Tag Archives: antiques

Hot on the Highstreet Week 239

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I have been a West London girl for my entire life, but next week I move down South to Peckham. So to celebrate the highstreets of West London I thought I would post about a few of my favourite shops in this homely neighbourhood. I have focused on the Golborne Road and Portobello area, which has a host of hidden gems that will keep you occupied all day.

Erno Deco – This lovely shop specialises in affordable vintage design furniture and decorative collectable objects. We admired all the furniture in here, imagining it in our new home.

Ally Capellino – British designer of classic mens and womens bags and accessories. I loved the design pieces and timeless leather handbags.

Pedlars – Selling wonderful stuff for the home and the great outdoors, Pedlars’ varied stock ranges from pieces produced here in Britain to vintage items from across the globe.

Ollie & Bow – A dusty den of antiques where you can pick up bizaare and whimsical retro pieces for your home. You will get lost in the beautiful chaos.

Les Couilles Du Chien – Suppliers of unusual antiques and decorative items, I particularly liked the brightly coloured butterflies which would look radiant on the wall.

Look out for my South London shopping suggestions soon!

BOOK PREVIEW: A Fridge For A Picasso by John Jesse

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A Fridge for a Picasso is a highly entertaining autobiography which begins during the Blitz in London where John Jesse grew up under the same roof as Francis Bacon. He later attended experimental schools, joined the army, and subsequently studied Fine Art.

Swapping his Picasso for a fridge turns out to be the catalyst that inspires him to be a dealer and, in the early sixties, he sets up a stall in Portobello Market. Through a series of coincidences he becomes the first member of the trade to specialise in the then misunderstood and neglected style of Art Nouveau, inciting a passerby to hiss ‘How dare you lower the tone of Portobello Road!’ Undaunted, John Jesse soon moves on to an even more outrageous period: the 1920s which, at his suggestion, is given the name Art Deco. After two years he opens his gallery John Jesse on Kensington Church Street, which becomes a fashionable destination for pop idols, film stars and artists: Sir Paul McCartney, Luchino Visconti, Rudolf Nureyev, Elizabeth Taylor, Charles Handley-Read, Andy Warhol, Lucian Freud, Brad Pitt and even on one occasion Dame Edna Everage.

Often gaffe prone, he owns up to some hilarious amorous disasters, including provoking an unusual response from Germaine Greer when he attempts to play footsie with her under the table.

John Jesse treats life as an adventure; addicted to hunting for merchandise, buying at auctions, searching flea markets… always in the pursuit of style.

With dedication, hard work and his unerring eye for the obscure and unique, he establishes himself as a leading dealer of Twentieth Century Decorative Arts, becoming well known to collectors and museums worldwide.

The book is full of racy anecdotes and is richly illustrated with Jesse’s drawings and photographs of the wonderful pieces he unearthed and exhibited in his Notting Hill Gate gallery.

Pre-order A Fridge For A Picasso on Amazon here.

Author: John Jesse

ISBN: 978-0-9575568-8-1 Publication Date: 30th Sept 2014 Pages: 255
Type: Hardback
Size: 210x140mm
RPP: £15.00
Distributor: Central Books Muswell Press Ltd www.muswell-press.co.uk

Mari Vanna, Knightsbridge

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I am not a massive fan of Russian food, but I completely adored Mari Vanna, the ultimate Russian restaurant. Squeezed in amongst the towering glass apartments and designer outlets of Knightbridge, this crazy eatery is one of a kind.

This is the London addition to an existing Russian chain, welcomed to England after the success of the New York branch. We were instantly won over by the overwhelming collection of trinkets and memorabilia – clutter occupies even the stairs outside the venue. Mari Vanna, named after a fictional grandmother, hopes to make you feel at home, tucking you in amongst the darling ornaments. In an area populated by smart minimalist restaurants, this indulgent decoration is a lot of fun.

With every glance you spot a new detail, a china hen, an intriguing embroidered picture, a little trinket. It is a beautifully dreamy place, imaginative and thoughtful in every way, even the toilets are mad… filled with antique mirrors and photographs adorning the walls and a Russian story tape playing.

Sweet, dense rye bread arrived to kick off the feast, prettily presented with radishes, it tasted just as good as it looked. We happily munched as we soaked up the atmosphere and listened to the traditional lilting melodies from a wandering musician.

All alcohol is expensive, it is worth trying the vodka rather than wine. Cocktails are hit and miss, we tried the delicious fruity Oblepiha’s Dream (a passionfruit and vodka based short drink) and the very odd Sex on the Birch (gin, homemade cucumber & dill vodka, birch juice and fresh cucumber) this was an ominous and bitter clear liquid which made me wince at every sip.

The food is pricey, surprisingly so, considering the vintage cosy feel to the place, but considering the location, it sort of makes sense. The menu is traditional and some of what is on offer is definitely an ‘acquired’ taste, for native Russians reminiscing, I suspect. We opted for a mix of adventurous and ordinary recipes and delved into our tableful of delicacies. Starters were large: homemade vegetable salad was fresh and crunchy, aubergine caviar – a very flavoursome mush and courgette pancakes – moreish and salty. Pirogi (traditional Russian pastries) filled with beef and pork were scrumptious; warm and crumbly pastry filled with perfectly seasoned minced meat.

Mains were more familiar to me: Beef Stroganoff is a creamy classic which the UK is fond of recreating. My friend really enjoyed this authentic rendition with tender strips of beef, and a flavoursome, luxuriously smooth sauce. The dish was served with lovely buckwheat enhanced with wild mushrooms. My Baked Chicken with herbs is apparently a classic dish from the Caucasus Mountains, it was a simple but delicious dish, with a particularly nice spicy marinade; rich mashed potato was the ideal accompaniment.

The desserts (cakes and pastries), seem to be made predominantly from cream. We tried Honey Cake (thin layers of ultra-sweet sponge and cream) – our waiter insisted this was the best and it was good, but the Sour Cream Cake was even better, with utterly divine soft sponge, indulgent creamy fluffiness and topped with plump ripe berries.

Full marks for personality, charm and atmosphere. Russian food is a rarity in London, Mari Vanna ensure you will have a night to remember.

More information here.

http://www.marivanna.co.uk/