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Dining: Roast and the Earl Grey Martini

Tuesday 30 June 2009

 

The picture above is the Earl Grey Martini, and aside from being the Delilah to my Samson for the better part of an afternoon, it’s also a work of genius and about the most refreshing summer cocktail going –particularly if you’re not a fan of fruit based cocktails, or the Mint Julep.

Entirely the work of a former Roast barman, a friendly barmaid, of what is now my favourite cocktail haunt, kindly shared the recipe. And now I share it with you. There is a little pre-planning required but nothing taxing.


The basic ingredient:

50ml of Earl Grey infused Tanqueray Gin
25ml of fresh Lemon juice
25ml of gomme (boil sugar and water to make a sweet watery syrup)

 

Add ice and shake. Coat the rim of your Martini glass in sugar (as you would do salt for a Margarita) Then strain your mixture into the glass. You should also chill your glass prior to use.

Pre-planning: To infuse your gin with Earl Grey Tea, simply mix your gin with loose leaf Earl Grey Tea, poor through a tea strainer and funned back into the bottle.
The tea provides a fragrant freshness to the drink, the gin the body, the lemon the kick and the sugar just removes the sharpness.

I intend to serve them as a pre-bbq livener.

 

The Dining Experience

Of course even better than making them yourself, is to go to Roast and have someone make one for you. Situated in the roof of Borough Market the bar at Roast is small, but it has a wonderful view. It’s light and comfortable, and the staff are all warm and genuinely friendly, and actually look pleased to be working there. You can sit and chat or simply gaze out over the street scene below, and read a complimentary paper. On average the cocktails cost £9.00 and a bar menu is available. Alternatively treat yourself and dine behind the bar in the main restaurant. The food is exceptional being sourced from Borough Markets finest merchants; the views are even nicer in the restaurant.

Three courses and drinks will set you back roughly £100 between the two of you. A slightly cheaper, simpler menu is available at lunch time, comprising some solid favourites like fish and chip and a burger. On the whole the menu is meat based and its dishes are distinctly masculine, which is logical given its location. Indeed, I think of Roast as very much a natural man’s restaurant.

As for the atmosphere, it has a young, fresh, relaxed feel, a relaxed dress code certainly helps this. Nevertheless, everything is done to properly and to perfection, and yet you shouldn’t feel uncomfortable or out of place, even if you don’t know your salad fork from your fish knife. Its become one of my favourite restaurants, and is an ideal place for a special date, dining clients or a quick cocktail on the way home.

I should apologise for my recent absence, I should think you heartily sick of Royal Ascot...

I have endured a solid weeks heavy socialising, and I’m afraid it took its toll. But, half a stone heavier, a few brain cells lighter, and some unexplained bruises later, I’m back in the land of the living and ready to get back to work.

Posted by Stealth

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