LONDON and THE REST OF THE UNITED KINGDOM

August 8, 2021 by monica 1 Comment

WHERE CAN WE TRAVEL TO FROM DUBAI? without having to quarantine. IDEAS HERE

Where can we travel to from Dubai without having to quarantine is the question we’re all asking ourselves. It IS possible to go places but as we know restrictions are definitely in force on many fronts. BUT travel is in our DNA so see where you can go NOW.

LONDON

So now we can GO TO LONDON WITHOUT HAVING TO UNDERTAKE EXPENSIVE HOTEL QUARANTINE, but so far we still have to isolate and quarantine privately for 10 days with a possibility of early release after day 5.

So that’s a lot of expensive covid tests AND many days of leave for those who work “wasted” . I also understand it can take up to 48 hours to get your test result back after day 5 so that’s a minimum of 7 days!

So some of us are waiting till the UK recognizes our entirely genuine vaccines. BUT when and if you do get to London check out some ideas we’ve experienced below.

LONDON IDEAS AND EXPERIENCES from boutique hotels to cooking lessons and everything in between. We LOVE London!

Click on the picture to see our many London posts. Psst we’ve also been alerted to a cool new hotel to check out in London’s West End. So add The Mayfair Townhouse to your list of places to consider having a drink, meal or few sleeps at!

ARTESIAN BAR AT THE LANGHAM LONDON

KENYA

We’ve just travelled to Kenya for a short break from Dubai and while the visa process has changed, there is no need to quarantine. Click to KENYA IDEAS HERE to see all our previous posts linked to countries we’ve been to to inspire you to book a trip.

KENYA IDEAS tried and tested here.

KENYA BEACH HOUSE

It’s possible to go to Kenya without having to quarantine, you just need a -ive PCR test on arrival and you have to generate a QR code via a link. The link to how you generate that code is here It’s a short 4 hour 40 minute flight from Dubai to Kenya direct on Emirates.

You do need a visa before hand so apply for an e visa on line first. Then on return you need a _ive PCR test.

SUNDOWNERS IN THE BUSH KENYA

NOTE the terminal is now in a NEW PLACE at Nairobi airport. Check you get dropped at the right place. Covid tests are quite easily available in Nairobi, the cost is around US $65.00 or so.

AMERICA

Well California Ideas here tried by us.

It’s possible for us to fly directly to the States from Dubai. Click for CALIFORNIA ITINERARY for you to copy. It’s a long flight but you do just get on and get off!

(16 hours from here to California) And I understand if you spend 10 days there you can now also go to London from there.

WHERE CAN WE GO IN EUROPE ? European Trips we’ve been on check the itineraries here.

I think you can go many countries in Europe from Dubai without having to quarantine, BUT check which countires are or would be green if you need to go on to the UK. See where we recommend in

SPAIN, NORWAY, ITALY, THE CZECH REPUBLIK, BUDAPEST and TURKEY.

S PAIN

You can travel to Spain from Dubai without having to quarantine. We LOVED Barcelona and our foodie adventures in San Sebastian. The H10 hotel group has a 25% discount on 2 of our favourite hotels at the moment.

IN THE MOOD FOR BARCELONA

CZECH REPUBLIC

We loved our long weekend in Prague, click the link to read about what we did and where we stayed. It’s a very quick flight from Dubai.

NORWAY

This is an expensive destination but if it’s clean air and fabulous scenery you’re after then this is the place!

FABULOUS FJORDS IN NORWAY

ITALY

A really easy flight, fabulous food, good infrastructure and very friendly vibes, choose what kind of holiday you want in Italy.

BUDAPEST

A really good short trip from Dubai, fabulous architecture and a very walkable city. Lot’s of history too.

SHORT BREAK IN BUDAPEST

TURKEY

Well we’ve put this into Europe but know it can be classed as Asia as well, we went to Istanbul, Bodrum and Cesme, I’d do that whole trip again if I could. We LOVED the Maçakizi hotel but there is a Mandarin Oriental in Bodrum too!

TURKEY TRIP

As always CHECK ALL RESTRICTION AND TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS VERY CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU BOOK ANY TICKETS! We were almost off to Poland BUT we’re not clear as to whether they accept our vaccines or not, please let me know if you have any updated information on this. Poland seems like an amazing place to visit, great value too!

October 1, 2019 by monica Leave a Comment

ARTESIAN BAR AT THE LANGHAM

Travel

THE ARTESIAN BAR AT THE LANGHAM

THE ARTESIAN BAR

The Artesian Bar at the Langham isn’t just another London hotel cocktail bar. It’s a special place serving award winning, well thought out drinks and high quality food in a sophisticated but accessible setting.

The word Artesian

The word Artesian in Artesian Bar literally means flowing from underground to the surface, that’s where artesian wells get their name. But interestingly there is a cocktail kitchen laboratory complete with thermomix, sous vide, dehydrator and even a centrifuge machine in the basement. This laboratory serves to generate the cocktails in the Artesian bar up above on the ground floor. So there is a flow from underground to the surface here too.

What is my favourite cocktail at the Artesian Bar?

Definitely the Gentiane Grey Goose vodka with rhubarb sparkling wine. A light pink, icy drink served in a wine glass. It tasted fizzy, slightly spicy but was incredibly smooth and a bit summery all at once. Interesting to note, as I never choose to drink vodka based drinks at all, but this was and will be an exception. I would definitely have this again. The rhubarb sparkling wine is not an English wine but sourced from Latvia and tasted amazing as an alternative to champagne.

…Brilliant for a special occasion or for whenever you need to feel better about your situation in life.

Food at the Artesian

We were surprised at the variety and quality of the bar food menu. You could almost say our snacks comprised of a mini meal that perfectly accompanied our drinks. Expect plump chicken gyozas, bite size ham and cheese toasties and specially cured gravadlax salmon on rye bread.

Meet me at the Artesian Bar

Get a feel of the vibe of this place.

Prices at the Artesian

Chicken Gyozas 9 pounds

Whiskey cured salmon on pumpernickel bread 9 pounds

Ham and Cheese toasties with tarragon 10 pounds

All cocktails are 20 pounds.

There are non alcoholic versions available too.

snacks are served from 5.30 to 1.00am

Location

where is the Artesian Bar

very near Oxford Circus tube

This review was written in conjunction with the Langham Hotel London. Would I spend my own money for a cocktail and a snack here? Yes absolutely, without a doubt, and I would highly recommend the experience. Thank you to the Langham for introducing me to the Artesian.

Monica Kapila

as seen at the Artesian

Passing shot

If you want to know what it would be like to stay at the Langham, then read our review of a stay at the Langham in London.

Note: They also have a cookery school called Sauce where you can learn the building blocks of excellent cooking.

Thank you Monica.

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August 25, 2019 by monica 1 Comment

COOKING LESSONS in LONDON SAUCE by the Langham

Immerse yourself in some cooking lessons in London Sauce by the Langham.

A classy, interactive, fun, cooking workshop where you’ll hone your culinary skills regardless of the level you’re currently at.

Building Blocks of Good Cooking

The cooking school is called Sauce and the lessons are all about the building blocks of good cooking. I tried their Stocks and Sauces course one Saturday in July.

The workshop includes lunch with wine, a tour of the Roux at the Landau kitchen, all your instruction, ingredients to replicate everything you’ve watched being made and you get to take home your creations too.

Coffee and gorgeous snacks are also included to help you get through the day.

What do you learn in your cooking lessons in London Sauce by the Langham

We learnt how to make chicken stock, chicken jus, a sauce Antiboise, Hollandaise sauce and variations on that as well as a superb Crème Anglaise sweet sauce.

How do they teach you

We watched a very informative, practical demonstration by the Kitchen Manager Millie Simpson for each dish and then returned to our fully equipped cooking stations to replicate what we had seen but under some expert guidance. We didn’t have to clear anything away or wash up. You do need to keep your station tidy though.

Do you need to know how to cook

No, you don’t need to know how you cook, but you must have a keen interest in cooking and you probably do cook a bit yourself at home. Millie showed us classical, but accessible French methods to make our stocks and sauces. There aren’t really any short cuts. You do have to be quite energetic, not be afraid of sharp knives and quite quick at your workstation. There is a fair amount of cooking involved in the workshop so you get great value for money.

I learned how to:

expertly cut onions (banana shallots, always hold at the root)

concasse tomatoes (blanche with a slit, peel, petal and dice)

make a good crème anglaise from scratch (and I know how to rescue if needed)

make a chicken jus

make a sauce Antiboise

we were shown MUCH MORE than the above, but I am confident at trying all I have listed having done the lessons with Millie!

What was the most impressive dish

The brown chicken jus:
I would never have believed such a tasty, classy chicken jus could be made by simply starting to roast chicken wings in their own fat in the oven, lot’s more to do after that of course, but that’s how you start.

The crème anglaise:
Even the one I made (that needed rescuing in a water bath) was a good French restaurant quality custard. Creamy, not too sweet, milky and infused with vanilla pods, I served mine cold the next day with warm rhubarb crumble dessert.

I have also learnt that there is a logical order involved in sauce making:

It’s Alcohol followed by Stock followed by Fat

REMEMBER

ALCOHOL THEN STOCK THEN FAT

Course details

The class started at 9.15am with a light breakfast. It finished with lunch and wine at about 2.15pm.

Cost £150.00 per person.

It’s a great, group activity. Go with some mates and combine with a cocktail at the award winning Artesian bar on the ground floor before you leave.

Sauce is located on the first floor of the Langham hotel in London.

Disclaimer: This post was written in conjunction with the Langham but the views are all my own. Would I do a class here again? I would definitely do the pasta making cooking lessons for sure. Some of the participants in our class had already done it and highly recommended it.

Monica

Editor

June 23, 2018 by monica Leave a Comment

HYATT REGENCY LONDON THE CHURCHILL HOTEL

This Hyatt Regency London the Churchill hotel underwent an extensive refurbishment in 2016 and the result is a beautiful, British blend of contemporary and classic.

The hotel cleverly incorporates references to Sir Winston Churchill and surrounding history. But it’s not just one great world leader that is associated with the hotel – it has hosted both Barack Obama and Tony Blair.

A few minutes walk away from the iconic Selfridges in London’s West End the hotel is a luxurious place to rest and rejuvenate whatever the time of year.

It’s especially enjoyable in the warmer months as Portman Square’s trees are in full bloom and make a great landmark for you to find your bearings in busy, urban Oxford Street.

Experience the Suite Life in London’s Portman Square

Hotel suites often comprise of two distinct areas quite close together and sometimes can seem either clinical or cramped – not so in our suite at the Churchill.

Expect a separate hallway with it’s own cloakroom, a large and modern lounge area with a marble coffee table and lastly, a spacious bedroom with an en-suite bathroom.

The suite really felt like home to us, especially coming from Dubai as proportions were so generous. But I particularly liked the clever blend of contemporary furnishings and colours that still managed to incorporate traditional values.

The same values permeate the whole hotel from the lobby through to the grand Montagu restaurant. The chandeliers were extremely elegant and remarkable in their own right.

There are of course mementoes of Sir Winston Churchill placed in and around your room in a very natural way that serve to remind you of the heritage of the hotel.

The suite life entitled us to use of the hotel’s Regency Club lounge on the 8th floor. The evening drinks and canapés from 5.30 to 7.30 were a great opportunity for the family to get back together and share stories of the day and refuel before going out for a late dinner to one of London’s beautiful restaurants.

You could also have your breakfast in the club lounge if you wish to, but I recommend trying The Montagu restaurant (named after Venetia Montague – Sir Winston Churchills’s wife) for a sumptuous and memorable breakfast.

Everyone from the restaurant managers and waiters to the chefs were clearly committed to providing us with the best experience we could have.

We felt genuine warmth and an eagerness to serve at the hotel – no request was ever too complicated or too much to ask for.

Linger for longer over cappuccinos in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency London the Churchill hotel

Do have your last cappuccino at the fireside in the imposing lobby just adjacent to the Montagu and linger over last minute plans for the day before venturing out to explore London.

Location of the Hyatt Regency London the Churchill hotel

We actually felt like we were sitting in the square itself while at the Churchill Bar. The space has it’s own private outdoor terrace with a nautical theme evident throughout, boasting Chelsea inspired flowers just about everywhere. Post-dinner coffee and conversation with pretty crockery and silver teapots really added to our Churchill experience.

In addition, the blankets and overhead heaters were most welcome for cooler London evenings.

Everyone has their own favourite restaurants in London but a couple I would recommend within walking distance of the hotel are Royal China for dim sums until 4pm and the recently opened Rüya – a Turkish restaurant from Dubai. Do have coffee and a cinnamon roll at Ole and Steen in St Christophers’s place just a short walk away and pick up some treats from Selfridges food hall to enjoy in your home suite home.

To borrow some words from Sir Winston.. “Nourish your hopes, but do not overlook realities”

The reality is that the Hyatt Regency London the Churchill hotel works superbly well on all fronts.

You can explore the hotel in more detail via it’s the official website here.

WHERE CAN WE TRAVEL TO FROM DUBAI? without having to quarantine. IDEAS HERE