Posts Tagged ‘du Vin’
Societe du Vin Has Arrived
We don’t normally like blowing our own trumpet (too much), but we felt we had to shout about our new food and beverage members club. Societe du Vin launched last month, with an incredible 50% off food throughout January. Now I don’t normally need an excuse to celebrate, but it’s even easier to make every day special with this fantastic club. Happy Wednesday! Happy 7th day in your new house! You got a new mug at work? Great! Happy new mug! In case you haven’t come across it yet, let me explain what all the fuss is about. Societe du Vin is a new members club from Hotel du Vin which entitles you to exclusive deals. Your preferences are recorded when you register so you receive weekly deals from only those hotels you’re interested in.
The menus contain the highest quality produce, locally sourced and expertly cooked. If you’re travelling to London or live thereabouts, our 2 stand alone Bistro du Vin’s have offers on too. From February the deals will be different for each hotel and I know that’s one email I will actually look forward to receiving.
The vouchers can be printed off from your email or if you’re savvy with a smartphone, downloaded and presented to your server when you dine. I’m personally looking forward to trying the Duck Rillettes Celeriac Remoulade, and I know the Sommelier will advise me of a suitable wine to pair with it. So thank you Societe du Vin.
In these cold winter months, when everyone seems to be a little more pre-disposed to gloomy moods and punishing themselves for having such an indulgent Christmas, this gives me all the reason I need to celebrate every day of the week, just because. Tomorrow I’m going to take my mother for dinner, to celebrate her new haircut. Then next week I’m going to take my partner for a meal to celebrate the weekend. The week after I think I’ll celebrate it being Tuesday with 3 courses. What will you be celebrating?
An Indian summer
Celebrations are in order. We’ve been given another chance to appreciate the sunshine and relax a little with the arrival of this beautiful Indian summer. So don’t shelve the barely worn shorts and sandals just yet, there’s still plenty of alfresco dining, Champagne afternoon teas on the terrace and maybe the odd barbecue still to be had.
If you were a little disappointed with the summer and missed out on that holiday feeling, think of this as a stroke of good fortune. Steal a moment at lunch to sit in the warm air. Take the opportunity after work to dine alfresco with friends over a bottle of chilled sparkling wine recommended by the sommelier. Set your alarm clock a little earlier to catch the most stunning sunrise to inspire you for the day ahead and grab a coffee and some you-time before nine.
It’s not often we get a second chance, so let’s grab this one with both hands and have a most wonderful Indian summer. After all, autumn is just around the corner.
A spot of alfresco
It is fair to say that the British climate is sporadic at best. A patch of warm weather brings a flurry of wardrobe rearrangements to find the summer dresses and bare leg exposing shorts. But it also gives the ideal temperature to sit outdoors, take in some fresh air and dabble in a little after work tipple or have a nibble on something straight off the barbecue. We are great fans of all things alfresco – Veuve Clicquot in the Courtyard Champagne Bar at Hotel du Vin Edinburgh, the garden at Tunbridge Wells or sitting under the sails at Poole with an ice-cold beer. There is something that makes you feel relaxed and free when you’re able to wine and dine outdoors, as if on holiday. We say bring on the Indian summer and plenty more balmy nights. Of course, if the sky looks temperamental we’d just head to Hotel du Vin York who are prepared for every eventuality to prevent dampened spirits with the brilliant installation of a retractable roof. Indoors outdoors or outdoors indoors, you choose. Just one question to ask – who’s up for a spot of alfresco?
Bistro du Vin Soho Revealed
Father appreciation
I’m organised for once. I’ve bought my card in advance. Isn’t this one of those dates to remember, that unlike Mother’s Day, often gets forgotten? I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s the macho versus emotions thing. Well this year, I want to make sure it and he gets remembered. He deserves to be put on a pedestal. It’s the perfect opportunity (or excuse) to have a family get-together over dinner. I’m thinking of surprising him with a whisky tasting too. A bit of quality time over some quality drams. A little treat is the least I can do. He makes me laugh. He’s always in my corner on any of my battles and my biggest supporter in any of my achievements. He nurtures the most amazing plants with the greenest of fingers. Has the innate ability to fix a car over the telephone line. And he’s always made the most perfect boiled eggs with soldiers. And that just skims the surface of my appreciation. So here’s a little reminder for those who feel the same as me. June 19th let’s fly the flag for fathers and for all the loans, taxis, advice, laughs and dippy boiled eggs, take some time out to say thank you.
I should do this more often, Father’s Day or not.
Bistro du Vin – The Soufflé Rises
All seems calm. St John Street, Clerkenwell. But there’s something bubbling away behind the scenes. Car chases, mystery, action… and ‘Gotham city police station’. All directed by Christopher Nolan (of the massively successful Inception). So bat fans, it’s time to check out Gotham’s finest. You might not catch a glimpse of the Dark Knight himself, but as I sink a spoon into one of the temptingly gorgeous cheese soufflés with a glass of Merlot at hand, I wistfully smile to myself. Forget Batman, I prefer our local food heroes. Sitting right amongst the buzz of the action, behind our trademark green canopy and wine barrels, keeping an eye out for Mr Bale et al on one of their breaks, I look forward to the movie release and will always remember, in the wise words of his super onscreen lady friend Rachel Dawes, “It’s not who you are underneath, it’s what you do that defines you”.
What are you going to do tonight? (eccentric billionaires welcome)
“By the glass” machine to be added to Bistro du Vin
Once the remit of the cooler wine shops, the “By-the-glass” wine dispenser will take pride of place in the new Bistro du Vin. For all those who love to try wine but don’t want to risk the whole bottle or a full glass, this machine will allow you to be more much more adventurous with your wine choice.
The process is simple. Buy a card at the bar of the bistro and top it up as and when. Wine measures come in two sizes – 50cl and 150cl. As far as we’re aware this is the first of it’s kind to feature in a bistro, and is perfect for the du Vin disciple who love his or her wine.
You can see a similar device in the Vagabond Wine shop in London.
I think. Therefore I du Vin…
It was only a matter of time before a company such as ourselves found the wealth of knowledge of wine, and classic bistro dining spilling over from our website into the Blogosphere. So here goes…
- Découverte du vin #lepive avec @tovaxis à l'hôtel Hyatt Regency http://t.co/pY7QdbJdi7 May 23, 2013 MarionZns (Marion Zns)
- Hotel du Vin York so far so good. Textbook deep bath. Decent champagne... May 23, 2013 CWDINGWALL (COLIN DINGWALL)
- RT @VenuesScotland: @HdVEdinburgh are now on the website - check out their page and contact us for more info http://t.co/rf6mAItjZi May 23, 2013 CrazyCowEvents (crazy cow events)
- @PopSocialUK @HdV_Winchester agreed, far too long since I've been to hotel du vin! May 23, 2013 mjm_images (MJM Images)
- so this weekend I have a wedding at Rockliffe Hall on Saturday and I'm up at the lovely Hotel Du Vin in Newcastle... http://t.co/SrJBsxXQsp May 23, 2013 katepymm72 (Kate Pymm Make-Up)
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