Tea Time in Wonderland

Posts Tagged ‘Oxford st’

Selfridge’s surfs on the new Tim Burton’s marketing wave and redesigns its wonder room.. or its wonder boutique, really.

Not very big, but a cute range of Alice themed items (if you cannot go to London, try the online Alice shop) as well as a yummy mad hatter tea party range of jewellry. You’ll find anything there from T shirts to crochetted cakes… Swarovsky also launched a new range of charme like jewels for the release.

My favourite items remain these crazy glass covers – really what I would expect in Wonderland:

Gaze at the extraordinary hats created by Colleen Atwood – you already know her work through Sleepy Hollow, Edward Scissorhands, Chicago…:

Will you resist Tom Binn’s necklaces?

Don’t forget the exterior window shops -  Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter’s costume and crazy tables…

Another Alice pop-up to try…

Alice fan? Why not plan a day @ Antony in Cornwall? The gardens were used for Tim Burton’s movie!

Wonder room – Alice Pop-Up
Selfridge’s
400 Oxford St
London W1A 1AB

Until March 21, 2010

A cute and funny exhibition @ Selfridge’s – this one plays on tiny details and big artistic effects. a maze of discoveries, a splash of colour, a dash of crazyness and smiles…

Take your time. Each work is in two stages. First a general visual effect. A smile. You look closer and discover what it really is made of. Like these letters made of jelly, this wall out of paper flowers, this winged nest, in fact a hat…

An ideal pause between two intensive shopping sprees. Your lover or/and your kids will be very grateful!

Now. Shopping done. Cultural card played. Surely you deserve a macaron from Pierre Herme?

The Museum of small things
Selfridge’s
400 Oxford Street
London W1A 1A
Jusqu’au 07 mars 2010
Until March 07, 2010

If you read Elle or are a Eurostar fan, you obviously know of the macaron craze in France. These little treats are as usual these days as a real croissant. We have them as a treat when we need a reward, a gouter with girlfriends after an afternoon shopping, we serve them as a desert or with tea and coffee. They’re a natural part of any celebration.

When I was 18, a macaron was a regional treat. Very often, those would have originally bakes andsold by nuns, then a specific recipe become a trademark of a village, a town. The basis remains the same – egg white, sugar and almond powder. In St-Emilion, my region, the best place to enjoy them is an old cloister garden, sitting in the golden sunshine, dipping them in the local sparkling wine. Heaven.

Of course, Paris would make it more glamourous, more stylish, more… everything. Instead of one biscuit, they use two, add a little ganache or creamy filling in between. Tadaa. They come in a variety of colours too, pop-art or tender, like sweet confettis in your day.

Laduree was the first place to set the trend. THE place to get your macarons from, in exquisite collectable boxes. And of course, they have two addresses in London too. Unfortunately, I find they are too marketing-directed these days, the filling is a bit too heavy, the creations not so suprising anymore.

An ex-pastry chef from Laduree, Pierre Herme has taken them to the next level. Light a a cloud, innovative and exquisite taste. Bi-colours as well to add a little party effect.  Even better, he created a coeur de ganache – the sweet cream hides the treasure of a different flavour. I marvel each time (and believe me, I have tried an incredible number of those).

He has now opened an ephemeral boutique @ Selfridge’s and will open a proper shop in Knightbride summer-time. This is going to be such a hit!

You’ll find some traditional flavour – first quality ingredients, for sure. But I’m amazed by his latest combinations.

Try the Imagine - green tea matcha and black sesame. Oh, to die for. Even some grilled sesame seeds on top to add a little texture.

And the Fragola - basalmic vinear with creme fraiche with a heart of strawberry. You first thought is to feel realy unsure about this. The first bite give you such a smooth feeling that you get hooked until you find the sweet strwaberry and discover, that you have finished the treat in 15 seconds. You’re hooked.

Another marvel is the Magnifique - wasabi and stawberry, who else would have dares this? Not agressive a taste at all, more lemony than expected, and the strawberry center, well, it just melts you away.

Go on and put your tastebuds in  heaven!

Pierre Herme boutique
Selfridge’s
400 Oxford Street
London W1A 1A

£8 for4 macarons

Paris is famous for turning pastries, cakes and sweets into an artistic competition. As for haute-couture, we have winter and summer seasons for our patisseries, you see. The chefs will create amazing combinations, as gorgeous looking as tasting. No fshionista would resist the trendiness of it.

A true Parisian would rush to the Sketch. This famous restaurant also has a funky tearoom. You probably will have to wait a little while for a table but the decoration and the fashion there is worth the wait. Actually, you probably will not even notice the wait, hypnotised as you are.

Mismatched cups, plates still create a colourful harmony. Pierre Gagnaire and his team have come up with dream-like deserts – gets quite tricky to choose and they’re only £5 (you can also buy them and take them back home)! There is tea of course but the choice of coffee also is excellent and this is such a change. The Jamaican blue Mountain will win your heart – £8 served in a tall cafetiere.

Love at first bite:

-  The best macarons in town. Forget Laduree (the service is not always that good and I often seem to know their new products better than the staff)

- Lunette : even just for its Guinness jelly, that goes so well with the tarness of the blackcurrant but also makes you feel like a stout rather than a refined tea. A welcome revolution in your 5 o’clock tea!

- Mendiant eclair : I switched from being a macaron addict to being an eclair addict. The French traiteur Fauchon has a collection of salted and sweet ones to die for. And this one is a little wonder. Your mouth will be full of soothing creamy caramel.You’ll even close your eyes. A thin layer of white chocolate on top, on which are balanced caramelised nuts.

Fancy a last Wonderland touch? The toilets…

Choose from…

Or will you prefere the egg version? Each cocoon proposes a different music theme. Classical, countryside like…

Not only a sweet pause – entertainement in itself!
The only negative note – the service is very kind but sometimes a bit slow.

Sketch
9 Conduit Street
London
W1S 2XG

Let’s meet @ Yauatcha for more treats!

Did you make a good supply of Vitamine C? Good. The week-end should be quite busy…

- Try the late opening Thursday @ the Museum of London: live music, carol singing, creative workshops, and lovely original stalls to fill those stockings…

- Have a look at the Xmas tree on Trafalgar square

- Travel through time on Friday night – Dennis Sever house is all decorated for Xmas and can be visited weeknights candlelit- very atmospheric!

- The traditional Pudding Race takes place this Saturday @ Covent Garden. Teams will race for the benefit of Cancer Research, trying to avoir many obstacles ont their way. The take the kids to the cookie workshop! There will be Xmas carols in the afternoon.

- Enjoy Regent and Oxford traffic free on Saturday -  plenty of shopping offers and partying in the streets!

- Admire the newly opened Renaissance and Medieval Galleries @ the V&A

- Add a glamour touch and have a look at Audrey Hepburn’s wonderful dresses before they’re auctioned…

- Have your breath taken away by Jean-Francois Rauzier’s gorgeous hyperphotos…

- Head for the RAC’s new show, Earth, on climatic changes. Then stop at the Sketch’s pop-up bar – a crazy setting which also promises oysters, pancakes and champagne…

- Skate in an extraordinary historical setting – Hampton Court

- Say cheers @ this beer festival… or more elegantly @ the Smirnoff pop up bar, deco inspired by the gentlemen’s clubs.

I’ll be tasting delicious food @ the taste of Xmas. How about you?

A hot chocolate, a new scarf and gloves, and here you go. Plenty to see this week-end to get into the Xmas spirit. Not that you can really escape it!

- Start on Southbank – either with the Slowfood market (jazz themed this time) or the Cologne Xmas market…

- Oxford street launches its market this week as well…

- Want more? Head to Hyde Park for a walk and a big wheel ride with the Winterwonderland…

- Stop @ Covent Garden for the Lacoste experience or simply for the kids to enjoy candlelit stories…

- Head to Victoria station or Westfield to see the Cirque du soleil (and hopefully win free tickets!)…

- See another dimension in Trafalgar square with the ghost forest…

- Take the kids to the London children film festival…

- Want to make them gasp in wonder? Have a walk with them in the Enchanted forest @ Syon Park. Thousands of lights in the trees. £5 per adult, £2 per kids – quite cheap for the thrill…

- Skate at the Somerset House. Have alook at the program: Breakfast @ tiffany’s matinees and DJ evenings!

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?

That’s it. The season has begun. Fetsive songs can  be heard as soon as you step into a shop. Mulled wine or Winter Pimm’s are being served in pubs.

Not suprising, then, that Oxford and Regent street lights should already be switched on. this year, Disney sponsors them, launching at the same time their movie with Jim Carrey.

Call me blase. Though I still feel like a child at Xmas, those just don’t make me gasp. The magic does work on my 4 year olod, though – I had to negotiate hard to drag her away from those  after 2omn!

I do prefer the Carnaby St ones. Less traditional I agree, perheaps too funky for the season, they do put a little grooves back to your day! You’ll also see plenty mini-Xmas trees in rainbow colours. The lights will be switched on next Tuesday at 18.oo… Bond Street, next Thursday, also promises to be fun.

Since you’re in that neighbourhood,, stop at Liberty’s to smile at their new windowshop. Sooooo British! And if you’re dreaming, not of a white Xmas but of a royal one, plan a visit to Portobello market.

A last smile with this robin. Too many Xmas puddings, my dear!

My friends, it is time to switch to the winter mode:

- Have a look at the first Xmas lights on regent and Oxford St, lit since Tuesday…

- Friday evening, enjoy a late night @ the Transport Museum: electro music and cocktails!

- Travel to Hungary via Covent Garden…

- Put on gloves and scarves and skate @ the Natural History Museum…

- Start your Xmas shopping @ the Spirit of Xmas fair -  always treasures to be found… I loved it 2 years ago. This time, I’ll go to the Country Living Xmas fair which starts next week.

- Stay in a festive mood – take the kids to Harrod’s Xmas parade. 11 designers have also decorated their Xmas tree…

- Stressed out? Have a musical yoga session in Shoreditch…

- Make it a real partyy with fireworks in Richmond!

I’ll be skipping London this week-end -  getting my cheeks all pink in Cheshire, whether from a revigorating weather, a chimney fire or a glass of wine… How about you: inside cocooning or outside mad party?

I still remember discovering Hirst’s work. Pure Britart, people used to say.
The Royal Academy had just opened its Sensation show, meant of course to stop you in your tracks, shock you.
You could count on him for that. Animals in formaldehyde, including a pig cut in two, each part going in a different direction. This little piggy goes to the market… And a glass cage sheltering a piece of meat, a crowd of flies nesting, flying away, dying. A perpetual movement.

Hirst is a kind of modern philosopher. He plays with death as a theme, juggles with skulls whether splashed with colours or covered with diamonds, questions the fragility of life by crushing butterflies in his work or by creating rows of perfect circles. You’ll see a few examples @ the Pop Life exhibition @ the Tate

And then one day, he discovers Bacon. Back to the brushes – old school for such a modern artist! He’s inspired. The Wallace Collection has 25 of his paintings in stock.

Ok, to be frank, the first look can be disappointing. Aren’t these lines a bit too easy, a bit childish? Start again, take your time.

Admire the diamond blue used – enough to illuminate the painting on its own. Of course, skulls are everywhere. But look carefully – so many details linked to his favourite themes or his life… A flass of water, an ashtray (He stopped drinking and smoking in 2002, which destroyed his marriage, too hard a transition)…. The shark, reference to one of his first success, sold a fortune… Discreet series of circles… Butterflies… An ode to the complexity(and sometimes absurdity) of life, the passing time.

Worth seeing just for the exploding strength of White Roses and butterflies…

Damien Hirst -  No love lost, blue paintings
The Wallace Collection
Hertford House
Manchester Square London
W1U 3BN
Gratuit!