A Chippy on the corner.

This is not your normal greasy little English ‘Chippy’ down the road. Far from it. This is the new Tom Aiken’s restaurant, Tom’s Place.

Right in the heart of Chelsea, just off the Kings Road on Cale Street where Tom Aiken’s seems to be slowly taking over with now three restaurants with in nearly a 30 second walk is his new addition.

It’s the perfect place for good relaxed all British food and this is one of the main aspects of the restaurant. All-British.

Everything on the menu is sourced in the United Kingdom from the fish down to the cider. And as for the fish Tom’s Place endorses a policy of buying mainly line-caught fish brought in by family-run day boats and focusing on less threatened species such as megrim sole, mackerel and Cornish sardines. 

Easy wipe tables with lipstick red (recycled) plastic chairs and every table stocked with Sarson’s vinegar and Tom’s home made ketchup, it’s an ultra cool little restaurant.   You can order your fish from the red neon ‘blackboard’ behind the takeaway counter that lists all the available types of battered fish for the day from red gurnard and cod to Pollock and monkfish. 

But I know what you’re thinking, lots of battered fish, well think again. The menu is a take on the traditional English Fish and Chip shop menu but ten times better. There’s all the usual’s like English mushy peas, thick chips and fat onion rings, potato slices in batter, chip butty’s and Lincolnshire fish pie. There’s also a rather good selection of specials and if the Red Mullet with rocket and pesto is on there don’t hesitate for one minute about ordering it, it is delicious.

It’s your traditional ‘Chippy’ with a chic twist and Tom Aiken’s behind the counter deep frying your fish. What more could you ask for.

Perfect place to: grab a bite to eat before the cinema or a quick bite with friends. To take the kids as the milkshakes and skinny fires are a big hit. To pop into while shopping on the King’s Road.

And a perfect place for some really good fish!

Tom’s Place
1 Cale Street
London SW3 3QT
Tel: 020 7351 1806

It’s all about the Cha Cha Moon.

 Fast, easy and oh, so good.

The man behind Hakkasan, Yauatcha and Sakenohana, Alan Yau has a new venture that’s all about delicious but speedy food.

Cha Cha Moon is his new walk-in Chinese noddle bar that follows a similar plan as places like Wagamama and Busabai Eathai in it’s open plan kitchen and vast communal seating with long benchs and tables.

Treat yourself to some  char sui ja jain udon soup, crispy duck lo mein or Peking-style noodle soup which be at your table fast then you can say cha cha moon three times. It will be there in a flash.

It’s so tasty and fast that it could soon be set to possible become a chain. Well we will have to see but there are plans in open a second outlet in Whiteleys shopping center later this year. But for now check out the flagship first .

Cha Cha Moon, 15-21 Ganton Street, W1F 9BN (020 7297 9800).

Little Bouncing Buddha’s

It’s the latest craze in London and it’s unbelievably cool.

Bouncing Buddha’s is all about teaching kids as young as twelve months old the joys of yoga. And you see them bend, stand and move in to their yoga poses with such ease and skill. Some of them are better then their parents.

The classes are taught by two Montessori teachers, Nadine Nounou and Ladan Sattaripour, who between them speak French, Spanish, Farsi and English. They both have a beautifully nature manner with all the children who come racing into class eager to show them their down facing dog and crab poses.

Their aim: ‘We wanted to give children the opportunity to be active’ says Nadine, ‘and benefit from all that yoga can offer a growing child.’ And this is exactly what Bouncing Buddha’s does.

‘Their bodies are still developing’ says Ladan, ‘therefore yoga can help with their flexibility, it improves body awareness, promotes strength and co-ordination.’

It’s the perfect fun and chic after school class for any London kid, girl or boy, and fantastic for all you parents out there. The 45min class is just the right amount of time for the children to focus on their yoga and for you (the parent) to have a relaxed coffee or a manicure.

Private classes (min. 4 children) at your home can be arranged and this is the ideal play date. While the kids do yoga you can sit with your friends and have a cup of tea.

It’s very popular with Claudia Schiffer and her children and is a huge hit with the Notting Hill and Knightsbridge mummies.  But watch out, the children are getting better at yoga than their parents.

So hurry up and get your child into the next class. It’s the best way to keep your kids active.  

www.bouncingbuddhas.com

nadine@bouncingbuddhas.com

or contact Nadine Nounou on 07887 642326

Where to eat this weekend

Try something new, and we mean new, the opening party was only last Tuesday and it was a great success. The Botanist is the place to be if you’re in Chelsea this weekend.

This little gem right on Sloane Square is just the place to go for relaxed and sophisticated fine dinning. It’s the latest addition to Tom and Ed Martin’s renowned gastro empire that includes The Empress of India and The Gun.  

The Botanist draws together influences from all over the world while remaining essentially British at heart. So have lunch there this weekend and try the white asparagus with ceps and fried egg or the salad of sautéed sweet breads or the free-range organic baby Spring chicken breast and confit leg with caramelised shallot tart and foie gras veloute and…. well.. I could go on and on the menu is so mouth watering and delicious.

Okay, just one more……Eccles cakes with Earl Grey tea.

Try the Jamaica 1728 cocktail. For all you chocolate lovers. 

And if you don’t have time to sit and want something to take home you will be happy to know there is also a take-away service. Could The Botanist be any better?

The Botanist is at your service. 

The Botanist
No. 7 Sloane Square, London SW1
020 7730 0077
info@thebotanistonsloanesquare.com

Other restaurants –

Empress of India

130 Lauriston Road, Victoria Park, London E9 7LH T: 020 8533 5123 – www.theempressofindia.com

The Gun

The Gun, 27 Coldharbour, Docklands, London E14 9NS T: 020 7515 5222 – www.thegundocklands.com

Don’t be scared if on Saturday night when driving home after a late night out a crowd of women walking down the street in just their bras. Apparently, it’s all for charity!

In a few days the streets of London are going to be swarmed with 15,000 enthusiastic women and men dressed in decorative Playtex Bras power walking 26.2 miles around the capital for Walk the Walk.

Walk the Walk is a grant making health charity which is the reason behind this unforgettable experience and the whole event is dedicated to raising money for vital breast cancer causes.

The walk starts in Hyde Park on the 17^th May at midnight and it’s certainly a party from beginning to end. Come on, where else can you see this many women flashing their bras in public.

This years Playtex MoonWalk will be attended by a number of well-loved faces and celebrities including actress Suranne Jones and Mikyla Dodd, TV presenter Rani Price, style guru Nicky Hambleton-Jones, and Indian dance and yoga expert Hemalayaa and Dr Rosemary Leonard.

This years Playtex bra challenge follows the theme of Bollywood meets Rock ‘n’ Roll so there’s going to be tons of vivid colours, decadent fabrics and big skirts and bobby socks.

So get in the mood and either join the walk or just cheer them all on if you see them out on the walk during the night!

Let’s hear it, three cheers for all the women in the bras.

www.walkthewalk.org

The Playtex MoonWalk London 2008