My Favourite Things of 2013

As it's nearly February I thought it was time I made some kind of a roundup of 2013.

Best Place Visited

Valencia. 

And what a surprise that was, considering I have never liked any visit to Spain before.

A gorgeous old city, full of beauty, history and culture, with incredible food and wine, an amazing beach and nightlife….what more could you want from a holiday?


Best Restaurant

There are two.

Duck and Waffle, for creative food in a casual, vibrant atmosphere with incredible drinks. Did I forget something? Oh yeah. THAT view.

José, the cutest, busiest tapas joint in Bermondsey. Be prepared to wait for a tiny table, knocking elbows with everyone around. But that's all part of it's charm. It's loud, it's busy, but it's beautiful and the tapas is some of the best to be found in London.


Best Dish

Grilled Iberico Presa with whipped jamon butter, from Ember Yard.

Far and away the best dish I had last year. I can still remember how soft and tender the pork was, the gorgeously smokey charred taste it left in my mouth from the charcoal grill and the jamon butter, which should be renamed crack.

If you only go to one restaurant this year, please make it Ember Yard so you can try the beauty that is this dish.


Honorable Mention

Peckham Bazaar.

Incredible Greek food, just a little too far out of the way to make it a regular haunt - it is literally in the middle of no where in Peckham. But serves the most beautiful Greek/Middle Eastern food in all the land.


Best Drink

Experimental Cocktail Club, China Town (try to find it behind the white door!). It pains me to say I can't remember the name of this drink, but I still remember it tasted like the Caribbean. It came in a bottle as it had to be stored for 3 days before serving. It contained coconut, tea, rum, and much more and it was beauty in a bottle!

Closely followed by the smokey cocktails from Ember Yard too. If you like floral, try "Il Profuma Di Maria".

Best Bar

Dr Evans and Peel Detective Agency, Earl's Court.

Very secret. Book an appointment and have a case at the ready!

Opium, Chinatown. For reasons that shall remain secret :) 
Try and find that one too! Behind a green door this time.

My favourite thing to do?

Visit a food market. Either Borough, for Bread Ahead's Brownies, or the Real Food Market on Southbank, along with a walk up and down to look at this view.

2013 was a year of extreme highs and lows. Only 21 days in and 2014 is already kicking 2013's butt.