Archive For July 2018
The Petersham is a 4-Star stunner with the best views of the River Thames, which winds below past idyllic pastures. The hotel is on Nightingale Lane which once had a Nightingale Cottage. In 1863, the cottage was acquired by the Richmond Hill Hotel Company. They employed John Giles as the architect to build something remarkable…
Carl Goes London Islands is one of a series of alternative travel guide books, and a collection with which I am rather taken. These books cover a selection of destinations and have plain soft binding with just the title on a simple coloured field. They would stand out on the bookshop travel shelves, although I…
Lee Kum Kee is collaborating with Rosie Chik of Smokin’ Lotus, a street food company, that has a regular slot at Kerb in London (King’s Cross and West India Quay) – she has created some recipes ideal for al fresco eating and barbecues. Here are two of them with more to follow. Rosie was born…
Fudge has long been a favourite sweet indulgence, and at any time of year. It’s creamy and rich and somehow takes one back to an English childhood when summers were long (just like this one) and one dreamt of a few days on the beach or rambling through green fields. Yes, Copperpot fudge does it…
We have likely all heard of Hokusai but in truth most people would only recognise The Great Wave off Kanagawa, also known as The Great Wave or just The Wave. It is a woodblock print and an iconic example of this man’s work; it’s prominent on the cover of Hokusai: The Master’s Legacy, a sumptuous…
This is a summer winner. Pickering’s Pink Grapefruit and Lemongrass Gin Liqueur is complex and surprisingly refreshing for a drink that describes itself as a liqueur. Gin is trending at the moment. That can be a good thing as it exposes lovers of that spirit to a greater range of styles … but there are…
We had visited this delightful and intimate hotel before (read my reviews here). The Garden House is part of the Beaverbrook Estate and the smaller of the two hotels, the other being the lavish and imposing main house which was once the home of Lord Beaverbrook, one of the most influential men of the last…
There are few hotels I like more than the characterful Petersham, overlooking the River Thames in Richmond. And to compound the joy, there is a restaurant to admirably partner that hotel, and its Head Chef is Jean-Didier Gouges! This young man is charming, with a smile that seems never far from his lips. He is…
We all, I am sure, remember our Nan’s cherry brandy on the sideboard at Christmas; and then there is the cherry alcohol one uses for fondue. They are very much part of the ‘spirit’ family of drinks. Then there is Maraschino Luxardo, which is a sweet liqueur, and an indispensable bottle behind any bar…
Barcelona is a beautiful city and famed for its buildings. Barcelona Sketchbook: Homage to Catalan Architecture allows the reader to view these façades in something of a different light and one that is awash with pastel hues and subtle shadows. Graham Byfield, the artist for this book, ambles with his keen eye through the Ramblas,…
In the heart of Bloomsbury, not far from Russell Square Underground station, one finds a new area of restaurants, cafés and retail outlets. It’s popular every day but at weekends Brunswick Square comes to life! When the sun shines it becomes a magnet for those looking for a bite to eat and a convivial glass…
Abokado is a chain, but it has become just that because it delivers what people want and it has regulars, and that, these days, is an accolade! We had breakfast in the High Holborn branch, which is just a stone’s throw from Holborn and Chancery Lane Underground stations. There are a few seats at this…
The Beaverbrook Estate seems a quintessentially English retreat with a country house hotel, and that would obviously have a quintessentially English dining room and menu. Well, no: although the dining room looks rather English with a hint of cherry blossom, the food on offer at The Dining Room is authentically Japanese. Head Chef Taiji Maruyama…
This is a pleasure in pocket-size. A book on ices, but from an age when such things were sheer luxury, a holiday treat, and seldom found at home. The Book of Ices by Mrs. Agnes Marshall is a classic. Mrs. Marshall (1855-1905) was a Victorian lady and one of the most celebrated cooks and writers…
Tokyo Direct is an online company and new to me. They specialise in Japanese food, drink, kitchen goods, stationery and bathroom items. Japanese food is more popular than ever so I was delighted to try some of their stock. Your curry or noodles and I guess other foods will arrive in its original Japanese packaging….
Well, this was a surprise, and what a lovely one. Not often you can say that in these times of over-priced and under-achieving restaurants. YUU Kitchen is a little beacon of delicious accessibility. This casual restaurant is just around the corner from Aldgate East Underground station, so within easy reach of most of Central London….
The Indian Vegetarian Cookbook by Pushpesh Pant is a must-have tome from one of the most respected Indian food writers. It’s bound to spend more time in the kitchen than on the bookshelf. Vegetables are the essential element of Indian cuisine, so there is a tradition of making the very best of the seasons’ crops…