The Bluebird, Chelsea Hello readers, I may have become a dim and distant memory over the past two months, but I can make up for it with a week in London, and lots of places for you to try on your next visit to the big bad city. Here are four foody places to tickle your tastebuds. The English Tea Room - Brown's Hotel Brown's is onto a winner with its afternoon tea. The food is excellent: a large choice of sandwiches (the egg mayo deserves a shout out), the scones are warm and comforting, the 'fine pieces' are light and delicious (two words: LEMON MACAROON) and the fruit cake is fruit cake at its best. The staff are so attentive that they notice you're running out of food before you do. And I say 'running out of food' - you simply don't. Afternoon tea here is enough to cover dinner, supper, midnight feasts and breakfast the next morning. The traditional earl grey tea suits perfectly, but try white tea if you're feeling a little 'out there'. The hotel itself is beautiful and has everything you could want: emerald cut glass windows, a piano player, comfy seats and a LOVELY bathroom. When we were there, two members of the royal family came in for tea, so lets face it, Brown's is pretty good. http://www.brownshotel.com/dining/ The Bluebird The Bluebird is in Chelsea, so take the District and Circle line (the yellow and green one) to Sloane Square and either splash out on a taxi to the restaurant or walk for twenty minutes. Your choice. The
Bluebird has a number of arms and legs to it: a gorgeous little boutique, a bakery, an alfresco dining area, a sexy bar and a fantabulous restaurant. We ate at the restaurant, but agreed that we could - and would - spend the day as Bluebirds flitting from branch to branch. Again, service is excellent (is this a London thing?) and menus, food and bills are provided at the snap of your little fingers. We ate sea bass in a zesty orange sauce, huge chicken and mushroom pies, pineapple carpaccio and elderflower jellies. And it was sublime. The restaurant is dark and sultry (an old station, apparently), and serves food right into the night. Which is just as well, because the food here is so good that you'll want to stay all night. http://www.bluebird-restaurant.co.uk/ The Ivy The Ivy! The Ivy! This was the planned highlight of the trip - I say planned, because the next hot spot was a highlight which we merely stumbled upon... The Ivy is all 1920s art-deco jazz and pizzaz down right wonderful. It's small and the tables are very close together, but The Ivy isn't a top-rated London restaurant for nothing. Sorry, I need to say it again: The Ivy! Here, we ate the renowned Ivy hamburger (not renowned for nothing), minted chicken paillard and Shepherd's Pie. If you're puzzled over what to choose the staff are extremely knowledgeable and very very helpful. And the puddings the puddings! Well, there was a chocolate macaroon dessert, so naturally there was no question there. But we also ate a gorgeously warm and comforting Plum Charlotte and a Bramley apple and damsel crumble. OR, you could make a night of it and order the tasting plate. You will not regret it. I repeat, will not. And because you're at The Ivy - The Ivy! - you'll need a cocktail; not because you've had a long hard day in London town, but because they're famous and fabulous. Stick with the capital theme and go for a Manhattan. It's also 'very Ivy'. The food at The Ivy is good. Like, really good. But what's better is the atmosphere: the life, energy and brilliance that is somehow contained within the four walls. Sorry, I need to say this again: The Ivy!!! http://www.the-ivy.co.uk/ Bond and Brook at Fenwick's Department Store Move over Selfridges, you have a new contender in my heart. And it's Fenwick's! (And fyi, it's pronounced Fennick's. Just thought I'd save you some embarrassment.) Department store
cafes have just reached a new high. Sitting on the second floor of this Bond Street beauty, the cafe is glistening with simplicity, glamour, elegance and peacefulness. In fact, it's more than peacefulness: it's a downright haven. Books line the walls - did I see a line of Vogue magazines? - and the large windows let the Bond Street sunlight stream through. Try the tomatoes and smoked bacon on toast or the Eggs Benedict for a late lunch snack. And as a treat, the English strawberries with mint and icecream are refreshing and sublime and don't make you feel you've broken your Bond Street diet. But you might break your Bond Street budget - just warning you. Afternoon tea is available as are larger meals. And, as a little bonus, you get Smarties with your bill. Perhaps to soften the blow. But myohmy is this place a find. Please go and love it. https://www.fenwick.co.uk/bond-street/restaurants-bond-street/bond-brook