Archive for May, 2009

The Good Life

Friday, May 29th, 2009

You just can’t beat the pleasure and taste of grow-your-own, so I’ve recently found. Inspired by the bank manager and my food hero Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall, I went about planting a fruit and veg garden earlier in the year and the results have surpassed all expectation. I’ve always had reservations about GYO – a bit too much of “The Good Life” for me – but I’m now a fully enrolled member of the GYO appreciation society. It started with a simple kitchen experiment, to grown basil, parsley and tarragon, in a matter of weeks my competitive nature had kicked in and in no time at all I was sowing beans, asparagus, broad beans, peppers and tomatoes in my garden, much to my neighbours horror - it’s rare to see me with a hoe and fork in hand.

I thoroughly recommend it to anyone, there’s some fabulous resources online to help you get started, one of my favourites is the Royal Horticultural Society, the site offers some great step-by-step help and advice. Then there’s some fabulous websites offering seasonal recipe ideas, I’m a fan of Foodepedia and bbc.co.uk/food/in_season.

Now the challenge has moved on… I’m about to embark on expanding my home-baking skills, I’m off to the Cookery School at Little Portland Street this week to learn the art of of bread making. Off to look at bread makers now…

Louise

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The Boundary

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

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So another Friday night looms and the big question on my mind is – where to go for dinner tonight?

Having heard through the grapevine that Sir Terence Conran’s restaurant The Boundary is the new hottest place to eat, that’s where I headed. Situated behind Shoreditch House and a ten minute walk from Liverpool Street Station I found myself in a lift being taken to the basement of the former Victorian warehouse. Stepping out into the dining room I take in my surroundings – seductive lighting, vaulted ceilings and bare brick walls contrasting with the streamlined seating…i am ready to see if the menu is as exceptionally delicious as the décor…

Taking on a classical French feel, the menu offers such delights as rotisserie, game, crab and langoustines. Being a vegetarian I was most intrigued to see what was on offer – though not extensive, there’s some delicious sounding choices. I was looking forward to indulging in my chosen culinary delights, now my appetite has been suitably whetted! Then it comes down to ordering the wine. Having recently become a recent ‘wino’, coupled with my new found passion for the grape variety Riesling from the Alsace, I was pleased to see the choice was vast. With everything ordered all I had to do was wait whilst busy waiters kept me supplied with beautiful bread and deliciously salty butter.

The food certainly lived up to my expectations and was beautifully complemented by the fine wine. Having thought hunger had been satiated, out of the corner of my eye I see the most extravagant cheese trolley I have ever come across, my eyes suddenly widen and I wonder “are they really too big for my belly…?”

http://www.theboundary.co.uk/

Edwina

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Foodie foodie Tweet tweet

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

close_up_straw_2If there’s one time of year, more than any other, that makes me want to get my hands on bundles of seasonal ingredients and get into the kitchen, this is it.

There’s not much that beats a pile of asparagus (which as far as I’m concerned is never better than when it’s simply steamed and served in a great pile with some melted butter and black pepper), or maybe grilled sea bass with a few Jersey royals and some samphire. And then a bowl of plump and juicy Kent strawberries to round things off. Yum.

Sometimes though, I’ll admit it, a bit of extra inspiration is required – usually for those mid-week oh-my-God-what-are-we-going-to-eat-tonight-I’m-too-tired-to-spend-hours-slaving-over-a-hot-stove evenings. I’ve found that Twitter has proved a rather handy way to get a multitude of mouth-watering ideas from other foodies: Winematcher, FoodStories, eatlikeagirl and foodiestgeorge are all ones I keep an eagle eye on. And then each day, usually mid-morning (and just when I’m feeling particularly peckish) there’s a Tweet from Fifteen Cornwall, with details of what’s on the menu that day.

Yesterday, for example, there was grilled line caught mackerel with a herb crust, fennel, wild rocket and lemon, followed by slow roasted shoulder of Primrose Herd pork, creamy borlotti beans, hispi cabbage and Buttervilla rhubarb salsa. And Italian roulade, vanilla mascarpone and the first of the season’s berries. It’s almost enough to get me legging it to City Airport and on the first flight to Newquay, just round the corner from Fifteen Cornwall in Watergate Bay.

In fact, if I hurry, I might just get there in time for dinner.

Celia

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The Real Food Festival

Tuesday, May 19th, 2009

Having paid a visit to the Real Food Festival at Earls Court, I’m not sure anyone’s told London’s foodies about the credit crunch. Or perhaps it’s another sign of more people cooking up a storm at home with fantastic quality ingredients than ever before. It was utterly packed on the Saturday (top tip for next year: wear shin pads to protect yourself from the thousands of buggies…).

I LOVE the dried chillis from Chilli Pepper Pete, so stocked up on plenty of those. It was also great to see all the Jersey producers – Jersey Royals of course, but also the beautiful Jersey Oysters.

But my real favourite was the monthly cheese subscription service from the Norbiton Fine Cheese Company. They offer a range of options – sign up for a one-off delivery, or one per month for three or six months, or even a full cheese-fest year. Decide whether you want a 700g-selection or the full-blown 1.5kg hamper, and you’ll be sent an array of beautiful cheeses on the first Friday of the month. My birthday isn’t too far away so I have helpfully left the flier lying around on the kitchen table at home… Fingers crossed!

Laura

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Flora and Fauna

Friday, May 15th, 2009

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The Chelsea Flower Show kicks off next week and so despite the grey weather, there is a definite floral feel in the air.

We went to the Chelsea launch party at Jo Malone on Sloane Street this Wednesday. Held at Jo Malone it was a great event with the crème de la crème of the gardening world. As official champagne for the show, Laurent-Perrier supplied the drinks – there was also a delicious floral scented cocktail from Pearl (Jun Tanaka’s fabulous restaurant and bar) which will be available to order during Chelsea week.

Speaking to the head judge we got tips on the key gardens to watch out for at the awards. It looks set to be an international affair with Swedish designer Ulf Nordfjell’s design for the Telegraph’s Garden as a hot contender. Another name to watch is Laurent-Perrier’s own Garden designer Luciano Giubbilei – it’s the Italian designer’s first garden at Chelsea and everyone is looking forward to seeing his creation.

Chelsea fever has hit the capital it seems with special Chelsea Floral Afternoon Teas taking place at London’s hot spots. We went to Claridge’s last week for a sneak peak at what they will be serving during Chelsea week. It’s a must visit treat. Bite size sandwiches (including mini sweet varieties filled with Lychee Rose and Orange and Passion Flower which are simply amazing) followed by delicate floral inspired creations including rose and raspberry macaroons, mango vanilla and jasmine cup cakes and chocolate ganache and green tea cakes. Accompanied by a glass of Laurent-Perrier Rosé and a vast choice of delicious teas it’s well worth a visit.

Now we just have to hope the weather brightens up…!

Alex

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The great North South debate

Tuesday, May 12th, 2009

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Readers of Time Out will have seen that last week’s edition included a rather ranting feature on the great North vs. South London debate, in which the North side, alarmingly called for Clapham to be wiped off the map. A little severe maybe?

Anyway, as a South London resident, I read the piece with great interest and was slightly disappointed as to how generalised it was. South London is so much more than Clapham and a few parks. Residing between Camberwell and Brixton, I’m always surprised by the hidden gems that lie in this area, and none more so than Franco’s. Simply a delight that actually, I’m glad not many people know about.

Hidden off the infamous Electric Avenue in Brixton, Franco Manca offers pizzas, remarkable not only for their quality, but also their price. The menu is simple but undeniably good and for £5 odd you can treat yourselves to toppings such as tomato, cured organic chorizo and mozzarella, or ricotta from Alham farm, Somerset organic pork and mozzarella… All laid on sourdough pizza fresh from the oven and washed down by refreshing organic wine and beer.

So all you northerners out there, its time to wake up to the fact that maybe, just maybe, a trip South of the River might be more rewarding than you could have imagined.

http://francomanca.co.uk/

Kim

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21 years in London

Thursday, May 7th, 2009

Restaurant PR to the stars, Maureen Mills, hosted an exquisite dinner at the two-Michelin starred Hibiscus last week, to celebrate 21 successful years in London.

Pol Roger Brut Reserve Champagne flowed, along with well crafted Ketel One Hibiscus martinis as the guests started to arrive and mingle throughout the elegant room. A craned neck revealed Fay Maschler, Terry Durack, Charles Campion and Jay Rayner. While top London chefs and restaurateurs were also well represented by Tom Aikens, Henry Harris, Anthony Demetre, Will Smith and John Nugent.

Claude Bosi created a magnificent menu of Cornish Spider Crab, followed by Roast Loin of Berkshire Pork, finishing with an Hibiscus ‘Tarte au Chocolat’, served with Indonesian basil Ice cream. The meal was expertly complemented by 2006 Riesling Kanta, Egon Muller, Adelaide Hills, South Australia and a 2004 Les Carignettes, Château Haut-Musiel, Rhône Valley.

While the wine flowed we tried to extricate nuggets of gossip from the likes of top agent Borra Garson, Zagat Guide editor Susan Kessler and Jo Warwick, but no joy. We had an early start the next day (big meeting at Selfridges) so had to leave just as the singing started. Shame.

Lindsay

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Afternoon Tea at The Berkeley

Friday, May 1st, 2009

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What’s not to love? We were at the sublime Berkeley Hotel in the heart of Knightsbridge, getting munchalicious with the award-winning Prêt-à-Portea served in the beautiful Caramel Room (tres sexy décor sporting faux-croc fabrics).

Inspired by the Spring/Summer 2009 fashion collections (the pastry chefs scour London Fashion Week for inspiration), this season’s afternoon tea of cakes and pastries includes a Smythson ‘Maze Bag’ banana Madeira cake and an impressive Valantino red coat chocolate cookie. An excellent selection of teas are also on offer - served in delicate Paul Smith china. The cherry blossom tea was a particular favourite.

Quite honestly, if afternoon tea is your ‘balenciaga’ - The Berkeley is definitely the place for Jimmy Choo (you)!

The Berkeley
Wilton Place
Knightsbridge
London
SW1X 7RL

T: +44 (0)20 7235 6000

www.the-berkeley.co.uk

Shannon

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