Wine tasting with d'Anjou wines

Mission: Covert operation to infiltrate a hipster hotspot, then sample delicious Rosé.

 

  

Brief: Travel across London in rush hour, navigate the Bermuda Triangle Old Street Roundabout, infiltrate a popular Shoreditch hipster hangout, try a variety of delicate d'Anjou Rosé  flavours with a knowledgeable air and create a designer kebab that didn't poison anyone. Including ourselves.

 

Team: Major Mandy (codename Emm in London), Canadian Mountie Melissa (codename Wanderlust) and I comprised the self titled 'Majestics'. Our backup wingman was the lovely Rosie of A Little Lusciousness who seconded to another battalion for the evening.

Urban Battlefield: The Queen of Hoxton, nestled in the bohemian hub of Shoreditch. Based on our recon of the perimeter, the ground floor is a funky drinking establishment full of beautifully dressed party people, beards, skinny jeans and pinball machines, The internal staircase is bedecked in very cool urban artwork graffiti designer iconography by Jamie Burbidge and Animaux Circus. The rooftop, our venue, is normally home in the evening to cinema goers wrapped in blankets and sheathed in headphones to protect the neighbours from noise.

 

Supplies Team: Loire Valley Wines and the Queen of Hoxton's catering team (led by head chef Daniel Ashley), with proceedings hosted suavely and hilariously by sommelier extraordinaire Douglas of Intoxicating Prose.  

Action Synopsis: As soon as the assignment hit my inbox I knew - as a former publican, blog addict and attempted-foodie - that the evening would be fraught with scenarios to test any ninja skills learnt through the last few years. We began by testing their canapés (aka an amused waiter presenting us with trays of delicious hors d'oeuvres to photo first, then eat; we are bloggers after all) piping fresh from their roof top barbeque. All delicious, damn them. They weren't going to make imitating the hipster vibe easy.

 

Douglas guided us through a 'how to' taste testing of 5 beautiful Rosé wines featuring flavours as varying as watermelon, blackberry, watermelon and a hint of mushroom (as nominated scribe aka the rest of us were too busy sipping), Mandy took fantastic tasting notes). My favourite was the all-rounder British classic 2013 La Grille Rosé d’Anjou. Fresh, soft and featuring berry notes it would be a perfect summer evening wine.

 

We were subsequently initiated into the path of camouflaging ordinary food as beautifully crafted dishes by Paul Winch-Furness (aka a Foodie photography masterclass) who discussed current trends, techniques that he prefers and answering a multitude of questions about light.  

 

Then, to the penultimate task of the evening - designer kebab creation. Presented with a table full of delicious ingredients, this wasn't to be a normal 'rustle-through-the-fridge' kebab, but a construction of flavour, texture and blogger competitiveness.

 

Our kebab was delicious if we do say ourselves. Alternating layers of juicy scallops, tuna, mango and courgette, flash marinated in fresh ginger, coriander, lime, mango chutney and a touch of chilli.

 

 

While they sizzled on the rooftop BBQ along with the other kebab constructions, we sat down to a sharing platter fit for kings. And ninjas. Our kebabs were presented sizzling hot, then we tucked into a collection of delicious desserts, nervously awaiting the judging results.

Drumroll please.... we came a surprising second. A shocked cheer, and ignoring the temptation of a teary Gwennie speech thanking Daniel for his help (we could have won if we were braver with the ginger) we made our way home with a hamper containing two bottles of delectable Rosé for further recipe development.

 

Personally, with such lovely delicate flavours, I don't think the wines need anything fancy, just a sunny afternoon, well stocked hamper and beautiful botanical gardens in which to enjoy them. That's my recipe. Sun + hamper + garden + Rosé. Or a repeat visit to the Queen of Hoxton to select another mixed platter. Perfection.

 

Debrief: Mission considered a success; Hoxton successfully conquered without any undue notice from the natives.

 

Twitter | Google+ | Facebook | Bloglovin' | Email

I never knew that about the English: Book Review

England is a wonderful, culturally diverse, teeny tiny country. From the Geordies lasses, to Chelsea boys there a so very many tribes that live up and down this island, each with their very own dialects, traditions and some bizarre festivals - cheese rolling and morris dancing for instance. I love them all.

 

 

In many ways this blog is a (very very blathering) expression of things I never knew about the English; this obsession with tea, the whole kissing dilemma and Tube etiquette (though I have a suspicion that I will never understand why there are never any street signs...)

 

For everything else on a regional level thankfully there is 'I never knew that about the English' by Christopher Winn. It's a proper loo book, one that you can pick up whenever you have a spare moment or two and absolutely brims with delightful facts. Organised by geography rather than chronology, it holds lovely facts such as William Lee invented England's first industrial machine so his sweetheart could spend less time knitting and more time with him. Bless.

 

Read this and you need never chat about the weather again as a way to pass the awkward moments with your British workmates... well, no that's actually not true. You'll always have the weather, but at least you can gently guide the conversation towards more random topics..

 

As a wee side note I feel like I've just cracked my literary knuckles having not done a proper book review in an age. It's not that I haven't been reading, I've just been struggling to find the time to sit down and think about what I read. True story..

 

Twitter | Google+ | Facebook | Bloglovin' | Email

Kenwood House, Hampstead Heath

Astoundingly many of London's quirkiest and most beautiful attractions won't cost you a penny. Free (both in a fiscal and tour sense) to wander through and admire, the incredible Kenwood House is nestled in one of the far corners of Hampstead Heath and needs to be added to your must visit list.  

Kenwood House, on the edge of London’s Hampstead Heath, was remodelled and extended by the Scottish architect Robert Adam for William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield, from 1764 to 1779.

 

 

We (Jess and I) arrived in the middle of a gloriously sunny day, after a wander through the winding paths of Hampstead Heath, our original choice of visiting a historical house in Greenwich vetoed due to closures. I'm actually so pleased that it was.

 

 

Not having any expectations (or having done any research other than a flurry of late-night googling), we discovered that the recently renovated rooms of Kenwood are simply stunning. Mouths agape, and cameras ready for some serious shutter-work, we must have spent around 1.5 hours just wandering and admiring.

 

 

The main entrance is rather more humble than it's ostentations Roman columns but...

 

 

The interiors designed by Adam include some of his finest surviving schemes, particularly the ‘Great Room’ or library.

 

 

Every detail of the house is sumptuous. I particularly adored the library (above) and the craftsmanship of the smaller, more innocuous details - iron tracery stair railings, filigree door handles, tassled lights, sets of furniture with matching lion heads... it's a veritable feast for the senses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

After Kenwood’s original contents were sold in 1922 the house and grounds were bought by Edward Cecil Guinness, 1st Earl of Iveagh, who in 1927 bequeathed his outstanding collection of paintings to the nation.

 

 

Adorning the walls are stunning portraits (including the original punk fashionista), incredible frameworks and even a collection of shoe buckles (putting Big Bang Theorys Howard Wolowitz's collection of belt buckles to shame)

 

 

Outside, life was milking stools at dawn, and afternoon teas with the ladies in the nearby dairy...

 

 

Then, as ever onwards to the cake. Even that's ridiculously cool. Yep, I think I could live there if I had to...

 

 

 

 

Now, my only question is how to get my ceilings at home looking more like this...

 

 

Twitter | Google+ | Facebook | Bloglovin' | Email

The Best London Parks & Gardens for...

...behaving like a pirate/shouting Jaws references - and the winner is Regent's Park.

 

 

 

...discovering fairies and elves - and the winner is Kensington Gardens.

 

  

...hang out in a world famous secret garden - and the winner is Great Maytham Hall.

 

  

...go for a chilly refreshing swim - and the winner is Hampstead Heath.

 

  

...having tea with the Queen - and the winner is Buckingham Palace Gardens.

 

 

 

...finding spelling mistakes, paella & giant charity eggs occasionally - and the winner is Covent Garden.

 

 

 

...sipping sensational botanical G&Ts - and the winner is Kew Gardens.

 

 

 

...play cricket against deer - and the winner is Bushy Park

 

 

...commuter paradise - and the winner is Finchley Central Tube Station

 

 

 ...float under a castle and listen to monkeys call - and the winner is Regents Park/The Grand Canal.

 

 

...making friends with peacocks - Holland Park.

 

 

...find a loo fit for a Queen - and the winner is the V&A.

 

 

  

...tracking down London Kiwis on a sunny day eating guilt free ice cream - and the winner is my garden!

 

 

I've yet to explore the best for chatting up birds (aka the Barnes wildlife centre), getting upside down in (Brentford memorial garden) or the best roof top garden.  

 

What's your favourite - London or internationally?

 

Twitter | Google+ | Facebook | Bloglovin' | Email

Friday figments and photos

Summer's here! (And the time is right for dancin' in the street!!)