by | October 9, 2012

The Godiva chocolate legend

Lady Godiva

I needed reminding of the legend behind the Godiva Chocolatier empire in advance of visiting the brand’s stand-alone café in Harrods yesterday.  Before I admired the mouth-watering selection of Christmas treats at their press launch, I wanted to reacquaint myself with the story of Lady Godiva’s personal challenge.

a peek inside Godiva’s Royal Swarovski Box £150

As the wife of a ruling monarch in days of old (exactly when is vague), Lady G empathized with the taxing paying people and pleaded with her husband to reconsider his oppressive taxation.  Her husband responded with a challenge for her:  if she rode naked through the streets of Coventry and none of the locals sneaked a peek (by keeping their shutters shut), he would indeed lift the heavy tax.

The challenge was accepted and then completed successfully.  And the tax was lifted.  It was this passion that Joseph Draps, the creator of Godiva Chocolatier, based the name of his company in 1926.

Godiva’s beaded Christmas bauble (filled with chocolates)

A sweet story of some delicious chocolate.  I might keep my clothes on to enjoy mine though.

In April of this year, Godiva opened its first Godiva Chocolate Café in Europe at Harrods (2nd floor).  

 

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by | October 9, 2012

Honky Tonk Girls take on Maggie’s

Taking me aside, Girlfriend 1, in a barely audible whisper, confided in me.  She ‘needed’ to dance.  Could we possibly organise a girls night where we dance our socks off/let our hair down?  It sounded like a perfect plan.  Girlfriend 2 and 3 immediately agreed.  The date was set and then our husbands duly informed.

Honky Tonk cocktails

cocktails at Honky Tonk

Venue-wise, we were concerned; we all had slightly different music tastes.  And then I remembered Maggie’s, the 1980s inspired boutique club in the heart of Chelsea, owned by the same crowd as the wonderfully bonkers bar, Barts.  There wasn’t a girl amongst us who wouldn’t want to fling her arms up in the air as ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World’ fills this small, crowded, slightly sweaty basement bar.

80s team at Maggie’s Club

But arrangements were still somewhat up in the air.  As Maggie’s doesn’t open until 1030pm, we needed a cocktail hole to kick us off in the right direction.  A very helpful PR girl in-the-know recommended we paid a visit to the brand new bar and restaurant, Honky Tonk, minutes away from Maggie’s.  A New York themed restaurant (we ate Mac ‘n’ Cheese and Beef Ribs with Rosemary Fries) with some splendid cocktails, this brainchild of Mark Cutler, one of the founders of supperclub, is clearly going to be a winner in ‘Little Chelsea’.

As with all new venues, the team were just finding their feet but managed to look after us beautifully despite juggling the hords of Friday night drinkers.  And as we tottered down the Fulham Road in the pouring rain, we felt well and truly ready to go back in time.

Rubix Cube fun

The interior of Maggie’s is iconically 80s:  from the giant Rubik’s cube tables to Thatcher speeches broadcast in the loos.  The walls are lined with images from the A-Team figures to A-Ha platinum discs (there is even a photo of Neil Kinnock!) and the waitresses are dressed in neon leggings and permed wigs.

The crowd was mostly double-barreled and 100% pin-striped.  The drinks were ridiculously expensive and, after midnight, the crowds made it harder to get served.  But the music is wonderful and the atmosphere electric.  Every Rupert and Harriet is your new best friend, making it a great way to relive the Maggie decade.

Honky Tonk 6 Hollywood Road SW10

Maggie’s329-331 Fulham Road, SW10

 

 

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by | October 7, 2012

Chicken Shop rules the roost.

free range chickens on the bespoke rotisserie grill at Chicken Shop

When I married Him, I knew I was not only signing up for years of marital bliss but I was also subscribing for at least a chicken a week.  He loves his roast chickens in a way that only a meat-loving man can appreciate. And so, there was no question as to who should review, Chicken Shop, the recently opened Soho House Group restaurant, with me.

And I use the word ‘restaurant’ in the loosest form. Chicken Shop, unlike the other venues in the Soho House stable, is open to the general public and looks more like a 1950s American general store than anywhere one might private dine.

the interior of Chicken Shop

He and I were carless (or more accurately keyless due to some stupidity on my part) so we Hailo’ed our way to Kentish Town.  As we passed the, now renamed, HMV Forum, I reminded Him of our early-days dancing date there.  The sticky, bouncy dance floor followed by the no-sign-of-a-coat in the cloakroom made me smirk.  He was more interested in pointing out the rather handsome Victorian houses, lining our route.

crinkle chips at Chicken Shop

As we entered Chicken Shop, by the discrete entrance on Highgate Road, we were faced with our first glimpse of hipster heaven.  Think New York mixed with Shoreditch.  The ridiculously happy while super busy staff offered us a drink at the bar while we waited for our table to be ready.  There is a non-booking policy, but don’t fret, the beer is good.  Guiness, Birra Moretti, Camden Pale Ale (brewed just around the corner) is all served on draught at £2.50 for a half pint, or there are glasses of wine – ‘House’, ‘Decent’, or ‘Good’ (£4, £5 or £6).

The menu is up on the wall.  It’s optionless, brilliantly optionless:  chicken, chicken and more chicken.  Sides, enough for two, are equally brilliant:  coleslaw, chips and corn-on-the-cob (£8).

He was delighted and rated the chicken, chips and other sides very highly.  As a chicken-critic, you shouldn’t take this lightly.  We got messy and only talked in between mouthfuls.  That was until… the homemade apple pie moment.  The film American Pie has made/ruined that dessert, depending whether you ask Him or me.  But Chicken Shop has put apple pie (£4) back on the dessert map.  It’s spectacular and needs to be eaten half drowned in the cream on offer.

apple pie moment at Chicken Shop

In summary, He and Nick Jones would both vote roast chicken as their ultimate favourite meal – and I’d happily join either of them at Chicken Shop.

79 Highgate Road, NW5 (020 3310 2020, www.chickenshop.com)

Open Tues-Thurs 5pm-midnight, Fri-Sat 5pm-1am. About £60 for two.

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by | October 4, 2012

Should we Meep?

the Meep at its sweetie-laden launch

Stand back from the edge.  I bring news directly from the office of Mr Santa Claus.  Come Christmas season, your smalls are going to be asking for a new electronic gadget.  And, having played with it myself, I am going to make my first Christmas gift prediction for the forthcoming merry season.  Disregarding any Nintendo DSi or iTouch you may have previous bought your techy angels, their superhuman pester powers will now be focusing on Oregan Scientfic’s Meep.

other bloggers’ smalls at the launch (mine were at school)

The Meep is the new super cool tablet for small fingers.  Offering amazing apps, a parental-controlled secure access to the Internet and some ultra brilliant accessories (more of which later), my Smalls have felt that Christmas has indeed come early as they made themselves busy reviewing it for my readers.

recently launched Meep

The web-safety element particularly appealed to me.  Let’s face it, their generation can teach us how to play games and navigate new technology.  But I was sold on the idea that I could secretly vet the sites they can see, approve friend requests and prevent them from spending next month’s mortgage in the Meep shop – all from my Mac or iPhone.

The accessories aren’t quite on sale yet in the UK but I have my eye on the piano and drums for forthcoming birthdays….

And one final bonus, they may even reject your iPad back one of these days…

The Meep went on sale today at Oregon Scientific.

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