The wait is almost over. Go Ape at Battersea Park opens soon! Join the adventure from 10/12 #goape #goapetribe #battersea #batterseapark #sw11 #london #visitlondon #adventure #adventuretime #skyline #uk Photo by @gdenaeyer @visitlondonofficial @goape_batterseapark

A photo posted by goapetribe (@goapetribe) on Dec 3, 2015 at 1:02am PST

The post Go Ape has opened in South London (SW11 to be precise) appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

New pan-asian restaurant to soft launch with 50% off food

Matilda — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 07:39:07 +0000

A date for your diaries folks: on 31st October and 1st November, Chi Kitchen, a new pan-asian restaurant in Debenhams Oxford Street, will marking its arrival by offering 50% off all food. The new all-day dining spot comes from the team behind Mango Tree and Chai Wu in Harrods, so from the looks of these dishes below, I know EXACTLY where I’ll be having dinner next weekend. To book and for more details, email info@chikitchen.co.uk and quote “The Cultural Exposé”. Chi Kitchen, Debenhams, 334-348 Oxford St, London W1C 1JG.

The post New pan-asian restaurant to soft launch with 50% off food appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

Autumn bike rides, Goodbye Pavilion and Sunday brunch at Rum Kitchen

Matilda — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 07:45:01 +0000

My weekend was ridiculously jam-packed with art shows (1:54, Moniker, The Other Art Show, Multiplied at Christies AND Art Goes Pop at the Tate – phew!), but I managed to meet up with my fellow cycling buddies on Sunday morning to “ride for brunch”. Joining them at the Selgascano Serpentine Pavilion (which now heads off to LA for good), we hit the streets en route to Rum Kitchen on All Saints Road in Notting Hill. They offer a special Sunday brunch menu (which includes chicken and waffles!) Many thanks to cinematographer Dale McCready for capturing a lovely morning – you can check out his video below (Music credit: “Tired Eyes” by Gengahr)

[fbvideo link=”https://www.facebook.com/dale.mccready/videos/10153036409145426/?pnref=story” width=”700″ height=”XX” onlyvideo=”1″]

The post Autumn bike rides, Goodbye Pavilion and Sunday brunch at Rum Kitchen appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

What we’ve been up to… Beer & Buns

Matilda — Fri, 06 Mar 2015 15:09:26 +0000

Our food excursions around the capital has recently led us to Beer & Buns – a pop-up “Izakaya” in the City that’s exactly where you want to go for authentic Japanese food with whatever native craft beer floats your boat. But being something of a non-beer drinker (okay, let’s be real – I can’t stand the stuff), I was pleasantly surprised by the recommended “echigo”, a light and neutral ale that was fairly easy to drink. The steamed buns, on the other hand, truly deserved a round of applause. They’re just £3.50 each (or £6.50 for two), perfect and fluffy, filled with the loveliest choices of pork, duck, aubergine or chicken – and the latter turned out to be our favourite, served fried “karaage” style with a japanese slaw. B&B also do these deliciously messy jumbo wings (in tebasake Soy Garlic, Sweet & spicy or Korean hot flavours. But be warned – the spicy ones really do pack a punch, so approach with caution or down a Frozen Yuzu margarita to take the edge off – worked for us!

Beer & Buns is open Monday through Saturday from 5pm till late (until end July) and can be found Upstairs @ K10 on 3 Appold Street EC2A 2AF. For more information, visit www.beerandbuns.co.uk. Check out pics from our recent visit below!

The post What we’ve been up to… Beer & Buns appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

What we’ve been up to… The Pedler

Matilda — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 11:00:13 +0000

Peckham in 2015 is a far cry from the ends I reluctantly called home during my uni days in the late 90s. It’s younger, hipper and more culturally diverse than ever, attracting entrepreneurs who are setting up restaurants and hotspots perfectly aimed at the district’s influx of creative and city types. At least that’s the vibe I get from The Pedler. This newbie to SE15 is jam-packed on Wednesday night with the kind of folk who like quirky surroundings, outstanding cocktails and food with plenty of heart and pizazz. The latter is all about quality, seasonal ingredients, used in the tapas-style plates and mains my companion and I happily worked our way through. Our starter platers for the evening were the jerusalem artichoke arancini with a deliciously moreish parsley mayo; the smoked paprika squid, served with lemon oil and another helping of artichoke (I love me some artichoke so not complaining); and the jalepeno cornbread that deserved a round of applause.

The mains passed the taste test too. A frizzle chicken with polenta and parmesan came with “attitude sauce”; I failed to catch what it was made of but whatever it was, it was pretty wonderful accompaniment. My friend went for the Atlantic cod with beetroot ragu and capers, and while it wasn’t as showstopping as the chicken, it was a good pick, with its subtle but delicious flavours. Our evening finally came to a lovely conclusion with the valhrona chocolate fondant served with a passion fruit sorbet and the hearty pink grapefruit bread and butter pudding with vanilla ice cream. The added citrus in both desserts did raise our eyebrows but it worked surprisingly well.

The Pedler opened last Christmas, but already it seems to have earned its stripes in a neighbourhood that’s becoming a real contender on the food scene. For more details visit www.pedlerpeckhamrye.com – and check more pics from our visit below!

The post What we’ve been up to… The Pedler appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

What we’ve been up to… La Tagliata

The Cultural Exposé — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 11:00:09 +0000

Tagliata is an Italian sliced steak dish that tastes so good, it’s hard to believe how simple it is. But ‘simplicity done well’ is the running theme at this new restaurant that opened in the city last year. From the artful interiors to the compact menu, La Tagliata’s approach to no-fuss dining with a touch of class makes a strong first impression. The homemade pasta starters come with either pomodoro, pesto, limone or ragú sauce, but no matter which one you pick, you’ll likely be onto a winner. We go for the flavoursome pesto and ragu, setting the bar for the main attraction.

The tagliata arrives with cherry tomatoes, parmesan and a balsamic reduction, and my choice of shepherd’s potatoes (the alternative is roasted) which has a mouthwatering aroma of garlic. Everything is devoured within minutes. It’s not the biggest portion in the world, but it’s a pretty memorable entrée, leaving us with even higher hopes for the restaurant’s signature tiramisu. Unsurprisingly, it doesn’t disappoint, with a delicate coffee flavour matched perfectly with the cream.

La Tagliata is a great place to visit if you’re after effortlessly fine food for a date or dinner with friends – the wines are great, the service is top and three courses will only set you back £30 – win, win, win we say!

For more details about La Tagliata, visit www.la-tagliata.com

The post What we’ve been up to… La Tagliata appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

What we’ve been up to… Eat Your Way Around Brixton

Matilda — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 11:00:35 +0000

Hate it or love it, but the gentrification (or regeneration?) of Brixton has meant that the area in recent years has seen a splatter of high street fashion chains, coffee shops and a wave of “have-you-been-to” hit list restaurants awkwardly exist within the “old Brixton”, attracting the sort of yuppies who might have been too reluctant to eat in SW2 a few years ago. But big business aside, scratch the surface and you’ll discover that what’s going down in Brixton a’int all doom and gloom – and this enjoyable foodie jaunt with cultural guided walks company Fox and Squirrel was our opportunity to discover that and more.

Led by Lindsay Faller, an American expat who writes about food for the Brixton Blog and Bugle and who’s lived in Brixton for 12 years, the walk included a potted history of the area and visits to a range of vendors, all introducing a unique cultural aspect of Brixton. First stop was an Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony on Brixton Station Road performed in a small tent filled thick with the aroma frankincense and coffee beans which were roasted right in front of us by Elsa – the co-owner of our next stop the Shawl café, where we tucked into a tear-and-share platter of Ethiopian dishes served on the tart and spongy injera bread. I’ve never been the biggest fan of Ethiopian food, but this platter of lentils and stews was tasty and I’d recommend it to anyone who’s curious about this cuisine.

The next stop – and my personal highlight of the day – was a visit to Las Cafeteria around the corner on Pope’s Road, a bustling Columbia canteen, butchers and money-changing shop, rolled into the one. We managed to grab a few seats in the back before trying the mouth-watering Lechona – a popular dish of a roast pig stuffed with rice, peas, onions and spices and cooked for roughly 10 hours. And you could tell – it was so flavoursome, made even better with the homemade salsa that was placed on the table.

Our third stop on the walk was Brixton Brewery (Arch 547, Brixton Station Road), a creative company that is definitely one of trendier additions to the area. I’m more of a wine drinker myself, but it was fascinating to hear about the beer-making process (even if I didn’t take too well to the sample of pale ale I tried!). This stop was followed up by a sit-down at Fish, Wings and Tings in the revitalised Brixton Village, a Caribbean hotspot which was heaving with customers when we arrived. And it’s no wonder – the salt fish fritters and goat roti we sampled were simply delicious (especially with a bit of the signature house sauce).

As time was fast spent, we had a quick walk through one of the local shops serving all types of exotic ingredients before the walk was wrapped up with a final visit to Kaff bar on Atlantic Road, an eclectic, laidback café where artwork from local artists adorn the wall. Homemade ginger beers were eagerly washed down a platter of US Southern-inspired dishes – like the delectable soft shell crab – and it was definitely a perfect conclusion to a day of culinary, cultural delights.

The original itinerary featured gelato-making (which was unfortunately missed out), but that was only a minor blip for a day I’d highly recommend. Admittedly, it is on the pricier side for an urban adventure (£70 for 3 hours), but if you’re new to the capital, it’s also a fantastic way to get to know this evolving area a whole lot better. For more information, visit: www.foxandsquirrel.com/product/food-walk-london

To see more of our pics, visit: www.theculturalexpose.co.uk/galleries/eat-your-way-around-brixton-food-walk

Thank you to Fox and Squirrel for accommodating us!

The post What we’ve been up to… Eat Your Way Around Brixton appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

What we’ve been up to… School Dinners

The Cultural Exposé — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 11:00:21 +0000

If Book Slam has been the capital’s best literary nightclub for practically a decade, bringing together a talented cenacle of poets, authors, comedians and songwriters to tickle to tastebuds of London’s logophiles, then it’d seem School Dinners plans to be the full course. It’s been created by the same team that has made Book Slam such a hit, so similarly, it also involves a line-up of interesting people who provide the thought-provoking entertainment. But there’s food in the mix (hence the name) , and to make it all the more immersive, it’s served in the school auditorium of a boys school in Shoreditch once attended by Reggie Yates and Trevor Nelson (how’s that for kudos?).

Throughout the night, we spot waiters dressed as teachers, order drinks from menus printed on ruled paper, watch classical “assembly” performances and notice other wry references to those wonder years – yet the school setting is a minor novelty. The “dinner”, for instance, is a fancy four courser featuring modest yet delicious dishes like salmon tartare and beetroot, (the starter) and chicken with elderberry glaze served with squash puree, kale and sorrell (the main). Even the green apple sorbet ice-pop cleanser was a worthy prelude to the chocolate brownie and plantain ice-cream that finished off the meal – so on the food front, School Dinners was delightful.

The entertainment had its highlights too. Run Dem Crew’s Charlie Dark was a brilliantly sharp host, prepping the stage for engaging performances from guests such as poet Mark Grist and singer-songwriter Eska. However, ‘Bad Pharma’ author Ben Goldacre’s rapid fire monologue on the subject of drug trials might have been 10 minutes longer than necessary, while Sophie Heawood’s celebrity interview anecdotes – as funny as they were – might have worked better at a dinner party for likeminded peers. Still, all this is forgivable for a debut event which is not only a great concept, but with a few tweaks, might be in line to becoming the next best night in the capital.

The next School Dinners takes place on November 30th. For more info, visit: www.schooldinners.info

The post What we’ve been up to… School Dinners appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

Somewhere You Should Go… NOLA, Shoreditch

Lucy Palmer — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 10:00:12 +0000

When I was at university I studied abroad for a semester in New Orleans so it has always been a place of amazing memories very close to my heart. So when I heard NOLA, a New Orleans style bar, was coming to Shoreditch I got excited dreaming of the good bourbon and gumbo I would enjoy again.

But as keen I was to visit, this was dampened by our inability to find the place. After wandering Rivington Street for a good 10 minutes we gave up and asked someone who punched a code in a door and told us to follow the stairs up. I get they want to keep the place secretive but c’mon a sign on the door would help!

Once we arrived, I went for the classic a Hurricane cocktail. And it was good, well mixed in an ice cold glass and it made me nostalgic for a night in Pat O’Briens. But beware they’re deceptively strong, and it was only when my group stood up to leave we had to admit we were all feeling it.

The decor has a vintage, New Orleans feel with dark green leather booths, shutters, piano and ceiling fans, but you can tell it’s only been open a month as everything is still new and bit too shiny. In a few months when it’s more worn and used it’ll be perfect.

It’s a small and intimate venue only open Tuesday- Saturday, 6pm – midnight, with 12-3pm reserved for members. Given its hard to find it was quiet when we went, but I imagine its late night you need to go, with live music regularly on. And as membership is free with just a donation going to charity of your choice, it’s great if you’re always looking for a late night place to continue the party.

At the time of writing, the kitchen wasn’t up and running, but I imagine this will draw me back to try the cooking, and if its anything as good as their cocktails it’s safe to say its going to be good. (Words: Lucy Palmer)

For more info, visit: www.nola-london.com

The post Somewhere You Should Go… NOLA, Shoreditch appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.