Steffen Timm takes a tour of Stockholm’s best haunts for cigar lovers
Stockholm is regarded as one of the most beautiful capitals in the world. In fact, there is something magical about it, in particularly during the early summer, when the parks and public spaces along the water are filled with locals who seem to praise every second of sunlight after a long, cold and dark winter. (more…)
20 questions with Marcus Schelbert, food and beverage duty manager of Belgraves – A Thompson Hotel
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
My friends, my family and my passion for my work, drinks and food.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
“Don’t talk, just do it as it could be the last day of your life”.
A review of Covent Garden’s Loch Fyne Restaurant
In May 2004, the car park of the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar at Clachan in Argyll, Scotland became famous after Gordon Brown and John Prescott met there to discuss and agree who would be Tony Blair’s successor. (more…)
20 questions with chocolatier Amelia Rope
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
Drive and determination.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
Keep it simple, remain focused and go for it.
Matthew Steeples answers food writer Jamie Cotter-Craig’s questions
I’m used to asking questions. So far, I’ve done over a hundred “What’s on your mantelpiece?” interviews with people ranging from champion jockey Frankie Dettori to hedge fund titan Alan Miller via glamour model Leah Newman and author Kathy Lette. (more…)
Charles Saatchi returns to the scene of the ‘throttling’
Charles Saatchi has been dining out a lot lately. With his ‘domestic goddess’ wife holed up in her sister’s flat in Mayfair, the art mogul put on an especially strong show of defiance by returning to Scott’s on Monday night to take the very same table where he allegedly ‘throttled’ Nigella Lawson.
London restaurants where diners got more than they bargained for
In the first in a series, we tell the stories of five restaurants in Central London where diners sadly got a little more than dinner. All bar Walton’s are still open.
The Steeple Times asks The Palm’s supervisor Ezio Arceri: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
My family and girlfriend.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
“Let’s do it”.
Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2013?
Who is Kerry Katona? That the average life is just 90 years. People should live longer.
Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?
My family as I am far away from them.
What might you swap all your wealth for?
I’m happy as I am.
Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the banking crisis?
I hope to be saved.
What phrase or word do you most loathe?
“As soon as possible”.
In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?
I think charity is the bloodline of the community and I support the Red Cross.
The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?
They are useful but they are like the demon in that they are intrusive.
If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?
Friends, family and my girlfriend.
If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?
A 30oz prime USDA New York strip steak from The Palm. I would eat it in the bedroom I had as a teenager.
What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?
It depends on what time you wake up.
A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?
A Negroni.
Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?
When they are unexpected.
Who is the most positive person you know?
My mama.
What’s your most guilty pleasure?
I don’t know. I’m a good guy.
If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?
I have a tattoo and I designed it myself. It is full of meanings relating to letters, faces, butterflies, spirals, happy faces, sad faces and jackals. It is about freedom.
If you were a car, what marque would you be?
A Mercedes-Benz. I own a left-hand drive C-class with a British plate. I imported it to the UK.
Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.
I’m always happy.
What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?
I don’t have one but if I did, pictures of my family.
Ezio Arceri is the supervisor at The Palm, 1 – 3 Pont Street, London, SW1X 9EJ. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7201 0710. Website: http://www.thepalm.com/London
Follow him on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/Arcezioo
Follow The Palm London on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/PalmLondon
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A happy hour with a difference launches at The Palm in London’s Belgravia
Opened in May 2009, The Palm replaced the legendary restaurant Drones of Pont Street. Amongst the original backers of Drones were David Niven Jr. and Sir Roger Moore. Nicky Kerman, a titan of the restaurant world, was another part owner. A later reincarnation was the brainchild of television chef Antony Worrall Thompson. Of the décor of this era, critic Nick Foulkes described it as: “Daphne’s meets The Magic Roundabout with a touch of Swedish sauna”. Next came a lady named Annie Foster Firth and most recently it opened as Marco Pierre White’s Drones in 2001.