17/06/2013
London treasures

I wanted to prepare a food guide for Istanbul where I was a few weeks ago but as the situation is not ideal right now … I’ll tell you about some new finds and also of my favorite spots in London. I love the energy of this city and I always eat deliciously!

☆ For a pizza
Franco Manca
Unit 4, Market Row
London SW9 8LD

If you go to Brixton (south), have a look at this pizzeria hidden in a covered alleyway. The sourdough slow rise crust (minimum 20 hours), is topped with sauces and simple but good ingredients, seasonal vegetables, Italian meats and organic cheese from Ahlam Wood, baked for 40 seconds at a high temperature in an oven brick. You must absolutely try the homemade lemonade!

☆ For a Chinese restaurant
Baozi Inn

26 Newport Ct
London WC2H 7JS

In this Chinese restaurant, you can enjoy specialties from the northern region of China such as pork buns and dumplings. The noodles with sliced chicken and sesame sauce are delicious, however, sensitive palates must be careful at the dishes marked with peppers! Personally, I am unable to swallow more than a spoon of the spicy broth : D

☆For a dinner with your lover
Duck Soup
41 Dean street
London W1D 4PY

This small wine bar in a pretty Soho street serves simply delicious meals. Between the peas / mozarella / orange, asparagus with dried tuna, pappardelle pasta with rabbit ragu, my heart is torn. And to finish off, strawberries with creme fraiche ice cream, total regression.

☆ For a cosy afternoon tea
Yumchaa

45 Berwick Street

London, W1F 8SF

I always dreamt of a place like this in Paris, do you know any?

A place where you can enjoy a good cup of tea, accompanied by homemade cakes, muffins and brownies like at grandma’s seating next to the fireplace.

☆ For a brunch

Kopapa
32-34 Monmouth Street
Seven Dials, Covent Garden
London WC2H 9HA

Yes I know I’ve already talked to you about it, but I went back there again and I got out as conquered as the first time, and with a book under my arm as a bonus, one of chef Peter Gordon that really makes you want to cook (simple and delicious ideas!). We enjoyed healthy salad with pomegranate, seeds and labne, a mix’n’match of Turkish, Greek and New Zealand cultures, sipping hibiscus smoothies, ending with date scones or muffins with raspberry and tonka bean.

11/06/2013
Forbidden Fruits

This season the fruits are also back, and even it’s hard to find good, pretty, local seasonal fruits on our markets (‘coz it’s still autumn arrrr), let’s comfort ourselves with these look-alikes!

1. Pineapple plate ♡ Urban Outfitters
2. Herman Miller Summer Picnic August 20, 1971 by Stephen Frykholm / Print ♡ MoMa
3. Pineapple scarf ♡ Anthropologie
4. Banana jacket ♡ Topshop
5. Fruit necklace ♡ Lulu Frost
6. Pineapple sticky notes ♡ Mochi Things
7. Apple pillow ♡ The Land Of Nod
8. Apple tupperware ♡ Koziol

06/06/2013
Twist’R

L’agence BETC design crée un nouvel objet pour Ricard et invente une nouvelle gestuelle de dégustation. On glisse quelques glaçons, du Ricard, de l’eau, puis du sirop dans le verre, et ensuite il suffit de fermer le couvercle et de faire tourner la bille pour tout mélanger. Twist it, don’t shake it!
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The agency BETC design creates a new objet for Ricard, and invents a new taste ritual. You only have to pour some Ricard, water, ice and sirup into the glass, close with the top and make the marble go round to mix it all! Twist it, don’t shake it!

05/06/2013
Le Richer

It’s been a while since I’ve wanted to tell you about the Richer. In a raw atmosphere with a large bar on brick background and leather sofas, a fun and friendly service, we enjoyed a 63 minutes at 63 degrees cooked egg, or a saddle of lamb with fennel confit, polenta ; ending with desserts as delicious as the rest, lemon cream, pistachio financier and tapioca pearls. In the kitchen, a young duo of French chefs, Adrien Bouchaud and Romain Lamot treat us to an amazing meal, every time. Furthermore, I love the concept of the place which is that you eat (very) well and it is (very) affordable! The friendly Charles Compagnon, a former Costes, oversees it all brilliantly. And if you can not find a place there, you can also dine next door at L’Office, which is also excellent!

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Le Richer

2 rue Richer

Paris 75002

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04/06/2013
Fauchon’s crocodile

For the 80th anniversary of the crocodile brand, Lacoste and Fauchon create a collection of colorful eclairs representing the famous polo shirts! Green tea, almond, lemon and vanilla cream, topped with chocolate shells and a crocodile marshmallow imitate the famous pique cotton polo texture of the French brand.

03/06/2013
Le Sancerre – do not go there

Until now I had always wondered if there was place on this blog for rants. I preferred to spend my time sharing tips, places that had touched me, overwhelmed me. But when I set foot in this bistro of the Pigalle district the other night, I was so itch that I finally decided to have a go at it. Needless to say, I’m not a food critic, I am just writing here my humble opinion of a flout client.

Let’s go back to that establishment called Le Sancerre – rather pleasant of appearance – in rue des Abbesses. I will not spread about the poor quality of service, inefficient and unfriendly to be (what qualifies many Parisian establishments actually – well the touristic ones). Let’s start by talking about this Caesar salad. The Caesar salad and its croutons, no sorry, bits of stale bread (imagine the face of all three people who crunched in there at the same time), the lettuce in bags, the fake chicken “ham”, the no-taste tomatoes, parmesan (parmesan? really?) and three drops of unnamed white sauce. It sets the tone. But let’s continue with the croque-monsieur. Have you ever had the honor to enjoy the croque-monsieur in a French (train) TGV? Can you materialize it well, with its old burnt toast, and hard cheese from another space-time? Well there it was the same. Maybe they have the same frozen goods suppliers? Let’s finish with the cheese and ham platter. For 16€. With industrial brie. We are standin in front of a cheese shop for god’s sake. Well, I was ashamed for the Canadians who ate next to us. Ashamed for my country called gastronomic. Ashamed of myself for getting caught in this tourist-trap… Hope you won’t either!