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Wednesday 31 October 2012

BUDDHA BAR



  • Buddha Bar in Knightsbridge has replaced Chicago Rib Shack, which makes me really sad because not only did I LOVE that restaurant but I also used to work there when I was 18! So walking in there was like a blast from the past, except everything looked very Asian and there were no Eastern European chefs flirting outrageously with me. 


    WHY BUDDHA BAR?

    I read this website called Hot-Dinnershttp://www.hot-dinners.com/which you should read if you're into finding out new restaurants or just generally different places to eat around town. 

    ANYWAY

    I saw that Buddha Bar are currenly doing a soft opening and offering 25% off all meals. 

    BARGAIN I thought! 

    ALSO I had heard about this place from friends that have been to the one in Paris and they said it was definitely worth going to, additionally my brother, who lives in Washington all year round, was back in London for the week. If that's not a reason to celebrate with the family then what is ey!

    On arrival the first thing you notice is how posh this place is. What do you expect though when its situated in the heart of Knightsbridge. Saying that I had just come from work, slightly sweaty, and perhaps a little under dressed for the occasion.

This place is decked out to the max with crystal chandeliers and floating Buddha's. The lighting is dim and its all very suave, with a wave of black tiling, furniture and table tops completing the look.




After being seated by this guy: 



I peered at the menu, and suddenly realised the word bargain was no longer an adequate word to describe the meal we were about to have! 

The prices are extremely high, and I genuinely felt bad that I had brought my family here without checking the menu and only really focusing on the 25% discount they had on offer. 

 Now I'm not going to sit here and say that I'm poor, but I'm definitely not part of the elite rich that stroll around Knightsbridge and venture into Harvey Knicks and Harrods to do their local shopping.




  • Saying that the food was outstanding, each perfectly presented and looked the part. Size of portions varied as well, some were pretty small for the amount of money they charging for it and others, and others were relatively large like the ribs and the lamb curry

    I made some collages of the food...I know I have way too much time on my hands!
    STARTERS:
    TOP - SALMON, SCALLOPS, PRAWNS AND YELLOW TAIL FISH
    BOTTOM: CRISPY CRAB SUSHI

    Mains:

    LEFT: SUCCULENT PORK RIBS
    RIGHT: DUCK AND CHUTNEY

    LAMB CURRY
    RICE AND NOODLES

    DESSERTS:

    CHOCOLATE FONDANT WITH COCONUT ICE CREAM

    Salted caramel and Chocolate biscuit Sticks 
    This dessert was heavenly. Dad made the mistake of going to the toilet just when these arrived, and if he thought me and mum were going to share with him, he had another thing coming!

    The Risner's don't believe in sharing is caring!

    Ginger and Lemon Cheesecake
    Of course my descriptions of the food is not entirely how they worded it on their menu.

    I don't think I will be coming back here again any time soon, as a working girl making not that much money, I simply cant afford it without the help of the big dog to pay for it. Its a place you go for a special occasion, a very special occasion, unless you got the money and then go crazy cause this place is awesome.
    Also at night time on weekends, the bar gets flocked the music get pumping and then at 12 it all stops because the people who live at number 1 Hyde Park, the most expensive flats in London, start to get a bit ancy! G-d forbid we upset them!

    UNTIL NEXT TIME, WHICH IS WHEN I GET PAID!! 
  • Tuesday 30 October 2012

    Daily Tune

    I love Mumford and Sons, their new album is wicked and this song is by far the song I belt out the most! 



    If only I was a good singer! 

    Saturday 27 October 2012

    BARRIO CENTRAL


    Just a small mention to a new bar a friend took me to in Soho a few days ago.


    Barrio Central, is a small funky Mexican/Latin style Bar that also offers good food.


    Here is a little link to the menu if you want to see what they have on offer
    http://www.barriocentral.com/pdf/food-menu.pdf

    I got there after work, so was there quite early, but was all good because between 3-8 they have happy hour on a selection of cocktails and all beers are £3, which is really cheap for London.


    I ended up only having Mojito's because they were too good to try anything else.
    They did put a ridiculous amount of ice on top, trying to be smooth without ice spilling over the edge proved to be very hard!

    The layout of the bar is small and the decor is pretty snazzy and is nothing too pretentious



    There are two floors, and it seemed the downstairs was where the real party happens.  The owner told me over the weekend they have a DJ playing salsa and Latin music. 


    They also have little areas you can rent out, I would have photos to show you, but I got embarrassed to take pictures.

    So here is a link:
    http://www.barriocentral.com/photos.php

    If you like what you see, check it out. Its a nice alternative to all the posh and overpriced bars you can find in Central London. Additionally it has some good Vibesss going on!


    Play this song and you will know what I will mean.  

    Square Meal

    Daily Tune

    I heard about The Lumineers around a year ago, and so pleased they have released an album,

    I am loving this song:



    Tuesday 23 October 2012

    CHOCKYWOCCY...I CAN'T EAT ANYMORE!





    WHAT A PLACE!

    Now after a pretty hefty night the night before I have to be honest I was feeling pretty shabby and the thought of eating a great deal of chocolate was quite a horrific thought. However Charlotte, who has been repeatedly mentioned in this blog, had especially organised a day out to bring all her closest friends together under one roof....How sweet of her.



    On arrival and after taking one look at the most elaborate and intricate cakes I have ever seen, all hungover feelings left the room and all of a sudden I was slightly peckish!





    We were taken up the two flights of stairs by the lovely Andrew, who was a fantastic host, and shown into our tea room for the day. 

    And what a tea room this was.

    It was like every kids dream and it felt as if you had accidentally stumbled into the mad hatters tea party:

    The floor was lined with fake grass 



     Little grass bunnies were dotted all round the room, and the shrubs had lollipops poking out of them



    There were a whole variety of chairs, from sofas, to garden chairs to hanging chairs...chair crazyyy!



    There was even a fountain with water trickling out of it. 




    The table was lined with cakes, nibbles, coffee, tea and hot chocolate.






     What we misread is that you can bring your own alcohol into the building, which was a shame because a few bottles of champs could have made the day a lot more interesting.

    I can see it now 


    After settling in, you are given, on top of all the sweets and chocolate they provide, a large bit of chocolate cake with a generous dollop of whipped cream and ice cream. 


    Admittedly not one of us finished it...poor effort I say.

    All this talk of Ice cream made me think of that Michael Mclntyre sketch and thought I would share it with you, but in the end I could not find it but instead stumbled upon another one of his sketches, which brought me to tears. 

    This sketch has absolutely no relevance to Chockwoccydoodah but its funny as hell!


    I hope that made you laugh as much as I did
    Anyway back to Chocolate...

    So the crack is, you pay 25 quid each and you get all the scrumptious goodies included and the room for two hours. You also get given a cake to take home with you, which they kindly split for us.

    The tea room on a whole is large and I found it the whole experience rather relaxing. Perhaps it was the double red velvet couch which I decided to call my home, or the quiet chirping of birds and waterfall sounds they had loop in the background.

    I just don't know.




    What I do know is that after I ate my weight in Chocolate I did feel rather ill.

    Now to the most important bit - Would I recommend it?

    Well Yes

    BUT:

    I personally would not go back there again, not because I did not enjoy myself, I had a lovely time, but because its one of those things you only do once.

    If the sweets and chocolate were out of this world then maybe I would return, but they just weren't. For instance they gave us smarties, but the cheap ones - you know the one you get out of those 50p machines. It's not right.

    I also think this place though is more directed at girls than boys, I just cant imagine a bunch of lads sitting around, sipping coffee and eating cake in a civilized manner.

    This place would be good though for 21st birthdays, hen parties and all events of that sort. 

    If you want to book, here is the email address

    http://www.choccywoccydoodah.com/




    Monday 22 October 2012

    Your Daily Tune

    Now I have hummed and hawed over this song, but after listening to it a few times, I realised that although the beginnning is a bit repetitive, when the song gets going, OH does it get going!


    What do you think ?

    Sunday 21 October 2012

    Your Daily Tune


    Honestly the last few days I forgot I was doing this Daily Tune thing, so sorry about that! 

    But anyway here are a few good songs to make up for my lack lust posting.


    You have to get past the first thirty seconds - which I agree are a bit boring



    Some Aussie genius music

    Wednesday 17 October 2012

    Your Daily Tune

    I love music, so will now be sharing with you my favourite tunes

    LUCKY YOU



    I listen to this when I stomp to work

    It makes me feel like i'm a "G"

    If you too want to feel like a "G", I suggest you listen to this!

    Saturday 13 October 2012

    Take me to the Sky Room please...


    After the failed attempt the night before and being one to never let a failure defeat me, I revisited The Skymarket with a friend (Daniel Dobrin), hoping it would be open! And to my luck it was. 




    Located on the rooftop of the Skyroom, Magdalen house, Skymarket is the third use of the Skyroom space. Previous installments have been London's Picnic Club and something else ( I just can't be bothered to look it up). 

    What needs to be emphasized is that the Skymarket has left the biggest impression on me and somewhere I would really really recommend.

     From the minute you step out of the lift, you leave the noise and the hustle and bustle of London and transported to a quiet, relaxed and chilled space. 

    You literally could be in a different country. 





     The space as you can see is very intimate (only seat around 50 people), cozy and relaxed and this is due to its soft lighting and their outdoor heaters, which keep customers warm well into the chilly night. 








    The menu is a mix of African, Indian and Asian cuisine and were told that its subject to change every few weeks. Which makes going back more that little bit more exciting because you just don't know whats going to be on menu.

    There is a Set Menu which is £30 quid, admittedly I was like :

    WOAHH

    but then I thought 

    FUCK IT

      
    In the end I am more obliging to part with my money if I am going to be eating food that is different to what I normally eat or normally expect at a restaurant. 


    SO... 


    How it works is that they bring the food out in two helpings and then your dessert.

    We went for the meat set menu - so the food on the left of the menu.

    NOM NOM NOM



    A lot of this food is prepared directly in front of you:


    Or by these two lovely men - one of which, I mistakenly took for a man but is infact a woman! Im VERY sorry


    OPINIONS ON THE FOOD:

    Orgasmic
    Perfect portions
    Lovely 
    Great
    Tasty 

    You can also order small dishes which are three pounds a pop, or alternatively just have a drink. They do a great selection of drinks and wines. We ordered this white wine, that I cant remember the name for, but was lovely, went down like a dream. 


    THE DESSERT:


    They give you a nice send off home shot to accompany your dessert - which was quite gross, but that's mainly due to me having an inability to do shots. However the dessert was SO good, I love bonnoffee pie and cheescake, so together

    "taste sensation"


    THE ART WORK:


    They have weird masks and wooden carvings all around the restaurants. They also have like bird cages (minus the birds) and lanterns hanging from the ceiling. 

    THE DELI:

    Pretty self explanatory-its a deli, you can purchase food from there. 

    MOVING ON...

    If you have not already guessed, I am a massive fan of this place. Not only are the staff lovely, but the food is on point and different. The whole experience is not one I have had before in London. 

    This place is a definite must go, whether you go with your friends or a date - don't miss out on one of London's best secret hot spots.

    You heard it here first....