It’s never easy choosing a bottle to take round to a winemaker’s for dinner. Spend too much and it makes you look like you’ve tried too hard, spend too little and you won’t be invited again. Often it’s best to stick to cheese for him, Prestat chocolates (Sea Salt Caramel Truffles perhaps) and flowers for her. However, this summer throw caution to the wind and indulge (a little) in this rose from boutique winery Chateau d’Esclans in Provence. It’s a blend of grapes, including principally Grenache, Rolle and others with a title more associated with those Australian upstarts, but a delicate taste literally continents away. And that pale colour that makes you think of long days on the Cote d’Azur. The winery has serious pedigree: Sascha Lichine is the proprietor and Patrick Leon (previously at Mouton-Rothschild) is the winemaker. They make a range of roses - including the limited edition and world famous ‘Garrus’. Whispering Angel Back to the Whispering Angel though - In magnum the 2011 is sublime - refreshing as an aperitif, equally complimentary as an accompaniment to a light fish based lunch or dinner - or English strawberries and cream during Wimbledon. Available from selected vintners and online outlets now.

It’s not new, but The Riding House Cafe on Great Titchfield Street continues to impress. On a busy Thursday night the place was full to the gills with a mostly hip crowd of revellers. They must’ve had a lot to say to each other as the noise was deafening, but not in a bad way. We got the booth table requested during our booking - which is the best - and comfiest - part of the place to be in my opinion. It depends on what sort of a night you want, but if it’s catching up with old friends then this is a good spot - let the drinks flow and don’t get too heavy about the food. The menu has something for everyone - whether you want to share lighter dishes, go it alone or team up for one of the larger mains. Our table went solo, the ladies opting for slimming superfood salads and the gentlemen indulging in Chicken Shnitzel and the Lobster Lasagne - the latter looking a bit on the mean side, but was accepted without hesitation or complaint. Needless to say the conversation and buttery Rully from Southern Burgundy flowed and happily we weren’t forced out after a couple of hours to turn the table - a very good thing in my book. The flip side of this is I wish RHC stayed open later - the kitchen stops at 10pm, but it would be a great place for a late or post-theatre dinner. For day birds and not night owls though the place is open all day from Breakfast at 7.30 midweek through Brunch, Lunch and Afternoon sessions. Nice.

Relaxation in London seems to be a thing of the past. Unless you want to get rubbed by someone with candles or incense or sit in the park. I thought to myself that there must be other choices out there and after a bit of a search, there was one that caught my eye….Floatation tanks. Not exactly a new idea, but not widespread enough for a personal suggestion. I went with these people as they were friendly and seem to have been doing it for a while: Floatworks You simply arrive and after changing and taking a quick shower, step into a large tank in your own personal room. In my opinion, it’s well worth the money (at £45 an hour). Admittedly, it takes a while for you to get used to nearly falling asleep in water, but you get there in the end. And the tank door can be left open if you’re a bit claustrophobic. Or alternatively, if being in a tank isn’t for you then there’s Float rooms. To see a video of the float rooms click here

It’s barely open, but I’ve made two trips to the show already. Produced by the tireless Ed Bartlett of The Future Tense in collaboration with Opera Gallery who represent France’s highest profile, contemporary art photographer Gerard Rancinan. The show opens with a bang and doesn’t let up until you get into the final gallery space. The images are large, glossy and absorbing - more so with the accompanying notes beside each one which help the viewer to understand Rancinan’s vision and take on the modern world. The exhibition is the final act which will complete the series - click here to see the making of the other pieces. Back to this show - and the final gallery, in which is installed a set, lights and camera. I’m not sure visitors get this, but this is the setting for the final piece that will be photographed by Rancinan and his team next Tuesday, 12th June. What makes this special is that the participants in the piece will be drawn from a public casting - an amazing opportunity to be involved in a composition that could be worth £100,000 today - and more in the future. The piece below sold recently at Phillips De Pury auction for £97,250 - a world record for the artist and a living French photographer (see it in the gallery until the 24th June close). It’s an intriguing proposition: lots of contemporary art locks you out, with this you get to become a part of it. Details of how to be a part in the casting here.