Week thirty-three

Now well and truly down the line with my blog it is becoming increasingly challenging to find activities that really stand out in terms of uniqueness or that aren't perhaps common knowledge.  However, there are several London-centric websites that are really helping me with ideas as I progress through the latter half of the year.  Daily Candy, Londonist, Le Cool and Urban Junkies all provide excellent weekly or weekend guides for interesting things to do in the capital, the last of which provided me with my hot tip for last week.

The gin, Bombay Sapphire's latest brand philosophy, "Infused with Imagination",  is based on the 10 exotic botanical ingredients it is made from - quite a nice way of thinking about the heart of the drink and also lends itself to a lot of creative avenues.  As part of their "Imagination Series" the brand is hosting lots of progressive evenings hoping to expand people's minds and inspire them.  I can't really read that sentence out loud without pretending I'm called Starshine - It all sounds a bit sick-making when you say it like that but actually........

The latest evening in their series really was excellent, thought-provoking and very fun.  They teamed up with The Rebel Dining Society; one of London's most unique underground's restaurants that is known for bringing together forward thinking food with art and music to host an evening that promised to stimulate all of the senses.  It would be a taste sensation of five unique adventures, inspired by the infusion of the botanical ingredients found within the gin.

My friend Steph and I arrived to Shoreditch Studios and were welcomed with a medieval type magic pouch as well as a passport that we were told would let us pass through each of the five unique experiences that would in turn grant us access to the Alchemist's Paradise.  Still sounding like gobbledegook?

Ok - first things first - before journeying through the sensory voyage (sic), we got to enjoy some scrumptious gin cocktails and dainty fodder.  Passing through the room were trays of mini steak sandwiches, watermelon and feta cheese salads and my particular favourite; a spicy thai prawn broth - that came in a box - with a fork.  A lovely idea for some party food, and it was very tasty, but in reality - completely impractical.  Although I noticed later on that they realised and started serving the soup in mini bowls instead.  For something sweet there were these rather wonderful lilli-vanilli bakewell tarts.

There were 5 bespoke gin cocktails to try at the bar - all very visually appetising and some more tasty the others.  The highlight for most was the lemon and almond haze; a blend of bombay sapphire with almond milk, lemon juice and orange flower.  This was very drinkable but a little too sweet for me.

After a very long wait we made our way through the golden curtains to the microcosm of molecular experiences.  First up was the balloonist.  We were told to squeeze ourselves into the hot air balloon, whilst the intrepid explorer told us of his wild adventures.

He told us to all to get out our test-tubes of blue liquid that we had in our magic pouches and pour it into a little glass container he had.  Fused together suddenly the combination started smoking and lemony bubbles poured from the jar.  We all got to taste the very sticky but sweet lemon peel bubbles.

After getting our passports stamped we moved onto the ballerina, where we were told to fish out a ticket from our pouches and feed it through a slot in a box.  A window revealed the graceful ballerina dancing who then gave us an odd flower to eat.  It was a cubeb berry flower and the most peculiar thing I've ever put in my mouth.  I can't say I enjoyed the odd peppery taste but it was weirdly explosive and the sensation continued on for several seconds.

Next up we had to retrieve another golden ticket, which rather than handing over, we had to eat to allow us entry into the Phoenix's cinema.  This was a lot more tasty.   It was an edible paradise flower and was sweet and marshmallow like.  We watched a rather random film, which to be honest I didn't take any notice of whatsoever because I was distracted from the outrageously flirty and very attractive Phoenix!

We moved onto the Peacock who sprinkled some white crystally powder into our hands.  It was not for snorting but licking and tasted of lavender and juniper berries, which are of course, one of the key ingredients in Bombay Sapphire and the Peacock lady told us of its origins.

Finally we visited the aeroplane and sat in a cute make-shift cockpit with the very English pilot providing us with a smell and taste sensation in the form of edible fog made from angelica root.

With all five stamps we were able to visit the Alchemist's Paradise on the balcony where we could sample bespoke cocktails.  My gin concoction was mixed with coriander and topped with pea shoots and was absolutely gorgeous!

If I was to find niggles with the evening, it would only be that there was a lot of queuing.  However, I think that was a small price to pay for such a wonderful and innovative experience and I only hope that I get to create an event as unique and interesting and enjoyable as that with my clients.  There are more events to come, which you just need to sign up for on facebook.

Next week heaven help me I'm doing a dance class, learning how to dance like Beyonce.  Oh dear why?