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The Pearson Room – Canary Wharf, London

July 1, 2013 by cheriecity

The Pearson Room is a fabulous new addition to Canary Wharf’s Canada Square, bringing the style of a private member’s club with a lighter atmosphere.

Appropriately named after the Canadian Nobel Prize winning Prime Minister, Lester B. Pearson, the restaurant and bar is packed neatly on the second floor of 16-19 Canada Square, between Plateau and the enormous Waitrose.

The Pearson Room is a slick operation, managed by a front of house team who arrived from Shoreditch House, Cecconi’s and The Swan at Chapel Down.

Bar Manager Victor Matos runs the bar in collaboration with the team behind Purl and Worship Street Whistling Shop and fine wines are selected and recommended by Sunaina Sethi, award-winning former sommelier at Trisha. B3 Designers (Bubbledogs, Le Gavroche, Aubaine and ROKA) are behind the cool foundry and 1950s Hitchcock-inspired design.

The main dining room has a casual-luxury bistro feel with wooden tables, classic bentwood chairs, leather banquettes, distressed mirrors, low-hanging lighting, a dark timber floor and pressed tin ceiling tiles. There is also a chic zinc bar with high stools and a communal table tucked away close to the window, which can be used for semi-private dining. The interior design of The Pearson Room is certainly a striking contrast to the modern glass and metal structure of the building.

We sat at a table close to the window that offered lots of natural light, sunset views and plenty of people-watching opportunities. Head Chef Vagner Matos’ all-day dining menu has a modern European feel with some innovative bistro dishes and comforting British (and American) classics.

Our charming Italian waiter Antero made some great menu recommendations and swiftly brought us some freshly-baked bread served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Staff at The Pearson Room strike the perfect balance between professional and friendly and their knowledge of the dishes – how they are cooked and where the ingredients are sourced from – is impressive.

We started with a few cocktails from the extensive list of classics and Pearson signature cocktails. I tried The Drink That Satisfies – Bombay Sapphire, muddled blueberries, lavender syrup and lychee juice (£8). Served in a Champagne coupe with a sprig of lavender, the dainty cocktail had a delicate, fragrant taste and was a pretty shade of dusky pink.

Steven’s Whisky Sour (£8) came in a crystal-cut glass and had an attractive cloudy orange colour from the egg white. It was more subtle and well-rounded than the classic version and was very easy to drink.

To start, I ordered the Diver Scallops with Nduja, Jerusalem artichoke puree and gremolata (£9). The two diver scallops were plump, soft and nicely seared on the outside. They were covered in a crunchy gremolata breadcrumb crust and served on a smooth and creamy puree of Jerusalem artichoke. The oily, intensely hot njuda had a fiery kick and perfectly complimented the fresh taste of the scallops.

Steven’s Adobo Chicken Wings (£8.50) were extremely good – literally the best we’ve ever tasted. The Portuguese-style wings were marinated for hours in chilli, soy and spices so that they had a deliciously rich, seasoned taste all the way through. They were garnished Japanese style with pickled ginger, sesame seeds, grilled spring onions and plenty of fresh coriander.

The meat was juicy and tender while the skin was blackened and crispy. I highly recommend ordering the Adobo Chicken Wings as a starter or to share, as you really don’t want to miss out on those incredible flavours.

For my main course, I’d set my heart on the Lobster Club Sandwich, but when I spotted the Pearson Cheese Burger (£15) delivered to another table, I was instantly swayed. A deluxe take on the American classic (and not too posh for its own good), The Pearson Cheese Burger is seriously moreish and addictive.

The superior flame-grilled patty is made purely from freshly-ground rib-eye steak sourced from Kent. It is packed into a lightly toasted sesame bun with a gooey American slice, baby gem lettuce, beef tomato, flavoursome smoked bacon, tangy burger sauce and thinly-sliced gherkin.

My burger was cooked perfectly medium as requested and it was juicy without being sloppy. I loved that the burger was served with salty french fries, as tradition dictates, and the addition of the crispy tobacco onions was a real triumph. I would go so far as to say that this is the best, most joyful burger being served in London right now.

The selection of dipping sauces is an extra treat and as there were so many to choose from, our waiter brought three little pots of tasty tamarind ketchup, chipotle aioli and smoked chilli sauce.

Steven went for the Dingley Dell pork belly with braised puy lentils, caramelised baby onions and port jus (£19.75). The slice of pork belly was enormous and beautifully-cooked with tender, juicy meat, a layer of melt-in-the-mouth fat and crunchy crackling.

The puy lentils were slow-cooked and absorbed the flavours of the rich port jus while the caramelised baby onions added a sweet, perky flavour.

As expected, my Hot Valrhona Chocolate Fondant with peanut butter ice cream (£6) was perfect – a soft cake filled with oozing, molten chocolate of the finest quality. It was accompanied by a smooth dulce de leche, creamy and grainy peanut butter ice cream and the most delicious candied peanuts.

Steven’s tried the summery Kirsch Cherry Sundae – kirsch cherry, vanilla and cherry ice cream (£6). The large sundae glass was filled with layers of vanilla ice cream, refreshing cherry sorbet, cherry compote and juicy whole cherries soaked in kirsch, finished with a flaky pastry twist.

We finished our meal with a Negroni Antica Formula (£8) and a Canadian Maple Leaf (£8.50). The Negroni was expertly-mixed and the Canadian Maple Leaf was a mouth-watering blend of Canadian Club, maple syrup and an orange slice.

Both drinks were garnished with orange slices that have been soaked in Campari and dried, giving a fragrant touch to the drinks. We were invited to finish our drinks on the leather sofas in the cool, retro lounge area, which was a nice touch.

The Pearson Room is a real treat for the Canary Wharf crowd to have on their doorstep and it’s definitely worth travelling east for. Not only are the food and cocktails exceptionally good, but the relaxed atmosphere and wonderful staff make it perfect for a sociable night out.

For more information and booking, visit: www.thepearsonroom.co.uk

Chérie City was a guest of The Pearson Room

Photos by Chérie City

Designers, London, Shopping, Stores

Shoreditch Pop-Up Shopping Mall

February 16, 2011 by cheriecity

A shopping mall opening in Shoreditch probably should be treated with huge suspicion, but Boxpark is the antithesis of the usual temples of mass-produced stuff.

The world’s first pop-up shopping mall, Boxpark Shoreditch is made entirely of shipping containers, making it a low cost, low risk and fleeting retail concept.

The space will be made up of boxshops, housing 50 specially selected fashion, arts and lifestyle brands, galleries and cafes.

The purpose of Boxpark is to support emerging designers and small brands, allowing their businesses to grow without the high rent or lengthy contracts.

A Shoreditch boutique would usually be a distant dream for most new designers, so Boxpark could be a great platform to get exposure and test the market.

It will be interesting to see just how creative Boxpark will be and which brands will get involved. Watch this space for more news…

Boxpark Shoreditch is located at the Goodsyard and will open in August 2011. For more info, visit: www.boxpark.co.uk

Hotels, Hotels - Budget, Hotels - Design, London, Restaurants

Hotel Review: The Hoxton Hotel

August 2, 2010 by cheriecity

How many times I’ve strolled past the Hoxton Hotel while out and about in Shoreditch and have always wondered what it would be like to stay at this ‘luxury budget urban lodge’.

The Hoxton Hotel has enlisted three designers to each give one of the rooms a cool new East End-inspired make-over and I was invited to come down and try out one of the rooms for myself.

Launched in 2006, the Hoxton Hotel is known for its young, buzzing atmosphere and its ‘anti-hotel’ philosophy. The Hoxton has a no-bull approach that offers guests the most comfortable and affordable stay – no hidden extras, overpriced mini bar or extortionate late check-out fee.

As a guest, you will be treated to a litre of mineral water, half a pint of milk, one hour for free phone calls to most countries, free super-fast WIFI and a complimentary lite Pret breakfast consisting of Pret orange juice, a Pret granola yogurt pot and a banana. Why Pret, you ask? Well, the man behind the Hoxton Hotel is the hospitality savvy co-founder of Pret, Sinclair Beecham.

Inspired by his own frustrating hotel experiences and a distaste for being exploited while travelling, Mr Beecham has considered every possible way to help guests save money on the small things so they can enjoy their stay. That’s arguably great business sense, as guests are more likely to treat themselves to a night-cap at the bar and leave with a good memory of the hotel.

On arrival, I found the open-plan reception area buzzing with a mixture of hotel guests coming and going, business people having meetings and locals having an afternoon drink at the Hoxton Grill bar. The check-in was easy and unpretentious and overseen by friendly European staff in cool, laid back Lee plaid shirts and jeans.

My room was on the sixth floor and was designed by Adrian Kilby, the Hoxton’s original brand consultant. It really was an explosion of colour and street style with illustrated murals, lime green furnishing, exposed brickwork, an image of Grace Jones etched on the window and the coolest bed I’ve ever seen!

The modern Chesterfield-style bed with luxurious Frette linen and duck down pillows allows you to sleep in either direction, so you can watch the large wall-mounted LCD TV in bed and then switch sides to change the ‘energy’ of the room.

There were so many discoveries to make, such as hidden cupboards, a complex lighting system and quirky design motifs dotted around the room. It seemed like quite a small room as compared to the standard Hoxton room, which I viewed during a tour of the hotel, but as I discovered later, this was due to the unusually enormous bed.

Best of all, the room is fully functional – there are a number of electrical sockets, three mirrors, a proper hairdryer, lighting that you can customise and an iHome alarm clock with an iPod dock.

There is also a well-stocked drinks area, where you can use wine glasses or long glasses and make a cup of Twinings breakfast or peppermint tea and fresh Lyons coffee. The minibar is empty but you can stock it with your own treats from the affordable shop at reception.

The Hoxton even takes a bit of inspiration from American hotels with a retro ironing room with an ice dispenser and sink on every floor.

The only thing lacking was enough hanging space, as the wardrobe was awkwardly shaped and I had to strategically place my dresses halfway outside the wardrobe to avoid creasing, especially my jersey maxi dress.

The bathroom was incredibly stylish, with deep red tiles, a walk-in shower with rainfall head and slate floors that gave an irridescent shimmer when lit. Toiletries were supplied by Aveda and there was a large bar of Pears soap, which the hotel encourages guests to box up and take home.

Throughout the room and bathroom, there are frank signs from the hotel reminding guests to make themselves feel completely at home. Free WIFI, Keep Cool and No Rip Offs slogans are emblazoned on the cushions like Love Hearts, which could potentially irk some guests, but the Hoxton Hotel is clearly just playing to its strengths.

In the other new designer rooms, Project Orange brings a New England homeliness with a patchwork quilt, distressed furniture and autumnal colours, while Suzy Hoodless goes minimal with a geometric statement wall, an illustrated little black dress and signature orange cushions and lamps.

The Hoxton Hotel also has an impressive business suite, with a range of comfortable meetings rooms and a larder, which delegates can raid all day. At night, the Hoxton really comes alive, as locals and hotel guests flock to the Hoxton Grill for dinner or meet for drinks in the stylish garden.

Hoxton Grill is a part of the Soho House Group and the menu includes its signature dishes and their 3 small plates for £15 deal. We ordered Steak and chips (£10 from 12-7pm), which was succulent, juicy and excellent quality. It came with a pot of béarnaise sauce and yummy skin-on thin chips and fresh sourdough bread with French butter.

Service was friendly and polite, everything you’d expect from a Soho House outpost. Hoxton grill room service is also available, at a reasonable price, if you’re having a lazy night or have to grab food on the go.

I really had no idea just how sociable and vibrant the Hoxton Hotel really is and the room really exceeded my expectations. I enj0yed a relaxed dinner, wonderful night’s sleep (it was so quiet), a healthy breakfast and refreshing, energising shower, all in the city’s most exciting neighbourhood. What more could you ask for in a hotel?

The Hoxton Hotel has an average nightly price of anything from £49 to £199 per night, with Sunday night stays being the most affordable. You can scoop a bargain if you book on a weekend or far in advance, but the higher price band takes the hotel out of the luxury budget category.

The Hoxton Hotel also offer their legendary £1 sale on rooms at selected times of the year, so join the Hox Fan Club to hear the news first.

The three designers rooms are available to book online from September 2010.

You might also like: Mama Shelter, Paris

More pictures of the Hoxton Hotel, here.

* Chérie City was a guest of The Hoxton Hotel.

Bars, London, Restaurants

LA pizza in the heart of east London

November 3, 2009 by cheriecity

Pizza East has been on my eaterie radar for quite some time now, so when my mum came down to visit last week, I thought I would make plans and actually book somewhere in the neighbourhood, rather than trawling round Soho in the hope of finding somewhere we both liked. Ok, my neighbourhood is actually Hackney Central, but the Kingland Road stretch just seems like a hop and a skip away when there’s good food to be had.

We tried to book a table for three and each time I rang, they only had availability for ‘early bird suppers’ at 6.30pm. However, it was suggested that we’d have more luck if we turn up and wait for a table at the time we wanted to eat. I guess this is quite a democratic system, as it stops the restaurant being jammed up with bookings for weeks ahead and prevents such pretentions as ‘waiting lists’.

pizza east centre bar

We were told we would have to wait an hour for a table but they would try to get us seated earlier, although it did end up this long, so we had a bottle of Peroni at the bar. The bar had a great atmosphere and was a veritable ‘who’s who’ of Shoreditch fashion and media types, with Brix Smith-Start buzzing around, waiting for her table. Despite trying to appear patient and happily lost in conversation, everyone looked so restless that they might have grabbed one of the Italian hams hanging from the ceiling and gnawed away on it there and then.

So, why is everyone falling over each other to dine at Pizza East when there are plenty of pizza joints in the east end? Well, it’s the latest venture of Soho House group founder Nick Jones, also the owner of Shoreditch House, directly above Pizza East in the Tea Building (on the corner of Shoreditch High Street and Bethnal Green Road.

pizza east chairs

The pizzas are apparently inspired by the wood-fired sourdough those at LA’s Pizzeria Mozza, with a mix of classic Italian combinations and house speciality pizzas like veal meatballs with sage, lemon, parsley and cream and another with duck sausage, artichoke, parmesan and boschetto al tartufo.

We started with two orders of garlic bread to share, which came on rustic wooden chopping boards. Each potion consisted of two massive hunks of ciabatta oozing delicious garlic butter with fresh parsley, so luckily we didn’t go for one each.

Our waiter was a chatty Italian guy with very cool Ray-Ban glasses, who recommended his personal favourites and came over almost every time he passed to see if we needed anything.

pizza east garlic bread

Next up was the much-anticipated pizza, although the garlic bread and Peroni had mellowed my growling stomach enough not to wolf it down without wild abandon.

I ordered the speck with rocket, my mum went for the portobello mushroom, shallot, parsley and egg, and Steven chose the hottest pizza on the menu so he didn’t have to share (sorry, maybe it’s just a coincidence), which was salami, red onion and red chilli flakes.

The sourdough base was unlike any I’ve ever tried before and had a crisp, bubbly crust and soft but not too flimsy centre. There was a generous covering of smooth tomato sauce made in-house and the most flavoursome mozzarella clustered near the middle. The speck tasted well-matured and the rocket was super fresh and robust – all in all, everything I could have hoped for in a pizza and more.

pizza east pizza

There was a bit of cross-table swappage and I can report that the salami had a much more meaty texture and flavour than the generic, uniformly thin and greasy versions and the portobello mushrooms had a slightly nutty, garlic taste.

Pizza East also claim to source seasonal and local produce, although I’m sure most of the pizza ingredients are imported from Italy, as they taste so authentic. The guy next to us ordered the most tender and slow-cooked beef cheek, so perhaps the meat and staple ingredients are from home turf.

We were left feeling pretty full after the starter and main meal (rarely would I go for double bread action in one sitting), but it would have been a shame not to try the desserts, so we ordered the salted chocolate caramel tart on the recommendation of our ‘new best friend’ waiter. It only seems logical that when sharing between three, you go for the richest, most decadent dessert to make up for all that spoon clashing and thimble-sized portions.

The waiter told us we would get a surprise and in fact there were two – our tart was covered in snowflakes of rock salt and we were given a taster of delightful Moscato dessert wine, that was made in the village next to where he was from.

pizza east caramel tart

The salt really complimented the velvety, sweet caramel and dark chocolate and the pastry was exceptional, with a sandy texture that is really hard to achieve. With the flaked almonds and mascarpone/soured cream, the dessert took on the taste of a really posh dime bar – absolutely delicious!

I expected that due to Pizza East’s location and lineage that it may be somewhat standoffish and have the tense atmosphere of hipsters experiencing carb-guilt (a neurosis I also suffer from at certain strong-willed times of the year). However, the staff were so welcoming and open and there was a great buzz of everyone getting stuck in Italian-style and chatting freely. There are also small touches from Shoreditch House such as Cowshed handsoap and lotion in the bathrooms that remind you that it’s not just your regular pizzeria.

I also kind of like the communal dining aspect, as you never know who you could be sat next to, and as I usually end up next to the village nut-job, they’re often keep you entertained. It did feel like I was sitting on a wooden toadstool though, so a proper bench or comfy seat wouldn’t go amiss.

pizza east bar

I’m looking forward to Pizza East’s take-out service that’s due to launch in December and I like the idea of having a deli counter where you can buy store cupboard items like oil and sauces, as well as branded products from the restaurant. I’m also tempted by the charcuterie and cheese boards on offer at the centre bar – great for avoiding the pizza-induced mid-afternoon slump and the tedious queuing.

Not only is Pizza East the most exciting new restaurant in the Shoreditch area, but it has the friendly feel of a neighbourhood restaurant that could quite easily become my ‘local’ for years to come, and that’s not a decision I take lightly!

Pizza East, 56 Shoreditch High Street, London, E1 6JJ