An Invitation to Lunch at Guilty, nhow London Restaurant

One thing leads, to another:

When I was invited to an informal evening party at nhow London, a hotel situated on the edge of Shoreditch, a district famous for its street art, buzzing nightlife, and contemporary creativity, I expected all of this in the hotel lobby space, and there it was...flamboyant dress code, signature named drinks, a high-energy playlist, and a couple of hundred or so people mingling as delicious canapés were circulated.

What I didn't expect was to be re-invited, this time for lunch and to try out the summer menu and its poke bowls. This time round, there were only half a dozen diners lunching at Guilty, the hotel restaurant. The relative quietness allowed me to peruse the Uber-Instagrammable decor.

As the summer menu is changing soon, I applaud the savoury Poke bowls. The prawns in their umami- rich marinade were delicious; all the traditional poke ingredients were present. Although, I question the choice of poke on the summer menu, as there is a stiff competition in the area. Shoreditch and Old Spitalfields Market have a plethora of street food outlets.

However, none of them beat the decor packed with contemporary art and vibrant with colours, it's a great place to Instagram your choice of food. Every dish has been thoughtfully constructed to be as a visual feast as well as a tasty one. 

Since the proof is in the pudding, here is the photo story of our lunch from the fabulous chocolate dessert, note that everything is edible including the flower pot.

to the very aromatic shrimps poke bowl

via a vegetarian burger with guacamole, from 'á la carte'. Lovely and moist according to my guest

Watch out for the autumn menu and indulge in Guilty's regular fare.

Nhow and Guilty are situated at

2 Macclesfield Road

London

EC1V 8DG

+44 (0) 20 3907 8108
 guilty.nhowlondon@nhow-hotels.com

Average price for lunch £25pp

Did I tell you that it's a Pet friendly restaurant too, on the dog afternoon tea menu, the signature is puppucino.

 

An Invitation to Dine at The Roof Terrace at The Sloane Club

Nothing makes me grab my hat and shawl quicker than an invitation to dine at one of London's roof terraces; if the offer was to include a walk through a flower show, then I'd be out of the door quicker than you can say: 'Hebejeebie trifida'.

The affluent Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea can be exclusive. The Chelsea Flower Show, which I visited only once, is definitely well above my purse and stamina. But as always, there is an alternative. In this case, it's Chelsea in Bloom, a once a year flower festival, organised in association with the Royal Horticultural Society and local retailers. This year’s theme is Floral Feasts, celebrating two of the things that Chelsea is most famous for: botanical heritage and fabulous food.

 So after traipsing through a thick crowd and a cornucopia of vibrant floral creations that sadly included too much plastic and heavily relied on popular food scenes in under 12 movies, we reach the perfect oasis, The Roof Terrace at the Sloane Club. This peaceful outdoor space opens only during the summers. 

The Sloane Club terrace is a pleasant outdoor space lined with verdant plant walls and stylishly furnished—sadly, you've guessed it, equally reliant on plastic greenery as the streets show below. I can't tell you how relieved I was at the sight of comfy chairs, and at that point, nothing could have lifted my spirits as much as a warm welcome and cocktails. But more of this later. First, let me tell you about the historical background of the Sloane Club.

Founded in 1922 by Princess Helena (daughter of Queen Victoria) as the Service Women’s Club. It was exclusively a place for women for decades; men were eventually allowed to step over the threshold in the 1970s. Ever-evolving the club is nowadays opened to everyone. Shortly after COVID 2022, the refurbished roof terrace opened its doors to the general public. As you get through the canopied front-door, you'll be directed to the first floor. Don't take the lift; head for the stairs and breathe in the club's history. The staircase is a magnificient oblong version of the tulip staircase, for which London's historical buildings are so famous. Don't forget to curtesy, salute, or wink at the larger-than-life portrait of Princess Helena on the way up.

Back to the cocktails and mocktails list. Following our waiter's recommendations, I chose a Limoncello Breeze, the fresh mixed of Limoncello and Prosecco was a new one on me, even more surprising was the addition of sage. He ordered a Lavender Sip: Gin Mare, with aromatics such as rosemary, thyme, basil. Both expertly mixed by the smiliest mixologist I've had the pleasure to meet.

Reluctantly leaving the open-sky area for a table by the too-green-vegetation walls; You'll have guessed by now that the unnecessary use of plastic is one of my gripes. We debated on the logistic of ordering. The menu is well thought through, sectioned to cover most eventualities. 'To Share' from which he chose Edamame Hummus & lemongrass Sambal (£10). The idea was that he could share with me as long as I was sampling only. That was fine by me, as I had my heart set on Spiced Yellow Fin Tuna Tatare with Wasabi Mayo (£17). Neither of us was disappointed.

Glancing over the 'Salads' section, He swiftly moved to the 'Mains' and I picked 'From the Grill'. The Sloane Beef Burger (£20) with red onion compote, a portion of Skinny Fries (£6) and a glass of French Malbec were enough to restore his spirits. While I was enjoying a Wild Bass Fillet (£26) and probably the best broccoli combo i can think of, wok-fried with chilli and garlic (£8).

As the sun had truly set, replaced by twikling of fairy lights, our relaxed and unhurried dinner was nearing its end. We turned down the offer of desserts, enjoyed a little more time in the peaceful atmosphere, sipping a couple of cortados and too soon it was time to say goodbye to the first class members of staff who, even though it was the end of service, were still smiling. 

The Sloane Club is open for the whole of the summer, offering a top-notch quality menu, and classy service, at prices that are not unreasonable for the area.

The Roof Terrace at The Sloane Club is located in Sloane Place at number 52. Bookings can be done by phone on 020 3928 0700 or made  online.

I was a guest of the Sloane Club, I take the opportunity of the disclaimer to thank the staff for looking after us.

Words in this blog post are my own, I was not asked to review positively

Tower Tandoori, London's Oldest Tandoori Restaurant

 

Tandoori Tower, London’s oldest Indian restaurant is a natural fit for the historic Tower Bridge area. When Israaf Ali lit the charcoal in their Tandoor oven, for the first time in 1978, he could never have imagined that 45 years later, the flame would still be glowing bright, and that delicious, soft, slightly charred, naans would still be peeled off from the searing walls; and that his grandson Suhel Ahmed would be at the helm of one of London’s the oldest curry-houses.

Customers are greeted with an enticing bar with carved wood screens. The main restaurant space is gorgeous and inviting with its crimson and gold décor complementing the wood flooring, tables and the Indian artefacts. As a reviewer, I have grown accustomed to smiles and special treatment so when our waiters beamed at us and took away the menu away in favour of ‘tonight, you’ll be sampling our choice of food for you’. I was not surprised in the least. But, I was surprised to see that they were doing something similar with all of the punters. No, they don’t magically remove the menu card, but they gently encourage the guest to ensure they make the best choice for them.

   

The waiter at the table next to us asked if the couple would mind ordering a little less, ‘You can order more later if you want’. Whatever happened to the old, ‘Is that all, don’t you want an extra naan with that?’ which always makes me feel mean and guilty for considering the economic impact of food waste.

So now that we have established Suhel and his team as my new heros, what about the food? While the family next to us was enjoying Onion and Kale Bajis with Masala Chips, I warned you that all tastes were customised for, we savoured our Mocktails, popadoms, pickles, chutney, tamarind and raisins sauce. Following that, we were served perfectly seasoned creamy Butter Chicken, delicately spiced, Tandoori Mixed Grill, rice, and a Tarka dahl. The flavours were delicately balanced, and the ingredients were of the highest quality. 

There is no need to be concerned about the heat from the chillis since we are either accustomed to it or the blend of Indian cuisine and western taste has finally found its stride, tasty without making your nose and eyes run. Though, I am sure that if you ordered a Naga Curry, the team would make it for you. As for me, I can’t wait for the Tower Tandoori ‘heritage menu’ to arrive next year.

Address : Tower Tandoori Restaurant - 74-76 Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 4TP - 
Phone 020 7237 2247 -https://www.towertandoori.co.uk/

Disclaimer: we were Tandoori Tower guests, I would like to thank the team for their hospitality, Words in this review are my own. 

The Botany Bay Hotel -Broadstairs-

 Owned by Shepherd Neame and renovated less than a decade ago, The Botany Bay Hotel has every quality needed for a perfect seaside escape

The name Broadstairs comes from the word Bradstow, after ‘a set of steps up the cliffs’, or it could mean Broad Place, to reflect the cress-shaped bays. Either way, the area has sweeping bays and majestic white cliffs.

Situated on a grassy clifftop, between Margate and Broadstairs, the hotel overlooks the English Channel and the North Sea. In an otherwise sparsely populated area, the hotel is perfect for a relaxing stay.

The golden sandy beach is home to beautiful ‘Chalk Stacks’ which are loved by selfie fans. However, if you are one of these people who prefer to rewind the clock of time, the bay has a history with fossil hunters; hours of fun can be had whilst spotting crabs in rock pools. Golfers flock here for the renowned North Foreland Golf Club.

The first impressions of the hotel doesn’t disappoint. The reception is a stylish open space with a popular pub on the right and a more formal restaurant on the left. Covered patios and wooden terraces skirt the whole of the building making the most of the scenery thanks to several picture windows.

Stylish rooms with mesmerising sea views

The 30 en-suite bedrooms are available to families and couples, and seven of them are dedicated to dog-owners.  In the mornings, the front of the building's grassy area is busy with people taking the opportunity to walk their furry friends.

Most rooms have sea views. It would be tedious to list all the rooms facilities, so let’s say that all the items required for a stress-free stay are present, from luggage-rack to a collection of bathroom articles. For longer stays, some of the rooms are furnished with extra large wardrobe. If something is missing, just give a call to reception, they will be happy to help. There is always a member of staff on hand to make sure that all is running smoothly or just give a warm smile.

We stayed in suite 601, a feature room with sea view, up up and up the stairs to the top of the building, a mix of rooms, including a private balcony and observatory room to take advantage of the amazing 360 degrees views.

Our suite was comfortable, the walls were painted in muted seaside colours and the lounge was perfect for a Nespresso coffee break. We also had a comfy super king bed with crispy white sheets. We didn’t make use of the smaller room with its two beds but it was well appointed too. A porthole window in the bathroom with a stand alone bath and a great shower room complete the picture.

Of course, not all of the 30 rooms are as spacious as the one we stayed in, but from what I could see peaking in, whilst admiring the art on the staircase, all rooms all look equally comfortable, and more importantly spotless.

What about the food?

The restaurant was very busy that night, it was a bit understaffed but everyone put in their best effort. Breakfast at The Botany Bay Hotel is excellent- there is a buffet with lots of fruit, toast and cereal, plus a comprehensive cooked full breakfast menu, name it, the chef will prepare it for you.

Eggs Benedictine is the acid test for me. I can think of too many hotels where I’ve had eggs Benedict that were cooked to perfection. It’s a difficult dish to get right and the chef at the Botany nailed it. Perfect breakfast with perfect views, there’s no much else to add.

The location:

There is a large car park outside the hotel but if you’ve opted for a no-car visit there are a few ways to get to Botany Bay. With a bit of time and not too much luggage, the best option is the scenic walk along the sea either from Margate or Broadstairs. While in the area, you might want to check out the Viking coastal foot path, so that's the opportunity to do so. The Loop connects Margate to Broadstairs, the nearest bus stop is 20 minutes walk away. Taxis are available too.

www.enjoybroadstairs.co.uk or www.visitthanet.co.uk : these two websites contain up-to-date information on a wide selection of topics and a activities calendar.

Details:

Botany Bay Hotel, Marine Drive, Broadstairs, CT10 3LG -phone 01843868641

https://www.botanybayhotel.co.uk/

Room Prices depend on the season. Double rooms start at £108 with breakfast included

Disclaimer: I would like to thank Thanet Tourism Officer and the Botany Bay for giving me the opportunity to stay. Words and pictures are my own.

Proms in the park - August 23

 After a long long absence Pebble Soup is back with bells and whistles. Violins and sambals to be more precise. This bank holiday weekend, I've been invited to the BBC Proms in Battersea Park . Three evenings of music by world famous musicians. And, who knows Pebble Soup may inspire to come to.   

Starting on the 26 August with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra offering a Night at the Musicals, followed by the Proms with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra on Sunday leading to the closing night dedicated to Soul & Jazz on the 28th.

It's a first for Battersea Park and it's a first for Pebble Soup too. Hope to see you there?

 

Copper Chimney -Westfield- Restaurant Review

I would go around the world to eat an excellent Indian meal. Thankfully, the first UK venture of Copper Chimney is in Westfield, and with the promise of unforgettable Indian food, the trek to West London didn't seem that long. The restaurant is situated on the pedestrian parade dedicated to food outlets, with its prominent simple but stylish double C logo -does that remind you of another brand?- Copper Chimney stands out.

The first Copper Chimney opened in 1972 in Bombay. Its founder JK Kapur aimed at recreating culinary experiences reminiscent of his years growing up, before the Partition, in what is now modern-day Pakistan. When I first travelled, I was aiming for Cairo, just to land in Karachi.... a long story. My experience of this eastern megapolis stayed with me forever, the smell of Ustads -spice blends- the tandoors, every mouthful eaten was a voyage of discovery. Decades later,  I can definitely say that Copper Chimney's offer is the closest to authentic that you'll get. The Assistant Manager, Kevin Podder, was very proud of the recipes' consistency across their 15  locations.  And this, although commendable, was my problem: the dishes lacked the 'mistakes', the 'happy accidents, the too much of this or the wrong that' that land in a dish often uninvited and makes that plate of food really unforgettable.

Having said this, there is nothing wrong with tried and tested signature dishes and that was reinforced by the restaurant's popularity. It was filling up when we arrived and full when we left. The open kitchen where you can see the chefs operating the tandoors adds a little bit of theatre to the place which is bright and cheerful and expertly designed. After listening to the recommendation from our impeccable waiter, He opted for Chandni Chowk Chaat for starters and I chose a plate of  Okra Kurkure. 

His hors d'oeuvre was delicious, pungent spices and smooth fresh yoghurt layers were an instant hit. Chaat is a great street food that deserves much more recognition. The Okras were nicely fried and crispy. I never tried to slice an okra bean; I'd love to know how they can be julienned these slippery little lady's fingers so very thinly. The end result was not unpleasant: a mouthful of hot and tangy spices that married very well with his Chaat. And as they say, it's nice to share! which is what I was trying to convince him of when the mains arrived.

Grilled Burrah Chop for me, Tandoori Chicken for him. The cinnamon scent preceded the lamb dish, this might be the most expensive dish on the menu at £23.50 but it was really nice indeed. The lamb chops are marinated in a secret mix of spices for eight hours before being seared and then chargrilled. One way to spot Copper Chimney specialities is to look for the CC logo, on the menu, besides the description. I found this out as I was virtually licking my fingers when a sudden attack of food envy gripped me. A plate of Parda Lamb Biryani, sealed with what looked like a lid of puff pastry, passed us by to be placed on a family's table, next to us. Back to our choice, his chicken dish was flavoured nicely, there is also a version of grilled chicken with mint on the menu that looked tempting.....Oh no! here I go again.

To Kevin's disappointment, we passed on desserts. Retroactively we were not prepared enough for Copper Chimney, my advice would be to study the menu online first. However familiar you are with Indian food, the restaurant's choice is vast and varied, preferably opt for signature dishes. We were guests of Copper Chimney, otherwise, our meal would have cost around £65, this is not a budget place but Copper Chimney is well worth it if you happen to be at Westfield.

Practicalities:  Copper Chimney -Ariel Way - White City, London W12 7GA, +44 20 8059 4439,              website: https://copperchimney.uk/

No bake, Vegan Chocolate Tart

 

Some plans are never going to happen, creating an impromptu gift guide with 12 entries and no preparation was a bad-bad idea. That doesn't mean that something else wonderfully useful can't happen instead. 

It's the time of the year when it's so easy to be a little over-ambitious, just to realise that there will be no time left for making that showstopper dessert you had planned a month ago. So, let's scale down and with the help of the first-ever GBBO, Edd Kimber, create a dessert that will be loved by all, vegan included.

I'm a great fan of chocolate mousse but, the attraction of this recipe is that it takes no time to make, no pastry to take care of, no baking with all the anxieties that brings. Aren't no plan the best plans after all?

Merry Christmas 

No-Bake Chocolate Tarts

Recipe created in partnership with recipe creator Edd Kimber and Lizi's 

INGREDIENTS FOR THE TART CRUST

175g Lizi’s Original Granola (other granola are available)

80g coconut oil, room temperature

INGREDIENTS FOR THE VEGAN GANACHE

265g dark chocolate, finely chopped

50g light brown sugar

115ml almond milk* (*you can use any plant-based milk for this recipe but almond or coconut milk both have flavours that can complement chocolate)

METHOD TO MAKE 4

1. To make the crust place about 2/3 of the Granola into a food processor and process until fine and crumbly.

2. Add in the remaining granola, the oil and salt and process until everything is evenly combined and the mixture is clumped together. Divide this mixture equally between four loose-bottomed 10cm tart tins and press firmly into the base and up the sides of the tin. 

3. Place the tart cases in the fridge whilst you work on the ganache. 

4. Place the chocolate into a bowl and set it aside. Add the almond milk and sugar to the pan on medium heat and gently heat until just steaming.

5. Pour the hot milk over the chocolate and set aside for a couple minutes before stirring with a whisk until a silky smooth ganache is formed.

6. Pour the ganache into the chilled tart cases and place them into the fridge until the ganache has set, which will take at least a couple of hours. 

7. Serve with a little vegan whipped cream or sour cream if you're not vegan. Kept refrigerated these will keep for 3-4 days. 

Gail's Bakery Kits for your Baking Friends

 Very belatedly, I decided to share with you, presents ideas for Christmas. I thought of calling this series the Twelve Days of Christmas. But, reading about the history of the Twelve Days, I found out that they are not these leading to Christmas day but rather those following it, ending with the arrival of the 3 wise kings on Epiphany, the 6 of January. 

Change of name was necessary and there you have it, the series is now called Pebble Soup's Advent Calendar. Today we are gifting our Baking Friends. 

During lockdown one, in 2020, when the hospitality industry was struggling like mad to find a way to survive, we witnessed the first of the '.... in a box'. My very own first was a French Christmas in a Box and I was definitely impressed. 

Baking kits are far from new. Many of us recall making our first biscuits, cakes, and flans 'out of a box', the modern twist involves recreating a chef recipe with lush ingredients, here 23% dark chocolate, 11% dark couverture chocolate. What baker wouldn't like such a pressie?

The Chocolate and Pecan Gail's Brownie Baking Kit make 20 gooey squares, I've not made mine yet but head towards the #gailsbrownies page on Instagram to see some examples. Order online or by phone and collect from your nearest Gail's bakery. The kit cost £18. My devious mind tells me that it could easily make four or five lovely bags .....just don't pass the creations for yours....if you can help it.

See you in a couple of days with a present for your Vegan Baker friends.

Disclaimer: I was given a kit as a kit but received no further remuneration to write this post.  I was not expected to write a positive review – I retain full editorial control.