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Breakfast, Competitions, London, Restaurants

Breakfast Your Way at The Big Chill House

August 28, 2011 by cheriecity

Mention The Big Chill and the thoughts that come to mind are of DJ sets, the blissed out festival and nights out with friends, rather than breakfast.

However, The Big Chill House on Pentonville Road has a cracking breakfast menu and their philosophy is to serve up ‘breakfast your way’. Whether its a quick Boiled Egg with Soldiers before hopping on the Eurostar, using the free WIFI to catch up on emails over French Toast or a weekend lazy brunch on the roof terrace with a restorative Full English.

I was kindly given a card for me and a guest to have breakfast on five occasions to try dishes across the menu. We went down this weekend for an early afternoon brunch with the intention of sitting on the roof terrace, but the sketchy weather meant we have to leave that until next time.

The Big Chill House has a really diverse clientele at this time of day, made up of travellers fresh from Kings Cross or the Eurostar, pretty indie girls, lads on the lash, business folk and hungry locals.

The staff are reaaalllly chilled – friendly, but extremely chilled, like it says on the door. Don’t expect a Wetherspoons-style fast turnaround, as they’ll take their time, unless perhaps you mention that you’re running to a tight schedule.

We both tried the Full English – Fried, poached or scrambled eggs on two English muffins, Oak-smoked dry cured streaky bacon, a Lincolnshire sausage, pan-roasted wild and button mushrooms, roasted tomato and parsley-topped Heinz baked beans (£7.50).

The breakfast was exceptionally good and made using high quality ingredients. The poached eggs were garnished with paprika and the muffins made a nice change for toast. There was lots of smoked bacon and even though we asked for no tomato, our plates were generously filled.

So, that’s one down and four breakfasts to go. The Rosti or French Toast could be the next choice…I’ll update with the dishes as we try them.

The Big Chill House have kindly given Cherie City a Breakfast Your Way card to give away, so one lucky reader can take a pal and enjoy five lovely breakfasts on the house.

HOW TO ENTER:

Follow Chérie City on Google Friend Connect or Facebook and leave a comment below (not on Facebook), sharing your dream breakfast.

The winner will be selected at random and the competition will close at midnight on 20th September 2011.

Terms & Conditions:

– Closing date: 20th September 2011 at midnight.
– Entrants must become (or already be) a follower of Chérie City on Google Friend Connect or Facebook, otherwise entry will be void.
– Entrants must be 18 or over.
– Entry is limited to one per household.
– The prize consists of one Breakfast Your Way card – valid for 5×1 breakfast dish + drink for the winner and a guest (at The Big Chill House only). Card is valid until 31/10/11.
– All additional charges incurred during the visit are to be paid by the winner.
– The prize is non-transferable, non-redeemable and cannot be re-sold or used in conjunction with any with any other offer.
– No cash alternatives will be offered.
– Travel costs are not included.
– The winner must claim the prize within 48 hours of contact, or a new winner will be selected.

London, Patisserie

Pierre Hermé Paris in Belgravia, London

August 28, 2011 by cheriecity

Heralded by Vogue as the ‘Picasso of pastry’, Pierre Hermé is known for creating exquisite pâtisserie, leading the way with innovative flavours and experimental pairings.

Carrying forward the family trade of Alsatian bakery and pastry-making, albeit with a more libertine approach, Pierre Hermé trained at Gaston Lenotre and worked with Fauchon before setting up his eponymous company with Charles Znaty. The first Pierre Hermé boutique opened in Tokyo in 1998, followed by his return to the gastronomy scene in Paris, where his creations were met with immense praise.

I was invited to try the new macaron flavours and explore the Pierre Hermé store in Belgravia.

My experience of a Pierre Hermé store has been limited to the counter at Selfridges, as the Paris stores have always had queues out of the door. The Belgravia store is a petite jewel box of edible treasures, tucked away on a quiet row just off Sloane Street. The loyal clientele are generally macaron enthusiasts on a pilgrimage, rather than passers by clicking away at the displays.

Macarons are the main feature of the boutique and exciting new summer flavours include liquorice and violet, apricot and pistachio and and pea and mint. My personal favourites from the classic collection that I usually choose at Pierre Hermé are Rose and Mogador – milk chocolate and passion fruit.

The chocolates are just as exciting as the macarons and I couldn’t resist the Ouvre-Toi – sesame praline, sesame nougatine, enrobed with milk chocolate. The Tsuki was also a pleasing new taste discovery – a dark chocolate with roasted and salted corn and orange fruit paste.

The Bonbons de Chocolat au Macaron are a delicious compromise between a macaron and a chocolate, for when you can’t decide. I tried the Pietra – hazelnut praline, chocolat macaron biscuit and almond paste, enrobed in dark chocolate. It was crunchy, dense and velvety, an absolute delight.

One of the pleasures of Pierre Hermé are the beautiful presentation boxes and this year they have collaborated with illustrator Soledad Bravi on a limited edition London Landmarks box.

If you’re after a gift that lasts a bit longer, Pierre Hermé offers a selection of rare aromatic teas and indulgent hot chocolate presented in colourful tins.

I also loved the boxes of chocolate-covered candied fruits and the candied fruit paste sweets that reminded me of Christmas. Speaking of Christmas, a Pierre Hermé cookbook or one of the divine scented candles would make a wonderful gift.

Another exciting discovery was the selection of jams created by Christine Ferber for Pierre Hermé. The delicious combinations include Strawberry and Pistachio, Violet Pears and Blackcurrant or Ispahan – Raspberry, Rose and Lychee – which I selected to take home with me.

I was kindly given a London Landmark box filled with seven classic and new macarons to take home. The absence of the Rose macaron was the result of not enough will-power at the end of a long, rainy day!

I was also given an elegant box of assorted chocolates, which was well-timed for impressing my friend visiting that weekend. The slim, rectangular chocolates are petite but with intense flavours. One of my favourites was the Azur – bitter chocolate and lime and yuzu ganache enrobed with dark chocolate.

My third delightful gift from Pierre Hermé was a pot of Confiture Ispahan – a delicate combination of raspberry, rose and lychee.

The jam was the best I’ve ever tasted, bursting with fruit and fragrant rose. It wasn’t overly sweet like other jams and had an ultra smooth, refined texture. For me, it’s too exquisite to just slather on bread, so I’ve tried it on Madeleines and various cakes and on top of ice cream. It would also make a perfect cocktail ingredient, so why try it as a Raspberry, Lychee and Rose Martini.

The staff at Pierre Hermé are so passionate about his creations and love to share their knowledge and experiences with customers.

The two London outposts are the only ones outside of France and Japan, so we can feel proud that Pierre Hermé has chosen to share his dreamy patisserie with us before the rest of the world.

For more info and boutique locations, visit: www.pierreherme.com

Thank you to Pierre Hermé Paris in Belgravia for such a memorable afternoon.

London, Restaurants

A Grelha at The Gun, Docklands

August 28, 2011 by cheriecity

The best things about the summer have to be barbecues and outdoor drinks, but what to do if you have no garden or roof terrace? The Aussies in London Fields are always well-prepared with their pimped up monster grills that could flame a burger in at twenty paces, but if you haven’t invested in serious barbecue apparatus, you might like to cheat and visit Portuguese outdoor grill restaurant A Grelha at The Gun.

A Grelha (the Portuguese word for ‘grill’) is entirely al fresco and features meat and whole fresh fish grilled on the charcoal BBQ and traditional Algarvian dishes such as seafood Cataplana. It boasts a wonderful view along the Thames where you can watch canoeists and rowing teams on their gruelling journeys while chomping down grilled meat.

With the posh wooden seats and white picket fence, it felt like we could have been in the Hamptons, however the excellent views of the o2 arena placed us firmly back in London. Even if the sun isn’t out, A Grelha still brings the summer vibes with a cool soundtrack of kitsch Portuguese songs and jazzy lounge music.

We visited A Grelha in between two days of torrential rain, so the weather was temperate but not of the calibre where an evening of sitting outside would seem like a good idea. However, after a summer of erratic elements, the staff at A Grelha were well-prepared and wheeled over an outdoor heater and offered us lovely bright fleecy blankets to keep us toasty.

We were instantly offered a carafe of tap water and a basket of crusty sliced farmhouse bread lightly toasted on the barbecue grill. We ordered cocktails that were named after cities in Portugal. Steven tried the Porto (£7.50) – a long cocktail made with cherries, ruby port and white rum served with crushed ice and fresh mint. I went for the Lisbon (£7.50) – a short cocktail made with brandy, apple, ginger beer, pineapple juice, lemon and tarragon.

I was looking forward to trying tarragon in a cocktail, but the Lisbon was just a bit weak on the alcohol and tasted mostly of ginger beer and apple – it was pretty small too, as there was a lot of ice in the glass. Steven’s Porto cocktail was much better, as it had a strong rum flavour and delicious slithers of cherry mixed in.

The starters are perfect for sharing, as many come in two pieces, so we both tried the Chorizo flaming in Medronho (£7.50) and Portuguese Salt Cod Croquettes with Aioli (£6.50). Both the chorizo and the croquettes were nice and chunky and came piping hot on silver serving plates.

The croquettes were densely packed with smooth mashed potato mixed in with flaky salt cod and the breadcrumb coating was ultra-fine and crispy. The juicy, high quality chorizo was packed with flavour and tasted even better with a bit of barbecue smokiness.

For the main course, I ordered Chicken Piri Piri served with chips (£15) and Steven tried the Lamb Espetada (£16). The half chicken arrived readily-cut into four pieces and had a golden, crispy skin coated in spices and herbs. The piri-piri spice was very tame, with no kick to it, but the flavours complimented the chicken, which was tender and cooked to perfection.

The Lamb Espetada was beautifully presented on a skewer with colourful peppers and grilled lemon. It was cooked medium and was juicy, succulent and full of flavour.

The chicken came with a huge silver bowl of slim, crispy fries (enough for at least two people) and the lamb was served with a giant tomato, onion and oregano mixed leaf salad and new potatoes dressed in delicious olive oil, garlic and oregano.

For dessert, they’d run out of my favourite Pastel de Nata (£2.50), so the clear choice was Chocolate Mousse (£4.50), as the other three options including a cheeseboard and ice cream didn’t really excite.

I’m never usually interested in chocolate mousse but this one was superb. The mousse was made of high quality chocolate and had a dense, velvety and almost set consistency. It was garnished with half a strawberry, but would have gone perfectly with some Biscotti Portoghesi for dipping.

I finished with a pot of Fresh Peppermint Tea, which was simple and delightful, although I had to drink up quick, due to the plummeting temperature.

A Grelha at The Gun is perfect place to spend a long summer evening and even though Docklands may be a trek for those anywhere but east London, the views and copious amounts of delicious food will be enough to lure you towards the Thames.

A Grelha is closing for the season on Monday 29th August, so if you’re stuck for last-minute bank holiday weekend plans, get in there quick (although call them to double check). A Grelha will be open again from early Summer 2012, but in the meantime, try one of the famous Sunday Roasts at The Gun and report back!

Chérie City was a guest of A Grelha at The Gun

All photos by Chérie City.

Bars, Cafes, London, Restaurants

The Botanist Pop Up Oyster Bar, Sloane Square

August 27, 2011 by cheriecity

The pop up trend doesn’t seem to be fading any time soon and why not bring everything outdoors and enjoy the last few rays of sun. Chelsea gastro pub favourite The Botanist is hosting an oyster and crustacea bar right in the middle of Sloane Square.

As September is the official start of the oyster season, The Botanist pop up will be serving a variety of oysters – West Mersea pearls, Brown Sea Island Dorset rocks and Duchy natives.

The chic al fresco pop up will have daily performances from a solo saxophonist and plenty people-spotting opportunities.

Wash down the oysters with a glass of Pomona Fizz – a mix of pomegranate, pear, honey, fresh lime and tonic for just £3 or be extra indulgent with a glass or bottle of Chapel Down Vintage Reserve Brut, a fine sparkling wine from Kent (£6/£30).

For those not into oysters, there’s a selection of seafood available, fresh from Billingsgate Market – poached Isle of Benbecula, langoustines served with lemon and mayonnaise, whole dressed Dorset crab and Atlantic prawn cocktail with avocado.

The Botanist Pop Up will be running at the start of London Fashion Week, so it could be a great choice for impressing guests and clients or resting weary legs in between shows.

The Botanist Oyster and Chapel Down Pop-Up Bar will be open as follows:

Friday 16th September 11am – 7.30pm
Saturday 17th September 12pm – 7.30pm
Sunday 18th September 12pm – 5pm

Oysters are priced at £2 each, or try half a dozen or a dozen for £9.50 and £18 respectively.

For more info, visit: www.thebotanistonsloanesquare.com

Competitions, Websites

WIN a £60 City Break Accommodation Voucher with Wimdu

August 25, 2011 by cheriecity

Booking an apartment can be the best way to explore a city, but where to start looking? Wimdu cuts out all the hassle by providing over 20,000 accommodation options in 50 countries on one easy-to-use site!

Wimdu private accommodation of all kinds, for all budgets, so you can experience a personal, customised stay and travel like a local. Whether its a room in a shared apartment or a luxury New York penthouse, Wimdu offers the opportunity to connect with hosts and gain valuable local information that you just couldn’t find anywhere else.

I’m tempted go back to Berlin this year and I’ve got my eye on staying at this uber-cool room in Prenzlauerberg (from just £44 per night), designed by a young Italian architect called Giorgio who lives upstairs. I bet he would have some tips to share on hidden gems and the best places to see in eastern Berlin.

One lucky reader will win a £60 voucher to spend on any accommodation of their choice on Wimdu. Which city will you choose? New York, Bangkok, Madrid, Rome, Dubrovnik, or even London…

HOW TO ENTER:

Follow Chérie City on Google Friend Connect or Facebook and leave a comment below (not on Facebook), sharing the city in which you would use the Wimdu voucher.

The winner will be selected at random and the competition will close at midnight on 25th September 2011.

Terms & Conditions:

– Closing date: 25th September 2011 at midnight.
– Entrants must become (or already be) a follower of Chérie City on Google Friend Connect or Facebook, otherwise entry will be void.
– Entrants must be 18 or over.
– Entry is limited to one per household.
– The prize consists of one £60 voucher to be used to pay for/against any accommodation through Wimdu.
– All additional charges incurred during the stay are to be paid by the winner.
– The prize is non-transferable, non-redeemable and cannot be re-sold or used in conjunction with any with any other offer.
– No cash alternatives will be offered.
– Travel costs are not included.
– The winner must claim the prize within 48 hours of contact, or a new winner will be selected.

Cafes, London, Restaurants

The Giraffe Cafe, Hampstead

August 21, 2011 by cheriecity

Hampstead was the destination of the first Giraffe restaurant 13 years ago, but as the company has grown, the original outpost needed a fresh new look, so welcome to the neighbourhood, The Giraffe Cafe.

Unlike the usually expansive Giraffe restaurants, The Giraffe Cafe is petite and cosy with just a handful of individual tables, two communal tables and a counter at the window. It still has a focus on a global cuisine and the design reflects the brand’s travel concept.

We dined a bit earlier than usual, as the plan was to time our visit to The Giraffe Cafe after Steven finished work at his studio in north London. I’m so glad we did this, as we got to see two different sides to The Giraffe Cafe – the earlier sitting being a haven for families, later turning into a more cosmopolitan, buzzing local eaterie.

If writers are looking for inspiration for posh, eccentric families, The Giraffe Cafe is the place to come and eavesdrop.

The kids (unknowingly) entertained us – one little darling, intrigued by a wall feature covered in logs, told the other, authoritatively, “this is where they cut down all the trees”. Yep, The Giraffe Cafe in leafy Hampstead is the sole extinguisher of the rainforest…let’s just hope they can find time to make my chicken sticks!

Another precious little thing, let’s call him Felix, was running around dressed as Batman and his mother declared to the table, while sipping on a cocktail, that his unbridled creativity (filling a colouring in book) means that he will be a great artist one day. So there you have it, future geniuses right there dining among us, and without being snarky, it really was fun.

Service is chirpy and informal – expect the staff to ask how your day was and to sit down beside you to take your order. Our waiter made reference to the prix-fixe menu and I liked it that we were instantly offered free tap water, rather than the usual ‘still or sparkling’ option. You feel like they’re not trying to up-sell or rip you off with hidden extras, which is a nice approach, especially for families.

We ordered two appetisers to share – African spiced chicken sticks with zim zim buffalo sauce (£4.95) and Cheesy ‘Santa Fe’ style crisps (£4.95).

The chunky pieces of chicken on skewers were lightly spiced and succulent and the sauce had a smoky tomato barbecue taste and a real kick to it. Afterwards, my mouth felt like it was on fire (thank goodness for the refills of tap water), although this didn’t put me off saving some to put on my next dish. The waiter kindly offered to bring me a new pot of sauce when I told him about my plan.

The ‘Santa Fe’ crisps were large tortilla chips, topped with paprika, served with pots of raclette fondue cheese sauce, guacamole and tomato salsa. The cheese sauce was scrumptious and had a slightly grainy texture, which complimented the fresh, zingy guacamole.

Steven ordered the Grilled Marrakesh sea bass fillet with crushed spiced potatoes and rocket with grilled lemon (£12.95). The fish was incredibly fresh and well-marinated with piquant spices. It went well with the soft crushed spiced new potatoes and the portion size was generous.

Based on the memory of the delicious Duck Noodles I once had a Giraffe Spitalfields, I ordered Mee Goreng (£7.95) – Malaysian street style food noodles with tofu, green beans, coconut milk, light soy, bean sprouts, Asian cabbage and crisp fried shallots.

The noodles were cooked perfectly with chunky pieces of fried tofu and had a subtle, sweet coconut and soy flavour. They could have done with a kick of chilli and some lemon juice to reduce the sweetness, so I pinched a squeeze of Steven’s grilled lemon and they were instantly improved.

We also ordered a bowl of Sweet Potato Fries (£3.95) to share and they were out of this world! The crispy, golden slices of sweet potato were packed full of flavour and a little bit addictive – an absolute must for any main course!

The Giraffe Cafe might as well have just put one dessert on the menu, as for us the choice was clear…Banana Waffle Split – a Belgian waffle with roast banana, vanilla ice cream, chocolate and butterscotch sauce (£5.25). As far as I’m concerned, no other dessert could rival this, although the Organic Fair Trade Chocolate Fudge Cake was a close runner-up.

It was as decadent, sticky and delicious as expected and I loved the soft, caramelised, cinnamon-coated banana.

The Giraffe Cafe is a very different concept to Giraffe restaurants and we loved the relaxed local atmosphere. It’s an equally enjoyable experience for families and the after-work crowd who want to relax with good food and a cocktail – just pick your visiting times accordingly.

Chérie City was a guest of Giraffe Cafe Hampstead.

All photos by Chérie City.

London

London Fields Brewery Bank Holiday Launch Party

August 20, 2011 by cheriecity

Under the railway arches at London Fields is quickly becoming a foodie haven with Happy Kitchen and the recently expanded E5 Bakehouse. Now London Fields Brewery is opening its doors to provide Hackney with its own ales.

Set up by Jules Whiteway and Ian Burgess, owner of Climpsons and Sons coffee on Broadway Market, London Fields Brewery is the first commercial brewery in Hackney since the 19th century.

London Fields Brewery is part of a growing movement of local producers, encouraging residents to buy in Hackney and hopefully bring others on foodie pilgrimages to the borough. It’s something that you can’t find anywhere else and it’s great to know that its origins are in Hackney.

The brewery is hosting a launch party from Saturday 27th to Monday 29th August, showcasing five of its ales, three of which are making their debut, alongside their new lager.

The ales include: Hackney Hopster, London Fields Bitter, London Fields Session Ale, London Fields Gold, Love Not War (an ale made while they were barricaded in the brewery during the riots) and London Fields Lager.

There will be live jazz, folk and blues music and of course food – BBQ chicken, halloumi, sausages, salads, a woodfire pizza oven and a Hog Roast on Sunday.

If London Fields and Broadway Market have been on your ‘to do’ list, this bank holiday is the time to come and do a foodie tour, followed by a long laze in the park.

For more info, visit: www.londonfieldsbrewery.co.uk

London Fields Brewery, 374 Helmsley Place, London E8 3SB

All photos by London Fields Brewery.

Accessories, Designers, Fashion

Maria Lau – Two Planets Collection

August 19, 2011 by cheriecity

Maria Lau is one of my favourite London jewellery designers and I always await her new collections with excitement. She never ceases to amaze with her unique approach to combining textures…

Leading on from last season’s ‘Tribal Clish-Clash’ collection, ‘Two Planets’ explores the duality of feminine and masculine, venus and earth. The unisex collection is edgy but luxurious and features contrasting textural materials such as pyrite, lava rock, black agate teeth and hematine.

The stones are combined with Maria’s signature braided hosiery lengths in nude or black and some pieces include flashes of detachable neon synthetic hair.

Maria Lau’s collections are always so versatile – you can tell part of the story with a delicate bracelet or make a bold statement with a multi-strand necklace adorned with the full works. The long necklaces can be casually slipped over the head and are perfect for introducing men to the label.

The three-piece Luna collection is a more ornate, mystical look and features a stunning necklace, bracelet and earrings – all made using metal components and chain around a cluster of pyrite.

Read Cherie City’s interview with Maria Lau to know more about the brand and previous collections…

Maria Lau’s ‘Two Planets’ collection is available to buy via mail order at www.marialau.co.uk.

Beauty

New Caudalie Vinoperfect Skincare

August 18, 2011 by cheriecity

Caudalie is one of my long-term favourite skin care brands and my first introduction to the brand was once again, my chic Parisian friend, who kept a bottle of the Beauty Elixir in her make-up bag.

In awe of the secret ‘know how’ that French girls always seem to have, I picked up a Beauty Elixir spray on a trip to Paris and continue to use it today. Used by Queen Isabelle of Hungary (a presumably radiant creature with invisible pores), Beauty Elixir instantly refreshes the skin, tightens pores and helps to set make-up.

In the pursuit of extra radiance, I tried out the new Caudalie Vinoperfect Cell Renewal Night Cream (£38) and Caudalie Vinoperfect Enzymatic Peel Mask (£29).

Both newly-formulated products contain a high concentration of Viniferine (the patented vine extract) that works with a ‘smoothing bio-peeling’ complex of papaya enzyme and glycolic acid to gently exfoliate the skin and reveal radiance, while hydrating with grape-seed oil and Hyaluronic acid.

They are suitable for all skin types, addressing concerns for each type, and help to deeply detoxify, renew skin, and eliminate dark spots.

The night cream has a medium-rich consistency and once massaged into the skin, I could feel an abundance of hydration, leaving my skin feeling plump and dewy. In the morning, my skin felt comfortable, nourished and calm.

The enzymatic peel mask had even more significant, surprising results. I applied the mask for ten minutes in the evening and followed with the night cream. In the morning, my skin not only felt smoother, but it was a lot more even and had noticeable radiance.

My skincare performance standards are high, especially when it comes to claims from mid to high end brands, so to see such outstanding results from the mask was an absolute delight. I’ve been using it twice a week now and have made it part of my regular routine.

For more info, visit: www.uk.caudalie.com

Hotels, Hotels - Luxury

London Syon Park Waldorf Astoria

August 18, 2011 by cheriecity

The five star London Syon Park, a Waldorf Astoria hotel, is nestled among 200 acres of idyllic greenery in the Duke of Northumberland’s Syon House Estate, just a short distance from Richmond and Kew Gardens.

London Syon Park has dual appeal – a country bolthole for Londoners escaping the noise of the city and a more inspiring option to the ‘airport hotels’ for those passing through Heathrow.

Arrival

The exterior of the hotel may not be quite as grand as you might expect, but step inside and you’re immediately transported to a whimsical wonderland of oversized velvet arm armchairs, a cloud-like origami sculpture and a glass butterfly house filled with the world’s most exotic butterflies, in the middle of the lobby.

This is inspired by the butterfly house that was once at Syon Park and the butterfly motif runs throughout the hotel, so look out for clues! There is even an ice cream parlour, Brownies, to make the experience even more fantastical.

London Syon Park has 137 rooms on just two floors with some accessed through an enclosed outdoor walkway featuring twitterings of woodland animal and bird noises.

The Bedroom

The bedrooms can only be described as ‘gothic luxe’ – elegant, dramatic monochrome with sumptuous textures. The dark, mystical design of the bedrooms is a real contrast to the playful lightness of the hotel and its country surroundings.

Our Arboretum Room was spacious and featured a giant LCD HD TV, plenty wardrobe space, a work desk, seating area and glass bottles of complimentary mineral water.

The bed was exceptionally comfy and the sheet were silky-soft and light, so we had an excellent night’s sleep. Sometimes hotels can over-do it with the padding and pillows, leading to much over-heating and an interrupted sleep, but here they have it just right.

Considering that the hotel is so close to Heathrow, with planes flying over at regular intervals, we never heard any air-traffic noise – a testament to the sound-proofed windows.

Most of the bedrooms have balconies, all with different views, and ours had a view over the leafy grounds and the Syon Arboretum. It was delightful to sit and enjoy the sun and views for a while before exploring the rest of the hotel.

The Bathroom

The bathroom is petite but perfectly formed with a deep soak tub complete with TV, a powerful walk-in rain shower and the most plush bathroom products I’ve encountered at a hotel yet – Salvatore Ferragamo Tuscan Soul.

Kallima Spa

Kallima Spa, named after a rare butterfly, is the jewel of London Syon Park and it was hard for me to tear myself away. The pool is a tranquil paradise with irridescent mini mosaics, water overflow and the perfect temperature. We loved the jacuzzi and also tried out the ultra-hot Steam Room and Sauna, complete with TV!

It’s easy to spend a whole afternoon by the pool, sauntering from one well-being facility to the next and relaxing with a chilled glass of water on the pool loungers, before perhaps indulging in an Anne Sémonin spa treatment, which I did the next day.

If you’re a more outdoors type, you can take a long ramble through the acres of greenery that makes up Syon Park, take a bike ride along the Thames or investigate the ‘secret garden’, which can be unlocked with your room key. Or, if you can’t quite leave the city behind, shopping at Westfield is just a short bus or cab ride away.

Dinner at The Capability

In the evening, we dined London Syon Park’s restaurant, The Capability, headed up by executive chef Lee Streeton, formerly of HIX and Brown’s hotel. The Capability is named after Capability Brown, the prolific 18th century landscape architect, who designed the extensive grounds at Syon Park, and is affectionately known as ‘England’s greatest gardener’.

The evening finished with a decadent cocktail in a super-tall crystal glass at the stylish lounge-bar, Peacock Alley.

Breakfast

In the morning, we went down for breakfast at The Capability and ordered Eggs Benedict for the hot menu and had a few bits and pieces from the continental buffet. Our waiter proceeded to tell us the history of Eggs Benedict and its connection to the original Waldorf Astoria, then suggested we have the Eggs Royale instead! It was friendly, but a bit too much for the morning, especially before I’d had my morning coffee.

The Eggs Benedict was excellent and I loved the choice of muffins and pastries in either full or mini size from the continental buffet.

London Syon Park is the perfect place for a relaxing retreat, although surprisingly there are so many things to see and do that you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Kallima Spa is an absolutely heavenly experience and dinner at The Capability is a must for foodies who delight in seasonal dishes made with the freshest ingredients from the hotel’s allotments and herb gardens.

For more info and booking, visit: www.londonsyonpark.com

Chérie City was a guest of London Syon Park.

Beauty, Events, London

An Elizabethan Evening of Song at Taylor Taylor London

August 16, 2011 by cheriecity

Boutique hair salon Taylor Taylor London presents the first in a new series of exclusive evenings of private acoustic sound – Taylor Taylor London Lates.

For the debut evening, guests are invited to a private audience with Petra Jean Phillipson, to celebrate the launch of her album, Notes on: Death.

Art-house folk rock performer Petra has toured all over Europe and has worked with the likes of Marianne Faithfull, David Holmes, Serafina Steer and Martina Topley Bird.

I had the pleasure of visiting Taylor Taylor London this year for a cut and dip-dye this year and fell in love with the stunning salon. Where better than to enjoy an intimate night of haunting, awe-inspiring song, cocktails, canapes, and Elizabethan-inspired dress…

Places are by invitation only. Please RSVP with your name and address no later than WEDNESDAY 17th AUGUST to pr@taylortaylorlondon.com or call +44 (0) 7920 762207

You will then receive your ticket in the post – please present this at the door.

For more info, visit: www.taylortaylorlondon.com

Hotels, Hotels - Design, London, Restaurants

Dinner at HUNter 486, The Arch Hotel London

August 16, 2011 by cheriecity

Do you ever go to a hotel restaurant if you’re not staying there as a guest? Apart from the London landmark eateries, it’s fair to say that many hotel restaurants get overlooked. This would be a huge mistake for foodies as HUNter 486 at The Arch London is a real delight that you wouldn’t want to miss out on.

A mix of rustic Italian and Scandinavian design, HUNter 486 has a cool refectory vibe with copper pans overhead, wooden logs and bottles of Lorina pink lemonade on show. During the day, it feels like a Soho House outpost and at night, it’s a bit more intimate and buzzy.

After a long afternoon of strolling around town, Maman Chérie and I were ready to unwind with some good food – the bonus being able to roll from table to bed.

We were shown to a cosy spot next to the window that overlooked a pretty cobbled mews with twinkling street lights.

We spotted the chefs baking fresh bread earlier in the day, so we were looking forward to trying it out at dinner.

We were served three artisan bread rolls – flavoured with sunflower seeds, crush tomato and herbs or caraway seeds – with butter and olive oil. They were absolutely delicious and piping hot – a great start to the meal.

We both started with English Asparagus with Hollandaise (£9.50), which was an absolute delight. The asparagus was fresh and bursting with flavour and came with a buttery, rich hollandaise.

I was tempted by the woodfire pizzas, but for ultimate indulgence, it had to the 10oz Rib Eye with Fries (£27.50). The steak was succulent, nicely charred and juicy inside – cooked perfectly medium, as requested. The fries were thin, crispy and plentiful, served in a silver cone.

Following the hollandaise with Béarnaise sauce probably wasn’t the best idea for the waistline, but I didn’t regret it, as the Béarnaise was so incredibly delicious, with fresh tarragon and fine shallots.

While my steak and fries was all about a classic done exceedingly well, my mum’s main course was a carefully-constructed culinary masterpiece.

She ordered the Pan roasted chicken and mushroom boudin with sautéed red pepper, broad beans, potato fondant and cauliflower purée (£15.50). The roasted and rolled chicken filled with rich mushroom stuffing was succulent and full of flavour. The accompaniments perfectly complimented the meat and the presentation was exquisite.

For dessert we wanted to go light, so mum ordered a scoop of apricot and strawberry sorbet, served with fresh fruit and a pistachio wafer. The home-made sorbets were exceptionally good – refreshing and not overly sweet.

I ordered the Baked Alaska (£7.75), which came doused in a shot of rum. The combination of moist chocolate orange sponge and the rum worked well and the meringue was exceptionally light and fluffy. It was a tiny bit on the small side – not that I could cope with anything bigger, but if you had visions of a mountainous Baked Alaska, you might be left wanting more.

We didn’t order wine with our meal, so we didn’t fall asleep at the table, but I couldn’t resist ordering a glass of Muscatel with my dessert.

At the end of the meal, we were offered a plate of home-made petit fours served on a grandiose gold tray – the salted caramel truffle was my favourite.

The staff at HUNter 486 were so incredibly lovely and rather dashing, I think Maman Chérie will agree! They took the time to explain the menu, chat about the suppliers and casually ask if we enjoyed our courses – but not in an annoying, overbearing way.

HUNter 486 really is a hidden gem and one of my favourite restaurant finds this year. I have a feeling their stone-baked pizzas could be another well-kept secret, so I’ll give them a try and report back!

Cherie City was a guest of HUNter 486 at The Arch London.

Photos by Cherie City and interior shots by The Arch London.