The Birthday Lunch: L’ Atelier de Joel Robuchon London

As someone who is fond of afternoon tea, I celebrated my milestone birthday last year with an afternoon tea at Marriott’s Hansbury Manor. I enjoyed it so much that I said to myself I am going to celebrate every birthday from that day on with afternoon tea. But this year, Robuchon came calling.

Hailed as the “chef of the century”, Joel Robuchon is the only chef who has the most Michelin stars among all his restaurants around the world combined. We missed a chance in dining at his restaurant in Paris because we did not book well ahead. To my delight, I learned he also has a restaurant in London, the 2 Michelin star L’ Atelier de Joel Robuchon which is a few doors down from The Ivy. I did not waste time and booked well ahead  and voila, I got us a table for my birthday.

I know it is cliché but to say that the food was amazing would be an understatement. I am not a food blogger so I will let most of the pictures speak for themselves though this wonderful meal would be difficult to put into words in itself.

Kicked off the birthday lunch with my favorite cocktail, Peach Bellini.

ers

Amuse Bouche, heralded the start of our meal. Foie gras, port reduction and parmesan foam. We were told to scoop all the layers. The result, an explosion of different flavors that compliments each other. It was beautiful.

Game Terrine with lardo di colonnata and confit pear. The caramelized pear added a twist to this lovely dish.

Soft boiled egg on a Hampshire watercress coulis and young comte cheese cream. The husband's order.

Could I say this is the best tasting fillet of fish ever?

Pommes Puree. Robuchon's famous signature dish. Soft, silky and decadent. Once you have tried it, you will not look at mashed potato in the same light again.

What better way to end a four course meal for a macaron loving birthday girl than with a massive macaron, stamped with the chef of the century's logo.

Robuchon operates in an open kitchen which  makes it more exciting for diners to see how their food is intricately prepared. The service is very attentive. At the helm (pictured) is executive head chef Xavier Boyer.

L' Atelier de Joel Robuchon

13-15 West Street, London

WC2H 9NE

+44 (0)207 010 8600

My Favourite Macaron

Not all macarons are created equal. That is why I always want mine from the best, Pierre Herme, the current undisputed master of macarons.

There is something magical about them. The medley of texture is like wonderful music playing in my mouth. My first taste of a macaron was at the Laduree salon in Harrods. From that very first bite, I developed a growing obsession. I thought Laduree was the be all and end all of all things macarons. I was wrong, there were many out there. I ventured and from then on I have been on a quest to find the best macaron.

A macaron is made with egg whites, sugar and almond flour. Early macarons were just made of one cookie but Laduree introduced the two cookie macaron with ganache or filling between them. This is the macaron that we know and love today.

Aside from Laduree and Pierre Herme, I have tried Angelina’s in Paris, PAUL in London, TWG in Singapore, Bouchon in New York, Pierre Marcolini, Marks and Spencer’s and more recently, from Joel Robuchon's 2 Michelin star restaurant in London. Any macaron can give me my macaron fix but only Pierre Herme macarons can fully satisfy my craving.

Pierre Herme macaron. Perfect!

Enjoying Pierre Herme in Paris, Summer 2014

For me, a perfect macaron starts with a perfectly shaped smooth dome with perfectly even ruffled edges, also known as feet.  When you bite into it, there is a little bit of crunch but should not crumble and not chewy either. The filling should not be too little or too much. Lastly, it should not be too sweet.  I have to say, Pierre Herme macarons have all that, the perfect balance of texture and taste. 

 And while I am still on this quest,  I am more than happy to call Pierre Herme my favourite for now.

Lunch At Gordon Ramsay's Maze

A while ago in early May of this year,  I had the pleasure of spending time with my friends over lunch at Gordon Ramsay's One Michelin star restaurant, Maze. Located in the posh area of Mayfair in London, the restaurant is being overseen by recently promoted head chef Alex Thiebaut. You cannot really expect less when it comes to Gordon Ramsay, who currently holds 14 Michelin stars in total. So we ventured into the threshold of Maze, preparing to be aMazed.

We waited at the bar for the rest of the group to arrive. My friend recommended that I try Peach Bellini. For someone who is not a lover of anything alcoholic, I was blown away by this one. I love that the Prosecco was not too strong for me. The sweetness of the peach makes up for the alcohol so I was fine. Later on I learned that Prosecco is actually low in alcohol at only 11 percent. 

There was unlimited bread basket being served while we were waiting for our orders to arrive. To say that the food was amazing would be an understatement.

 There were two that really stood out for me. Steamed Sea bream, enoki mushroom, dashi. This boneless fillet of fish was cooked to perfection. It was well infused with spices that worked well with the bed of mushrooms that accentuates its flavour.

Lamb belly with cauliflower and spice lentils. This was one of the best, if not the best on this meal. For someone who is not fond of lamb, this made me into a convert. The well seasoned meat was very tender and full of flavour. It was also very well presented and well garnished, the kind that teases and excites your palate way before the food lands in your mouth.

It was a four course meal. They were all delicious although I was on the fence with the duck and foie gras terrine (above). It was the  kind of taste that you would either love or hate. With me, it was the latter.

Maze

10 - 13 Grosvenor Square 
LONDON 
W1K 6JP 
T: 020 7107 0000 restaurant reservations

Five Faves

I can say that finally, Autumn has arrived. The air is crisp and the nights are longer. The leaves have turned a golden hue. My five current favourites does not only include items from my beauty cupboard but from my wardrobe as well. These I would say, would take me from Autumn through the winter. Here goes. 

Maybelline Color Drama Velvet Lip Pencil – When I saw this being tried on by one of the makeup gurus that I follow online, I could not wait to get my hands on it.  I liked how well pigmented it looked on her lips. Once I tried it myself, I was sold. It is very rich in colour and very creamy. The staying power is phenomenal that not even any of my high end lipsticks could beat and for only £4.99 a pop, I hoarded. My favourite shades at the moment are Light Up and Keep It Classy. Both perfect for Autumn.

Bioderma – My best buy from Paris did not come from a designer shop. It came from one of the French Pharmacies instead and it is Bioderma Crealine H20. This great makeup remover has a cult following from models to professional makeup artists. I developed a growing curiosity so I grabbed a bottle the moment I had the chance on my recent trip to Paris. True enough, it is a very good makeup remover. It removes even the most stubborn of eye makeup. I have used a few other brands before but nothing comes as good as Bioderma. 

Dior Inspired Earrings – I have to admit I was not quite sure when I saw Dior’s Mise En Dior Tribal earrings, even when celebrities started wearing them. Then a friend sent me a similar pair and surprise, surprise, I fell in love with them. And I love the mixed comments I hear whenever I wear them. 

Ripped Jeans – I can definitely say I have been living in them since I got them. I love how I can dress them up or down. I normally wear my pair with white shirt and black faux leather jacket and a pair of converse or ankle boots now that it is cooler but if I want to dress them up, I throw on a blazer and heels, put on some bold lips and I am good to go. 

Chanel Nail Polish in Accesoire – I have expressed my love for Chanel nail polish time and again and despite buying other brands, I keep coming back to my first love when it comes to my nails. The price could burn a hole in your pocket if you are not careful as you could easily get hooked. Though with the quality that you get, I say you are better off buying one good bottle of nail polish that stays on your nails for days, that does not chip easily than get several cheap alternatives that does not do the job which will end up forgotten at the back of your cupboard. I particularly love this particular nail colour for Autumn and I normally alternate it with the shade Black Pearl.

Singapore: Lovelier The Second Time Around

Our love affair with the Lion City started on our first stopover in 2011 (which I wrote about here)and we have been back since then. Singapore is a place that you never get tired of. There is so much to do. There is a wide selection of restaurants to choose from, be it Michelin starred or hole in the wall. The shopping is impressive with a wide array of designer brands in the countless shopping malls that abound in the city. Orchard Road (comparable to Oxford street in London and Champs Elysee in Paris) and Marina Bay Sands are your best bets if you are a shopping enthusiast.

Oh, how I love this city. I could go on and on but first, let me count the ways...

The Airport - Singapore's Changi airport has always been, time and again, on the list of the best airports in the world and for 2014, they topped the list of Skytrax World's Best Airport award. This is its second time in a row. There is no surprise there. Anybody who has been to Changi airport will agree. Aside from being spotlessly clean, there is so much to do that you would feel your holiday has started way before you boarded your flight or for those arriving, way before you even come out of immigration. There is so much greenery inside and it is the only airport in the world that houses a butterfly garden.For longer layovers, it has a cinema to while away your time, snooze lounges and of course, free Wifi.

The Airline - Singapore's flag carrier, Singapore Airlines is my favourite airline to fly with when going home for a holiday. Great in flight entertainment. The food and the service are flawless and  I could not recommend it enough.

The food - If you love your food (who doesn't) then Singapore for you is paradise. You are spoiled for choice from street vendors to fine dining. Considered as the food capital of Asia, Singapore's diverse cuisine caters very well to it's equally diverse residents and tourists. Joel Robuchon has already set up shop and so has Jaime Oliver and some of  America's celebrated chefs. But if you want a taste of the real Singapore, never leave without trying their famous signature dishes, Chili Crab and the Hainanese Chicken. One Michelin Star Din Tai Fung is also worth a visit for their famous Xiao Long Bao.

The shopping - Whether you want to hit the shops for a bargain or you want to score some of the most coveted designer pieces, Singapore is the right place for you. With international brands sprouting like mushrooms, the shopping scene is not at all behind. Orchard Road is an endless stretch of shops and shopping malls alike. Here you can find the likes of Abercrombie and Fitch, H&M, DKNY. If you want more upscale shopping, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands will do just the trick where the only floating Louis Vuitton shop in the world is located.

The City - Not only is Singapore great for food and shopping enthusiasts, it is also great for families. This city is very family friendly with a whole load of family activities and places to visit on offer. For movie buffs, there is Universal Studios where not only the kids will enjoy but also for the kids at heart. If your children love nature there is the Botanic Gardens, The Jurong Bird Park, Underwater World and of course, the Singapore Zoo.Singapore is also not short of museums with their National Museum, The Science Center Museum, The Maritime Experiential Museum and the Mint Museum of Toys to name a few. There is also the Big Splash water park for those who wants to get wet and wild. Lastly, the not to be missed, the spectacular Light and Water show at the Marina Bay Sands. "An amazing convergence of light, music and sound and giant water screens" as described by its website is a 10 minute long show involving light and water displays to the rhythm of a song. There are two shows at 8 pm and 10 pm so make sure to catch one or both. 

We are definitely not done with Singapore and for definite, we will keep coming back.

My Special Birthday

All birthdays are special but when it is a milestone birthday, the more special it is. For my special milestone birthday last year, I knew what I wanted. I wanted it to be small and intimate with just a handful of close friends and since I love afternoon tea, it was a no brainer. No, I did not want an afternoon tea themed party but the real deal. I wanted to experience that quintessential British tradition but not in the comforts of my own home, where I usually have mine but in a quaint and elegant setting complete with pretty china and gleaming silverware. The Marriott's Hanbury Manor in Hertfordshire was the perfect choice.

Before going to the venue, I met up with my girl friends for brunch at home.

A simple meal was served at home to tie us up until our afternoon tea.

Afternoon Tea was served in the grand Oak Hall with views of the English countryside. The dark wood panelling and open fireplace added opulence to the already grand setting.

A harp was being played at one corner which made the experience heavenly.

A selection of finely cut sandwiches, dainty little pastries and cakes and freshly baked scones, the melt in your mouth variety, were served in beautiful layer trays.

There was a selection of tea to choose from but since I am a creature of habit, I always gladly stick with my English Breakfast tea.

The cakes and pastries were very well made and deliciously melts in your mouth and the scones were the best scones I have ever had. 

Service was flawless. 

It was a wonderful birthday spent with my favourite people in the world, in a place that that was perfect for me and nothing could be better than that.