PINK POWER FLOWERS

Dress / Rotate by Birger Christensen

TAGLIATELLE WITH HALLOUMI, TAHINI DRESSING, POMEGRANATES AND ROAST BABY TOMATOES

I am always on the look out for new ways to enjoy pasta and as a big lover of tahini, I blame Yotam Ottolenghi who made this traditional Middle Eastern sesame paste a mainstream and much loved ingredient in the UK by heavily using it across his widely popular recipes, was more than intrigued when I stumbled across a recipe for pasta with a tahini sauce.

The sauce, similar to a tahini dressing I already regularly use with roast veg made from tahini, honey, lemon juice and hot water, here comes with added white wine vinegar and dijon mustard for extra zing and ultra fragrant maple syrup for extra depth instead of honey. The sauce is made in mere minutes but works an absolute treat when combined with silky ribbons of pasta and of course is completely vegan which is fantastic considering the creamy texture and strong flavour you get from it.

I roasted some tomatoes for added texture to be mixed through the cooked pasta and tahini sauce (plus some mushrooms on this occasion because why not) but feel free to add veg as you like. I plunged for some pomegranate seeds as finishing touch which elevated the pasta into something quite special and topped it all with some quickly pan fried halloumi as well as some chopped up fresh parsley - all in all a wonderful marriage of colours, flavours and textures.

Is it a traditionally Italian pasta? Hell no, but it the end result was bloody delicious, not only beautiful when plated up but a joy to eat and easily rustled up in less than 30 minutes after a day at work or on a Friday night. For sure one added to my usual repertoire and one worth trying even for the pasta purists amongst you!

Serves 2-3

INGREDIENTS:

• 400 g tagliatelle
• 250 g cherry tomatoes, halved
• Olive oil
• Bunch of parsley, finely chopped
• 200 g halloumi, sliced
• Salt and pepper
• 150g pomegranates seeds (buy them ready in a pot to save you hassle)

TAHINI DRESSING

• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 6 tbsp tahini
• 5 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 1/2 tbsp white wine vinegar
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 3 tsp maple syrup
• Warm water as needed to thin the sauce
• Salt and pepper

METHOD

• Heat your oven to 200°C.
• Toss the tomatoes in olive oil and salt and pepper in a roasting tin and roast for 15 minutes. 
• Whisk together all the dressing ingredients, season well and add water as needed until you reach a pouring consistency. Set aside.
• Cook the pasta according to packet instructions. 
• Pan fry the halloumi until golden brown on both sides
• Toss together the pasta, cherry tomatoes, parsley, halloumi and pomegranate seeds. 
• Drizzle over the dressing and toss again.
• Garnish with parsley and more pomegranate seeds.

GOLDEN HOUR IN STOCKHOLM

Dress / Batsheva

Bag / Vintage Chanel

Boots / Topshop

Sunglasses / Monki

Hairband / Zara

CORNERSTONE - SERVING LONDON'S BEST SEAFOOD?

It was once again time for my annual birthday dinner with my favourite fine dining loving friend, Henry, who always treats me to a set menu in a sophisticated setting as I edge closer to the big 3-0.

Last year we went old school at gourmet destination Club Gascon, which was outstanding in terms of food and service but did make me feel a little out of place at the time, me being at least 20 years younger and a lot poorer than any one else who was being wined and dined there.

I could therefore not help but be intrigued by the restaurant Henry suggested for my 28th birthday dinner a few weeks ago, an award winning (having won restaurant of the year in 2019), much hyped (30k+ followers on Instagram) restaurant which specialises in all things seafood, all done with a fine dining approach.

Rather oddly it turned out to be located Hackney Wick and as a result comes without the astronomical price tags a similar establishment would for sure have in more obvious London locations like Mayfair or even Shoreditch. Which makes Cornerstone, our chosen venue for my birthday celebration, a welcome and surprising juxtaposition of restaurant, in more ways than one.

In fact the last time I had headed to Hackney Wick was for a warehouse party many, many moons ago and though the area is getting increasingly gentrified and is for sure already a hipster hot spot, you would have not really placed Cornerstone a 2 minute walk away from the graffiti covered overground station that I mostly associate with the area.

Why? Well Cornerstone, named after an Arctic Monkeys song by its head-chef Tom Brown, who cut his teeth at some of the most well regarded and Michelin starred kitchens in the country and who wowed on ‘The Great British Menu’ with what else but a fish course, has a refined bistro feel, an effortlessness sophisticated appearance that is also apparent in its flawless menu, making Cornerstone a culinary destination in a place you’d really not expect it to be.

Of course it is no longer a hidden gem, it’s been featured in just about any London guide and insta feed, but thank god they do allow reservations so if you are clever and book ahead, a table here is more than doable even on a Friday night like we managed on this occasion.

And I have to say the hype was is justified at Cornerstone. It wasn’t flawless fine dining but considering the very decent price for the set menu (£50 for 7 courses) and the brilliance with which seafood was cooked and prepared here, all in a very pleasant and unpretentious yet attentive environment, made this one of the most memorable meals I have had in London in a long time.

There are a few minor niggles. Don’t come too hungry or you may end up having to load (and carb) up on the incredible home baked bread with smoked miso butter (which was one of the best flavoured butters I have ever had). Indeed we ended up having two servings of bread as each tasting course came to share rather than as two individual portions which at times did mean ending up having to split a rather small piece of fish or halving the infamous and rather petite crab crumpet.

But again Cornerstone isn’t about stuffing yourself, it’s about assured, awe inspiring cooking that truly lets the ingredients shine and not one of our courses disappointed so maybe I am just a little greedy, just be warned that portion are a little on the small side.

The aforementioned bread was a delight to begin with, while some pickled oysters with celery, horseradish and dill were more than pleasant even to an oyster novice like me (it was my second ever).

A true highlight was the grey mullet tartare served with seaweed, soy and an egg yolk to stir through, not only beautifully presented but wonderfully complex in its flavours. A creamy mackerel pate came with an incredible treacle bread and was a joy to eat, while their crab crumpet was pure comfort food that for me was not something that should be shared and was a little too small even for a tasting menu. Lastly we had a fine piece of hake with mushrooms and leeks which was cooked to utter perfection but in a way the seafood was prepared so well that I could have had more and indeed one does have the option to order additionally from their small plates menu which perhaps would have been wise but in my mind goes a little against the idea of a tasting menu which is meant to give you a broad and filling enough insight into the essence of the restaurant.

The seafood courses were followed by a delicious cheese course, once again hard to top in terms of beautiful yet not overly fussy presentation, and was a plate of blue cheese, rhubarb chutney and a divine almond cake, offering a prefect mix of sweet and savoury notes.

Last but not least a shiny lemon pavlova appeared in front of us, ready to be shared, and was a delightful finish to a fantastic meal. Yes, portions could have been bigger, but heck I loved my dinner at Cornerstone and how they have taken a fine dining concept into an area that isn’t exactly known for this kind of restaurant, attempting to introduce this level of cooking to a broader and younger range of people.

Would I go back? In a heartbeat - whether to have their ever changing set menu again but maybe also to try a few things from their full menu that sounded equally fantastic.

Cornerstone isn’t an every day kinda restaurant but one to take any fish lover to, to have their tasting buds truly tantalised and to see a chef in action who truly knows his craft and does something quite exciting that London’s culinary rarely gets to witness, even if it means you have to make the trip to hackney wick!

MOUNTAIN-SCAPE

 Dress / Baum & Pferdgarten

Jacket / GAP

Shoes / Mango

Bag / Staud

CHECK MATE

Dress / Zara

Bow / ASOS

Rollneck / Zara

Sunglasses / VIU

READY FOR SPRING

CARDIGAN / ZARA

HAIR BOW / ASOS

THE PERFECT BIRTHDAY WEEKEND IN STOCKHOLM

I’ve only had that love at first sight moment with a city a few times in my now 28 years on the planet. Of course, London will forever be my first great love, heck how could I ever forget first exploring Shoreditch as a teen or marvelling at the white town houses in South Kensington when me and my parents first visited the city when I was 8. New York was another instant great love moment, I remember walking around the East Village straight off the plane wondering how had gone so long without having visited this magical place and never wanted to leave (though having been twice has had to suffice so far).

That instant warmth and feeling of belonging is also what I felt on my first visit to Stockholm. I can’t say exactly what it is that I love so much about the city but the open minded friendly people, amazing food and beautiful city itself certainly play a part.

Our first trip there flew by in a second (read my guide here) and ever since then I had an urge to go back. Turning a very “meh” 28 years old served as perfect excuse to escape London for the weekend and return to the Swedish capital and I have to say I loved it even more the second time. I would even go as far that, alongside London and New York, I could really see myself living there.

I mean it would probably bankrupt me, prices are steep even for a Londoner that is used to paying £4 for a coffee, but I would probably be a less neurotic, overworked mess than I am as result of the British working culture. It may not be as hip and happening as Copenhagen but I’ve left a big chunk of my heart in Stockholm and urge anyone that hasn’t been to make 2020 the year for a city trip there. The mix of amazing food, welcoming Swedes and a forward thinking city like no other I have been to, make it a place very special to me and trust me you will be won over in a heartbeat.


GETTING THERE:

As on our last trip we flew into Skavska with Ryanair (as I mentioned in my first guide be prepared to endure a 90 minute coach ride if you choose this “budget airport) but chose to fly out of their main airport, Arlanda, when it came to getting back to London and boy what a difference that made, with a 20 minute super fast train that gets you from the main station to the airport in no time. I would say spent the thirty odd pound more and avoid Ryanair and the middle of nowhere airport, you will end up with a much longer city trip, less stress and actually get to sit next to the person you are traveling with (my biggest pet peeve when travelling with Ryanair)


WHERE TO STAY: 

DOWNTOWN CAMPER BY SCANDIC

We pretty much hit jackpot with our hotel on this trip, with the Downtown Camper by Scandic being for sure one of the nicest hotels I have ever stayed at. It’s stylish, with lots of dark scandi wood elements, without being gimmicky, and the facilities could not be better with an incredible spa area that includes a rooftop swimming pool, sauna and gym.

It’s a 5 minute walk from the main station and about 10 minutes away from the “Mayfair” of Stockholm, Östermalm, where you can find the best spots for fancy wine, people watching and shopping, and about 35 minutes walk away from the hip part of town, Södermalm, with its cool shops and cafes which means the location is hard to beat.

Our room was super spacious and though a little dimly lit (I guess adding to the hygge vibe of the whole hotel) had everything you would want from a modern hotel room, including just about the best selfie light in their bathroom.

We had access to their amazing spa on the top floor, The Nest, which costs around £25 for a four hour session when you are staying at the hotel and I cannot recommend it enough.

The whole space is an oasis of calm, with watermelon infused water and fresh fruit waiting for you, a beautiful modern sauna and an even better heated outdoor swimming pool that Maddie and I could have spent hours in, admiring the Stockholm winter skyline.

It was the perfect spot to sweat out my birthday hangover and really gave the Camper by Scandi a special edge over any other European city hotel I have stayed at previously. Even better, all of this came without an ounce of pretentiousness and staff, though constantly helpfully, were never obnoxious, giving you all the time in the world to completely unwind.

The hotel breakfast buffet, included in the room rate, is incredibly varied, I mean you can even make your own waffles, and was way above average compare what you usually get at hotels with its sheer selection, even having an entire table dedicated to dairy and gluten free alternatives.

Overall I can only give the Downtown Camper by Scandic a 10/10, showcasing hospitality done in a modern, forward thinking way without compromising on luxury and I would hundred percent return. Simply the perfect base for a weekend in the city.


FOOD & DRINK

THE BEST PEOPLE AND FRIEES IN TOWN @ STUREHOF

Sturehof is a decades old infamous restaurant specialising in fish which attracts Stockholm’s high society and thus makes for excellent people watching at the weekends and evenings.

Skip the high prices and main restaurant and perch by their bar where handsome waiters in fancy uniforms will still make you feel pretty special. Their fries are out of this world amazing and wine is poured by the glass. The perfect place for an afternoon wine and carb pick me up and one we went back to twice during our weekend there.

BUNS BY THE SEA @ SKEPPSBRO BAGGERI 

Skeppsbro baggeri, a bakery right by the sea, came recommended by a local and did not disappoint. It’s a pretty new spot so there are no tourists, just an amazing selection of cinnamon buns and if you time your visit right their famous fusion of a semlor bun and croissant.

There is plenty of seating space so Skeppsbro is the perfect spot for a Saturday coffee and bun to start your day right!

BISTRO FARE WITH A GOURMET TOUCH @ ROLFS KÖK

Another local tip, Rolf’s Kök was a culinary highlight of the weekend. They serve the kind of elevated bistro cuisine that gets you a bib gourmand and which I love because it means experiencing incredible flavours but in a way less stuffy and expensive environment than at your classic Michelin starred spots.

Reservations are a must as this place is no hidden gem but wow would I go back in a second. Maddie’s braised ox cheek came with the most incredible truffle mash while I went for one of their most iconic dishes, a huge potato rosti, topped with vendace roe and creme fraiche..it may sound simple but here it was sheer heaven. DO NOT and I repeat DO NOT skip dessert. Their madeleines served by half a dozen or the dozen are freshly baked and served with a caramel sauce and I kid you not were one of the best things to ever touch my palette.

A must visit in Stockholm, just make sure you book that table.

A FOODIE’S PARADISE @ EATALY

Eataly has a collection of Italian inspired food halls around the world, most prominently in the USA, and have a brand spanking new one in the heart of Ostermalm.

There is a beautiful main dining space area centred around a huge chandelier with several stands from which you can order wine, pizza and past as well as an adjoining well stocked food hall / delicatessen to get your hands on real artisanal Italian ingredients.

ITALIAN APERITIVO AND INTERIOR HEAVEN @ CAFÉ NIZZA 

 Even though we only popped by Café Nizza for a glass of prosecco and some olives, though these were spectacular olives I do have to say, Café Nizza left a lasting impression with it’s retro inspired, Wes Anderson-eque interiors and judging by the hearty Italian fare served around us not only the atmosphere and drinks are great here. Instantly welcoming, chic and not too crowded, it is a place I want to return to for dinner and would also go back to for a crisp glass of bubbles and some deliciously juicy olives.


OLD SCHOOL SWEDISH CAKES @ TOSSEBAGERIET

Now, Tossebageriet is not cool. It’s not a cool cafe and the interiors are the kind of old school that is unintentionally appealing to us hipsters because, well, it just hasn’t been renovated in a while. Not that it matter. Tossebageriet does traditional Swedish cakes, no thrills and is pretty good at that.

Don’t expect modern twists but if you are after an excellent princess cake or a reliable bun go here and embrace fika alongside the old ladies having a break and not giving a toss (yes I am the queen of puns) whether you get a good instagram snap of your table set up or not and that is a bloody good old thing!

PROPER PIZZA @ TAVERNA BRILLO 

Thanks to storm Ciara, quite literally stealing my birthday thunder, we ended up staying an extra night in Stockholm but with plenty more culinary recommendations (there seems to be no end to amazing foodie spots in this city) it didn’t take us long to find a place to forget about the flight drama and 45 minutes spent on the phone to Norwegian Airlines and make the most of our extra hours!

Taverna Brillo is by many deemed as THE place for pizza in Stockholm and even for a Sunday night the dining room was buzzing with diners. It reminded me a little of a parred down, less crazy version of the Big Mamma operations, with lovely dark furniture, wine bottle lined walls, and some gold brass, sophisticated yet cosy vibe and perfect for hiding away from the rain and wind that had even reached Sweden at this point.

Our truffle pizza, topped with moorish pickled onions, was unusual but one of the better truffle pizzas I have had in my life and all the food that went past us, particularly a stunning looking truffle risotto, looked equally enticing.

Despite having heard so many good things without the extra night we wouldn’t have ended up at Brillo, in a way too spoiled by the Italian options we have in London but having been I can only recommend Brillo if you are after a brilliant pizza in a great dining environment as it very much held its own weight when compared to some of the most hyped Italian spots back home.

A MEAL OF A LIFETIME @ PUNK ROYALE 

It’s hard to sum up my evening at Punk Royale and in a way I don’t want to give too much away. It was in one sentence the most memorable, utterly bonkers and fantastic dinner of my life.

It was bizarre, a culinary delight and a bit too much at the same time and a birthday dinner I will never ever forget. This is true event dining at an haute cuisine level and though far, far from cheap, around £140 a head for me worth every. Single. Penny (or Swedish krona in this case).

Why? Well I can’t show you an pictorial evidence because anyone dining at Punk Royal has to deposit their phones in a metal box which is locked and hidden away.

An instagrammer’s nightmare but here wonderfully liberating and forcing you to fullly immerse yourself in the craziness the evening will entail, and there is a lot of that. I mean let’s start with the dining room or lack of, indeed it feels more like you are at a squat rave than a restaurant,
with bare concrete walls full of graffitis, smoke machines on constant blast out and a mix of techno and hip hop being pumped out of the speakers.

This utterly bizarre set up however some works when the young crew serving you are covered in glitter and so enthusiastic that you can’t help but think “fuck it let’s see how it will go” and let’s not forget that Punk Royal also, and this is where the biggest juxtaposition comes in, also is a fine dining establishment.

After all, in all this utter madness you also get served an outstanding 25 course dinner that will tantalise all senses, paired with so many different kinds of booze you’ll struggle to keep up. I won’t ruin the magic of each course, the caviar served straight onto your gloved up hand, the vodka shots, the ale brewed in house that even this beer hater didn’t mind, the lobster bite coated in truffle shoved straight into your mouth, the fois grass macaroons and the game of jenga that served as table centre piece, because I not only sound slightly mad but could never do justice to the unforgettable experience I had that evening.

Punk Royale was like no where I have ever been before, a once in a lifetime experience that is so worth booking even months in advance for to get a table because even London and New York have nothing quite like it. Is it worth going to Stockholm for a visit to Punk Royal alone ? I would have to say yes but for my birthday weekend it was truly the icing on the cake and one of the most defining and unforgettable dining experiences of my whole life that everyone should taste and experience for themselves. You can spend that kind of money on many mediocre meals or one that truly brings the PUNK into haute cuisine. I would do it any day again.


REVISITED FAVOURITES:

LILLEBRORS BAGGERI 

Still my favourite buns in Stockholm and a lot of ground research has been conducted by now! Their cardamon bun, with caramelised bottom, is simply to die for and worth the slight trek from the centre of town. They don’t have seating so grab your bun and head for a coffee at nearby hipster coffee shop

OST & CHARK

A lovely delicatessen and neighbourhood wine bar. The guy serving us a keenly priced and amazing tasting cava even remembered us from our last trip and I can’t recommend this place enough for a little drink to start your evening in Sodermalm.


RICHE

 Still a hilarious high society spot to watch ladies of a certain age with too much surgery and rich people buying champagne and oysters. Go on a Friday night when its bursting with people, mingle around the bar and be prepared to meet some real characters!


BARRY'S BOOTCAMP STOCKHOLM

I mean we know me! A weekend would not be complete without a little Barry’s and to make things even better they do an intro offer for around £11 for a class which is ridicously low compared to London - a bit of barry’s does indeed mean more space for those Swedish buns…

MUST TRIES:

DILL CRISPS 

The crisp game has never been the same since I tried these, seriously addictive.
Semlor bun - in the run up to easter these fluffy buns filled with whipped cream and almond paste can be found in almost all bakeries and cafes and are a must try if you come during their season!

PRINCESS CAKE
We alll know I love a princess cake (I even made a cheat's version at home) and here most cafes will put their on little twist on this iconic cake concoction.

PUNSCHSRULLE

Booze and marzipan, what’s not to love! These cakes, reminiscent of an old school vacuum cleaner, may be a very “granny” baked good to like but me and Maddie are low key obsessed with them and even better most supermarkets in Stockholm sell pretty decent versions in their bakery sections. They may look weird but do not mock them until you’ve tried them, trust me!