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CAFE BRINDISA, STH. KENSINGTON

I went for lunch in London with a friend Leo, and found good ham and a new type of coffee….

A cortado (from the Spanish cortar, known as “Tallat” in Catalan, “Pingo” or “Garoto” in Portugal and “noisette” in France) is an espresso “cut” with a small amount of warm milk to reduce the acidity. The ratio of milk to coffee is between 1:1 – 1:2, and the milk is added after the espresso

COFFEE IN ENGLAND

The coffee in England is crap.
However, there is a move afoot….and I am surprised to say; it is all from Australia and new Zealand.
We are the barristas of this coming decade, it seems.
As soon as it becomes clear that I have come from Australia; more often than not the conversation turns to…
” aaah; you’ll be after a decent coffee. Let me see; there’s Grain on Portobello Road. Lantana in Fitzrovia…or try Sacred in the bookstore on the alley just before Covent Gardens….or look out for TaylorSt baristas….there’s a few of them.”

BANNERS

In Crouch End there is a cafe called Banners. It has one of the most warm and inviting atmospheres that you’ll ever come across. Covered with music posters, old and new; museum-esque signs letting you know that ‘Bob Dylan sat here in 1968′; noticeboards overflowing and happy music.
Jamaican food, wine and beer alongside a constant wholegrain breakfast menu.
I started London with Jamaican chicken curry, my sister and a bottle of red, followed, the next morning by the big vege breakfast and a fat coffee.

SLEEP

Here is a great herbal tea concoction that really does put you to sleep.
Planet organic ‘bedtime tea’ which is a combination of lemongrass, valerian and hops….all in a teabag.
Add to that, the leaves of the casimiroa tree (white sapote). It’s a native mexican tree but it is grown in Australia too…Tropical Fruit World sells it online.
If you want a good strainer for herbal teas just go to any japanese shop or asian supermarket and ask for a green tea strainer set.

INVITA…BEST SOUP AWARD

INVITA, a vegetarian cafe that makes the best soup in the world. I had broccoli and cauliflower soup that had me jiggling my legs as I ate, it was so yummy. I also had a toasted chilli bean wrap…I was full but had to try it too….kidney beans, corn, tomato, onion, garlic, guacamole, sour cream, spinach, tasty cheese, pita bread. It’s in Queen Victoria markets on Therry street.

1806 COCKTAIL EXTRAVAGANZA

A long room with a mezzanine so that all look ‘to’ and ‘upon’ the almost burlesque cocktail making in action.
The mezzanine has a cabinet that runs the whole length that is a museum grade homage to the art of cocktail making…shakers from the last century, etched shot glasses from Paris etc etc.
I sat downstairs at the bar and watched, mesmerized, as the barman (is there a name for professional barmen?) poured flaming liquid from one steel jug to another again and again. This, it turns out, is a Blue Blazer…possibly created by Jerry ‘The professor’ Thomas, at the El Dorado in San Fransisco around 1850.
A mix of scotch whiskey and boiling water is ignited and poured from one container to the other until mixed and heated. Then a little sugar and the peel of a lemon are added…the peel being twisted and wiped around the lip of the glass.
The black blazer is a variation created around the gold fields in the 1800′s. Navy proof dark rum and organic black chocolate……but I digress.
I opted for one of their modern concoctions…Bitter Chocolate Orange Martini.
A variation on the negroni (which was  a variation on the Americano (add gin and remove the soda) as requested by Count Camillo Negroni who frequented Bar Carsoni in the 1920′s and drank Americanos.)
I think I should go again and have an americano, then a negroni then this one again….orange with gin, campari and bitter dark chocolate. OOOO yes.

1806 is a cocktail bar on exhibition street in Melbourne
www.1806.com.au