And a pub meal in the Pear Tree...

As has been catalogued here multiple times, one of my favourite things to do on a Sunday afternoon is to enjoy a long lunch with friends at one of the many fantastic pubs this little neck of West London has to offer. I love pubs with a bit of a unique atmosphere, an interesting menu and on a day like last Sunday, a well thought-out garden area is a bonus too.

Having been tipped off to The Pear Tree in Baron’s Court a few months ago by a friend of ours on Twitter (thanks, @nadiramakeup) I had been meaning to check it out for a while. A sunny afternoon and a friend who lives on the Picadilly Line provided the perfect opportunity to explore gastropubs new.

A 5 minute walk away from Baron’s Court, the Pear Tree has a very traditional exterior that stands out all the more for being surrounded by a fair amount of 1970s concrete. Once inside, a really traditional shabby-chic vibe is taken on through: all off- white tablecloths, heavy lampshades and a massive mahogany bar front and centre. It feels slightly kitsch, slightly 1940s tea room and it’s a feel that I thought was fun, quirky, and a welcome relief from the usual gastropub formula.

The service was really friendly, and the menu was an interesting mix of pub favourites (such as the roast) and twists on the expected. A decent scotch egg is pretty standard fare amongst Fulham gastro-pubs these days, but the black pudding scotch egg at the Pear Tree was a deliciously rich take on the popular bar snack. However, the twist may have been taken a little too far with the honey and mustard dressing which was served (thankfully) on the side, as I really didn’t think it went well. However, tastes differ and the scotch egg on its own was superb. As were the fish of the day croquettes my companion started the meal with.

The main courses were really hearty and original. I really enjoyed my rolled chicken with parma ham and stuffing, served with a green bean, shallot and quails egg salad. The rump steak with roasted new potatoes and root vegetables got the thumbs up too.

2 white wine spritzers, and bread basket and two fairly hearty courses down we didn’t have space to sample the dessert, but we had a great meal, and judging by the parties at the tables around us, they’re regularly churning out happy customers. It’s definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area.

The Pear Tree

14 Margravine Road. London W6 8HJ

http://www.thepeartreefulham.com/

Smiling wide in W6

We hate to start with a cliché, but people do tend to dread the dentist. Personally, I’ve never experienced a serious case of the fear, per se (I’m a good girl and I brush twice daily –although I’m sure I eat too many sweets and despite repeated attempts at scaremongering by my dentist I don’t floss as much as I should), and in fact I quite enjoy the whizzing, whirring, polishing and squeaky-clean-ness of it all. But I think it’s fair to say we do all dread a few choice phrases such as “Oooh [insert faux-concerned expression], I think that one might have to come out”, and “Nurse, pass me the drill”... (OK that last one was made up, has that ever happened in real life??)

But, a girl’s got to look after her pearly whites, right? Whether you’ve been through the teenage hell that are train-tracks or not, we all know deep down teeth are worth investing time in, even if it’s not as exciting as looking after your hair or nails. You only get one set. They can pretty much make or break your snogging hit-rate (shallow or not, I’d turn down a kiss from someone if their teeth were disgusting) and when they go wrong, it ALL goes wrong. Anyone who has sprouted wisdom teeth knows how much hell they can cause.

So, sexy or not... this one’s an ode to a dentist. Albeit, a dentists’ practice with slightly raised sexy stakes.

K2 Dental on the Fulham Palace Road has treated celebs (Zaki Kanaan specialises in cosmetic dentistry and the especially Dental Implants – rumour/their website has it that Jermaine Jackson and Sophie Anderton have dropped in for cosmetic procedures) and won a host of awards. However, the one that most caught my eye – amongst the usual accolades for safety and excellence – was a plaque declaring their place in the Shortlist of Britain’s Most Attractive Dental Practices! And attractive it is... with mahogany side boards, colourful yet tasteful art adorning the walls and cleverly hiding air conditioning units, a beautiful spiral staircase and decorative mirror sets around reception. Inside the practice rooms, the theme continues, and the technology is impressive. My favourite added extra had to be the screen which was suspended in front of the patient’s chair which the dentists could ‘flick’ images onto for you to see – showing somebody the inside view of their teeth, plaque and all, magnified around a foot from their face is a pretty effective tactic, trust me!

As for the consultation, my dental and hygienist appointment with Dominique Kanaan (again, a rather more glamorous individual than the dentists I am used to) was anything but scary. My initial assessment went beyond the usual questions such as do you smoke (no I don’t, *smug face*) and how many units of alcohol a week you consume (*not so smug now*) and actually went down to a deeper level around health issues, both personal and those that run in the family, and how those can affect your teeth, as well as your general well-being. Dominique was sure to explain what she was looking for at each check, what the potential results could mean for my teeth, and that photo-screen proved a real winner in showing me a little bit of what she was seeing to help drive the point home. All feedback was delivered with a smile and a helpful (and crucially, easily applied) remedy – she even assessed my brushing style and current dental product repertoire, recommending easy substitutes where possible.

The hygienist appointment was choc full of all my favourite bits of dentists’ magic. There were sprayers, scrapers, polishers, mirrors, whizzy things and plenty of splashing water. I’d honestly liken it to a deep facial for your teeth and it’s amazing to sit back for 30 minutes and let someone really make sure your teeth are the cleanest they’ll ever be! So there’s a feeling of pampering, coupled with extreme relief that all the yucky bits you’d seen on the aforementioned in-mouth photograph were no longer there! Trust me, no matter how good you think you are about brushing... a hygienist appointment is a must, and if you don’t mind the sound of metal on teeth, actually rather enjoyable. Dominique was also really helpful in answering any questions I had about cosmetic procedures, but without pushing anything at all. In fact, when I was asking about teeth whitening, she actively encouraged me to pursue the cheaper at-home option which only involved an initial consultation appointment, rather than return visits for in-salon treatment.

It’s great to know your dentist is approachable and human, and Dominique and Zaki Kanaan could not be further away from the drill-wielding stereotype. In fact, the couple bring a lot of character to the practice. They’ve bungee jumped, sky dived and for their latest venture they’re hoping to raise £6,000 for charity Bridge2Aid by climbing Kilimanjaro later on this year. If anyone can make dentistry a bit more sexy and exciting.. it’ll be these two!

K2 Dental

218 Fulham Palace Road

London W6 9NT

0207 386 5587