Chez Gérard and the ROH

Last week William and I had tickets to the ballet. It was William's first time seeing Sleeping Beauty and I haven't seen it since I left SA.

After a very busy day onsite at a customer in the city's square mile, I made my way to Covent Garden around 5pm on Thursday evening. I got there before William - who was coming from the apartment, so I wandered into Chez Gérard who were just opening for dinner, to have a Bellini at the bar. I have always wanted to eat at Gérard's and when William arrived we asked for a table. The ballet started at 7.30 so we had enough time on our hands.
I ordered Millefeuille aux champignons - sautéed wild mushrooms in puff pastry with a poached egg and some pommes frites and haricots verts AND a large glass of Merlot. William had Boeuf Bourguignon - braised beef in red wine. I finished with a glass of Amaretto coffee liqueur and William had an espresso.

We had really good seats at the Ballet - front row balcony left - though I had to lean forward a bit. They should make special seats for short people!

Sleeping Beauty was beautiful - the costumes, the choreography, everything was just perfect. But I must say I prefer the tragic stories of Swan Lake and especially Gizelle...

http://www.chezgerard.com/
http://www.roh.org.uk/

Xmas lights and Seasonal Veg

Swede, Parsnip, Brussel sprouts, Turnip, Onion, Garlic, Pumpkin, Beetroot and Sweet Potato.. Tonight we will enjoy these wonderful winter root vegetables :) bought fresh from Borough Market yesterday afternoon. For the first time since moving to the UK I am looking forward to the dark and cold winter season. And it may be due in part to this blog - which allows me to reflect on the things we do and how they are shaped by the seasons.

On Friday evening, we made our way to Oxford and Regent Street - in the rain - to see the Xmas lights. The rain meant there were less people on the street, but the lights were a bit of a dissappointment.
Afterwards, with soaked feet, we had a fabulous dinner at Marsala Zone near Covent Garden. We came across this place while walking home a few weeks earlier and really enjoyed the food. It took us 30 mins to find it this time since neither of us actually took note of exactly where it was :) As before, we both had thalis for mains washed down with a bottle of red. This time we also shared a gol guppa (tamarind biscuits with corriander dressing) for starters and pistachio ice-cream for dessert.. all for 40 quid - not bad...

http://www.masalazone.com/

Remember remember ...

...Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot of 1605...

Last night Southwark Council gave us a pretty good free 15 minute fireworks display in Southwark Park accompanied by music. We got there 30 mins early and I was starving so we shared an expensive crepe, followed by roasted chestnuts - also overpriced! And then my camera batteries died! At least the display was good.

These pictures are from the very first bonfire night I experienced in the UK - in Norwich in 2005. The large bonfire was lit in the middle of a sports field - it looked amazing.
When roasted properly these are delicious little warm, slightly sweet in the centre, treats.