As we stumble through the memories of our student days peopled by unsuitable boyfriends, unspeakable amounts of alcohol and cold pizza for breakfast we find ourselves wondering if a great deal has actually changed save higher tolerance levels, worse hangovers and more expensive shoes to trash…

But back to that pizza. Nick Jones’ Pizza East is making the Shoreditch walk of shame a whole lot more bearable. As of Monday morning, the venue will be open for breakfast daily from 7.30am during the week, and 10am at the weekend.

And star of the show is the newly invented Rolly – a pizza style wrap filled with Sausage, pancetta, mozzarella & egg or Spinach, mushroom, ricotta and egg. There’s even a Full English Breakfast version! The Euro chic contingent can indulge in Bruschetti topped with ricotta & Seville orange marmalade or avocado and chilli but hey, nothing beats a slice of good old traditional Margherita (it’s served hot but cold and congealed might be taking that trip down memory lane a little too literally). Pastries, cinnamon sticks and pear muffins will appeal to those who’s uni days were slightly more sheltered.

Swing by on your way to work (or home!) on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings next week and you’ll find Pizza East staff dishing out free samples of their wares…
Pizza East,Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch High Street, E1, 020-7729 1888, www.pizzaeast.com

Who will win ‘Best Movie’ at The Oscars?
Can I really get away with doing ‘double-denim’?
Will I ever be a size 0?

Ah the conundrums of modern life…

Head over to funky Wardour Street diner, Profile Soho, to suss out the answers to these burning questions … and so many more!

This Sunday, 7 March, 21 March and then the first Sunday of the month thereafter, resident psychic, Marco, will treat guests to a free 10 minute reading from 6-9pm

Simply turn up, put your name down, and await your future.  And whether you find what you’re looking for in the cards or discover something you rather wish you hadn’t asked, we predict the two-for-one happy hour on cocktails (5pm – 7pm) will have the future looking a much brighter place in no time!

Profile Soho, 84-86 Wardour Street, W1, 020 7734 3444, www.profilesoho.com

Last week saw a rather unusual pre-pre-launch party for the October opening of Corinthia Hotel London on Whitehall Place.

The event doubled up as an after show party for fashion designer Antonio Berardi (before he headed off to celebrate further at The Love Ball) and took place in a specially constructed pop-up restaurant within the building site complete with hoardings decorated by Nina Chakribati of Cowshed fame.

Super chef Massimo Riocelli was flown in from Rome for the occasion where he runs the Italian capital’s famous La Rossetta restaurant – widely considered to be the the best seafood restaurant in the city.  And having worked my way through a disgustingly large selection of his sublime canapes (they just kept coming so who was I to argue?) I found myself entirely in agreement with said consensus!  Cod cerviche, black rice and lentil risotto and salt cod (even better than Russell Norman’s version at Polpo) in case you’re feeling peckish…

Riocelli is set to be chef-patron of one of the Corinthia’s restaurants when the hotel opens for business in the autumn.

But more on the hotel itself: Apart from two speciality restaurants and a destination bar, the hotel will also boast London’s largest luxury spa – all four floors of it!

The original Victorian heritage building was requisitioned by the goverment during the Second World War and cannibalised within an inch of it’s life – there was no place for its stunning plasterwork during wartime austerity and it was all covered over with a false ceiling but has now been revealed in its full glory with a little help from the ubiquitous yet super-talented David Collins.

The pop-up restaurant has also hosted a slew of exclusive invitation only lunches and dinners. Not had an invite? Ah well, you might get lucky but the next stage in the proceedings will be a series of sleepovers in show-bedrooms within the building site! I’m told they’ll have running water, heat and electricity but suspect wi-fi is yet to be installed and a tv ariel come to that. But still, if room-service comes courtesy of Riocelli’s kitchen, I reckon I might be persuaded…

Caviar has been a long-standing taboo, falling in the same category as foie gras, lobster and veal; they all are stamped with a history of cruelty. Now, ethical dining is becoming a growing concern and Mottra, the first Latvian caviar, is leading the way as the first sustainable caviar house.

Normally Sturgeons, whose eggs can be sold for up to £22,000 per kilo, are culled to collect their eggs, yet the goldmine price tag means fisherman are unrelenting, and the number of Sturgeons are dwindling. However, Mottra caviar farm, owned by Russian Sergei Trachuk, has introduced a new progression to the market which replaces the antediluvian method with modern technology and farming techniques which no longer harm the fish.  Once the sturgeon is five years old, the caviar is gently massaged and ‘stripped’ from the fish.  Afterwards they are placed back into the waters of the Mottra farm where the sturgeon will continue to grow and start the following year’s caviar production.

Mottra rears two types of Sturgeon, Sterlet and Osetra, as well as a few rare albino versions which produce the sought after ‘gold’ caviar.  The Sterlet and Oestra are less salty than other caviars and have a delicious richness and delicacy.   Mottra has a long list of regular devoted buyers from Mark Hix, of the ever growing Hix restaurants, to Rick Stein, and connoisseurs will go to great lengths to obtain this caviar.  It’s easy to see why.

Mottra Osetra £49.95 for 28g or £97 for 56g

Mottra Sterlet £69 for 28g or £134 for 56g

www.mottra.co.uk

You haven’t done cabaret until you’ve done it at London’s Criterion Restaurant. Prepare for a no holes barred extravaganza of an evening as the exclusive restaurant pulls out all stops on Sunday 7 March.

Yes Sunday is the new night to be seen out on the town and Cabaret at The Criterion promises to be an evening of fine dining and entertainment like no other.

Renowned entertainer and magician, Fay Presto, will headline and host the evening with three other acts performing – two West End lead singers and a Speciality act no less!

Doors open at 7.00pm and dinner service starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are £40 which includes a three course meal and all the entertainment you can shake a stick at.

The rather delicious menu from head chef, Matthew Foxon, includes Venison Carpaccio, Pan Fried Wild Sea Bass with Saffron Fondant Potato and Blueberry & White Chocolate Cheesecake with Blueberry Compote.

Now celebrating its 135th year, The Criterion is an elegant and breathtakingly beautiful restaurant. Originally opened in 1874, the Grade II listed lavish space has undergone a gentle and sympathetic restoration of its spectacular interiors, adding warmth and softness to the space and is a perfect venue for this genre of entertainment.

Its Modern European cuisine is simple and luxurious with the finest ingredients sourced from the British Isles.

www.criterionrestaurant.com

Criterion Restaurant, 224 Piccadilly, London, W1, 020 7930 0488