Victoria Cameron

Situated by the Millennium Bridge and facing the Tate Modern, the Shard and Shakespeare’s Globe, Northbank is worth visiting for the views of the Thames and the South Bank alone. That the food is great is almost a bonus. Northbank offers a modern British menu with a nod to owner Christian Butler's Cornish roots. From Dorset crab and Falmouth Bay scallops, to Tregothnan Estate duck and west-country cheeses, the south-western influence is evident throughout. A starter of pan-fried scallops with confit chicken wings kicked things off beautifully. It’s not a pairing you come across often, but it works; the soft, sweet scallops balanced perfectly with the salty crispiness of the wings. The mains are where Northbank really shines. Red mullet with roasted Jerusalem artichoke, truffle purée and artichoke crisps is a triumph; delicate, yet full of fascinating flavours and textures. The cauliflower and truffle risotto with parmesan crisps was another highlight; surprisingly light yet ridiculously moreish. A side of cauliflower cheese arrived at the table still bubbling – gums were blistered, but it was worth it. The desserts don't disappoint, either, with a rum and passion fruit soufflé as light and fluffy as a cloud. The Northbank ‘Viennetta’ with honeycomb, meanwhile, is a nostalgia-pricking treat, executed with elegance. The cocktails at Northbank deserve a shout out, too, not least because there’s a whole section dedicated to drinks made with Cornish mead. Try the Honey Mead Rise

Tea is part of our cultural identity and as such, it provides comfort and routine in times of crisis. As the Chinese proverb goes: 'A day without tea is a day without joy.' Here, here. Here are ten giveaway signs that you might be obsessed with tea.   1. You can't start the day in the office without a cuppa. via GIPHY And why should you have to? A good cuppa first thing sets you up for the day and gets you ready to face the tourists on the Piccadilly line. Stand. On. The. Right!  2. You guard your favourite tea mug with your life. via GIPHY Because you like to have about ten cups of tea throughout the working day, you will no doubt have your favourite mug. And god help anyone else who uses it.  3. The utter devastation when a colleague (who should know you better) makes your tea the wrong colour. via GIPHY What do you do? You politely drink it all, albeit through gritted teeth. Or if you're really brazen, you might pour it down the sink when no-one is watching. 4. You've had to make your own 'tea chart' for the office, so this never happens again.  What’s so hard to understand about 'Brown but not too brown, a burnt caramel colour... but not too burnt'?   5. You believe tea is so much better from a pot. You can instantly tell if your tea has been brewed in a pot by a fellow tea lover, or if someone has dunked a tea bag in your mug like an amateur. And you secretly judge that person for it forever more. 6. You have had to clear out an entire cupboard to house your tea co

Haven't heard of poké yet? Pronounced 'poh-keh', this summery, Japanese-inspired Hawaiian dish of raw fish marinated in soy and sesame and mixed with rice as a salad is essentially a step up from sushi and ceviche. Huge in LA and New York, it has now hit British shores with even Pret getting in on the act, so here's where you can get your hands on it this weekend.     Salmon poké at Tombo   Tombo Poké and Matcha Bar This new spot in Soho has got a poké menu serving salmon, tuna, prawn, kimchee, avocado and edamame served over sushi rice, courgette noodles or black and white rice.   You can choose between six signature poke bowls, such as Classic Tuna Poké, Salmon Avo Lux and Matcha Miso Tofu, or you can mix your own poké bowl. The bar will also offer side salads, such as Hijki black seaweed and root vegetable as well as miso soup. Tombo, which is also in Kensington, specialises in tea so expect to see lots on offer, as well as Tombo matcha lattes, and matcha brownies, cakes, sundaes and matcha soft-serve.   Eat PokeWilliam Mathie   Eat Pokē Street food stall Eat Pokē has been serving poké to go at markets across the city since June 2015, after founders Guy Jackson and Celia Farrar discovered it on a trip to LA. They pride themselves on their vibrant poké bowls with fresh, vibrant salads and glorious locally sourced fish.  The meal starts with a base, such as their 'forbidden black rice' (traditionally poké is served on white rice, but they wanted a tastier and healthier a

So you spent December over-indulging on booze and now your body's screaming for a break. Well, the days where an orange juice or a Coke were the only options for Dry January are long gone: London now has the most creative selection of non-alcoholic options you can imagine. Here are nine bars worth a try. Dandelyan This award-winning cocktail bar at the Mondrian is serving up the Dandelyan Sour-less combining apple, mint, lime, 'dandelion capillaire' syrup and an optional egg white. It's modelled on one of their most popular cocktails – sans alcohol – so you won't appear out of place with one of these in your hand. Alternatively, you could always try to get three of your five-a-day with the Huckleberry Sling with blueberry, fennel, grapefruit and elderflower tonic. Company Below Hiding under Greek Street meatball restaurant Balls & Company is this pocket-sized speakeasy-style basement bar. Upstairs may be all about the balls, but downstairs is where the magic is at. Although they're masters at a boozy cocktail, they have put a lot of effort into their alcohol-free offerings. There's the Asian-inspired Smoked Pistachio, which combines smoked tea, coconut milk, lychee, lime and pistachio syrup. Or you can try the Garden Spritzer, a nod to the English summer garden with its fusion of cucumber, basil, strawberry, lemon and soda. Redemption's Coco-tina   Redemption The aptly named Redemption is London’s first non-alcoholic cocktail bar, located in Notting Hill and a brand new ven

Londoners are busy people and don't have time for too much choice. So what better way to speed up the decision-making process than by heading somewhere where choice doesn't exist? Chicken Shop, Burger & Lobster and Flat Iron were some of the groundbreakers of this trend, and now Pickle & Toast, a new grilled cheese sandwich café, is set to open on Wardour Street in early 2016, proving the appetite for single-dish restaurants has never been stronger. And coincidentally, they all seem to be popping up in Soho. Here are a few to look out for:  The Potato Project The Potato Project on Noel Street opened its doors in October, serving up – you’ve guessed it – baked potatoes. But unlike '90s chain Spud-U-Like, these are potatoes with a twist. Expect everything from the seriously moreish and decadent raclette cheese and roast artichoke to the punchy chilli beef ragu and blue cheese, and even an all-day breakfast potato, all for around £5. Balls & Company© Helen Cathcart     Balls & Company  Balls & Company is a meatball restaurant on Greek Street headed up by MasterChef Australia finalist Bonny Porter, previously of The Arts Club and Village East. The menu is very simple: five types of balls – Wagyu beef, pork, chicken, salmon or quinoa – are topped with the sauce of your choice. Try the classic tomato sauce, the creamy béchamel or maybe the more robust romesco (a red pepper and nut sauce), all served in cute copper pans and affordably priced at £9 for four balls. You can get the e