London: Tea Time in Wonderland

I love, in the British language, the expression Paint the town red. Fits London so well. This colours is already pretty iconic but oh, my, in this pre-Valentine-day period, it seems it is the only one around…

That’s art, baby:
* Rediscover the Sunday times mythical pictures at the Saatchi.
* Get your own pop-up London. To get it from Amazon, click here.
* London artist add a touch of blues to the capital.

Yummy time ahead:
* Pssst -  get your coffee at Salt and get a breakfast treat free this week, from Thursday to Sunday.
* Taste the Chelsea Physics Garden’s honey.
* Liquorice and sweets fans, rejoyce.
* It’s the last straw (almost) in Soho.
* The new fun way to eat cake is here.
* Gospel, brunch and a view.

Take the little ones along:
* Sing along the Gruffalo.
* At the Somerset House, the kids craft workshops will be about mirrors and marble effects.
* Kids have their own festival on Southbank.

Love, love, love:
* You probably do not know her yet. Lili Bé is one of the most talented froggies I know and she illustrates London and life with a smile. In French, but still, take a look at those limited edition posters and tell me you do not fall for it. I would love to have this a a bag too. Don’t you?

Out of the ordinary:
* The end of the world is getting nearer.
* Let your heart beat for flamenco.
* Find love heart sweets irresistible? Well, at the Jewellery school on Sunday, you can make you own charm one.

A bunch of flowers?
Try something new.

Like taking your loved one to share a White Cosmopolitan at Bar Boulud. This is one of the trendiest, must-be-seen-at places in town so make sure you book first.

It is all about the surprise. In your martini glass, rose petals or gorgeous edible flowers are sealed in a jewel of ice. They will unfold slowly as it melts. A jug containing your cocktail is brought separately, to be poured on top.

The dancing notes of Cointrau, vodka and white cranberry have never tasted that good…

Bar Boulud
Mandarin Oriental
66 Knightsbridge
London SW1X 7LA

A fantastic tweet-up. Chats bout cameras, pictures, recipes, food, travels. A historical walk along the Thames, a journey through time thanks to Context London who told us fascinating stories and many smiles. We dreamt of the frost fair, which took place on a completely frozen river. We listened, delighted, to passages of classics who brought a brand new vision on familiar buildings. Their range also includes suprising thems such as this one for runners. Or that one on fashion from Tudor splendot to Vivienne Westwood punk approach. If you are a foodie, you are sure to go for the gastronomical one (unless you’d like to throw a little art in it too).

Then, cheeks all pinked up, we spent the rest of the afternoon at the Quarter Bar, nestled in the London bridge Hotel – ideally situated between the Shard and the Borough Market. A beautiful contemporary space, wide palette of colours, warm and welcoming, design touches such as those fabulous decanter lamps by Lee Broom (In love with them? They will be on sale on Dalani on Feb 06!). We sipped on a delicious martini made with organice apple juice (so healthy, right?) and realised winter felt suddenly very far away. The Quarter Bar was extremely generous and had prepares mini versions of some of their dishes: melt-in-the mouth dim-sums, sliders with juicy meat and onion marmelade, tender keftas fragrant with herbs, parmesan tiles shaped as cups holding a salad, addictive fish croquettes, sweet treats that would make a French pâtisserie proud (including perfect tartelettes and exquisite raspberry-pistachio cubes)… A very precious address after a long walk, the perfect place to stop for a bite, share a drink, catch up, wait for the rain to stop especialy as it is away from all the way-too-touristic places along the Thames. Or why not come for an afternoon tea? They serve it with one of my favourite tea brands, Tea Forte always decorated with a leaf…

Huge thanks to Magellan PR, Context London and London Bridge Hotel for organising everything and spoiling us!

London Bridge Hotel and Quarter Bar
8-18 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9SG UK

Not just a florist, a real school. Whether you are a professional or just passionate, there is a course for you. Come for a day or an evening and learn to make the cutest bride bouquet, make a blooming rainbow, create flower hats, or arrange autumn leaves and berries.

The Covent Garden Academy of Flowers
St Martin’s Courtyard
9 Slingsby Place
Covent Garden
London, WC2E 9AB

Anthropologie
158 Regent Street, London, W1B 5SW
131 – 141 King’s Road, London, SW3 4PW

Getting ready for the parade…

Play with words, shake syllabes, paint sentences, cross out letters or sprinkle a few more – how inspiring is this new pop-up shop at Selfridges! You could also just turn a few pages, personnalise a Tatty Devine necklace with your own name, listen to stories or poetry…

Selfridges
Wonder Room
400 Oxford Street
London W1A 1A

Every year on January 25, is celebrated the birthday of the Scottish poet Robert Burns. Why such a fascination for the artist? By writing in the local dialect and not only in English, by collecting tales and songs of his beloved folklore, he made – still makes – the country heart beat stronger. To this day, his poem Scots Wha Hae is considered a second national hymn.

In London too, the parties will be on. Kilts may not always be there but you can be sure haggis and whisky will be on the table.

If you love refined dishes, rush to the Rib Room. Nestled in the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel, this stylish restaurant is too little known. I was lucky to discover the special menu for Burns Night and was wowed by it. Scotland at his very best.

First - traditions. It is important to bring a toast (or a collection of them). And so we raised our glass with this beautiful drink of Slàinte (cheers in Gaelic). The secret of this very floral nectar? A clever mix of Hendrick’s gin, vermouth and heather honey. It is a real pleasure to leave it linger on the tongue to better appreciate its sweet, complex texture.

And then the feast begins. So much care has been brought to the starter that I turned my plate again and again to see all the details. Slightly pickled ribbons of carrots, beautiful rolls made of beetroot, sweet salad with herbs, crouton made of such a thin slice of seeded bread it looked like delicate lace, and serving of creamy Crowdie cheese sprinkled with roasted walnuts for a crunchy effect…

Follow sea flavours -  pan-fried scallops matched with almost sugary baby onion. The croquette is a real surprise. Using the ingredients of a Cullen Skink  (potato and haddock) in the most exquisite bite -  crisp on the outside, opening on unctuous heart concentrating the tastes where the smoked side of the fish dominates.

Worth noting -  the extraordinary work of Louise Gordon, the sommelier. For here, the wine, spirit and cigar list (the restaurant will soon open its own terrace for the guests to appreciate the latter even more) is on Ipad. What a fabulous idea -  such fluidity in the search, so much information compiled from the picture of the product to detail about the grapes, the region, maps if wished. And so you get curious, looking further and further. You can fully grasp the amount of work this represented, creating mouthwatering descriptions for each selection in store, compiling a whole file each time.

Louise had selected two gems to match the menu. Attitude is a creation by the Pascal Jolivet brand -  frank, modern, it dances in the mouth, blooming on green apple, kiwi, lime. A perfect alliance with creaminess and fish. For the more complex meat to come will be served a New-Zealand Wild Rock Gravel Pit Red . Merlot and Malbec bring a gorgeous explosion of red fruit, plum and violet and marvelous round tannins.

But wait, haggis is now brought on a silver tray, the king of the evening. Our friend Donald will recite the ode to this dish. To be frank, being French, I only understand 1 word out of 5 but still the text flows, lyrical, brings out pride and definitely makes quite an impression. Clapping could not be helped and was well deserved!

The haggis, once sliced, is associated with a fabulous dish of venison, tender and pink, strong seducing character. On the side, a casserole of parsnip, apple and chestnut remind of autumn and forest walks. The spiced mince, which texture has been enhanced with oats, is the best I have tasted so far (and the Wolseley’s is quite something too) -  just make sure you let it absorb some of the juices too for extra happiness…

Keep some space for dessert! A great occasion to (re)discover the cranachan -  silky whipped cream with fresh raspberries and scooped in the most inviting way. Chocolate lovers will not resist the cloud-like chocolate and Drambuie mousse, absolutely divine and generous in alcohol! The Dundee soufflé cake  is quite a signature dish, a caress with very moist raisins.

Unless you prefer homemade Tunnocks, a more gourmet version of the kids’ treat? High quality chocolate, vanilla touch in the mallow and the most tender cake base. Really, they should sell boxes of those. Just saying.

The Rib Room as we saw earlier are quite skilled in cocktails too. Their mixologist can even juggle with fire:

This Flaming Bobby Burns has the most fascinating amber colour. It brings out caramel, the complexity of Vermouth and the spice of Benedictine. A few orange essential oil drops from the zest and your cheeks will pink up nicely, trust me.

Don’t leave yet, you have to sip on some whisky too and they offer a formidable range indeed. My heart always melts for Lagavulin -  robust, round, smoked, it makes me think of chimney fires.

Do ask about their chocolate truffles: the banana one has nothing to envy of the best chocolatiers in town. Glossy ganache, exotic notes, this is the perfect conclusion.

Verdict: well, a sudden thought in the midst of the dinner probably sums it best – So good it could be French !
The menu for 5 dishes (cocktail, Crowdie, scallops, haggis & venison, trio of desserts, coffee and Tunnock) costs £50 per person. Wine & whiskies are on top.

Can’t come for Burns Night -  well the excellence is a daily must here. And look at the lunch menu – £25 for three dishes whithin walking distance of Harvey Nichols is the best deal ever in this area…

The Rib Room
Jumeirah Carlton Tower
On Cadogan Place
London SW1X 9PY

This iconic hotel, which names remains full of magic, has lost nothing of its sparkle. Sitting in the most elegant lounge, listening to the pianist’s magic touch, you can picture stars sipping on champagne… Choose the  15.00 afternoon tea on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday which is preceded by a tour of The Waldorf: you will discover, among other things, beautiful stained windows, the famous Palm Room which inspired the grand salon of the Titanic and learn the basement used to have its own Masonic templse and still hides many passage ways… Look at the pictures – the treats are as delicious as they look.

The Waldorf
Aldwych
London WC2B 4DD
Afternoon tea £23.50
Afternoon tea with champagne £34.50

Sweet dreams are guaranteed at One Aldwych. A gourmet breakfast too!

As for dinner, children have their own menu to choose from with more adapted portions – scrambled egges with ham & cheese (whether mixed or on the side), eggs and soldiers, English muffins with bacon, warm vanilla scented milk, gorgeous Valrhona hot chocolate… You will not hear a word form them, they will be too immersed in their own private feast.

Steaming cup of coffee in hand, newspaper in the other, you can take your time to wake up -  no rush here. The windows frame amazing bouquets – delicate sunny orchids on that day. Choose from on of the set menus (English Breakfast, healthy option…) or like me, select everything à la carte. The muesli is absolutely perfect – moist, generous in a wide variety of nuts, seeds, fresh fruit. Order two at once. No you will not want to share. The eggs royales are an absolute must-have – slightly toasted muffin, tasty smoked salmon, eggs with a golden yolk, a slightly lemony sauce, very unctuous – I still dream about it. It is all in the elegance, the presentation, down to the honey comb touch…

I can easily picture inviting a work team here, having a good brainstorming: the atmosphere is so quiet, soothing, the food inspiring. Feel like coming with friends? Indigo proposes at week-ends, from nooon, a sensasional brunch. Or you could enjoy one of thei Moet movies – recent films projected in their own private, cosy cinema. the price also includes dinner, a glass of champagne and popcorn, quite a celebration indeed. And a good excuse to come back…

One Aldwych
London
WC2B 4BZ

Teatime in Wonderland was a (very spoilt) guest of One Aldwych