by | May 16, 2012

spicy (and not dull) cocktails

Raspberry and Mango Margarita

Yesterday was just a dull Tuesday.  Dull weather.  Dull food in the fridge.  Dull errands such as buying more printer paper.   That is, until the kids were tucked up in bed.  Accompanied by always-ready-for-a-night-out Neighbour, we scooted off to meet our friend, the ex-TV girl at the least dull cocktail bar EVER.  And now nothing is dull.  I am ever-so in love with Zenna Bar, the genius cocktail hideout opened by (and located under) the infamous Indian restaurant, The Red Fort on Dean St, Soho.

Our barman, Matty, saw us coming; overzealous mums looking for a good time.  He greeted us with a House Nectar (the secret house cocktail), a Garden Martini (Bombay Sapphire, fresh mint, lime juice and you know the rest) and a Raspberry and Mango Margarita (all £8).  Nibbling on some utterly delicious bar snacks from the kitchen upstairs (our favourite was the Mustard Coated Broccoli Tandori £7), we had no idea what Matty was cooking up for us over at the bar.

And that was when we met Illiana, The Golden Dragon (£15). Rum, spiced rum, Santan’s blood, some more rum, lime and orange juice, all flamed with Wray and Nephew rum.  Apparently, this is the world’s spiciest cocktail and I’m not about to disagree.  I managed two sips, followed by gallons of Gin Fiz (served in a fire extinguisher which I thought was pretty much red rag to a bull).

recently opened Cinnamon Soho

With a lack of decorum, we tottered over to Kingly Street to check out Cinnamon Soho, the new little sister restaurant of The Cinnamon Club over in Westminster.  Of course, it was going to hard to live up to Matty and all that Zenna had to offer but Leonardo, the  Brazilian main man, and the team at Cinnamon Soho, continued to ply us with Burning With Passion (£8), Lotus Blossom (£8) and other delicious concoctions.  Unanimously, we voted their Burnt chilli Indo-Chinese chicken (starter – £4.80) and their pistachio ice cream to be “worth crossing town for”.

And then somehow we got home.  That bit might have been dull.  I simply can’t remember.

 

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by | May 16, 2012

dangerous vitamin D deficiency

We don’t need to be BBC weatherman, Michael Fish to know that there has been a lack of sunshine this Spring.  But this hasn’t just meant a rise in umbrella sales, something more serious is going down.  So, I grabbed my brolly yesterday and ran off to meet the nutrition guru, Dr Marilyn Glenville, to understand just how a vitamin D deficiency can affect us all.

Most vitamin D is synthesized by the absorption of sunlight through the skin.  So without our hot burning friend in the sky, our bone health and immune system are at risk.  Dr Glenville also clarified that vitamin D can play a major role in helping with conditions such as heart disease, allergies, depression and, most interestingly, autism too.

As I listened and questioned, I became curious.  Keen to know whether I was one of the 50% of the UK currently deficient, Dr Glenville sent me away with a home prick test.  My test results will tell me exactly which supplement or dose I should take.  You can buy a test here or call 0845 880 0915 for some advice.

Meanwhile, the sun came out this morning.

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by | May 15, 2012

Fairuz fits a tight brief

The brief was a tight one.  I had to find somewhere perfect for four of us to dine.  He and I were to meet sister-in-law’s new beau for the first time.  Not too noisy, but noisy enough.  Not extortionate but enough of a treat.  In town but not in the City.  And, I wondered, was there any subject we shouldn’t mention or clothes we shouldn’t wear?

In times of need, Lebanese favourite, Fairuz, always fits the bill.  Located just off Marylebone High Street, it’s low key enough to attract the Marylebone foodies and, with its casual neighbourly feel, allows all casual conversation to flow freely.  The small venue, with whitewashed walls and closely packed tables has always been a regular favourite of ours.

Munching on the welcome bowl of raw vegetables (big thumbs up from me), we ordered a selection of Fairuz’s fail proof mezze (favourites: tabbouleh, hummous, grilled halloumi and a pomegranate salad).

It turns out new beau is a lot of fun and actually I find it refreshing dining with a newish couple, rather than yet another smug married.   Conversation flowed as fast as the dishes kept coming and, between mouthfuls, we exchanged thoughts on social media, technology and public speaking.

The big brother in Him was as satisfied with his shish kebab as he was with his sister’s main attraction.  The charming Lebanese owner, true to hospitable form, presented us with a platter of fruit as well as an assortment of bite-sized baklava to end our delicious feast.  The meal and rendez-vous had been an all round success.

Fairuz, 3 Blandford Street W1   020 7486 8108 

 


 

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by | May 13, 2012

ivy league

They say you can’t choose your family.  But you can choose to party with your family on your 40th birthday and He did.  Last night, four siblings with partners, parents, in laws and a greatly-admired grandmother all ate in the private dining room at The Ivy Club and, with only a few drop outs, most danced through til the early hours at Annabel’s.

chicken and mushroom pie

 

Although the Club at the Ivy is relatively new (opened in Sept 08), the Ivy itself is a great London institution.  First opening its doors in 1917, many a celebrity has fallen in and out of its doors since.   Culinary highlights of our evening included a mixed beet goats cheese salad for starter and the chicken and mushroom pie for main.

Annabel's

 

Cross generational dancing reminds me of family weddings.  Annabel’s remains the only place you can still shuffle with the oldies while admiring a silver fox with a glamorous 23 year old blonde on his arm.  The private members’ restaurant and nightclub on Berkeley Square was founded in 1963 by the late Mark Birley  but is now owned by the Mayfair empire that is Richard Caring.  Eclectic, exclusive and opulent, the fabulous and foreign dance and party here til dawn.

 

 

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