After working nearly 17 hours a day for 337 days of the past year, My Chef is now home.  And so tired that there’s no risk of him going anywhere for at least a few days.  None the less, I plan on locking the doors and windows so he can’t get out .  He is now on a wife mandated rest period until he jets off to Copenhagen in a few weeks and leaves me all on my lonesome again

My Chef and his opening team - Pic via Square Meal

His time at The Fox & Grapes has been a definite learning experience for both of us.  He’s learned loads about running a restaurant and managing people.  I’ve learned that being a chef’s wife, although really tough a lot of the time, can be super rewarding.  Over the past year I’ve definitely become more patient, more independent (which may or may not turn out to be a good thing), and I’ve learned a lot about playing the supporting role.

Some of you may be wondering what’s next for My Chef.

Well, the answer is that we don’t really know.  He’s taking some time off to rest and recover from the past year.  And during that time he’ll be staging at a couple of top restaurants, including Noma (the number 1 restaurant in the world), and he and I are going to work  together on a project.  But beyond that, we don’t really know; he’ll continue networking and exploring his options.  He’s already met with some of London’s top chefs and has had some great advice and some really positive feedback.

For once in my life I don’t feel worried that our next step isn’t perfectly planned out.  I have faith that it will work out.  So stay tuned because as and when we make some decisions I’ll be sharing them with you here.

Shannon x

PS – For those of you wondering who is at The Fox & Grapes.  The new head chef is Julian Ward, trained at The Savoy and worked for Marco Pierre White.

Basically it states that the Monday of the last full week of January is the most depressing day of the year.  And this year (unlike some!) I absolutely disagree.  In fact, today I am so happy I feel like flying!

Why you ask?

Because My Chef is almost home.  He’s done at The Fox & Grapes and today he’s helping out Claude Bosi at The Northcote Manor Food & Wine Festival.  But when he gets back, he is ALL MINE!!!!

I am really looking forward to our time together.  We are soon off to Madrid and then Iceland before he begins his tour of Europe’s top kitchens.  And although I know I am not going to want to let him go at that point, I’ll do it for the greater food good.

He just needs to promise me that he’ll never stay away for so long again

I hope the researchers are wrong and you are having a happy day!

The V&A hosted another of its Fashion in Motion events, ‘Models at Work’ by Olivier Saillard.  This wasn’t your typical fashion show though.  In fact, there were no clothes.  Rather the models used poses and gestures to demonstrate how the presentation of fashion has changed over time.

The models, all famous french models from the 80s and 90s, wore black tights and black body suits.  They used white tunics to turn a plain item into high fashion, they used pieces of fabric to create new looks as they strutted up and down the catwalk, they mimicked what I would call a “typical” fashion show and then they donned tulle that had been shaped into different styles; all whilst showing how these items change the wearers behaviours and movements.  The fact that there was no finished piece of clothing in the show was really powerful.

Throughout the entire 30 minutes I was mesmerized by two things.  The first was that these women were dead sexy.  They owned their bodies and although they weren’t necessarily the traditional image of beautiful, they were enchanting.  Secondly, it doesn’t matter what you wear, it’s how you wear it.  These women were sent out with bed sheets or a white tunic that they used to create some really good looks.  Realistically they would never wear those looks anywhere other than the catwalk, but the learning stands.

I’ve always been in search of the perfect body; no matter how thin I am, I always want to be smaller.  I danced for many years, so perhaps it stems from there, but realistically I think I’d have struggled with this whether I danced or not.  It’s just one of my neurosis.  After this show I am going to try to own my body the way the models owned theirs, and maybe that’ll even help me to overcome my food fright.  Won’t My Chef be pleased!

Here’s a hint, it’s widely available in fast food chains, the grocery store and until about 3 minutes ago I also had some in my fridge.

Does that help?  Do you think you’ve got it?

OK, well, apparently this is what processed chicken looks like before they dye it a “normal” chicken colour and create whatever end product it is meant to be.  To create this ice cream like paste, the whole chicken is put through a sieve and by whole chicken, they mean the whole chicken – bones, blood and all.  And then to rid it of bacteria, it is soaked in ammonia.

I love chicken, but this will definitely be changing how much of it I consume and how I consume it.  And, I promise you this, I will never eat a Chicken McNugget again.

Hope you are having a good day and this photo hasn’t spoiled your appetite.  I’m at home with the flu and haven’t eaten for 2 days, but thanks to this photo I definitely wouldn’t have been eating my planned chicken dinner tonight.

Shannon x

From the minute I got into the car he started talking about how ice carving was one of his favourite courses in Culinary School.  Needless to say, I wasn’t surprised when we arrived at the Ice Magic Festival at Lake Louise.  And although I had seen ice carvings before, the lesson in sculpting that he’d given me,  helped me to see them with a new found appreciation.

Ice Hotel

Since then I’ve had a lot of respect for ice carvers.  Our trip to the Ice Hotel in Sweden proved to me what a serious craft it is.  These sculptors are artists and they produce some of the most beautiful creations I’ve ever seen.  The hotel changes each and every year which in itself is an incredible feat, but it is also a chance for them to showcase the artistry, the creativity and the talent of those who choose to work with ice and snow. (Well, that and it melts every summer so they start all over again.)

The hotel is open as a museum during the day so that you can explore it and see each of the rooms.  They are all very different from one another.  If you’ve not been, it really is worth a visit.  It is incredibly expensive, but the experience is well worth it.  And if you are going, I’d recommend paying the extra to stay in one of the theme rooms.  It’s a chilly and mildly uncomfortable night on the ice, but when are you ever going to have the chance to sleep in an ice chariot again?

Ice Chapel

For those of you who can’t/won’t visit Sweden, perhaps a trip to Canary Wharf this weekend is more realistic.  It’s the London Ice Sculpting Festival today.  I was there last night to check it out, and though perhaps not as jaw dropping as the Ice Hotel, there was still some  talented artists creating their sculptures of winter sports.

London Ice Sculpting Festival

For those who might not be as familiar with Monaco as I am, it’s a tiny principality bordered by both France and Italy on the French Riviera.  On a per capita basis, it has the highest GDP in the world and the lowest unemployment rate.  It’s main economic driver is tourism and much of that thanks to its beautiful casino.

The Casino is only open to tourists, residents are not permitted.  A visit costs €10, you must present your passport and in keeping with everything Monte Carlon (if that’s the right term?!?!) there is a dress code.  Whether or not you’re interested in gambling it’s worth a visit; a really beautiful building and the people at the tables are definitely a sight to behold.

I typically don’t gamble; I think it’s a complete waste of money.  But, when in Monaco…  And, I won.  I played one game of roulette and walked out of there with €360.  So to celebrate we took my parents to Le Cafe de Paris, a brasserie right next to the Casino, and as a thank you for bringing us to France with them we blew the whole wad.

Me and my winning chip

Le Cafe de Paris is a beautiful restaurant, very avant garde, and the best place I’ve ever been for people watching.  While we were there it was rammed with some of the most fabulously wealthy people I’ve ever seen.  The food was average and probably a better place just to go for drinks, but as it’s a place to be seen there were tonnes of people there “being seen”.

The four of us basically sat in silence watching the cars, the handbags and the victims of plastic surgery as they went by, but nothing beats the woman who paid €35 for a plate of steak tartar for her dog.

I love money, but even if I were rich I wouldn’t spend it on that!

MEATliquor is not a food truck, but the team behind the restaurant first found fame through the Meatwagon (London’s first and very successful food truck).  They now occupy a permanent space in an NCP Parking Garage behind Debenhams, just off of Oxford Street.  And my god, is it popular!

On Saturday night, at 6:30 (so really early for London!) we waited 45 minutes in the queue, only to make it to the front and be told that the 3rd guest in our party would have to queue herself.  Ridiculous!  Thankfully she showed up just as we were having the debate with the staff and they let it go.  But word to the wise, if you’re full party isn’t there before you enter the building, just wait outside the doors for them to arrive.  Because yes, the queue carries on inside the door.

Honestly, I have never seen a restaurant where people will wait over an hour for a table (which is what happened to many of the people behind us!).

But I took the fact that London’s uber trendy were willing to wait a good sign.  Afterall, we could smell the restaurant for more than a block before we could see it.  And it did smell good!

Once we were inside it was decorated unlike any restaurant I’ve ever been to.  In fact it was decorated more like a headbangers truck (or maybe basement) might be, than a restaurant.  The walls and ceilings looked as though the owners let their friends loose with spraypaint to tag it as they saw fit.  It wasn’t to my liking, but when combined with the incredibly loud rock music, the meat hook light fixtures, the jam jar glasses (even for wine!) and the roll of paper towel rather than napkins, it actually grew on me.

The burgers themselves (which I’d love to show you a picture of but was so hungry when they arrived at 8:05 (95 minutes after we first arrived!) that I just tucked in)  were what we’d heard all about and what we’d come for.  My friends ordered the halloumi burger (which was very good) and the bacon burger (which was much better than the first time).  I on the otherhand felt that I needed to try the Original…afterall, it was this burger that they built the franchise on.  And it was good; messy but good.

The thing that I liked most about the restaurant was that despite an hour long queue outside they didn’t rush us.  I HATE restaurants where you are rushed and it was nice to FINALLY have a table and feel like we could use it as long as we wanted.

I don’t know that I will be racing back to MEATliquor.  I sort of object to their queueing policy and it wasn’t an atmosphere or meal that I’d wait another 95 minutes for.  But I’m glad that I’ve been, and if you’re in the area, have time to wait and want a burger, I would recommend it.

And for those of you who make it to CHARPOP, I’m curious to hear what you think!

MEATliquor                                                       CHARPOP
74 Welbeck Street                                           secret location…check the website!
London W1G 0BA                                            Calgary, Alberta

Traveling is a passion of mine. I love to experience new places, do new things and meet new people. My favourite feeling is that pressure against my chest and the popping of my ears when an airplane takes off.  I get so excited by knowing that in a matter of hours I will be landing somewhere new.

I set a goal to visit 30 countries before I turned 30. And I did it! By the time my birthday came I had actually visited 31 countries. Now, 2.5 years later my total is at 39. I know lots of people around the world have been to far more countries and much farther abroad than I have. All but 8 of the countries I have visited are in Europe, but who cares how far apart they are each one has something different to offer.

Lots of people ask me where my favourite place to travel is and I find it a really difficult question to answer. Italy has the best food, Greece was a wonderful and relaxing holiday for its mix of beaches and sights, Egypt was incredible for its history, Uganda has my favourite people, Kenya was the best for animals and Bosnia was life changing because it opened my eyes to the strength of the human spirit. But I cannot pick a favourite.

Instead of asking where my favourite place is, the easier question to answer is why do I like to travel so much. The answer is the learnings it provides. Every trip I’ve ever taken has taught me something about the world, something about history, something about human nature or most importantly something about myself.

I’ve never been someone with overwhelming self-confidence, but when I started to travel I realised that there were way more good things about myself then I’d ever noticed. I found that I could make friends quite easily, that I had a knack at putting people at ease and finding common ground. I have also realised that I can rely on myself for most things; I don’t need anyone else to do things for me…I may at times want someone to do something for me (My Chef in particular), but at least I know that I myself can do it.

I’ve also learned that there is a wonderful world outside of my comfort zone and that if I dig deep I can experience things that the majority of people only dream about. Knowing these things has really helped me to appreciate myself and my life.

This year I am going make an effort to share some of my favourite travel memories with you. Afterall, it is a huge part of my life as the wife…

With a new year, comes new resolutions.  Last year I set out to learn how to roast a chicken and I completed it.  It look me 10 months, but I did.  And this year, (despite my last post with the 12 restaurants I want to try this year) I am hoping to be beach ready by the end of February.

Why the end of February you ask?

Because My Chef and I are going here!

To the Maldives.  And nothing can keep the smile from my face, even the fact that they Maldives government is trying to ban the spas in each of the resorts.  Although I’d love a wonderful and relaxing massage while we’re there, I’m sure days of nothing but sun, sand, snorkelling and 2 weeks in paradise with My Chef will do the trick.

Hurrah!  I can’t wait for February.

World's #1 restaurant, Noma.

It’s under 3 weeks now until My Chef is done at The Fox & Grapes.  As I’ve already said, it’s been a wonderful experience but he misses fine dining.  And so do I.  With him around a bit more, I have a lengthy list of restaurants that I must try in 2012.  In no particular order these are:

1: Noma – Copenhagen, Denmark (Fingers crossed for February)
2: Roganic – London
3: Pollen Street Social – London
4: Ramon Freixa Madrid – Madrid, Spain (Booked in January)
5: Dans le Noir – London
6: Gidleigh Park – Dartmoor, Devon
7: Le Chateaubriand – Paris, France
8: Notable – Calgary, Canada
9: Stock Restaurant in the new Trump Tower – Toronto, Canada
10: MEATLiquor – London
11: The Hand & Flowers – Marlow, Buckinghamshire
12: The Waterside Inn – Bray, Windsor

I am also going to try to arrange for My Chef and I to try out one of the London Foodie’s dinner parties.  They sound amazing and it’s definitely on the must try list for the year.

Do you have any must eat restaurants on your 2012 to do list?

Happy eating in 2012!