WHERE TO EAT
One for the foodies...
If you've caught any of my Insta Stories recently you may have spotted some seriously yummy looking food... So, in a bid to make sure those mouth-watering dishes don't disappear for good after their 24 hours is up, I've instead decided to immortalise them on here. Here's a run down of some of the deliciousness I've been devouring over the last month or so.
Get your chops around these...
The Ivy Brasserie Soho
A couple of weeks ago I was invited to road-test the breakfast menu at a press preview of the new Ivy Brasserie Soho and headed over with blogger pal Anna (South Molton Street Style). And it was ON. POINT. Think crushed avocado on gluten-free toast, eggs royale and yoghurt and berries plus green and beet juices [read a cocktail of the most delicious, skin-loving, mood-boosting superfoods – avo, mint, celery, spinach, apple, parsley...]. The new space is awesome too and has an outdoor area – with a very strong flower game for February – which I imagine will be overflowing as soon as there's a sniff of spring in the air.
Eneko at One Aldwych
This place is special. The kind of restaurant where every time you read the next thing on the menu you change your order and the staff have all the time in the world for you. The menu comprises culinary creations of three Michelin-starred chef Eneko Atxa – who is all about fresh, modern, sea and land Basque dishes. And it was insane (have a gander here).
The attention to detail here is crazily good too – I wanted to take ALL the cutlery and crockery home. Mesh bread baskets accompanied by butter mixed with basil and chives in a pestle and mortar, minimal Scandi wooden knives and freakishly light, bashed water glasses. Olly and I were surreptitiously checking the reverse side of plates and closely eyeing spoons for traces of where we could get our hands on this gear.
The House of Ho
Any mention of pan-Asian and I'm there. Initially the visit here threw me, since I remember visiting the House of Ho's original set-up in Old Compton Street with girlfriends not all that long ago. But its new home – and more grown-up vibe – is a townhouse where Charlotte Street meets Percy Street (such a great part of town). Olly and I booked in for a Valentine's date (first as a wife!) which, other than a few scattered petals and a rose at the table which I rather liked, was cheese-free.
The modern Vietnamese menu speaks volumes for the tastiness of the food served here. Just listing what we tucked into makes my mouth water.
Prawn & Black Cod Gyoza
Spiced Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeños
O-Toro with Sweet Viet Dressing
Crispy Duck & Watermelon Salad
Shaking Beef 220g
Chilean Sea Bass
It's actually my third time eating here and is fast becoming one of my all-time favourites.
Petersham Nurseries
Those of you who suffer from a ferocious sweet tooth will appreciate the cake offering here at tea time – I'm not even one with a chocaholic gene, though made short work of our choice of Earl Grey, chocolate cake and, erm, Earl Grey chocolate cake. Garden centre, cafe, restaurant and Instagrammable shop, Petersham Nurseries is one of London's treasures. Perched on the edge of Richmond Park, it's a city haven I look to for a little head-clearing space when the countryside is out of reach.
Zing Zing
And sometimes, especially in January and February, there's nothing you look forward to more than a night in (in our case fuelling our current obsession with Grey's Anatomy – 6 seasons in a month... no spoilers please...). Zing Zing may essentially be Chinese take away BUT note: it's chemical free (no MSG), high quality, wok-fresh Chinese presented in a clean modern, guilt free way. And bloody delicious.
Luna's way of saying she fancies her first taste of Chinese (fat chance)
More foodie hotspots to sink your teeth into soon...
I'm always up for hearing new places – do post any recommendations below! x
