Wet your whistle

Alcohol is a typical symptom of the holiday season as we accelerate towards yet another year; and while I usually just talk about cheese, it makes sense to tip my hat to its oft-quaffed companion.

Thanks to a Time Out special offer, Stuart and I headed to Pall Mall Fine Wines, which is hidden within the chic Royal Opera Arcade, the oldest shopping arcade in the world. Once you duck into this elegant, quiet passage, it’s easy to forget you are minutes away from the hectic hubbub of Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus.

Pall Mall Fine Wines offer just that: a range of quality wines, from both well established and less common regions, all selected by the knowledgeable and accommodating staff. Not only can you purchase supreme wines there, the shop also offers a buying service so that you can sell your own collections. And, they’ll organise wine tastings for special occasions.

But enough about the wine already. What about the cheese? I’d cycled straight from work across town and my appetite was akin to a starved bear (I recently saw the film Paddington, which is wonderful by the way). So you can surely understand why I basically inhaled (more than my fair share of) our all-Italian Charcuterie & Cheese platter. For a few fleeting seconds though, I appreciated every morsel.

We gorged on Cacio Nero Di Pienza, a moreish crumbly white Pecorino; Pecorino Vinaiolo, matured for two months with a bitter skin; and Asiago, a gorgeous semi hard cheese. The selection of chorizo and salamis were a sumptuous treat too. 

Camillo De Lellis from Molise, Italy was a subtle fruity match for the salty meal.

If you fancy exploring a calm, sophisticated wine cave in a historic shopping arcade you didn’t know existed, Pall Mall Fine Wines is for you. Word of advice: For an optimal tasting experience, I’d recommend not being completely famished before you get there.