Wee Birdy

London must-drink: Bloody Mary at Automat

Anyone who's spent a little time in my company knows that I fully appreciate the finer qualities of a well-made, full-bodied Bloody Mary. I won't linger on the makings of the perfect Bloody Mary, suffice to say that it usually comes down to good quality tomato juice (and vodka), as well as just the right balance of Worcester sauce, chilli sauce/Tabasco, salt and pepper. And a deft squeeze of lemon is crucial. Too much lemon can be a great Bloody Mary's undoing. Same goes for too much ice (watered-down spicy tomato juice is not very pleasing).

I've had quite a few excellent Bloody Marys in London (The Wolseley, The Narrow, and The Diner) but I love visiting Automat on a late Saturday morning, usually following a prolonged tour of Dover Street Market. May I suggest that the Bloody Mary goes down particularly well with the classic Automat burger, which comes complete with pickle and a side-serving of fries. Very pleasing, indeed.

Happy Saturday!

Automat
33 Dover Street
London W1S 4NF
Tel. 020 7499 3033
Nearest tube: Green Park
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

For shopping in Mayfair, click here.

A week of flowers: Chelsea Flower Show

Been meaning to post about this lily-of-the-valley posy I bought from a flower stall on Earlham Street a couple of weeks ago. It was only two quid, and looked super-sweet in this ceramic paper bag vase (a birdy birthday present from my dear friend Gemma).

A week of flowers: Chelsea Flower Show

I'm not usually a fan of printed sofas, but this lovely two-seater by London designer Russell Pinch had my nose pinned to the window at Liberty last week. Floral print sounds way too twee for this little beauty, which has a veritable wildflower meadow growing on it. Lovely mismatched print cushions, too.

Wee London finds: Walk-in cocktail

I’m slightly obsessed with kooky-foodie architects Bombas & Parr, the London-based company behind the rather fabulous St Paul’s jelly.

The walk-in breathable cocktail is their latest theatrical food experiment, and it’s being unveiled today on Ganton Street. They're using the same technology as Anthony Gormley’s Blind Light at the Hayward Gallery – which was quite an unsettling and disorienting experience.

It also involves donning a special protective suits before walking into a mist of gin and tonic water. To further enhance the ‘inner cocktail world’ experience, the interior will be decorated with giant limes and oversized straws. Once inside you can order food from a special menu that compliments the cocktail.

And by the sounds of it, Bompas & Parr are just getting started. Harry Parr says, “I’m interested in states of matter. Here we’ve vaporised a cocktail. In the future I would like to make a liquid banqueting table. In the 1905 Gondola Banquet the Savoy Hotel was flooded and the meal was eaten on a floating gondola surrounded by live swans with dessert presented on the back of a baby elephant. That would be the ultimate meal.”

While we’re waiting for the liquid banqueting table, feast your eyes on some of the other edible creations in Bompas & Parr’ s portfolio… I adore the bespoke tiered jelly display - perfect for wobbly wedding celebrations!

Alcoholic Architecture
16 to 18 April and 23 to 25 April
2 Ganton Street
London, W1F 7QL
Opening hours:
5pm – 11pm
Tickets £5, available from www.jellymongers.co.uk

Wee Easter finds: Hand-painted Rococo chocolate

Clockwise from left: hand-painted gentleman hare, made with dark and white chocolate, £30; hand-painted dark chocolate egg with Japanese bird design, filled with a mixture of Grand Cru ganache-filled mini eggs and truffles, £25; and hand-painted egg with leaping hare, filled with Grand Cru ganache-filled mini-eggs, £18.95, all by Rococo chocolates.

Rococo shops in London:
321 Kings Road
London SW3 5EP
Tel: 020 7352 5857
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.
Opening hours:
Monday 12pm - 5pm
Tuesday to Saturday 10am - 6:30pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

5 Motcomb Street
London SW1X 8JU
Tel: 020 7245 0993
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Saturday 10am - 6:30pm

45 Marylebone High Street
London W1U 5HG
Tel: 020 7935 778
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Saturday 10am - 6:30pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm