The Big Four

As an avid foodie there were four places I was absolutely desperate to try before the end of the year, Hakkasan, Sushi Samba, Hutong and Nobu and I'm pleased to say I finally did it! Food was delicious at all four restaurants but it's a very close call between Hakkasan and Sushi Samba. Both offer different cuisine but if I had to chose my favourite it would probably have to be Sushi Samba. The food was just simply amazing, every other mouthful was followed by 'Oh. My. God'. On the day we went, it was absolutely pouring down outside so we didn't have a great view of London but that did not bother me in the slightest because I was so impressed with the presentation and taste of the food. A definite must try, the lift ride itself up Heron Tower was super fun, not for one with fear of heights though.

A quick run down of each:

Hakkasan

Amazing food and decor, everything was top knotch and it is my new favourite chinese restaurant in town!

Sushi Samba

Food out of this world from melt in your mouth pork belly to wagyu beef gyoza. Just when we thought we could not possible fit in another mouthful a huge plate of sushi came out and we actually finished it within ten minutes because it was so delicious.

Just when we thought we could eat no more...

Almost gone in 60 seconds

Hutong

I must say the views from Huton definitely trumps Sushi Samba but the food wasn't quite to my taste as it was quite spicey. However, if you are a fan northern Chinese spices then do give it a try. The portions were big so justified the price tags to match. The soft shell crab dish was super more-ish dispite the ma-lat spice numbing my tongue. Also, don't miss the amazing views from the toilets!

Spot HMS Belfast

Nobu

Ah Nobu, often seen as the original go to place for Japanese food. As soon as I walked in the smell of the food was like a party in my nostrils!! I could not wait to tuck in, but although each dish was delicious (yes the black cod was AMAZING) I did feel prices were inflated and I could go to some very good Japanese places in central London and have similar food for half the price. Old school Nobu is lovely but perhaps needs to up its game a little to keep up with the new kids on the block such as Sushi Samba.

Top of my Lust List!

At London Fashion Week I came across some gorgeous accessories which pretty much shot to the top of my lust list. Check out these lovely bits from Anna Lou of London. More images to follow when I finally locate my camera in my jungle of a room!

Pretty nails to match my pretty ring

I do feel very lucky to have such a gorgeous engagement. So much so that I thought I would skip my usual dots and attempt some Cath Kidston inspired nail art to complement the ring. Not a bad effort for a first attempt I reckon..

Calling all seafood lovers - try Bonnie Gull!

For those familiar with my blog you might have noticed I do have a penchant for seafood. However, for a seafood lover I had never tried a raw oyster. Yes yes, I know that is absurd. Don't get me wrong, I love oysters cooked, preferably deep fried and stir fried with salt, pepper and chillis or the japanese version with lashings of lemon juice. Anyway, I'm happy to say I tried my first raw oyster at Bonnie Gull and I did not regret it. I thought the texture was pretty similar to how they are cooked. The coldness takes some getting used to but the lemon and Tabasco sauce was a lovely mix.

Is it true they are alive if super duper fresh? Someone enlighten me.

Don't be put off if you're not a fan or raw oysters, Bonnie Gull has plenty of choice. I love the fact that everything is super fresh (which is a must for seafood!) and they have a cute map which tells you where the daily catch is from so the menu changes daily.

Quaint sea side feel

Clockwise from top left: Oyster, Turbot with clams and courgettes, strawberry ricotta dessert and the AMAZING Isle of Man Queenies.

Another great love of mine.. chips! These beef dripping chips are particularly good. Fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside.

The above says it all.

Do go try if you love seafood as much as I do! Word of warning though, make sure you book as the restaurant is pretty tiny. I guess the saying 'all good things come in small packages' ring true here.

xx

I heart my cheat day

Now that wedding plans are in full swing I am sad to say I have been back on Weightwatchers. It is so much harder second time around but as with every bride I am determined to look my best and my best would be about 10lbs lighter!

As with the first time round, my saving grace for Weightwatchers was my once a week cheat day. Knowing I could have one day where I didn't have to count points gave me something to look forward to and I was able to stick to my allocated points. Strictly speaking it is a cheat 'meal' as I'd stick to something light or good for breakfast and lunch then let loose in the evening. After all, how much damage can be done in one meal? Actually, maybe not go there, I am Chinese after all..

Last Sunday as the weather was so beautiful, hubby-to-be and I decided to go to Brighton. Alas, as soon as we entered Brighton & Hove, the sunshine disappeared and it was positively freezing! Still, as we had driven over an hour from Sunny Clapham we decided to stick around for lunch and have a stroll. I always forget to note down the name of our fish & chip shop but it is so tasty. The fish is fried when you order, as opposed to laying under those heat lamps for hours. It's miles better than the ones on the pier or along the boardwalk!

Despite it being freezing cold and windy I could not resist my favourite Gelato from Gelato Gusto which I happily ate while trying to stop my hair blowing into my face. After a brisk stroll around the North Lane, feeling that we justified the drive and parking cost we decided to head back to London to catch some last rays in Clapham Common.

After much deliberation I decided to go for my hazelnut and pistachio

One thing I love about Clapham is the abundance of nice placed to eat and having jogged past it for years I had never tried Cucarachas on Battersea Rise so we decided to give that a try for dinner. The cocktails were just the ticket after an hour in the sun. I drunk mine so fast I gave myself brain freeze! The food was plentiful and tasty, although my Chicken Burrito was a bit too spicy for me I really enjoyed the meal. Would definitely go again. Much more worth it than Wahaca which I always found a tad overpriced.

Virgin Strawberry Daiquri

A good burrito but be warned, the chipotle sauce has a real kick!

Crab stuffed prawns... or was it prawn stuffed crabs? Tasty whatever it was.

Tay Do Cafe - Kingsland Road

Now, I know nothing quite beats home made Vietnamese food - I'm lucky enough to have tasted the best home made beef pho thanks to my friend's mum - the talented Mrs Chau but when I am far and in London, Tay Do Cafe is a good fix.

In my opinion, it is the best Vietnamese in Kingsland Road. I know lots of people rave on about Song Que but after trying a fair few it is always Tay Do Cafe that gets my vote. The price is very reasonable, portion size decent and most important of all, the food tastes authentic and is full of flavour. I'm yet to try a dish I don't like. Even my fussy fiance who is hooked on their sweet and sour chicken and beef in black bean sauce has been enticed to try new dishes from time to time! He has now graduated to beef wraps and Vietnamese spring rolls which makes me very proud (as an avid foodie).

I have also just discovered that they do my favourite dish Bahn Cuon! I think it was always on the menu but it was called something else. It's listed as a starter but I can happily eat it as a main. It feels quite healthy too with the veg.

Anyway, next time you're hankering for Vietnamese and near Kingsland Road make sure you try it out. I'm pretty sure you won't be disappointed!

The caption says it all really..

Clockwise from top left: Bahn Cuon (pork), Vietnamese Spring Rolls, Tay Do Special Pork Rice Vermicelli, Char-grilled Beef on Stick with Rice Paper & Salad.

Grand Canyon South Rim

Apologies for the rather in-excusable gap in posting but since my last post I have been eating my own body weight in Vegas (again!) and got engaged! Anyway, aside from having a finance as a souvenir, I also managed to take photo's of nearly everything I ate and all the places I went to. I will upload the images from my camera soon but in the mean time here is a small snap shot of the beautiful Grand Canyon.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I had only been to the West Rim of the Grand Canyon before. Now I can add South Rim to the list. To be fair both rims are amazing and if it is your first time to GC, you'll be hard pushed not to let your jaw drop when you see the view. I liked the West Rim as it looks a lot deeper, but at the South Rim you get a real feel of how wide the canyon is. Pictures really don't do it justice. I highly recommend doing the bike tour if you have the chance. Nothing quite beats whizzing around from view point to view point on your own two wheels. I wish I was back there again. Hubby to be is already planning his stag do in Vegas, maybe I can slim myself down to be a stowaway!

Enjoy...

Little did I know what was to come. I thought he was having a panic attack due to his fear of heights!

Where I said yes!

Words and photo's can never do it justice.

Larking around on the Grand Canyon

Well worth taking the bike tour, you will have your own personal guide.

A Tale of Two Feasts - Hawksmoor Air Street and Mildreds

Last week was a very naughty food-wise. I reached the pinnacle on Wednesday with a double feast, Hawksmoor for lunch and Mildreds for dinner. Now, strictly speaking it isn't really my fault. The Hawksmoor lunch was work related (lucky me - if only every week was such a treat) and dinner was for my best friend's birthday. When she first suggested Mildreds, a vegetarian restaurant in Soho, the carnivore in me immediately though, well it should be ok, I am having steak for lunch after all. However, a quick glance at the menu and after trying it I think I definitely will be dining at Mildreds more often, despite the lack of meat on the menu. The food was fresh, tasty and dessert was TO-DIE-FOR. You must try the salted hazelnut caramel cheesecake. I think that was the best thing I ate all day (hmm maybe a toss up with the scallops and ribs), then again I do have a sweet tooth.

Going back to Hawksmoor, I had wanted to try it for a long time and although the sides, and starters were amazing (the ribs and scallops are a must!) I found my sirloin a tad on the dry side despite it being medium. It was huge though and I'm sure it would have satisfied most carnivores but I only ate half, choosing to devour my triple cook chips instead. My favourite steak place in UK is still Mirage in Newbury Park. It's bit of a trek so I haven't been in a long while but in my eyes it beats all the Gauchos, Maze, Hawksmoor etc put together. Do try if you're in the area.

Feast your eyes...

Hawksmoor:

Clockwise from top left: Scallops, Onion Roasted Bone Marrow, Scallop close up and ribs.

Clockwise from top left: Sirloin steak, mushrooms, Chateaubriand, Macaroni cheese. We also had spinach, triple cooked chips and beef dripping fries but I was too busy eating to take a picture!

Sweet Potato

Mildreds:

Specials of the day

Small and very packed but worth the wait, even if they don't even serve fish.

Top: Asparagus and Pea Fritter with blue cheese sauce. Bottom: Pumpkin and Ricotta Ravioli with chesnut mushroom, cream and white wine sauce.

Clockwise from top left: Burger of the Day with the best chips ever and basil infused mayo, Risotto cake with beans and grape mustard.

Top: Peanut butter brownie and ice cream, bottom: salted hazelnut and caramel cheesecake.

Hot Chocolate on a Stick - sheer genius!

With it getting bitterly cold again I found myself craving a proper hot chocolate so I finally caved and tried the Gnaw Hot Chocolate Shot I got in a goody bag. I almost wish I didn't because Cadbury's Highlights will never taste the same again now. All you do is simply warm up a mug of milk, dip the chocolate in, stir and add the marshmallows. Delicious. You can buy this winter warming treat here or any of these places.

My Little Speedy is off to Louis Vuitton Hospital

I blame my mum for my obsession with Louis Vuitton. Ever since I can remember that familiar monogram canvas has been part of my life. From my mum toting my kiddy bits in the medium sized speedy to me buying them for her birthday present (ok and treating myself occasionally) when funds allow I have seen the collection grow and prices rise over the years! Despite the astronomical price tags attached I still think they are worth every penny. If you have a broken zip or loose button you can just take it back to the LV store and they will send it back to France to be repaired (at a cost - £60 for a new zip on my Trocadero). That is where my mums ancient Speedy (well now mine!) has gone to thanks to a broken zip. The nice lady did explain that since the bag was purchased in 1985 (amazing that she could tell just by looking inside) that the canvas might be too weak for it to be repaired but I'll keep my fingers crossed.

I hope my bag can be fixed and has a 'Speedy' recovery. Sorry I couldn't resist the pun!

Beautiful Blooms

If you're after some beautiful flowers for a special occasion make sure you check out Harpers Bloom. Gorgeously elegant flowers that reflect my equally elegant friend Leoma Harper, you can be sure her creativity and passion will not disappoint. Don't believe me? See for yourself...