Ottolenghi

Sat 26th September 2015

It’s finally the day! I’ve been dying to visit an Ottolenghi restaurant for a couple of years now. I found Yotam Ottolenghi an extremely fascinating chef, who moved to the UK from Isreal in 1997 with the plan to start a PhD, but ended up signing up to a six-month course at Le Cordon Bleu cookery school in London (and never looked back). Shameful to admit that we haven’t managed to make it happen—not sure why—until tonight. Tonight, my husband and I are dining at Ottolenghi Islington—finally taking advantage of a generous wedding gift from my husband’s ex-boss and his wife (thank you so much Dan and Kate!)

Some may call it a posh deli, no more than an overpriced salad bar. Yes, it has received a lukewarm review or two in the past—I’ve read them—but did not let them put me off. Boy, am I glad I didn’t. As soon as I walked in the door I was impressed by what I saw—a beautiful window display full of sweet treats—a real feast for the eyes. Don’t let the no-fuss, friendly atmosphere fool you. The setting may be somewhat casual, you may get assigned to sit at the long communal tables, shared with other guests (yes, I can see how this can be far from ideal for some). But foods here are far from simple. 15 tapas-style savoury dishes on offer tonight—7 form the counter (cold dishes); 8 from the kitchen (hot plates)—they mean serious business. All are the result of serious consideration of balanced flavours, food rooted in Ottolenghi’s native Israeli upbringing, influenced by a wider range of incredible textures and flavours from the Mediterranean, Middle East and Asia. Small portions; huge flavours. Continue reading “Ottolenghi”

BBQ Heaven: Bodean’s

Fri 18th September 2015

It was seven O’clock on a Friday eve. We found ourselves in Old Street, a lively area of Central East London. We were here to give our friend a proper send-off before he ran off to Oz, to start a business to build energy storage systems for the home, from discarded cells (Relectrify.com). Good for him!

Tonight was particularly bustling. People everywhere. Not just because it was a Friday, tonight was the start of the RWC 2015—Opening Ceremony followed by England’s first pool match against Fiji! After a few pints at the pub, we couldn’t resist our rumbling stomaches any longer and a liquid dinner just wouldn’t cut it. We unanimously decided to have a change of scene and move on to somewhere good to get a bite to eat.

9pm, we got to Bodean’s, BBQ heaven. The smell of meaty goodness hit my nostrils as soon as I walked through the front door. Continue reading “BBQ Heaven: Bodean’s”

4 Days in Iceland

May 2014

I organised this long weekend away last year (all in secret) to celebrate my husband’s 30th birthday, so this was a trip rather close to my heart. I didn’t blog about it at the time – I’ve only started my blog very recently. I owe this blog post though to our charismatic cruise director Alexander Yepremian, who we met onboard the beautiful Celebrity Reflection in May 2015. (Sorry for the delay Alex – hope you find this useful and Congratulations again!!) For anyone else out there who are interested in a bit of a getaway to Iceland, hope this helps you too.

In the recent years Iceland has really raised its status in the world of tourism and become one of the most popular destinations in the world. There is no surprise here though – with its natural beauty that featured effortlessly as the backdrop to the popular TV series “Game of Thornes”. It is also closer than you think (only a 3-hour flight from London and offers direct flights to numerous places worldwide) yet Iceland is far more different than you ever imagined! Glaciers, volcanoes, wildlife, spas – from adventurous activities to luxurious relaxation… you name it, they have it. And the Icelandic people are really nice too! Depending on your travelling style, there are so many different ways to explore Iceland. Many people rent a car to drive around the country. My blog is targeting at a casual 4-day escape. The format of my itinerary is fairly straightforward: using Reykjavík as a base, take excursions during the days, and spend the nights back in the capital. Continue reading “4 Days in Iceland”

Living it Large: Al Boccon Di’ vino

Thu 27th August 2015

It’s time for a second Supper Club group gathering. Where to go? It had to be Al Boccon Di’ vino (aka, the ‘divine mouthful’)! It’s a casual family-run Italian restaurant hidden in Richmond (the beautiful suburban town of Southwest London). Upon entering this little gem, you will be instantly transferred from the hustle and bustle of your daily London life into an intimate osteria hidden in one of the maze of alleys of Venice. I I first heard about Al Boccon Di’vino from a couple of family friends who used to live in Richmond, and had nothing but great things to say about this unique little place. I was properly introduced to the restaurant when one of my colleagues organised a little get-together and invited me – you guessed it, I jumped on the opportunity and thoroughly enjoyed it. Of course, this would make a perfect spot for our second Supper Club outing! What’s so special about this place you ask? 1) The restaurant is very intimate – only about a handful of tables and offers one sitting per meal-time. 2) There is no menu – you simply let them know what you do or do not eat. 3) Like wine? Sure, just choose the colour and it won’t go wrong. 4) The team consisted of the larger-than-life chef-owner (Riccardo Grigolo), the lovely Simona Gilmeanu and their catering staff will make sure you feel like part of their family and guarantee you a bloody great time!  Do you need more reasons? No? Great. Oh, two words of advice though: come hungry. Continue reading “Living it Large: Al Boccon Di’ vino”

Little Social, Big Flavours

Mon 10th August 2015

I have always been a fan of Jason Atherton, ever since experiencing his extravagantly indulgent Signature 5-Course Chef’s Tasting Menu (with a kitchen tour as an added bonus) at Maze. When Chef Atherton left Gordon Ramsay Holdings to launch his own restaurant group, The Social Company, our loyalty followed him and his expeditiously growing success. Little Social was our second visit to a Social Company restaurant and believe it or not, in a way we had managed to stumbled on it unintentionally. Continue reading “Little Social, Big Flavours”

The Launch: Belgo Centraal

Wed 15th July 2015

The idea of Supper Club materialised just in time my need for exploring more of the London dining scene, when one of my husband’s colleagues organised a trip to the theatre-land of the West End for “The Importance of Being Earnest”. What a perfect opportunity (and excuse) to have a group of wonderful people (who I don’t know) grabbing a bite to eat together and getting to know each other. Introducing Supper Club; first stop Belgo Centraal, which offers uncomplicated yet delicious Belgian delicacies.

Continue reading “The Launch: Belgo Centraal”