Instagram : The last month

Photo Update

April - A busy month again, well I did run The London Marathon this month!
I did manage to get some other stuff in other than running and training. This is what I've been up to:

L-R: Driving over Tower Bridge, the next time I would cross this would be during the Marathon; Sweetie Darling, It's Patsy and Eddie's house, my training helped me rediscover my local neighbourhood; Registration Time, the big day finally came!

 L-R: Stylish times, spring finally came and I still found time to dress up; Cut Throat Shave, you need to look good to run, treating myself to some pampering time; Bob Bob Ricard, you also need to eat lots to run - BBR was amazing.

 L-R: Buddha Bar Prague, time to relax post Marathon; Neon Chandelier in the Buddha Bar restaurant - my first night out drinking in 4 months; Reservé, Our party table!

 Follow me on Instagram : @opulentscrawls
 http://instagram.com/opulentscrawls

Chase : Elderflower Liqueur / Rhubarb Liqueur

Chase : The finest Liqueurs

 A while back I discovered Chase Vodka (see previous post here) 

 Since then, I've been on the look out for other unique spirits in Chase's range. I've now added two of their finest liqueurs to my collection:

 Chase & Elderflower - The finest Elderflower Liqueur

 Chase & Rhubarb - The finest Rhubarb Liqueur

 Both are made using Chase Vodka - the finest potato vodka in the world, with the addition of the true rich flavours that come from Chase's beautifully ripened and carefully selected fresh fruit. There are no artificial flavours nor heat methods. They are the perfect compliment to champagne or cocktails.

 I came across these new additions to my liqueur cabinet whilst over discovering Borough Market and the surrounding area. Laithwaite's Wine is a cavernous wine cellar stocked full of interesting wines, champagnes and spirits. 

The spirit section at the back quickly drew my attention, mainly due to the vast amounts of interesting spirits piled high on tall wooden shelves...

 I'll be back at Laithewaite's Wine soon to stock up on some more interesting spirits, and make some inspiring cocktails too.

 Laithewaite's Wine : Stockists

 Chase Distillery : Home of 'The World's Best Vodka'

Construct : Cocktail Sunday

Cocktail Sunday : Classic Champagne Cocktail

 A simple, yet elegant and impressive cocktail - that depends purely on it's ingredients. Champagne, A sugar cube and Bitters.

 An elegant Champagne I discovered whilst in France : Canard Duchêne - Grand Cuvée Le Victorieux - Charles VII. An impressive bottle; a complex, refined and elegant Champagne.

 
 Bitters: A great travel kit to ensure perfect cocktails on your travels, containing 5 different bitters. I used 'Jerry Thomas Bitters' - these bitters reveal citrus and dried fruit aromas which unite with the spicy flavors of cloves, angostura bark and cinnamon.

 Classic champagne cocktail recipe in 'Make - Guides & Recipes'

 Champagne
 Website : Canard Duchêne 
 Bitters
 Website : The Bitter Truth
 Stockists
 Website : Selfridges
 

Japanese Garden : Afternoon Tea at Blakes, South Kensington

Afternoon Tea : Blakes Hotel, South Kensington

  Blakes hotel has a much quoted USP: that it is 'The World's First Luxury Boutique Hotel',

 Created in 1978 by the renowned designer Anouska Hempel and occupying a group of Victorian house, Blakes is hidden behind an imposing, painted black facade, on the corner of Roland Gardens in London's South Kensington.

 The lobby throws light on the design principles of the hotel : a seductive journey through distant lands, with inspiration taken from India, China, Indonesia, Egypt and London.

 Afternoon tea is served in the Chinese Room or in the calm, outdoor Japanese Garden.

 Finger sandwiches, homemade scones with strawberries & cream and indulgent cakes are served alongside a selection of teas and a glass of champagne.

 A very modern and stylish cocktail list is shown in the Chinese Room's bar. A dark, opulent base for a modern take on a classic cocktail: 'Chinese Mojito', 'Shiso Cosmopolitan' and 'Gimlet Royale' to name a few...

 (Sadly, as the cocktail list was newly prepared, the cocktails weren't up to scratch to photograph. However, this has given me a new task of recreating these cocktails on this blog - coming soon)

 Blakes Hotel
 33 Roland Gardens, London, SW7 3PF
 Web: Blakes Hotel

Chase Vodka : Coconut Martini

Coconut Martini : Made using English 'Chase' Vodka, and Coconut Water

 Chase Vodka is a British distilled vodka, made in Hertfordshire using potatoes. It was awarded the rather prestigious title of 'Best In The World' in 2010.
 

 My friend Shelley (of 'Trakehners Can Jump' fame) gave me a stunning gift boxed bottle of Chase Vodka, and I've been waiting to find a suitable cocktail to try it in.

 I picked up some 'Jax Coco' water (The chicest Coconut water on the market - with the bottle designed by Stella McCartney's husband Alasdhair Willis) and set about making a 'Coconut Martini'

 The simplicity of this cocktail is genius:
 Pour 125ml 'Jax Coco' 100% pure coconut water, over ice in a cocktail shaker, add 50ml of 'Chase Vodka' and a splash of lemon juice. Shake, and strain to serve into a chilled martini glass.
 The result is a fresh, smooth, light and delicious Martini.

Chase Vodka - The World's Best Potato Vodka
Jax Coco - 100% Pure Coconut Water
Harvey Nichols Food & Wine - Stockists

An evening of Burlesque at 'The Beaufort Bar'

Cocktails & Cabaret at The Savoy hotel, London

Sunday 22nd April 2012

 Hosted by 'The Beaufort Bar' resident chanteuse, Holly Penfield and very special guest Dusty Limits, The Savoy hotel successfully resurrected the golden era of cocktails and cabaret circa 1929.

 Set in the unashamedly, decadently deco surroundings of 'The Beaufort Bar'; an interior that is all about jet black and burnished gold.

 The center piece is an extravagantly stocked framed bar which stands on the hotel's former cabaret stage (The bar offers one of London's most extensive choices of champagne by the glass). 

 This now makes for an intimate performance stage for cabaret's latest reincarnation. It's fitting that this space was once graced by luminaries such as Carroll Gibbons, the Savoy Orpheans and George Gershwin.

Your hosts: Holly Penfield & Dusty Limits

 Holly Penfield and Dusty Limits introduced burlesque stars Miss Polly Rae, and Kitty Bang Bang for some glamorous entertainment...

Burlesque star: Miss Polly Rae

  Suitably glammed up, It felt very decedent to be sat on a Sunday night in this prestigious bar that is steeped in cabaret history. At first it felt almost naughty that such an event was happening, and the audience was clearly a touch nervous to start out – but Holly and Dusty had a way that relaxed people and encouraged them to soak up the atmosphere and get involved (and to buy more expensive cocktails)

  

 The burlesque was interspersed by unusual cabaret acts; a abstract piece involving ‘The Blue Lady’ performing a mega-mix of all songs containing the word ‘blue’ - which just cannot be explained, but was a fantastic piece. Circus acrobalancer Stephen Williams put on an astonishing display of balancing, and was pure muscle – some of the moves he made were simply unbelievable.  

Circus acrobalancer: Stephen Williams

 To be in the same space where all the greats have performed, to hear the historical anecdotes from Holly Penfield, and to sip on the specially created cocktails from this amazing bar was simply divine.  

 We were all on a high as we left The Savoy:

 "An amazing evening, please keep the Burlesque Cabaret at The Savoy. It was mind-blowing and very special, felt truly honored to experience such a magical evening."

Future dates are set for May 20th and July 1st. 

Savoy Cabaret: http://www.savoycabaret.com

phone: 02074202111

Holly Penfield: http://www.hollypenfield.com/

The Savoy Hotel: http://www.fairmont.com/savoy