THE PIANO WORKS, FARRINGDON

After standing on my feet all day, I was really looking forward to a night of good music and cocktails to kick-start my weekend. 

Located in the basement of a Victorian listed warehouse in the heart of Farringdon, The Piano Works is a creative space of live music and entertainment which seeks to revive the tradition of Victorian music halls - the fascinating, long-forgotten days of smoking jazz lounges, swing balls and Charleston jives. 

 With my wristband strapped on, I made my way down the stairs to the basement where I was further welcomed with a chilled glass of prosecco before I explored the vast space. With a 400 capacity, the place really is quite huge with three bars in total (= less queues, more drinks!). The main stage is obviously the centre of attraction, with a live band consisting of two pianists, vocalists and accompanying musicians. The concept is simple and fun, where the audience can make song requests by writing it on a napkin which is then handed to the band.

You may not have your song played immediately, with the understandably long list of requests, especially on a busy night, but nonetheless you really can't fault the enthusiasm and talent of the band. I do have great admiration for musicians, with a particular soft spot for pianists and saxophonists - if anyone happens to know any eligible ones, do kindly send them my way...

The vibe is vibrant and lively, and all that music and dancing definitely works up an appetite. Thankfully The Piano Works also offers a long list of cocktails and a food menu to keep your energy levels going. 

I started with the Almond and Hazelnut Sour under Kelly's trusted recommendation, made with Disaronno almond liqueur, frangellico hazelnut liqueur, egg white and lemon - definitely no regrets with this choice. I also had a Mai Tai after - because you just can't go wrong with a Mai Tai...

 We had a little sample of the 'Filled Rolls or Not' menu: medium rare ribeye steak, butterflied chicken breast marinated in Moorish spices, a vegetarian pan-fried chickpea and pumpkin seed burger, and my favourite Cajun-spiced softshell crab.

Overall, I love the concept, and it would be a great venue for after-work drinks, a fun night out with friends, or even a potential date spot - maybe even try to jump on and show off your hidden musical skills... 

So get your groove on, and head down to the House of Song.

The Cheekster, signing out x

AFTERNOON TEA AT 108 PANTRY

108 Pantry is an elegant and contemporary space located in The Marylebone hotel’s Edwardian townhouse, located just a few minutes walk from Oxford Street.

Slightly confused with the different entrances, we ended up coming through from the main hotel entrance, passing by the chic lounge on the way in.

The place has quite a homely vibe to it, furnished with vibrantly coloured plump velvet sofas and armchairs, and parquet floors. I also particularly liked the quirky pieces of crockery on the walls: from cats wearing eyeglasses and fascinators to a fish casually puffing away on a slick cigarette.

We were seated on a  lovely plush red velvet sofa by the window - comfort and good lighting, which is what I love (not just for blogging reasons...). The lovely waiter, dressed in a smart waistcoat,  kindly showed us a selection of six different teas, which included some decaffeinated options, all from the Rare Tea Company range. We were allowed to have a whiff of each of them to take in the lovely aromas before we settled for the Earl Grey and Darjeeling tea, the latter of which I seem to have grown more partial towards these days. Later on, I also tried the Wild Red Bush Tea which was also delicious with its distinctive deep red colour.

At 108 Pantry, guests can choose between healthy (gluten-free), indulgent (with a glass of rosé Champagne) and classic versions of afternoon tea.

We both went for the Classic Afternoon Tea, and after saving up our appetites all morning, we were quite excited when the three tiered tower of delights was brought over. They served a selection of fresh sandwiches with classic fillings of ham, cucumber, smoked salmon and cream cheese, and egg and mayonnaise.

Moving up a tier were the warm and fluffy homemade buttermilk scones with a side of Devonshire clotted cream and jam. 

And finally at the top were the delectable cakes and pastries: pistachio cake, a dainty meringue swirl with a passion fruit centre, an indulgent chocolate brownie, and jelly shot with fruits.

Even though we were quite full by the time we (barely) finished the top tier of sweet treats, I just could not resist exploring the tantalizing array of cakes and pastries on display at the counter. There is after all ALWAYS room for more cake...

We tried a slice of Guinness and Baileys Cake which was really moist and delicious, sweet banana and caramel profiterole, and a couple of dainty macarons. 

I was tempted to try one of everything, but I (reluctantly) decided to hold back this time - my hips and waistline will probably thank me for this later.

I have never really quite explored much around the Marylebone area, so I was quite pleased to have visited 108 Pantry which was an enjoyable way to spend the afternoon. The ambience is very chilled and relaxed, the service polite and efficient, and of course the splendid afternoon teas are ideal for the occasional treat. 

The Classic and Healthy Afternoon Teas are normally priced at £28 per person, whilst the Indulgent option costs £38 - do check out their website for further details.

Also, not to forget that Afternoon Tea Week 2015 runs from 10th-16th August, so remember to get your afternoon teas booked in - because you deserve it.

The Cheekster, signing out x

The afternoon tea was complimentary, but views and photos are my own.

 

TURKISH WINE MASTERCLASS, VINOPOLIS

Nestled beneath the Victorian arches of London's Bankside and a stone's throw away from London Bridge, Vinopolis is London's only self-guided wine, champagne and spirit experience. Opened in 1999, the facility offers tours and interactive areas where consumers can learn about the wine making process, how geography can affect vines, and a 'Discovery Zone' that directs them towards wines that they might prefer based on a taste preference questionnaire.

I was lucky to be invited to one of their unique wine tastings - a masterclass run by the Turkish Wine Alliance which offered the opportunity to sample some of Turkey's finest wines. I have not been to that many wine tasting events, so this was somewhat one of my many ongoing 'Continued Professional Developments'...
Okay, not quite in line with my actual professional work life, but I mean, who could possibly turn down a good glass of wine? Or ten...

Turkey has experienced a surge in their wine production and market in the last few decades, with the bigger names on the Turkish wine scene now joined by a variety of exciting new boutique producers. 

This tailored masterclass was hosted by Sarah Abbott, Master of Wine, who quoted,
"People love these wines when they taste them. The flavour profile of modern Turkish wines is hugely appealing to UK consumers. They have bright, pure fruit and lovely juicy freshness. If you like wines from Southern France, USA, Australia or Italy, you'll enjoy these wines."
 

We were given a brief introduction to Turkish wines and the different regions, as well as a crash course on how to taste wine and distinguishing the colours, aroma, and palate. Sarah was lovely and enthusiastic, and her passion for Turkish wine really showed - she used simple and non-pretentious words and explanations which definitely suited an amateur wine lover like myself.

On this masterclass, we were transported to the exotic flavours of Turkey, tasting 10 different wines, which included vino favourites Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, as well as some indigenous discoveries such as Narince and Kalecik Karasi.

The producers present at the event included: Arcadia Vineyards, Barbare, Büyülübağ, Diren, Doluca, Kavaklidere, Karya, Kocabağ, Pamukkale and Vinkara.

My memory of the event is slightly hazy after all the good wine, but I remember one of our favourites that we enjoyed was the Vinkara Doruk Narince 2013.

We were also sat at the same table as the lovely Mr Alp Törüner whose vineyard produced the fruity and aromatic Büyülübağ Cabernet Sauvignon - of which he gave us an extra top up of later on, of course...

The array of Turkish wines was accompanied by a selection of Turkish olives and cheese. 

 

Turkish wines are increasingly being stocked by well-known retailers including Marks and Spencer, Laithwaites and The Wine Society, and are a natural addition to the ultimate wine experience.

The Turkish Wine Alliance will run at Vinopolis from now until the end of 2015, when they close their doors after a successful 16 years.
Do check out their website where you can explore other packages and experiences to suit your tastes and preferences.

The Cheekster, signing out x