This Week - Week 17, 2013

We've already had this conversation. I quite like the London Balthazar, not everyone agrees with me. I'm totally fine with this. I think I like it most for brunch. At the bar preferably. Bloody Mary, Mimosa, possible best macaroni cheese in London and brioche French toast with bacon and maple syrup. A perfect pre-ballet pit stop.

It had been year since I had been to the Royal Opera House for a ballet. I actually think it has been five year, which is especially scary as it makes me realise how long I have been living in London. Did you know its been over five years since I went to Hakksan. That is a long time. I have not been back.

Back to the ballet. Earlier in the year when I went to see Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty, I said to Fran, 'I want to go to the ballet more', and so when tickets to the next season of  The Royal Ballet were released we booked to see La Bayadere, which was so beautiful. Nutcracker next, can't wait.

Historically Chinese food is not my favourite, and I am in no way an expert. I did however really like A. Wong. With the dim sum only available at lunch (and by the piece, clever) we order a huge selection of dishes including the Gong Pow chicken, the very pretty 100 year old egg and the above crispy chilli beef with pickled carrot which tasted exactly like loukamades, which actually was a bit confusing, but still delicious. We sadly did not have the Scotch beef rump fried noodles and so we will have to go back.

After we met in Langkawi in January, we finally had our inaurgural first meet of the NW dinner club. Parlour in Kensal Rise has been on my list for ages. I love the Mall Tavern, and was all excited when I found out the same were involved in somewhere closer to home. I had the famous chicken kiev, previously only at MT. It comprises of cruncky coleslaw, a has brown and then a crispy, crunchy sphere of chicken which gushes garlicky butter when pierced. If you are not yet convinced, watch this video of Jesse Dunford Wood making it.

I love a clever collaboration, and this one Nars x Pierre Hardy  is a winner. There are two blushes and  six nail polish duos, each set includes two nail polishes in a Pierre Hardy for NARS signature mini-shoebox and dust bag. I've got the Vertebra which has a lovely corally pink and a sensible dusty rose. From the 17 to 30 May there's a pop up nail bar at Selfridges, details to book here.

This Week - Week 16, 2013

Technically I was on detox, however it was cold and wet, we were at Spuntino, I was probably drunk and there was something on the menu called a 'Dutch baby'. The Dutch baby is a cross between a pancake and a yorkshire pudding, served in the blisteringly hot cast iron pan it is cooked in, sprinkled with sugar, to then by smothered with homemade jam and ice cream.

In an attempt at health restoration, hte next dinner was at Koya. This is the razor clam and pea shoot udon soup, which was the prettiest of the dishes we ordered.

We had a day of Spring. Thinking (rightly so) that it would probably be just a mirage of a moment, I spent the day in Primrose Hill.

Once of my secret favourite places is Bricole, an Italian trattoria, bar and deli in Marylebone. The best way is to go with people who like sharing. Most of the plates are quite small and its ever so satisfying to have a table covered in an assorment of meats, cheeses and pasta. I have just discovered that next week (20-27 May 2013, yes I'm terribly behind with my blogging) they are offering a Sicilian menu which looks divine.

The Cadbury Marvellous Creations, previously only available in Australia, are now available in the UK. Sadly onnly 2 of the 6 flavours are available but its a good start.

Cocktails & All That Jazz at Harrods

Its always exciting when two icons collaborate, combining the best of both into something new. The takeover of Harrods by the highly anticipated release of Baz Luhrmann’s version of the F. Scott Fitzgerald classic The Great Gatsby is the perfect example of a takeover done properly. Every part of the store, from the windows to the website conjures up the glamour of the raoring twenties.

From today, until Monday 20th May, to celebrate this bygone age of flappers and art deco, Harrods are transforming their Wine Shop tasting room into an art-deco speakeasy, evoking the best of the Jazz Age with prohibition style cocktails.

The underground cocktail pop-up lounge can be visited throughout the day, and cocktail-making sessions will take place at the main bar of Harrods’ Wine Shop.

This Week - Week 15, 2013

This Week - Week 14, 2013

Good Friday fish and cottage pie

Due to kitchen renovation dramas I didn't have a Seder this year. Instead on the Saturday of Pesach, my friends Lynn and Michael let me take over their kitchen, where we made a best-of-Jewish mash up involving roast chicken, latkes, brisket and flourless chocolate cake.

Making use of my Tate membershipRoy Lichtenstein at the Tate Modern

Say what you will about the London outpost of Balthazar, but I like it. Great service, classic french food and this completely divine chocolate souffle which is worth the visit alone.

This Week - Week 13, 2013

I am terribly behind with my blogging and so, if you haven't been already, you'll have missed out on Rita's chicken waffle Sunday brunch at Birthday's in Dalston. Hopefully this is only termporary until they find a new residence, and for this rest of this week, until 20th April, you can still go in the evenings for margaritas, patty melt's and lemon cream, berry pie.

For the last two years I've been home for Pesach. This is both good and bad, obviously its lovely to be with my family for Seder, but being in Melbourne over Easter is not so fun. This year, I didn't really do anything to celebrate except make matzo balls, lots of them. Following my Mother's recipe I make them from scratch using whole sheets of matzah, making them much more textural and satisfying than those made just from matzah meal.

I'm not really sure what happened with the Melbourne importing of St Ali and Sensory Lab, but now we have Workshop Coffee co which seems to be pretty similar, just with a different name. And most importantly, they still make pretty perfect macchiatos.

I read this ridiculous article from Jill Dupleix, where it is claimed that milkshakes are making a comeback. As far as I'm concerned they never went away. This version, from Byron, whilst technically I would classify as a thickshake, is a winner. Obvs with added malt.  

Cultural moment: I went to the theatre. I saw Peter and Alice, with Judy Dench. It is sold out now, however it is part of a series, find out more here.

This Week - Week 12, 2013

After five years in London, only a few of my friends in London are Australians, and even fewer I've known since either I first arrived or I knew from home. As lovely, and as important as new friends are, sometimes there's nothing better than seeing someone you've known forever. 

Why Cambridge, I'm not entirely sure, however it provides an excuse to get out of London and an opportunity to visit the much lauded Fitzbillies, which serves alongside its delicious cakes and Chelsea buns a very nice story.

Dinner with and cooked by Sabrina Ghayour. We had an amazing pan-asian feast, the highlight was the five-spiced crispy duck. Luckily for all Sabrina runs supper clubs so anyone can try her amazing food. 

The lovely Brie became British. To celebrate we went to the pub. Once with mostly Belgian themed food, or rather British food cooked with Belgian beer. This is a terrible photo of what were delicious beef sausages and ridiculous carrot and zucchini parcels.

The Haribo shop in Cologne airport. Possibly the only reason to go there.

We had a crazy German dinner at Gilden im Zims, which is of the German brew house genre. Apparently the crispy pork knuckle is what you are meant to order, along with these cute little glass of beer they constantly replenish. I did not have the pork knuckle, I had roast chicken in the hope it was as good as remembered from Oktoberfest. It wasn't. The potato roeti/latke things were delicious, as was the strudel.