Power Lunch at Dukes

Dukes is a sweet little boutique hotel in Mayfair. 

They're not new or glitzy. If Dukes were a person, he'd be a old gent, sitting in his study with a pipe and a glass of whisky. Refined and relaxed. 

The restaurant, Thirty Six by Nigel Mendham is something of a whippersnapper in comparison. Still quiet and relaxed, but a bit sexier. 

Their new "Power Lunch" is a West End girl's dream. 

When you arrive, you're greeted with a chilled glass of bubbly, a food menu and an 'extras' menu. 

Essentially it's lunch with a PA thrown in for free.
Tick the boxes and the staff will run across town to pick up whatever you need.

I chose to have my phone charged, a fresh copy of Vogue, a birthday card and a speedy manicure.
While the wonderfully accommodating staff rushed off, Holly & I were left to enjoy lunch.

We asked the sommelier to choose us a wine for each course.
I much prefer to hand over control when it comes to wine. The pouilly fumé on the right was my favourite by far.

Holly went for ham hock and pea 'textures'.
While I started with the mackerel fillet, smoked eel, watercress and crispy egg.

H moved on to hake with asparagus, jersey royals and langoustine. 

I had braised beef, sticky cheek, mash and 'flavours of burgundy'.

My favourite pudding was the chocolate slab with popcorn ice-cream and caramelised bananas.

As I put my fork down I was whisked downstairs for my manicure.

In and out in under an hour with a fully charged phone, niece's birthday card, new magazine and new nails.
Three courses are a very reasonable £28, obviously more if you drink and have spa treatments but seeing as you can barely buy a sandwich for £10 in Mayfair, I was impressed.
Website here.
Who's excited for the weekend?
I think I might pop back to the country to spend some time with Custard. My wellies are looking a little too clean, time for a stomp through the woods I think.
What are you up to?



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Homemade Gyros

I love Greece, and I love Greek food.
My family and I used to go to the islands every summer. We'd take a boat and find a private little cove for the day. With nothing but pebbles and crickets to keep us company, we'd read and snooze until the early afternoon when we'd sail off in search of lunch.
Most of the restaurants would have their own jettys, so I'd throw a waiter the rope, tie up and spend the rest of the afternoon under the vines drinking wine and gorging ourselves on tzatziki and feta.
During the day I'd always have zucchini, pasta, cheeses, dips and olives.
But once a holiday my mother would give in to my pleas and take me for Gyros.
Gyros (pronounced yee-rohs) are the ultimate street food. A flat bread packed to bursting with flavours, textures and that secret sauce everyone guards so seriously!
Next week my family are going to Greece without me, so I thought I'd make my own little slice of Greek heaven, and eat my weight in them while my mother's back is turned.

If, like me, you fancy licking tzatziki and crushed guacamole off your lips with a guilty grin, you'll need:

2 free-range chicken breasts, cut into strips,

1 ripe avocado, 

1 tomato, 

2 flat breads, 

1/2 red onion, 

2 tbsp malt vinegar, 

2tbsp mayonaise, 

2tsp harissa paste, 

1tsp honey, 

1 lime, 

Tabasco, 

Olive oil, 

Salt, 

Pepper,

Tzatziki (recipe from scratch here or store bought - I wont tell anyone),

Tin foil.

Start by chopping your red onion as finely as possible and pop it into a little Tupperwear pot with your vinegar. Put the lid on and shake it like a Poloroid picture. Pop this in the fridge to mingle. (The longer the better.)

Now, toss your chicken breasts in olive oil, salt & pepper. Add to a hot griddle pan and cook until brown and delicious. 

While it's cooking, slice your avocado & tomato and place to one side. 

Make your Tzatziki (or open the pot you naughty little cheater). 

Make your 'secret sauce' from your mayonaise, harissa paste, honey, the juice of one lime and tabasco to taste. 

If your chicken is cooked by now, take it off the heat and place to one side. 

Pop your flat breads under a hot grill for about a min each side. 

Now, lay out a piece of foil and assemble your masterpiece. 

I like heat so always add a little extra tabasco.

Wrap it all up using the foil, going at a slight angle like a florist would.

Place to one side.

And repeat.

Sit back with a cold glass of wine or a really cold coke (if we're being trashy we may as well go all out) and pretend you're sitting right here:

If you're serving them for dinner you'll probably want fries, but I think a well stuffed "yeeroh" is more than enough for lunch.
Kalí óreksi! (bon appétit!)


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Notting Hill Carnival

Those of you who follow me on Instagram will already know that I had a whale of a time at carnival this year. 

Phoebe and I spent the day wiggling away to reggae, hip hop & dance hall. 

We made friends from all over the world and I met a few of my amazing readers. 

It only seems right that I kick off my carnival photo diary with The King. 

Bob. 

We bumped into Ben from Yacht Week, who made quite an impression on Phoebe!

Liz.

My shirt is from Topshop (sold out, similar here), shorts are by Fashion Against Aids (sold out, similar) belt by Mulberry and sunglasses by Ray Ban .

I got arrested for being a snap happy little paparazza. 

Sorry Mum! 

Thankfully he let me off with a warning.

Phoebe celebrated with back flips.

In Topshop shorts and RI high-tops.

For lunch we lay on a lawn with big ol' plates of jerk chicken and rice... not quite as good as mine, but hey, beggars can't be choosers.

We danced until the sun went down... when the crowds started getting a little lary. 

Phoebe and I held hands, ducked down behind a swarm of riot police and ran all the way home. 

Yes we're wimps, but having danced since 10am we were ready for pizza and bed. 

Now the clouds of Jerk chicken and dope smoke have faded away, leaving The Hill to its yummy mummies and ladies who brunch. 

Is Notting Hill Carnival a London phenomenon or are there similar parties where you live? 

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