Finding the Middle East in the middle of Imperial Wharf

Rich yet zesty Foul Moudamas

Having lived near Imperial Wharf for a year now, I'm ashamed to say that although I visit daily to use the Overground, and occasionally pop into the Waterside for a spritzer with river views, I have never eaten at the plethora of restaurants that have popped up there, despite living less than a 5 minute walk away.

Since a girls' trip to Sharm El Sheikh, where just about the only sophisticated thing we did was eat at a really great Lebanese restaurant, I have been promising myself a visit to Yamal Alsham, a Syrian and Lebanese restaurant housed in the smart Imperial Wharf development, and which has the double benefit of offering half price meals to Tastecard holders. Not being able to get all four of the Egypt culprits together, and since my boyfriend has got to be the world's biggest kebab aficionado, I jumped at the chance to get him to raise the bar a little on the Middle Eastern fare, whilst simultaneously trying out a restaurant I'd had my eye on for so long.

3am kebab stop this ain't

So let's get things straight from the start. There are no 5am style kebabs at Yamal Alsham. Although they do offer a selection of superior sounding 'sandwiches', including the infamous Shawarma, this is a pretty upmarket establishment catering to a fairly upmarket clientele (those flats are expensive!), who know their stuff when it comes to Lebanese. When we visited we were surrounded by several parties of native Lebanese diners who were tucking into their food with gusto - that's always a good sign!

Hoummos beiruty and Bemieh bil zeit

Steering clear of the 'sandwiches', the boy and I were really impressed with the diversity of the menu. There is a large selection of drool-inducing hot and cold mezzé, as well as salads, fish specialities, grilled meats and more traditional main-courses. I'm no expert in Middle Eastern cuisine, and I feel compelled to mention how helpful the restaurant manager was when we were making our selections. She gave a pretty spot-on indication of the spice-level within each dish, and judging our level of familiarity against a series of the more common-place dishes she made some really great recommendations in terms of 'Lebanese and Syrian food - for beginners'. She also recommended a really great bottle of Lebanese red wine, from the Chateau Kefraya vineyards in the Bekaa Valley. We'd never thought of trying Middle Eastern wine before, and we found it full and well balanced, and very enjoyable.

With eyes slightly bigger than our stomachs, admittedly, we set on four mezzé to start, two cold and two hot.
The Hoummos Beiruty, infused with hot peppers, was rich and creamy, and ever so slightly warming. We also had the Bemieh bil zeit (Okra cooked in garlic, onions and tomato sauce) which was hearty yet refreshing. Of our starters the Makanek - pan fried Lebanese lamb and cumin sausages - were the stand out dish. Almost akin to a spicy Middle Eastern chorizo, this arrived sizzling at our table and were perfectly spiced and burst with rich flavour. An old favourite from Egypt, we also ordered Foul Moudamas, which are boiled broad beans seasoned with garlic, lemon juice and olive oil. The flavours and textures work well together; at once light and zesty, rich and satisfying.

Makanek - the stand out dish of the evening

After a pretty rich selection of starters we barely had room for the mains! However, the boy made a very impressive dent in his Kafta Khoshkhash, minced lamb with parsley in a spicy tomato and onion sauce, whilst I regretfully report that I could barely eat a quarter of my Kibeh Bilsaynieh (Baked minced lamb and cracked wheat parcels layers filled with seasoned minced lamb and pine kernels, served with yoghurt dip). This was quite an unusual dish which, to be fair, the Maitre D had warned me most uninitiated people don't really enjoy. It is very dry but served with a refreshing yoghurt dip to add moisture. I didn't have a problem with the taste, so I'm sure I would have eaten a lot more of it if I hadn't been so full, but it wasn't my favourite thing ever. I'm now kicking myself that I didn't take the manager's advice and order the lamb stuffed aubergine I had my eye on, but never mind - all in the name of trying something new! The manager helpfully sent us away with a doggy bag and I certainly enjoyed my Kibeh more on an empty stomach the next day!

In a bid to revive ourselves we rounded things off with a Green Tea and an Expresso. It was a lovely surprise when a selection of Baklava were also presented at the end of the meal, and once again my theory that we humans possess a separate stomach when it comes to desserts was vindicated when we managed to polish them all off.

My final verdict? We will definitely visit again, but starve ourselves all day beforehand. The food is really well made and the selection is massive. The front of house staff were wonderful and the Manageress could not have been more helpful or accommodating. On a nicer day they also have outdoor seating and a selection of Shisha pipes, so this is a definite full evening affair. Once I can get the Egypt rabble together again, I'll be taking them back too!

A taste of Shanghai... in Parsons Green!

Sarah and I were recently invited by the wonderful DV8 Fulham to visit Mao Tai, New Kings Road, to do a cocktail review for the magazine. Having previously clocked the fabulous sculpted bar, and slightly outrageous yet elegant goose-feathered ceiling lamps, I leapt at the chance to sample a little chinois sophistication. For her part, Sarah (who had already visited) couldn't wait to return.

Close as it is to Parsons Green, with its triangle of hearty British pubs, Mao Tai fills an important gap in the New Kings Road market - that for a beautifully appointed, date-friendly watering hole and restaurant. Refitted 5 years ago to include a beautiful 1940s Shanghai inspired bar, hand sculpted in Bath to include a fusion of European baroque (the candle holders were inspired by tombs in France) and pan-Asian motifs, Mao Tai has been a neighbourhood favourite for the last 30 years. Run by a wonderful local couple, Mark and Pat (it was Pat who designed the sumptuous interior), Mao Tai offers Pan Asian cuisine, both at the restaurant and as small sharing plates at the bar, a beautifully lavish private dining room, and possibly the largest selection of spirits that I have ever seen in a bar of that size!

At the bar, bartender Daniel explained that the emphasis is on bringing back some of that Old World Shanghai glamour, producing clean, classic drinks with a modern twist, using a selection of high quality spirits. For example, we sampled the Aviation cocktail, which was a firm favourite amongst the bohemian arts set (think Hemingway) at the Ritz, Paris in the 1920s. Clean, sharp and elegant, the Aviation takes gin as its base, and is sweetened with lime and maraschino cherries prepared on site. We also tried the sweet, but warming and reassuringly girl-friendly New York Sour, which takes Bourbon as its foundation, topping it up with Claret and maraschino. Continuing the classic cocktail theme we had a Gin 'n' Fizz (light and refreshing - made from Plymouth gin, elderflower and an artfully curled slither of cucumber) and the 'Spritz', which is made of Aperol (a slightly weaker version of Campari) and prosecco, and which is amazingly zingy and energising, with a perfect balance of sweet and sour flavours.

As mentioned before, Mao Tai stocks a huge range of spirits, many from lesser-known boutique producers. My Lychee Martini was made with gorgeous rose-infused Pinky vodka, and gin-lover Sarah was treated to a tasting session including Brockman's (blackberry infused) gin, UK staple Fifty Pounds Gin and Dry Fly, which is produced in a small Washington distillery.

I love Asian cuisine, so I couldn't wait to get stuck into some of the sharing platters served at the bar. Like the opulent yet elegant surroundings, the dishes were exquisitely presented, and bloody delicious. We tucked into Indian Ocean Tuna Rolls, Mediterranean Seabass Sashimi, Rock Shrimp Tempura, lightly battered chilli Salt n Pepper Squid and Crab and Ginger Vietnamese Rolls. I can honestly say they all totally hit the mark, and for those looking for a great date venue, cocktails and bar snacks at Mao Tai is guaranteed to impress (hint hint boyfriends)! If you're looking for a sophisticated place to catch up with the Ladies, you couldn't pick somewhere better for that either. All round - 5 stars. No wonder this place has been a such a firm local favourite for the past 30 years.

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Feeling Hot Hot HOT

Sarah and I have noted our previous experimentations with the world of yoga here, and I have long struggled to get into the practice due to a complete lack of flexibility, despite knowing that for that exact same reason I really ought to stick it out. Bearing that in mind, I have to admit that I was apprehensive at best about trying out Bikram Yoga. In truth, I was wondering what the blimmin' hell I had signed myself up for.

For those who don't follow celeb fitness regimes in the Daily Mail as avidly as I do (double shame here: yes, I read the gossip section of the Daily Whale, and no, I tend not to follow the regimes myself depsite all my best intentions!), Bikram Yoga has been getting a lot of press recently. It is a 90 minute session of 26 set postures, each repeated twice, and in 40.6 degree heat! The DM assures me that Jen, Gwyneth, GaGa and several more (equally gaga) celebrities are all devotees, and hey, if it works for them it's worth a go, right?

After a quick Google for Bikram in the local area I came across Hot Bikram Yoga, Parsons Green and was delighted to see that they offered a £15 10-day taster pass for the curious (and downright frightened) like myself. Taking along a friend for moral support, I arrived at the Parsons Green studio for my first class at 7pm on a Monday evening. I have to say, this might not have been the best time to have my first Bikram experience. It seemed half of SW6 had decided to start their week right, and the small studio was absolutely packed, and the smell than emanated from the studio from the class that had just finished was fairly overwhelming. The heat was certainly enhanced by performing the routine shoulder to shoulder with about forty others, but to honest, everyone was so sweaty that all inhibitions were lost fairly quickly!

I'll admit, it was sheer bloody mindedness that got me through my first class. As mentioned, the studio was a little overcrowded (although I only experienced this at the Monday 7pm class, so a tip from me - avoid this slot like the plague as the others aren't nearly so popular and the experience is much more relaxed) and I have never sweated so much in my life! I would never normally stay in a sauna this long, let alone exercise in one, yet the heat certainly allows you to stretch into the postures much more easily, and I found myself pushing myself much further than I have managed before, and with surprisingly little resistance from my previously inflexible muscles. However, the first experience is one you certainly just have to push through. Dizziness and nausea (although never extreme) are common, but the teachers always have newcomers identify themselves and never force anyone to push themselves through postures when they are feeling the strain too much. I even saw one teacher fetch a dizzy student a bottle of electrolyte enhanced water - so they do really look out for you!

For all the struggles of the first class, I was determined to come back and follow through. Not only did I feel AMAZING just a short while after the session ended (really relaxed, calm and cleansed - my skin was glowing), there was something incredibly satisfying about making it to the end of the 90 minutes, and having pushed my body into stretching much farther than I had previously managed. Right from the start, you do see a marked increase in your suppleness, even a few days after the class.

From class two and beyond, I found my flexibility noticeably increasing with each session, and I managed to almost enjoy the heat, acclimatising quicker and quicker each time. As the sweat flows, the toxins rush out, and my stomach muscles became markedly more toned after session three. It is bloody hard work, yet also relaxing and satisfying - I'm sure in great part because you can see yourself improving each time. I've always had trouble sleeping, and exercising in the evening can often exacerbate this. However, after each session (I'm afraid I never made the 6:30am ones!) I fell quickly into a deep and happy sleep. Just remember to drink as much water as you can manage before hitting the hay - there were a couple of mornings when I woke up very dehydrated indeed!

The studio is small, and very very busy, so it is important to work out which sessions work for you. As mentioned before, I'd avoid the Monday 7pm class but the others I visited (Monday 8:45, Thursday evening and Saturday 12pm) were not nearly so busy, so you get a little more attention, more space and breathing room! All the teachers have very different characters too, and my favourites were Veronika and Dom for their sense of humour, and attention to all their class mates - they both gently cajoled you into pushing yourself further, and made sure to correct you where you were going wrong. I'm not really into the more philosophical and meditative aspects of yoga (although I know some people are) so preferred classes with a little less emphasis on this, although it has to be said that with such a physical practice none of the classes can ever really end up being too "hippy". There is a lovely atmosphere in the class. Nobody tries to compete (although some of the others were really VERY flexible and I couldn't help feeling a twinge of jealousy) and I'm sure basically sweating all over your neighbour helps break down any barriers. Indeed, there is a real community around the studio - after tweeting about my experiences I found several readers eager to compare notes!

I really enjoyed my sessions at Hot Bikram Yoga. Although tough, it's also incredibly satisfying. And with unlimited yoga for 10 days priced at only £15, you don't have much to lose by trying out.... Just make sure you visit more than once to see all the benefits!

Hot Bikram Yoga
25 Heathmans Road
London
SW6 4TJ
020 7384 4454


PS Excuse the lack of pictures - it's not really appropriate to take a camera into the studio, and I certainly looked far too much of a state to feature!!