What's Up Cupcake- Whitstable

Isn't it enough that those lucky enough to live in Whitstable on the North Kent Coast have the delights of the fish market, Oyster house and Wheelers on the high street, along with a gloriously pebbly beach and the sort of ozone rich sea air that makes us Londoners green with envy? Well now they have a brand new cupcake bakery slap bang in the middle of Harbour Street!

http://www.whatsupcupcake.com/

As the website says:

"Sarah's Cupcakes are made with all natural ingredients, no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives, only free range eggs & the freshest fruit. Each special ingredient is hand picked for freshness & checked for its quality. The original vanilla cupcakes are quite simply; butter, eggs, flour & sugar, with a dash of pure Mexican vanilla extract. Variations on this recipe include the addition of fresh bananas, passion fruit, lemons or strawberries, pure cocoa, Oreo Cookies, ginger, coconut, and so on to incorporate only the finest ingredients."

I'm sorry but it just isn't fair! This new bakery sound wonderful and I am planning my next jaunt to Whitstable with a glint in my eye and the intent to sample quite a few!


Update- September 12th....I was lucky enough to sample one of the cupcakes from this delightful little shop- I chose the passionfruit on a vanilla sponge and the frosting was glorious- the slight sharpness of the passionfruit cutting through the sweetness of the light frosting. The cake itself had a great flavour- the only comment being that it was quite dense- perhaps I am used to a slightly lighter cake. Having said that, excellent value at £1.50 as even I couldn't manage more than one! R had a chocolate fudge one and declared it delicious even though he agreed with me about the denseness of the actual cake! Would love the opportunity to sample a few more flavours!

Update 2- October 10, 2009 Having spent another weekend in Whitstable I sent my other half off to buy 4 cupcakes- 2 more of the passionfruit, a chocolate fudge and another chocolate confection that he couldn't remember the name of! There is much to applaud about the packaging- the four soft and yet toothsome beauties came ensconsed in their own cardboard box tied up with three lengths of superfine ribbon- pale pistachio green, baby pink and chocolate brown! For those of us seduced by the drama and beauty of a cardboard box and froo froo packing I was in 7th heaven! Would make a truly wonderful hostess gift as well!

As the evenings get darker....

is it always the case that thoughts turn towards more comforting warm foods like sausages and root mash? Surely, the very early beginnings of September should be continuing to feed into the ideal image of perhaps an Indian summer with sun warmed patios beckoning to be spread with exotic salads, crusty breads and platters of Italian meats and cheeses? And yet, with the dark clouds above London and a hint of autumn in the air, my oven is harbouring a dish of outdoor reared pork sausages and a jug ready for onion rich gravy...

1930's themed afternoon tea

So a date is set, and a Sunday afternoon in late September set aside for the genteel art form of afternoon tea....this time a decidedly British 1930's theme has been settled upon, but with a modern twist-the concession to 21st century living being an I-tunes playlist -created with the soundtrack from Pennies from Heaven and a liberal sprinkling of Al Bowlly tunes to create the perfect mood....

A 1930's art deco teaset, reminiscent of Clarice Cliff with its green flowers and geometric patterns, bought for a song at a local car boot sale- will make it's first appearance alongside an old white china tea pot steeped with first flush darjeeling tea leaves and hot but not boiling water...that would scorch the delicate leaves and tips!

Tiny sandwiches of crab, egg and baby watercress shoots and roast beef and mustard will be bereft of crusts and will be displayed on the matching sandwich platter.... to be followed by tiny scones, as light as air and served with perhaps 2 or 3 of mum's home made conserves.

No doubt two tiny pugs will be at our feet as we slice into the tea loaf- plump fruits soaked in earl grey tea to swell before being baked into a rich loaf- perfect for thin slices to accompany the fragrant tea.

Such a pleasant and thoroughly British past-time and just right for the time of year when we seem to be entering the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness as Keats so musically described it...

Mexican...

There is something about the freshness and ease of Mexican food that works on a weekday evening after work...fresh limes, baby soft avocadoes, flat leaf parsley and sliced spring onions are worked into a silky smooth guacamole that serves as a focal point for my miniature vegetarian fajitas...wheat tortillas wrapped around spiced sauteed mushrooms, red onions and tomatoes, spiked with jalapeno's and softened by a spoonful of refried beans....delicious!

A London Summer

What is it about London, that even when it is raining torrentially in the midst of what was meant to be a Barbecue summer there is something so satisfying about being holed up in a wine bar in the West End with a couple of bottles of rose and good company, that just makes everything feel right with the world?

Mexican- La Perla

A recent trip to La Perla Mexican bar and restaurant in Maiden Lane Covent Garden was a sojourn into the wonderful world of frozen margueritas -made with decent tequila and blended with ice and lime to a wonderfully alcoholic smoothy slushy consistency, these lethally intoxicating drinks were all to easy to slide down!

La Perla delivered on being able to seat 8 of us without having pre-booked- and although not in the league of Wahaca with regards to originality, the food was good. Free bowls of tortilla chips accompanied a searingly hot but tasty salsa and the jalapeno poppers were crisply fried, hot and delicious!

Fajitas for two was a mountainous portion that would have easily served 3-4 when served up with the accompanying bowl of refried beans, copious soft flour tortillas and the holy grail of Mexican accompaniments- sour cream, salsa, and guacamole!

Would definitely return with a group- especially when the pitchers of margueritas are available in the Happy Hour!

One O One Restaurant Knightsbridge

Had a wonderful lunch at One O One today with S, M and Mum! One O One is a seafood and fish restaurant in the Sheraton Tower hotel next door to Harvey Nichols. Pascal Proyart is the talented chef there from Northern France and the food is always, without fail, simply sublime.

I have listed their current lunch menu below. If you book on their website you can get three plates, a glass of house wine, coffee and petits fours for £19.00

http://www.oneoonerestaurant.com/

BUSINESS LUNCH MENU:

Norwegian Red King Crab & Tomato, Gazpacho Jelly
Jabugo Ham, Onzen Quail Egg
This dish was simply delicious- light, fresh, and the tomato gazpacho jelly was chilled and pure essence of tomato!

Pan-Roasted Scallop with Chicken-Tiger Prawn Ballotine
New Carrot Purée, Vanilla Emulsion & Citrus

Steamed White Halibut with Ginger & Spring Onions
Seafood Coconut Broth, Sautéed Pak Choy & Peppers

Organic Salmon Confit with Pan-Fried Duck Foie Gras
Fricassées of Summer Beans & Truffle, Ruby Port Jus
The salmon was delicious- beautifully cooked and the sliced truffle atop the dish lent it a wonderfully fragrant edge!

Roasted Spring Lamb Fillet with Olive & Rosemary Jus
English Asparagus, Gnocchi & Parmesan

Cheese of the Day, Oak Leaf Salad with Walnut Dressing
Quince Jelly, Toasted Hazelnut & Raisin Bread

Warm Strawberries Fricassées with Cracked Black Peppercorn
Minted Ice Cream & Almond Tuile
The minted ice cream was light and fragrant, and the strawberries were warm, head with pepper- unusual and very different- scrummy though!

I have written many reviews of my many meals at One O One on http://www.london-eating.co.uk/ - so do please read the reviews and more importantly- BOOK AND EAT HERE!