Sensing Spaces, Royal Academy

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If you wander down Piccadilly this weekend you may see families clutching long coloured plastic straws, arty types streaming out from the Royal Academy where the eclectic and expansive Sensing Spaces is taking place. A fun, exploratory exhibition, this show is ideal for family outings or friendship groups wanting to get out and do ‘something cultural’ on their days off.

Sensing Spaces examines the power of structural devices. There are seven architectural practices from six countries: they take over the Academy galleries, occupying a massive 23,000 square feet, and present an epic assault course for visitors of all ages. The ambitious project is captivating and within minutes I felt lost among the walls, tunnels and stairs.

Visitors are immersed in the creations immediately. The first piece, a weirdly wonderful wooden sort of house is by Chilean-Argentine couple Pezo von Ellrichshausen. You are invitied to explore the structure, climbing the stairs and observing the gallery space from another viewpoint entirely. The coloured straw structure, perhaps my favourite exhibit, comes later. It is a chaotic bird’s nest of coloured branches; enthralled and concentrated visitors surround the magical cave making their own additions to the piece. It is the creation of Diebedo Francis Kere, an African artist who brings fun and playfulness to the exhibition.

There is also a maze of tree trunks by Li Xiaodong to get lost in, and a beautifully impressive concrete megastructure by Grafton to admire. I loved the accessibility of Sensing Spaces, there is no need to have an expert knowledge of art or architecture when visiting, you can switch off and let the structures guide you through.

A different and disorientating exhibition that will challenge your perceptions of architecture and space.

Continues until 6 April 2014, book here.

A night in Hackney

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Hackney is one of the most rapidly up and coming areas of London. I rarely have the chance to visit this part of town but was surprised to find it relatively easy to reach on the orange overground train. Despite the bad reputation for crime, Hackney has a huge amount to offer: innovative dining, a thriving arts scene and original, independent boutiques and cafes. I enjoyed an evening here, feeding my mind and body with an inspiring film and good food.

Watch… Hackney Picturehouse

Located in the centre of Hackney, this cinema has become an institution for watching art-house and mainstream films. With an independent exhibition space and a recommended restaurant, this venue ticks every box. The modern building has four screens, all extremely comfortable. We saw the subtle but moving film ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’, and particularly enjoyed the steep seating which makes the viewing experience far more dramatic and immersive.

Eat… Lardo

We enjoyed a fresh and flavoursome Italian feast at the friendly neighbourhood Lardo. The industrial-chic venue is always busy, though unlike a lot of cool eateries, bookings are taken! Pizzas are fired up in the open kitchen, homemade pastas are delectable and the charcuterie plates are unbelievably tasty. This restaurant is reason alone to trek to this East London location!

Drink… Railroad

This cute and cosy café offers deliciously creamy Square Mile coffee and great grub. Situated on the corner of Morning Lane, it is exactly halfway between Hackney Central and Homerton stations. I rushed in to retrieve a hot coffee before the film started.

Dance… Oslo

By day Oslo offers Scandi-inspired food, at night the venue cranks up the volume and provides a dance floor for the cool kids of Hackney. Oslo is found next door to Hackney Central Station, a newbie to this dynamic area. Drawing on a Nordic aesthetic, this exciting place serves top quality food and drink alongside a trendy music programme, you will hear the beat of Olso on the Hackney high street.

Ralph’s, Paris

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I have eaten a lot of burgers, in cities all over the world, but in my opinion Paris serves the best. The meat is juicier, the toppings are tastier and the frites are, of course, the finest.  This chic city continues to offer irresistible patties in every area, and the trend shows no sign of slowing. On my last trip I experienced the ultimate American in Paris moment dining at the exclusive Ralph Lauren restaurant, predictably named Ralph’s. Every aspect of this eatery echoes the style and sophistication of this world famous brand. After wandering round Rodin’s masterpieces at the nearby museum dedicated to the sculptor, we satiated our hunger with a sumptuous meal at Ralph’s.

Situated on the prestigious Boulevard Saint-Germain, in the 6th arrondissement, Ralph’s is in the middle of the renowned literary Latin Quarter. This is the designer’s second restaurant after his initial eatery in Chicago, RL Restaurant. From the exterior no-one would suspect a restaurant is inside, the store window was still and poised. We came upon a charming courtyard, filled with plants and tables and chairs with trendy tartan cushions, but still no one was to be seen or heard. We continued to a door on the left and here we were welcomed in by a well-dressed (delightful pink RL shirt), well-mannered and well-spoken member of staff.

A refined and relaxed dining room was filled with animated guests, it all felt very international. Aged brown leather booths, wood panelling and antique paintings give the feel of a country manor house… it is easy to forget you are in a city restaurant. Warm breadcrumbed olives and sparkling Bellinis arrived promptly, the best way to start any Sunday meal. On the menu there are five burger options (three beef, one tuna, one vegetarian), obviously I only had eyes for the meat and ordered the classic Ralph’s Burger. This consisted of a masterfully crafted patty of thick ground meat, soft sesame bun, onions, pickles, heirloom tomatoes, lettuce, dripping cheddar cheese and crispy bacon. All that and a side of American farmstead garden slaw and ranch style fries. The burger was aesthetically very pleasing, and thoughtfully constructed on the plate, a rainbow of ingredients. It was absolutely delicious. Often I find the tastiest burgers are also the sloppiest but this posh patty delivered without the mess!

Double RL Filet Mignon steak was served with sautéed spinach, homestyle mashed potatoes; an aromatic grilled garlic also decorated the plate. We were greedy and requested two sauces, crushed black pepper sauce and red wine sauce, it difficult to pick a favourite, needless to say we polished off both. The steak was cooked to perfection with an intense crispy edge and a tender melt-in-the-mouth fleshy centre. The accompanying mash was creamy and divine. The side of sautéed buttery green beans with specks of red chilli didn’t look very exciting but surprisingly were one of my favourite aspects of the meal, soft and irresistible – I will never look at this vegetable in the same way again!

Dessert could not live up to the glory of our main courses. Ralph’s Brownies with vanilla ice-cream and warm chocolate sauce satisfied a sweet craving but didn’t thrill. Petits Fours are far too Parisian for this American venue so instead a bowl of salted caramel popcorn arrived with tea and coffee. Ralph Lauren is known for beautiful clothes, but now every time I walk past one of the luxurious stores I will remember my perfect burger at Ralph’s in Paris.

More information and book a table here: ralphlaurenstgermain.com/en/#/lerestaurant

Thanks to the Paris Tourist Board, more information here.

parisinfo.com