Yes of course, sex sells. We all know that. But what about the after effects of a completed romp? Surely, all that leftover stuff is best left unmentioned … and certainly not exalted as the inspiration of haute cuisine in some fancy schmancy Mayfair restaurant?
Read my complete review at Great British Chefs.
Kemey and I had a gorgeous dinner at Brixton’s Boqueria tapas bar and restaurant this past weekend. Winner of Time Out’s Best Cheap Eats 2012, we found Boqueria to offer tasty value for money. During our visit, portion size for most dishes was more than ample; service was brisk and attentive; and the vibe was delightfully low key with a bit of a buzz in the air. The mostly local guests seemed to come in all ages and varieties – couples, families with small children, groups of friends catching up – and all appeared equally excited to be spending a lovley evening out at Boqueria.
You can add Kemey and me to that list of pleased patrons. With a menu that’s less inventive than just plain good and solidly Spanish, we thoroughly enjoyed sampling our way through an assortment of classic tapas. Highlights of our meal included a chorizo a la sidra (£4.90); surprisingly remarkable patatas bravas with salsa brava and alioli (£4.20); and rape a la catalana con gambas (monkfish “Catalana” with prawns, £7.90). A house selected bottle of Tobía Selección, Rioja, 2008 (Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano, £25) met our approval and accompanied every dish wonderfully.
Other than a resounding “muy bien!” there’s not a whole lot to say about our experience except that I wish they’d consider opening another location north of the river, preferably near my flat.
Boqueria is located at 192 Acre Lane, SW2 5UL. Find out more at boqueriatapas.com.
Whether you’re on a tight budget or have one that you’re hankering to blow in grand style, London is home to a range of Chinese restaurants for every wallet and taste.
Read my complete post at the CheapOair blog.
The Amazings are people over 50 who are passionate about passing on their knowledge, skills and wisdom to younger generations. The range of courses and classes they offer is impressive. From a loom knitter, to a philosopher, to the guy who taught Phil Collins how to drum, to a film mogul, to a clay artist … they’re all amazings and all have something valueable to share.
Yoga is totally coming from within. It’s not just a physical discipline. It’s a spiritual, therapeutic and energetic practice.
One such amazing individual is Mohini, a yoga teacher with more than a 25 years of experience who describes her sessions as “deep and relaxing, strong and flowing, peppered with humour and metaphor.” Mohini holds certification from Amrit Trust for Kripalu Yoga, British Wheel of Yoga, and Spirit of Yoga from Eric Schiffmann. She is a qualified Holistic Massage Therapist, as well as a British Wheel of Yoga Foundation Course Tutor and a Tai Chi for Health Teacher.
To find out more about Mohini’s yoga sessions and all of the Amazings’ fun, friendly, informal, classes and courses, visit theamazings.com. Try something old, learn something new. Classes start from as little as £15 and courses from £70.
Finding a place that serves this humble delicacy isn’t hard to do. As you might imagine, there are a plenty of pizzerias in Rome. Most of them make more than decent pizza that’s certainly worth spending a few euros on as a snack. But it’s always worth evaluating what’s on offer.
Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
I loved getting messy with a big ole bucket of lobster (and so much more) last time Fingers and Thumbs popped-up in Bethnal Green. So I’m pleased to report they’re coming back this Thursday for three days of shellfish feasting. This is a fantastic opportunity to eat well … and for me to take better photographs than I did last time. See you there?
Big difference worth noting this go round: not BYOB anymore. They’ve got their own bar! Woo hoo.
Fingers and Thumbs Seafood Shack
Railway arch 289, Cambridge Heath Road, E2 9HA
*CLOSER TO CAMBRIDGE HEATH RAIL STATION THAN BETHNAL GREEN TUBE STATION*
31 January to 2 February with two sittings from 6 to 7.30pm and 8.30 to 10.15pm.
Cash only
To book ahead (highly recommended) call Jimmy on 07815 808 735 or Sicolas on 07875 238 095. For details, visit the Fingers and Thumbs Facebook page or follow them on Twitter: @fingandthumbs.
A lot has changed in London since Sophie’s Steakhouse opened a decade ago. Finding a more than decent chunk of cow is almost too easy these days, while enjoying a gorgeous cut of meat from an ethically raised animal who’s provenience is presented to diners with impeccable detail isn’t all that uncommon either.
I’ve changed too. I’m not so much concerned anymore about reviewing anywhere and everywhere I’ve been, and I’m not too terribly bothered to spend time to gripe online about some less than ideal dining experience. With respect to writing reviews, I’ve recently come up with a pretty simple policy to which I try to adhere. Would I recommend the place to a good friend? If yes, then publish. If no, figure out something else to write about. Of course, if somebody thoroughly pisses me off or disappoints to an egregious extent, I reserve the right to pounce.
So … Sophie’s Steakhouse on Fulham Road (there’s a newer one at Covent Garden too). Nice place. I had a lunchtime catchup with a friend there a couple of weeks ago. And I’ve been playing mental ping pong deciding whether I should write a review of Sophie’s since. For the price and what’s on other, there are plenty of comparable alternatives as well as a growing handful of venues offering a superior steak at roughly the same cost.
Needless to say, I wasn’t as gleeful about this steakhouse as Jay Rayner seemed to be back in 2002. Indeed, I wonder if he would be as gaga if he were to review Sophie’s today? All steaks at Sophie’s are British beef, naturally raised (whatever that means in this or any case) and dry aged for 28 days. That’s good. But our lovely server and the accommodating manager couldn’t tell us anything about breed or where they’d been raised. It might have been Scotland, or maybe Northern Ireland. That’s not up to 2013 steak standards for this town.
Don’t get me wrong. I was happy to chow on my 24oz côte de boeuf (£38.50), and I really liked my spinach, bacon and blue cheese salad (£7.25). My dining companion loved his starter course of field mushrooms with rocket and goat’s cheese on toasted brioche (£7.50) and had no complaints about his sirloin (£26.95). But we both agreed we’ had better recently for about the same price or cheaper.
One aspect to my lunch at Sophie’s still stands out as exceptional: the house red, Sophie’s Reserve Rouge 2011, IGP d’Oc. It’ a great wine, and at £4.75 for a 175ml glass and £16.95 for a bottle it’s great value too. A blend of Syrah and Grenache created by the restaurant’s “own team”, I liked it from the first sip and thought is was an especially smart and easy drinker to go with red meat. Good ‘n’ juicy with a medium body, it’d be a nice one to drink on its own if slipping into Sophie’s for an evening at the comfortable (and I hear ridiculously popular) bar.
My experience with asking for house wines at restaurants in this town has been hit or miss (heavy on the miss). Ordering what the “house” recommends is a speedy yet discerning way to figure out if a restaurant is worth returning to. In the case of Sophie’s, I ain’t rushing out the door, but I’d go again. I have to say, though, I was really impressed with my glass (oh, make that two) of Sophie’s Reserve. So much so, it’s easily the most remarkable wine I’ve had this month and worth adding to my WOTM list of commendable quaffs.
If you live or work near Sophie’s, definitely keep it in mind. And when you pay your visit, be sure to ask for the house red.
Sophie’s Steakhouse is located at 311-313 Fulham Road, SW10 9QH. There’s another location at 29-31 Wellington Street, WC2E 7DB which I haven’t been to but reckon offers a similar dining experience plus the option of pre and post show theatre menus. Check out sophiessteakhouse.co.uk for more information.
I love haggis. It’s one of the most savoury dishes I can think of and a true winter warmer. The blend of hearty oats, black pepper and, well, all those other ingredients that make haggis so infamously reviled among the squeamish add up to a flavoursome experience that’s unparalleled. And I’m not just hitting you over the head with a hyperbole stick either. Haggis really is one of my favourite foods. So when I heard about a haggis toastie (and that the Evening Standard had claimed it to be London’s best new sandwich) being sold just down the street from where I live, I was clicking my heals to the tune of Auld Lang Syne keen for a glimpse of this glorious sight warm-reekin!
Read my complete review at Great British Chefs.
Luckily for the sophisticated sweet tooth in London, there are two venues offering the opportunity to purchase Pierre Hermé’s macarons. There’s his own boutique in ultra upscale Belgravia as well as a concession on the ground floor of the world famous department store, Selfridges. His few other boutiques are dotted here and there in Japan, the Emirates and, of course, throughout France.
Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
The gist of my brief Roman holiday was pretty basic: eat a lot of pizza, walk around all over the place and brush up on my street photography. And, in that sense, the day was indeed a perfect one for me.
Read my complete post at Urban Travel Blog.
BBC 2’s Masterchef: The Professionals presenter, Michel Roux Jr, will appear at the Whole Foods Market in Kensington on Monday morning for a cooking demo, Q&A and book signing. Michel will be joined by Gerry Beck, head chef at Whole Foods Market. They’ll prepare a selection of dishes including a one-pot casserole and some “simple yet delicious crushed garlickly” potato skins.
The event will be held in the Market Restaurant on the store’s first floor with a maximum attendance limited to only 60 people. Guests will be served breakfast and get the chance to meet the Michel. Tickets are £25 each, and I’ve been told a few still are available.
Doors will open at 8am with things winding down by 11.30am. Whole Foods Market Kensington is located at 63-97 Kensington High Street, The Barkers Building, W8 5SE.
For more information and to book, visit:
http://shop.wholefoodsmarket.com/store/Michel-Roux-Jr-Event-Monday-28-January-%C2%A325-tickets-P7121.aspx
Over the past year or so, I’ve blogged more than a bit about the high quality of food products from Parma and what a gastronomic thrill it actually was to visit the city and neighbouring countryside back in September.
Just under a year old, Fitzrovia restaurant, In Parma, has been bleeping wildly on my foodie radar all this time. I finally got round to having a meal there earlier this week, and I’m happy to report that my visit was just as delightful, delicious and autentico as what I experienced in the actual city of Parma itself.
In Parma is owned by Christian Pero. Originally from Parma and with a background working with some of the world’s top food brands (Kelloggs, Mars), Christian is also the founder of Food Roots, the “only entity in the world dedicated to European Protected Designation of Origin products selecting the best small producers.” The restaurant is a first for Christian and for Food Roots and functions as a sort of public relations channel for Food Roots.
Dedicated to European PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) and PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) products, Food Roots is “devoted to the preservation of traditional European produce, only importing food and wine that bear the PDO and PGI seals.” These products – well, at least the Italian ones – are then served at Christian’s restaurant to delectable effect. Many of the wines, meats and cheeses on the In Parma menu are available as take home items as well.
Christian is an affable and informative host. Aside from forwarding the aims of such his noble and gourmet business plan, his cosy 30-cover restaurant is an inviting venue for a lovely evening out. I’d imagine it would be as suitable for a much better than average lunch as well.
Stuff I loved during my dine?
Starting the evening off with a fojeta (a small, broad bowl traditionally used to drink wine in the region around Parma) of 2011 Monte delle Vigne Lambrusco (£5.20 for a fojeta, £24 for a bottle) set a tasty tone. This sparkling red wine went down remarkably well on its own but seemed a particularly smart choice alongside all the edibles I sampled, especially the cured meats. Don’t be surprised if I write about this wine again soon.
Speaking of meat, a warm thin layer of lardo di Colonnata lightly laid upon a generous slice of toasted crusty bread was gorgeous. The cheese pleased as well. The restaurant has an outstandingly creamy and pungent gorgonzola on offer. As you’d imagine, they’ve got some amazing Parmigiano-Reggiano too. I’d tried the special 36 month aged “Red Cow” Parmigiano. Made from the milk of the rare and historic Vacche Rosse breed of nearly extinct cattle, it was a more butterfatty and meaty cheese – and is reason enough for any foodie to head over to give In Parma a try.
Beyond my exquisite preliminary nibbles, the caponata (traditional stew made of aubergines, courgettes, potatoes, onions, basil, tomato, red and green peppers, £6) was a side to savour. Creamy gorgonzola and mushroom polenta (£8) was a seasonably sensible dish that soothed, and home made tortelli d’erbetta (ravioli filled with ricotta, spinach and Parmigiano-Reggiano, £12) proved a most appreciated pasta with its flavourful long lasting finish. The tiramisu (not sure about the price, sorry!) was among the very best I’ve ever had. Yum.
In Parma is located at 10 Charlotte Place, W1T 1SH. Find out more at inparma.co.uk.
All roads may lead there, but that doesn’t mean Rome is the most straightforward place to get around once you’ve arrived. Of course, with tiny cobblestoned lanes leading to picture perfect piazzas contrasting with grand avenues guiding you to monument after monument, there are far worse cities in which to be lost. Honestly, navigating the streets of Rome can be simple, fun and inexpensive.
Read my complete post at the CheapOair blog.
Teh Katnip Kartel – Cuds, James McKenzie-Blyth
I swung by last night’s PV for Lolcat – Teh Exhibishun, a group art show “exploring the weird and wonderful world of lolcats.” Curated by Jenny Theolin and Soapbox & Sons, the exhibition brings together a variety of graphic designers, illustrators, photographers, animators and writers with all offering their own versions of quirky kitteh inspired art.
Kneel Before Hypno-Kitteh, Pete Hawkes
Did any of the artwork blow my mind? No. But much of it made me grin and some of it even had me laughing out loud. The feel good factor was high as well. 50% of all proceeds are in aid of Battersea Dogs And Cats Home with art for sale as cheap as £1 for postcards to several thousand pounds for large scale framed works … with a whole lot of affordable prices in between.
Lolcat – Teh Exhibishun runs until 15 February at The Framers Gallery, 26 Windmill Street, W1T 2JT. Find out more at lolcattehexhibishun.com.
Craft Beer Rising is a new festival featuring an impressive lineup of great beer, street food and music that’s coming to East London the last weekend of February.
Read my complete preview at the CheapOair blog.
You saw President Obama’s second inaugural address, right?
Equal pay for women, gay rights, gun laws, a big and potentially more positive turn with respect to immigration news. I for one applaud the President for taking such a so called “liberal” stance. Some of what he seemed to suggest simply seemed like common sense to me. I just wonder if he’ll be able to accomplish even have of what he’s forward? Time will tell how I suppose. Of course, the devil’s in the details. And I’ll probably have all sorts of quibbling to do with any actual implementation or lack of truly relevant policy as Obama’s second term rolls out.
Whatever the case, the man can speak and knows how to captivate an audience. Here’s the full text from President’s speech:
We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths—that all of us are created equals—the star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall; just as it guided all those men and women, sung and unsung, who left footprints along this great Mall, to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone; to hear a King proclaim that our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on Earth.
It is now our generation’s task to carry on what those pioneers began. For our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts. Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well. Our journey is not complete until no citizen is forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote. Our journey is not complete until we find a better way to welcome the striving, hopeful immigrants who still see America as a land of opportunity until bright young students and engineers are enlisted in our workforce rather than expelled from our country. Our journey is not complete until all our children, from the streets of Detroit to the hills of Appalachia, to the quiet lanes of Newtown, know that they are cared for and cherished and always safe from harm.
Let us, each of us, now embrace with solemn duty and awesome joy what is our lasting birthright. With common effort and common purpose, with passion and dedication, let us answer the call of history and carry into an uncertain future that precious light of freedom.
Should you choose to believe it, today – so called Blue Monday – is officially the most depressing day of the year. Things haven’t been all that bad for me today. As far as Mondays go, today turned out to be a pretty good one for me. Still, this certainly wasn’t the most exciting day I could imagine, and I found myself daydreaming more than a few times about getting away to somewhere sunny and actually scoping a few airline and booking sites in search of a sunny holiday that would be both within my budget and SOON.
Today, a team of “Sunkissers” from the Greek island of Rodos took to the streets in the City of London, braving the snow to spread a bit of sunshine and happiness. Making their way from St Paul’s to Liverpool Street and Finsbury Circus to end up in Exchange Square, the Rodos Sunkissers hugged passers-by to brighten their day and highlight the island’s credentials as one of Europe’s sunniest destinations and, in partnership with EasyJet, to offer one lucky couple a free holiday to Rhodes.
But just because the street hugging gimmick is done, that doesn’t mean your day can’t still be brightened. There’s a Facebook competition running now until the end of February encouraging Brits to help spread the sunshine. The winners will be flown to Rhodes by EasyJet for a week of luxury. For your chance to win, visit the Rhodes Facebook page: facebook.com/Rodosisland. Good luck!
I’ve been cooped up inside all day here in Hackney. So, I didn’t manage to get any freebie street hugs. Did anybody out there encounter these folks today? Here’s a video of the same Sunkissers pulling the same sunshiny stunt back in the summer. To date, the clips has attracted more than 160,000 views.
More than a quarter of a million UK holidaymakers visited Rodos in 2012 and this number is expected to grow more than 6% a year. Find out more at rodosisland.gr.
Like truffles? You’ll love Volpetti! And no, I don’t mean the little chocolaty bonbon kind of truffles, rather the earthy, mushroom-y kind. However, if you happen to like chocolaty Italian treats you should still probably keep reading as this lovely little family owned salumeria specializes not just in all things tartufi but an amazing assortment of cured meats, cheeses, home made pastas, as well as plenty of sweets and all sorts of other Italian delicacies.
Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
I’ve got this list of artists in my head whom – if I ever were to land a large sum of money – I would buy lots and lots of art from. It’s a short list and one comprised of people I’ve actually had the pleasure of meeting and watching do their stuff. Dan Witz is on that list. I’ve been following his work since I first interviewed him back in 2007. The attention to detail, the intense concentration that goes into his paintings, his incredible command of light: Dan produces amazingly photorealistic artwork with an urban edge, a sinister sense of humour and an Old Master’s application of considerable skill and technique.
Totally up my alley. The fact of the matter is, though, I’m just this side of broke. There is no second home with empty walls crying out for that perfect piece of art to tie things together.
But one of the lucky things about being a fan of this Brooklyn-based artist’s work is that it really wouldn’t be too much of a shock to come across his art in some alleyway around Williamsburg or up a back street off Brick Lane – just enough of a surprise to stop you in your tracks for a moment to see if that really is a hummingbird hovering above a doorknob … a hooded prisoner cowering in a corner … an infant’s face pressed against a window of an abandoned building.
As much a street smart prankster as an art fair darling, Dan makes a good amount of his art for free outdoor urban interaction. And even though he’s been doing this for decades, he’s yet to have been arrested. Of course, if you did have the cash to invest in some of his more legal work, which includes plenty of affordable prints and books, he’s just as prolific in the studio.
Capably straddling the mean street and the hoity toity fair is Lazarides Rathbone gallery where Dan Witz: Prisoners 2012 – 2013 solo exhibition opens this week. This is Lazarides’ first show of the year and is to feature paintings from both Prisoner and Mosh Pit series. This is a great opportunity to view some fantastic art.
Dan Witz: Prisoners 2012 – 2013 runs from 25 January to 23 February at Lazarides Rathbone, 11 Rathbone Place, W1T 1HR. Find out more at lazinc.com.
I think this short and sweet video sums up quite well how smokers miss out on so many of the little things in life that make it worth living. With respect to the message conveyed in this post sponsored by All Response Media for E-Lites electronic cigarettes, I think it’s worth considering all the special moments that the smoker in the clip might not get to experience in life of the child, whom I’m sure we are to presume is the smoker’s grandchild.
The newly launched Moreno at Baglioni restaurant situated inside Kensington’s lush Baglioni London Hotel sees two Michelin star Italian chef, Moreno Cedroni, share his avant garde Italian cuisine for the first time outside Italy.
Read my complete review at the Comte des Cierges CDCLifestyle blog.
Do you keep an eye on your interest rates? If not you might get a shock – like a red-headed man creeping up behind you and suddenly yelling, “Learn more about credit cards by watching this film!”. To compare credit cards, click on Maurice Wigglethorpe-Throom’s click.
Tim Flach is famed for his poignant photographs of animals. Whether capturing in magnificent detail a fleeting and kinetic moment such as the instance when a wet tiger shakes streaming beads of water from his soaking head or managing somehow to get that same tiger (or maybe a panda … or a monkey … or …) to pose for a portrait, the results are far from kitsch or quirky just for quirky’s sake. Flach’s animal photography is fine art encouraging viewers to ponder our understanding of how other creatures interact with the world and to rethink what it means to be human.
The days to catch it are now precious few, but More Than Human at the Osborne Samuel Gallery in Mayfair presents a free opportunity to view huge prints of photography by Flach. There’s a free catalogue available as well as signed copes of his books as well.
The Osborne Samuel website says that this amazing exhibition has already ended, but I was told at the gallery that it’s extended until 21 January. Might be wise to call ahead: +44 (0)20 7493 7939. The gallery is located at 23a Bruton Street, W1J 6QG.
