I hope you've had a great week? As I write this I'm eating still-warm, homemade banana bread. The first thing I've baked in the new oven. It may or may not be my fourth slice. :-) Maybe it wasn't a bad thing that I haven't had an oven for three years...
1. Food-wise I feel like my week started on Tuesday with the most sticky and buttery cinnamon buns I've ever had by Bageri Petrus in Stockholm. The baker came to London especially for the launch of Magnus Nilssen's new cookbook: The Book of Nordic Baking. It is an incredible tome, so thorough and well researched. It feels like a must-have for every kitchen. There are FIVE different recipes for cinnamon buns and within those many variations.
2. During a full day savoury food innovation tour for a client on Thursday we needed a sweet break so popped into Chin Chin in Camden for their Burnt Caramel Ice Cream with Chocolate Truffle crumble. It was divine.
3. Our area is definitely changing. Another tap room under a railway arch, Tracks E7, has started a dinner service and invited locals to sample some of the menu. It was an impressive preview. I particularly liked the arancini with gorgonzola and a romanesco sauce.
4. Yesterday morning I went to a brunch (I was invited) at Little Bat Bar. The design is gorgeous and the staff are lovely. Most fun for brunch there's a design-your-own Bloody Mary trolley with lots of variations. I stuck to the classic and it was great. But I am totally regretting not sticking around for more of their menu. The bar is by the same team behind Calooh Callay - the cocktails are extraordinary creations. The food offering is great, too. The French Toast was properly soaked in custard before being fried, It came with a very rich abundance of sweet butterscotch sauce and a crumble topping. It would have great with a whisky based cocktail.
5. There was so many interesting chocolates at the Canopy Market this weekend. My favourite thing was special praline bars by The Chocolate Tree. They gave them to us to thank us for putting them up for the night. We shared them and they lasted all of two seconds. An incredibly intricate four layers to each bar - milk chocolate with orange and dark with raspberry.
Tomorrow I'm off for a chocolate high tea at The Wolseley, but first I'll be leading a very special chocolate tour in the afternoon (more on this next week!).
