... where I got engaged (literally right after I took this photograph!) after a walk looping from the castle to Aysgarth Falls and back.
Happy engagement anniversary, M!
Showing posts with label Great Britain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Great Britain. Show all posts
JUST BACK FROM... YORK
5TH MAY 2015
Before I get around to posting my guide to New York, here are some photographs from regular York, where I recently spent a night away to celebrate the one year anniversary of my aforementioned engagement.
LONDON: DIPPY, AND SOME RESTAURANTS
On a recent whistle-stop trip to The Natural History Museum (primarily to see Dippy - above) I was just as enamoured with the mosaiced floors as I was the exhibitions...
LONDON: SPRING 2015
...magnolia + shuttered white houses...
...myriad teas at Fortnum & Mason...
...a beautiful sycamore skeleton...
...hot pink camellias in bloom...
...a new (old) book about 1950s London...
...a new (old) book about 1950s London...
...the blue-grey roof of the Methodist Centre...
...another view of Bywater Street...
...dreamy books at Taschen...
...smile-inducing street names...
...Westminster Abbey at sunset...
...an elegant doorway...
...the Natural History Museum (I must visit Dippy before he goes on his merry way)...
...and the Palace of Westminster on a sunny lunchtime.
LONDON: BOOKS & FOOD
Two of my favourite activities are reading and eating, so I'm very easily excited by a bookshop and a good restaurant! Here are some that I've come across in London.
READING
Assouline (photo above)
My first visit to this French publishing house was in Paris, where my eyes were on stalks at the gorgeous, glossy coffee table tomes on fashion, lifestyle and travel. Last year Maison Assouline opened a UK branch on Piccaddilly; this time, my eyes were on 'The Spirit of Monte Carlo' and 'French Riviera: Living well was the best revenge'.
196a Piccadilly
W1J 9EY
Stanfords
The picture above does not do justice to the immense collection of travel books, magazines, maps and prints in this wonderful bookstore. The books are grouped by destination, and we're not just talking a measly shelf for each one - I could easily spend a whole day here. I bought a copy of Afar Magazine and a pop-up book on London.
12-14 Long Acre
Nr. Covent Garden, WC2E 9LP
EATING
Nopi
I have to admit, I visited Nopi because a) I'd seen an Instagram of the huge mound of fresh salads, b) it's in a handy location for shopping on Regent Street and c) I always think that Yottam Ottolenghi comes across a lovely guy in interviews and on TV.
I had lamb cutlets with sorrel pesto and vanilla chicory with roasted butternut squash, cardamom yoghurt and roasted pecans - I would never have thought to put these items together in one dish but all of the flavours complemented each other well. For dessert I had rhubarb Eton mess which didn't have the wow factor of the main, but was nevertheless a good way to round off a lovely meal.
The interior of the restaurant is also gorgeous - as above, the bathrooms are pretty amazing, if a little confusing when trying to exit!
21-22 Warwick Street
Soho W1B 5NE
nopi-restaurant.com
Polpo
So... Polpo has been open for several years now and I'm late to the party, but since I went to Venice and had some of the best meals of my life I am pretty enamoured with the concept of cicheti. I started with an Aperol spritz which was right on the mark (though I prefer how they come in Venice: in a large wine glass). I had crab arancini to start and liguini vongole for mains, followed by the flourless chocolate and hazelnut cake for dessert. That sounds like a lot of food, but the portions aren't gigantic and it was just the right amount of food to be able to continue shopping afterwards without falling asleep.
There are now other Polpos across London but Beak Street is the original, and you can read the story of how Polpo started at this location in the brilliant Polpo cookbook.
41 Beak Street
Soho, W1F 9SB
polpo.co.uk
Aubaine
Late last summer I had a very lovely meal at Aubaine: a chilled glass of Rose, squid, lime aioli and coriander to start, then the fish of the day - rainbow trout - with samphire. For dessert, the waiter brought over a trolley of treats and explained what each pretty little piece of patisserie was - I chose a passion fruit tart.
The meal was made even better by perfect service. It's not always fun as a solo diner, but I got just the right level of attention, and instead of being seated in a corner by the bathrooms I got a prime seat in front of the terrace.
260-262 Brompton Road
Brompton Cross, SW3 2AS
aubaine.co.uk
Click here to read my other London posts - and please let me know if you have any other good bookshop or restaurant recommendations up your sleeve!
DARLINGTON
Clervaux Artisan Bakery (photo above)
A bakery and cafe which prides itself on using organic produce home-grown at nearby Clow Beck Farm. The cafe is a lovely airy space and a great spot for a slow Saturday breakfast with the papers. I love their black pudding loaf!38 Coniscliffe Road, Darlington DL3 7RG
clervaux.org.uk
Houndgate Townhouse
This hotel with restaurant and bar has a gorgeous interior. It's a perfect place at any time of day: try the eggs benedict for breakfast, escape mid-shopping for a spot of stylish afternoon tea, or have a tipple at cocktail hour.
11 Houndgate, Darlington DL1 5RF
Robineau Patisserie
Superb chocolates, fantastical celebration cakes and delicious patisserie - their eclairs and macarons are to die for. There is a also a cafe with brasserie-style menu - it's like a little bit of France in the North East!
27 West Auckland Road, Darlington DL3 9EL
Delicious Mexican food (the best Latin food in the UK outside of London according to industry professionals) and great value. They do a mean dish of nachos with all the toppings, and the burritos and quesadillas are highly recommended.
84 Skinnergate, Darlington, DL3 7LX
The Cheese and Wine Shop
A recent discovery, this tiny shop tucked up one of Darlington's historic yards is a cheese lover's paradise. There are also specialty ales, chutneys, champagnes and lots of other foodies treats which would make a lovely bespoke hamper.
Eliza Blooms
Truly beautiful blooms, from the stunning flowers to the perfect blush pink paper wrapping, this florist stands out from the rest. Their ready-made wee bunches would make a lovely gift. Check out the website for details of seasonal floristry classes.
19 Duke Street, Darlington DL3 7RX
NORTH YORK MOORS: JULY 2014 - PART III
NORTH YORK MOORS: JULY 2014 - PART II
ROBIN HOOD'S BAY
The next part of our road-trip around the North York Moors began at Robin Hood's Bay, a quaint little smugglers cove between Whitby and Scarborough. I loved the rickety little fisherman's cottages hidden up secret alleys and the fact that, as well as having a beach perfect for exploring rock pools and hunting for fossils, it was quite green, with lots of trees, ferns and wildflowers. It's such an atmospheric place, and I think it would be even better on a stormy, blustery night, with the sea lapping at the slipway and the (imaginary) threat of pirates.
NORTH YORK MOORS: JULY 2014 - PART I
Anyone who knows me well will know that I am big fan of planning my holidays and trips away. I can spend hours meticulously researching where to stay, where to eat, what not to miss, the best modes of transport etc... as much as it's exciting to do this, it can all be a bit taxing on the old grey matter.
I really needed a break from any form of excessive planning so, for this summer's getaway, my fiancé and I decided on an itinerary-free road trip around the North York Moors. We had a window of about four days but set off with a 'let's go where the wind takes us' mentality.
LONDON: MAY 2014
The last time I wrote about London, I made a promise to myself that the next time I visited I had to venture further than my little happiness triangle consisting of the beauty counter in Liberty, the shops on Regent Street and the tea emporium at Fortnum & Mason.
LONDON
Even though I know that there are plenty of up-and-coming neighbourhoods in London, and that I should be scoping out new ground for travel writing projects, each time I visit the city I still seem to gravitate towards a handful of spots that I never tire of; places that are - eek - a little bit touristy.
Usually whenever I visit a place I try not to be that kind of traveller, but in London I just can't help it. I love to see proper pubs with hanging baskets, and get a little bit excited when I see an original Routemaster drive by.
