Focus pull

Hmm, so you may have noticed that the useful drinking, eating and general stuff posts stopped a while ago...
Well, m'lud I'm afraid I got myself with child, and didn't really want to do anything for three months.

But I'm back now - with a bit more energy and a mildly obsessive interest in well priced, stylish maternity clothes and good non alcoholic drinks. So I'll be back very soon with some good tips (I hope) but in the meantime am off to go camping, while I still only take up a single mattress...

Askhat x

Partisan London delights part 1

Dear Askhat.com,

I want to check out London--any suggestions on where to go or not to go?

Yours,

Karen, San Francisco

Dear Karen,

Blimey! Now this is a bit of a wide open question on first glance, but I do know you are a writer, so I'll try and get some literary delights in, but frankly this is a perfect chance to list some of my favorite London things! In fact, I'll have to split this post otherwise I'll give away all my favorite places in one go. So I'll start with food/drink and entertainment - culture, shopping and oddities as well as places to avoid to will follow soon...

Food:

Canteen (any branch) http://www.canteen.co.uk/

I love this modern british all day restaurant. Friendly staff, lovely designed spaces and the simple but wide ranging choices make this a winner for me. Pop in for a bacon sarnie in the morning, or a pie of the day at lunchtime or a toasted muffin and pot of tea tea for teatime!

Morgan M: http://www.morganm.com/

This is my very, very favorite and extremely special restaurant. The chef used to work at Admiralty at Somerset House, which I have a soft spot for on account of it being where I met the husband, on an ice rink. Anyway we had such an extraordinary meal at Admiralty that when I heard the chef had moved, I stalked him. Obviously. So when he opened his own place, in Islington, we went there for the husband's birthday. It was fantastic - each course a delight, the matched wines just right and the ambience and service incredibly special. If you're in the mood for a wondrous splurge then this is the place.

Patisserie Valerie and Konditor and Cook :

http://www.patisserie-valerie.co.uk/
http://www.konditorandcook.com/

Pat Val is a Soho stalwart - windows of elegantly tiered cakes to ooh and ahh over and the home of many a gossip filled, calorie laden half hour. Pat Val wins on the proper French pastries and old fashioned waitresses. I personally prefer the cake from Konditor and Cook (it's the only place I've bought a cake for a family birthday if I didn't have time to make my own) but there aren't so many sit down versions of K and C...


Drinks and Dancing

Claridges Bar. (Bond St tube) http://www.claridges.co.uk/

Now this I love, partly because the staff are SO charming, and partly because the glorious art deco toilets are marvellous. I began a rather elegant hen night for a friend, at the bar here, and by the time we left the delightful bar man had given us all one of the Claridges velvety red roses and fended off the overexcited hotel guest who'd tried to give us his room number. The drinks are good too, but that's not the main reason for going there for me. Wear your best "oh this old thing" understanded glamour, grab a table and watch the eurotrash and mayfair locals while drinking a perfect champagne cocktail.

Also does a great afternoon tea

Gordon's wine bar (Charing Cross) http://www.gordonswinebar.com

Whatever your intentions are, I've never ever left here and not been roaring drunk. Great fun in summer and winter and unlike anywhere else.

"Ain't nothing but the blues" Kingly Street, W1B (nearest tube Oxford Circus)

Don't go here if you want to stay sober, avoid strangers or have an aversion to standing so close to strangers that you can smell the soap powder they use on their underwear. Do go here if you like live blues music, enjoy meeting new people and discovering the special time shift which a good night has - of turning 10 pm into 3 am in a mere nano second.

Rivoli Ballroom:

This is a place rather than a night and with it's red and gold decor, properly sprung dance floor and ladies powder rooms you'll feel like you're in a film. And the Rivoli has been on screen more often that most - music videos, films, photoshoots and tv series have all used the Rivoli's athmospheric glamour as a backdrop.Nights include swing dancing, salsa and all kinds of dressed up, super ott nights which are great for imagining yourself in a different era.

Classic Pub:

I like a pub with a fire. I like anywhere with a fire really but for a classic pub I think you need one. Also wood panelling and slightly ropy looking bar stools and an old man and a dog in a corner. Now most god pubs have become gastro pubs, which are nice, but not the same, so trying to give you a classic pub is hard. So here are two good options - and dear readers , do please add your own suggestions.

The Angel, Rotherhithe. http://www.pubs.com/pub_details.cfm?ID=263

A pub with a view over the river thames, in a slightly unsalubrious part of London and a whole heap of history (the mayflower left from hereabouts) has got to be a london classic. Fire? Check. Wood Panelling? Check. Tiny rooms, tiny balcony over river and large beer garden on the riverside? Double checked...

The Coach and Horses, Greek St:

This is a true Soho pub - a mix of anyones, no-ones and well knowns all squashed in together to have a drink. The fun is in the crowd - don't expect bar snack, or great drinks but enjoy the people watching.


I know there are lots more that I'll remember as soon as I've posted, but hopefully these will do for now.


Yours in Londonness,

AskHat

Kings Cross for Foodies

Dear Askhat.com,

I'm meeting an friend, an elegant film lawyer, for supper next week. We need to be around Kings Cross and don't want to go anywhere too fancy but neither do we want a dive. Can you recommend some suitable places to eat that are easy on the pocket, but stylish enough to impress?

Love

Askhat's Dad

Dear Dad,

You're in luck - the new King's Hall/Guardian/general regeneration of Kings cross has thrown up some interesting places and here are my top tips for a relaxed night of dinner and conversation:

Spanish Tapas

Camino - 3 Varnishers Yard, Regents Quarter, King's Cross, N1 9FD: www.camino.uk.com

Gastropub

The Norfolk Arms, 28 Leigh Street, Bloomsbury, WC1H 9EP: www.norfolkarms.co.uk

Eco Gastropub with super-locally sourced food.

Konstam, 2 Acton Street, King's Cross, WC1X 9NA: www.konstam.co.uk


If you did want to push the boat out - then the place to be would have to be the St Pancras Grand in the station itself. Home of the longest champagne bar in Europe - the food aint bad either and it would be a glamorous place to meet and eat if money is no object...

Old fashioned glamour

St Pancras Grand, St Pancras Grand
St Pancras International
Upper Concourse
London
NW1 9QP

http://www.searcys.co.uk/stpancrasgrand/109/restaurant/


Hope this helps,

Love

Askhat.com

Baby it's cold inside...

Yes - as the old song goes - it's cold outside, but what it doesn't mention is that it's also pretty parky inside as well - especially if you work from home. No-one's going to see you, but I always stick to my rule of getting properly dressed. However, being properly dressed can leave you feeling chilly, and layering up at the laptop is a key skill (although nothing seems to keep my hands warm - indoor typing gloves anyone?). So, for extra cosiness - an overgarment is required - and I have been on a two year (at least) search for the perfect item. Dressing gowns don't work - you don't feel professional, even if you're fully dressed underneath and a coat indoors - just wrong. Big cardigans are good - but so far, I've never found one quite big enough that isn't too bulky as well...and then I found the cardigown...

Ladies and gentlemen - it's soft, it's warm, doesn't constrict your movment, it's long but not too long and is part angora! Suffice to say, I'm now in homeworker heaven and even better, I got my cardigown half price in the sale. Mine was from Hush, but Toast, Pyjama Room and the White Company have similar(ish) items.

And don't forget your feet - cold feet make the rest of you feel chilly too - and I favour falke slipper socks over the ubiquitous uggs. They may make you look like something out of asterix and obelix, but they do keep your tootsies toasty.


http://www.hush-uk.com
http://www.thewhitecompany.com
http://www.toast.co.uk
http://www.pyjamaroom.com/

http://www.lastfootwear.com/product.php?id=87&catid=-1&scatid=-1

Askhat.com

I'm dreaming of a wifi Christmas

I used to work at a office based in Soho, and had a very enlightened boss who when it got to December, would let my department take our lunch hour at any time, so we could do our Christmas shopping in the non peak times. It was bliss - you could pop out at 11 and get a few presents and there would be no-one else around. Times have moved on, and I've never had it so easy since. However, recently my shopping woes have been put in perspective. I have a lot of friends with small children - and if you think it's hard to do your Christmas shopping solo, but tied to nine-to five office hours, imagine trying it with a large wailing, wriggling bundle as well. Thought so....

So what are the alternatives? Internet shopping is easy, but can be very - well - boring, dare I say it... Amazon or John Lewis online is fine, but it's not the same as rootling through those little shops you keep secret, finding the perfect thing for that difficult to please friend or relative is it? But all is not lost - now some of the best and quirkiest items are on the web - and here's a line up of my top websites to shop at when you can't get out of the house...

Ho ho ho

http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/

http://www.etsy.com/

http://www.littlebabycompany.com/default.asp

http://www.retrosixty.co.uk/index.html

http://www.coxandcox.co.uk/

http://www.toast.co.uk/

http://www.pedlars.co.uk/

local questions for local people

As this is a blog - I thought I should really reference some of the blogs that I get my questions answered - at least some of the local ones! So this isn't really a question - but hopefully you might find these blogs of interest too:

http://brockleycentral.blogspot.com/

http://transpont.blogspot.com/

http://thedeptfordgirl.blogspot.com/

http://www.weebirdy.com/

and this one - I just like...

http://www.ninakatchadourian.com/languagetranslation/sortedbooks.php

Next post will be about the daily emails that really do give you info you want - worth signing up for...

askhat

Kitchen crisis

Dear AskHat,


Where do I buy a new tap for the kitchen sink from? Ours is either full on splash or off..nothing inbetween! (you know about things like taps don’t you?!!)

D

Dear D,

Taps are surprising expensive, and I assume you want a mixer tap? If you're going to change it you could go wild and get either a quooker tap as well - which replaces the need for a kettle (and is eco friendly) or one that gives you filter drinking water as well or a spray tap, which you can use to wash down the sink etc as it has a removable head. Try some of these places below - as well as the usual John Lewis, Band Q etc who are often a v good place to get these things from. Avoid magnet /mfi etc as they are wildly overpriced and you might find something good at a local buildings merchant - we've got two good ones near us - sids bathrooms, and he olby which are used by pros and diy'ers alike...

http://www.tapstore.com
http://www.heolby.com/
http://www.quooker.com/
http://www.sink-shop.com/category-71-Pull_out_Spray_Taps.aspx