Notes from a Small Island
Happy New Year one and all! As the first post of 2015 we thought we should…
Author Lucy Shaw
Eternal Sunshine: Kempinski, St. Petersburg
They call it the Venice of the north, but from where I’m sitting it looks…
Venissa: Venetian Gold
Lucy Shaw strays from the tourist-crowded canals of Venice to its quieter surrounds and discovers,…
Chiltern Firehouse
To describe Chiltern Firehouse as white-hot would be an understatement. In the few months since…
There May Be Truffles Ahead…
“Theo’s nose is deep in the dirt. Frantically circling a small patch of land, tail wagging feverishly, it seems like he’s on to something. Silence descends upon the group and we all rush to the scene, keen not to miss the moment.”
Beef Encounter: Argentina
Lucy Shaw heads for the Pampas, to the estancias and bodegas for some asado with the gauchos. If you’ve no idea what any of that is, read on…
Shangri-La Paris
“A flute of fizz in hand, I recline on a sun lounger and drink in the view – it’s midnight in Paris and mere metres from me, Gustave Eiffel’s latticed legacy is twinkling manically…” Lucy Shaw savours the finest the French capital has to offer…
Spain’s Secret Garden
“I’m face down on a low-slung wooden bed in white pyjamas, limbs being pulled in all directions like a marionette puppet.” Lucy visits the Asia Gardens, Alicante…
Launceston Place
“Launceston Place in Kensington is best known for being Princess Diana’s favourite restaurant. Tucked away in a pretty townhouse on a quiet street far from the madding crowd…”
Liquid Treasure Island
“While traditionally associated with red trouser-wearing old men, Cognac has undergone a welcome transformation.” Lucy Shaw finds gold in a glass off the coast of France…
Ametsa
“Thousands of spice-filled test tubes hang precariously above my head like some frantic experiment to preserve the sands of time.”
Theo Randall at the Intercontinental
Theo Randall deals in rusticity. His cooking philosophy is simple: source the best ingredients to create authentic Italian dishes that would make mama weep for her homeland.