Tea Time in Wonderland

Posts Tagged ‘Picadilly’

Hibernate under a cosy duvet? Or fight the weather?

If you belong to the brave category:

- Not to be missed: the Lord’s Mayor show on Saturday. Not Boris, the other one, managing the City. 800 years of tradition! There will be a procession from the City to Westminster (where the Mayor will pledge allegiance to the crown): 6000 people, 202 horses, 24 marching bands… The RAF will fly past, visits will be offered through the capital and the day will finish with fireworks over the Thames at 17.00… For the occasion, shops @ Gabriel’s wharf are offering a few discounts.

- Sunday, Selfridge’s will be playing the Jumble Garage sale card, a giant one, profits going to a charity. Come and find a bargain! Entry is at £5, freee for under 12s. Cash only at the stalls.

- Marmite – Love it ? Hate it? In any case, have a look @ their pop-up shop near Piccadilly. You can even have a crumpet there. I stopped by earlier today, most of their online shop and a few limited edition. Hate the stuff but hell, love the design!

- You’ll find happiness at the Country Living Xmas show – so many stalls with original and unique ideas. I go almost every year and have never tired of it.

- Fancy an afternoon tea? Want it very British but also fashionable? Try the Howard’s – elegance, of course, but how to resist the shortbreads shaped and decorates as the milestones of London? Have a look at the pics!

Sunday, for once, I will not be rushing around the town. I prefer a quiet family afternoon, on the Puppet Barge, to enjoy a festive puppet show in Little Venice…

Now, what about you?

I have just been to this show. I feel extatic, transcended, I danse on the tip of my toes with happiness. I have spent time in a land of giants, in the Kapoor 5th dimension. Remember this amazing sculpture?

I get the museum book out of my bag. I have been looking forward to this. The pictures are ever so splendid. But the text, gosh! ever so boring! Every single millimeter has to be understood. A grain of dust would have to eb analysed.  Ethnography, authenticity, connections, metonimy, onthology, internationalism, pointillisme… See what I mean?

As for Pop Life, I feel a whole side of it is completely forgotten. Or ignored. The impact on the public. Oh the authors do mention, as if surprised, how normal people always clap aloud to Anish Kapoor’s exhibitions.

So I will not discuss the artist’s work on the object limits, how these materialise in the room or sometimes dematerialise, playing with invisibility and transparence.  Neither will I tell you in length of his use of  monochromy, of pigment sculpting, of his twisting of angles, his theme of instability of the physical world.

I can only encourage to take your kids there. These wax sculptures, that remind me of a glossy play-do, that you are just dying to touch, pulverised with a cannon through doors and taking their shape at the same time… Well, Roger Rabbit would never have dreamt of a better framing! Looks right out a Warner cartoon. These improbable shapes out of pigments seem to balance out of thin air and it’s difficult not to blow on them (you’ll be told off) to see if they just fly apart in a firework of pop colours.  They’re like sophisticated sand castles. Shapes take posession of walls, rounding them or swallowing them, as if you were in a sci-fi adventure. Oh, and this huge syphon, rust coloured? You almost expect it to be a secret spaceship.

The funniest place? The mirror room -  no adult is more than 5-year-old. They dance, jump, slide aside and back, run to their friends “Come and see this!”. One can slim, enlarge, reverse, loose, recreate onself to infinity.

Any work of art, all in all, is part of the artist and part of the public projection of themselves…

Anish Kapoor
Royal Academy of Art
Burlington House
Piccadilly
London W1J 0BD
£12

Nothing seduces me more than a clash, a romance, a twist between classic and modern. See Koon’s and Veilhan’s recent success in Versailles.

If, like me, you’re waiting for the crowds to be less imposing to enjoy Anish Kapoor’s exhibition, do give it a try and head for the Royal Academy of Art all the same. As soon as you step in the yard, this imposing steel sculpture towers you – 15 meters high! Inspired by the german poet Maria Rilke, Kappor created Tall tree and the eye, a complex building of 76 spheres, each reflecting the noble building and tourists to infinity… Hynotising!

If you like shiny surprises, you’ve got till Sunday to see a giant silver inflatable rabbit in Covent Garden!

Anish Kapoor
Royal Academy of Art
Burlington House
Piccadilly
London W1J 0BD
Exhibition £12 but no worry, you can access this yard and the sculpture for free!

This year, the tube bloomed with posters reminding that 65,000 were reposessed each year, that life could be a house of cards. With the economical crisis on everyone’s mind, most people were moved by Shelter’s campaign. The association try to help as much as they can with legal councils and finding a new place for the unlucky ones.

You’ll find…

… Nick Cage…

… Damien Hirst…

…D Face…

… Vivienne Westwood…

… Polly Morgan…

… Alexander Mc Queen…

… amongst some other very talented and inspired artists… Rush there to know more about them!

House of cards
6 Burlington Gardens
London W1S 3ET

Jusqu’au 28 septembre 2009
Metro: Piccadilly

Until Sep 28, 2009
Tube: Picadilly

F&M is the most wonderful British address. So very traditional and yet fabulously different.  Wooden sculpted entrances yet a water green colour all over the place. Window shops always use classical products but present in an Alice in Wonderland way.

You’ll always find me there around Xmas, adding a luxuty touch to my hampers. I also come here for ginger infusions, jasmine pearls, their wonderful sweets selection, their chutneys… I rarely need to go further than the ground floor!

I recently got mesmerized by the marmelade section – here are a few. Paddington would go mad with excitement!

Psssst: F&M has recently put hives on their roof , the honey being for sale in the shop. Two webcams also have been set to check on the bees! #2 is my favourites as you see them coming back in. What a buzz!

Psssst (2): When leaving the shop, cross the street and have a look at the clock. When the hour rings, Mr Mason steps out to bow at Mr Fortnum… The bell is from the same factory as Big Ben.

Fortnum & Mason
181 Piccadilly
London W1A 1ER
Metro / tube:  Picadilly circus

21 sorts of marmelade, from £3.50 to £6.75

On Time Out’s good advice, I rush to Freggo, one of the most famous Argentinian ice creamchains (but if you ever visit the country, do get tips from Elisa!)

Have they chosen the street on purpose: Swallow street?

Such a tiny parloir, a few stools, and hadful of tables outside. Purple deco – very Thierry Mugler. You feel more in a VIP club or in a glamour boudoir than in an ice-scream place. Definitely great with girlfriends!

I really wanted to try the dulce – a friend had strongly recommended the one with chocolate chips. Too bad, there’s none left. I am told this happens often, it’s a favourite. Why not get more stock then? Ah, but the desert is not made here. It is imported all the way from Argentina… I guess that does explain the price: £3.95 for two scoop. Maybe they should rename the street Hard to swallow!

Feeling adventurous, I’ll try the malbec and berries (Malbec is an Argentinian wine) with a portion of passionfruit.
A little sugary but so tastier than a sorbet, very refreshing. The cooked wine flavour is pretty surprising too. Tastebuds go mad at first not really understanding then explode with joy. I am even more amazed at how well it goes with the tangy passionfruit. I find here a real childhood memory – exactely the same taste, pips included as biting into the fruit…

Verdict: damn expensive but delicious. I do have to come back for the dulce as well as their milkshakes.  I will keep it for small celebrations though or even to surprise friends.

Note aux parents: given the price… not the best ice-cream for kids! But if you don’t mind paying: my 3 year old daughter cleverly stole half of my Malbec and cream portion. The waitress was ever so kind and gave her a free sample too. The street is a pedestrian one so sit outside and let the kids play safely.

Freggo
27-29 Swallow Street
London W1B 4QR
Tube: Piccadilly Circus

£3.95 for two scoops

Open till 02.00 Fridays and Saturdays

Napket. Snob Food.

C’est le nom qui nous arrete. Snob food? Quel est donc ce nouveau concept?

Un coup d’oeil a la carte. Les pates ont l’air delicieuse. On apercoit les cuistots en pleine action.

Le lieu surtout est elegamment decore – chic, de beaux lustres, de vrais couverts travaillers, nappe et serviettes en coton epais, corbeilles de petits pain francais certainement faits maison, moulins Peugeot… Mmmh, c’est un peu cher mais tentant. Justement, nous avons comme un creux.

Nous choisissons une table a l’entree pour profiter du ballet de la rue. La carte arrive. Nous demandons au jeune serveur a quelle point la taille est differente entre une petite et une grande salade. Il est confus, repond qu’il faut choisir, son anglais n’est pas au top. Ce n’est pas grave, nous sommes francais, c’est probablement son premier jour, notre accent ne doit pas aider. Nous reexpliquons. il va se renseigner. La reponse est claire comme de l’eau de rocher. Une petite salade est petite, une grande est grande. Lapalisse n’aurait pas dit mieux… Des grandes, dans ce cas.

Vous notez en passant que le restairant n’a pas encore la license pour les alcools. Snob food sans verre de vin? Quel dommage!

L’attente se fait longue pour 3 salades. Du potager, soit, mais il semble reellement qu’ils soient passer les cueillir a l’allotment du coin! Les assiettes finissent par arriver, plus d’une demie-heure apres. Et dire que le restaurant n’est pas plein! Cela tombe bien: nous avions considerablement vide la corbeille de pain. Beaucoup de verdure dans chaque plat, lesquels ne sont pas tres grands mais les salades sont gouteuses, pas de regret.

Beaucoup, beaucoup plus tard, nous desesperons de pouvoir commander un dessert. Personne ne s’interesse a nous, malgre quelques essais de contact visuel… Nous helons le serveur, qui debarrasse la table…. et ne reviendra jamais prendre notre commande. Nous avons froid, la nuit est tombee.

J’irai chercher une responsable, expliquant que nous souhaitons payer, que les 12.5% de service soient otes de l’addition. “Je suis prete a prendre votre commande, si vous voulez!” ajoute t-elle enthousiaste: mais c’est bien trop tard, l’instant est passe, la frustration bien installee. En lieu d’excuses, la reaction est froide, le visage fige. La note arrive, moins elevee qu’attendue. Tout de meme, un geste commercial…? Bien sur que non: nous avions commande de grandes portions… le serveur a, lui, note de petites salades… Hum. Je ne sais plus si je dois etre ravie ou furieuse.

Snob, le restaurant Napket? L’equipe, en tout cas, saura vous snobber sans faute.

Napket
61 Piccadilly
London,
W1J 0DY
Plusieurs adresses sur le site web / several addresses on the website

Napket. Snob Food.

The name stops us. Snob food? What could this new concept be?

A look at the menu. The pasta look yummy. You can even see the cooks working at a distance.

The place is pretty elegant too.Very smart, impressive glass chandeliers, expensive cutlery, thick cotton tablecloth and napkins, bread baskets with proper (and certainly home made) French breads, pepper and salt mills from Peugeot… Mmmh, a bit pricey but very tempting. And thinking about it, we could just do witj something to eat…

We choose a table towards the entrance to have a look at people walking by – such a fashion show. We ask the young waiter how big the difference is between a small and a big salad. He’s confused, asers that we have to choose. His English is not the best, it’s probably his first day and being French, our accent probably does not help. We explain again, he goes and asks the cooks. The answer is terribly logical. Small is small and big is big. We hide a smile, he really tried. Big ones, then.

Looking closer, we notice the restaurant is not yet allowed to serve alcohol. Snob food without a glass of wine? What a shame!

The 3 salads take a long time to arrive. From the patager, said the menu: did they actually look for a local allotment to get them? Here they are, finally, more than 30mn later and the restaurant is not full. Good timing though: we had almost finished the bread. The plates are not that big, we can see a lot of green… but yes it is very tasty, no regret.

An awful lot later, we desperate of ever ordering a desert. noone seems to care about us although we do try to make eye contact. We’ll call the waiter, who will take the plates away.. but will never come back. We’re cold, it is now night.

I’ll find a manager, explaining we now want to pay, without the 12.5% service charge. “I’m ready to take your order now if you want!”… but it’s too late, halas, the moment has passed, we’re too frustrated. I expected apologies but the reaction is just steel cold. The bills is cheaper than expected. A good will gesture? No. Although we had asked for big salads, the waiter had written down small ones. Of course. I don’t even now how to feel anymore: delighted or furious?

Napket: a snob restaurant? Yep: the staff certainly snobs you.

Une amoureuse du chocolat vous le dira. C’est la l’une des meilleures adresses – que ce soit a Paris ou a Londres – pour le chocolat. truffes, plaquettes, creations… Tout est d’une qualite exceptionnelle et le prix suit en consequence.

Peu le savent mais la boutique de Londres abrite quelques tables dediees aux escapade gourmandes… Le personnel est attentif a vos moindres desirs, present mais discret, souriants, efficace, pret a vous conseiller. Surtout, malgre le luxe des produits, on s’y sent tout a fait a l’aide, meme en arrivant tout humide de pluie et accompagne d’une poussette.

Vous pourriez, bien sur, vous satisfaire d’un chocolat chaud a la noisette de Starbuck’s (un delice en passant).

Mais pour une occasion – un moment festif, un gouter entre fille, une halte romantique – venez ici litteralement savourer l’instant. Cafes et teas  sont accompagnes d’une creation maison destinees a en allier les saveurs. Les thes sont fins -  sachets cristal en passant -  et bien entendu, les chocolats divins: aucun sucre ne vient en alterer les notes, mais l’equilibre est maintenu sans aucune amertume,  juste une onctuosite que je n’avais pas goute depuis des lustres. Un  petit plus pour le verre d’eau servi d’office et qui permet de rafraichir les papilles si l’on choisit une gamme de saveurs.

Nous avions fondu pour une douceur -  un bresilien, fine coque de chocolat, biscuit tres legerement imbibe de rhum, mousse au cafe et caramel, un moelleux incomparable, un mmmmmh a chaque bouchee… Riche en bonheur, ideal a partager en amoureux sans rester sur sa faim.

Cote porte-monnaie? Comptez £3.50 pour un chocolat chaud ou un the, £3.90 pour un dessert. La carte est courte, l’accent mis sur une qualite de produit irreprochable. Finalement, pour un si grand plaisir, c’est peu cher paye par rapport au prix d’un gouter dans une grande chaine…

(et tant qu’a etre la, passez donc chez Fortnum and Mason just’en face. Les boites de the y sont sublimes…!)

La Maison du Chocolat
45-46 Piccadilly
London W1J ODS
Metro/tube: Piccadilly
www.lamaisonduchocolat.co.uk

Any real chocolate will tell you this is one of the best addresses in their books – whether in Paris or London. Truffles, tabs, creations… You can taste it with your eyes closed. We’re talking top quality here (and top prices too, of course).

Very few do know that the London branch does hide a few tables to -  litterally – savour a moment. The staff is fantastic, smiling, welcoming -  they did not blink when we came in with a buggy – are happy to give advice and explanation. There was none of the condescedance i always expect with such a luxury place just a professional but still welcoming touch.

Of course, of course, you could have gone to a Starbuck’s and enjoyed their hazelnut chocolate instead – quit a nice one, by the way. I love to go and walk through London on a cold day with one of those.

But this isn’t exactely festive, isn’t it? Whatever you feel like celebrating, whether it is a chat with a girlfriend, a romantic moment… do come here. Coffees and teas are served with a creation chocolate on the side, designed to bring the best alliance. Teas are refined -  a cristal tea bag. Not greem, I know, but I always have loved the elegant touch of it. Of course, the hot chocolate is out of this world – voluptuous, not sugary which would have spoilt it, not bitter, just a balance that makes you keep it on the tip of your tongue and let it melt forever.

Another nice touch -  the glass of water always served with your order to better alternate between different wonders.

We didn’t resist and tried a Bresilien – very fine chocolat on the outside, coffee and caramel mousse inside, biscuit slightly dipped in rum -  how moist and soft and melting! You will mmmmmmh at each spoonful. It is the perfect desert to share with a lover. itvery rich in happiness and you will not regret even one half of it.

Is it dear? Count £3.50 for a hot chocolate/a tea, £3.90 for a desert. The menu is not extensive, the focus on an exceptional quality instead. Sincerely, for such a great pleasure, it’s worth coming here rather than in a big chain…

(Oh, and while you’re here, why don’t you cross the road and have a look at Tortnum and Mason? Their tea caddies are splendid!)