flatwhite.net » Food & Drink

The Vertue of the COFFEE Drink..

Matt — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:54:27 +0000

Nothing Vulgar About Beetroot

Joanne — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 06:38:48 +0000

I think I'm going to start a campaign for a revival of the 19^th Century name for the beetroot - blood turnip. It’s an infinitely more evocative name for a humble root vegetable that has hidden depths. Today, many varieties of Beta vulgaris are grown around the world, (when was the last time YOU ate a Burpee’s Golden or a Bull’s Blood beet?)

Curry 101

Guest Barista — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 11:09:50 +0000

I have never been a particularly great cook and don't profess to be one now, but on passing the milestone recently that is turning 30, I have reflected on the fact that one good thing about getting older is that I seem to be getting a heck of a lot better in the kitchen. One culinary aspect that's been receiving more of my attention of late is the art of making curry. I've always been a fan of a good curry, but my attempts at rustling up one from scratch a few years ago had always been disappointing and I found myself instead relying on the trusty jar of Pataks instead of making my own.

Huzzah for the Delocator!

Matt — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 14:04:42 +0000

I'm disappointed to admit that since my vitriolic splutterings about Starbucks a few months back, I've done nothing to hasten the downfall of the filthy, brazen hound. Short, that is, of the odd lazy, evil eye when I amble past it's unnaturally gleaming windows on the high street. Must try harder. Some people are doing their bit though, like the helpful folk at Delocator.

Dry July

Matt — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 22:00:00 +0000

The details of those ten years are bloody sketchy, and I'm certainly not about to recount those that I can remember here, but it's fair to say that I spent most of the time either drunk, drinking to get drunk, or trying to scam the money to buy drink to get drunk. Quite a waste when you look back on it, and a lifestyle that, while surely unsustainable in the long term, could possibly have continued up to the present day had it not been for the unexpected yet thankful interlude of Dry July in 1999.

The Best Coffee in London

Matt — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 13:46:00 +0000

I recently thrust up my volunteering hand following a request from the nice folk at Spacific for people to sniff and sip their way around London searching for the perfect Flat White. Spacific is in the process of collating results and will be posting aggregated scores on their site shortly (I'll link to it when they do), but in my caffeine-addled state I ended up scratching a few notes about each of the cafes and thought I'd post the full deal here. Note that the cafes are listed in the order visited, and the prices quoted are for double-shot Flat Whites with regular milk.

Eat Your Greens

Matt — Wed, 02 May 2007 21:02:46 +0000

In the past two and a half years, the closest thing to a beastie that has passed my lips has been a surprise anchovy stuffed inside a spainish olive. After a youth spent devouring all sorts of animals in vast quanitities, my shimmy into vegetarianism came quite unexpectedly. As unexpected as that sneaky anchovy I guess, but in a different way all together - quite a pleasant one which I'm bloody pleased took place.

Pils wars

Guest Barista — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 09:22:38 +0000

Summer ebbs away in the southern hemisphere, and its passing is most keenly felt in the memory of the pleasant glow generated by a cool glass of beer. Frosty on the outside, brimming on the inside with bubbly bitter goodness, beer is second only to sunscreen in the most valuable summer liquid stakes.

Why I hate Starbucks

Matt — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 10:00:00 +0000

Nothing would make me happier than waking to the news of a total collapse of Starbucks around the globe, brought to its knees and leaving scarred retail space from which could spring a million different types of coffee-shops each doing things their own way and giving us back our stolen freedom to choose...

New year food resolution (revolution?)

Guest Barista — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 22:56:11 +0000

Hands up those of you northern hemisphere residents that gaily filled your champagne flutes with strawberries over the silly season (I did). Well whilst we can’t necessarily be expected to do the right thing all of the time, and certain allowances can be made for those special occasions such as xmas and new year, we should all feel the littlest bit guilty.