Bite Me!

When the weather’s as hot and sticky as it has been here in London recently, a person’s thoughts lightly turn to thoughts of ICE-CREAM.  Now, I’m a big fan of ye olde supermarket special soft scoop for £2 a litre, but sometimes a lady wants something a little more... refined.  And so to Gino Gelato, purveyors of what is surely some of the finest sorbet in the whole of London Town.  All their ice-cream is made in-store, and it’s fresh every day.  The staff are lovely and let you try different flavours before you buy (which is just as well as it’s not cheap – £3.80 for a double scoop, though the scoops are big).  On this latest trip I tried raspberry and merlot sorbet, coffee gelato, and almond and orange blossom gelato before plumping for fruits of the forest teamed with watermelon and vodka sorbet.  Delicious.  So if you’re in Touristville (aka Trafalgar Square) this summer and get bored of dodging mimes and tour groups, go get yourself some gelato.  It’s cool.

Gino Gelato, 3 Adelaide Street, London WC2N 4HZ

Secret restaurants seem to be everywhere in the news at the moment, so when Foodrambler started up her very own Rambling Restaurant, I had to go and check it out.  The evening started well - I followed the treasure hunt-style clues to a mystery location in Bethnal Green to be faced with a roof terrace straight out of the Arabian nights.  The three tables filled up quickly, and it was great to chat with some other London foodies and savour a glass of champagne with rosewater.

The first course, a selection of three dips, was served with soft, freshly-made flatbreads and harissa lamb, for the meat-eaters among us.  My favourite dip was a sweet, nubbly carrot dip served with tangy crumbled feta - a great combination.  The main course was a flaky chicken bastilla for the others, and a big, hearty pepper and orange salad for me, dressed with a superb garlic yoghurt. 

The pudding, though, was the piece de resistance - a divinely squidgy, dark, chocolate torte, served with two distinctive and unusual ice-creams - a pomegranite sorbet and an orange-blossom ice-cream.  They were so nice I've decided to buy an ice-cream maker for myself so that I can have them again!

All this, for only £15?  Brilliant.  For bookings and news of future events, see the Rambling Restaurant Facebook page.