Royal Wedding Scone Baking Workshop - How Very English!

To coincide and celebrate the Royal Wedding of the decade (you know the one), Blackheath Cooks have been running free scone baking workshops.What a delight! I cannot recall the last time I made scones so I couldn't resist the opportunity to put my memory and cooking skills to the test.

The Finished Article: Tea and Scones, a perfect
combination

Blackheath Cooks opened in December 2010 and doubles up as a shop selling the latest culinary gadgets at the front with a practical work kitchen at the back.

Blackheath Cooks Shop

Blackheath Cooks is owned and run by the lovely Joy Neal who is responsible for Munchkins Kids Cooking, set up to get kids excited about eating healthily.
Upon entering the shop, the warm waft of cupcakes and scones fills the air and immediately you know you are not going to leave disappointed.
Today's class has 8 participants which is just the right number; everyone has enough workspace.
Joy breaks the ice by getting us to introduce each other and to reveal how much we know about scones and making them.
We learn that in fact, the Women's Institute stipulate that there are only 3 constituent parts to scones:
1) Flour
2) Butter
3) Milk
We also discover that the Women's Institute are very strict about the cutters that are used for scones;
Fluted for those that contain fruit (i.e. raisins,sultanas) Round for those that are plain and Triangle for cheese scones.

However, we decide to live life in the fast lane and break a few rules.It is all about having fun after all!
Joy starts by giving us a very thorough demonstration on how to make the scone mix and although she has done this 3 times already in the past 24 hours, she maintains her enthusiasm and makes the task look very easy. She describes the texture and consistency to be achieved at different steps and carefully alludes to the quantities to be added during certain stages of the preparation.
When she puts her scones in the oven, it is over to her "trainees" to have a go!
Blackheath Cooks' mission is "Putting the fun back into cooking" and they very easily succeed. I really enjoyed the atmosphere in the class; it's informative, delivered in a friendly and professional style. There is no stuffiness that you may experience from some culinary courses and you feel that you are there to really enjoy and embrace the experience. This is of course helped by the good nature and humour of Joy and Alice. They are extremely approachable and always available to provide advice and tips during the workshop.

I made Fruit Scones and here is how:

Ingredients:
225g of Self Raising Flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon butter
150ml cold milk
1 tablespoon caster sugar
100g raisins or sultanas or dried cranberries
1 egg to glaze the tops

Portion Control:
Serves 8

Method:
1) Measure the flour into a large mixing bowl
2) Add the butter and use your fingers to rub the butter into the flour until it disappears
3) Stir in the sugar and raisins or dried fruit
4) Pour the milk into the dry ingredients stirring with a fork until you have a soft dough. You may not need all the milk and you want to achieve a sticky consistency.
5) Very gently press the dough together, touching it as little as possible (if you touch it too much, the scones turn out hard and chewy)
6) Gently roll the dough out to the thickness of 2 fingers (about 5-8 cm) with a rolling pin dusted in flour (if necessary), and use a fluted cutter to carve out 8 scones.

Joy's scones served with jam and cream

7) Place the scones on a greased or lined baking tray, brush the tops with beaten egg (add some some salt to the beaten egg to ensure the wash does not become too stringy)
8) Bake in a pre-heated oven at 200 degrees Celcius for 10-12 minutes until they are golden brown and sound hollow on tapping the bottom.

While we wait for our scones to bake,we sample scones pre-baked by Joy. No doubt about it! Scones taste best when they are fresh out of the oven; crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside. Joy and her team generously serve us tea and coffee while we tuck into the scones and smother them in jam and cream.
Apparently there are even regional differences between how scones are taken in the UK; in Cornwall it is butter, then jam, then Cornish clotted cream,while in Devon it is strawberry jam and clotted cream only.
I'm quite content to have my fruit scones just with jam.
For presentation purposes, the Women's Institute recommend that flour should be dusted over the scones, but Joy uses icing sugar - I think this is a much better idea and gives a sweeter taste.

My fruit scones - fresh out of the oven

Once we have finished nibbling away at the tasty treats, it is time to check the oven and low and behold, mine are ready to be taken out. It just takes a few minutes for the scones to cool down and we can take them away. It is going to be such hard work eating all these scones, but I'm prepared to give it my best shot!

For the savoury option, you can make Cheese and Herb scones, omitting sugar and replacing the fruit with a generous handful of grated cheese (Mature Cheddar or Emmental). Add a couple of tablespoons of Basil or Chives for the herbs element.
Blackheath Cooks has a range of cookery courses from "Simple Suppers" to "Foodie Fridays" and it is a great way to refine or harness a skill, pick up handy tips and meet people who have similar foodie interests.

Who knows, I may even be tempted by the cupcake making class, (their most popular class), that way I could cross off number 6 on my Food and Drink Wish List.

I would like to extend my thanks to Joy and the team for providing such a fun class!

To find out more information or to book a class, visit
http://www.blackheathcooks.com/index.php

Aprons and refreshments are provided and you don't even have to do the washing up!
Enjoy!
x

Spicy Chicken Salad with Coriander, Mint and Noodles

We have been spoiled with the long hot sunny days recently and during the warmer periods, there is nothing better than cooling down with a fresh, tasty, zingy salad to treat our taste buds.

The ingredient list may be lengthy but it is so easy to make!

Spicy Chicken Salad with Coriander, Mint & Noodles

Portion Control:
Serves 4

Ingredients:
450g/1lb skinless chicken breast fillets
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1 teaspoon of medium curry powder
1 tablespoon of muscovado sugar
2 tablespoons of dark soy sauce
2 tablespoons of shredded fresh basil
2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
100g of vermicelli (rice) noodles
1/2 red onion, chopped very finely
large handful of fresh coriander leaves
large handful of fresh mint leaves
50g of mixed baby salad leaves
1 red pepper, cored, seeded and cut into fine strips


For the Dressing:
2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons of dark soy sauce
1 teaspoon of caster sugar
1 tablespoon of chilli sauce
2 tablespoons of vegetable oil

Directions:

1) Cut the chicken into 2.5 cm strips and place in a shallow, non-metallic bowl. In a separate bowl, blend the garlic with the curry powder, muscovado sugar, soy sauce, chilli sauce, basil and vegetable oil.
Pour the marinade over the chicken and use a spoon to ensure all the chicken is coated in the marinade.
Cover the bowl with cling film and leave in fridge for 2 hours. For best results, leave the marinade overnight.
2) When you are satisfied that the chicken has been adequately marinated, turn on the grill to high.
Arrange the chicken pieces on a foil-lined grill rack and cook for 4-5 minutes without turning.
Remove from the grill and cover with foil to finish cooking and to retain heat.
3) At the same time, place the vermicelli (rice) noodles in a large bowl and cover with bowling water. Leave until soft, about 8-10 minutes.
4) Place the sliced red onion in iced water; this will make the onion crisper and slightly mellow the flavour.
5) Drain the noodles and the red onion well and place in a large bowl. Add the coriander, mint, salad leaves and red pepper.
6) In a separate small bowl, mix together the balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, chilli sauce, sugar and vegetable oil.
7) To serve, add the chicken strips and remaining juices with the dressing to the salad. Toss the salad gently before serving onto plates.

Has this inspired you to make the same dish? You can always use prawns as an alternative to chicken.
Let me know what you think ;-)
Bon Appétit!

x

Fabulous facial and pedicure at Bliss Spa, London

Fun Bliss Branding*

As my sister was approaching a very special birthday; the big four zero, I wanted to mark the occasion by treating her to some luxurious pampering. Being the only one in the UK, I thought a trip to the Bliss Spa in London would fit the bill nicely.
I had been there before to use up some gift vouchers on the Betweeny Wax and the Hot Milk and Almond Pedicure. Both treatments were excellent; the waxing was effective and pain-free and the pedicure left my feet feeling very soft and silky smooth.

I really like the whole Bliss branding and it's light hearted approach to treatments and products. I think it's image is fun, girly, appealing and removes the stuffiness you can sometimes experience when going into beauty salons (especially in Chelsea dah-ling!)
The Bliss Spa menu is extensive and their treatments range from facials to "guy maintenance" for men.
For my sister's birthday, I booked the Fabulous Facial and the Hot Milk and Almond Pedicure through the on-line reservations system, where I chose a session time and a therapist. Quite a unique selling point from my perspective! Some spas that I had approached earlier were either fully booked or would not take bookings until 2 weeks before the treatment and since my sister was travelling down from Scotland for the weekend, I wanted to have the treatments guaranteed.

My sister is too generous, she insisted on me having a Fabulous Facial at her expense (crazy girl!) so it would just be plain rude to decline her very kind offer.

On arrival, we were taken downstairs to the Locker Room and Lounge.

Inside Bliss Spa Lounge*

We were assigned a locker equipped with waffle-style robe and flip flops. Post de-robing, you can either enjoy the sauna or hang out in the tastefully decorated Lounge area where we pondered over the selection of cheese and crackers, fruit juice, herbal teas and the brownie buffet. There is also a huge selection of magazines including Cosmo, Marie Claire and Vogue and in those few moments you do feel as if you are experiencing something rather special!

It wasn't too long before the beauty therapist popped in to escort me to the treatment room.

The room was a nice temperature and I tucked myself underneath a snug blanket on the treatment bed. Although I was having a facial, part of the treatment also involves a shoulder, neck, arm and foot massage so it is best just to wear underwear for the treatment.
Suffice to say, the dim lighting, ambient temperature and relaxing music does set the scene for you to drift off.

As you would expect, the therapist asked me what my usual skincare routine was and did I want to focus on anything in particular etc. Then a light with very high intensity shone on my face as she was able to fully examine all the pollution my face had been exposed to since my last facial.The therapist was very friendly and she spoke with a very soothing voice – all to put me at ease.

As with most salons, I appreciate as well as providing the treatment, the therapist has a duty to promote relevant Spa products or additional services. Part of this facial has the option to customise it further with "build-ons". My therapist offered me the refining fruit acid wash for an additional £15 or the super-smoothing enzyme peel for £55. Double eek! I was already paying £112.40 for the facial, which is the most I have paid for any facial, so to pay extra for "build-ons" was I thought, a touch excessive.
The facial itself was very nice. It started with what smelt like a melon scented cleansing milk, followed by a refining scrub and then an “extraction” process. I have never actually experienced this before and it is perhaps this process which distinguishes the Bliss facial from the others I have had to date. It involves using a tool to remove blackheads.I had a few on my nose and forehead and I did squirm quite a bit as she set to work squeezing out all the dirt. But you know what they say; no pain, no gain and although it may have been slightly uncomfortable, the result was well worth it!

After the extractions a menthal soothing balm was applied to the skin which serves as a type of cooling agent. This was followed by a customised moisturising mask.While the mask sets, a mini massage on arms, neck, shoulders and feet is given. Just lovely.
The removal of the mask signifies the end of the treatment and my skin felt clean, refreshed, hydrated and soft.

Inside Locker Room in Bliss Spa*

I went back to the Lounge just to top up on my refreshments before heading back to the Locker room.

They have so many products you can help yourself to in this area such as :

Lemon and Sage Body Scrub
Fabulous Foaming Face Wash

Lid and Lash Wash

Not to mention a plentiful supply of cotton wool, combs and hairspray.

Back upstairs, my sister was waiting at the Quick Service Station for her toes to dry.

Quick Service Stations for manicures and pedicures*

She agreed that this was indeed a real treat. Soaking your feet in a warm bath of almond scented milk while your feet are given the utmost care; scrubbing and focussing on the really dry skin areas of heels and the balls of your feet, moisturising and cuticle clipping. All this before an undercoat and two coats of colour are applied. Like me, she feels that it is the best pedicure she has ever had!

Did I mention while having a manicure or pedicure you can tune in and watch TV? I think she watched Gossip Girl (when I was there it was Sex and The City) and you can also induldge in one of their many fruit cocktails.

Before leaving the salon ,one of the assistants applied an oil to my sisters' nails and wrapped them in clingfilm before she put on her socks and boots to minimise any damage. I thought this was a very nice touch!

Bliss Pedicure: The Finished Article

One month later, and my sister tells me that the polish has maintained its quality finish. No chipping -what a fabulous result!

Priced at £61.30, it is expensive but you get what you pay for.
If planning a pedicure for your summer holiday, it would be worth considering the Hot Milk and Almond Pedicure  - if only for its resilience!

I think Bliss is an ideal place to spoil someone. I couldn’t actually afford to visit the spa as part of my regular beauty routine but perhaps if I mention the Hot Foot Pedicure, number 3 on my Health and Beauty Wish List to hubby often enough, perhaps a voucher will appear in my Christmas Stocking! Stranger things have happened!

If you fancy treating yourself or someone special, why not book an appointment at:
http://www.blissworld.co.uk/spa/spa-411/locations/bliss-london.aspx

Tell them MeLikeyUK sent you!

Enjoy x

*Photographs sourced from Bliss website.

A visit to La Maison de la Truffe, Rue Marbeuf, Paris

The last time I was in Paris was August 2008, I stumbled across La Maison de la Truffe in the beautiful Place de La Madeleine. There I was drooling uncontrollably at the menu and eager to have a truffle "foodfest" when I was dramatically pulled away to our next appointment. Since then, this restaurant has been etched in my memory and I promised myself the next time I was in Paris, I would treat myself!

Outside Maison De La Truffe, Rue Marbeuf

Maison de la Truffe, a family based business, was founded in 1932 to directly provide its customers with a way to purchase and sample all varieties of truffle and truffle products. In 1978, a new owner, and a chef, Guy Monier, added a tasting room so that the gourmets and truffle enthusiasts of Paris could meet and dine together.What a fabulous idea!

Following the acquisition of Maison de la Truffe by the Kaspia group in 2007, and a revamp to the restaurant and product lines, the second restaurant of Maison de la Truffe  opened up near The Champs-Élysées.
Similar to Place de La Madeline, La Maison de la Truffe in Rue Marbeuf doubles up as a shop selling luxury truffle related products. The restaurant is very neutral in colour; grey and taupe are the dominant colours with very clean lines and pictures showcasing the different truffles featured on their menu.

Neutral decor in La Maison de La Truffe 

Bottle of White Truffle Oil on every table

We arrive at 1pm for lunch with a few tables occupied.

The menu has a nice touch as it gives a bit of history about the restaurant and an overview of the characteristics of the different type of truffles sourced for the restaurant.
We start off with an amuse-bouche of mushroom tapenade and croutons. This has a pleasant aroma of truffle just enough to whet the appetite! Ah...we have finally arrived!

We both order the Carpaccio de Boeuf, Roquette et Parmesan ( Beef Carpaccio with Rocket salad and Parmesan shavings).

Carpaccio de Boeuf, Roquette et Parmesan

As you can imagine, the Beef Carpaccio is "melt-in-the-mouth" and works well with the peppery Rocket and the saltiness of the Parmesan cheese. You can definitely taste the truffle, but I add a bit more of the white truffle oil that is helpfully placed on the table just to heighten the truffle experience! All in all, a good starter; tasty, fresh and light, leaving enough room to fully indulge in the next course.

For the main course; I order 

Noix de Saint Jacques Bardées de Lard, Creme de Chataigne Truffée et son Ecrasée de Pomme de Terre.

(Scallops wrapped in Bacon finished with a Truffled Chestnut cream and served with crushed potatoes and seasonal truffle).

Hubby orders:

Risotto à laTruffe de Saison (Seasonal Truffle Risotto).

When the main arrives, I can’t wait to get started!

A very generous serving of 5 scallops wrapped in bacon – served with what appears to be more of a purée or mashed potato rather than crushed potatoes but I am not complaining. They work really well together! The sweet nuttiness flavour is bursting from the scallops which are enveloped in salty bacon heaven. The juices pouring from the meat run into the smooth textured, buttery, creamy and truffled mashed potato – YUM!

Noix de Saint Jacques Bardées de Lard, Creme de Chataigne Truffée et son Ecrasée de Pomme de Terre

I am really enjoying this dish but I am equally keen to try my partner’s truffle risotto and with not much begging, I am rewarded with something delightful!

What can I say? It is wonderful! Rich, creamy, moreish, unctuous and velvety. I can only remember tasting a truffle risotto of equal standing and that was at Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir Aux Quat' Saisons.

Risotto à laTruffe de Saison

The main courses are incredibly filling, so unfortunately, there is no room for dessert (although, I was tempted by the Sable aux Poires et Praliné) and we finish off with coffee.

Our lunch of two starters and two main courses with sparkling water and coffee cost us 107€.

I am so glad I included a visit to La Maison de la Truffe on my last visit to Paris. The menu is so varied and the food is of a very high standard that it is definitely worth a second visit!

I notice they have restaurants in Brussels and Taipei and are opening soon in Zurich and Geneva. You lucky people! Surely there must be demand in London.....please?

Oh! And I can cross item 5 off my Food and Drink Wish List!

If you are a fellow truffle fan and are in Paris, why not take a trip to:

La Maison de la Truffe

Reservations can be made on line at http://www.maison-de-la-truffe.com/

Tell them MeLikeyUK sent you!

Enjoy x

The To Do List or Wish List?

As part of my adventures, I have decided to pen a list of activities I'd love to experience over the next 2/3 years and then share them with you, my lovely readers ;-) 

So running down the items, it looks like more of a wish list than a to do list doesn't it? Ahem, well, a girl can dream a little, can't she?

Not sure if I fancy my chances with all of them but it would be good to knock a few off my list.....

OK, let's see, here goes:

Food & Drink

1)   Eat at a Heston Blumenthal Restaurant

     Either at:

     The Fat Duck in Bray or

     Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at The Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Hyde Park

2) Dine at The Ledbury Restaurant in Notting Hill

3) Lunch at Spuntino's (there has been so much good press about this - I just have to go and try it out for myself)

4) Taste the macarons sold by Pierre Herme

5) Lunch or Dinner at La Truffiere or La or La Maison de la Truffe (but I think I know which one I would prefer !)  Done ;-)

6) Attend a cupcake making class (I love cooking but baking is not my forte!)

7) Attend a wine tasting event

8) Attend a food writing course

9) Have afternoon tea at Langhams 

10) Indulge in a "Culinary Flight" experience at The Burj Al Arab, Dubai

11) Go on a cooking course in Tuscany

Health and Beauty

1) Indulge in a "Perfect Retreat Package" at The Berkley Health Club & Spa Knightsbridge

2) Try a "So Spa Razzle Dazzle Experience" at the So Spa Sofitel St. James London

3) Have a Hot Foot pedicure at Bliss

4) Luxuriate in a "Time for Two" Couples ritual at the Elemis Day Spa

5) A "Body Double Scrubble" at Urban Retreat

6) A trip to Brooks and Brooks Hairdressers

7) A biosculpture manicure at Marcela's

8) Try a session of threading (eek!) at Malika 

9) Try a Floatation experience at The Floatworks

Events

1) See Robbie Williams or Take That in concert

2) Attend any outdoor music festival

3) Take in a Tennis match (preferably at Wimbledon)

4) See members of the British Basketball League play at the Olympics in London

5) Go and see the Highland Games (yes, proud to be Scottish but I have yet to see my countrymen in action!)

6) Watch either a Track and Field or Cycling event at London 2012

7) Attend a Blogging event

8) Attend Ladies day at Ascot

9) See Scotland play Rugby at Murrayfield

10) Go to the Globe theatre for an outdoor Summer viewing

11) See the Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden 

Keeping Fit 

1) Walk the Seven Sister Route from Eastbourne to Seaford during Summer

2) Walk the West Highland Way

3) Walk part of "El Camino de Santiago to Compostella" in Spain ( as referred to in the film The Way)

4) Try a Bikram Yoga class

5) Go to a British Military Fitness class

6) Enrol in a Pilates course

7) Try some form of martial arts (without the sparring!)

8) Have a Taster session of a Climbing Wall

Trips

1) Cross the Corryvreckan Whirlpool

2) Visit the Champagne houses of Reims

3) Go for a long weekend in Salamanca

4)  Have a city break in Seville

5) Stay at The Royal Crescent Hotel in Bath

6) A night spent in Gidleigh Park

7) A nose around Le Royal Monceau in Paris (Just to look! Up to 20,000 euros a night, eh.... I don't think I'll be staying there ;-)

8) Experience Hong Kong

9) Visit the Canadian Rockies

10) Return to Eurodisney (Disneyland, Paris) where I met my husband when we were both part of "The Opening Crew" in 1992 *happy days ;-)

Personal Development

 Enrol in a Photography class (my photography skills need a lot of TLC!)

I don't want much, do I? :0)

Mmmm..I think it may take more than 2/3 years! (not to mention a whole pot of cash!)  

What do you think?

Would you rather do something completely different? I would love to hear what would be on your wish list!

      Thanks for stopping by!

A Hidden Gem – The King William Restaurant,Old Royal Naval College,Greenwich

Blinked and we would have missed it! "What is that" I hear you say? A sign outside on the cobbled streets within the grounds of the University of Greenwich and the Painted Hall advertising a two course lunch at £14.95! Not bad at all!

I have been a resident of Greenwich for many years and this little restaurant has escaped my notice for all this time! How is it possible?

It is about 1.15pm on a Wednesday afternoon and my curiosity gets the better of me and we slip through the main entrance to uncover what is waiting behind closed doors underneath the Painted Hall.

A Hidden Gem

With a turn to the right, we are greeted by a most charming entrance. It looks quite formal, but the room itself is bathed in sunlight, with its beautiful vaulted ceilings and wooden floors.You are greeted with the most amazing bouquet of flowers containing irises and snowdrops and the room gives way to an imposing golden chandelier. The walls are filled with black and white pictures/photographs charting historical events of Greenwich.

Inside the King William Restaurant

There are about 10-12 wooden tables in the room, dark in colour with similar dark coloured leather chairs.The tables are dressed well with the all important grey slate place mats (I have a penchant for these at the moment!)

Although the room is impressive, it is not very busy at all, only two tables are occupied, albeit by bigger parties, which gives rise to the somewhat hushed atmosphere.

The waitress happily escorts us to a table for two and presents us with the menu and a fairly extensive wine list.

The light gives an airy feel to to the
 restaurant

The menu has a selection of 4 starters /main courses/desserts. A nice variation containing good options for vegetarians. The Beef Bourguignon with smoked paprika mash catches my eye but I am intrigued to try the Cauliflower and Jerusalem artichoke soup with truffle cream and because it is part of the daily set menu, we opt for that.

The daily set menu comprises:

2 courses for £14.95 or 3 courses for £19.95

I order the aforementioned soup and the OH orders the Smoked Applewood cheddar,spinach and pine nut tart.

While we wait, we are served bread; poppy seed and sundried tomato. Ah! Isn’t it so nice to be offered bread and know that you are not going to be charged any extra for it ? (Grr..it is one of my pet-hates).

The soup arrives.While it is not so pleasing on the eye, it more than compensates by packing a punch in flavour! The smokiness of the Jerusalem artichoke is enveloped in “mushroomy” loveliness!  It has quite a thick consistency and so can be quite filling but I am not complaining. It is simply delicious!

The tart is quite small and garnished with micro herbs.The pastry is quite light, the smoked Applewood cheddar is very subtle with the spinach adding moisture which miraculously avoids turning the tart soggy.I am also told that the centre is filled with capers (although, ahem, I wasn't offered a piece in the centre!).

Smoked Applewood cheddar, spinach and pine nut tart

To follow, we both order the:

Corn-fed chicken breast, lemon thyme, dauphinoise potatoes and soya beans.

The chicken is beautifully moist and a joy to eat. The dauphinoise potatoes are flavoured with just the right amount of garlic, adding a pleasant aroma to the dish without it being too overpowering. The jus has a nice meaty flavour but could be further reduced to intensify the taste and to improve consistency. The soya beans, I would say, are there more to add a crunchy component to the dish than to give rise to different flavour, which is perfectly fine.

Corn-fed chicken with Dauphinoise potatoes and soya beans 

Not being used to eating so much at lunchtime, we pass on dessert and ask for the bill.
The service is good; attentive and polite and I engage in a little chit-chat with our waitress. She tells me that the restaurant is closing! What! Oh no! But I have only just found you King William Restaurant! Shock horror! Why? Then I almost answer the question myself “Is there not enough passing trade?”  Sadly, she agrees.

Blast! I feel somewhat cheated by this news. If I, having lived in Greenwich for all this time have not stumbled across this little gem, then surely, there must be others in the same boat! I do feel that more could have been done to promote this great restaurant outwith the grounds of the Naval College.This is compounded by the fact it is only open for lunch Tuesday to Sunday. Such a shame!

On further research, I understand that The King William Restaurant is changing as of Monday 4th April 2011 to the King William Undercroft ; a new meeting and hospitality space. Alas! Another one bites the dust!

This means that you only have a few days left to experience lunch at the King William Restaurant in the Old Royal Naval College.

If you enjoy good quality food at very reasonable prices, then pay a visit to

The King William Restaurant in Greenwich before April 4 2011.

To reserve your table email leiths.greenwich@compass-group.co.uk

or call 020 8269 2131.
Alternatively book via toptable.

Tell them MeLikeyUK sent you!

Enjoy x

Afternoon Tea at The Rose Lounge, Sofitel London St. James

Last month my mother-in-law was in London for her birthday. She was visiting from Provence with her mother and her sister.

She has been through a lot recently and we wanted to make sure that she had a very special time while she was here. She kept referring to the fact that she wanted to experience something "typically English". Well, I thought, what could be more appealing than an Afternoon tea at the Rose Lounge, in the Sofitel London St James?

Inside the Rose Lounge

Situated along from Trafalgar Square and down from Piccadilly Circus, the hotel sits in all its splendour in Waterloo Place. The hotel also plays host to the fabulous Roux Brasserie, So Spa (winner of 2011 Conde Nast Traveller readers' spa award) and the St. James Bar all of which are worthy of separate visits to the hotel!

The Rose Lounge itself appeals very much to the feminine market. It is decorated beautifully with warm and uplifting cream and pink colours, there are rose patterns on the sofas, soft lighting, bookcases filled with rose patterned plates, and an open fireplace dressed with lit candles.
The ambience is cosy and calming. A harpist sits in the corner of the room, playing her music gently and with the subtle scent of roses wafting across the room, you are immediately put at ease. It is all so pleasant!
I thought this would be a perfect venue for the French side of my family as the staff are French speaking so the language barrier did not even pose a problem.

Afternoon Tea Menu

After receiving a warm welcome, we are seated and presented with the Rose Lounge Afternoon Tea Menu and our waitress takes the time to walk us through the different options and the selections of tea available.

Each table is decorated with pink dainty tea cups and velvety rose petals.

The menu cites ;"Le Tea en Rose - An afternoon tea with a French touch".

And this couldn't be more true!

For £24.50 per person, it includes:

• Your choice of Jing Tea
• Finger sandwiches
• Freshly baked, homemade scones
• Parisiennes Pastries

For an additional £5 this can be accompanied by a Rose and Lichi Champagne Cocktail.
The menu itself is lengthy and you can choose from a diverse variety of White, Green, Black, Rose & Collection teas as well as Herbal infusions.

Harpist playing
in Rose Lounge

For the table of 5, we choose a wide selection; Jasmine Pearl, Vanilla Black Tea, Lychee Red Black Tea and Whole Peppermint Leaf infusion.

In the distance you can also hear the soft piano tunes and gentle laughter coming from the lobby and the bar reinforcing the fact that everyone in the environs are having an enjoyable time.

Sandwiches and scones

The finger sandwiches come in white and brown bread and have the fillings of egg mayonnaise and watercress, smoked salmon, ham and mustard and cucumber and cream cheese. Tasty as they are, the amount is fairly generous; about 4-5 sandwiches per person.

The scones are delicious; coming in equal quantities of plain and those baked with currants. They are golden and crusty on the outside, warm and fluffy on the inside and you have the option of raspberry jam or lemon curd and Devonshire clotted cream to accompany them. Ah! Rose Lounge heaven!

We are rapidly becoming full but there are a few still remaining on the cake stand and it would be such a shame to waste them. Our very attentive waitress, packs a little box for us so that we can have them for "petit dejeuner" the next morning. How fantastic!

As we enjoy our second round of tea (teapots are topped up), having chosen Vanilla, I find the flavour and scent more intense and I am enjoying it even more. I am so relaxed, I could just nod off for a few minutes!

However, it is not long before the waitress comes along with another plate laiden with "goodies" and a sparkly candle indicating that a birthday girl is in our midst.

Happy Birthday surprise

The plate plays hosts to an array of French delicacies from a tarte aux framboises, to a chocolate and caramel shortcrust cake. I thought the "Happy Birthday" message written in chocolate was also a nice touch!

The French side of the family were pleasantly surprised and impressed and they agreed that they had indeed sampled something "typically English" (albeit with some French touches!) and I know it won't be too long before I make a return visit .

I would highly recommend a visit to the Rose Lounge especially if you are entertaining female friends and family.
Furthermore, as we approach Mothering Sunday on 3 April 2011, a trip to the Rose Lounge could be the perfect gift.

Afternoon tea is served daily between 2.30 and 5.30pm

For further information visit:

http://www.brasserieroux.com/roselounge/roselounge.shtm

Tell them MeLikeyUK sent you!

Enjoy x