Lunchbreak: Food for Thought

I can fortell that my meeting will be over running on Friday and eating into my "lunchbreak" (salad eating at my desk.) However for those of you who utilise your right to break during the lunching hour please pop down to the ICA and listen to the genius who has delighted the fashion world with such applaudable spectacles as this:

Hussein Chalayan will be bending your ears for FREE! Yes free! Although you do need to book your space on the ICA website or give them a ring on 0207 930 3647.

The Homeland a Retrospective

I am venturing back to London after visiting Andrews bountiful homeland of Scotland over the  long bank holiday, here is an insight into mine...

Watermelons in abundance, so to with Indian mangoes and just picked banana bunches.
The plated rolls were home delivered caramel banana spring rolls.
Market place selcetion of dried noodles, mini packs of oils, dressing and spices.

The Philippines is a cluster of a thousand islands off the Pacific Ocean and its my homeland and retreat every two years. My family originate from a small town eight hours drive from the capital on the main island of Luzon. When I am there there is little else but sunshine, family and fresh air weaving through the coconut trees. A delightful change for a few weeks to London living.

On my trip last year I took a more vested interest in the stunningly fresh produce which was offered up left, right and centre. I made a lot of fresh salads with asian greens kang kong and petchay, grilled river fish like Indian mackerel wrapped in banana leaves with chilli and kalamansi dipping sauce.

It's maybe perhaps down to the heat or laziness of the customers, but many market sellers also do house to house selling of anything from the morning snack "taho" (silken tofu, pearl sago and vanilla syrup) to just off the line fish. Above are a selection of the nearby rivers treats, check out the fish's eyes - fressssssssssh as.

Brawn

49 Columbia Rd City of London E2 7RG - (0207) 729 5692
Main Dishes start from £8.00 and up to £15.00

First warm balmy day of the year and the French windows are ajar in the backroom of Brawn. Serious cutlery, clean medley of wooden chairs and complimentary sparkling water make it feel familiar and the best side of continental. The menu is French influenced, Fergus Henderson friendly and changes daily.

Being a girls dinner there was very hot gossip distractions, however it only took a glance at the menu to hook us into food mode. With wise recommendations from our waitress we went for...



Half Pint of prawns and a glass of white to start - classic

Carpaccio of Salt Cod with grapefruit and black olives - refreshing combo, probably my fave of the night

Geisers (Gizzards) with french beans and chilli and parsley

Ox Tongue with Green Lentils and Green Sauce - and may I say don't knock it till you try it.
I am a mega tongue fan (no laughing please), its dense but light and packed with flavour



Crepes with Salt Butter Caramel, again so simple but total taste sensation. We only had a Chocolate Mousse,
which I usually avoid due to bland airniess, however Brawns ruled!

Just to give you a taster of other delights from the kitchen and diaily rotated menu, here is what my dear friend and fellow blogger Rani chowed down on last time...

Field Mushrooms with gremolata and bone marrow, cured meats and sourdough



Dover Sole with Mussel and Shrimp "Sauce" and LOTS of butter.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm



Spatchcock Quail with Pomegrante and Pistachios



Treacle Treat Tart - nice thin buttery pastry with gooey sweet centre



With such fashionable surroundings and popular location you could mistake brawn for good looking airhead type of restaurant. However the food is intelligent and resourceful. And the variety of audience they lure in is a testament to the quality of product (service and food,) fine for solo book reading dining or a family affair. Can't fault it other than can there be one in my area code and be my local?

Destination Dixon

A while back when it was still nippy I cycled down to Portobello Dock for a nosy and some sort of tea time treat. There had been much hype about Tom Dixons new venture,  an opportunity to showcase his own products and his recommended picks with Stevie Parle heading the kitchen. The marriage of top class product design and well meaning food was always going to be a solid effort from Dixon.

Textiles and other bits available for buying and on left the punched metal lights made on the premises.

The products on offer were select but ample, in range and price points. Choice Phaidon books (I spent a while with the El Bulli secrets,) jewellery of Nordic descent and larger scale bespoke arm chairs, all of which watch over the placcid waters of the canal - picturesque indeed.

Chairs, Karl Lagerfeld helmet, books and monochrome tiles

Post roaming called for a coffee break. I weaved through packed tables of design enthusiasts and archetypal west London locals with their colourful plates, to my table adjacent to the open plan kitchen. I had once read that open kitchens are proud ones with nothing to hide, with that in mind I can see why Parle hasn't shied away. Although I only sampled a perfectly fine slice of melt-in-the-middle chocolate tart and a brew the wafting smells did make me wish I was hungrier and hadn't filled up on my Mexican eggs beforehand. I will have to come back and taste the seasonal fare.

My Mexican Eggs: Left over chilli, roast toms, soft boiled egg on muffins with dribblings of hot sauce
and homemade plum ketchup.
Chocolate slice with creme fraiche.

Sunday Jewels

Nestled in amongst the pastel coloured houses and curious tourists lies a shop window difficult for magpies to miss. Dotted around various antique artefacts, YSL-esque turquoise and gold rings vie for attention from their bejewelled coral earring neighbours.

I happily lost quite a few hours of my life in Hirst's treasure trove a few Sundays back. As my friend Rebecca expertly guided me through the cabinets of glistening goodies with tea and homemade peanut biscuits in tow. I fell a vintage Les Bernard necklace and earring twinset tucked in below 90s Moschino and Chanel wares...

Further details on their website Hirst Antiques

Kumquat or Free Range Egg Yolk

Whatever shade, I am all over orange and have been trying with all my might to get some of our range booked in this colour. However, to no avail. Not to worry here is some orange loving! Alber loved it in every shade, COS is loving the tangerine kind with an entire rail of it, boys love it and Ms. Stam relaxes in a soft apricot glow.

Lanvin Parade AW11 / Petersham Tulips / courtesy of Wayne Tippet pic
Chanel / COS / Roksanda Illincic / Fashion156
Oyster mag / courtesy of Wayne Tippet / Pantone of choice / deeelinghtful blog

Dun dun dunnnnnnn... Number 9 is...

See you soon dear Paris!!! I will be dusting off my Wallpaper guide once more and expect to have dozens more clean plates than usual Le Chateaubriand ... we are coming!