Tag Archives: London

London’s Best Shows

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As a singer, attending musical events and gigs in London is always top of my wish list but is often forgotten in favour of restaurant reviews. In the past few months I have prioritised performances and I’ve witnessed some phenomenal music and theatre.

Paul Simon and Sting – Paul Simon is one of my all-time favourite singers. His albums were the soundtrack to my childhood, and even now his songs remain top of my ‘most played’ list. When a rare opportunity arose to see him live at the O2, I jumped at it. He took to the stage with Sting and they shared an epic three hour set. It was a well-balanced evening of melancholy melodies and upbeat hits. The Sound of Silence was particularly memorable sung poignantly with only guitar at the front of the stage, and it was impossible not to dance when he performed the African-influenced songs from his album Graceland, complete with full band and gospel choir. Despite being seated in the cheapest seats at the top of the auditorium, I enjoyed every second of this momentous concert, Sting was surprisingly good too! If you ever get the chance to see this legendary man in concert I would recommend doing whatever you can to get hold of a ticket.

Alice in Wonderland – The Old Vic tunnels are a versatile space used for a range of theatrical projects and exhibitions. To celebrate the 150 year anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, Les Enfants Terribles have created an imaginative production cleverly transforming this mysterious space into an immersive land of curiosities. As the trains rumble above, you will forget the real world as you follow the whisper of books down the rabbit-hole to meet the Mad Hatter and all his friends. Due to vast popularity, the show has been extended so you can now book tickets until the end of August 2015. Book here.

Sweeney Todd – I almost found out too late about this Sondheim production at The Coliseum, which was only on for a few weeks in April. I am often sceptical about semi-staged shows but with a stellar cast including Bryn Terfel and Emma Thompson, I quickly felt involved in the production. The tickets (though pricey) sold instantly, so I queued up very early one morning to get myself a seat. Sitting on the front row, the singing was thrillingly chilling and the acting brilliantly intense. I hate horror films, but would never turn down the chance to see the demon barber of Fleet Street.

Brunch in London

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Brunch is no longer a meal enjoyed just at weekends. I have noticed that many men seem confused with the concept of combining two meals (breakfast and lunch) to one larger feed, but my girlfriends relish the opportunity to meet and chat over a lazy mid-morning feast. Brunch is cheaper than lunch, but more substantial than breakfast, it can be accompanied with healthy juice or decadent cocktails. In London there are numerous delicious, stylish venues to choose from, whatever the occasion there is a brunch hang-out to suit the event. I’m always on the look-out for new eateries that serve up a brilliant brunch; here are a few of my current favourites in the capital…

Blixen – Spitalfields’ newest brunch hang-out is ultra-sophisticated, a combination of Parisian charm and New York design. Upstairs, the smartly arranged dining room is pale-hued, clean and chic with a floorboarded ceiling, white-washed brick walls and plenty of natural daylight from the large windows. Downstairs there is a tiny cocktail bar which is popular in the evening. Chef Matt Greenwood has created a range of original and tempting dishes, spoilt for choice we chose three to share between two of us. I chose the tropical Good Times juice, an addictive combination of pear, pineapple and ginger. The bacon and fried egg sandwich with gem lettuce and tomato jam was a satisfying savoury option, or opt for Pancakes with blueberries and whipped crème fraiche if you fancy something sweet. Brunch for two – approx. £25.

Hotbox – this glam-rock restaurant serves up a mean brunch with optional unlimited Prosecco. Hotbox is an American BBQ specialist, offering plates of hearty fare and dangerously good morning cocktails. If Bloody Mary’s are your thing you’ll be pleased to discover there are five varieties at Hotbox. For food, Chicken Belgian Waffle is a must try, indulgent crispy salty chicken with freshly-made pillowy waffles and dripping in maple syrup with a sprinkle of truffle salt – it is the ultimate sweet’n’sour combination. I also loved the Mexican inspired Beef Rib Taco with smoked short rib, crispy shallots and chimichurri. Brunch for two – approx. £35.

Caravan, King’s Cross – this is my favourite meeting place for workday brunches. The huge industrial restaurant and roastery is part of the new developments at King’s Cross and is already very popular with the nearby businesses. There are plenty of simple, wooden tables to accommodate everyone, but be warned at weekends seats are scarce and reservations are essential. The coffee is top notch, the team roast small batches daily with the highest quality beans sourced from around the world. The menu is full of divine dishes, I can’t resist the Courgette and corn fritters with chilli jam, herbed feta and rocket. If you are feeling particularly hungry order a side of chorizo! Brunch for two – approx. £30.

Kitty Fisher’s, Shepherd’s Market

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Kitty Fisher’s is the restaurant of the moment, and I expected a clientele of a similar ilk to the social climbers and celebs at Chiltern Firehouse. But I was very wrong. This traditional and charming little restaurant is tucked away in the historic Shepherd’s Market in central London. The diners tend to be older and wiser, foodies who love fine cooking but don’t appreciate a paparazzi flash in the face.

Squeezing into our seats at this traditional and cosy restaurant, I was amazed by the boutique size of the venue. I quickly learnt about our neighbouring couple’s children and their holiday dilemmas. They were one course ahead of us, so conveniently we had a preview before our dinner. I overheard too, who the restaurant is named after – an infamous 18th century courtesan apparently.

The menu features modern British fare with a Spanish twist.  The eatery has a wood grill used for a number of the dishes and chef Tomos Parry illustrates his talent through bold and brilliant flavour combinations. The menu varies slightly depending on the seasonal produce available, though tends to feature hearty meat dishes involving indulgent ingredients.

My burrata was the meal highlight, a creamy white cheese, decorated with emerald green peas, delicate peapods and mint. The fresh flavours worked perfectly together, a lovely springtime plate of food. My dinner guest chose the Breaded Cornish mussels which were fragrant, light and delicious, and served with a wild garlic mayonnaise.

Ox cheek is a rich main course – slow cooked meat falling apart, a sticky caramelised edge and tender inside, it had a depth of flavour that comes from lengthy expert cooking. The meat was accompanied with champ (mashed potato and spring onion) a scrumptious combination, totally addictive. Beef Sirloin was a more standard British plate of food, cooked meticulously again and served with onion, pickled walnut, pink fir and tunworth. The thick potatoes were topped with an intense mustard and strong Tunworth cheese, it was all a bit overpowering, especially next to the delicious meat. Despite the hefty £6.50 pricetag, I decided on Blood Orange Sorbet for dessert. A refreshing and palate cleansing pudding, if a little simple.

With understated charm and historic allure, Kitty Fishers is the type of restaurant where you may see a famous face, but everyone is far too civilised to make a big fuss of it. A meal for two will be pricey and, although much of the food we tried was really tasty, I think there are some recipe improvements to make before this establishment completely deserves its cult status.

More information on Kitty Fisher’s here: www.kittyfishers.com