Dinner in an Assembly Hall at the Baluchi Restaurant at the LaLit London

I am a massive fan of converted spaces, especially ones decked in history. On Tooley street, used to be a Tudor inspired red brick building, which was home to St Olave’s grammar establishment for boys from 1835 to 1968. It has now become a luxurious hotel and the first venture abroad by the prestigious LaLit group. Some of the aspects of the design have been restored but it is amazing to see how a hotel has taken its place.

I attended an influencers evening at this gorgeous venue and as I walked through the grounds to the entrance of the hotel, I was greeted with that traditional indian style “Namaskar,” a gesture which I loved. First impressions are very important to me and I instantly felt welcome and relaxed as I walked through the doors.

The event started off in the balcony overlooking the Baluchi restaurant, which used to be the assembly hall at the school. Decked with gorgeous interiors such as art handpicked by the owner, blue chandeliers and intricate designs on the furniture and fittings, I took a moment to just marvel at the beauty of the room (with a glass of bubbly of course).

We nibbled on some stunning canapés whilst we awaited all the guests to arrive before embarking on a hotel tour. Pictured below are goats cheese and beetroot canapés.

I love the theme running through the hotel where everything is linked to the building’s history. The rooms are called classrooms, which I adored, and the bar areas are called The Teacher’s Room and the Headmaster’s Room. There are 70 rooms in total and the views from the hotel are rather epic – you can see The Shard as well as The Thames.

The rooms have a fabulous design and are ultra modern with Japanese toilets with swanky functions. Some of the rooms have drool worthy tubs and they all have fantastic interiors, bringing that indian touch. I would certainly love to wake up with a view of the Shard!

After our tour, as it was a brilliantly sunny day in London, we headed to the outside terrace for some more bubbly and there was a superb view of the Shard from here too.

The terrace is so  gorgeous and definitely a little oasis away from the busy financial services buzz of London Bridge. I know I will be back for a Mojito or two on a summery day.

My favourite part of the terrace was the statue of Lord Ganesha, an indian god who is my personal favourite. It has great meaning to the owner of the hotel too and I noticed statues dotted around some of the rooms and spaces of the hotel.

Once the final guest arrived we headed indoors to our gorgeous table, excited to try the summer tasting menu at the in-house Pan-Indian restaurant called Baluchi. The food is split into categories themed by the building’s past. Term 1 signifies starters, whilst Mid Term stands for mains. I loved this novel touch as it is such a clever way to link the present and the past of the gorgeous building.

I was intrigued by the Pan-Indian menu and first to arrive was the Amuse Bouche which was a Tamatar ka Shorba –  a broth made from delicately spiced tomato, as well as dhokla to accompany it, which is a steamed chick pea cake. Utterly delicious.

Next up was Barwan Zucchini with Mushroom Ki Gaulati. The Mushroom Ki Gaulati melted in my mouth whilst I loved the contrasting crispy Barwan Zucchini. The fresh flavours impressed me.

Tandoori Salmon arrived with theatrical flair and I loved the aroma of barbeque that appealed to the senses as soon as the lid was lifted.

I am not a massive salmon fan generally so this wasn’t my favourite dish from the menu but it seemed to be a popular one amongst the seafood lovers on the table.

Mid meal we had the most gorgeous palate cleanser – a Fennel and Pineapple Sorbet, whose flavours took me straight back to my childhood in Kenya, where we used to get an ice lolly with a similar flavour. It was a superb dish and so beautifully presented.

My favourite savoury dish was the Zafrani malai murg, which is chicken flavoured with saffron. It was delectable and the flavours complimented each other so much.

The cashew crumble that lined the plate was also extremely addictive! The presentation was beautiful.

Baghara Baingan was my favourite vegetarian savoury dish, and again was plated as a work of art.

The aubergine was filled with soft spicy paneer and a side chutney which had a little kick but was just so tasty. I loved both the presentation and execution of this dish.

To accompany our dishes we had a selection of breads. They were soft, fluffy and just how I like them. The flavours ranged from fig and date to garlic.

For every dish on the tasting menu we also had a paired wine and I loved this aspect as I have been to very few wine pairings with indian food and it worked so well.

Now the star of the meal – dessert, or in keeping with the theme, Term Break or School holidays! Bhapa Doi, served with Passion fruit gel, pistachio, rose petals and cardamom flavoured Indian shortbread biscuits as well as Paan ki kulfi, which is Indian ice cream flavoured with betel leaves and nuts.

The latter was my favourite from the two as in our household we normally finish meals with Paan whenever we have gatherings. The kulfi was so delicious and just the right amount of flavour as Paan can be very strong in taste.

The service at the restaurant was amazing and the Great Hall, the location of the restaurant is stunning and very grand!

I loved the summer tasting menu and will definitely be back to try the Indian High Chai, which also sounds fantastic. For more information about Baluchi visit their website here.

Disclaimer: I was a guest of Baluchi. All views and photos are my own.

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My favourite Gelato spots in Tuscany

Gelato was invented in Florence and so during my visit to Tuscany, I made it my mission to eat as much Gelato as I possibly could, all in the name of research. I have a particular interest in ice cream as my dad makes ice cream in Kenya. My gelato eating in Tuscany spanned Florence and Pisa as well as the utterly adorable town of San Gimignano, and brought many many smiles to my face.

Gelato has a soft creamy texture and across all the Gelatateria we saw, there was such a vast range of flavours available. You could choose to have them in cones or cups, which they call coppettas. What sets gelato apart from regular ice cream is that there is no air pumped through it. I am not going to bore you with the technicalities though and just say that when in Italy gelato is a must.

Gelato’s history began in the 16th century when it was first created as an innovative entry to a cooking competition hosted by the Medici family. The aim of the contest was to to create “the most unique dish ever seen”.  The winner of the competition was a cook called Ruggeri who made this early version of gelato and presented it as “sweet and flavored frozen water.”

An architect called Bernardo Buontalenti later invented a mix of snow, salt, lemon, sugar, egg whites and milk into a container which was the next version of gelato. He had created this in order to impress a delegation of Spanish ambassadors during their official visit to Italy. It proved to be really popular and ever since then gelato has been associated with Florence.

You can literally find Gelaterias on every street in Tuscany and it is the perfect refreshment for the Tuscan sun. The hardest decision was choosing the flavours as they all looked amazing.

Florence

Pasticceria Rinaldini

Rinaldini is an award winning pastry chef’s dessert shop, where alongside gelato, you can have coffees, cakes and pastries. It can be found on Via dei Banchi 9-11, Florence, Italy and the gelato is superb. It is really close to the Duomo (literally a few steps away).

The gelato is available in the summer months and the owner, Roberto Rinaldini has a particular passion for ice cream, so much so that he has actually won the world ice-cream making championship during his career. Now how cool would it be to be a judge at that!

Antica Gelateria del Corso

This is an Italian brand of ice cream and are dotted around. I tried the banana flavour and it was absolutely superb.

It was just the refreshing kick I needed after lots of sightseeing.

Pisa

On the side streets adjacent to the Leaning tower of Pisa there are some gelato shops and you can’t go wrong at any of them to be perfectly honest.

Your only issue will be the queues and so I suggest wandering further afar and you will discover some quieter ones.

San Gimigiano

A visit to the town of San Gimigiano is an absolute must. Its quaint cobbled streets and magnificent views made me fall in love with Tuscany that much more.

Caffe Combattenti

We tried two gelato shops during our visit and the first was Caffe Combattenti which was lovely, but not my favourite.

 

Gelateria Dondoli

But if you are going to make one gelato pit stop in San Gimignano it has to be Gelateria Dondoli. Former gelato world champion Sergio Dondoli is also a member of Italy’s Ice Cream World Championship team. I am telling you some people have the best jobs in the world!

I was super torn on what flavours to go for and there were unique ones including saffron gelato. I had already had some saffron gelato earlier at a saffron farm, and so I opted for Pistachio instead.

It was epic and a MUST MUST do when in Tuscany. Thank me later!

 

Hotel Review: A long weekend at Ville sull’Arno

When I was planning my trip to Tuscany I read so many hotel recommendation lists as I really wanted to stay in a Tuscan villa with a view. When I came across the five-star Ville Sull’ Arno mentioned in a few lists, I knew it was the one. It combined that Tuscan country feel I craved with the added advantage of proximity to the city so that I could tick off all the major sights on my list.

When we arrived I could instantly smell the fresh aroma of lemon trees in the air and there were pretty flowers everywhere. The Villa has a wonderful location on the banks of the river Arno. It has beautiful gardens and a pool with plenty of sun loungers making it the perfect place to recharge and relax. I literally felt so chilled there.

There are 45 rooms, some of which are suites, each with a very different individual design. Our room was upgraded to a suite with a river view and a Jacuzzi tub and it was all I needed for a relaxing weekend in Tuscany. The decor in our room was more modern than another room we had seen and it was in a building separate to the main villa, which hosted the restaurants and bar. It was literally a 1 minute walk though.

The outside space was my favourite and I loved sitting outside in the morning with a cup of coffee before we headed for the main breakfast room or in the evenings watching the rowers on the river.

The decor in the villa is based around the 15th century with original stone doors, mahogany furniture and vintage curios. The pretty soft pastel pinstripe interiors and floral fabrics give it a charming vibe.

Alongside an outdoor pool, there is a spa with a heated Jacuzzi. I was really impressed with the Spa but had so much planned that I didn’t get any free time to actually enjoy it. It has open-plan wellness rooms and the products used at the spa are from one of Florence’s oldest pharmacies, the Farmacia Santissima Annunziata.

Back to the room though, we had a large spacious dressing area which was fantastic to spread out my toiletries and make up.

The bedroom area was also large and there was air conditioning in the room and free wifi available throughout the hotel, which was fabulous as we struggled with data in Florence. The hotel also had wifi enabled phones which you could take to use around the city if you wished.

My favourite part of the stay was breakfast – just look at that breakfast bar!

It was the cutest and best breakfast I have ever had at a hotel. It had been laid out adorned with flowers and vegetables for decoration and the choices were immense. There was everything you could want – from fresh breads and pastries, to cheese and cold meats, cooked breakfast and fresh fruits and cereals.

The cakes were my favourite as were the freshly squeezed juices. I got pretty addicted to fresh Blood Orange juice.

The absolute highlight though was the honeycomb and honey! This was served straight from the comb and just utterly divine. It was popular with all the guests.

There was also a pretty bar and lounge area in the hotel where you could relax with a glass of wine and read or play board games.

If fitness is a priority when on holiday you will be pleased to find that they have a gym in the villa too. It has the main equipment you would need.

In terms of location, it was a half an hour walk into the centre of Florence and incredibly convenient, whilst being detached from the crowds. We walked to the main sites and in the evening just got a taxi back.

The staff were incredibly warm and welcoming and so helpful in terms of advice and recommendations. We felt very well looked after and it was like a home away from home.

If you are looking for a Tuscan villa experience and want to be close to the city this is perfect. It was so reasonably priced too and just fabulous in every sense. We flew to Pisa airport and then got a bus straight to the centre of Florence and then a taxi to the villa. It was all really easy. If you are driving to the villa there is ample parking. I had a fantastic time and would definitely stay here again.

For more information visit their site here.

 

 

 

 

Things to do in Tuscany

Tuscany has got to be one of the prettiest places on earth with its awe inspiring beautiful landscapes and hill towns. It truly captivated me and I know I will be back for more doses as I definitely left a little piece of my heart somewhere in the Tuscan countryside. It is the perfect destination for a long weekend, the weather is glorious and the people are absolutely amazing. Here are some of my suggestions of things to do there.

Eat Gelato

Nothing like eating an ice cold gelato from one of Tuscany’s many gelaterias to cool you down in the Italian sunshine.  They are dotted around everywhere but the one I loved most was Gelateria Dondoli found in the quaint medieval town of San Gimignano, which is worth a detour for! You can read all about my favourite gelato spots here.

Visit the town of San Gimignano

San Gimignano, the city of the belle torri (beautiful towers), is one of the few Tuscan areas that focuses on white grapes, known as Vernaccia wine.

It’s famously seen as Italy’s ‘Medieval Manhattan’, and is one of the most beautiful hill towns of Tuscany.  Its town centre happens to be home to my favourite gelateria and it has the most amazing views!  Its cute cobbled streets are lined with various shops and gelaterias.

Have lunch at a Saffron farm

Ivan and Carmela welcomed us to their farmhouse called Il Castagnolino with such warmth and amazing hospitality. On their farm they grow saffron, olives, herbs and some vegetable produce.

We had the most wonderful lunch, the highlight of which was the saffron gelato, whilst Ivan educated us on saffron.  They has the most gorgeous dog called Runa too. You can read about my experience in depth here.

Marvel at the Duomo from Piazzale Michelangelo

Soak up the whole view of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo where the panorama is just amazing. It is incredibly busy due to the immense views but it is definitely a must visit! It was my favourite spot to see the Duomo from.

Take a stroll on Ponte Vecchio

It is so lovely to walk across Florence’s stunning Ponte Vecchio. The views from this landmark bridge are extraordinary and there are lots of shops, restaurants and bars nearby.

Stop and smell the flowers at the Rose Gardens

This is located right next to Piazzale Michelangelo so it makes sense to combine the two.

The gardens are beautiful and peaceful and full of pretty flowers and plants and if you are into horticulture this would be heaven!

Enjoy rooftop drinks at the Westin Excelsior Florence

The rooftop bar at the Westin not only has fabulous cocktails, it offers an alternative view of the Firenze skyline and the Duomo.

Highly recommend for cocktails or a glass of bubbly.

Sip Cocktails at Four Seasons Hotel, Florence

For a more magical experience, head to the Atium bar at the Four Seasons Florence, where you can enjoy signature cocktails whilst listening to the Pianist, who is amazing.

There is also an outside terrace at the Four Seasons hotel, perfect for those warm Tuscan evenings.

Eat one of the best pizzas in Florence

An integral part of Italian gastronomy is the pizzas and for what we think is the best pizza in Florence (a future trip will involve a pizza trail), head to Industria on Borgo Ognissanti 45 Rosso, 50123, Florence, Italy, and you won’t be disappointed.

From the eclectic decor, the reasonable prices, the amazing service, the fabulous wine selection (Chianti of course) and the absolutely delicious food, it is a must!

 

Visit a vineyard

Visiting a Tuscan vineyard is a must.

I have fallen in love with Italian wine even more after my trip. We visited an organic vineyard run by a young couple. It was the most idyllic place and we were fortunate to try lots of different wines. The majority of the wine produced at this vineyard is the white Vernaccia wine. The vineyard was gorgeous, the views were epic and it was really close to the saffron farm and the medieval town of San Gimignano so its worth combining the 3 in one day. I booked a full day tour through Grape tours, who I recommend with all my heart.

Go explore in the Food market

The nineteenth-century Mercato Centrale is a must visit and has two floors full of amazing foodie finds. On the ground floor you will find a conventional marketplace with vendors selling produce such as wine, limoncello, fruit, meat, fish, cheese, oil and spices, while the upstairs food court is the perfect stop for coffee or snacks.

I would suggest going really early in the morning as it is less busy then and definitely negotiate prices a little bit, although at most of the stalls they are pretty decently priced. I came back with Limoncello, pastries and chocolate.

Go Truffle hunting

One of the best experiences in Tuscany was going Truffle hunting and our dog, Two Socks, actually managed to find some black truffles. It was inspiring and awesome to see the Truffle hunter and his dog work together and how they had such an understanding of each other.

Definitely an experience I would recommend to anyone! You can read about it in more detail here.

Dine al fresco

One of my favourite experiences for lunch, or dinner, was eating at a quintessential trattoria terrace. It is the best place to people watch as well as indulge in Italian wine and pastas. Oh and don’t forget to order the Tiramisu!

Visit The Leaning tower of Pisa

In addition to Florence, Pisa is a must visit to see the famous leaning tower and the Piazza dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles), a UNESCO World Heritage site. A token photo with the leaning tower is a must and I would recommend spending a couple of hours here soaking up the sights, having wine and lunch and of course gelato.

It is incredibly busy (understandably). We flew into Pisa and then decided to visit the leaning tower on our return leg of the trip and headed straight to the airport from there.

Top tips:

• If you fly into Pisa, you can leave your luggage at the airport at the left luggage facilities and then you are free to wander.
• To get to Florence from Pisa, you can get a bus at the airport which costs 10 euros and is so easy and convenient.
• At main sights, walk a little further to find restaurants and bars. They are generally more authentic, cheaper and lovelier.
• Do lots of research before booking a tour as some can be really pricey! I recommend Grape Tours and they have a whole range of tours so there is bound to be one that stands out for you.

What are your favourite things to do in Tuscany if you have been? I would love to know in the comments section below.

Saffron – Tuscany’s secret treasure

Before I visited Tuscany I had no idea that it was one of the world’s sources for Saffron. I had stereotyped saffron with the middle east. The Saffron from San Gimignano is so good that it has actually been awarded a Denominazione di Origine Protteta, or protected designation of origin, so that it is now known as Zafferano di San Gimgnano DOP.  The red gold has long been one of the world’s most expensive foods due to its rarity and it is amazingly also cultivated and grown on the gorgeous Tuscan hills.

I had visited an Agritourism farm the last time I was in Italy, in Tuscania (not to be confused with Tuscany), but on this particular trip we were visiting a Saffron farm, called Il Castagnolino, run by a lovely couple called Ivan and Carmela, where you can also stay if you wish, or visit for a meal. This was my first ever visit to a saffron farm.

It is located approximately 3 km from San Gimignano, on the ancient way called “Via Francigena.” The farm house has been restored using eco friendly methods and is surrounded by olive trees. Dreamy right? It has amazing views of  the Towers of San Gimignano, over the hills of Chianti and the Valdelsa valley. Hopefully you are visually transported to Tuscany now!

As we drove through a gorgeous drive way with dramatic views, we arrived at the cutest farmhouse with the most enviable scenery.

Carmela gave us a brief tour on the other herbs and produce they grew aside saffron, whilst we headed towards the back of the farmhouse where we sat down in a gorgeous space with a seriously fabulous view ready for a three course meal.

Whilst we waited, Ivan told us how he used to have a career in finance but now could not be happier running the saffron farm. This was something I definitely needed to hear as I am making this very life change (minus the farm).

Saffron is very seasonal and it only blooms for a limited time, usually in October and November. As we visited in May we were unable to see the flowers. The harvest is very labour intensive as the flowers have to be hand picked very early in the morning and stigmas need to be removed quickly before the flowers wilt.

Each flower will have approximately 3 strands of saffron and so it takes a lot of flowers to make a reasonable amount to package and sell. It is this rarity and hard work which makes saffron so expensive. Luckily a little saffron goes a long way as the flavour is quite intense.

Our delicious meal included a starter of a variety of savoury dishes made from fresh vegetables and herbs from the farm’s garden. This included bruschetta with fresh tomato, cauliflower, onion tart, strudel with pecorino cheese and pear, aubergine and grilled apple and a Chive flower. It was all scrumptious and fully vegetarian.

Next followed homemade ravioli with a creamy saffron sauce which was just out of this world.

 

It was so authentic and I loved the farm to table concept. It was a very memorable meal and we felt like we were dining in someone’s home.

Dessert was saffron gelato served with fresh fruit and was just insanely good. The saffron flavour was delicate and the gelato was so creamy and it just was so refreshing and perfect for a sunny Tuscan day.

With lunch we enjoyed some White Vernaccia Tuscan wine and Ivan also got us to try grappa infused with saffron.

After lunch we wandered to their shop, where they sell homemade produce and I bought some jam. They were also selling olive oil and other produce and it was hard not to pick everything up!

The owners then brought out their dog Runa for us to meet and it was love at first sight!

It could not have been any more perfect. The entire experience was just excellent from the minute we arrived at the farm, the couple’s warmth and hospitality, the delicious homemade dishes we enjoyed, the unrivalled views and getting to learn more about saffron and how it has transformed this couple’s life to one of utter bliss.

If you are visiting Tuscany, I recommend going to visit their farm for either a meal or to spend the night as it is definitely worth it. I am still thinking of this unique experience with so much happiness and it is one I will not forget for a long time.

I am now inspired to one day own a farmhouse in Tuscany with views like this and so it has been added to my life bucket list! I would rather have homes in places around the world that I have fallen in love with rather than one massive mansion so hopefully by the time I retire that dream has become reality 😉

For more information on visiting Il Castagnolino visit their website here. My visit was part of a full day tour with Grape Tours, who I also recommend as I had the best day with them and my tour was such good value. I genuinely loved it!

Searching for culinary diamonds in the rough – Truffle hunting in Tuscany

“Vai Vai” shouted Francesco, the Italian Truffle hunter to Two Socks, his gorgeous dog, who bounded through the woodland, sniffing the ground and wagging his tail excitedly, running from stretch to stretch examining every inch.

Within a few minutes he wagged his tail in a specific manner which indicated to Francesco that he had found a diamond in the Tuscany rough – a black truffle! Watching the pair of them and their understanding of each other was simply amazing.

Francesco dug up the truffle carefully with a special tool (pictured below) and then rewarded Two Socks with some dog biscuits for finding it.

Truffles, which are also known as tuber magnatum pico, are usually hunted by specially highly trained dogs. Pigs used to be used for truffle hunting due to their excellent ability to sniff out truffles but they also ended up eating them too rendering it a wasted exercise for some truffle hunters and so now dogs are favoured instead.

Tuscany is a truffle hunting paradise as the rolling hills are abundant with them scattered and hidden amongst the roots of certain trees, such as oak and hazelnut. They are pricey to buy and difficult to find but they have the ability to transform a dish with their distinctive strong flavours.

I had the most amazing pasta dishes with truffle shavings or truffle oil whilst in Tuscany. I especially love the aroma and have actually brought back some truffle paste and oil with me.

The type of truffles that Two Socks found during our time truffle hunting were black truffles, which are the least expensive type of truffle. They smelt earthy and not the way I imagined them to at first.

Francesco explained that some truffles last only 10 days and others less or more and since he has been truffle hunting for a long time he is able to tell by examining the truffle what each one’s longevity is like. He stores them wrapped in kitchen towels and in a plastic container in his fridge until he finds a seller.

In terms of selling the truffles, Francesco usually goes via a middle man rather than selling directly. The prices vary upon demand and fluctuate vastly.

The white truffles are much more harder to find and seasonal and thus sell for a heftier price than the black truffles. These are favoured by chefs as they are more exclusive and precious, like a rare commodity, due to the fact that they are only available a few months each year.

He advised us that the best way to keep truffles going for longer is to use them to flavour oils or make truffle butter, which also makes it easier to cook with. We actually got to try some on bread which was scrumptious!

 

It was a brilliant experience and one that I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend in a heartbeat if you are searching for things to do in Tuscany. Our guide Jessica was excellent too.

I am an animal lover and so spending time with Two Socks was a mega bonus for me!

The Truffle Hunting experience was one segment of a full day tour with Grape Tours and I can’t recommend them enough. They had so many different tours to cater for everyone and as this one was a combination of food and travel it was absolutely up my street!

 

 

Jazz Afternoon Tea at the Sheraton Grand Park Lane

The 1920s was synonymous with the popularity of Jazz music and it was also coincidentally the era when one of my favourite London hotels was established – in 1927 to be exact by Sir Bracewell Smith, and it is the hotel’s 90th birthday year! To commemorate the 1920s and its birthday, they have launched a limited edition Jazz Afternoon Tea, which myself, and my favourite bloggers assembled in the stunning Palm court to try.

I have tried Afternoon Teas at the Sheraton Grand Park Lane before and it was also one of the venues for the “Tea-athon,” which was one of the best events I have been to.

This tea, however, and its theme, were so perfectly executed and it was just served so beautifully. Whilst you have your Afternoon Tea in the gorgeous art deco surroundings, you are able to enjoy music by a Harpist or a Guitarist, Pianist or Jazz Band depending on which day you choose to go.

Our server, Paulo was a real gem and he entertained us greatly and gave us snippets of history about the hotel. First things first some champagne was poured and he patiently posed for us whilst we took all our shots. A big thank you to David too for keeping us hydrated with lots of refills!

Paulo explained the menu to us and what our choices were and then we patiently waited for our selection to arrive. The great thing about Sheraton is that they are so flexible with dietary requirements and so if you are a vegetarian you can get a full vegetarian afternoon tea selection too.

The selection arrived in a very impressive way – served in a birdcage!

The birdcage was a nickname given to the internal steel structure that was deployed during the construction of the hotel and I love all the associations and nods to its vibrant history.

Starting with the bottom tier, we enjoyed Plain and Sultana Scones which were served with homemade jams and Clotted Cream. I am a cream first kind of girl – how about you?

Our finger sandwich selection included Free Range Egg Mayonnaise Watercress, Chicken Curried Mayonnaise on Basil Bread, Honey Roasted Ham with Celeriac & Mustard Rémoulade on Beetroot Bread which was amazing and Smoked Trout and Pickled Cucumber, Horseradish Mayonnaise. We replaced a Salmon option with a vegetarian option.

Now the best part – the top tier!

My favourite was the chocolate tart with basil lime ganache and topped with an edible saxophone.  The Sable Breton biscuit base topped with a light honey mousse and blackberry gêlée with a chocolate music sheet was refreshing. A coconut dacquoise with piña colada crème and tropical compote decorated with a music note took us to a far flung tropical destination and finally, a rich red velvet cake with orange butter completed the perfect pastries which definitely hit all the right notes.

 

There are 27 teas to choose from to accompany your stand and I went for the Zanzibar Chai, which I have had before and love so much!

The limited edition afternoon tea is available Monday to Sunday 12:00pm – 7.30pm until 30 July 2017 so definitely get yourself booked in to try it.

The Jazz afternoon tea is priced at £39.00 per person plus a discretionary service charge of 12.5%.

Disclaimer: Our Afternoon Tea was complimentary but all views and opinions are my own.

Dinner at Rick Stein, Barnes

Without a doubt Rick Stein is the most loved Television Chef in our home and I absolutely adore my copy of his book Rick Stein’s India, which I purchased after watchinf the series. It has been recorded permanently and every now and then we re-watch them along with all this other shows. I’ve heard he has recently been filming in Mexico so am excited for the next instalment of shows.

We have always wanted to go to one of his restaurants but they were outside London so hadn’t had a chance yet. However, he has now opened a restaurant in Barnes by the River Thames which we had to go and try out for dinner.

I knew I was going to love it as soon as we arrived and saw the water bowls laid out with “Chalky’s Pals” on them. Chalky was Rick Stein’s dog who sadly passed away and we felt like we experienced his grief with him as Chalky used to feature in all his shows.

The decor inside was gorgeous with shades of green and enviable views of the river. Definitely the kind of restaurant that is family friendly and has a more casual feel compared to other celebrity chef restaurants.

The service was excellent from the moment we walked in and we were greeted with lots of smiles and enthusiasm and immediately felt welcome and relaxed.

For drinks Amit went for a glass of Rick Stein’s Spanish white wine and I went for Jill Stein’s Mint Julep. Absolutely delicious cocktail and Amit really enjoyed his wine.

We were brought some bread and olive oil to nibble on whilst we pondered what to order from the menu. There were so many brilliant choices we were finding it tough to make a decision.

I settled for the Asparagus which was sourced from  Cobrey Farm, Wye Valley and poached in olive oil and served with a scrumptious hollandaise sauce. It was beautifully cooked and the sauce was so lovely.

Amit went for the stir-fried Salt and Pepper Squid garnished with red chilli slices, spring onions and served on a salad of watercress, beansprouts and cucumber with drizzles of a sesame and soy dressing. He adored his starter.

For mains, I was intrigued by the Ravioli filled with sweet onion, Parmesan and fennel seeds and in a sauce of Porcini mushrooms, sundried tomatoes and hazelnuts. It was definitely one of the best and unique Ravioli dishes I have had.

Amit went for the Hake Alla Carlina which is pan fried hake fillet cooked a Venetian way with a sauce of tomatoes and capers. He really enjoyed his main dish too and I did try a little and thought it was excellent.

Desserts are always my favourite part of a meal and I have to say the desserts we had at this restaurant were just outstanding. I went for a Sticky Toffee Pudding topped with Cornish Clotted Cream and I am still dreaming about that dish to this day.

Amit went for the Salted Peanut Butter and Chocolate cheesecake which was UTTERLY DIVINE.

Our entire meal was highly enjoyable and so reasonably priced too. We will definitely be back and make the most of the gorgeous river views. The menu was also very well balanced and although Rick Stein is known for his seafood dishes, there was a fantastic range of choices for vegetarians and other meat eaters too. I highly recommend it and we are so pleased we now have a London venue to visit.

For more information and to see menus visit the website here.

 

A luxurious breakfast at The Lanesborough

When I walked into Céleste at The Lanesborough I was so wowed by the interiors that I couldn’t stop staring at the walls. The ornate details, the classy chandeliers and the grandeur absolutely took my breath away. It was the most magical venue for a long overdue catch up with a dear blogger friend over breakfast.

My friend’s blog name is Planes and Champagne so of course we had to have some Champagne to kick off our breakfast date. The charming waiter brought over a bottle of Tattinger and patiently waited whilst we took our various photos of him pouring 😉

Toasting to fond memories and exciting times ahead we excitedly caught up on all of Maggie’s travels and adventures and my transition in the months to come from a banker to a blogger. The dining room was magnificent and perfect and just the right amount of opulence to avoid being gaudy.

To re-hydrate whilst we sipped on our bubbly we both ordered fresh juices. Maggie went for Carrot juice whilst I went for Grapefruit juice. They were so refreshing and delicious.

The breakfast menu is incredible and I was torn between Truffled Scrambled Eggs or Boiled Eggs with soldiers and decided on the latter as if you know me you know that what I call “Dippy Eggs” are my absolute breakfast favourite.

The presentation was absolutely adorable and I had ordered a side of sauteed potatoes and Avocado, which were seasoned with a little bit of chilli.

I love and constantly need coffee so I also had a Cappuccino for the caffeine hit.

Maggie opted for the Lanesborough breakfast and for her eggs she went for Eggs Benedict after being stuck between getting poached or the former.

I loved the simple yet elegant presentation with the garnish of the vine tomatoes. I did have a little envy as I do love Egg Benedict!

To accompany our breakfast choices we had a basket of various breads and pastries which were freshly baked and all so heavenly. Out of sight in this basket was a pastry topped with fruits which Maggie and I shared which was absolutely divine.

Our breakfast was superb and the service was exceptional. Our waiter was even worried that my cappuccino was getting cold and offered to get me a new fresh one but I had to admit that I am one of those people who wait till their coffee is luke warm before downing it.

The choices are on the high end/pricier side but the location, service, choices make it a wonderful venue to toast to a special occasion or for a lovely treat. I absolutely adored every single moment we spent there and definitely want to come back to try some more dishes. The hotel itself is absolutely beautiful and the definition of luxury!

If you are looking for a fabulous breakfast venue I highly recommend Céleste at The Lanesborough.

The Lanesborough can be found at Hyde Park Corner, Belgravia, London SW1X 7TA. Exit 4 of Hyde Park corner tube station is the closest.

 

Contemporary Fine Dining at Lotus, London

Hidden away from the hoards of tourists that flock Leicester Square is a fabulous luxurious award winning fine dining Indian restaurant called Lotus, headed up by Chef Patron Bhaskar Banerjee. The food takes influences from various parts of India and the restaurant has a lovely upmarket modern feel and the ambience is vibrant and warm. The Lotus flower is actually the national flower of India so a really fitting name.

Whilst it appears spacious inside, it only hosts approximately 60 covers so is nice and intimate without feeling claustrophobic or too close to another table.

We started off with ordering drinks. I decided to go for a Lassi which was flavoured with Sea Salt, Roasted Cumin, Ginger & Coriander. Amit went for a Cranberry and Lemongrass Lemonade which was really refreshing. We did have a look at the cocktail list and there were some really good choices on there but we had both already had cocktails elsewhere before so just wanted to hydrate.

To kick of our meal we were brought a Tomato Rasam which is similar a tomato broth, which was so warming and delicious. I could have had the whole saucepan it was that scrumptious with the right level of spices.

Then followed a Rattes chickpea, sev and yoghurt chaat which was so refreshing, light and full of flavour. I loved how the menu had a combination of street food and classic dishes with fusion twists. The menu also had suggestions for wine pairing if you fancied doing that and I found this unique and impressive too.

 

While we waited for the rest of our starters selection to arrive we nibbled on an assortment of Poppadums with different textures and flavours such as Rice, Potato and Finger Millet and which were served with Mango, Apricot, Mint, Red Chilly and Green Tomato Chutneys.

 

Now my favourite street food which I know as Pani Puri and which is also known as Golgappa or Puchkas had a little twist and had the additional ingredient of sweet corn. They were called Corn Chaat Golgappa and were accompanied with Jaljeera and a Tamarind Chutney. It was so much fun eating them and I loved the explosion of flavours in my mouth.

To complete our starter selection, we also tried the Fried Chicken Wing Tulips which was accompanied with a Tomato Chutney. The flavour was just perfect and I loved these. They reminded me of an upmarket and spicier version of chicken drumsticks.

 

Amit had been excited that the menu had a whole section dedicated to Kebabs and he selected the Red Snapper and Cobia Kebabs which were flavoured with Mustard essence, Crisp Bengal Gram and served with a cooling Dill yogurt. This was such an unusual offering but it really worked.

For mains we were recommended the Prawns Narkel Shorshe which is prawns cooked within a Dehusked tender Coconut and Served with Organic Rice, Indian Lemon and Chillies. Not only was the presentation of this dish rather special and impressive, it was absolutely divine. I was instantly transported to coastal destinations and if you visit Lotus for a meal this is a must order dish.

I love breads so we had a selection of breads alongside the rice to eat the Prawn curry with and the breads were exactly how I like them – thin, fluffy and buttery.

All our savoury dishes were incredibly tasty, full of flavour. perfectly and delicately spiced and presented beautifully. Now it was time for dessert!

For dessert we went for the Raj Bhog, Clementine and Basil Doi which was a very novel choice of flavours and beautifully plated. Raj Bhog is similar to a Rasgulla and this was my favourite out of the two.

As an after dinner treat we were presented with these chocolate balls filled with a fruit filling. They were a nice change to the Mint chocolate thins you normally get handed at the end of an Indian meal.

The service was amazing and the restaurant is a lovely hidden gem away from the manic-ness of Leicester Square. It has a lovely vibe so fantastic for date nights or a venue for catch ups. It is priced slightly higher end and is fine dining so really special. My highlight was definitely the prawns cooked in the de-husked coconut and I loved the sound of all the dishes on the menu so will be back to try some other dishes.

For information about the restaurant and to see menus visit their site here.

Disclaimer : Our meal was complimentary but all views, photos and opinions are my own.