Curry and Cava? er...

Well actually yeh it worked! Yum

Jewelled Beetroot

I want to thread a thin gold chain through these beauties, tie them round my neck and strut them down a catwalk! But alas there is a lunch to be made.

Lick your lips, hehe

Egg n Chips

Half the fun of 'egg n chips' has gotta be piercing the yolk with a chip and then dip dip dipping, no?

Yes...Best toastie tea.

Galvin at Windows

So, I escaped to Spain for my Birthday and it was bliss... remember my blog on the marshmallow cake? It is now a month to the day gone by and I must tell you about Galvin at Windows, it was perfect. 

Nick must know that 'the way to a mans (my) heart is through his (my) stomach.'

I wake to the kitchen expletives of Nick attempting his first ever pancake. About 20 minutes later I am somewhat calmly presented with a plate of perfect pancakes and crispy bacon drenched in beautiful maple syrup. With a side order of champagne. Wowzers this was what my breakfast dreams are made of. 

Bit of Saturday kitchen and a cup of tea and then onto the Saatchi Gallery for a mosey around. Enough moseying and we're ready for a snack in the Kings road market right next door. The market smells gooood. We share a chorizo and rocket sandwich and Nick buys be a coconut I'd been eyeing up. 

The novelty was what tasted good, it didn't quite take me back to the Caribbean like I thought it might... and without the sand between your toes and the sun blasting it's not quite the same. It's great to watch the guy behind the stall slice off the top though and once you've sipped all the juice you take it back to the stall and he hacks it into three with a big knife and the top of the coconut that was sliced off previously for your straw is used to scoop out the young flesh. Clever.

Next stop, onto Fulham for The Harwood Arms. Nick took me here for our first anniversary and later that year it gained it's Michelin Star. We've tried to book since with difficulty, such is the way you now need 2 months notice! Well we popped in for some Staropramen and bar snacks and these are no ordinary bar snacks. 

Crispy braised shoulder of roe deer with tarragon mustard and a venison scotch egg. Delicious... don't wanna get full I secretly know what's coming next!

The view at Galvin at Windows is quite something and I fell in love with London all over again. We arrived early and went for cocktails in the sky bar with 360 views over the city to watch the sunset. The Bar menu sounds pretentious with everything from Caviar to Cristal to Creol Savannah rum. The Bloody Mary is made with Chilli infused vodka and truffle oil but you know what..it's bloody good. 

The service here is excellent, there's a hell of a lot of money being spent (The guy next to us ordered the Cuvee Dom Perignon Rose at £450 for him and his wife!!) but there's no snobbery in the air and the atmosphere was relaxed and light.

The food was exquisite (and yes the first dodgy pic is mine and the second off the website!) I had Cured Loch Duart salmon, Cornish crab, avocado cream & Naccari caviar followed by South Coast John Dory, orange braised endive, cauliflower purée, curry oil & golden raisins. I can still taste it, sublime. 

The bill came with complementary homemade marshmallows (Nick said this is most probably to soften the blow ;) ) and although there was no room left for dessert, even the coffee and petit fours stood up to its Michelin Star standard. 

Thank you Nick, what a wonderful day ; ) x

Peachy pastries

I have been busy busy cooking for clients, but did make some little pastries for staff tea time. I actually used nectarine and peach jam and puff pastry with a hint of cinnamon and sugar, lovely with a cup of tea! So here´s something to have nibble on until I get back to posting!

Birthday Tea Party

This morning I am sad as it's time to take my birthday cards down. Then I thought, I haven't blogged my tea party or my pretend Birthday that Nick treated me to! So, firstly... I had a wee tea party a couple of Sundays ago with some old friends, it was chilled and so lovely to see some friends I hadn't seen in years. There was lots of sugar and bubbles consumed and I was a happy girl. I even geeked it up and made my own bunting ;)

I was a little pushed for time to be making the food so I made some mini trifles and banoffee pies in shot glasses.. OH MY they are sweet and just two spoonfuls of deliciousness without the guilt hit!