It was acceptable in the 80's...

Girls Friday night rolled around yet again and keen to lift the spirits following a week filled with desk hours, bosses, early mornings and rainy days we decided that some 80's fun was the answer and so Maggies it was! This establishment on the Fulham Road has been a roaring success since its opening last April attracting a fun and stylish crowd from the neighbouring South West boroughs. The small boutique club's decor is a mishmash of 80's culture drawing on cultural, political and artistic influences, culminating in a serious throwback to the 80's. The fluorescent rubik cube decor is suitably complemented by the freestyling musicians that accompany the funky DJ greeting clubbers to the main room upon arrival. 

The crowd was unfortunately predominately female during our visit, we arrived at 11.30pm and the dancefloor was already heaving with party goers (possible hen groups) throwing some shapes to the favourite 80's classics. Tequila shots and gin and tonics followed until we were itching to hit the dancefloor and blow off a week's worth of steam. Inhibitions suitably dropped, we soon joined the masses of  women dolled up to the nines dancing like no one was watching until our feet practically bled. I will definitely be returning to Maggies- it's fun, cool, smart and makes for a perfect girls night out.

 

Sake No Hana - great food and location, mediocre service

I admit that the whole furore surrounding this place had totally passed me by. To the extent that, when looking to book a cheap Wednesday night dinner with friends, and spotting it on the Tastecard listings, I assumed it must have been a much cheaper affair than it actually was. After all, TasteCard doesn't usually offer you deals on anywhere remotely fancy! I didn't follow through to the restaurant website (poor research I know) and was rather mortified when I turned up, having promised the girls a quick, and cheap, bite to eat, courtesy of my 50% discount.

Nonetheless, the surprise ended up being less embarassing, are more fabulous. Luckily, despite the dinner being scheduled the day before pay day, everyone was so excited by how goddam GORGEOUS this place is, that we barely registered the prices.

Sake No Hana is situated in what looks like a commercial building just off Picadilly, near Green Park. There is an intimate, low-lit cocktail bar on the ground floor (drinks from £9.50... I'm afraid we passed!), and to reach the main restaurant you go up a floor either by lift or escalator. Riding the escalator felt like entering a trendy nightclub, all black lacquered walls and low-lighting. Once you emerge onto the first floor you are greeted by an open sushi-kitchen and a minimalist but luxuriously designed restaurant, with the emphasis on sculptural woods (especially gorgeous was the wooden design suspended from the ceiling), and sleek furniture in varying hues of white.

Unfortunately, it transpired that my 50% off deal did not apply to the sushi and sashimi, which is unfortunate in a Japanese restaurant, but again it was my fault for not doing the research as on post-meal inspection this was clearly advertised on the TasteCard website. Not that it mattered, of the four of us, three ordered Japanese mains.

The food, when it arrived (and it arrived as soon as it was ready - I understand this might be the Japanese way but I do think expensive restaurants should make the effort to make sure food arrives together) was absolutely delicious. I order Tonkatsu Pork on a bed of white cabbage, whilst two of my friends ordered the seared tuna salad. The last clearly couldn't control her sushi cravings for the sake of her wallet and went for a selection of, very expensive but divine-tasting, handrolls, maki and futomaki. The food was also beautifully presented on dark slates - I know this is not the most original, but I do think it looks good. However, the service was less than brilliant. I think we might have ended up with a bit of a rookie, newby waitress but she tried to bring us somebody elses food on three occasions, didn't know which plate was meant to go to each diner, and we did have to request a glass of wine three times over. However, on debating the service charge with the restaurant manager, he was extremely professional about the whole thing, removing the 13% charge (ouch!) without fuss.

All in all, we had a wonderful experience, and the few hiccoughs didn't spoil the evening for us. Although, admittedly the experience probably seemed even better because we were totally unaware of any of the hype surrounding this place, and had been expecting somewhere on a different scale completely. Plus, we were long over-due a catch up!



 

Spicy Chili to nurse a February cold @ Coopers Arms

I had heard about the Coopers Arms from Jess and had also seen its regular tweets online and so when my bessie suggested a cheap and cheerful mid week supper we decided to give it a go. We were both quite broke and I had a streaming cold so their specialty chili con carne seemed like the perfect antidote to a miserable February evening.
The pub itself boasts a prime location just off the Kings Road on Flood Street, but I wouldn't say that it is quite in the same league as some of its swankier sisters such as the Builders Arms or the Phoenix. However, we weren't in the mood for swanky, we were in the mood for relaxed and low key. The service was really excellent and efficient, this might have had something to do with my pre dinner tweets to them, but it worked and we were very well looked after. The pub itself was quiet and not as atmospheric as we would have liked, there were a few men drinking pints and reading the paper.

I have heard that this is not that case at the weekend-I would imagine come Sunday lunch time there is quite a lively scene of Chelsea residents enjoying a roast and a bloody mary.
Once my initial medicine of a very nice white wine from their impressive wine list kicked in and my throat was suitably anesthetized I was thrilled to be served what the doctor really ordered, spicy chili con carne. The portions were generous and the quality of the food was good (you would hope so at £12 a main course) but hey it's Chelsea you can't really expect less. My bessie had the specialty prawn penne which was deliciously garlicky and and I devoured a plate of hot chili con carne. We were a little taken aback by the final bill but nevertheless trotted off merrily full of wine and hot food into the grizzly February night.

Mao Tai- Cocktails at their best

I have heard many things about Mao Tai, some rather mixed reviews about the food, but some rave reviews about the cocktails. I was desperate to see what they had on offer as I am becoming somewhat of a cocktail fiend these days having been so fiercely loyal to my gin and tonic previously. The layout of the bar is ideal as it allows you to sit on the high stools and people watch yet it is intimate enough to have a conversation about your most recent date/argument with your boyfriend without feeling encroached upon.

They obviously have certain requirements when hiring their bar staff as 99% of them are deliciously Italian and attractive, chiselled, tanned, perfect smiles, rugged stubble.....you get the picture. The cocktail menu is equally as aesthetically pleasing, it is split into various sections with cute quirky themes and destinations to suit every mood. The decor in Mao Tai is really impressive, light fixtures hang over the long bar decorated with hundreds of thick white feathers almost making you feel that you could be in Shanghai, if it wasn’t for the 22 bus screeching past every eight minutes.

Mao Tai is expensive, the cocktails range from £8-£11 and they add a 12.5% service charge even if you are sitting at the bar, however, in this instance it is a case of getting what you pay for. The bartenders do not rush and take time to carefully describe the various ingredients, tastes and flavours that they are lovingly blending for your pleasure. The result- sweet heaven in a sip, we had one lychee martini and one bramble and both were divine.

Mao Tai-
Good For: Aperitif, dates (if he’s paying), special occasions
Bad For: Before pay day, big groups, pre night out drinks

We Love Nails Inc

As previously mentioned in this blog I have a slight penchant for painting my nails and an impressive collection of polishes, my brand of choice, Nails Inc. They are thick, glossy and fun colours with something to suit every mood! I tend to change the colour every week, so was intending to do 'shade of the week'- Here are the last 2 weeks shades...

Jermyn Steet-this is one of my favourites, it always looks elegant!

Spring Mews-An optimistic choice but it is nearly Spring!

Football Match and Girls Night = A surprisingly good combination

Wednesday night rolled around and the mid week work blues were setting in, so a girls dinner was promptly arranged and after a brief stint of google searching ‘gastro pub Fulham’ a new venue was decided upon, The Kings Arms on New Kings Road (by Putney Bridge). I spoke to the manager prior to arrival to book a table and was warned that a rather significant football match was due to take place that evening, but he said the dinner service would resume as normal and it wouldn’t be a disturbance....hmmmm.

After profusely apologizing to the girls for choosing a less salubrious venue for our girlie catch up mid week supper, we settled down among about 30 men and a massive projector and booming football commentary (Yes we know, we were warned). Anyway, one of my girlfriends is now in a very loved up committed relationship with a die hard Arsenal fan and was delighted that she could watch the match(!!!) during dinner. I will now tell you that this review will be a before and after, as the manager informed me that they are about to embark on a several thousand pound refurbishment and will have two new chefs- he assured me it would be a very different environment post refurb. So here we go, the before....

The chicken wings that we shared to start were really tasty (and very reasonably priced) but they did come out cold initially, however, the staff were so apologetic and compensated us with a free bottle of wine so it was not a problem at all. We then had a salad each, one beef, one chicken ceaser and one greek with lamb kofta- all of which we fine, nothing exceptional but not bad in any way. I must confess though that this menu is not of the swanky high price gastro pub variety, it has a selection of simple pub grub dishes all of which are under £10 and so you can't really complain.

The wine flowed and once the match had called at 90 minutes it was extra time for the girls! We were soon approached by a fun group of guys who bought us drinks and kept us entertained for the next hour by telling silly jokes, playing games and trading opinions on local establishments. By this point my loved up friend had left and my best friend and I were given a free round of Jaeger Bombs (on a Wednesday OUCH) by the friendly manager! We ended up having a very merry time with our charming new friends and eventually staggered out somewhat worse for wear at about midnight. I didn’t LOVE the food or venue but I loved the staff and atmosphere and will definitely be one of the first to return post refurbishment!

Blue Valentine

Now I'm very aware that those of you who are happily (or even unhappily single) have absolutely no desire whatsoever to hear some over-gushing blogger wax lyrical about her perfect Valentine's evening, so I'll leave it at this: Boy - you did goooooood.

And for those of you with a secret Bridget Jones-eque desire for Valentines to be a bit of a flop for anyone the slightest bit loved up... Well, I've got a pretty good peace offering for you too. I pretty much ruined Valentines by spewing, several times, at Blue Elephant, Fulham.

I'd just like to caveat that I really don't think this was the food, which was, as always, bloody divine (not for nothing this joint is a firm favourite of mine). But merely because, stupid Jess, I went to my Valentine's meal CHRONICALLY hungover. Not a good start I know... who does that? But anyway, let me assure you, the 3 courses I managed to sample of this 5 course extravaganza were absolutely delicious.

I've only been to Blue Elephant a few times, but it really is quite a magical place for me. I've documented my love of anywhere with a theme before, and this place really is like a much better version of the Rainforest Cafe. Adding in those crucial grown up factors of beautifully cooked, beautifully presented food, and substituting the plastic, robotronic animals and half-hourly "thunderstorms" of the Rainforst Cafe for a wonderfully balanced mix of dark woods, foliage, a koi river and even a miniature floating market... Blue Elephant really does get you on all your senses. And did I mention I LOVE Thai food, and I LOVE anywhere themed....

We booked in for the obligatory 5 course set menu and kicked off the evening with cocktails. I rather predictably went for a Mai Tai, which was pretty much on the money, and presented with the typical Blue Elephant flourish. The boy was feeling a bit more adventurous and I'm glad he was, as I'd never tried the absolutely gorgeous mango and chilli martini otherwise. It really was a fantastic mixture, drawing inspiration from Thai cuisine in a way I hadn't seen applied to drinks before. It was a really great balance although we perhaps took it down a bit too slow as those final dregs were pretty darn spicy!

The first course of three amuse bouche arrived. As with many Thai restaurants, the Blue Elephant sets a lot of store by presentation. Luckily, the taste was just as good. The trio consisted of Soup Bai Toey - coconut cream soup flavoured with pandanus leaves, Chor Muang -steamed floral dumplings with butternut pea flour and an exotic stuffing & Yam Saparod - pineapple and spring onion salad. The triumph of the three was the dumpling, which had a lovely thick consistency and tasted slightly peanutty, although the balance of flavours in the salad and the delicate yet creamy soup were also pretty special.

I'm glad my little bout of illness didn't set in until after the starter platter, and I thought all these were the highlight of the meal. My favourite was the Yam Mamuang Ped Rom Kwam -a spicy little basket of Thai green mango salad, with smoked duck portions and crushed peanuts. I also loved the Pia Yang Ta-Krai - grilled salmon skewers with a mint and coriander sauce. I was intrigued by the Thai Foie Gras but I have to say I don't like foie gras at the best of times, and while I applaud them for trying to add their own twist to a classic, I didn't enjoy it. Less adventurous, but also pretty tasty, were the prawn cake and chicken and crab dumpling that rounded off the starters.

But aren't they laid out so beautifully.....

I confess I basically didn't eat any of the mains. I think spice on an unsettled stomach was really taking it's toll by this point. The boy said they were all delicious, particularly the Beef Massaman and the Giant King Prawn with tamarind sauce. However on the whole, the selection of mains and accompaniments were slightly less adventurous than the first few courses. Also served were:

Kai Himmapan - a medley of chicken, deep fried taro, onion and cashew nuts in the Chef's secret sauce

Poo Nim Pirot - Crispy soft shell crab flavoured with fiery chilli and Krachai Root

Kron Karn Luang Garden - wok fried vegetables in soy

Ba-Mee Thok - green wonton noodles tossed with garlic oil, chicken flakes and shrimps

Koo Klong - steamed and jasmine rice

I begun to feel better in time for puddings - I swear it's true that your sweets are stored separately in your stomach from your savourys - and again the restaurant rounded off with a selection of mini-bites. Mango sorbet, belgian chocolate mousse (divine!), raspberry macaroon and mixed Thai fruit. All were really tasty and I love having a selection of sweets to round things off - it makes me feel like a naughty little girl going wild in a candy shop!

So although my evening was slightly ruined by feeling so poorly - something totally out of the restaurants control, and they couldn't have been more lovely when they realised I was having to frequent the ladies whilst clutching my stomach more often than the average diner - I can definitely heartily recommend. The service is great (although at one point we did have to order tap water twice before receiving it), the food and presentation gorgeous, the setting AMAZING. 5 stars.

Blue Elephant

3-6 Fulham Broadway

Nearest tube: Fulham Broadway

The Valentine's Menu was £79 per head, excluding drinks

Ukai Ahoy

This week has been a goodie in terms of extracting maximum value from my Taste Card, I've used to for about three work lunches and on Thursday evening an old friend and I set out to explore what SW London had to offer in terms of heavily discounted sushi!

Apart from Ukai being situated a lot further away from Clapham Junction that I anticipated (stupid of me to assume that any Lavender Hill address had to be close to the station) it was actually a great success. The atmosphere of the place was really sweet - it was small yet sophisticated. The low lighting was bang on, with each table having it's own low-hanging ceiling lamp, and it set off the dark woods perfectly. Another HUGE advantage, as a TasteCard customer used to be told that the promised discount in reality only applies to those parts of the menu you don't want, my card got my 50% off on ALL food items.

Clearly, if the food is half the price you have have twice as much!!! So between us in the end we samples two varieties of noodle soup, the salmon and tuna sharing platter, the salmon hand roll, and a plate of salmon and avocado maki. The total price = £22 including drinks.

We went for the small bowls of noodle soup, and the portions were really pretty ample. Although I prefer my food with a bit of a kick to it, my seafood udon broth contained plenty of prawns, octopus and crab, and all in all was pretty tasty. However, I probably should have asked for some chili oil to add - my mistake!

The sharing platter was fairly ample. For it's full £10 retail price I might have found it a bit small - but then, what sushi place can you think of that makes a name for itself by stuffing it's customers? It containted sashimi, nigiri and maki and all tasted very fresh and delicious. C's handroll was enormous - and was apparently good enough that she was unwilling to share it!!! We'll take that as a firm thumbs up then.

To be honest, the food was very good but fairly unremarkable. Perhaps we didn't do it justice in that we didn't order very adventurously. Sometimes for a quick midweek supper you just want to stick with what you know you'll like and concentrate on having a good catch up. In terms of the deal we got, I would definitely return, but I think it might be a bit far for me to go on a regular basis as I suspect I could probably find a near identical restaurant nearer home. Still, if you're local to Clapham and don't mind a brisk walk to the mid-regions of Lavender Hill, I'd definitely give it the thumbs up. They also seem to do a pretty brisk trade in take-away.

#My Spring Transition

#My Spring Transition by jess_page87 featuring leather jackets

It's definitely getting warmer.... this is what I'd LOVE to be wearing, if I were to get a sudden windfall of cash that is! A girl can dream....

Bouches Suitably Amused

This establishment has been on the hit list for quite some time, so when I asked my girlfriends if we could go for a quick aperitif pre dinner here I met no resistance.

I could never have predicted what would unfold that evening, a low key Wednesday night supper resulted in my staggering home at half midnight clutching a pizza my friend had made in the restaurant kitchen, a rose and a sprained ankle from some dubious dancing. Anyway, the less said about that the better, onto the review of drinks at Amuse Bouche.

This champagne bar is situated conveniently by Parsons Green tube and has a reputation for attracting wealthy 20 something men at the weekends who are looking to flash their hard earned Liverpool Street cash. I went with my two favourite single girlfriends, but this was a strictly girls only night, we hadn't seen each other in a couple of weeks so there was 14 days of job frustrations, first dates and new haircuts to catch up on.

We all started with a glass of the house champagne, this slipped down very easily and it was mere moments before the menu was back out and we were choosing a champagne cocktail. I had a 'Geisha' (£7.50)- it was fizzy, fruity and really quite delectable, my girlfriends both went for an Elderflower Sling (£8.50) which was light and refreshing. The drinks were very good and the atmosphere in the bar was nice, it wasn't too busy and we were able to have an hour of gossiping uninterrupted. I can imagine it might be a different story at the weekend....

Our only criticisms was one moody waitress and being charged incorrectly with the final bill- but this would definitely not deter us from going back. The two drinks cost us £16 each which was not eye watering and so we teetered off merrily to our dinner reservation, blissfully unaware of the carnage that was about to commence two bottles of wine later-all part of the fun of a single girl living in Fulham!

Nails Incorporated

You would right to be surprised to see me blogging about nail polishes, nail care, all things manicures and general hand-related items. That is, or was, almost exclusively Sarah's domain. She's got a bag of nail polishes the size of my underwear drawer and I'm not sure I've ever seen her wear the same nail polish twice.

Me, on the other hand... Well, I bit my nails until about 6 months ago, and ever since I've been locked in desperate battle with urges to chews, nails so weak that they break on a weekly basis and the sad realisation that at the age of 23 I simply haven't got a clue when it comes to manicures.

Yet, last weekend I spent almost £40 on Nails Inc products... Odd it may seem, but there is method to the madness. My nails do seem to be getting stronger and longer and the logic is that some pretty polish will a) add another strengthening layer b) put me off the prospect of chowing down on my fingertips. And I have to admit, Sarah's enthusiasm for the subject is rather infectious and the final barrier to purchase was removed by Glamour's latest discount code for 20% Nails Inc online.

And look what came through the post today.... The latest Cashmere collection: heather grey, mushroom brown, pink mink and iced coffee. Or in NailsInc speak: Sydney Street, Hyde Park Mews, Cromwell Road and Fulham Palace Road. I think it's pretty cute that they're all named after London streets... and this particular collections seems pretty apt for someone living in an SW post code! I also indulged and bought a mid grey shade entitled London Sky, and because I joined their ultimate reward scheme (in for a penny, in for a pound!) they also threw in a free brolly and their Fitzmaurice Place shade - hot pink!

If you'll excuse the quality of the manicure (I'm new to this remember...) this is what London Sky looks like on. I'm pretty chuffed with it!

Final note... if you have any manicure tips - please share! Clearly, I'm in desperate need of them!

A Rose Amongst The Thorns

Excuse the hair... at work that day I had to stand in for a 16yr old model on our ad shoot - it wasn't a look that suited me!

Both Sarah and I walk past The Rose every day on the way to and from work, so although it’s not one of our more local pubs, we were looking for an excuse to make the trip up the Wandsworth Bridge Road to check it out. The occasion? Live music every second Tuesday of the month. We thought it could be the perfect double whammy... checking out a new pub, and Fulham’s hottest new musical talent, all in one evening.

I had never been into The Rose and when we arrived our reactions were mixed. Unlike other local pubs, the space was quite big and the tables were by no means squashed together, giving the pub a more relaxed feel, whilst also feeling that little bit more luxurious (personal space comes at a premium in central London!). However, we were hoping that the place would have a bit more of a buzz to it, and there were just a few other tables of people. Luckily for us, one of those other tables was filled with a group of old school friends of mine, which was a lovely surprise, without which the evening might have been that little bit more sterile. Indeed, my current at work hangover would most likely have been averted, and we may have even made it to Mao Tai, which we were also intending to review that evening... Never mind eh?

We settled in with some white wine spritzers (fairly reasonable at under £4 each) and turned our attention to the first act – a saxophonist. While this guy was undoubtedly talented, I’m not sure whether it set the right tone for an informal evening in a pub. However, act number two was absolutely brilliant, and I only regret that these two girls travelled all the way from North London to play to such a small crowd! Either way, one girl played guitar and provided backing vocals, whilst the other sang, and they produced a really great repertoire of low-key covers from Britney Spears’ ‘Toxic’ to Adele. Without meaning to take words from the mouth of the everyone’s favourite Irish madman – Louis Walsh – they did really manage to make the songs ‘their own’ and both girls had really gorgeous singing voices. Despite the mild aberration with the saxophone, the soulful, acoustic pop of the second act seemed well matched to a Fulham pub crowd – (as much as I hate to admit it) not hugely musically sophisticated, but a really pleasant, easy listen which you could happily tune into for a few hours, or treat as high calibre background music while enjoying a few glasses of vino at your local. As much as those two aspiring musicians from North London would hate to read the above – I really do mean it as a compliment! The girls were really good, and will hopefully be back – from our brief conversation with the owner he seemed really pleased with them, and several of the punters made the effort to go up to them after their set and let them know how much they enjoyed it.

The talented ladies of North London

As for food and drinks. We did have supper before we came out, but I couldn’t resist trying the ‘scotch egg’ advertised on their bar menu to see how it compared to that of The Sands End. Whilst the Sands’ Scotch Egg really is out of this world, the Roses’ offering wasn’t too bad either. Although it was almost a pound more expensive, the egg didn’t have that lovely warm, running interior that you get at The Sands End. Yet, they add an interesting twist by serving it with a mild curried mayonnaise – a pairing that I was a little suspicious of but actually really enjoyed.

The Rose's Scotch Egg with curry mayo.... nomnomnom

We also asked after cocktails, and got a fairly confused response. There is no cocktail list per se – in fact one of the newer barmen thought they didn’t serve them – but when we repeated our request to the owner he was more than happy to offer us a small selection, including the house signature cocktail, which they call ‘The Rosebud’. Admittedly, not the most sophisticated of concoctions - The Rosebud is a mix of vodka, cranberry, soda water and Amaretto – it drew a mixed reaction from this pair of SW6ers. Sarah – the resident die hard G&T junkie, found it far too sweet and thought it stuck to the roof of her mouth. I thought it was really nice though. It is sweet, but I didn’t find it sticky or cloying and it’s quite a nice ‘relaxing’ cocktail that goes down the hatch pretty easily. But then, I’m one of the view that the more juices and bright colours you can cram in a cocktail the better (oooh the sophistication!), I’ve got a really sweet tooth and I have to say I was slightly taken in by the name – ‘The Rosebud’ does sound cute doesn’t it?

The Rosebud - The Rose's Signature Cocktail

All in all, a more than pleasant evening. I’d definitely return to The Rose for a chilled out glass of wine, and having a mid-week live music night is a really great idea to add something a little bit different to what otherwise is usually a fairly unremarkable evening (Big Fat Gypsy Weddings on Channel 4 aside!). I’d really like to return on a slightly busier evening too – I can imagine that at the weekends there’d be a bit more of a party atmosphere, whilst the larger space would hopefully stop it ever becoming a sweaty mosh-pit. For smokers, there is a decently-sized garden out the back, and the main courses I saw emerging from the kitchen looked pretty generous, hearty (if not quite standard) pub fare. On Tuesday, they do steak and chips for two with a bottle of wine for £30 – combine this with live-music and I think you’d have yourself a pretty decent mid-week supper.

The quest for the perfect blow dry part 1

In my opinion nothing can beat the feeling of having your hair professionally blow dried to perfection and bouncing out of the salon doing your best Cheryl impersonation. No matter what products, tongs or rollers I use at home, I can never get it looking like it does when a hairdresser lovingly spends an hour with a big roller brush drying and styling it to perfection.

My mission: Find the best blow dry in SW6

Take 1: Headmasters Fulham Broadway

This salon is so local and convenient, and with a recommend a friend voucher a cut and blow dry is half price. My cold had taken full hold of my pathetic immune system and I was feeling very sorry for myself- to the salon I went for some much needed pampering.

It was the same lady I had had before and so the foreplay began, she washed it (very nice little head massage) gave it a trim and some 'shape'- then we got to the good bit, the 'blow dry'. I feel she may have been rushed as it was a surprisingly quick experience, which was a shame considering it was the main act which I had been anticipating the most. I'm sure girls can relate, to the blow dry.

A day at work had been spent daydreaming of reading my favourite magazine, drinking the yummy elderflower drinks they give you whilst being transformed from bedraggled sniffling rat to Cheryl Cole's glamorous younger sister. I was in post blow dry bliss immediately afterwards, but then came that dreaded disappointment that is so common, yet so difficult to prevent.......when it drops.

By 10pm I was less Cheryl circa 2009 X factor (2010 was a bit of a dodgy year for our Cheryl style wise bless her), more Cheryl circa Byker Grove 2000. It was flat, looked a bit greasy and I had curtains! I was hoping it would last the next day as I had a work event the following evening, but in the morning my hair was stuck to my head like a pancake, and the cold had got worse. My post blow dry euphoria had well and truly vanished and I was on a big come down.

I will continue my mission (budget depending) and keep you ladies posted.

All The Single Ladies......

Come the F**K on Bridget!

As the single half of this blogging duo I have decided to put together a Top 5 to do list for the dreaded Monday evening that is looming next week.

Valentines Day, a difficult day of the year to navigate for single ladies in London. If it's a thirsty Thursday or weekend it can be brilliant as all the singletons are out on the town and hopefully feeling more romantically inclined. You can be certain that if you are in a nightclub in the SW region on Valentines Day the vast majority of men in there will be single. However, 2011 poses a dilemma-the day of love falls on the notoriously depressing and dull Monday night.

Stereotypically my Monday nights are made up of legs bums and tums classes, nail painting, chicken kievs and glee. On principal I feel I cannot pretend that Valentines Day isn't existing and stay in the safety of my flat and so I have dragooned my best friend into an evening of fun- yet to be decided. Therefore I have composed a top 5 to do list for girls who are not in a Bridget Jones ice cream/ Alsation eating mood but bearing in mind it is a Monday night:

#1 Quiz + Cocktails

Fail safe sex and the city activity, the first suggestion was always going to revolve around alcohol- I recently a very reasonably priced and delicious cosmopolitan at The Drayton Arms in Chelsea, and on Monday nights they have a quiz night thereby minimal risk of smooching couples!

#2 Bikram Yoga

OK so whilst the couples might be getting hot and sweaty in the bedroom why not do something new, good for you and guaranteed to make you giggle- Bikram Yoga in Parsons Green always has special offers on. A bit of sweaty yoga and a glass of vino after at one of the many P Green drinking establishments!

#3 Pedicures

This would inevitably sneak onto the list as I have an obsession with grooming my hands and feet, but there is a very cute salon on Wandsworth Bridge Road 'Totally Tips and Toes' which I am yet to try which is open until 7pm. Leave work promptly at 5.30 head there for a pedi with your bessie and enjoy some pampering. Then afterwards you can go home get a takeaway and watch Bridget Jones!

#4 Learn the language of love

A bit of brief research has informed me that I can get Italian language lessons on my doorstep (Parsons Green). What better way to spend the day of love than brushing up on your Italian- you may even meet a gorgeous teacher who you fall madly in love with who whisks you off to Rome for romantic weekends......yeh OK unlikely but you never know! http://www.italianlessonslondon.com/

#5 Sit in darkness, be entertained and stuff yourself with popcorn

This is a fail safe Monday night activity for Valentines- Fulham Broadway Cinema have a selection of chic flicks showing next week (A little bit of heaven, The Dilemma, Burlesque). There is a high couples risk with this option but hopefully if the film is girlie enough you may get away with it. A good cheesy chic flick and some popcorn alleviates the staying in sobbing into your pillow scenario without actively forcing yourself to have lots of fun.

Ode to the Sands End

We've been saving up this post for a while. Like a pair of love-lorn teens unable to express ourselves, we really haven't known how to put it, to do justice to it.

The Sands End, my friends, is like the Gisele Bunchden of pubs. We love it.

Maybe it's because the menu is to die for, and food comes out perfectly every time.

Maybe it's because, living so close, we get that nod of recognition from the staff, some of whom have become friends, that makes you feel like you're coming home, rather than leaving it.

Maybe it's that shabby chic, higgledy-piggledy decor that just treads the line between elegant, cosy and quirky.

Maybe it's because they serve the best goddam scotch egg ever to grace the British Isles since Fortnum and Mason served them up in 1738... probably better! It's warm, the egg still manages to be gooey, it's perfectly seasoned and trust me - you'll never be able to eat one of those supermarket imitations ever again.

Maybe it's because, if it's good enough for Prince Harry & co (I NEVER spot celebrities, let alone royals, so that evening was pretty exciting) it's more than good enough for me.

Either way, whether we're looking for a white wine spritzer and a gossip, the perfect venue to have the parents treat us to a Sunday Roast, the scene for a first date (cosy and intimate, whilst still lively) or a place to while away an entire day with friends, gradually picking our way through the menu, browsing the Sunday papers and becoming more raucous as the wine and ciders flow.... this always seems to be the first port of call.

Nonetheless - we could eulogise all day. But it would seem biased (we know - it basically already is biased) if we didn't submit The Sands to some sort of review.

But which occasion to choose? There are too many to think of. So we'll go with the principle of recency, and review the Sunday lunch I recently had with friends.

I was first introduced to the Sands End by the boy, who actually used to live further down Stephendale Road (and now I've ended up here - could this pub be the missing link?) and so it's become somewhat of a tradition to get a meal at the Sands when he comes to stay. This time, another friend was over from Germany also who really wanted a good pub lunch, so the choice really did seem obvious! After the initial panic when we burst through the doors at 12pm opening time, only to find that every single table had been booked up (this place is popular!) - the staff were really accomodating and did some table battleships for us - we settled in and greedily perused the Sunday menu.

Now I have to admit, I'm somewhat a creature of habit when it comes to this place, and every time we come I insist that between me and the boy, we order the oysters and a scotch egg to start. This is not a culinary match made in heaven I know, but they're both so good that I can never decide between them so my greedy little tummy has to have both (my stomach is a brat!). So it was fantastic to have a third party to get out of this starter rut and see what else the Sands can serve up as a first course. John had the pork rillette - a kind of grainy pate - which was charmingly served up on a slate, with the rillette inside a traditional chutney jar. I'm not really into my pate, but both boys were in raptures over it, so we'll give it the big thumbs up. Especially as I'm a real sucker for nice presentation.

True to form, the oysters were incredibly fresh and served with a perfectly balanced garnish, and the scotch egg (described above) was just as gooey and delicious as ever.

For the mains we ordered the Roast Beef, the pork belly and the pheasant. The roast beef was perfectly pink, the pork belly was succulent and the meat pulled apart in that delightfully easy way (like you're ripping off bits of candy floss) that indicates it is cooked just-so. BUT the piece de resistance was the pheasant. I mean, my pork was really good, but as soon as I had a bite of that pheasant a case of serious food envy beset me. It was rich, yet tender, and just so so yummy. All three dishes were served with perfect roasties (fluffy and slightly salted on the outside) and a selection of vegetables that had been lightly caramelised, adding yet another layer of flavour to some plates which already tasted pretty damn good.

All in all, two courses and some drinks for three came in at just over £80. That's not the cheapest ever, but a) this is Fulham, since when has dining out been cheap? and b) this place has a deserved reputation as a bit of a culinary destination. It's dining area is always full. In fact, I notice it is proudly displaying a recently acquired badge that says "Recommended in the Guide Michelin 2011". 'Nuff said.

WishList #1

WishList #1 by jess_page87 featuring ankle booties

Have a biker-luxe moment this evening... ironic as I'm browsing Polyvore in my jimmy-jams with a glass of Pinot. None the less - these lot are definitely on my lust list

February Wish List - hitting SW6 this month

So we are officially over January, everyone's most depressing month... hurrah! So in the brighter light of the latter end of Winter, here are the things we'll (hopefully) be getting up to in February...

1. Hitting The Rose for Tuesday night open-mic sessions... who knows, we could find Fulham's next hot talent (musically, or looks-wise... either will do!).

2. Absolutely rinsing my recently acquired TasteCard - essential to keep those blogposts flowing whilst avoiding bankruptcy. First up, we'll be sampling as much local sushi as we can muster, from Ukai in Clapham Junction, to Me <3 Sushi at Imperial Wharf. We'll let you know what we think.

3. Still on the Asian theme - we're turning into veritable little Geishas this month - we're desperate to try the oriental-inspired cocktail and dim-sum menu at up-scale eatery Mao Tai on the New Kings Road. Already licking my lips at the sound of This Side of Paradise... Champagne, dark rum, lime and maraschino... sparkling, refreshing and decadent.

4.. Checking out our much acclaimed local theatre, the quirky and independent Finborough. With tickets from £9 to £15, and top young British writers, it would be criminal not to sample some more refined SW6 culture. As much as we kid ourselves, trying out the latest cocktail additions at Embargo's is not going to enrich our souls much - just our toxin levels.

5. Who knew we had a Michelin-starred local? Tables at The Harwood are notoriously hard to come by, but when your greedy taste-buds are calling out for something that bad... Well, you'll do a lot to get it. Let's see how it goes.

Sounds good right?! What have you got planned for the next month?

Embargo 59 a.k.a Embargos

I tentatively write this review, bearing in mind this establishment has a marmite quality for most. Boasting an unassuming location on the corner of Lotts Road and Kings Road, passers by would mistake this as a decadent antique shop that their grandmother would love- however, come 11pm it is a very different story. The things that are brilliant, in my opinion, about Embargos are listed below.

-The staff- if you don’t act like a t**t and be rude, try to haggle free entry (they do not give free entry unless you are on a pre-registered guest list and arrive before 11) they are actually hilarious. They are funny, friendly and quite caring (you would be surprised how much the bouncers check/monitor to see that girls are not putting themselves in dangerous situations).

-The guarantee- Embargos is a guaranteed good night. If you want to go out, have some drinks, have a dance it is local, convenient and does what it says on the tin. It obviously appeals more if you are single because the majority of people in there at the weekend are single. It is guaranteed good music, the Thursday night D.J. in particular is brilliant, the drinks are good (great fish bowls, cocktails, Jaegerbombs), the club itself is clean, the only thing that can be questionable, which they can’t control, is the crowd.

-The Garden/ Terrace- This really comes into its own in the Summer- the garden terrace boasts an outdoor, albeit expensive, bar, lots of seating and outdoor heaters. I love to have a cocktail here, do a bit of people watching and have a fag....

A lot of people think this place is full of idiots and pretentious, but I do beg to differ. It’s not a load of reserved tables where you are by no means allowed to perch let alone sit down. People are not buying magnums of champagne and standing there looking very miserable and ‘pensive’, unlike some other nightclubs. It is a mishmash of (admittedly 70% privately school educated) under 30’s who have probably worked too hard that week, are out with their friends and really just want to blow off some steam, have a dance and if they are lucky get a snog. As I said......it does what it says on the tin.

All images taken from Embargo website-

Janets Bar - Janet can keep it

So, I get what this place is and isn’t trying to be. It’s definitely unpretentious, and the free popcorn and live music was a nice touch. However, it’s really not to my taste. It’s a long, thin place absolutely full to brimming with people, with a real international vibe. In fact, it really reminded me of my Erasmus year abroad. The walls were covered in print-out posters and photographs, the clientele very dressed down, and the bar very well stocked. It looks kinda cheap, but kinda fun. Remembering that there are loads of foreign students based around South Ken I eagerly attacked the bar thinking I’d get myself a cocktail in central London at a decent price. And this was what totally ruined it for me. I don’t mind if something is unpretentious and low key. In fact I commend such a place for existing just round the corner from somewhere like Boujis which prides itself on extorting money from the banker crowd.

What I do object to, is NINE BLOODY POUNDS FIFTY for a really standard drink, in a pretty tiny glass. I could get myself a beautifully presented, well mixed and brilliantly thought out cocktail for that amount in a many other neighbouring bars. I was really looking forward to my Appletini – and it did taste fairly good – but I was disappointed that it was served in a tiny little tumbler, and that the tumbler was barely half full.

The rest of my party did kind of enjoy themselves – the place is laid back, open late, and probably perfect if you’ve already had a few too many, as most of us had – but the common consensus was that the drinks really weren’t worth the prices paid. It’s almost all we could talk about in the brief time we were there.

I will not be going back. Especially as just the briefest bit of Googling shows the Janet bar-staff up for a pretty nasty bunch. I would urge any of you considering going to ponder the response of the bar to these reviews posted to independent website ViewLondon http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/pubsandbars/janets-bar-userreview-14416.html

If you can’t take criticism – sort your act out or ignore it. But don’t start laying into your paying customers. Especially when your customers are paying through the nose.

All in all, not too bad, but not as polished as I would personally have liked. Horrendously over-priced. I won’t be going back.

Janets Bar

Nearest tube: South Kensington

30 Old Brompton Road

Pictures from Thursday Club and RBKC council website

Decent Dim Sum and Dodgy Music on Wandsworth Bridge

I am dining again with the ex, one of our biggest mutual appreciations in life is food and restaurants. After some basic internet research of restaurants near SW6 that accept taste London cards (world’s best invention) he proposed China Boulevard. Upon entering this establishment you may be a little surprised to see a tuk tuk and various lanterns leading to a mysterious staircase. This was a Monday night and I had the beginnings of a cold so was starting to wonder what I had let myself in for.

The restaurant itself is pretty vast, with what can only be described as an elaborate Chinese wedding reception perfectly set on the downstairs section. I asked the waitress what this was for and she said it was for Wednesday night’s party! There are several tables upstairs overlooking the wedding reception and also pleasantly, the river Thames. After a large glass of white wine (I have heard alcohol anesthetises the throat) we ordered off an extensive menu of Chinese dishes. I was disturbingly tempted to order the shark fin soup having watching Gordon Ramsey’s documentary but instead went for dim sum/ pork gyoza to start and garlic, soy sauce Dover sole for a main with spicy aubergine on the side. The ex had chicken in a fruity sauce with chow mein noodles. The food was good, I thought my fish was slightly overcooked, but the sauce it was cooked in was very flavoursome.

However, there were a couple of crucial clangers throughout the evening that meant the experience was slightly tainted. Firstly the ex had quite an old taste London card which evidently has a different format to the newer cards- the waitress who refused to crack a single smile throughout the entire duration of the evening basically accused him of trying to scam her and went back and forth photocopying/scanning the sodding card, which became quite tiresome. Secondly, the steel clarinet recorded soundtrack that was prevalent from start to finish only boasted a repertoire of about 6 songs, the fifth time I heard ‘memory’ from the cats soundtrack I was ready to cry (the combination of excess food, wine and my cold medication had left me feeling a bit peaky and sorry for myself).

I liked the setting, the food and the concept. I didn’t like the service, music and thought it was on the pricy side. Without the Taste London card I would have paying off that Dover Sole for the next three months.

1 The Boulevard, Smugglers Way Wandsworth London SW18 1DE UK