Betty Blythe

I am always on the lookout for independent coffeshops and recently came across Betty Blythe in Shepherd's Bush / Brook Green. Quite close to the total opposite which is the enormous Westfield Shopping Centre. A whole world apart,  this vintage shop does very nice coffee (and tea, naturally) in a very cosy atmosphere and is a nice find in an otherwise quite unassuming area.

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It's Friday

and Half Term Holidays are upon us. We will be wrapping up warm and planning to go for long walks in the countryside - probably always in search of the roaring fire in a nice pub! If you are staying in the capital  here you will find a list of Pubs and Bars with real fire to keep warm!

 

found here

Lunch break

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Love the look of this 'Sandwich Shop' on Lexington Street in Soho with no triangular toast wrapped in plastic in side, but mountains of ciabatta and lots of meat (and wine - so continental!!). Fernandez & Wells call it their 'version of an European Market Stall'. It is a bit more fancy than that, so let's say it is Soho's interpretation ... 

Leighton House

.. on a miserable early January afternoon

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.. on a lovely late January morning

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Leighton House (close to Holland Park) is a lovely example of 19th century (well-off) artist's home. Victorian artist Frederic Lord Leighton (the only British artist to have become ennobled) sold his first major painting to Queen Victoria and became President of the Royal Academy of Arts. Leighton is associated with the Aesthetic Movement. Wanting to reintroduce beauty to Victorian Britain the aesthetes often blended art from different cultures. You find this e.g. in the main hall or of course the amazing Arab Hall with its beautiful tiles and fountain in the middle. I also love his studio, immense and lit by a huge north facing window, once filled with paint, books and canvases. For me, it is one of these places where you feel you can breath and get inspired, away from High Street Ken and modern day London, by a personality, a style or just one room.

And if you are in need of a strong coffee or a bite to eat after your tour, try Cafe Phillies, which is just 5 min down the road. It has good coffee, a nice atmosphere and does not look like a chain (since I would not recommend going from 19th century Aestheticism to 21 century coffee chain - not healthy)

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Coffee, Coffee, Coffee

Our local high street is rapidly turning into a haven for hair and coffee addicts. There are hardly any other shops to be found but coffee and salon chains

How refreshing therefor to stumble across a good old fashioned deli, which has been at the same spot since 1900 and still in the same family. They do a latte these days, but their filter coffee for breakfast is really good and the staff is very welcoming and make you feel like one of the regulars.

You will find Rothe&Son on 35 Marylebone Lane and - as it happens - a lot of nice  and independent shops around the area north of Oxford Street.

Fish and Chips

Kerbisher & Malt- the recently opened fish and chip shop got very good reviews so far, but sadly the opening hours don't collide with our school pick up. Will have to treat myself at a parent/teacher evening. Should brighten things up!

found here

But there is always the Fishmonger's Kitchen across the street. Not cheap but very friendly guys who can suggest new recipes to you or you can just take their ready made fish curry home! (but beware of the marinated squid, only for someone who really loves garlic, I mean REALLY.)

And to keep the fishy theme going - check out Odeons Lounge cinema at Whiteley's and their new menue.
You will find fish and chips, fried squid and tuna sushi on it - rather sophisticated and a far cry from our usual salty popcorn ....  Food and film, always a good combination in my books.

But do wait till Tuesday :-)

Some inspiration

for the coming days and weeks

London Weekend destinations

found here

Islington Christmas Extravaganza this coming weekend with reindeer, craft and food market, music and a climbing wall in case you want to get up there and see for yourself

And if you are in the area and need to warm up, try Kipferl, a lovely Viennese coffee house on Camden Passage

or re-create it at home with this tempting looking recipe - Chocolate Cinnamon Teacakes

you will find the receipts here at 'what katie ate'

Go West and enjoy some Christmas revels - 17th century music at Ham House (4.,11.,18.12),

or don't go that far back in time and visit Cadogan Hall on the 13.12 to hear  Max Raabe and the Palast Orchester with some glorious 20's and 30's music and entertainment to get you into the mood.

found here

It's Friday

Here are some inspirations for the weekend


After a successful Tweedrun in New York recently, it is London's turn again this Saturday. Raid your Grannie's cupboard if you happen to not be quite on trend yet and on your bike - and the weather should be fine.

found here

Stay within the tweedy theme and visit a lovely little Tea shop in Barnes - the Orange Pekoe, close to the river. Super cosy and very good afternoon tea with scones and cucumber sandwiches. They also do breakfast.

It will get full at weekends, but the friendly staff will try to accommodate. Nice to warm up after a walk along the Thames.

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Have a lovely weekend!

It's Friday

We will be checking out Tom Dixon's shop in Ladbroke Grove this weekend. It's so far away that we will definitely have to stay for lunch, meeting some friends. The shop is all about design and design related art. (Tom Dixon is an industrial designer, who was head of design for Habitat and Artek among others)

found here

The Dock Kitchen was formerly a pop up restaurant gone permanent.

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The setting looks promising, we will keep you posted.

Have a lovely weekend!

Pub Lunch

found here

We recently went for a lovely autumn walk in Richmond Park and parked at Sheen Gate. Since the above picknick option looks tempting but is obviously hardly feasible in real life, we opted for the next best thing and went to the Victoria pub, which is a 10 min stroll away from the gate through quiet streets, situated in the original part of Sheen (church, school and pub all on one street - as it should be!).

found here

The atmosphere is nice and relaxed, the food is good. On weekends you have to book well in advance for lunch and dinner since it seems that most of Sheen can be found there enjoying their roast. It's not cheap, but I think well worth a trip. 

Wapping Project

found here

What was once a Hydraulic Power Station is now a gallery, bookshop, event space and restaurant. The building itself is only transformed by light, art and drama "an idea, consistently in transition". Not much has been done to alter this impressive industrial building, you will still find the old machinery, green with age, holding their own in this inspirational environment. It was closed down in 1977 and only re-opened in 2000.

Since moving West I have not been back for years now and it is definitely time to re-visit Wapping Project (situated somewhere between the City and Canary Wharf), its art and its food. They do have a very yummy looking menu, and special offers for table for 9. Check it out here and here

found here

Sunday Cafe

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Found a lovely, new independent coffee shop in a nice little cobbled area off New Bond Street, called "Everbean" - very relaxed style compared to the racy glitz just down the road. It's on Avery Row, which is part of a nice tiny Quartier with a few more small but sophisticated shops and restaurants (it is Mayfair after all), and around the corner from the Handel House, if you like to fit in some culture, too.

Have a lovely weekend!

Afternoon Tea

Since the weather is still quite unpredictable this weekend, what about afternoon tea at The Orangery  - it's inside, so you won't get wet, but with lovely views over Kensington Gardens. (Well, one could of course also stay at home,  turn on the heating and watch an old film ..)

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Have a lovely weekend!

Al Fresco

This weekend we will pretend that summer has arrived and try out al fresco at Somerset House on their terrace, overlooking the river.

Tom'sTerrace

Apparently you don't have to book .... which does mean, we need a plan B. So we could take outdoor dining one step further and venture to Peckham, where every evening till June 1 a different food van will set up shop at The Rye pub. (It does sound a bit like an outdoor/indoor kind of set up)

find out more here

And have a great weekend!

Happy Easter

Dear All
Just wanting to wish you a very happy and sunny few Easter days. We will be spending Easter in the Capital but will try to avoid public transport and stay at the periphery since major rail works will hit some of London's busiest stations (check here).

Apart from looking forward to a visit of the Easter Bunny at our house we will go to Ham House for our traditional Easter Hunt at this National Trust property. The whole family loves this place, we go there in all seasons, enjoying the space, the gardens (they have a superb kitchen garden) and the secrets around the house itself. Walk to the river and you will find a little ferry which will get you across to a huge playground and more open space. The ride is only 2 min but the kids LOVE it. Ham House itself has a very good restaurant but if you want to spoil yourself, check out Petersham Nursery, 15 min walk away. You need to book a table for lunch but they also have a cafe with a now slightly extended menu. The setting and the food are superb but very, very expensive (more about this place in a later post, promise).

Kew Gardens offer chocolate on trees, but should you be suffering from hay fever or want to avoid the sun, pay a visit to German expat Haendel's House where the kids can hunt for eggs and everybody can enjoy music performances throughout the afternoon.

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Happy Easter!

The Idler

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Opened in March the Idler Academy of Philosophy, Husbandry and Merriment is a bookshop and Cafe at 81 Westbourne Park Road. I popped in recently and the above picture captures exactly the relaxed and welcoming atmosphere of this place. They now offer wireless connection and Monmouth Coffee - a definite place to idle away some hours.

The original Idler is, in their own words:

... an annual periodical that campaigns against the work ethic and promotes liberty, autonomy and responsibility. It is edited by Tom Hodgkinson. It was founded in 1993 by Tom and Gavin Pretor-Pinney. The Idler is now published as a high quality hardback book, which is typeset by Christian Brett and art directed by Alice Smith. Recent contributions come from Penny Rimbaud, Alain De Botton, Oliver James, Jay Griffiths and Paul Kingsnorth. The latest issue contains a long interview with David Hockney, and a conversation about idling and work with Class War editor Ian Bone, and long term unemployed loafer Ray Roughler-Jones.

I for one am looking forward to join some of their events with intriguing titles such as 'The No 9 Bus to Utopia' or 'What is Sanity?' at the Idler Academy to find out a bit more about the "Idle Concept". In the meantime I practise with a cup of coffee.

It's Time

I sense the ice cream time is upon us. One cannot start it too early. And after the recent hype about a certain (mother) milk flavour  I think it is time to go back to the basics (please!).
Admittedly it was only February when I tried Gelupo's ice, still quite cold, but it was just too tempting and well worth it.
You will find Gelupo in the heart of Soho, close to Piccadilly, but in a quiet side street. It is a lovely little shop which does not sell hundreds of different flavours, but the ice that is on offer is one of the best I have tasted this far away from Italy! (According to my kids pistacchio is divine, vanilla sublime - they were obviously inspired))

found here 

So, if you need a break from busy Soho, this place might be just what you are looking for, at least it was for us that day. I also like the fact that Gelupo is not a chain, you will only find it here. Enjoy!

Happy Friday

I recently went to have a look at the V&A's fairly new Reading Room at 8 Exhibition Road in South Kensington. It is a bookshop which incorporates a wine bar and one is very welcome to browse the shop with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine in hand. The concept is tempting but I found it slightly too cool and restrained to while away some time. The range of books though is certainly different to the average mega bookstore - so you might find yourself staying longer after all. And, every purchase supports the Victoria and Albert Museum.

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Should you be in the area this evening, do go and check out the V&A itself for me please. Tonight, the museum is open till 10.00 pm and will be transformed into a theatrical wonderland where you can try on costumes or watch a play (from 18.30-22.00). Sadly I won't be able to make it, but I have visions of getting  lost amongst the props!

The V&A hosts a contemporary event on the last Friday of every month, and should you feel in a celebratory mood at the end of next month, there will be a 'streetparty with a Victorian twist ' taking place, including the all important trifle.

Have a very happy weekend!

With Gusto

I love cafes/coffee shops, I love to sit, read, work and watch people go by. My kids have been trained from an early age to come with me and today they are equally enthusiastic (and I am sure that the babychino and the pain au chocolat don't play a role at all).
So, wherever I go, I am usually on a quest to find a friendly, charming little place with good coffee (obviously) and nice people. Oh ja, and nice food is always a bonus! And some newspapers, good music ... well, I better stop here.
Anyway, yesterday I found this little place called Gusto, on the outskirts of Notting Hill and Bayswater, where the council estates collide with the well-off. It is very small, has lovely coffee, offers breakfast and lunch and you could sit outside, if the weather wasn't still so annoyingly cold. A nice find on a freezing Wednesday morning!

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Wallace Part I

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The Wallace Collection is another world only 5 min from Oxford Street. It is a Family collection in a former private home and opened to the public 110 years ago.

The new exhibition "Esprit et Vérité: Watteau and his Circle" opens on Saturday, 12th March and lasts till Sunday 5th June 2011 and is viewed as a perfect accompaniment to the Watteau exhibition at the Royal Academy of Art which will open at the same time.

Personally, I love such small museums. You are less overwhelmed by the often amazing amount of art on display. I feel you can give more justice to individual pieces and still know that you might just be able to see and enjoy all or most of them on display.
You can pop in and revisit your favourite piece and enjoy the familiarity of it. Kids may feel less intimidated (the rooms are quite stately, but not huge), and I am sure that this heroic knight could be the perfect enticement for some:

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The museum has a few family activities, among them a drop-in art workshop on every first Sunday of each month. And, entry is free.

An added bonus is definitely The Wallace, the Courtyard Restaurant, bright and inviting (covered, dry and warm).

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Here the brasserie serves breakfast, lunch, French afternoon tea or a quick coffee from 10am-5pm and dinner on Friday and Saturday evening (although by then the museum is sadly closed).

P.S. Jean-Antoine Watteau (1884-1721)