Hot on the Highstreet Week 208

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“Life has returned to the area under the arches of the railway viaduct built in 1894 in Zürich West. A 550-yd-long urban meeting place invites you to stroll, shop, enjoy, eat and drink.”

In 2004 EM2N design firm (Mathias Muller and Daniel Niggli) won the competition to repurpose this beautiful 1894 railway viaduct. This unique shopping paradise has been created under the 36 viaduct arches, whose curving 500m length runs through the Industrie-Quartier and Kreis 5 district. It is a colourful mix of artisan delicatessens, studio galleries, sport and fashion boutiques open to the public to explore.  At the heart of it all is the food market where 20 farmers and food vendors from the area offer their wares. We enjoyed a delicious lunch at Markthalle: Spanish omelette and a speciality veal dish was accompanied with crusty bread and light sparkling Swiss fruit juice.

The design aspect is satisfying both from the exterior and the interior when you venture inside to explore the boutiques. There are more than 60 shops and design stores to explore. Several outlets caught my eye, I particularly loved the Senior Design Factory which sells creations made by senior citizens and offers you the chance to take part in knitting courses and workshops.

Spend an afternoon browsing the shops then head to nearby restaurant Rosso for thin-crust pizza, and Helsinki bar for a drink after. The perfect day in Zurich.

More information on Im Viadukt here.

Many thanks to the Swiss Tourist Board for the taking us on a wonderful walking tour of this area. More information here.

Matisse Cut-Outs, Tate Modern

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It is difficult to dislike the Matisse Cut-Outs exhibition. This expressive and colourful display of creativity and passion is currently livening up the white walls of Tate Modern.

This show features work from the final chapter of Matisse’s life. When the artist began to get ill in the 1940s, he became unable to paint and so swapped his brush for scissors initiating a new medium of paper cut-outs. After undergoing a crucial and risky operation in 1941, he felt he had been given another chance and a second life, explaining perhaps why his final works are so celebratory and liberated. He depicts subjects of wonder and fascination on both a small and huge scale.Although flat, the energetic shapes and patterns seem to create a magical depth and as you look longer the compositions appear more complex and the patterns become more intriguing.

I have always loved the work of Matisse, reminding me of long summers in the South of France, where I often saw his paintings in Nice or Vence. The collages are something I discovered later, but love equally, simple works but with an amazing ability to capture the imagination.

Every piece in this Tate Modern show exudes happiness… dancing figures and exotic creatures, beautiful shapes and joyful colours. We witness the artist’s studio layout, the decorative Oceania paper scene that covered the walls. The blue nudes are simple and classic, studies of the female form that work in tandem with Matisse’s earlier sculpted nudes, similar in pose and mood. The psychedelic Jazz prints are loud and humorous, depicting scenes from the circus and theatre.

Amazingly as Matisse grew older and his mobility became more limited, his technique seems to loosen and broaden… his final works show a surge in energy with a greater sense of movement and power. Bigger works such as the Snail are emotive and triumphant, he describes it as ‘abstraction rooted in reality’. The roughly torn pieces of paper are arranged in a playful spiral, the giant masterpiece manages to evoke a tiny creature.

Even now the shapes, shades and patterns remain imprinted on my memory. This is a cheerful and life-affirming collection of works, offering a colourful glimpse into the mind of Matisse.

Continues until 7th September 2014, book here.

Boom Burger, Portobello

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The burger craze seems to be unstoppable and now West London is muscling in on the action. With the Caribbean population hosting the Notting Hill  carnival every August, it seems fitting to find Boom Burger in Portobello. The place instantly exudes the laid back Caribbean vibe, with reggae music blasting from the speakers and a Jamaican reminiscent red, green and yellow sign. Inside, the place is little more than a takeaway cafe although the food very much proves its value to London’s most famous market street.

As I learnt on my trip to St Lucia and Grenada, rum punch is more popular than water as a refreshing thirst quencher. We were treated to Boom Burger’s version as an aperitif as soon as we sat down. Alongside the punch a deep maroon Sorrel (a Caribbean fruit) drink was less recognisable, I winced at the first sip but soon began to enjoy the acquired sour taste.

Greasy and delightful starters arrived in coloured plastic baskets… Jerk chicken wings coated in a thick aromatic spicy and salty marinade and soft and fragrant fish cakes. Both were delicious, though we particularly enjoyed the tender flavoursome wings – they would make the perfect snack to munch on while wandering round the stalls of the market.

As recommended we tried a Boom burger and a Jerk boom, a chicken variety with an exceptionally sweet mango and pawpaw sauce. Both were delicious and the meat was of noticeably fine quality. The beef was coarsely ground and assembled into a messy patty with sloppy melted cheese and bacon. The chicken was great too – a successful alternative to the classic beef burger, the contrast of the salty chicken and peppery rocket, fruity fried plantain and extra sweet sauce was a marvel.

It can be stressful trying to find a filling and flavoursome snack in a busy marketplace… Portobello sellers and buyers will be grateful for this top notch Caribbean burger shack.

More information here: boomburger.co.uk