Andina

Peruvian food is hot in London now and these guys know how to make it properly! Not only they have Ceviche in Soho, a new Ceviche in Old Street but also this one, Andina, in Shoreditch High Street that is buzzing any day and every day of the week.

The Peruvian food served in Andina is tapas style, so it's all small plates to share - yes I know it can be scary but sharing is not that bad. I always have a preference for any of the ceviches that have tiger milk, I never miss the yuca or the cancha, and the good news is that meat is always well cooked in a  Peruvian restaurant and Andina is no different.

Reservations during the week are advisable, especially if you have a large group (and any more than 4 people in this restaurant is a big group); reservations during Friday and Saturday night are a must.

DETAILS:
Andina - www.andinalondon.com - 1 Redchurch Street, Shoreditch, London E2 7DJ 

Arctic Monkeys

I doubt these guys need an introduction as, quoting my boss, "even Gordon Brown knows who the Arctic Monkeys are". What is also true is that their latest album - AM - got them to another level in rock'n'roll and they've come over the top with countless awards and a world tour that filled arenas for good part of 2013 and 2014.

Arctic Monkeys was the first band that recall enjoying like crazy not long after moving to the UK. The audience just goes mental for as long as they're playing and I definitely love an insane audience

Not long after the AM album came out, I spent a whole week in Amsterdam with my friend Guio listening to it over and over again, I was so in love with Alex that I couldn't wait to see Arctic Monkeys live again.

Thanks to an amazing girl called Louise, I got a chance to see them at their last visit in Finsbury Park and I had a great night. Do never hesitate to see them playing live.

And if you get a chance to meet Alex, please tell him that I am in owe.

DETAILS:
Finsbury Park - http://www.haringey.gov.uk/finsburypark 

Arctic Monkeys - www.arcticmonkeys.com - www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpOSxM0rNPM

  

Zorita's Kitchen

 

It's been one week and one day and I've spent the whole time wondering: why didn't I come I here before?  I'm not going to wonder anymore and simply show up when the sun shines.

This is yet another Spanish restaurant where you can enjoy Spanish beer or wine whilst admiring the Tate Modern, the runners preparing for the next race and the executives from the City having a strall after work - as if they ever did that.

Please come round and enjoy a great selection of cured meats ("cecina" is a must), cheeses, salads and "tostas".  Zorita's Kitchen also has a shop where you can purchase wine to stock up your cellar at home - I don't have a cellar but my drinks cupboard is now full of excellent Ribera del Duero.

 DETAILS:
Zorita's Kitchen - www.the-haciendas.com/zoritas-kitchen/london.php - Broken Wharf House, 2 Broken Wharf, London EC4V 3DT

Pasha

Let me introduce you to Pasha, one of the many excellent restaurants in Upper St (Islington). I love spending time in this area of London, and the day after Arsenal won the 2014 FA Cup I couldn't be anywhere else. 

This little Turkish restaurant, offers great Mediterranean food for a great price. They have a lunch menu even on the weekends including 2 dishes for less than £20. My main reason for coming here, however, is because they're always open for business, from 10pm dinner on a Friday or to a 5pm lunch on a Sunday.

There is nothing pretentious about Pasha - probably it's one of the main reasons why I love it - but when you have the highest quality and attitude, experience and ingredients, why would you need to pretend?

DETAILS:
Pasha - www.pashaislington.co.uk/ - 301 Upper St, London N1 2TU

Bam-bou

If you are walking down Charlotte St you will directly land at Bam-bou in 1 Percy St. This is one of the many perfect spots of London, where you can take a date, go dine with a large group of friends in one of their private rooms or have a business meal - I've done all of the above. 

The main dining room is on the ground floor, there is another dining room (a bit more laid back as it includes a bar) on the first floor; on the third floor there are a couple of smaller rooms ideal for a bigger parties - it looks like you're dining in your own house - and if you make it all the way to the top you'll hit the Red Bar with a great variety of excellently made cocktails.

The food is also quite divine, as you would expect in any other of the Caprice Group restaurants, defined as Chinese, Vietnamese, and Thai. By now, I might have tried most of the dishes, and I can confirm that everything is good, really good (within my favourite's the prawn dumplings and the peppered beef).

Make sure that you save some energy to make it to the top floor bar after dinner for a drink or 2, in order to have a night with a cherry on top.

DETAILS:
Bam-bou - www.bam-bou.co.uk/ - 1 Percy St, London W1T 1DB
Caprice Group - www.caprice-holdings.co.uk/

Meat Mission

Brought to you by the same owners as Meat Liquor and Meat People, now open in Shoreditch and offering incredible burgers and out-of-this-world chicken wings. They do home delivery tooif you happen (meaning you are lucky) to live near by - we took our "gourmet club" friends a few weeks ago and since then, Meat Mission's number is in their speed dial.

There is always a good vibe, and there is a DJ booth, so evenings will turn messy - good messy, of course. They serve you the pints in garrafes - in 2s or 3s - and their cocktails' list is so yummy that I'd like to try everything from start to end.

Anyway, you should come here for the big tray of amazing food which will definitely raise your happiness levels :-D

DETAILS:
Meat Mission - www.meatmission.com/ - 15 Hoxton Market, London N1 6HG

The Engineer - Primrose Hill

I don't think the fact that I love pubs will come as a surprise to anyone, but who doesn't? In case you still hesitate, imagine a pub in Primrose Hill, including a beer garden, really friendly staff, a well stocked bar (including cocktails), and mouthwatering food, are you in love now?

In this pub I celebrated my first birthday in London, I met the General Manager of Liverpool football club, I got into a fight with a snob guy, I hung out with Jim Sturgess, I had lunch with my brother before he moved to the States (and go back every time he visits), I also said goodbye to Kevin before he left for Ireland, I took most of the friends who visited the city, and I ate Sunday roast with my dad in his last visit to town... there are countless great memories from this place even if the details were forgotten long before leaving the place.

I love this place!

DETAILS:
The Engineer - www.theengineerprimrosehill.co.uk/ - 65 Gloucester Ave, London NW1 8JH