London: Tea Time in Wonderland

I am counting the days to the holidays. You know, prisonner like, crossing them out. I know they are not so far away but looking at the piles of files on my desk, it looks like the wall of China is between me and them. And so I look at London who also derives towards dreamy places. Here a hotel becomes a narrowboat (or vice-versa), close to a floating restaurant. A parking is sublimed by a classical music concert. Camping becomes urban and with a view. Even spas head toward the garden.

Are you trying to escape too? Well, I can help you make it to the week-end at least. Print this page. Thanks to Thrillist, you can have a free cocktails, a French twist the Pimm’s. Instead of the classic British aperitif, this one is made with my favourite Bordeaux alcohol, Lillet. A delight.

All re-energised to go and enjoy London!

* Learn to dance tango in Spitafields. It’s free. And romantic. And sexy.

* Movie fan? Take place on the Dalston roofs.

* Have tea in a historical house with Bea’s of Bloomsbury. We love her cupcakes.

* Just a year left before the Olympic games and London is celebrating with 1000 events.

* Discover the Brixton murals.

* There is quite a party on Whitecross street and street art will be involved too.

* Do you like Chinese shadows?

* Discover British wines at the Borough Market.

* Nike proposes free sport sessions in London parks.

* Art will make you smile on the Central Line.

* Soho celebrates short-movies until July 29. go and see them at the Curzon, the Apple Store, the Hospital Club…

* Do you have a bike? A few cafés for you this way.

* We love these new themed tours of London: fashion, foodie, art on Bond Street…

* Missing the royal wedding atmosphere? Have another dose!

Pssst: Always wanted to discover the view from the BT tower? Book here.

A few evenings ago, inspiration was escaping me. I typed and crossed out sentences constantly – the letters of  the Delete button were in danger of fading away. And so I sighed. And I thought of the artists who used to find their muse in the Green Fairy. Did that really work? If so, should I be relocating my office in this new absinth bar, between the elegant fountains and delicate spoons?

if you, on the other hand, are in search of London inspiration, I have just what you need:

* Free burritos, Thursday and Friday at Canary Wharf.

* A touch of glamour at the National Portrait Gallery.

* Chocolate? For a good cause? Well, we can’t say no, then, surely…

* Kensington Palace gets enchanted in the evening for the summer. (Click here for a few pics)

* A few steps away… the Nomad Cinema will project at Kensington gardens this week-end. Truman show, Thelma & Louise, Fargo: yes, there are some spaces left.

* Rediscover the past Olympic games in pictures. Oh, for a bird’s view of the stadium, head that way.

* Support ukuleles. In the most musical way, of course.

* Explore the plant rooms and corridors under the Royal Festival Hall.

* Wow. Chaps have their own olympiade – all gentlemen games and vintage suits.

* Another journey in the past with those amazing pics of Tower Bridge being build. Saved from the skip!

* Circus time at Southbank!

* too hot? Get a glimpse of the Arctic.

* Join the swap and share picnic for a dose of happiness, fun games and craft.

Pssst: book now to get a chance to create your own gin.

Some hotels are such gems I wish I could call them home.

The Arch, a few minutes walk from Oxford Street, is one of them. The rooms are luxurious, of course, bathed with natural light, every detail absolutely perfect. It is the comfortable atmosphere you will fall for, the ever so friendly staff who make you feel like you have been here before even on your first visit.

Rather than an pen lounge, the ground floor offers a separate room with welcoming sofas and a library, a clever mix of modern lines and dancing shadows. You immediately picture yourself sipping on a cup of tea on a rainy afternoon.

Another room is available close to reception if you need to print your boarding pass, check your emails, bring the final touches to a report… Wifi is complementatery of your reservation so no surprise on your final bill.

The hotel has invested in beautiful art pieces which bring personal touches here and there, even in the rooms. Wander in the corridors on the different floors to discover them:

Each door indicates elegantly your occupation – wonderful upgrade from the traditional paper sign:

6 types of rooms are available, each more elegant than the other but more importantly each with its own decoration and theme, down to its Cole & Son wallpaper. Windows open on the neighbourhood yards, with glimpses of adorable gardens and extra quietness.

Here on business? Each room includes a working space as well as US and Europe adaptors:

On top of the large flat screen TV and CD/DVD player, guests will find an internet radio and i-pod dock. The management worked on eahc setting to make them straightforward to use.

Coffee and tea? Yes, in the most refined way: Nespresso (What else?) and Jing. Evenbetter, as wifi but also soft drinks in the minibars, these treats are complementary.

For those prefering a touch of freedom, a couple of the suites offer a kitchenette as well as the usual separate sitting room. Believe me, it is terribly hard to walk away from this amazing palace…

The bathroom is most opulent – up to a flatscreen above the bath… If your partner is losing patience over your favourite program, he can opt for the rainshower in a different setting just aside the bedroom. This will give you more time to enjoy Malin + Goetz natural products, a NY brand The Arch was the very first to import here.

Facilities in the building include a gym open 24 hours a day – jetlag won’t get in the way. Probably the widest range you will ever find, from yoga balls to Technogym treadmills that allow you to watch TV while burning calories…

We loved the idea of  round leather sofas circling on a table which can be sheltered from the rest of the room by slightly transparent curtains – gives you privacy while enabling you to spy on what is going on.

Reading the cocktail menu proves both a torture and a delight – so creative it proves hard to choose. The ginger and passion fruit mojito (£9) will bring an exotic touch to your evening -  ever so refreshing and playing on a multitude of tangy notes. The absolute must definitely is their Mar-tea-ni (£9.50), infused with Earl Grey, enhancing exquisite bergamot and lemony aromas.

Being very French, I just could not resist the steak Tartare (£19.50). Do trust the chef on its spicy mix -  a clever balance of textures, from sweet to crunchy, top quality meat, the right dose of capers and topped with the rich yolk of a quail egg. Pure heaven for a froggie, one less reason to rush to Paris! The dish is served with a generous portion of fries and crackers. A very British idea yet the crunchiness works amazingly well with the preparation.

We finished on a sweet note – ice-creams and sorbets are homemade, following the day inspirations. Avoiding the too-sugary, they focus on taste only, offering cloudlike textures and authentic flavours – as biting into the best of pistachio, plunging your spoon into the creamiest milk, or the most refined of honey nectar. It is impossible to settle on a single scoop and your spoon will constantly try the following one.

The Arch is a constant suprise – they even make their own chocolate. You know from the beautiful cacao smell they are gorgeous. Sadlythe picture does not pay them any credit so I will leave you to imagine, under a crunchy layer… a tender banana ganache… a cherry cream with sugar grain or nougat that does rival with the South of France’s. Only negative note – please make them available to take away too!

We will go back to taste the afternoon tear which includes a selection of éclairs (Think trout and horseradish, stawbery and champagne). The restaurant can print the picture of your choice on a chocolate plaque to decorate them -  an interesting ide of any celebration or corporate event.

Ideally situated a couple of streets from Selfridges and the most beautiful London shops, this exquisite hotel deserves to be a secret address, of those you only share with friends.

When I’m tired, I snack. And I feel pretty tired at the moment. And so I have become addicted to pop-corn. I can’t escape it, it is everywhere!

At work, I fall for Tyrrell‘s crunchy treats (yes, yes do more than just crisps).

Before heading to a long meeting, I find energy in Meltcafe‘s wasabi ones. I hope it makes me look fiercer too.

My best reward would be Joe & Seph’s gourmet versions. My favoutite remains the caramel, macchiato and whisky.

There’s also one to put in your handbag: Wild Trail does bar ones, with pieces of apples, apricot…

Next on my list is this Shoreditch cinema‘s interesting jazz corn.

Any advice? Let me know! Meanwhile…

* A new way to recycle: fridges put together as a cinema screen.

* Celebrate Friday with a free music concert at the Scoop.

* Take a beer masterclass.

* Anish Kapoor reflects the City.

* Go and see the Spitafields Market new sculptures.

* Spring clean and declutter those shelves.

* Did you know it is mango season? Here is where to find the best ones.

* Pretend you are Mozart. Yes, in the street.

* Southbank will celebrate too, it is a whole party next week at Borough Market.

* Baranis will be joining too. There will be petanque, delicious treats and a themed cocktail.

* Maille is opening a pop-up in Spitafields. Boutique by day and underground restaurant at night. Made even bubblier by the excellent Mrs Marmite Lover.

Because they are playful and irresistible.

Because you can go for the British version with scones and tringle sandwiches. Or choose a single pastry if you prefer. Or even be a child again with a glass of milk and cookies. Or be very Parisian and drink of of the velvety Mariage Frères tea. Or even add a little crazyness to the day and have a sweet and a Mariage Frères cocktail. There is always the perfect variation to suit your mood.

Because the afternoon tea also proposes petit-fours and you can try more in miniature versions and you feel spoilt and happy.

Because the lemon tartelettes are the best in town, tangy, not too sugary, a touch of cream, perfectly addictive.

Because you had never tried this heart-shaped biscuit, very French, almost caramelised, crunchy, and you will not leave a crumb behind. The alliance with an espresso is the best fix and we need it on the menu every hour of the day.

Because hot drinks always come with a square of Dolfin chocolate. Which one will you have today? Milk? Aniseed? Cinnamon?

Because we just know a sweet heaven when we see it!

Café Luc
50 Marylebone High Street
London
W1U 5HN

Afternoon tea from 14.30 to 18.00

I remember uni – parties with cheerful vodka shots. Quality did not matter as long as it did fit our budget. Later, as work fades away whole night parties, I prefered it in cocktails. Sweeter, elegant.

A great vodka, however, can be compared to the palate to a wine or tea. We are now so used to see it blended into another drink or flavoured 9caramel, lemon, raspberry, pepper!) that we have forgotten its true taste.

And suddenly I discovered Russian Standard. A classic? Yes and no.
Yes because this spirit is a Russian creation. Did you know that Dmitri Mendeleev (who invented this periodic table we all used in our chemistry classes) had been commissioned by Csar Alexander III to define the standard of this little water as it is also called? In 1894, he will select 4: wheat grain, pure water, multiple distillation to improve the purity, 40% alcohol for a perfect balance. Then comes communism. Vodk ais first prohibited, the fabrics transformed. As a consequence, black market soars with terrible products. Governement takes a step back, decides to control the production but quality remains poor. It is only in 198 that the local Richard Branson -  Roustam Tariko – decides to put Russian vodka back on the international scene. Russian Standard is now the third best seller in the whole world.

No because its texture is just sensational. When advised to make my first sip roll in the inside of my cheek, I frankly raised an eyebrow. We’re talking 40%. I expected to cough on it. Surprinsingly, this is just like velvet. Almost creamy. You can enjoy it fully, the alcoholic touch only coming second with pepper and herbs.  Served with zazuskis (Russian canapes), this is sincerely amazing. It will of course be a perfect cocktail addition – its richness  making each taste linger – but I find it more interesting on the rocks with salted fish 9or caviar if your budget allows it!), fatty meat, sweet and sour concoctions.

The secret? Precision. Winter wheat, free from pesticides and chemicals. A water so pure germany and Belgium used to import it to make their beer. But also high tech technology, developped for an always perfect quality. The plant is only a few years old when their competitors’ would be closer to 50.
What else? 35m hight distillation columns – the higher, the better of course. 8 distillations. Charcoal filter to eliminate impurities – hence this very refined taste.

The range includes this gold version (sweeter, more vanilla notes) in a beautiful engraved box. Quite a treasure gift and such a nice alternative to the usual bottle of wine (which your host will already have a few in stock anyway). Bring the aperitif instead!

If you get a chance, do try the Platinum too. Amazing how those three shots were different, coming from the same initial ingredients. This one is very gentle with creamy citrus flavours.

I left with a hundred ideas in my mind. Vodka-absinth-lime (Jade jagger). Fruit purée (blueberry, raspberry…), at the bottom of the shot (the berry end). Tangerine and lime juice-Jus de citron vert-vodka (Tangier tangerine). So summery, isn’t it?
Look out for those for you will see Russian Standard appear increasingly on your cocktails menu. As for wine, quality is always preferable to quantity.

A Punch House? What a nice alternative to the too traditional pubs!

Forgotten today, they were legions in the 17th century. The mix was imported from the Indian colonies to England at the time. Ever wondered what it is exactely? Not necessarily rum as I thought. The name derives from Hindu, Panchi meaning 5, the number of ingredients needed: alcohol, sugar, water, lemon, tea or spices. Sailors would bring it back in casks which would often have been used for sherry previously adding extra caramel and wooden notes. It was widely drunk till the 19th century, even Dickens had his favourite.

Fluid Movement, who created Purl and WhistlingShop, loved the idea and reinvented it. Look at the wooden decoration, the leather sofas, the dimmed light, the nautical details – a mix of gentlemen’s club and tradional ships. The collection of labelled and  bottles with waxed tops on the shelves is just fascinating.

What’s on the menu? Exotic punches – fresh (prepared whithin minutes) or matured  depending on your taste. If you ever have traveled to Cuba, try the Martinez (genever, orange bitter, vermouth, lemon) – for a minute or two you will be transported there. Even better, they have a noce selection of cigars on offer, just ask!

Tough day and need something to revigorate you? Opt for the Vieux Carré – more New-Orleans – for its alliance of 4 strong spirits: cognac, sweet vermouth, dry whisky and benedictin. Complex in aromas and taste.

If you’d rather have sip on a sweet concoction, order a Bergamot Grog. A cheerful and comforting marriage of rum and Earl Grey. The Raspberry Shrub is sure to make you lick your lips too: lemon and raspberry mixed with a venezuelan rum are sure to entertain the palate.

Verdict? The perfect place to take all the guys in your family, even those who think cocktails are a girls’ drink. They will adopt VOC immediately -  guaranteed. Think of it before taking an evening Eurostar to Paris too -  best place to start celebrating…

VOC
2 Varnishers Yard
Regents Quarter
Kings Cross
London N1 9AW
Punchs between £7.50 and £9

Bombay Sapphire, the oh-so-famous-gin, is the best in town to infuse parties with a touch of blue:

Take a boat along the Thames, sprinkle with canapes, wrap in a pink sky. Mix with a beautiful collection of cocktails playing on sensations: topped with a fragrant airy cloud, to be tried with a pill that reverts tastes (sour suddenly turns sweet), enhanced bu a touch of gold dust or even turning transparent with a few drops of black carrot extract… Shake, serve chilled, admire the effervescence!

Last December, the brand has approached the Facebook fans, asking them to send their best creative project. The best would be projected in 3D. Erjola Veliaj thought of a very clever Rubik Cube effect and turned Battersea Power Station into a virtual game machine. Impressive: transparence effect imagining the inside of the building, giant plant at work, ice cubes raining like crital through the chimneys… The brick lady really came to life. Click on the picture to see for yourself:

After 250 years of traditional distilling, Bombay Sapphire definitely gives a sophisticated image -  as much for the bottle design, the crisp botanical flavours than for its extremely trendy projects. Blues? Quite an art!

Right in the heart of Marylebone, Café Luc is the most Parisian pause you can think of. Mixing traditional and contemporary touches -  the decoration will remind you of those chic brasseries on the Continent. The tables are always impeccably set, bright white fabric table cloth, shining glasses. So elegant. The place you want to spend your whole afternoon.

Regulars stop by to brunch, eat sophisticated dishes, for the afternoon tea with a French touch or simply for their sublime Nutella crême brûlée… In pictures:

Café Luc is about to blow their first candle. Just one year and they already are an institution in that neighbourhood!
They also are one of the rarest to serve Mariage Frères tea – an elegant brand, France’s favourite. The quality is always spot on, the drink velvety, their marketing brilliant: 600 varieties, beautiful packaging with a colonial look, seasonal limited editions. We froggies are just crazy for them.
The brand tearoom had invented non alcoholic cocktails. In London, you can now enjoy much more interesting alcoholic versions…

Tasted and approved:
- The BourbonVanilla Martini (vodka infused with vanilla tea, Martini -  £8.50)
- The Marco Polo Ice Tea (gin infused with Marco Polo tea, mint, ginger ale – £8.50)
- The Orange Pekoe Ceylan Mojito (rum infused with  Orange Pekoe Ceylan tea, sugar syrup, mint and soda – £8.50)

Those cocktails tell tales of summers, of chats with friends till the end of the night, recreating the world, sing of the clinking noise of glasses…
Until June 19, a Orange Pekoe Ceylan Mojito is offered with your meal – click here. is it apéritif time yet?

Café Luc
50 Marylebone High Street
London
W1U 5HN

Bingo! This week-end is forcasted sunny AND will last an extra day. Around me, there are constant talks of Pimm’s jugs.hammocks, barbecue-parties, of the pleasure of walking barefoot in the grass…

* Is there a spirit in the Old Operating Theatre?

* Couldn’t get a ticket to the Chelsea Flower Show? Cheat, enjoy it differently with dedicated cocktails and afternoon teas.

* Put on your dancing shoes at Spitafields. You can even learn to tango there.

* The V&A late opening is dedicated to Yoji Yamamoto. Fashionistas should rush there.

* Always wanted to own a real theatre costume? Now is your chance: this pop-up sells them at affordable prices.

* Stik is back!

* Or would you prefer miniature street art?

* Foodies, the party’s in Hampton Court this week-end.

* Fancy a picnic but don’t want to prepare anything? Try this. enter the code MAY15 for an extra 15% off the price.

* Come and admire the fab sport cars at Covent Garden before they race away to the Gumball 3000 rally. Gentlemen, we promise this is not a ruse to let the girls fo even more shopping…

* Take some height at the Sky Bar.

* To keep those little pirates busy, click this way.

* Yummy! There is a new Hummingbird Bakery branch in Spitafields. Street art & cupcakes, now thta’s good news. Follow the crumbs and you’ll find me.

* Top Shop hides a pop-up with limited edition clothes. It is hiding behing the florist shop…

* Discover London the yummy way with Tastour. I have just registered for their famous Indian food walk in September.

* Visit a Huguenot House.

* Sip a bubble tea.

* Pssst! Next Wednesday, go and see some opera on Trafalgar Square.