A TOUCH OF NEW YORK

On Tuesday, to celebrate an important step in one of ours career, we went for dinner in this lovely America Bistro in Covent Garden. The piano music accompanies the pleasant meal in the underground restaurant, making you feel totally in New York. I highly recommend the burger, which is not on the menu, which makes it even more special! xx Juls

A DIFFERENT RESTAURANT: SARASTRO

Are you looking for a new - fun place for your Saturday night? Look no further! We went to Sarastro during the weekend for an engagement dinner and it was a very nice experience. The dramatic look is typical of the area - Theatreland - and if you're lucky enough you'll catch a little band or someone singing opera! Really one of a kind! xx Juls

GO VEGETERIAN!

Last Friday I went all veg: a great dinner at Saf - great looking restaurant and bar in Curtain Road - Shoreditch. Using a variety of unique preparation techniques, most dishes are cooked below 48°C to preserve optimum nutrition and flavour. I shared a Tasting Plate, made of beetroot ravioli, vegetable maki, olives & spiced nuts, tapenade, sun dried tomato,cashew cheese with raw flax seed crackers and homemade pickles with my friend. As main course I had Lasagne, but obviously not the traditional ones, but with raw Bolognaise, sage pesto, olive relish, mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes and macadamia ricotta. The veg experience has never been so tasty!

Saf Restaurant & Bar152-154 Curtain Road Shoreditch London EC2A 3AT +44.20.76130007

RESTAURANT ORRERY MAYFAIR

Orrery is a French restaurant on Marylebone high street on top of the Conran shop. It actually belongs to Sir Terence Conran, as well as the Bluebird, Le coq d’argent, Cantina del ponte, l’Avenue etc…
They serve an excellent new French cuisine restaurant imagined by a one Michelin-starred chef. We chose a fantastic bottle of Bourgogne for only £45. The service is hopeless but the food is great from the amuse-bouche till the coffee biscuits. Btw, if you book with toptable, you can have dinner on a Saturday night for £25/pers. A nice place for an unusual romantic dinner. Lou

WEST END TIP - WESTBOURNE TAVERN

Am I the only one who suffers from "Sunday blues"? I know it is Tuesday today but there is no specific day to help people who share this disease with me.
Sunday, late afternoon, smells like the end of the week end, I decide to go to the Westbourne for a drink which do end up most of the time with a diner, balanced, fish and vegetables for me, rib-eye steak and French fries for my husband (you get why I keep saying boyfriend Juls? – sounds like I am 45). I am home at 8.15pm ready to wash my hair and then watch a dvd! Love it, Lou.

The Westbourne, 101 Westbourne Park Villas, London W2 5ED
http://thewestbourne.com/

Gourmet weekend

My weekend wasn't one of the most memorable in terms of activities (usual stuff Japanese lesson, pilates, rugby match...) but it was impressive for the food-related discoveries I made.

On Friday, on my way to meet my friends in a pub in Marylebone High Street I took the wrong street and I found myself in front of this little gem: The Golden Hind - Fish&Chips from 1914! I dragged my friends down and, despite it is very very busy, in 10 minutes we were seated (10 people!) and we had the most amazing meal for the cheapest price. This is definitely a hit!

Then on Saturday, not to lose the habit, we tried this charming gastro-pub on the corner of paul Street, near Old Street tube station. The atmosphere is cozy and the waiters are extremely kind (pretty unusual for a pub on a Saturday night). But the great surprise is the food: nicely presented and absolutely delicious! I had a chicken&mustard pie, which was delicate but tasty and totally fresh. I also had a pudding at the end (I normally don't!) which was chocolate-heaven.
xx Juls

KOREAN BBQ

Korean food is not as popular as Japanese or Chinese food and that’s a pity! It’s a very convivial atmosphere as you cook your meat and vegetables on the BBQ on the table. The quality of the meat is probably the most important factor in judging Korean BBQ, and beef is my favorite option because it is so tender, they cut the sirloin in very thin slices: delicious! Another positive thing, it’s not too expensive, £10 per person for the meat and £7 for 3 side dishes such as tofu, vegetables or rice. The most important to remember is that it’s certainly not the good option for a first date, cause of the smell of smoke she won’t let you come upstairs!!!! Lou

http://www.myungga.co.uk/

PIZZA EAST

I gotta feeling...... that tonight's gonna be a PIZZA night! Yuhu! after 48 hours of fruits I will loooove my pizza tonight at this amazing trendy new pizzeria in Shoreditch (obviously!)... Party of 4 after the InStyle Baftas British Talent party... right Lou?? xxJuls

Cause tonight gonna be a good good night!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tonight it's pizza time after a light lunch (Dailysford sausage sandwich...) Does that ring a bell?