Out and about
October 17, 2011
This weekend is one of endless sunshine and falling leaves: in keeping with the gorgeous things I see and eat with my New Yorker friend Trish Foley who has flown across the pond for some London inspiration.
We kick off with sticky sustenance: chocolate, caramel and shortbread slabs of millionaire’s shortbread that my son resourcefully produces (well it is national baking week) whilst recovering from aching limbs and the rasping throat that is annoyingly making its way around the family.
I can happily gaze for hours at Morandi’s quiet still lifes of everyday jugs and pots but more fuel in the form of carrot cake puddings topped with cream cheese beckon at the Rose Bakery on the top floor of Dover Street Market. Then it’s off to drool over hemp rugs at Egg before doing some actual reclining on the fabulous textile field at the V&A , a second visit for me. We continue to keep stomachs happy and end the day with Padron peppers and tortilla at Casa Brindisa.
With the dog straining at her leash, we’re up and out early on Sunday morning to visit Mrs Beeton’s grave at our local cemetery (so surprising the first ‘domestic goddess’ should be so ‘local’) where tangled ivy pours over cracked tombstones and crows from central casting add to the gothic effect. Isabella Beeton is amongst a number of notable Victorians buried in this suburban outpost including Hiram Maxim who invented the machine gun and pottery magnate Henry Doulton.
There’s been a fair amount of me hankering after ‘stuff’ this weekend, which does seem to be going against my learn to live with less message, but I just can’t help thinking that the organic looking zinc flower buckets and any one of the junk-effect tables and chairs at Petersham Nurseries need a home in my garden. I think that it would be heaven to come back to the restaurant and eat Skye Glyngell’s seasonal food amongst the back to nature setting of glasshouses, earth floor and tables artfully laid with dahlias and a sea of tinkly wineglasses.
Those Millionaire’s Shortbread look fantastic. I could almost pluck one off the screen.
Comment by Karen | October 17, 2011 @ 5:58 pmI too am about to bake, the Mary Berry chocolate roulade as demonstrated on the Great British Bake off last week.
Love that textile field at the V&A. I was there the other week for the London Design Festival and everyone was enjoying it – especially the babies and kids!
Comment by Viv | October 17, 2011 @ 6:21 pmhi jane,
the sweets pics have made me miss london more than before.
london parks must be gorgeous now. i wish i was there for a walk.
i tend to keep failing to leave my comment, but always enjoy your post!
Comment by serendipity_j | October 18, 2011 @ 1:39 pmJust received my copy of Jane’s book, Recipes for Everyday. Wonderful. It will stay on my bedside table for a couple of weeks so that I can read it cover to cover. Thank you. I enjoy all that you do. Your blog is inspiration for me to do what I can with what I have on hand.
Comment by rita munn | October 19, 2011 @ 12:55 pmThese millionaires shortbread look absolutly beautiful. Your blog is a so rich in visual inspiration. I love perusing it.
Comment by Isabella | October 24, 2011 @ 9:27 am