Kate Matlock's Qype profile

Had a great night of making cocktails at their masterclass and drinking plenty of others. The strawberry and basil mojito is dang tasty on a hot (23C) day and the whisky sour is fab as well. The bartenders are quick and smart, and that's a plus. I'll definitely be back for dinner sometime because all the food that passed us looked tasty!

I cant say much about the pub like the other reviewers. My cider was cold and the place was clean, but otherwise take their word.

What I am so chuffed to find is some proper Korean food! Usually people point me in the direction of Soho/Chinatown when I say I want bibimbap or bulgogi. They must be nuts! This place is the real deal.

From the grills on the tables to the soju in the fridge - it's 100% authentic Korean food. The clientele at dinner time should be evidence enough. When I see Koreans eating Korean food in a restaurant, I know I've hit the jackpot.

While it's a bit of a hard place to find if you're not local, it's worth the effort. Will definitely visit again!

What a fabulous ride!

Short story basics that you should know: The bikes are Brompton (excellent quality and super portable), the guides are knowledgeable, the pace and routes are easy and safe regardless of athletic ability or ‘wrong’ side biking, and it ends with a pint!

For the longer version... We met at Bermondsey tube and walked to the pub that would be the start and end of our trip – The Old Justice. Ian, our guide, along with his sister, Jacquie, set us up with bikes and helmets (optional) and we set off on our tour of Hidden London. As an Eastender myself, this was a great tour of areas I’ve never had an opportunity to visit on both sides of the river.

The tour hits destinations like the Mayor’s office, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, Wapping, Shadwell, Canary Wharf, Canada Water and Bermondsey. I’d hate to give it all away, since these special places are ‘hidden’ for a reason – so you can go on this tour and feel like you must be the only one to know about them, appreciate them and understand what it is that makes them so special. (I do!)

What makes the tour even more special is that you really get a unique view of the city (forget the hop-on-hop-off) and cover so much ground in a relatively short amount of time. If you have questions, both Ian and Jacquie are filled with an amazing amount of knowledge about the areas. Occasionally, Ian would pull out an iPad and supplement our view of the area with historical photos or paintings. It really puts things in perspective on how much London has changed.

If you are debating on whether this is the tour for you (or any of their tours for that matter), may I just say that this is an incredible value for the money. I’ve been on plenty of day trips and the cost for mileage, knowledge, and fun cannot be beaten. I would suggest any one of the tours to my visiting friends for a great day out and I’ll definitely be signing up for the Greenwich tour in the near future!

Yum Yum Yum. Me gusta mucho!

Last night's private fiesta got going with Tequileno Tequila Blanco - 100% agave - and LOTS of it. We had an opportunity to try 7 Leguas Blanco as well, and compare the tastes before sampling 6 of the delicious cocktails that could be served up with your tacos or burritos. From the perfect margarita to cocktails with watermelon to espresso, I'm a total convert to tequila-based drinks!

To soak up all the tequila, we tried soft tacos filled with beef, pork, chicken or veggies, along with some salad and cheese. Served up on the side were some totopos and toppings of delicious salsa verde or a super hot chili salsa, sour cream and fresh, chunky guacamole. I was in heaven!

I'm definitely going to go again - to whichever location is within reach! Muy delicioso!

I have heard of Trader Vic's before, but had no idea what to expect. When I stepped through the door and was greeted by Polynesian statues, I got the giggles - this would be fun, I thought to myself!

As I walked down the stairs, there was a mix of decor - from the carpet that seemed like it belonged in a Ruby Tuesday's to the coral, shells, tiki men and ... oh my gosh is that really a canoe filled with fruity cocktails?!

Indeed, folks! This place is full-on themed from the walls to the staff. It seemed out of place for the location, but the clientele was easy on the eye! ;)

They had a great bar and the staff was very attentive. I cant say much about the food, as I only had a (pretty decent) BBQ rib, but this place could be a whole lot of fun for a party.

Thanks to a Qype/My Kind of Phone event, I recently had the opportunity to pop in and try a slice - cut with scissors and popped into the oven! I had no idea fully what this place was about until I just read the reviews below. I mean, it just looked like a pizza place, but different than others. That's the great thing about events - I learn about new places and try new things!

So, what I've learned is that the pizza is sold by weight - and ya know what? I think that's great! You can eat to fit your budget or eat to fill your tummy! Honestly, it's still not that expensive and it's a quickly-served treat in the heart of Soho!

I had the spicy salami - I recommend it!

I rarely get out of the 'ditch, so a trip to Clapham - SOUTH! - seems like a trip to the country. Thank goodness it's only just a 30min ride on the Northern line because I cant wait to go back!

The Avalon is a lovely, large pub with huge tables outside for large groups to gather. There's seating inside and a dining area just beyond the main pub area.

Our gathering sent us straight out the back into a large garden space. I'm impressed with the size of it because it went back much farther than seemed possible.

There is a large grill outside and since we were there for a grilled meat class, it was the perfect venue for a sunny summer evening.

With plenty of Pimms to get me going, I popped on an apron and helped put some mince rump burgers on the grill. They were huge! Once cooked, we dressed them up with salad and creams and munched while our second course got going.

Next up was peri-peri chicken. We watched the marinade mix in the food processer before getting generously massaged onto the massive butterflied breasts. Served up with some salad - delish!

Our final tasting was Cumberland sausage - blanched before grilling! This might have been the best trick I learned all night - cook your sausage then grill them just to get the skin nice and carmelized. Truthfully, they were perfect!

I checked out the menu, gazed at the other plates passing by (especially the desserts) and declared I needed to come to Clapham more often - with friends - to Avalon!

I am way overdue to say how wonderful it was to be invited to a Fernandez & Leluu dinner when they hosted Jim Haynes. It was such a unique way to spend an evening.

The whole event was fairly informal. It's like showing up at a friend's house for a dinner party. There were cocktails being served and tons of wine to try.

The menu well represented our hosts. And while I wouldnt normally associate the foods together, it all tasted great. So there are really no complaints!

I'd love to revisit Fernandez and Leluu on a regular night to really get the feeling for what they do. Special events are nice, but I wonder if it would be a more intimate evening when there is not an event taking center stage away from the food.

That said, I'm loving my After Eights! Thanks to everyone involved for a wonderful (birthday!) evening. Stay tuned for an updated review.