I used to go to a lot of events at London galleries where artists, art historians and art critics talked about their work. There have not been so many of these in recent years so I was particularly excited by the National Gallery’s new series: Picture This, in which broadcaster John Wilson is in conversation […]
As a child, I was taken to The Nutcracker ballet at Christmas every year. I began ballet lessons at the tender age of three and carried on until I was 15. Of course, as I watched Tchaikovsky’s magical ballet, I wanted, like many other little girls, to be a ballerina … but I was also […]
It’s three years since I last wrote a guide to eating in Covent Garden and while I still have some unchanged favourites, there are of course some new places to recommend and I thought it would be great to share them with you. I also thought it would be fun to list them by cuisine […]
With the weather warming up and the sun shining at last, we’re definitely moving into the ‘ice cream season’. Though in truth, I’ll eat ice cream at any time of the year. I confess to having a big addiction to ice cream; well, gelato. I’m an ice cream snob (I’ll own up so you don’t […]
My Italian teacher Fabio comes fortnightly and for an hour we discuss what’s been going on in our (mainly my) world for the past two weeks. We talk food a lot. He’s been a loyal follower of my blog for as long as I’ve known him and like all my Italian friends knows a lot […]
With the sun shining brightly on an autumnal November morning, I decided to head into central London to see Soutine’s Portraits: Cooks, Waiters & Bellboys, an exhibition at the Courtauld Gallery in Somerset House. How could a food and travel blogger resist an exhibition with this name? It seemed perfect and it’s been on my […]
When Joe Allen closed its doors in Exeter Street after 40 years at the end of July, despite knowing they were only moving 25m down the road to 2 Burleigh Street, I couldn’t help feeling a little distressed that one of my very favourite restaurants was no more. This Covent Garden institution, known as the […]
I’ve read a lot of good things about Nordic Bakery and a few weeks ago I passed their newest (4th) branch in London in Neal Street, Covent Garden. I made a mental note to go back some time and today was the perfect opportunity. I’m doing a series of art history courses at the National […]
I’ve walked past La Gelatiera so many times. But always the wrong time of day. Usually early evening when I’m wandering around the area before meeting a friend for supper in Covent Garden. Therefore not the right time to eat ice cream. I’ve read about its award-winning gelato though; it’s always listed as one of […]
The Barbary opened a few weeks ago to a fanfare of excited reviews. Even before it opened there was excitement, for The Barbary is ‘little sister’ to the wonderful The Palomar, and so expectations were high. Pretty much without exception, the reviews have been great so I was keen to go there soon. However, it was Annie who […]