London Daily Photo: ... Can be Dangerous

London Daily Photo: ... Can be Dangerous
Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008
Interested in contributing a photograph of London to this blog? Click here for details.

Fancyapint.com Best London Pub Awards 2008 (Londonist)

Fancyapint.com Best London Pub Awards 2008
Chris Osburn, Food & Drink Editor
Londonist
October 23, 2008











Each year round the middle of October, where-to-imbibe experts, Fancyapint.com, get together to celebrate the anniversary of their site by presenting awards to the best pubs visited over the past year. The awards are broken down into two categories: the reviewers’ awards and the visitors’ awards, with overall winners in each. The reviewers' awards are decided by the Fancyapint.com review team, based on the pubs they reviewed during the previous twelve months. There are also a number of special awards made by FAP reviewers, for the pubs they feel have performed particularly well in the categories of best newcomer, best refurbishment and most improved. And this year, to mark the fifth anniversary of Fancyapint.com, the reviewers are awarding their top London pub of the last five years. Visitors' awards are based upon the site's listed pubs (they’ve got over 3000 in their database) that have had the most visits arranged to them through the site.

Read the complete Fancyapint.com Pub Awards post at Londonist.

London Daily Photo: Danger of Death

London Daily Photo: Danger of Death
Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008
Interested in contributing a photograph of London to this blog? Click here for details.

What’s for Lunch? Le Pain Quotidien (Londonist)

What’s for Lunch? Le Pain Quotidien
Chris Osburn, Food & Drink Editor
Londonist
October 21, 2008










Ambling around Oxford Circus with a bit of time to kill, Londonist popped into the rustic-lite and spacious Great Marlborough Street location of “daily bread” global franchise, Le Pain Quotidien, for a late morning coffee (a massive Americano for £2.50) and ended up staying for a quick lunch (a warming bowl of Caribbean soup for £4.80). Everything was going fine (we sincerely appreciated the no pressure opportunity to spread out and linger for awhile and take advantage of the free wifi), until we asked for some tap water.

Read the complete What’s for Lunch? Le Pain Quotidien review at Londonist.

London Daily Photo: Danger of Death

London Daily Photo: Danger of Death
Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008
Interested in contributing a photograph of London to this blog? Click here for details.

I'll be Cookin' in the Tipped Chilli Cook-Off

Hey y'all, looks like I'll be participating in this Saturday's Tipped Chilli Cook-Off. Should be fun. Wish me luck!


Preview: Tipped Chilli Cook-Off

Chris Osburn, Food & Drink Editor
Londonist
October 20, 2008

Local business listings and review site, Tipped ... is to host the inaugural Tipped Chilli Cook Off this Saturday ... The event will pit about ten amateur chilli cooks (mostly Tipped users and food bloggers as well Tipped’s CEO) against each other as attendees rate the bowls o’ beans and award one lucky cowhand with the title of best tastin’ chilli. Hot damn. DJ's will be playing a mix of southern soul, country twang, 80's redneck rock and later on some Van Halen treats. Hot diggity damn.

Click here for the complete Preview: Tipped Chilli Cook-Off preview at Londonist.

London Daily Photo: Danger of Death

London Daily Photo: Danger of Death
Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008
Interested in contributing a photograph of London to this blog? Click here for details.

The Chocolate Week that was (Qype does London)

The Chocolate Week that was
Chris Osburn
Qype does London
October 20th 2008










Alas, Chocolate Week is over. Luckily, I’m left with a stash of goodies but still wouldn’t have minded the “pure chocolate indulgence” continuing for another fortnight or so. Oh well, I suppose all good things must come to an end. And Chocolate Week was indeed a truly wonderful thing. Here are some of the highlights!

Read the complete The Chocolate Week review at Qype does London.

London Daily Photo: Danger of Death

London Daily Photo: Danger of Death
Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008
Interested in contributing a photograph of London to this blog? Click here for details.

London Daily Photo: Danger Live Cables Below

London Daily Photo: Danger Live Cables Below
Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008
Interested in contributing a photograph of London to this blog? Click here for details.

Photos: "Burning Candy" & "Remember My Name" in London (Juxtapoz)

Photos: "Burning Candy" & "Remember My Name" in London
Photography by Chris Osburn, London Correspondent
Juxtapoz
Saturday, 18 October 2008

Both exhibitions run until November 11th, 2008.

See all the "Burning Candy" & "Remember My Name" at Juxtapoz.

London Daily Photo: Danger Keep Out

London Daily Photo: Danger Keep Out
Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008
Interested in contributing a photograph of London to this blog? Click here for details.

Gourmet Candy Floss at Pearl Restaurant & Bar (Londonist)

Gourmet Candy Floss at Pearl Restaurant & Bar
Chris Osburn, Food & Drink Editor
Londonist

October 17, 2008














Economic catastrophe. Global despair. Times are hard. Well, at least there’s candy floss. Gourmet candy floss at that. Starting tomorrow, Pearl Restaurant & Bar (252 High Holborn, WC1V 7EN) will offer free gourmet candy floss along side orders of its Petit Fours (Saturday nights only). Created by Pearl’s head pastry chef, Ben Knell, the candy floss will come in “four fabulous flavours … each with its own unique twist.” Flavours include: marshmallow (with a freshly made marshmallow coated in candy floss and sprinkled with vanilla sugar), chocolate profiterole (yep, there’s a profiterole on a stick in the middle), lemon (with lemon pates de fruits) and strawberry (with fresh strawberry and freeze-dried strawberry dust).

Read the complete Gourmet Candy Floss post at Londonist.

London Daily Photo: Danger Keep Out

London Daily Photo: Danger Keep Out
Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008
Interested in contributing a photograph of London to this blog? Click here for details.

Divine and Wine Bumpkin Evening (Londonist)

Divine and Wine Bumpkin Evening
Chris Osburn, Food & Drink Editor
Londonist
October 15, 2008











What? More chocolate? Hey, Londonist is milking Chocolate Week for all it’s worth! Last night, we checked out the Divine Chocolate’s chocolate and wine tasting at Notting Hill’s Bumpkin restaurant. Yum.

Read the complete Divine and Wine Bumpkin Evening post at Londonist.

London Daily Photo: Danger Keep Clear of

London Daily Photo: Danger Keep Clear of
Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008
Interested in contributing a photograph of London to this blog? Click here for details.

A Visit to Freightliners Farm

What’s for Lunch? Freightliners Farm Café

Chris Osburn, Food & Drink Editor
Londonist
October 14, 2008










Londonist visited Freightliners Farm Café a couple of Saturdays ago and, despite some initial bad vibes from a gaggle of overly territorial yummy mummies, managed to find some room to sit down and enjoy a delicious lunch in a homey setting for about £18. Now, eighteen quid ain’t necessarily cheap, but we can assure you our lunch for two was a super heathy, well prepared heap of food (we had a couple of coffees too).

Read the complete Freightliners Farm Café lunch review at Londonist.

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Down on the farm with Qype
Chris Osburn
Qype does London
October 14th 2008










Freightliners Farm is a lovely bit of London well worth dropping by the next time you can’t get out of town burt really need a break from the city.

Read the complete Down on the farm post at Qype does London.

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See more Freightliners Farm photos in my photo set on Flickr.

Chocolate & Port at Fortnum & Mason (Londonist)

Chocolate & Port at Fortnum & Mason

Chris Osburn, Food & Drink Editor
Londonist
October 14, 2008










Last night, four of Britain’s top chocolatiers - Chantal Coady (Rococo), William Curley, Bill McCarrick (Sir Hans Sloane Chocolate Company) and Paul A. Young teamed up with the fine port providers, Quinta do Noval, for a delicious evening of dessert and port pairings.

Read the complete Chocolate & Port at Fortnum & Mason post at Londonist.

London Daily Photo: Danger Deep Excavations

London Daily Photo: Danger Deep Excavations
Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008
Interested in contributing a photograph of London to this blog? Click here for details.

Bloggers in Nice Places (Qype does London)

Bloggers in Nice Places
Chris Osburn

Qype does London
October 13th 2008










Bloggers aren’t just reclusive troglodytes sniping their online opinions from musky secret headquarters. They get out and mingle like everybody else. In fact, they often find themselves being catered to in some pretty snazzy venues!

Read the complete Bloggers in Nice Places review on Qype does London.

London Daily Photo: Danger Danger Warning

London Daily Photo: Danger Danger Warning
Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008
Interested in contributing a photograph of London to this blog? Click here for details.

Post Tom Collins Pizza (Qype does London)

Post Tom Collins Pizza
Chris Osburn

Qype does London

October 12th 2008











Amano’s pizzas are good. Damn good. I’d go back simply for their handmade dough/wood oven pizzas. In fact, I’m gradually starting to change my opinion of pizza in this city. For the longest time (aside from a few standby faves), my thoughts on pizza in London could be summed up in one word: SUCKS! However, with recent and successful forays to Gourmet Pizza Company and continued confidence in bedrocks such as Santoré, I’m starting to think this town is kinda, sorta okay with respect to Italy’s greatest export.

Read the complete Post Tom Collins Pizza post at Qype does London.

London Daily Photo: Caution

London Daily Photo: Caution
Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008
Interested in contributing a photograph of London to this blog? Click here for details.

Free Mini-Tastings at Artisan du Chocolat (Londonist)

Free Mini-Tastings at Artisan du Chocolat
Chris Osburn, Food & Drink Editor
Londonist
October 12, 2008










All this week (Chocolate Week!), Artisan du Chocolate (89 Lower Sloane St, SW1W 8DA) will be holding free tutored min-tasting events in shop at 1pm and 6pm. The tasting sessions will offer participants the opportunity to sample Artisan du Chocolat’s new range of bars. Londonist popped round yesterday with a few friends and we were more than pleased with the information and samples provided (we especially liked the green tea and the saffron chocolates).

Read the complete Artisan du Chocolat post at Londonist.

London Daily Photo: Caution Infernal Traffic

London Daily Photo: Caution Infernal Traffic
Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008
Interested in contributing a photograph of London to this blog? Click here for details.

Dan Witz: "Night Paintings" (Juxtapoz)

Dan Witz: "Night Paintings"
Chris Osburn, London Correspondent
Chris Osburn
Friday, 10 October 2008

Influenced by Ed Ruscha’s 26 gasoline stations and Joseph Wright of Derby, in these pieces Witz also references older western religious painting, where physical light was a metaphor for spiritual revelation and enlightenment.

See all the Dan Witz: "Night Paintings" at Juxtapoz.

London Daily Photo: Caution: Busy Market Area

London Daily Photo: Caution: Busy Market Area
Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008
Interested in contributing a photograph of London to this blog? Click here for details.

Tuttle goes ICA (Londonist)

Tuttle goes ICA
Chris Osburn

Londonist
October 10, 2008










Today marked a milestone for a number of London’s most prolific bloggers and social media folk as their favourite Friday morning ritual, Tuttle Club, moved from Phase I (weekly meets in the cosy upstairs room at Soho’s Coach and Horses) and onto Phase II (apparently, as the Tuttle Club continued a rise in popularity, the Coach and Horses started to feel a bit too cosy). Phase II for this “loose association of people finding a way of working better together both online and off” consisted of the Tuttle Club beginning to hold its Friday get-togethers at the ICA. More room, stronger WiFi and special permission to commandeer the ICA’s café on Friday mornings rank high among the many reasons for venue change.

Read the complete Tuttle goes ICA post at Londonist.

London Daily Photo: Caution Industrial Trucks

London Daily Photo: Caution Industrial Trucks
Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008
Interested in contributing a photograph of London to this blog? Click here for details.

JR’s “28 Millimetres: WOMEN” (Qype does London)

JR’s “28 Millimetres: WOMEN”
Chris Osburn

Qype does London
October 9th 2008










Well known for his large scale installations, JR has transformed streets, buildings, villages and more with his giant-sized photos. And the 28 Millimetres exhibition has JR staying true to form. Not only does the show take up both Lazarides’ Greek Street and Charing Cross spaces but also spills out into the street (Sutton Row to be exact). JR’s images take up most of the small street’s buildings, including the entire northface of the building where noted bookstore Foyles is located.

Read the complete JR’s “28 Millimetres: WOMEN” post at Qype does London.

Bombay Sapphire Experience at Vinopolis (Londonist)

Bombay Sapphire Experience at Vinopolis
Chris Osburn, Food & Drink Editor
Londonist
October 8, 2008










Vinopolis reckons the Bombay Sapphire Experience’s purpose is twofold: one, give groups of up to thirty guests a chance “to enhance their cocktail making skills … under the watchful eye of a professional mixologist” and two, offer this sophista-swanky spot for receptions and cocktail parties of up to 200 guests.

Read the complete Bombay Sapphire Experience at Vinopolis post at Londonist.

London Daily Photo: Caution Hot Surface

London Daily Photo: Caution Hot Surface
Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008
Interested in contributing a photograph of London to this blog? Click here for details.

What's for Lunch? The Gate Vegetarian Restaurant (Londonist)

What's for Lunch? The Gate Vegetarian Restaurant

Chris Osburn, Food & Drink Editor
Londonist
October 7, 2008











A couple weeks back (on one of those few sunny gorgeous September days), Londonist ambled down Hammersmith’s rather residential Queen Caroline Street, happening upon The Gate Vegetarian Restaurant. Actually we had made a lunch reservation the night before (which isn’t a bad idea but don’t be afraid to walk-in), yet were still a bit surprised by its lovely, slightly removed from the road, location (especially considering how conveniently close it is to Hammersmith Station and to the Apollo).

Read the complete What's for Lunch? The Gate Vegetarian Restaurant post at Londonist.

Oktoberfeast at Belgo (Londonist)

Oktoberfeast at Belgo
Chris Osburn, Food & Drink Editor
Londonist
October 7, 2008











All this month, kitsch Belgian restaurant Belgo is offering an Oktoberfeast menu to celebrate … erm … feasting … in … erm … October. Good ole Belgian favourites such as moules blanches (mussels cooked in brugs witbier with bacon lardons) and carbonnade flamande (braised beef cooked in faro beer, nutmeg and brown sugar) are among the substantial menu fillers available.

Read the complete Oktoberfeast at Belgo post at Londonist.

London Daily Photo: Caution This Area is Under

London Daily Photo: Caution This Area is Under
Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008
Interested in contributing a photograph of London to this blog? Click here for details.

Asics launches new shop near Oxford Circus (Qype does London)

Asics launches new shop near Oxford Circus

Chris Osburn
Qype does London
October 6th 2008














Anyway, yours truly was there last week for the swanky launch of Asics’ first European flagship store. It’s on Argyll Street round the corner from Oxford Circus (and mere sprinting distance from Niketown, the Puma and Van’s Carnaby Street flagship stores, and whatever other footwear flagship mega-shops that are sure to exist nearby too). It’s a nice shop, all sleek and white and design-y. Huge too. Check it out next time you’re fashion foraging in the area.

Read the complete Asics shop near Oxford Circus post at Qype does London.

London Daily Photo: Warning 3750mm

London Daily Photo: Warning 3750mm
Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008
Interested in contributing a photograph of London to this blog? Click here for details.

Beyond the Rabbit Hole (Qype does London)

Beyond the Rabbit Hole
Chris Osburn
Qype does London
October 5th 2008










As Qyper/blogger Julie so aptly describes in her recent Qype Goes Down the Rabbit Hole post, half an hour spent “wandering ’round the rabbit hole” is indeed an incredibly surreal experience, one which requires significant and immediate time afterwards to unwind and process thoughts induced while being subjected to Down the Rabbit Hole’s “Lynch-esque scenes involving hybrid rabbit-humans.”

Read the complete Beyond the Rabbit Hole post (and its food/drink suggestions) at Qype does London.

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... And check out my Down the Rabbit Hole pics on my Flickr photostream!

London Daily Photo: Warning Site Entrance

London Daily Photo: Warning Site Entrance
Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008
Interested in contributing a photograph of London to this blog? Click here for details.

Photos: JR's "28 Millimetres: WOMEN" in London (Juxtapoz)

Photos: JR's "28 Millimetres: WOMEN" in London
Photography by Chris Osburn, London Correspondent
Juxtapoz
Friday, 03 October 2008










JR's first solo show at Lazarides, 28 Millimetres: WOMEN opened today, October 3rd, 2008 in both the Greek Street and Charing Cross galleries, and in the surrounding streets of London. 28 Millimetres: WOMEN includes new originals and a truly awe inspiring site-specific installation.

View all of the "28 Millimetres: WOMEN" photos at the Juxtapoz website.

London Daily Photo: Red Letter Warning

London Daily Photo: Red Letter Warning
Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008
Interested in contributing a photograph of London to this blog? Click here for details.

Moti Mahal Apple Chutney Collection (Londonist)

Moti Mahal Apple Chutney Collection

Chris Osburn, Food & Drink Editor

Londonist
October 3, 2008















The air feels a little crisper. Leaves crunch underfoot. Daylight’s shorter, but twilight glows more warmly). It’s apple season. Such bundle-up weather has Londonist pulling out our most favoured woolly jumpers (well, we never really put them away) and listening to disproportionate amounts of Neil Young. Autumnal conditions have got hold of Moti Mahal’s Chef Ani as well. In fact, the dude’s come up with a collection of ten apple chutneys to sample for the next month or so.

Read the complete Moti Mahal Apple Chutney Collection post at Londonist.

London Daily Photo: Warning Warning

London Daily Photo: Warning Warning
Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008
Interested in contributing a photograph of London to this blog? Click here for details.

Paul A Young – Almeida Seven Course Seasonal Chocolate Menu (Londonist)

Paul A Young – Almeida Seven Course Seasonal Chocolate Menu (Londonist)
Chris Osburn, Food & Drink Editor
Londonist
October 2, 2008

Any menu that includes a course called “pre dessert” is the sort of menu Londonist can appreciate. And if that menu happens to be a seven course seasonal chocolate menu dreamed up over six months of tasting and experimenting by Almeida head chef, Alan Jones, and chocolatier, Paul A Young … ? Well, Londonist can confirm that we’d love every last morsel of it!

Read the complete Paul A Young – Almeida Chocolate Menu post at Londonist.

London Daily Photo: Warning Trip Hazard

London Daily Photo: Warning Trip Hazard
Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008
Interested in contributing a photograph of London to this blog? Click here for details.

Gold Medal Cocktail at the Cavendish Hotel (Londonist)

Gold Medal Cocktail at the Cavendish Hotel
Chris Osburn, Food & Drink Editor
Londonist
September 30, 2008









Want some recognition for all that elbow bending at the bar? Well, head over to Jermyn Street’s Cavendish Hotel, sidle up to Lobby Bar and ask the bartender for the “Gold Medal”. Created by Cavendish’s head barman, Robert Gaggl, the “Gold Medal” – available now and through the rest of October – commemorates the Beijing Games and welcomes the Olympic Victory Parade on 16th of this month.

Read the complete Gold Medal Cocktail post at Londonist.

London Daily Photo: Advanced Warning

London Daily Photo: Advanced Warning
Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008
Interested in contributing a photograph of London to this blog? Click here for details.