NYLON...In Heels!

27. Experience the magic of Heston Blumenthal at Fat Duck

There is one thing Mike and I had always said we wouldn't miss before leaving the LON - secure a coveted reservation and enjoy the culinary creativity of molecular gastronomist Heston Blumenthal at his famously fabulous Fat Duck.  So two months ago, with a little help from our Amex concierage, we nailed a ressie for August 18th and got the Illsley's signed on to keep us company.

The restaurant, which is ranked 2nd in the world and boasts three Michelin stars, is known for its menu of unusual dishes.  Our 14 course, four hour long gastronimc extravaganza included:

• "Mad Hatter Tea"
• "Sound of the Sea"  
• Salmon poached in Liquorice 
• "Not So Full English Breakfast" featuring Parsnip Cereal, Nitro-Scrambled Egg and Bacon Ice Cream, and Hot & Iced Tea
• Chocolate Wine Slush 

  











This supreme eating experience was technical perfection, playful, artistic, surprising and very tasty.  It can truly be defined as "food as theatre, theatre as food."

A Michelin Star and 10/10 to Nick, Erica, and Mike for making this foodie fantasy a reality.

45. Try an Ostrich Burger at Borough Market

 

So I thought about listing all the reasons why I love Borough Market, and then I saw that someone already had (check out Food, Glorious Food here).  So hey, why reinvent the wheel, and just get on to the task at hand - telling you about my first foray of Ostrich Burger eating enjoyment.

For the past two yearsI have been subjected (in the nicest sense, truly) to the ravving reviews of the Borough Market Ostrich Burger by two of my favorite British boys Alex and Dave.  So, as a late addition to the list (and in honor of their gastronomic grumblings) I decided that I needed to put this burger to the test.

And the result: an absolute A++.  Ostrich meat (which Mike tells me I also enjoyed in S.A.) is a really lean tasty meat that may just be making it onto a grille near me soon!

A high-five to my Big Gay Bears Al and Dave for the Reco!

(Around) 75 Days and 101 (More Or Less) Things I Want to Do Before I leave London

 

 So... now that I'm coming to grips with the reality that we are leaving London I realise that I have a whole-lotta love to show London before I go.  So with a few tips from some friends.. here is the list.  Now I just have to decide what shoes to wear and who's explorin'' with me!

1.    Listen to classical music at St Martin-in-the-Fields (Thursdays to Saturdays, and alternate Tuesdays, 7.30pm).  Lunchtime recitals are free.
2.    Tour Buckingham Palace Summer State Rooms.
3.    Row on the Serpentine. 
4.    Be a groundling at the Globe. 
5.    Get Beautiful at Bliss Spa. 
6.    Get up early for Billingsgate Market. 
7.    Experience a Burlesque Show.
8.    Shop & drop at Bicester Village.
9.    Take a London Ghost or Jack the Ripper Walk. 
10.    Eat fish & chips in Brighton.
11.    Swim outdoors in the middle of Covent Garden.  Oasis Sports Centre.
12.    Stay late in a museum. Late night hours at the Tate or the V&A.
13.    See a show at the Young Vic. 
14.    Shop for posh stationary at Symthson. 
15.    Visit the Oxo Tower.
16.    Buy an umbrella at James Smith & Sons.
17.    Take an open bus tour at night.
18.    Visit the beautiful Kyoto Gardens in Holland Park. Holland Park tube
19.    Discover the Chelsea Physic Garden. 
20.    Discover Dover Street market.
21.    Get a membership and explore the British Library.
22.    Go to Edinburgh!
23.    Share a bottle of wine at Gordon’s.
24.    Breakfast at the Wolseley.
25.    Eat Vietnamese in Hackney's Huong-Viet.
26.    Dine in the dark at Dans le Noir.
27.    Experience the magic of Heston Blumenthal.
28.    Teach the Londoners how to make s’mores.
29.    Hunt down the Choc Star van. 
30.    Drink a cocktail at Loungelover. 
31.    Get hot and sweaty on a night out in Camden.
32.    Catch a gig at Ronnie Scott’s.
33.    Have a drink at the Routemaster in Shoreditch. 
34.    Chill at the Big Chill bar.
35.    Drink at the Notting Hill Arts Club. 
36.    See Bruno!
37.    Have a laugh and a pint in a Theatre Pub.
38.    Take in the view from Parliament Hill.
39.    Watch a movie and go for tea at the Charlotte Street Hotel. 
40.    Take in the view (& the food) at Gilgamesh. 
41.    Shop and eat brunch in Primrose Hill.
42.    Go to a first Thursday in Shoreditch.
43.    Climb to the top of the dome at St. Pauls.
44.   Get plant happy at Petersham Nurseries. 
45.   Try an Ostrich Burger at Borough Market.

"By seeing London, I have seen as much of life as the world can show."
Samuel Johnson

To join in the fun, leave a comment below!

Bahama Mama's

January is said to be the most depressing month of the year.  It rains, it snows, its cold and full of New Year's Resolution "don'ts" - which is why three of my favorite ladies and I pulled a New Year's DO and boarded jet planes from Boston, New York, Philly, and London bound for the Bahamas! 

With dreams of blue skies, clear sea, and pink sands dancing in our heads we headed to Cable Beach for four days of sun, sand, and drinks in our hand.  Our gorgeous resort, the Sheraton Nassau Beach, which was just renovated last year was our accommodation of choice for beach-side bliss. 

 From the moment we touched down, we spent our days: enjoying drinks at the beach side bars, making friends in the lobby, dining in the back garden at Cafe Matisse, dancing away at Senor Frogs, laying out and laughing on the shore, chowing down at "Anthony's", adventuring at Atlantis, sipping champagne at Aura, snorkeling and crusin in the Caribbean, busting a move at the Resort's Jazz club, being up to some no good girlie fun, and dining at the great Graycliff (which has hosted everyone from Winston Churchill and Lord Mountbatten to tycoon Aristotle Onassis, entertainers like Michael Caine, Paul Newman, Sean Connery and even the Beatles, as well as a roster of royalty). 

A  fabu girlie weekend, as the snaps do tell, that is sure to happen again next year!

2008 Social Season - Ho Ho Heung Viet

Before I launch into all of my 2009 posting, I musn't forget to post about our holiday dinner with our North London Crew.  With the credit crunch in full swing, we opted for a good value Vietnamese extravaganza at our favourite East London hole in the wall the Heung Viet. 

With long card tables and folding chairs, paper table clothes, and bare walls, you would probably think twice before eating at the Heung - but alas, we promise, the food and the fun to be had is not a reflection of the minimalism. 

Check out our Ho Ho Heung Viet Holiday Dinner here. 

Home for the Holidays, Hon

Nothing beats going home for the holidays!  Mike and I always pack on the miles (Baltimore, Hershey, DC, Baltimore, Harrisburg, Hershey, Reading, Baltimore, say what?) and we never have enough time with everyone.  But this trip home was definitely one of most fulfilling yet.  A HUGE NYLON thank you for all of you who made it memorable by:

• Introducing us to a White Trash Christmas on Hamden's 34th Street
• Treating us to food, food, and more food
• Hosting a bridal shower in my honor(exactly everything I hoped it would be!)
• Letting us currupt, I mean babysit, your three gorgeous ginger kids
• Allowing us to kick back and cheer for the E-A-G-L-E-S!
• Devouring cake with us during our Sugar Bakers cake tasting
• Showing us their awesome new home in Arlington
• Venturing out to the 'burg for a night on the town
• Lunching with us in Camp Hill
• Planning and making final wedding preparation for our April CELEBRATION in Bmore

Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose.  ~Wonder Years

A NYLON Thanksgiving: Take 2

Mike and I knew that last year's much blessed - and might I add - beautiful Thanksgiving meal was going to be tough to top.  But in 2008, like the last, we had so much to be thankful for and couldn't let it pass without at least an attempt for a celebration. 

This year, Mike's sister and brother-in-law joined us for a few days before the holiday.  Thanks Jen & Jeff for coming and enjoying roast chicken dinner and a night out at Ottolenghi - who says Thanksgiving needs to be celebrated on the day and with a turkey?

Also this year, we wanted to share some of our traditions with some of our LON friends.  So on Turkey day, we opened our home to about fifteen of our friends for Thanksgiving inspired canapes, PIES and America Football!  The feast included:

• Cranberry Kir Royale
• Spiked & Mulled Cider
• "Lindsay's Pennsylvania Pecan Pie" (my first!)
• "Tony's Washington Cherry Pie" (in honor of Mike's dad)
• "Whole Foods Perfect Pumpkin Pie"
• & Jen's "Amazingly Awesome Ice Cream Pumpkin Pie" (a huge hit from another NYLON friend, and now to be added into the traditional mix!)

We wrapped up Thanksgiving Week with our annual Thanksgiving Dinner at the Benson's.  Thanks to everyone who helped us celebrate all that we are thankful for!

Super Sushi

I found it!  The quest for super sushi in London has ended at a super secret sushi house. Mike has said I'm sworn to secrecy but I will tell you the fabushi can be found in EC1. Go find and seek!

Spring Awakening

For Mike and I, a trip home to the US of A is not only a crazy, fun multi-city adventure full of family and friends time but also a time for rest, relaxation and reflection.  The trip back for Easter was no different except it was the first time we would see anyone since we got engaged!  It was an amazing week kicked off by a fab engagement party thrown by my parents (thanks again M 'n D), a whirlwind tour of potential venues, and lots and lots of our favorite American foods (sushi, burgers, shamrock shakes, tapas, Yuengling, the list goes on but this isn't a food blog!). Yes, a big shout out to everyone who helped us completely over indulge.

Now, back in London we are on a serious pre-wedding diet (ok ok we have a year) and also on a mission to make our lives just a little bit easier by spring cleaning our routines and our closets.  And with that I'm also hoping to spruce up this blog with some new links, more entries, and fun fotos.  Watch this space!

From February Frenzy to March Madness

Have Groundhog, Valentines, and Leap Year all really passed me by?

Although short and sweet in days, February proved to be nothing but long and lavish in fun.

Mike and I continued our engagement excitement with our wonderful LON friends who are always up for a toast and some cheer.  As our month of celebration was slowly sipped away, we did make time to venture back to one of our favorite restaurants Locanda Locatelli, enjoy a whole week with NYLONer Leah of who with we had a Jude Law and Kirstin Dunst sighting (not together of course), made the rounds at some steller London pubs, and visited Camden Market on the day it burned down (narrowly missing when the fire started).

Apparently, we missed other natural disasters as well.  Since many of you have asked, no, we disappointedly did not feel the "earthquake" and for the first time in my life I have gone all winter without even seeing one snowflake!  Here's a throw-back snap from Mike and my first winter together and one from this month in Hampstead Heath - three years later - sans snowflakes! 

So although February packed a powerful punch, March is here and it is manic!  We can't wait for the arrival of Emmy and Jay this week nor can we wait for the week of Easter as we head home for 10 days of homegrown family and friend fun - oh and apparently some planning for the big "W", say what?