Gospel Brunch

Sincere apologies for our lack of extra-curricular guidance and suggestions over the past few months, but now the sun is out we are back with some more reviews of fun things to do and places to see and eat at “after hours”!

A recent venture took Jim and I to Altitude 360 at the top of the Millbank Tower on the Thames one sunny Sunday morning.

Altitude 360 has views that literally took my breath away as we stepped out of the lift and through the doors of the restaurant. It overlooks famous sights such as the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, Horse Guards, Lambeth Palace, the Shard and Westminster Abbey.

 

We took our seats at a window table and someone immediately brought us each a glass of lovely champagne. I promptly began gushing about how romantic it was and what an incredible view we had. And that was before we’d had a mouthful of delicious food or the gospel choir had begun singing. Yes people, a gospel choir. The London Community Gospel Choir in fact, at London’s only gospel music brunch. They started singing and we were provided with a plate of seven different types of warm little bread rolls - rich brown sugar cornbread, pumpkin bread, sweet brioche, rosemary and raisin bread.

W then ordered our main brunch meal to the sound of some Whitney Houston tribute songs. Jim had the Chorizo and Cheddar Omelette on a roll with roaster peppers, bacon and baby greens, and I went for the classic Smoked Salmon and scrambled eggs, potato pancake and horseradish sour cream. Yum (see the full menu here http://www.altitudelondon.com/gospelbrunch/docs/gospel_brunch_sample_menu.pdf).

We just about had enough room for massive maple waffles and berries, and Mississippi mud pie for pudding, all washed down with a nice cup of tea.

  

For what it was foodwise, roughly £50 pp was probably a bit much. But when you add in the spectacular views, the musical entertainment and the fact that we stayed there for nearly 4 hours, it was a well-worth it treat, perfect for a special occasion or birthday.

Carefully crafted cocktails at Nightjar

Nightjar is a must-visit Prohibition-style drinking den for any cocktail lover. Hidden away just off the Old Street roundabout on City Road, never before did I imagine that this nondescript door would lead down to such a bar reminiscent of another era.

Recommended to book in advance, we were shown to our table and presented with a jar of popcorn by the attentive waitress. The cocktail menu took me a good twenty minutes to get my head around, with pages of 'pre-prohibition', 'prohibition', 'post-war' and 'signature' cocktails complete with fancy and mysterious ingredients.

I decided on a 'little entente' as it was one of the only vodka based concoctions. It included elderflower liqueur, grilled korean pear, kafir lime leaves and lemon, which appealed to my taste of fresh and fruity, but not too sweet. Quite randomly, it also had Blue Moon beer in there. I have to say that I didn't notice any beer taste, which might have been quite odd in a cocktail!

My second cocktail, shown in the photo below, was the Pedro Paramo - another beautifully presented potion.

This is an ideal place to pop for a couple, whether it's to kickstart the weekend, pre or post dinner drinks, on a date night or a casual cocktail with friends. You wouldn't need more than a couple to feel a little merry and warm inside, perfect for burrowing away in the wintery months and each drink feels like a treat, designed and crafted like an art piece. I just wish I could have tried and tested more - cocktails with dry ice, and on a more adventurous day, perhaps even the Coffee Cocktail that comes complete with a whole egg. Definitely worth the £10 splurge.

Two Pedro Paramo cocktails

Dinner for two – Gauthier Soho

Last Saturday Jim and I were fortunate enough to dine at the gorgeous Michelin-starred, French “Gauthier” restaurant in Soho. Having booked fairly last minute (the Wednesday before) in terms of the popularity of Michelin restaurants, we were lucky in that we got a table at the semi-decent time of 6:45pm. Other restaurants I had looked at on Wednesday only had reservations available at 5:30 or 10:30pm on that Saturday.

The restaurant

Running slightly late and rushing from Leicester Square tube worried that our table would be given away to more time-aware people, we arrived outside Gauthier only a few minutes late. With the appearance of a London townhouse, and wedged between a busy Soho bar and another building, a sign by the door of the restaurant invited us to ring the bell, and on doing so we were promptly invited into a narrow hallway by a welcoming French lady. Having had our coats taken and been seated at our pristine, white cloth-draped, round table, we had a moment to take in the cosy and relaxed, neutral, yet elegantly decorated, subtly-lit, home dining room feel of the ground floor restaurant. There were about eight tables in total - it felt small (not cramped), but we guessed there must have been another restaurant upstairs as more people came and went than were seated in our intimate little dining room.

The food

We were provided with the menu and, before we’d even looked at what was on it, we were served a selection of six little canapés, in the form of salmon and watercress spirals, crispy focaccia sticks with a creamy mustard dip, and one other which was like an amazing little ball of sorbet with port jus (with the appearance of a rather appetising eye ball).

Our order was taken for aperitifs – Jim went with a tasty Bombay Sapphire and tonic, and I asked for a glass of Prosecco (Cantine Riondo, Veneto, Italy), which was definitely the most deliciously, bubbly alcohol I have ever tasted – every sip was dreamy!

We decided to go for four courses each, as opposed to the set menu, but everything looked absolutely incredible on both menus. As we were choosing, we were offered a selection of bread, with flavours ranging from poppy seed rolls, mini baguettes, raisin, and garlic, to tomato bread, and walnut. Our choices came with a plate of salted and unsalted butter – no options were left uncovered!

A lovely French waiter called Pierre took our food order, and then we finally (the wine list was extensive and fairly pricey!) made a decision on the wine – we went for a white – Chablis (Domaine Colette Gros). Excellent decision if I may say so myself! The wine was crisp and beautifully refreshing, and went perfectly with each different course chosen by Jim and me.

Before the first course we were given a tiny dish based on quinoa and containing black olives and vegetable puree. It was tiny, but delicious, and at this point I really began to get excited about the rest of our meal…

For the first course Jim ordered the Pheasant & Chestnut Cream with Sautéed Lettuce, Wild Mushroom & Herb Gioza - this was effectively a soup that was put carefully together at the table by the waiter. It smelt absolutely delicious and I could see by the smug look on Jim’s face that he thought he’d won the “best decision” prize for this course. However, my scallops were just as amazing.

Having never had them before I wanted to experience something new, and also something done to the best possible standard in terms of cooking, and I wasn’t disappointed. They were so succulent, and almost had the texture of marshmallow rather than fish, and the flavours of the purees that the three scallops were served with were fantastic.

After a perfect break for conversation and admiration of the dished being brought in for other guests, the second course was served. I went for the Wild Sea Bass & Figs with Braised Rainbow Chard and Classic Fish Reduction Scented with Sweet Wine, as I have a very unaffordable taste for sea bass, and generally make it my mission to have fish and other exotic things that I never normally have at home, in restaurants.

The fish was cooked to absolute perfection and seemed to melt in the mouth and the taster of fig served with it had an exciting flavour too. Jim chose the Red Mullet & Capers with Purple Artichokes, Confit Tomatoes & Taggiashe Olives and Purple Basil & Prawn Jus.

Again this smelt amazing (Jim wasn’t yet up for sharing his meal choices) and the presentation on both plates was just like something you see on the final of Masterchef, if not more impressive.

After another perfectly timed pause from eating our third course was served. By this time I imagined I’d have to be loosening my belt buckle, but as the portions were all about quality rather than quantity I was doing ok. For this course Jim had chosen the Highland Venison & Williams Pear with Celeriac &Black Truffle, Caramelised Pumpkin and Lightly Peppered Jus.

It was presented beautifully with a little portion of pumpkin, and jus decorating the plate. I went for the Guinea Fowl & Crayfish with Sautéed Cèpes Mushrooms, Baby Onions. This was the nicest part of my meal so far and probably one of the best dishes I have ever eaten in my life.

There was a selection of different parts of the bird, served with the mini lobster (crafish), tiny oval potatoes cooked to perfection, and the tastiest mushrooms I’ve ever eaten. I honestly didn’t want my plate of food to ever end!

Puddings came last, and there was a small, but exquisite selection on the dessert menu, of which I chose the apple cheese cake with ginger ice cream and orange jelly, and Jim the Golden Louis XV – a ridiculously rich and luxurious praline chocolate dessert.

Both were stunning, and nicely filled the little remaining space in our stomachs.

The service

The waiters and waitresses were so attentive, polite and accommodating in every way – we never once had to ask for wine refills, more water or anything. Jim asked at one point the best way to eat the crayfish that was served with my guinea fowl, and our waiter Pierre kindly said that you weren’t meant to eat any more than had been prepared in the dish, in such a way that didn’t make it embarrassing for us over our lack off crayfish knowledge.

Overall, I loved the seasonality of the menu, the superb service and the delicious food and wine more than I have loved any meal and I feel very lucky to have experienced such a top-notch way of dining, which transformed an otherwise average Saturday night into something I’ll be comparing my next few meals to for a while to come. There were also some novel yet amusing pictures decorating the ladies' and gents' bathrooms that added immense comic value to the evening...

Afternoon tea on the Thames

I was treated to afternoon tea the other day by Jim, at the Hotel Rafayel on the Left Bank. No, I'd never heard of it either, and it really is tucked away down on the river by Battersea, but that didn't stop it serving up a little hidden gem of an afternoon tea.

We were first served a glass each of a very nice variety of Chamapgne, with a selection of delicious crust-free sandwiches. My favourite was definitely the roasted vegetable and cream cheese.

This savoury "course" was followed by a light and fruity blueberry cheesecake each, which was absolutely divine. There definitely wasn't enough in the shotglasses!

Then came the scones and tea. There is an ongoing debate between Jim and I and Katie, another of my friends, as to what goes on first, the jam or cream, and I just cannot get her to see sense, that of course, it's the cream followed bythe  jam - far more colourful!

After two scones each I was struggling. Luckily, I just about managed to sample the next selection of treats, some minature biscuity/fudgey/jam tarty things in all different shapes and flavours.

Finally, with literally only the spaces in my fingers and toes to fill, we made a pathetic attempt at finishing the healthy section of the tea - a gorgeous selection of fresh summer fruits to compliment the fruity theme of the pastries and cheesecake.

I'll definitely be going again. It'll be interesting to see if they alter the tea menu depending on the season. Bring on the winter mince pie afternoon tea if that might be the case!

Culture combo in Soho

I work very close to Soho yet sadly rarely venture into its labyrinthian streets, so made a stand and took a group of friends for a night out there after work.

We met at Barrio Central on Poland Street - a Brazilian/Spanish/Cuban cocktail bar with a casual, fun feel about it. It was only 6.15pm when we got there, but all the tables were already taken and people were spilling out onto the warm street...populaaar!

Barrio Central is decorated in an eclectic Spanishy fiesta way, crossed with a beachy picnic vibe:

Happy hour was 4 til 8pm and a delicious selection of cocktails were all £4. I tried the "Hawai'N'dry" - an initially insanely sharp, citrussy cocktail in a classic Martini glass, but the more I drank the sweeter it became and eventually it was so tasty I had to have another one instead of broadening my Barrio cocktail experience. On the happy hour list were also a Mohito, Caipirinha and others.

Summary: excellent value for money, great setting and completely varied music!

From Barrio we strolled back down Poland Street and along Beak Street to Soho Pizzeria...

...a compact, crisp little Italian on the corner with Upper John Street. It was packed, but with good timing and luck a table became available within minutes.

We were seated in the middle of the restaurant in the hub of the action, but could clearly hear and see a great live jazz band that had claimed a corner and were tooting out jazz tunes for all the diners. Pizzas on the menu were extremely reasonable, but if you varied from the "norm" and went for pasta or salad they looked a little pricier (no more than £10 a dish though).

I went for a classic Margherita (£5.95ish) and spattered it with chilli oil and a few of a friend's unwanted olives - I really was living on the edge! Totally delicious and totally affordable, even on a budget.

A great evening out in Soho at two brilliantly lively places with a nice stroll in between.

Ciao!

Bar Meze, Clapham High St

I went out for a work friend (Els) birthday last night to a Greek place on Clapham High St. El is actually from Cyprus so we thought a Greek restaurant would be great for her. It has a great feel to it as it is small with only about 8 tables and one older Greek man serving. It serves a meze style where you only chose veggie or meat and then a whole host of dishes is brought out, most of which I had no idea what they were!

The owner is your waiter giving it a real family feel to it and he spent a while chatting to all his 'guests' explaining the health benefits of the food, some definitely more true than others. For instance apparently beetroot will prevent women requiring hormones after the menopause but make men more comfortable when flying????? There were a large number of these brilliant claims but I will leave you to find them out for yourselves.

The food was great and according to El a very traditional meze but more healthy than she would get in Cyprus which is definitely a bonus.

As well as the food my favorite part was the price. It is very good value for exceptional food and a large amount of it too! So if you fancy a Greek evening, vouched for by a true Greek, then this is a great place to go!

Berkeley Hotel, Blue Bar

So this is my first addition to the blog and thought I would suggest a place for a really special occasion. So as I am sadly leaving London was treated to a few drinks in the Blue Bar at the Berkeley hotel by my good friend Dan. It is definitely in the higher price range but for a couple of cocktails and a relaxed evening is perfect.

As the name suggests all the decor is blue, we're talking about walls, floor and chairs here and definitely a place to dress to impress! The cocktails were AMAZING! I had the 'Italian Job'; an ingenious cocktail which contains orange, passion fruit, vodka and dry ice. The overall effect is of a bubbling martini glass of liquid emitting smoke. Looks fantastic and tastes even better. My expression at this drink must have been a common one as before my waiter had finished pouring explained I could 'drink at my will!' Unfortunately this was not a cheap drink at £17 but worth the taste as a treat.

I would recommend this for a few drinks with the girls, date night if you are wanting to seriously impress or just a treat with a friend.

Summer holibobs reads

 The Snowman by Jo Nesbø (Vintage, 2010) *****

If you are into being scared out of you wits and biting off your fingernails while poring over a gripping paperback, then read this book. If you are not, then still read this book.

     The Snowman is the seventh out of eight all-engrossing books in the “Harry Hole” series created by Jo Nesbø. It doesn’t matter if you don't read them in order, as you pick up the necessary background info as you go.

     In this book the main character of the series, detective Harry Hole, investigates brutal murders sticking to a creepy snowman theme. Jo sets the scene beautifully on the first page and describes the snow covering the grass like a “down duvet”, which contrasts with the pace and suspense that takes off in the first chapter and carries the reader through to the totally riveting conclusion.

Well-worth packing in your/your partner’s/your parents’ suitcase.

 One Day by David Nicholls (Hodder & Stoughton, 2009)*****

This book is at the opposite end of the spectrum to The Snowman and one for those who like their reads to be a little more heart-warming, but with the possibility of laughter and/or tears along the way. David Nicholls absorbs the reader so skilfully and intently into the lives of the two main characters, Emma and Dexter, and their relationship with each other and others, that it is impossible not to feel like you have ridden a rollercoaster of emotion at the end.

     One Day provides the reader with a snapshot of one day each year - every 15th July from 1988 to nearly the present day - in the lives of Emma and Dexter. It is funny, frustrating and touching, a constant “will they/won’t they?” story of growing up and friendship.

Ideal for: anyone.

**NEWSFLASH** David Nicholls is talking about this incredible book in October http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/jul/28/david-nicholls-book-club?CMP=twt_fd

 The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (Black Swan, 2007) *****

Another potentially teary one, this book starts a bit strangely, but once you persevere and get into the bulk of the story you find a truly moving and heart-rending story about Liesel, a young girl living in WWII Germany. Partly told through her eyes, partly through those of Death, and also through those of a Jewish man in hiding in the basement, it portrays life under Nazi rule in an uplifting and tragic story.

Keep the tissues handy.

 Room by Emma Donoghue (Picador, 2010) ***

Narrated by the innocent 5 year old Jack, this startling story of fiction portrays Jack’s complete unawareness of any other world outside the garden shed – Room - where he lives with his Ma. Very creepy, yet moving, you feel like you want to protect and help both Jack and Ma as they come to terms with Room and what lies beyond.

Make sure you and your sister read it.

 The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters (Virago Press, 2009) ****

A spooky old house in postwar Britain contains something or someone that doesn’t want the inhabiting family there anymore. The local somewhat dull doctor befriends the daughter of the family living in the house and it is from his disbelieving perspective that a strange series of occurrences take place within the house.

     The book is not only spooky and hauntingly mesmerising; it offers a view of a Britain transformed from the remnants of a rigid Victorian class system to a post war, reshuffled society.

Pack it for: you/your mum.

 Guernica by Dave Boling (Picador, 2009)

A love story intertwined with the pre WWII bombing of Guernica by the Germans, and Picasso’s movements to painting his famous piece of the same name.

One for: you/your brother/your partner.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (Bloomsbury, 2007) *****

This tragic, beautifully-crafted story portrays the separate lives of Marian and Laila living in Afghanistan, that eventually entwine. It covers class, religion, sexual roles, child rearing, work, education, and community and at times you are willing the women to be OK and safe. I could not stop thinking about them and their harsh lives between reads. Prepare to be moved.

Good for: you/your mum/your sister.

 Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallada (Penguin, 2010) ****

Another historical tale from Germany during the Second World War, this one tells the story of the lives of several characters in Berlin.

     One of the main characters, Otto Quangle, is so disillusioned with Nazism and Hitler after the death of his son in battle, that he stages a brave, yet calm and isolated and completely secret resistance to the Nazis, with the help of his wife. Their neighbours have interlinking stories that all play a part in the Quangle’s defiance.

One for: your dad.

The White Queen by Philippa Gregory (Simon & Schuster, 2009) ***

Elizabeth Grey falls head over heels for King Edward and vice versa, they marry and have many children, but then the Cousin’s Wars ensue and the family is all but torn apart. Will Elizabeth’s two prince sons and heirs to the throne ever be restored to their family after the infamous plot to kill them in their beds supposedly happened?

Take it for you/your mum/your granny.

Devon Delights

Did you know on average, chickens lay on average 325 eggs a year? Times that by 20, add a flock of ducks and a scattering of geese and that's an awful lot of eggs to contend with.


 I am currently looking after my Mum's farm in beautiful Devon, watching these eggs stack up at an astonishing rate and so decided to do something about it today. I know this really should have involved whipping up some meringues or angel cake to use them up but instead we decided on chocolate cupcakes. I know I know... cupcakes are growing old, they have been done to death and the amount of times I have bitten into a dry, tired cupcake has taught me that they need a rehaul. They need to be perfect every time and there are a couple of things you can do to ensure this.  Two super important rules when making cakes are:


1. Always weigh the eggs. Eggs come in a variety of sizes and if they are too big, the cakes will end up dense and heavy. They should weigh the same amount as the butter and sugar.


2. If you are making a vanilla, almond, lemon or any other flavour that should produce a yellow cake, always use free -range eggs - the colour of the yolk is amazing and will drastically improve the colour of your finished cake. (Its ALL about the eggs!)


We decided on chocolate cupcakes as, when asked what he would like her to bake, my sister's boyfriend started reminiscing about her birthday cake (3 tiered chocolate fudge cake covered in yellow sunflowers). I always think cupcakes shouldn't be just a straight forward sponge,  it is nicer to be pleasantly surprised when you bite into them rather than sickened by the two inches of toxic pink icing your teeth have sunk through, only to find that the sponge, once found is dry as a bone. You want it to have a surprisingly soft, moist sponge from the first bite to the last (and making you wish there was another!). 

The recipe we created is below:

Mary-Kate's Cuppitycakes

-Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3
-Line 2 large cupcake tins (the small ones just don't do it justice) with muffin cases
Heat 100g dark chocolate (low cocoa-content if possible) with 200g unsalted butter, 200g light brown sugar and 100ml hot water
-Set aside for 2 minutes and then stir in 100ml single cream and 2 eggs (200g)
-Use an electric whisk to beat in 200g self-raising flour and 5tbsp good quality cocoa powder until the mixture is lump-free.
-Fill the cases 1/2 full, add 1/4 teaspoon of blackberry jam and then fill the cases to 3/4 full
-Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the top cracks and rises. A skewer won't come out clean because of the jam so best to use your judgement
-Leave them in the tin for 5 minutes and then set out on a cooling rack


-While these are cooling, roll out some royal icing as thin as you can and cut into roughly 10cm by 2cm rectangles.
-Roll the rectangle back on itself and experiment working it into a spiral to create a rose bud. Repeat until you have enough for your cakes
-For the icing heat 200g milk chocolate with 150ml single cream until you have a smooth consistency.
-Once the cakes are cooled smooth on the icing with the back of a teaspoon and add a white rose on top. Don't worry if the cakes  have sunk a bit- because of the jam this is quite normal and the rose will subtly cover it!


Also, when trying to bake whilst entertaining a 2 month old baby, you need this:

 My mother is a genius. He lies in his bouncy chair with the elastic around his feet and every time he kicks it moves - so much entertainment for a little person and meant we could bake to our heart's content!


Anyway tomorrow we are making gluten-free apple crumble cake. Stay posted!

Super Sushi

It turns out last Friday night was a popular night for dates! Jim surprised me by booking a table at the small branch of Ukai Sushi on Wandsworth Road, Lambeth. "Table booked for 8pm, be ready for quarter to" the last message he sent me at work that day said, but it didn't include any details of where we were going...Luckily I had an inkling it would be this sushi restaurant as I'd been banging on about it for weeks before. Neither of us had eaten sushi out before, and my sushi expertise only entended to the little lunch packs you can get from Tescos or M&S, so I was really looking forward to it.

We started with a small jug of hot Sake, not out of pleasure, but Jim had never had it before and I thought it a staple part of first-time Japanese dining. Surprisingly, we got through the whole jug (it did seem to get nicer after a few egg-cup-fulls!) Miso soup (£2) and Endamame beans (£2.50) were next and addictively salty. I could eat Endamame beans until I die.

We followed with the tuna and salmon mixed platter and the jumbo mixed platter for mains (about £13-16 a platter).

I know that most sushi consists of raw fish, but I was still a bit unsure about the seemingly huge slabs of plain, raw tuna and salmon atop of raw carrot and onion on the selection platters. But once they were dipped in soy sauce they tasted fine, although it took some self-distraction to not keep thinking about how there was a chunk of raw fish swilling about your mouth for 30 seconds...To take my mind off it, I dared Jim to eat a pea-sized lump of Wasabi with hilarious consequences!

The house white wine was nothing to write home about - not sure if it was Japanese or just a budget brand.

All in all a very intimate and cute little restaurant, well-worth a visit if you've never had sushi and if you're not keen on the raw fish aspect, there are plenty of other options including vegetables, beef and duck.

Ciao!