FOOD: Eat vegetables stylishly
Feeling virtuous this month? Classic Soho vegetarian gaff Mildreds, which dates back to the late 1980s, quietly opened a large and airy new branch (on the site of the former Camden Brasserie) late last year. There’s a buzzy cafe for superior smoked tofu burgers, pumpkin tortelloni, sweet potato curry and other mains, but right now we’re obsessed with their delicious walk-in salad bar to go – think purple sprouting broccoli in Caesar dressing, carrot detox salad, roasted winter veg or shiitake mushrooms at £6.50 a pop. Even better, there’s 50% off takeaway juices till the end of the month. 9 Jamestown Road NW1
COURSES: Better yourselves
Want to learn a new skill? The Working Men’s College (WMC) in Kentish Town offers printmaking, bookbinding and etching in their lovely Victorian building on Leighton Place: courses listed in full here. Or how about occupying the kids? On Saturday 23rd January in Hampstead, Razzamataz are inviting children to try a session of performing arts free of charge. To register quote: Get Fit For The New Year by emailing hampstead@razzamataz.co.uk, or visit here.
WALK: Explore Sandy Heath
Like walking? For a taste of real isolation-in-the-city trek up to the bit of the Heath that hardly anyone visits, especially at this time of year. Bordering Spaniard’s Road, its landscape is almost primeval, with hummocks, bogs and hollows all the way. Three of four ponds right in its heart are particularly beautiful in icy weather: pick an early weekday morning and you won’t see a soul. Two pubs can be found nearby – the Bull and Bush to the west, and the lovely Spaniards Inn to the north-east.
DISCOUNTS: Lap up these special offers
January is inevitably the month of crazy discounting, so here are a few corkers: meat joint Beef & Brew are giving folk 50% off their quality craft-y drinks menu from Mon-Thurs (5.30-7pm); Chalk Farm Road destination Q Grill dishes up a £10 Quick Lunch daily; smart dining room the Bull & Gate are doing two 21-day aged sirloin steaks for £25; and Patron are offering 25% off their food and drink every lunchtime on Fridays till the end of Feb (yes, Feb!). Need a discount on your weekly shop? Try the local, ethical Veg Box, who are rewarding customers with a 20% discount throughout Jan. More details here.
