The London Review of Shopping: 2011

Friday, 15 July 2011

Taylor st baristas - london v brighton

oddly this past week I've spent time in two coffee houses with the same name. Both the original in the City and the version in brighton (aka london on sea) were fantastic. although, whisper it, the Brighton home of finely crafted coffee just edged it. A bit more relaxed and a little more service. Or maybe its just me? coffee always tastes better on holiday!

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Thursday, 26 May 2011

Water Taxi - Soufriere, St Lucia

Water Taxis are only way (if you ignore cars, buses, coaches) to get around St Lucia and if you come across George he sells the freshest just picked pineapples too.

He travels really really slowly, which he suggests is to save petrol....

It normally takes five minutes to speed across the Souffriere Bay - with George its at least half hour.

This works out rather well if your not in a hurry and want to take everything in...

Both of us were Happy and Dazed, both of us for different reasons.

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Monday, 23 May 2011

Bread + Cheese Plant - St Lucia

Its always rather boring in English Gardens hearing mothers-in-law drone on and on about the beauty of the Begonias they cherish.

In St Lucia they call it the bread and cheese plant and at Boucan Restaurant they add the dainty little flowers to the most divine salads.

Bread and Cheese - so much more fun than Begonias.

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Chateau Mygo / Marigot Bay - St Lucia

Watching the sun go down, drinking Piton beer, a fantastically economic lunch of shrimp roti and getting roundly beaten at dominoes by a beautiful woman. Nothing could be finer.

I may be some time.

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Sunday, 22 May 2011

Cacao Adventure - Hotel Chocolat / St Lucia

Wow what a day.

Visiting a cacao plantation is one thing spending it with some of the worlds experts and getting every little question answered is another.

Alphonsus and Cuthbert are engaging and excited hosts, passionate about doing things the right way however long it takes. I spent quite some time learning to graft one sapling to another, time discussing the differences between ICS 95 and ICS 1 strains of trinitario beans and a lot of time with my mouth wide open in amazement at what a wonderful thing it is to work in the field of chocolate.

To top that in the afternoon we made bars from beans direct from the Rabot Estate with ace chef Jon and then dined on fine cacao cuisine at the Boucan Restaurant.

More fun than you can shake a chocolate covered stick at!

And my bean to bar bar was waiting for me as lunch finished- I popped it out of the mould straight into my mouth! perfect... well for a first timer!

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Mrs Theresa's Bakery - Soufriere / St Lucia

Still thinking about these little lovelies days after the cookie jar ran empty.

Go find them - its worth the effort.

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Container Cafe - Hackney Wick / Olympic Park Borders.

A very good coffee and the worlds most exciting view.

Just thinking about those glory days of next summer gives me goose bumps already.

If you need me I'll be here.

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Farmers Market - Soufriere / St Lucia

Although some stalls are open most days of the week on saturday morning from 6am till about 10am the farmers market in Souffiere really comes alive.

Open back trucks full to falling with bananas compete with grizzled fishermen with wheelbarrows full of fish, ladies frying breakfast and an enterprising youth with barrels of petrol. Every Lucian crop is here; love apples & wax apples papaya & pineapple, mango, melon & many spring onions!

What I couldn't find however was cacao or cacao pulp. The search continues!

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Sunday, 1 May 2011

Chewing Gum Art - Wobbly Bridge

I've often heard tales of the nutty chewing gum artist who lays prostrate across the streets of Crouch End, causing chaos on a busy high-street whilst he paints the flattened gum of others. Looks like he's moved up in the world. Cross the wobbly bridge form tate to st Paul's and little works of wonder flood the bridge. Charming and oddball.. like all the finer things in life.

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Foodie Graffiti

As you amble along the canal after brunch at the container cafe keep your head down .. not because this is a dangerous part of town (it isn't any more!) but because someone has taken the time and love to highlight all the wild garlic, brambles, herbs and fruits that dot the pathway. Take a basket with you ... today lunch is on London.

If only id thought of it myself.

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Charles Lamb - Royal Wedding Street Party

Hobby and Cammi you did us proud. Such a wonderful day, the food was perfect the cocktails were strong and milly won first prize in the dog competition. Britain should be proud. London shone.

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Wednesday, 6 April 2011

The Broca - Brockley

Since the closure of the Brockley mess I've been wondering where the denizens of this fine locale go for a little fix of the blackstuff. Today I found the answer - they go to the train station - oi stop giggling its not a gag about the best part of brockley is the train out - its where you'll find Broca. Home made cakes, decent coffee and loads of community art. You know the type of place, old school beaten up sofas and miss matching crockery.

South London's answer to Central Perk.

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Metcalfes Skinny Popcorn - Available everywhere, soon, probably.

Another product to add to that ever growing list entitled 'things I didn't know I needed until a food marketeer dreamt it up'.

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Rose Bakery - Dover Street

We all know how great it is here ... but may I simply add that its so much finer than the trio of Parisian versions.

Although I'll always love that in the Marais you can idle away hours watching bakers bake - the carrot cake in London is just enough, the crumble is better than ever and the little sun trap of a terrace a hidden smokers gem.

Perfect for a little respite while someone else carries on shopping.

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Rochelle Canteen - Arnolds Circus

With sunshine on my shoulders and a perfect b'day pressie in my bag for my wife, and as its taken all day to find, I thought I deserved a treat. You know that feeling - one pressie for her, one pressie for me!

And here they are. Macaroons with the adult extra ingredient of loads of sharp sharp lemon .. quite perfect. Welcome back sunshine its been too long.

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Berry Bros - Mayfair

This window display of fine wine and great bread really drew me in. Spent a fortune that i don't have and enjoyed every minute of it. Very english and truly wonderful.

Bread, dripping and a Burgundy 09 for dinner then!

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Cadburys Chocolate Cafe - Bluewater

Not my first choice for a lunch but little Nelly enjoyed every moment. This kids lunch included little crust less sandwiches, a big slice of cake and a gingerbread man. oh and just in case that wasn't enough it comes with a tiny likkle hot chocolate too. A lot of sugar indeed, Nelly has hardly slept since!

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Mrs Marengo's - Soho

Particularly good cake - especially the modern version of victoria sponge.

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Cafe + tapas - saville row

Nice to see this addition to the same-old-same-old -lunch-time-grab-something quick market. A few pinxcos and a coffee - such a great way to while away your twenty four minute lunch hour. feels a bit like a chain though. Maybe somewhere in the world it is!

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The Food Secret - Soho

The tills don't work and the staff are grumpy but if you're searching for the next big thing in food retail start here. The next level in food labelling and freshness. perfect for assuageing guilt / picking the healthy option. So what is the food secret? simply that there are no secrets - they tell you everything you need to know. No hidden nasties and no staff training either!

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Wednesday, 16 February 2011

Merce and the Muse

Taking a lead from the UKs third wave of coffee Paris is slowly catching up. American born and bred Merce (an ironic name for a Parisian resident!) has got it spot on . With record decks behind the counter playing tunes that would be perfect should Tarantino pop in, Merce is the perfect host and not a bad Barista either. Her dinky chocolate and peanut butter cupcakes cheered my day and the flat white was the only one i found in three days.

If i ever move to Paris i want to work here!

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Bar des Artisans - Rue de Vinaigriers - 10th Paris

An amazing place indeed. At the back of this funky little whole food deli is as foodie treasure trove. They sell, amongst many many other treats, roasted cacao nibs and even blocks of cacao butter - of course i bought some even though i've no idea what to do with yet.

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Baking for all.

Found the most amazing cake decorating store up in the 10th. Every concievable taste and occasion catered for. Plenty more to come on the 10th - it's like the new Dalston or maybe Nakamegura in Toyko.

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Sunday, 13 February 2011

Gontran Cherrier - Paris / Montmartre

The bad boy of French baking certainly knows his baking. He may be a French Jamie Oliver but I've never seen Mr Oliver on the floor and he's certainly never made me an esspresso while I chatted in bad french. He takes a simple thing and makes it better. A simple poolish roll with squid ink - looks great tastes amazing. However using curry to flavour bread upsets the beating patriotic heart of the parisian man on the street. Good. France never had a monopoly on great bread (foccacia / Bloomer / Chapati anyone?)

Gontran is here to remind them.

Come to England Bad Boy we understand you.

Maz - Paris / 15th.

Perhaps the most beautifully designed deli in Paris. Just trust me.