London: Tea Time in Wonderland

I love April skies. Indecisive, tortured. A ray of sunshine, a shower of rain, the sudden music of hail. Of course, it may lead to a certain surcharge (shirt, scarf, hood, sunglasses -  be prepared for everything. In the same day.) But as dusk approaches, clouds take a velvety appearance, get painted with even brighter colours if only for a minute, like a luxurious marble… Get your umbrella and scroll down to discover ideas for your week-end in London!

That’s art baby!
* Rediscover London through photographs of its past at the Wandworth museum

* Be amazed by Cate Blanchett, on the stage of the Barbican for a few days only.

Yummy-time ahead:
* Fall for the “Afternoon tea in the park” hampers by Bea’s . Ah, if only we also could order some sun!

* This week-end, the Southbank market celebrates India.

* Dine as on the Titanic -  the final menu is recreated at Hix for the centenary.

* A mobile tea-room – love it! Follow it in Soho.

Take the little ones along:
* A delicious idea from Carluccio’s: a biscuit workshop for bakers-to-be.

* Take them to see the newborn ducklings -  nothing could be cuter.

Out of the ordinary:
* On Thursday, shop rock’n'roll at a cute themed vintage market.

* Abracadabra, have a look at the Magic Circle Museum.

* On Friday, indulge in a free concert at the V&A, a mix of jazz and Indian music.

* Every Sunday until the end of August, the Spitafields City Farm proposes an outdoor “eco-chic” market -  worth a detour if you are around Brick Lane.

* Did you know you can swap your books on Carnaby street?

* On Sunday, to celebrate the Olivier Awards, the place to be will be the Covent garden Piazza with performances from top West End shows.

* Or celebrate Thai new year at the amazing temple in Wimbledon -  exoticism guaranteed. Or just stop by at Trafalgar square.

All year long, Carluccio’s team travels around Italy to meet with local producers and find the most exquisite products. Some are available all year long in the restaurants’ deli, others are very special treats for Christmas. And yes, although we are only in July, brands are thinking about this already.

The idea, this year, is to focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Not so much giving than being together and sharing laughs and delicious times. So why not put bowls of cakes around the house? There is so much to choose from: crunchy nougat, chestnut dolchettis, chocolat gressinis, honey slices… The table will look even more festive if you sparkle it with gianduja filled chocolate stars, add a few crakers hiding a truffle instead of the classic useless toy. Or you could add nocciolinis (mini hazelnut meringues) on top of your desert. Or all of those, really.

It does not stop there. Place a grappini close to a cute cup of coffee – wow effect guaranted as this chocolate is filled with grappa and is more drunk than eaten. Gourmets will also fall for the figs filled with chestnuts and dipped in chocolate… or the exotic candied tangerine quarters also in a layer of cacao.

There will be gifts, sure. The wrappings have already been thought of with touches of orange and gold or beautiful jars. You barely need to add anything but a card to them. For someone more savoury than sweets, try one of the hampers with the very best of Carluccio’s: we particularly love the risotto one with truffle fondant and a special wooden spoon.

The following morning, everyone can linger around a café au lait and indulge in a slice of pannetone with jhazelnut icing or some pandolce, a traditional died fruit cake from Genoa.

Add a chimney, candles, oranges planted with cloves. Happiness is sometimes so easy to achieve…

Biglie di cioccolato, £5.95 for 150g

Tartufo dolce – White and dark hazelnut truffles, £9.95 for 140g

Fiocci di neve, Hazelnut meringues, £10.95 for 290g

Pupazzetti, Milk and dark chocolate Santas, £5.95 for 180g

Baci di mama, hazelnut biscuits with a chocolate hazelnut filling, £15.95 for 875g

Nocciolini, mini hazelnut meringue buttons, £4.95 for 120g

Palle di neve, chocolates with a hazelnut centre, £5.95 for £175g

N
Torrone, Hazelnut torrone block, £24.95

Grappini, chocolates with a liquid grappa center, £7.95 for 85g

Pandolce di genova, traditional Christmas cake from Genoa, £9.95