2013: the edit

Like everybody else, 2013's been a pretty good year. The good things outweigh any of the bad and it seems like I explored a lot of new places and went on lots of adventures in (and outside of) London this year...

• I went Brazilian at Floripa to say goodbye to Harry before he moved to Florianopolis
• I got my lobster fix (again) at Burger & Lobster

• At work, we started our easy love affair with Barrio Central

• We went to watch the brilliant You Could Move (an LGBT production)
• We gave BRGR Co a go

• We roadtripped down to Newquay for a wild weekend at Pleasure Principle (thanks to Jackmaster)

• I fell in love with the John Salt

• And the next day, loved The Engineer too
• Bigged up boozers The Thameside Inn and The Cat & Mutton, and revisited the John Salt
• Went to BAFTA to a screening of Almadovar's I'm So Excited! and then gambled in The Ritz

• Discovered the Experimental Cocktail Club, Blacks and The Box 

• Travelled back in time at The Olde Bell in Hurley
• Tried the Bishopsgate Kitchen, The Luxe and The Porterhouse for the first time

• Spent a sunny day on the South Bank at the Aquarium, Brindisa, The Oxo Tower Bar and then the BFI's secret Drawing Room
• Retried Bar Music Hall, entered The Dragon and drank wine (not champers) in Shampers

• Fell in love with bistro Bouchon Fourchette on Mare Street

• Fulfilled my childhood dream and went to see A Midsummer Night's Dream at The Globe
• Lost my MeatMission virginity
• Got our comedy on at Richmix

• Discovered Gordon's Wine Bar and Ronnie Scott's

• Was disappointed by Jamie Oliver's Diner

• But had a great birthday meal on the rooftop at Coppa

• I was invited to the opening of The House of Peroni
• Went back to dad's favourite, Shampers

• Watched Frank Ocean blow my mind at the Brixton Academy

• Found a great little pub for the summer in The Crown and Shuttle
• Spent a night in Shoreditch at The Queen of Hoxton, Cotton's Rhum Shack and The Light

• Discovered one of my favourite rooftop bars, Madison at One New Change

• Had the most incredible birthday meal at Pollen Street Social, thanks to my dad
• Went back to Madison and The Oxo Tower, just because

• Loved Mark's Bar in Hix, Soho (especially the Red Snappers)
• Grouped it up at Le Mercury in Islington

• Spent Bank Holiday watching The Sound of Music in Regent Park's Open Air Theatre

• Tried Jewish-style food for the first time at Mishkin's

• And drank non-gin drinks at gin bar, Graphic

• Went to Nice for a week

• And visited Monaco and Menton

• Before venturing to St Paul de Vence in the mountains

• Then the monasteries of Cimiez

• Explored Grasse and Cannes

• And St Tropez

• Back in London, we went for apothecary cocktails at Purl

• And then hot-footed it across and above the city to Sushisamba
• Gave in to more MeatMission cravings and got the divine fried pickles

• Had a Spanish-inspired hangover brunch at Spit Jack's, in Victoria Park Village

• Went to a leaving party at Dishoom, and fell in love with their Bombay Coladas
• Dallied in The Royal Oak, Wahaca and the Lamb & Flag

• Couldn't get enough of Burger Boy's CB Burger

• Drank at The Player, finally made it to Spuntino for the best sliders going and explored Coal Vaults

• Didn't manage to catch a show but settled in at Soho Theatre before drinks at The Sanderson Hotel

• Saw a midnight premiere of Catching Fire at the BFI IMAX

• Fell in love with Hawker House Night Market, specifically Yum Bun and Bob's Lobster

• Got very fishy at Bibendum

• And became a Cereal Killer at Social Eating House

• Went to Jackson + Rye's soft-opening and loved the seabass
• Made it to MeatLiquor and got the enormous onion rings
• Cosied up in Notting Hill to Miracle on 34th Street

• Had work Christmas at Ceviche
• And then finally all topped off by Refuel at Soho Hotel and Milk & Honey

It's been a hell of a year, and I can't wait for 2014 to continue in the same vein. Because I can never seem to stop eating, I've got so many places lined up already and - the big news - am now writing for new London guide, Try This For. Launching in the New Year, it aims to be the destination for choosing where you want to go, with all the information on London eateries and bars you could ever need. There'll be lots more details when we've launched so I'll keep you posted.

2013, you've been great...And 2014? I can't wait.