Breakfast with a View

The other weekend we enjoyed our breakfast with the most amazing view of London at Duck and Waffle. We sat at a corner table with floor to ceiling glass on either side and looked down on buses snailing their way along Bishopsgate whilst enjoying some rather gorgeous waffles. The view to the south was not bad either, looking down on to the Gherkin with Tower Bridge in the background. Quite exciting. 

I had booked our tables 10 weeks in advance - this is a popular place so planning a visit is essential. I thought breakfast was a good time to visit, but would like to go back in the evening to see all the lights of London twinkling away.

Staying In

It is the new going out. At least for the rest of this month, or until temperatures decide to reach above 5 degrees. In the meantime I am happy to spend my evenings at home with a bunch of friends, a few bottles of wine, lots of candles and some good cheese.

Cheese for dinner

An French skiing holiday is great for cheese lovers (like me). Of course we had fondue one night, but the highlight was Raclette. Wow. Really, I guess it is a bit odd to eat melted cheese with potatoes for dinner, but it is so good. To sit in Armelle's beautiful dining room, watching the snow tumbling down fast outside whilst keeping an eye on that hot, bubbling cheese, drinking some excellent local wine. I can think of worse ways to spend an evening.

After this meal I said I wasn't going to eat cheese for at least two weeks. That didn't last - a couple of days later I was making pasta with Gorgonzola...

Skiing, Eating, Breathing Alpine Air

Just back from five amazing days at the wonderful Les Servages d'Armelle in Les Carroz. What a luxury to be able to combine fantastic skiing with glorious food. On our way home I reminded myself how lucky we are to live in London which is such a great place to travel from. After a short flight to Geneva, Les Carroz is only an hour away by car. To wake up in Bethnal Green and be in the Alps in time for lunch is pretty good. And travelling with the loveliest company helped make this a perfect holiday. Already looking forward to going again next year!

A snowy day in London town

Sunday was a lovely blue skied sunny one with hope of spring in the air, but one before that we snow - quite a lot of it. To go for a walk in snowy London is such an unusual experience. Amazing how it changes things! The city which is normally so noisy and fast becomes quiet and most of the movement seems to stop. Quite wonderful. And everywhere you see people with umbrellas which makes me giggle.

After our exertions we had a suitable reward to look forward to. A pint or two and a very delicious roast lunch at the Princess. And after that, home to the sofa and the fire.

Holiday Breakfast

After all the rich Christmas foods it is lovely to have a healthy breakfast. Especially when washed down with Champagne.

Weekend Breakfast

After a few hectic weeks it feels like I have finally caught up. The weekend got off to a good start with scones straight out of the oven for breakfast, enjoyed in front of a roaring fire. The lemon curd came from the shop but one day soon I will make a spiced one with a hint of cinnamon and cloves.

10,000 breakfasts in bed

For our anniversary, I gave my husband a new breakfast tray. Not a very exciting gift perhaps, but I did tell him the present includes 10,000 breakfasts in bed. That sounds like I am really going to spoil him, but actually I already bring him breakfast in bed every day, more for practical reasons than anything else - I wake up first, so it kind of makes sense. Only now it will come delivered on a pretty tray.

We did use to have another tray, but it fell behind a cupboard and is now lost forever. I love this new one from Liberty with the dark ground floral print. The tea cups are from Burleigh, purchased from their factory shop on a road trip.

Simplicity

Today is a proper hot summers day. The smell of barbecuing is everywhere, and the sounds that go along with it are getting increasingly louder as the Pimm's starts flowing...

If I could have my wish, dinner would look a bit like this. A few gorgeous things on a plate, no cooking involved, and a delicious wine to go with it. Another lovely memory from another wonderful meal we had in Sweden...was it really only a couple of weeks ago?

Luxury / Holiday

To not switch on a computer for seven whole days. No emails, certainly no Facebook, hardly even a text message and just a few phone calls. Could this be the ultimate luxury? I think so.

Dinner with a View

On Friday we were lucky enough to have a lovely meal cooked for us by some friends. The setting was not bad either. This is the view from the balcony. A panoramic slice of sky with most of London's landmarks in view. How wonderful to sit and watch the changes over a few hours - from a moody, cloudy summer evening sky to a glowing cityscape - whilst enjoying a good, strong drink or two.

Happy Jubilee!

Safely indoors, champagne glass in hand, we celebrated the Queen with Coronation Chicken and Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Sandwiches. Then of course we had to have cake. I have been thinking for a while about what sort of cake to make in the Queen's honour, considering elaborate pastel coloured extravaganzas based on her amazing outfits and so on. Then I decided the right thing was to go traditional - it had to be a classic Victoria Sponge Cake. I have to say the decoration came out rather well...and it tasted pretty good too.

Le Caprice

I love this restaurant. It is so old school and grown up, just like you imagine a proper restaurant to be when you are little. Like somewhere JR and Sue Ellen might go. You have to drink champagne or an Old Fashioned - seems like the appropriate things to order. We always sit at the bar, close to the man playing the piano. Food highlights included a deep fried courgette flower with buffalo mozzarella. A very lovely Friday evening!

Sunny breakfast

How nice to be able to sit outside and enjoy a lazy breakfast with lovely company. And to watch the flowers swaying in the wind with some happy bees hovering around them. This is what we have been waiting for - a quiet moment after another hectic week.

Glamour

Once in a while it is good to venture out of gritty Shoreditch and sample some of the truly glamorous things on offer in London. Last night we had a fantastic meal at the Northall at the Corinthia with lovely friends. The dining room is gorgeous, high ceilings and tall windows, opulent but cozy at the same time. Such surroundings call for oysters to be had. The champagne we drank with them tasted pretty good too. After dinner we headed to the Deco themed Bassoon Bar for drinks. Such a nice evening!