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Douglas Blyde takes a look at Foxton's - the estate agents - first move into dining at Pavilion

Published:  31 July, 2014

Pavilion, the restaurant, is the latest addition to the TARDIS-like, six floor luxury serviced office complex of that name, created by the founder of Foxton's estate agents, Jon Hunt and daughter Emma.

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Jayke Mangion on the story behind setting up a restaurant in an old Clapham public toilet

Published:  29 July, 2014

 

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Douglas Blyde takes a trip back in time with Luxardo and Maraschino liqueurs

Published:  25 July, 2014

In honour of today's British visitors, the Union Jack is draped alongside the bandiera d'Italia at Luxardo's distillery near Padua. But both are motionless given the lack of breeze.

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Imogen Taylor on "exciting" white South African wines and making it as a young sommelier

Published:  18 July, 2014

Douglas Blyde talks to the 22 year-old sommelier of Greyhound at The Test in Stockbridge who says it was not her father of Stone Vine & Sun fame that inspired her to take up a career in wine, but getting her hands dirty out in wineries around the world instead.

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David Babich on how carefully matched food helps bring his wines alive

Published:  10 July, 2014

David Babich, general manager of the family-owned Babich Wines, which reaped its first vintage in Auckland's Henderson Valley in 1916, along with Dinah Kinnear, sales manager for Europe, introduced their wine range at a special event hosted by UK distributor, PLB, at London's Underground Cookery School.

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Douglas Blyde compares the culinary and wine delights of the Fat Duck and Fera at Claridge's

Published:  24 June, 2014

Occurring within days, I was lucky enough to experience arguably two of England's finest chefs calibrate dishes to complement complex ferment from noble estates. These were served in the presence of two of the trade's most celebrated raconteurs.

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Miguel Smith on why life is so much better with a Mount Gay rum in your hand

Published:  20 June, 2014

Douglas Blyde meets the UK and international brand ambassador for Mount Gay rum who oversees the brand's maturation facility in Barbados' parish of St Lucy. Miguel Smith joined the business in 1991, and was instrumental in the development of the award-winning Extra Old blend.

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Joel Cadbury on driving wine sales and training at Bel & Dragon Inns

Published:  30 May, 2014

Douglas Blyde talks with Joel Cadbury, founder of the Groucho private members club, about the wines he is serving up at his estate of Bel & Dragon Inns.

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Katie Cooper on why the Berry Bros' Wine Club stands out from the pack

Published:  28 May, 2014

Douglas Blyde catches up with Katie Cooper, manager of Berry Bros & Rudd's Wine Club, on the kind of wines and service she offers its growing band of members.

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Douglas Blyde joins a sommelier tour of Hungary

Published:  08 May, 2014

A gentle breeze sifts scrub as an old orange Russian-made truck wobbles by, threatening to spill its cargo of freshly-hewn boulders. Far away on the periphery of the crater that is this open mine stands a supervisor, surveying István Szepsy Jr. and our troupe of transplanted sommeliers.

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Douglas Blyde experiences Kabuki Raw - Spain's gastronomic tribute to Japan

Published:  29 April, 2014

A meal, as a life, needs a structure. Like fleeting youth, lingering middle age and then the inevitable gradual decline into fluffy grey forgetfulness, a meal in three courses (or acts) must appetise, sate, and then comfortably conclude, diner high on ferment, with sweet reward...

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Aviation gin founder, Thomas Mooney, on rise of craft spirits

Published:  24 April, 2014

Douglas Blyde talks to Thomas Mooney, first  president of the American Craft Distillers Association and co-owner and chief executive of American craft distillery, House Spirits - makers of Aviation gin.

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Douglas Blyde unleashes his senses on José Sanfins' wines at London's Clos Maggiore

Published:  22 April, 2014

According to research recently published in journal, "Science", the average human is equipped to differentiate some one trillion odours (999,999,990,000 more than previously thought). Buoyed by these findings, I was keen to apply my apparently amazing snout to the finery at Clos Maggiore's wine club. Tonight's instalment was hosted by Matt Thomas. Formerly a store manager at Majestic Wines, Thomas joined Hallgarten Druitt, as account development manager six months ago. Despite Clos Maggiore's Covent Garden location, Thomas's territory, work-wise and residentially is Dalston where he secured accounts, White Rabbit and Jones & Son, which he highly recommends are worth a visit

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Douglas Blyde visits Putney's new Italian trattoria BIBO

Published:  09 April, 2014

BIBO, defined as "simply the Latin, Bibo (I drink) - Bibo ergo Sum if you will," by consultant-sommelier, Zeren Wilson, is brought to you by restaurateur Rebecca Mascarenhas, mind behind local stars, Sam's Brasserie and Kitchen W8, and chef Chris Beverley, "one of Theo Randall's top boys."

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Why UK bars, restaurants and retailers are putting their faith in sherry in the UK

Published:  04 April, 2014

Value, quality, style: sherry has it all. But can it sustain its recent renaissance? Douglas Blyde asks ten of the UK's leading sherry lovers what the future has in store

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Why UK bars, restaurants and retailers are putting their faith in sherry in the UK

Published:  04 April, 2014

Douglas Blyde talks with 10 of the UK's most influential sherry opinion formers in the UK, including leading figures in on and off-trades, suppliers and importers, on how sherry is enjoying a new lease of life across the country

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Q&A: Bruce Perry, sales director, Eaux de Vie

Published:  07 March, 2014

Bruce Perry is in good spirits as he talks frankly to Douglas Blyde about Cognac's place in the spirits market

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Q&A: Bruce Perry, sales director, Eaux de Vie

Published:  07 March, 2014
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Douglas Blyde hears history, gains insight and tastes wines at Fells first summit

Published:  26 February, 2014

Combine one part history lesson with another part insight into the runnings of five family businesses, with a final part of tutored wine tastings, and the first Fells wine forum would result.

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Douglas Blyde visits The Whip at the Running Horse

Published:  11 February, 2014

"The Whip" cocktail lounge above Mayfair's oldest pub, The Running Horse (1738) launched last week launched last week.

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