That’s art, baby!
* Knitting obsession.
* Step back in David Lynch‘s world.
* Redefine art.
* A poetic page.

Yummy time ahead:
* A special one for meat lovers.
* A suivre, donc! Try Pierre Hermé‘s new macaron: Jardin enchanté (Enchanted garden). Lime cream, a heart of cherries, a touch of Espelette chilli to wake up the tastebuds. There will be a different edition on the garden theme every month – do not miss any!

Love, love, love:
* Add some glitter with Tatty Devine on Thursday.
* 50 romantic ideas in London.

Take the little ones along:
* Get those roller skates out and spend a disco time with the family.
* Re-celebrate the Chinese New year.
* The Somerset House too has craft workshops for kids this week-end

Royal London:
* Discover Queen Elisabeth II’s life through Cecil Beaton’s pictures of her. At the V&A until April 22, 2012.

So British:
* The best pubs in London? Click this way. Cheers.
* This week-end, your pint could also be rock’n'roll.

Out of the ordinary:
* Daniel Radcliffe fan? Meet him Thursday evening.
* Walk through Dickens‘ world (free, no need to book)
* Street art gets colourful with Jimmy C.
* London plays the high tech card (yeah, it seems we have a budget for that)
* Saturday, see the best slices of Bollywood movies.
* Meet the London clowns and tip your hat to Grimaldi.
* Follow the street art. Litterally.
* Tropical extravagance at Kew Gardens.
* After the Chinese New Year, the Russian one. This will be on Sunday and on Trafalgar.
* Snowdrops are already blooming at the Chelsea Physics Garden.

That’s art, baby:
* Facebook inspires street art.
* Rainbow of colours with David Hockney.
* 21st century art: 3D printing.

So British:
* Become a cricket fan.

Sing it:
* Keep a coin for the juke box.

Take the little ones along:
* Street art: follow Stik around.
* Sunday, robotic camera workshop.
* In honour of the musical Mathilda, Roald dahl fans will not resist the stupendous afternoon tea.

Yummy time ahead:
* Hate detoxing? Oh but it can be quite fun at The Botanist et au Chiswell Street Dining Room.  Until February 12, you can sip  on Lemon Aid (white tea sirup and apricot infused gin), de Green Business (vodka, cucumber, basil, spirulina) et Hazy Days (gin, green apple liqueur, fresh ginger, goji berries). We promise those are filled with good things for you!

Out of the ordinary:
* This Thursday evening small is beautiful and fun at the Wellcome Collection.
* Still on Thursday, stop at the Imperial War Museum for a free movie.
* Nostalgic touch -  see a silent movie at the Barbican.
* Note the London tips of the fantastic Luiz Hara.
* Galop at the O2.
* You might think it is Halloween with this coffin exhibition.
* Discover Three Mills Island.
* The Take-away shop proposes to share… anything from anedotes to skills vis London histories and craft. I tip my hat to that.

That’s art, baby:
* Pretend you are Mime Marceau.
* This ice-sculpting festival should be pretty cool.
* Let’s be serious – Sky News and the Somerset House have put together an impressive collection of pictures.
* A colorful and fun exhibition that should delight curious minds -  at the London Transport Museum.
* find your luck at the Wellcome Collection.
* Love the glass sculpture at the entrance of the V&A? Why not go and see what else the artist can do?
* And from the first floor of your double decker…

So British:
* Warm up in front of a lovely chimney fire in a pub.
* Or listen to classic albums there.
* Or enjoy a traditional treat.
* Get to know everything about gin with this craze walk.

Take the little ones along:
* And rediscover Quentin Blake.

Yummy time ahead:
* Cheers to you!
* Dine in a cinema.
* Fancy a squirrel pie?

Out of the ordinary:
* Take those ice-skating shoes and dance.
* White your thank you cards at Tatty devine.
* Lord of the rings will take you through the night.
* Sing a cappella.
* Sip a drink in a tipi on a London roof. You read that right.
* Try this Pay what you want guided walk.
* And now, you can even personnalise your soup tin.

The Nag’s Head (53 Kinnerton St,  London SW1X 8ED) – a tiny pub hidden in the streets of Belgravia – still uses them. No tourist here, just locals, two chimneys to warm up in winter, a classical list of drinks but fascinating memorabilia all around that are worth stopping for. Mobile phones are firmly forbidden, leaving space for conversation, a soothing lulling song around you.

The Avalon had the atmosphere of a legend book – as if still asleep, ready to be awaken by a magic wand. The glass roofs brought a powdered light in, filtered by the steampunk inspired chandeliers. On the walls, the aniseed wallpaper was tempered with cream tiles. All was soothing to the gaze. Wood, leather, copper – very Parisian bistrot with its succession of small tables, its comfortable banquettes yet with an uncomparable British elegance to it. It makes you feel like being a regular there, always sitting at the same table, the waiter knowing your name…

Look around – on the walls are articles, anecdotes, games, illustrations from newspapers of the beginning of the century, when drawings were the best alternative to photography. A great way to feed conversation.

Closer to the bar, decoration is more baroque and colourful. Easy to picture yourself reinventing the world with a pint or a whisky (if you are a fan – nice selection of Japanese ones!).

And when summer days will be back, a garden awaits you at the back, ivy and bamboo, teck furniture, view on the nearby church. Suddenly, London feels miles away…

But come back to the table – our starter has just arrived. Delicate but rich slices of smoked salmon (£6.75) enhanced with stronger notes of shallots and pickled capers – those have been chopped to release their full flavour as soon as they touch your tastebuds. The Lambs’ lettuce brings a lovely peppery touch and the cream is infused with horseradish. Refreshing and suddenly very powerful: a wonderful idea I will try to recreate at home.

The wine menu is cleverly thought. Rather than boring you with a list of names and grapes, it is organised by quality: Floral & aromatic, Zesty, citrus & lively… This way, you can match your wine to your dish of choice as well as your mood. Indulge in a glass of Mud House, a New-Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (Malborough). A cheerful drink, a little oak and lovely lime aroma that re-energises you straight away.

If you consider vegetarian cuisine to be dull and bland -  think again. The Avalon has created an amazing combination of courgette and aubergine (£11) stuffed with tender lentils, a little rosemary and topped with melted mozzarella. A mouthful will just make you forget about meat. Gorgeous, just gorgeous. Add a little pureed roasted peppers, sweet and exploding in flavour or the sauteed Chinese cabbage. A beautiful range of colours and textures, very filling too. Your 5 a day in a single plate.

A seasonal dessert felt like a must, why not the apple and plum crumble (£5.50)? Just thinking of it makes you feel like being in front of a chimney fire. This one offers a rich buttery topping, nice and crunchy. Underneath are whole pieces of fruit, tinted pink by the plum, rather than just compote. On top is a huge scoop of stem ginger ice-cream, very dense so that it will only melt slowly and give you plenty of time to enjoy the marriage of the three layers. A dessert that makes you love autumn. Try it with a fresh mint (£1.50) rather than a tea -  much more aromatic.

You will also find tables on the outside terrace – well, you might as well enjoy every ray of sunshine! The team has some blankets ready if you find it a little too chilly, just ask. This is a child friendly address too with a dedicated menu – a lovely place to come with the family on Sundays.

The Avalon belongs to the Renaissance pubs (Remember we had tried and loved The Rosendale). The name is well deserved  and moves away from pubs heavy with tacky decorations or sticky tables. This is a true gastropub, with the perfect balance between elegant decoration and fine food, no showing off, just a real, pleasant atmosphere. You can let go of the daily stress here and truly relax.

The Avalon
16 Balham Hill
South Clapham (A mere 5mn walk from the Tube, same street, just turn left)
London, SW12 9EB

* Hop, pop-corn and movie on Trafalgar. Do bring a blanket.

* American Apparel is sure to make you sprint towards your new wardrobe with prices starting from £1…

* Go an extraordinary banquet.

* American football fan? Stop at Trafalgar Square and cheer.

* Look out for pub cats.

* Try this photo challenge alonge the Thames.

* Marvel at the multitude of artistic travels and installation that make the Bloomsbury festival.

* Celebrate Diwali -  particularly at Dishoom with their family activities on Saturday!

* See London unroll in front of you in digital.

* Add a spoonful of sweetness to your life with this London honey made on Bermondsey street. Chérie City had a chance to taste it.

* One apple a day… Oh well, make it plenty of apples in one day at the Borough Market.

* Pop-ups are not dead. They just turned into vampires…

* A cash machine speaking cockney? Yes! On Roman Road. Brilliant.

* The National Portrait Gallery plays the sexy card.

* Prepare your anecdotes for Halloween.

* Gold stars to be awarded for those preferring walking to public transports?

* Looking for a cute present? One can never tire of the Biscuiteers seasonal shortbreads – have a look!

*

Inside, there are two atmospheres to choose from -  the inviting leather sofas close to the bar or a few steps up the gastropub side, more meal oriented. Large windows bathe the room in natural, golden light. The wallpaper was created from hundreds of pictures from yesteryear and I guarantee you will find yourself wandering around to get a closer look and might even realise your dish had arrived a few minutes ago without you noticing. Here and there frames show past publicities and engravings. Your gaze will inevitably be drawn to the chimney with its collection of rainbow-like butterflies. Recently refurbished, its decoration finds inspiration in the past -  both a simple and complex comfortable feeling and it will feed conversations for quite a while.

Step outside -  the summer garden surrounds the building, teak tables and benches under red parasols. We love that it is kid friendly with a play area at the back, a plastic house and floor puzzles. The locals know it well and come to enjoy a quiet family time there. The children menu offers a nice selection of dishes (always nice to see more than pasta!) and dessert even includes fairycakes to be decorated with chocolate buttons and hundreds and thousands -  a real hit with little ones. On a sunny day, it is ydillic and you could easily stay from lunch to dinner. Although you might want to go for a stroll in West Dulwich to burn a few calories in between!

I originally visited during the week and was seduced at how peaceful it was. There were a few other guests near my table but no one rushed, it had this take-your-time feeling to it. I nestled close to a window to enjoy a ray of sunshine while escaping the autumn breeze. Rather than proposing pages of choices, the menu focuses on 13 options, all cooked to perfection (yes, I spied the other tables’ orders). Why not try the Moroccan chicken skewers (£8)? The tabouleh was moist and fragrant, beautiful texture with shallots, tomatoes, coriander. The meat was marinated in hot paprika, each mouthful yummier than the precedent. And what a great idea to have added saffron and cumin to the raita, such a different note! The sauce was generous too -  enough to wrap the chicken in and flavour the tabouleh. Add a plate of olives and you might pretend you are on holiday.

Another nice suprise – the pub has a selection of Meantime beers. My favourite micro-brewery. Their London Lager just goes with any kind of food – give it a try!

Now - I never, ever resist an Eton Mess. There is something so sweet about it. This one is succulent with a home made fruit syrup and gorgeous raspberries whithin each spoonful. Needless to say it disappeared in no time…

Such a relaxing atmosphere that I took my family back there on Sunday. The kids were so busy playing with others that we barely saw them -  if you are a parent, you know how precious this is. We devoured huge hamburgers with a touch of spicy salsa, nibbled on home made chips that make you forget what ketchup is. The sky turned slowly pink above us and my 5-year-old daughter had the perfect conclusion “Can we come back here soom? It’s soooo great!”.

The Rosendale (part of The Renaissance group, more beautiful places to discover)
65 Rosendale Rd
West Dulwich SE21 8EZ

Teatime in Wonderland was a guest of The Rosendale

If you do not have any plans for the week-end, you can find inspiration below:

* Friday is tango time at the V&A.

* Be a mad (but fun) scientist this way.

* Try a gourmet safari on Regent Street.

* Have an afternoon tea at Café Luc. Or breakfast. Or lunch. Or dinner.Their steak tartare are the most tender is the whole of London.

* Climb up the Monument in the most musical way.

* See the foundry which made Big Ben.

* Rediscover Spitafields. And do go and see this amazing synagogue, built by Huguenots and just reopened. Gorgeous.

* Gordon Ramsay goes the extra size.

* Sing along at the pub.

* Get your shoes tattooed.

Or why not gourmet food? The pub renaissance is at its best these days – decoration is back in the race, mixing traditional notes with a splash of colour. Dishes appeal even to refined businessmen who love the relaxed atmosphere of those welcoming places – less stern than a restaurant, easier to make a client more comfortable.

Tom & Ed Martin certainly found the right balance. Each of their 8 addresses offers a top-quality cuisine with an extraordinary atmosphere.  For the London Restaurant Festival, beginning of October, they will take you on a culinary safari. What’s on the menu? A new dish at each stop. Skip lunch before joining.

The meeting point was at Chiswell Street Dining Rooms. Ah, finally a great place just a step from the Barbican where you can share a couple of cocktails! The place was buzzing with activity and it was only Tuesday. Not surprising -  very comfy yet elegant with aniseed touches of colour, a wooden counter, beautiful furniture. Ties came undone quickly. And so we all met around a glass of  Old Eliot,  a clever mix of Plymouth Gin, Lillet,  bitters with a refreshing dash of lemon and coriander. The sky was turning a pastel pink and you could almost think this was still summer…

The orgy then began with very festive canapés. Pictures will be better than words:

Creamy tartlet of leeks and wild mushrooms

Delicious bite of pea purée, crunchy bacon and wonderful seared Isle of Man scallop.

Might look simple but amazing combination of tastes – poached quail egg, enhanced by a pinch of celery salt, bed of truffled duxelle. Unforgettable!

More interesting than a sushi! Complex flavours of the smoked eel, hazelnut of wasabi cream, potato.

A must for any foie gras lover - perfect brioche, Madeira jelly melting in the mouth

The most beautiful way to present Beef Wellington. Dilemna: should you eat it all at one not to miss a single crumb? Or in several bites to enjoy it longer?

All aboard the mini-bus, my friends! The evening is perfectly coordinated. No need to jump on Google Maps in between two addresses – just let yourself be totally cocooned and enjoy the ride.

The Hat and Tun is more classical in deco, hunting trophies on the wall. The space has been well thought of, wall mirror at the back making the room bigger, large bay windows for maximum light. From the outside, it looks ever so inviting. The menu is all about British classics with top quality ingredients yet tonight we are indulged with quite a dish -  the mix of two cultures. This pie is a wonderful bake of Guinness, bacon, mushrooms and… snails. Oh la la! This Herefordshire race is huge and competes pretty well with our Bourgogne ones. I still prefer them with garlic and parsley -very Froggie, I know – but this is quite a discovery to me. Beautiful presentation too, a  nice play on the Guinness pint!

We fell in love with the Montagny 1er cru Vieux Chateau 2008 – poetic tastes of pear and green apple for that sauvignon. We liked it so much we took a bottle with us on the bus. Looking at the London light sipping on it really made us feel glanourous…

Third stop -  the White Swan. Very pub like on the ground floor but go up a couple of stairs and it is all impeccable white table cloths, glistening glasses and shiny cuttlery. Quite a change of scenery in a minute! Our main dish  celebrated the sea. The Cornish turbot needed no knife at all, the flesh coming undone perfectly well, nicely moist, quite tender on the palate after such a rich start. Great idea to serve it with turnips and salsifis, with a stronger note of the butter bisque sauce. And look at those crab beignet! I keep glancing at this picture and wishing I could grab a few – light, fluffly, very aromatic.

We are handed a glass of champagne and invited back on the bus. I don’t think the smiles ever left our face for a second that evening. We toasted  and cheered the fabulous Roche team who organised all this for us. (You rock!). Very VIP treatment -  the bubbliest ride we ever had too!

At The Botanist , the most famous sign on Sloane Square (quite a lovely place for a week-end brunch too), we all felt very festive. Maybe it was the music, or the dimmed lights, being in the heart of London. No one sat down, we mixed and chatted some more, enjoying a gorgeous Tokaji Royal, late harvest, citrus and quince hints. Ideal with the tangy lemon tartlet and gooseberry cheesecake. Mini-portions were just what we needed and the pecan chocolate brownies did not last long. Bonus points for the fig pudding, some roasted in port, which would make and ideal Christmas day desert – very original and in that size, you could indulge in a few.

If you have a little energy left, you could then finish the tour at  The Cardogan Arms for grappa, calvados, armagnac… or even play pool. I stopped there -  what an orgy, I could have rolled back home!

Join the safari on October 05 – much more fun than just having starter-main-dinner in the same place, a great way to mix with gourmet food passionates and the most amazing atmosphere all along. At £49.50, transport included, why would you resist?

Huge thanks to ETM and Roche Communications for an unforgettable evening.

* Love Japanese animation movies? This thursday, Summer Wars will be projected for free on Canada Square.

* Still on Thursday night (Thursday really is the new Friday you now), go to Southbank and try a few urban games.

* Get that keyboard ready: Café Luc’s £1 sale is near. Friday August 05 at 13.30 to be precise. You will have yo be quick! We have tried them in the past: so much fun and laughs and it is free.

* Selfridges wants to make you see la vie en rose. Well, possibly drink it too.

* Friday, go and see a rhino race. It seems they are getting ready for the Olympics.

* Summer holidays have well started and you are now short of ideas to keep the kids occupied? Try Lollibop, a festival dedicated to children in Regent’s Park. Once the entry paid, all the activities are free.

* Discover Pure Evil’s Warhol side.

* Conquer Windsor Castle’s famous tower – quite a view.

* Stroll along the Thames but on the Hammersmith side. Oh and stop at our favourite pub there, with a beautiful take on the river.

* Rewrite Dickens.

* Nothing like a pint in this weather – so try the very best ones at this beer festival.

* A department store dedicated to vintage has just opened – what a choice! For a more personal atmosphere, try Peekaboo Vintage (sumptuous dresses). Or just enjoy this vintage tea party!

* Remember House of Hackney baroque fabrics? They have created the sweetest gin den with Bombay Sapphire.

* Cider and magic? Yes, this way.

Pssst:

* Impress your guests and fool your kids. On August the 27th, The Culinary Academy proposes a fascinating course with the co-founder of Petit Pois -you know, the vegetable based cupcakes at Selfridges? You will learn how to cook a banana and sticky toffee cake, a chocolate cake with aubergines and courgette scones. Sounds very different? Yeah, and delicious too.

* On September 03 and 04, a secret location along the Thames will suddnly become very Californian for a Top Gun projection. Get those tickets now!