Providores

Yet again the Christmas decorations come into play when we are already in February, I know, but I'm just trying to catch up with a long list of material that I gathered along a month of December full of celebrations of all kinds. This was a time for a good time and catching up with M before she decided to depart to warmer climates. I can't blame her and I know that it was the plan since she moved here in September 2012 but again one never thinks that the time to say "see you in a few months" is going to arrive.

Anyway, what could be a better way to catch up with friends surrounded by good wine and good food? We couldn't think of a better way either. At the back of a buzzing Oxford St were the crowds were fighting for the latest Christmas gifts there is this little place where you can enjoy some tapas with cool New Zealand wine - just bear in mind that unless you come at an odd time such as a late lunch or dinner, you will continue the fighting of the crowds to get a table; reservations are only accepted for the restaurant on the top floor.

I leave you with a sample of the tapas that we ordered that include some padrón peppers, a singular version of the Spanish omelet, calamares (or calamari) and a mouth watering risotto. This is reminding me that I'm hungry so I'm off to make some food, although the wine won't come until later today. In other posts you'll see my appreciation of Marylebone High Street where this restaurant is located and if you walk around the street and taste the food of a place like Providores I don't doubt that you'll match the appreciation.

DETAILS:
The Providores - www.theprovidores.co.uk/‎ - 109 Marylebone High St, London W1U 4RX

Opera and The Savoy Gril

No brainier this was one of the plans right before Christmas, and it was actually the last Saturday I was in London in 2013 before departing to Spain and coming back in 2014. I realised one of my long time pending dreams to see The Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House. I've been to see ballet in the ROH before but I had never seen this specific show, so I was really excited when one of our friends and supporter of the ROH managed to get the tickets.

As any production at the ROH, the setting was stunning and everything was just flawless, even if the main ballerina was unable to perform. I am always amazed how they ballerinas are able to float over the tips of their toes across the stage as if they were weightless - I know that this is something that I will never be able to do although it hasn't stopped me to attend to some basic ballet classes in this new year. It's never too late! 

So to top the evening at the Opera up, we decided to book a table at The Savoy Grill run since it reopened by Gordon Ramsay. I think I can still taste the superb beef wellington that we ordered, and I realised why he makes the contestants of Hell Kitchen to do them again and again. The dinner was incredible and I will need to come up with another occasion to celebrate to go back there again soon! I did feel like a movie star :-)

DETAILS:
Royal Opera House - www.roh.org.uk/Productions - Bow St, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9DD
Savoy Grill - www.gordonramsay.com/thesavoygrill/‎ - Savoy Hotel, Strand, London WC2R 0EU 

White Lies

It was not until recently when I noticed that I had actually been to various concerts where this band, White Lies, was supporting but it was not until last November that I actually got to see them and enjoy their music. They are K's favourite band, or one of the many favourites, and since sitting next to her pretty much most of the day and every day, I've begun to share the love for these guys (even before actually see them live). And it's one of the bands from whom I had a random song in my iPod but again didn't realise until the very last minute.

So imagine my surprise when I come across a couple of tickets to see them at the Roundhouse, and bring B along as a unplanned plan that she was looking forward to do. We met with K and Neil in the pub across the street and we ended up doing a bit of a last minute entrance to the gig, placing ourselves in the middle of the audience a bit too drunk to care whether that was polite at all.

The band started playing and the crowd starting going nuts. Everyone around us knew the lyrics and it was quite amazing as it was a bit of a young crowd but these guys have been around for a while - again I found this out as I was looking over old concert tickets where they were listed as support act.
I have now just put them in Spotify to get inspiration as I'm typing and I don't know how I managed to forget about the voice. Oh my! Harry's voice, and the rest of him, is just deep. Well, I'm not sure how they he is as I don't have the pleasure of meeting him and West London, where they are from, is a mystery for me but one can always dream.

Last but not least the guitar bass player, Charlie, whose dexterous moves along the strings gives quite a twist to the performance. So a really good band that I'll be looking out to from now on and not missing if the support any of the other concerts that I go to. Once more, a great venue to enjoy a really good concert. Check out the live acts that they have schedule for this year as Editors and Franz Ferdinand are on the list...

DETAILS:
White Lies - whitelies.com/‎ - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Cn4huIqY8o
Roundhouse - www.roundhouse.org.uk/‎

Tapas To Die For

 

Whilst I have the momentum of writing and writing about Madrid, I may as well talk about my favourite restaurant in town. The food is out of this world, with a menu that changes quite regularly, the wine list is different and undeniably amazing, the drinks they make are GOOD, and the deco is just something else. They took the decision years ago of not making reservations, and the place is so full every day - some times even including some celebs - so be able to wait or even fight to get a table. This is the combination of hard work and knowing the right people, and if you combine family with a friend that over the years has become like family, then you have a winning recipe. 

Everything is made out in small portions to share and it's divided into different sections in the menu. The very friendly staff will be happy to help you decide and to suggest the quantity of tapas that you should be ordering but they will be happy to bring you more if you wish.

 

I hope that the pictures open your appetite - as they've had to mine even if I just had breakfast - and that you give a real consideration to go if you happen to be in the city. Make also sure that you leave some room for dessert or maybe just for a mojito or 2 or 3... it's absolutely an experience that you shouldn't miss.

DETAILS:

La Gabinoteca - www.lagabinoteca.es/‎ - Fernández de la Hoz 53 (Esquina con Bretón de los Herreros)

Home for Christmas

 

I know that the festive season is long past and that most of us have even survived to January. But it has been a strange month when people decide to quit drinking and it seems than in me it had the effect of a dried month for writing - and yes, I know that there were not many posts in December but I was out celebrating and getting material for the blog, what else can I say?

Many of the plans and posts to come - a bunch of them so I hope it doesn't get too much - are around London but I can't pass the opportunity to have a couple of comments on my beautiful home town, Madrid, and a couple of places that I discovered thanks to Carol - always up to date on the hottest spots (as she herself is a damn hot hotspot!).

So there is this place next to San Bernardo called La Tape, short for Tapería or Tapas, that serves amazing food (yes, tapas) and where you can enjoy homemade beer as they have a little brewery going on. We had an amazing dinner over there and the ambiance was really good even if we were 1 day away to finish the year and you might have thought that most of the people will be saving to go out for New Year's Eve. But that's how Madrid moves, there is no special occasion as every night is a special occasion.

 

 

Then we moved over to La Pescaderia, that even if it directly translates to the Fish Shop, it's actually a really nice restaurant that turns into a bar with amazing drinks that holds the trendy locals any night. If you're in Madrid and around the centre of the city, it's totally worth the visit. 

DETAILS:

La Tape - www.latape.com/‎ - Calle San Bernardo, 88, 28015 Madrid
La Pescaderia - www.la-pescaderia.com/‎ - Calle Ballesta, 32, 28004 Madrid

Rugby is a ruffian's game played by gentlemen

Even if my favourite rugby tournament is the Six Nations as I've been watching with my dad since I was little, I couldn't pass the opportunity to go and see the Internationals, especially considering that it would be watching England vs the All Blacks (New Zealand).

The initial plan was to take my brother who was going to be in town for the occasion - well, because he was here over the week due to work so he was staying for 1 extra night to go to the game - but he had to go back to Madrid so I went with S, as other than my eternal companion for all types of adventures, she's a rugby lover as well.

We arrived in Twickenham with enough time to get some food and some champagne before the game - it was very chic to be drinking some pink bubbles whilst eating some South African stake and sausages in a bun - I had all the instructions and directions thanks to my friend John who is a rugby player and connoisseur of the area. We didn't have enough time to go to all the pubs he mentioned but we went to where all the tents are by the parking lot, the place where everyone gathers before the game.

Then we got into the stadium to see the ending of the warm up, hearing the National anthem (although there were a couple of issues with the microphone), and then enjoying the game. The Aborigine chant from the Kiwis was totally eclipsed by the crowd singing 'Swing low, Sweet Chariot'. England lost the game but it was a really great experience for a Saturday afternoon. I can't wait for the Six Nations now! 

 

 

DETAILS:
Rugby Union - www.rfu.com/‎

Depeche Mode

Silence is not the objective to aim for in a concert, or something to enjoy but it's one of the iconic songs from the iconic Depeche Mode. Considering that it's been a few days since the concert and that I had maybe too many beers when at it, I don't recall fully how it was. I leave you with a series of pictures that I took so you can enjoy the images (in silence or maybe putting some Depeche in the background) even if I took many more but they are no good - I could blame it to the twirls of David along the stage or simply to the movements of my hand whilst trying to take the pictures.

What I recall is that I was able to talk to my friends in a normal tone of voice when they were playing, so the acoustics where not impressive, and that one of my friends mentioned "they sound great, it's like their albums" - my reply back was that if I wanted to listen to the album I'd stayed at home and avoided the commute to Greenwich. But well, this is one of the iconic bands that you need to tell your grandchildren that you saw live.

The crowd was also quite curious as there was a mix between the fans that have been following them since the 80s - so this was the 35+ dress in dark leather - and the younger gay scene that seem to be more in tune - in every sense - with them nowadays.

All in all it was a good night, so let's drink to that (tea now as it's early in the day) and as "words are very unnecessary" I leave you to the images.

DETAILS:
Depeche Mode - www.depechemode.com/ - www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1xrNaTO1bI
(my personal favourite)