Weekend londinese dall’amica di sempre, due giorni praticamente dedicati alle chiacchiere non stop per recuperare i ben due mesi di lontananza e in cui nemmeno skype è riuscito a sopperire alla non vicinanza fisica (valli a trovare tu dieci minuti per stare in casa entrambe alla stessa ora per parlarci!).
Di attività “culturali” questo giro nemmeno l’ombra (di turistiche poi nemmeno parlarne, non essendo esattamente la prima volta che mi aggiravo per South Kensington) …due giorni da vera londoner tra shopping (al richiamo mattutino di Primark non potrò mai resistere), beauty treats da Topshop (eh sì, anch’io ho tradito il browbar di Benefit per le sopracciglia fatte con il filo dall’indianina), grandi passeggiate per la città (al freddo e al gelo purtroppo…la primavera Londra non la contempla per nulla nella propria tabella di marcia)e poi, ovviamente, il momento più bello di ogni weekend cittadino che si rispetti, a maggior ragione se ci si trova a Londra: il brunch.
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| Balthazar London – Brunch |
(scroll down fro English version)
Brunch del sabato, brunch della domenica: due sono i locali che ho provato questa volta. Curiosi di scoprire cosa vi consiglio? Eccovi serviti!
Brunch del sabato, brunch della domenica: due sono i locali che ho provato questa volta. Curiosi di scoprire cosa vi consiglio? Eccovi serviti!
Granger and co (Notting Hill)
Indirizzo must per chi decida di mangiare un boccone a Notting Hill. Molto ben frequentato.
Ma proprio per questo, a meno che non sia il 15 agosto (ma anche in quel caso a Londra non sarei così sicura sulla temperatura piacevole), preparatevi a perdere l’uso di tutti gli arti mentre aspettate miseramente in coda fuori dalla porta: non si prende prenotazione e sia mai che si impietosiscano e facciano entrare i poveri pupazzi di neve congelati nell’attesa. Tutti fuori come piccoli fiammiferai e spiare attraverso le finestre i piattoni dei più fortunati già seduti ai tavoli.
Ma quando arriva il tuo turno capisci che l’attesa ne è valsa la pena.
Menù decisamente fresh e healthy: classici centrifugati di frutta, hamburger, uova, ma anche insalatone favolose. Entrambe le nostre scelte si sono rivelate ottime: insalata di pollo al cocco, con pera e avocato e tonno crudo e avocato su riso nero, pomodorini e sesamo.
Lo stesso vale per i dolci, dal classico cupcake/cheesecake alla variante “new detox” ,scelta -e che ve lo dico a fare- dalla sottoscritta, con yogurt al cocco, semi di chia, lamponi e melograno.
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| Granger and co – Brunch |
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| Granger and co – Brunch |
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| Granger and co – Brunch |
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| Granger and co – Brunch |
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| Granger and co – Brunch |
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| Granger and co – Brunch |
Ecco, un grande classico, classicissimo delle domeniche newyorkesi, che da un paio d’anni ha aperto anche a Londra.
Anche se di newyorkese o londinese in realtà qui c’è gran poco. A partire dal locale in sè e per sè, copia carbone della versione americana, con bar a huitres, boulangerie e un tripudio di divanetti in pelle e specchi che fanno giusto un po’ bistrot parigino. E un “menù brunch” che però di brunch ha solo alcuni grandi classici (uova alla benedict, uova alla florentina, uova scrambled, uova di quasiasi altro tipo, pancakes e waffles), mentre spiccano varianti marcatamente d’impronta francese, come la mia steak tartare.
Anzi, mi correggo subito: qualcosa di molto londinese c’è e mi pento come non mai di averlo scoperto solo al momento di digestione già avanzata: l’afternoon tea con la piccola pasticceria di Matthew Williamson. Con la cifra di 25£ ti arrivano tè e una fenomenale alzatina (che di “ina” non ha proprio nulla) con 5 tramezzini assortiti, dolci a cucchiaio monoporzione, bomboloni (in teoria per una sola persona…ma che stomaco hanno questi inglesi???) Mi sono dovuta limitare a rubare uno scatto ricordo dal tavolo nostro vicino (grazie al fantastico zoom del mio Samsung K Zoom) e segnarmi, al primo posto dei “to do” della prossima visita londinese, il punto “afternoon tea”.
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| Balthazar London – Brunch |
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| Balthazar London – Brunch |
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| Balthazar London – Brunch |
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| Balthazar London – Brunch |
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| Balthazar London – Brunch |
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| Balthazar London – Brunch |
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| Balthazar London – Brunch |
Beh, di punti da smarcare ne restano tanti altri, ma state sicuri che non tarderò a tornare (magari facciamo giusto passare primavera ed estate, in cui ho il vago sentore che il clima toscano potrebbe piacermi di più…).
Intanto accontentatevi di questi primi indirizzi (oltre al brunch, scoprite anche il mio consiglio per una cena fusion nel prossimo post)…buon appetito!!!
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London weekend to visit my best friend, basically two days dedicated to no stop chatting to catch up two month where we hadn’t seen each other and not even skype could replace the XXX (I wish we could find ten minutes to stay at home at the same time and have a proper call!)
This round not even the shadow of “cultural” activities (and not of course “turistic” ones, as it’s not the first time I wandered around South Kensington)….two days as a real londoner, with shopping (I will never be able to resist to Primark early morning call), beauty treats at Topshop (yes, I betrayed Benefit browbar with the ancient art of threading), long strolls in the city (freezing though…London doesn’t really consider spring in its year plan) and then, obviously, the best moment of any city weekend, even more if you’re in London: the brunch.
Saturday brunch, sunday brunch: two are the venues I tried this time. Curious to find out what I suggest? There you are!
Granger and co (Notting Hill)
It’s a “must” address for those who wish to grab somethig in Notting Holl. Definitely well populated.
Right for this reason, though, unless it’s August 15th (but also in that case, in London, I would be so sure to find a pleasant climate), get ready to loose control of all your arms while miserably waiting outside: they don’t take reservations and actually they are not moves by seeing the frozen snowmen in the queue. People wait outside and spy trough the windows on the meals of the luckier ones, already at their table.
But when it’s your turn, you get that the line was totally worth it.
The menù is definitely healthy and fresh: classical fruit and vegetable shakes, hamburgers, eggs, also huge and delicious salads.
But when it’s your turn you understand the line was worth it. Both our choices were great: raw tuna and avocado poke with brown rice and coconut chicken, with nashi pear,watercress and avocado.
The same applies to desserts, from the classical cupcake/cheesecake to the “new detox” alternative, chosen by the undersigned, with coconut yogurt, chia seeds, rawsperries and pomegranade.
Balthazar (Covent Garden)
It’s another big classic of Sundays in New York, which opened in London a couple of years ago. Even if here you breath very little of New York or London atmosphere. Starting from the location itself, clear copy of its american parent, with bar a huitres, boulangerie e the typical leather sofas and mirrors of a Parisian bistort. And the “brunch menu”, that actually shows only some classic plates (eggs benedict, screambled eggs, eggs florentine, eggs whatever..pancakes and waffle), while the foregroung is dedicated to French classics, such as my steak tartare.
Or better, I should correct myself immediately: there’s something definitely “London style” and it’s a pity I discovered it only after my lunch:the afternoon tea with Matthew Williamson small patries. With 25£ they bring your tea and an extraordinary three-level tray with 5 assorted sandwiches, little monoportioned cakes, croissanta (theorically for a single person…how much do these English people eat?!?!). I limited myself to stole a couple of pictures to our beside table (thanks to my fantastic Samsung K Zoom) and underline the voice “afternoon tea” in my “to do” list for te next visit in London.
This round not even the shadow of “cultural” activities (and not of course “turistic” ones, as it’s not the first time I wandered around South Kensington)….two days as a real londoner, with shopping (I will never be able to resist to Primark early morning call), beauty treats at Topshop (yes, I betrayed Benefit browbar with the ancient art of threading), long strolls in the city (freezing though…London doesn’t really consider spring in its year plan) and then, obviously, the best moment of any city weekend, even more if you’re in London: the brunch.
Saturday brunch, sunday brunch: two are the venues I tried this time. Curious to find out what I suggest? There you are!
Granger and co (Notting Hill)
It’s a “must” address for those who wish to grab somethig in Notting Holl. Definitely well populated.
Right for this reason, though, unless it’s August 15th (but also in that case, in London, I would be so sure to find a pleasant climate), get ready to loose control of all your arms while miserably waiting outside: they don’t take reservations and actually they are not moves by seeing the frozen snowmen in the queue. People wait outside and spy trough the windows on the meals of the luckier ones, already at their table.
But when it’s your turn, you get that the line was totally worth it.
The menù is definitely healthy and fresh: classical fruit and vegetable shakes, hamburgers, eggs, also huge and delicious salads.
But when it’s your turn you understand the line was worth it. Both our choices were great: raw tuna and avocado poke with brown rice and coconut chicken, with nashi pear,watercress and avocado.
The same applies to desserts, from the classical cupcake/cheesecake to the “new detox” alternative, chosen by the undersigned, with coconut yogurt, chia seeds, rawsperries and pomegranade.
Balthazar (Covent Garden)
It’s another big classic of Sundays in New York, which opened in London a couple of years ago. Even if here you breath very little of New York or London atmosphere. Starting from the location itself, clear copy of its american parent, with bar a huitres, boulangerie e the typical leather sofas and mirrors of a Parisian bistort. And the “brunch menu”, that actually shows only some classic plates (eggs benedict, screambled eggs, eggs florentine, eggs whatever..pancakes and waffle), while the foregroung is dedicated to French classics, such as my steak tartare.
Or better, I should correct myself immediately: there’s something definitely “London style” and it’s a pity I discovered it only after my lunch:the afternoon tea with Matthew Williamson small patries. With 25£ they bring your tea and an extraordinary three-level tray with 5 assorted sandwiches, little monoportioned cakes, croissanta (theorically for a single person…how much do these English people eat?!?!). I limited myself to stole a couple of pictures to our beside table (thanks to my fantastic Samsung K Zoom) and underline the voice “afternoon tea” in my “to do” list for te next visit in London.
Well, I still have several other points to mark, but you can be sure that I will be back soon (maybe it’s better to wait after spring and summer seasons, when I’ve got the feeling I could appreciated more the Tuscan climate).
In the meantime write down these first addresses (beside the brunch, discover my suggestion for a top fusion dinner in the next post)…and enjoy your meal!
