Spuntino

My defences are down. I went to Spuntino last night and I have woken up with a warm fuzzy feeling inside. So, I’ll be honest - I plan on saying nothing bad about this new eating spot in the depths of seediest Soho. There’s something about Spuntino’s low lighting, bar-loud Americano music and comfort food that make it so hard not to love.

Spuntino comes from the crew who brought Polpetto and Polpo. London's new-found love of small plate dining shows no sign of losing pace. Spuntino follows on a similar theme, whilst opting for a New York, rather than Italian-inspired, menu. It sits on Rupert Street, a rusted and unassuming exterior nestled between sex book shops and flashing neon signs. What lies beneath is a tiny space buzzing with energy – a long bar offers space for 28 people and this is the sum-total of the seating in Spuntino.

You can’t book at Spuntino, so you will have to wait (on my Thursday evening visit I waited for about an hour). But this is all part of the fun – you can queue around the back of the bar and order drinks and bar snacks while you wait. Everything about Spuntino lends itself to hardcore cocktail drinking before dinner – lean, listen to Johnny Cash and knock back Dirty Martinis.

Once you are finally seated you can settle in to an evening of grazing. The hot bar staff will relish talking you through their personal menu favourites. Try the sliders – mini burgers in brioche buns, bone marrow included. The truffle egg toast is an unashamed crowd pleaser – thick white bread, melted Fontina cheese and a well filled with a soft boiled egg yolk and white truffle oil. A little metal dish of multi-coloured house pickles might just make your night. Other hits included deep fried soft shell crab and tabasco, cheesy grits (remember ‘My Cousin Vinny’?!) and mac n cheese.

Even if you think you’re spent, order the peanut butter and jelly sandwich dessert - two wedges of lusciously salty peanut butter ice cream hold a sweet and gooey cherry compote ‘jelly’. When the friendly waiter twists your arm to try another cocktail, just go with it – as the place slowly empties you can slump on the bar and order another round of shoestring fries.

Spuntino

SHOW&TELL: Georgina Cook

Music photographer and blogger, Georgina Cook is as London as they come. Croydon born and raised, she's got a drawl like Daisy from Spaced and an invaluable position at the very heart of London's dubstep family. To find out more about what Georgie does, check out our interview in lecool

Here she provides some insider tips on what London has to offer.

Favourite shop? The Photographers Gallery Bookshop

Place to eat? Gurkha Cottage in Crystal Palace for great Nepalese cuisine. Or The Diner on Curtain Road for brunch & pistachio milkshake.

Best parties? At the moment it's Boiler Room, no doubt!

Plat du jour? The South Bank, any time of day with or without company is brilliant, I've had some seriously memorable and time melting experiences around there.

Favourite Londoner? There are so many! But maybe my Nan, Theresa. She's lived in Pimlico, Brixton, Streatham and worked in Chelsea. She accidentally ordered a Poonani instead of Panini,tells people to "move their batty" and loves to party.

Paris in the Springtime

From Top to Bottom: Pre Galliano shame-fest La Perle, La Regalade, Pierre Herme, Merci, Richard Lenoir Market, Chez Julien, Angelinas

SHOW&TELL: Amazing Grace Ladoja

I first met Grace when we did the door together at Friends and Family in Cargo. Never before had I met someone so young with so much swagger. Five years on and she now runs her own film production company, Ladoja and Sons. To find out more about what she's all about, check our interview in lecool.

Here she gives a heads up on what to love in London in the first of a series of SHOW and TELL interviews.

Favourite shop? Maiden on Shoreditch High St

Place to eat? The Hawksmoor, Commercial St

Best parties? Deviation @ Grammaphone, Incest @ The Macbeth and anywhere David Rodigan is playing

Plat du jour? The afternoon £1.50 screenings @ The Prince Charles Cinema and dancing in the darkness of the nightclub Plastic People

Favourite Londoner? Barnzley Armitage (I did my first Uni film on him, he's amazing) and Kim Jones

The Parlour at Fortnum and Mason

Tucked away on the first floor of London's haughtiest of epicurean institutions is a surprisingly playful little ice cream parlour. 'The Parlour at Fortnum and Mason' is a sherbert-dipped pastel playground for lovers of all things sweet. And never has a pudding purveyor catered so whole-heartedly to a grown-up palet. These are ice cream sundaes with Amadei dark chocolate, stem ginger, Borage honey and 12 year aged balsamic vinegar.

If chocolate floats your boat, try the Rota Plausti sundae. It comes with a little silver jug of melted chocolate on the side that you will remember forever, ruing most other confectionary expereinces. Oh, and before your trip, head to WAH nails for a Neapolitan themed manicure - this place deserves nothing less.

The Parlour at Fortnum and Mason 0845 602 5694

Tayyabs

Don’t waste Tayyabs on a date or meeting the in-laws. Go with old friends who can handle seeing you grabby, hot and going at a lamb chop bone like Fred Flintstone. The mixed grill at this Pakistani institution will sizzle its way into your hungry heart forever. There’s lamb chops, masala fish, koftas and chicken piled high on a Rihanna-hot platter. Each treat has been marinated and chargrilled to gnarly, smoky, punchy perfection.

Granted, the grills are the star of the show but leave space for the curries, dahls and breads. Sauces are rich, parathas are pillowy and warm and the dahls are nutty and fresh. And if that's not enough, it’s bring your own. What with the free corkage and the affordable prices you can come with a tenner in your pocket and leave satisfied.

And there’s another thing to love about Tayyabs. It is seriously nang. There’s multi coloured bubble walls, neon blue strip lighting and own-branded after dinner mints. Yeah.

Make sure you book. Really. There’s a queue every night. And when the guy with the clip board tells you it’s gonna be five minutes he means an hour. You need to book the day before and even after booking you may have to wait a while when you arrive. If you’re too hungry/angry for Alton Towers style queuing head round the corner to Lahore (Tayyabs style food minus the bling).

Tayyabs 0207 247 6400

WAH Nails

Like Desmonds for Kim Jones fans, WAH nails is a heavenly sanctum of chat, Nicki Minaj and massive talons. Sharmadean Reid's nail shops are current darlings of the media and growing fast. The empire was born in this slightly shabby space in Dalston, sandwiched between fried chicken shops and Poundlands.

If you can't afford a new pair of shoes but you're in need some swagger, head to WAH. Come and read some fancy magazines, do some fashion watching (between the staff and the customers at WAH you'll find a street style blogger's wet dream) and feast your eyes on nail colours you never knew existed.

Ms Reid's girls are trained each fashion season in the latest trends. Want nails daubed in some Prada banana print? Done. Want Missoni zig zags on the end of your fingers. All yours.

To find out more about Sharmadean Reid check out my interview with her on the lecool London blog.

WAH Nails 0207 812 9889