Tag Archives: burgers

A weekend in Paris

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I try to visit Paris twice a year, and each time I have a long list of places I want to see. I aim to create a balanced itinerary to include some art, fashion, shopping and always a lot of eating. Here’s my winter weekend round-up, a feast for the senses, in all respects.

To see

Book in advance to see the major exhibitions at the Grand Palais. We saw the stunning and comprehensive Braque retrospective. There is a fortnight left to see the dreamy La Renaissance et le Reve.

To snack

Odette is tucked around a corner near Notre Dame Cathedral. Serving cute cream puffs in a variety of flavours and colours, it is the perfect afternoon treat with a cup of tea.

L’arbre a cafe is known to be the top caffeine outlet in Paris. Rare and special coffee beans are used to make the very best espresso. Watch out though, opening times are slightly erratic.

To drink

Prescription is the sister bar to ECC (Experimental Cocktail Club) and the drinks are equally delectable and daring. Tell the barman your preferences and he will whip you up a suitable concoction, or choose from the creative list.

To shop

Merci is my favourite new shop in Paris. Not only is it design heaven with a selection of beautiful clothes, jewellery, homeware and perfume but this concept store gives all profits to charity.

To eat

Joel Robuchon’s two Michelin starred Atelier is the perfect place for Sunday lunch. Pick from the array of delicious dishes.

Blend makes top notch burgers, among the best I’ve ever tried… opt for the Melt burger with sloppy caramelised onions and Gruyere cheese and indulge with the crispy hand-cut fries.

To sleep

Hotel Pont Royal is a legendary literary hotel on the Left Bank, with accommodation that is immersed in tradition and charm. The perfect place for creative tourists wishing to explore the stylish area of Saint-Germain des Pres.

Take advantage of Eurostar’s sale here.

Thanks to the Paris Tourist Board, more information here.

parisinfo.com

Shake Shack, Covent Garden

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Shake Shack is a bit of a revolution in New York. It began life as a pop-up stall in a deserted park – without warning or expectation this hotdog, burger and shake company became a phenomenal craze. As in the case of other American successes (Victoria’s Secrets and Book of Mormon come to mind), the patience of the Brits has been rewarded and Covent Garden is now the proud home of Shake Shack, the London edition.

Shack Shake ambassador, Alexander Palma, took us instantly under his wing when we arrived early on a Monday evening at the already growing queue. Mentioning that time was tight, Alex took the liberty of organising for us the best Shake Shack can offer. The menu is short and slick, split into various categories: burgers, flat-top dogs, fries, frozen custard, drinks and woof (treats for those with four feet!). A half-pint of ShackMeister Ale, brewed exclusively by Brooklyn Brewery, refreshed us as we sat on the breezy piazza. Minutes later a tray of meaty delights was delivered. I’m embarrassed to admit how much we tried, but amazingly these addictive fast food recipes manage to remain relatively light. All the burgers are great (yes we did try them all): the ShackBurger costs a reasonable £5 and is the simplest on offer, the SmokeShack has additional Wiltshire cure smoked bacon and chopped cherry pepper (the sweet smoky flavour made this one our favourite), and for vegetarians a very tasty, crispy fried ShroomBurger is available. Shake Shack proudly use the best British produce despite this causing a variation in flavour from the New York original. Tidy eaters will be pleased to hear that these burgers aren’t overly sloppy, but compactly assembled and all with the signature ShackSauce. Flat-hot dogs are surprisingly delicious too, the best of which comprises a cumberland sausage, cheese sauce and crispy marinated shallots. Fries are particularly stylish and unique – pretty crinkle cut potatoes, crispy and crunchy and a pleasant change from the norm.

For dessert, Shake Shack offers ‘Concretes’ – dense frozen custard ice cream blended at speed with mix-ins. It is quite simply the best idea ever, as the taste proves. Creamy, lusciously soft homemade ice-cream is adorned with indulgently naughty additions. One piece of advice… go for sticky toffee: vanilla custard, chocolate toffee, Paul A. Young chocolate chunks, salted caramel sauce and malt powder are a winning combination.

I don’t want to know how many calories I consumed at Shake Shack, but who cares when it tastes this good?

More information here : www.shakeshack.com/location/london-covent-garden/