Month: January 2012

Burgers and Lobsters in London

Last weekend I happened across an amazing eating hole in London.

I was reading Grazia magazine (no judgement!) and I read about a new restaurant that had just opened up in Mayfair thats mission was to bring ‘reasonable’ priced lobsters and Champagne to all. As I happened to be staying in Mayfair that night, it sounded perfect. Especially seeing as earlier in the year Tim and I had been to Cape Cod in the USA for the weekend, and Tim had made it his mission to eat lobster for every single meal all weekend. Oh and I’m quite partial to Champagne.

Tucked down a windy street, is the, blink and you’ll miss it, Burger and Lobster Restaurant Cocktail Bar at 29 Clarges street, Mayfair London W1J 7EF.

There was a bit of a wait, but they are happy for you to go to a pub down the road and call you when your table is ready. The super friendly staff took us to the table and told us about the menu.

Lobster

OR

Lobster Roll

OR

Burger

All with Chips and a Salad and for £20 and thats all they do.

Tim and I, of course, had all three.

The atmosphere is relaxed and throughly enjoyable. Everyone enjoying tucking into their lobsters. Which by the way live in a giant live lobster tank below the restaurant.

The food was excellent. The lobster roll was first and was amazing. Now I’ve had a few lobster rolls in my time, after being educated about them in New Brunswick, Canada, I have hunted them down in Atlantic North America ever since. This was definitely up there in the best that I’ve ever had. Perfect brioche bun, not too much but enough citrus mayonaise and a whole lobsters worth of meat in there.

I then had the Burger and Tim the Lobster. You have a choice of boiled or grilled and with lemon garlic butter or just plain melted butter. Both were pretty darn yummy.

All in all this was a great place to go and I will definitely be going back next time I’m in London.

Places to visit in New Zealand

My friends Warren and Jenny are off to  New Zealand this year and asked me for places that I would recommend visiting. Other people have asked me for this in the past too, and as I was writing the email I thought that I should just put it on here!

I spent two winter seasons as a Ski Instructor on The Remarkables in Queenstown. I loved New Zealand. For so many reasons it’s hard to put into words.

Here is the list of some of the things that I got up to (and for your enjoyment a couple of old photos!):

Ok…. So in the South Island…

 I lived in Queenstown. (I would spend 3 days here as theres tonnes to do around here.)
  • Eat pizza at Winnies (http://www.winnies.co.nz/) I was particularly partial to the Chicken, Cranberry and Brie Pizza. Plus the roof opens. I watched a lot of Rugby here.
  •  Get a late night burger at FergBurger. They are legendary and epic. http://www.fergburger.com/
  •  Theres a great view from the top of the Gondola, The Alpine slide thing is fun and I also did a tandem parapenting thing off the top. Which was amazing.
  • I worked and Skied at The Remarkables (also contains the lake that Gollum had that whole talking to himself scene in LOTR) and Coronet Peak.
  • Go on the Shotover Jet boat ride. Charging around in a high-speed boat in a couple of inches of water through a narrow gully. Whats not to love?! http://www.shotoverjet.com/
The Franz Josef Glacier – Was great! Amazing to walk around something like that. I went with these people http://www.franzjosefglacier.com/our-trips/ and did the full day hike i think. Maybe the half day one.
I haven’t been to but my family did and lots of others say its great…
On the North Island…
Rotorua Area
Waitomo – The glow worm caves! http://www.waitomo.com/ – I did an abseiling down a cave thing, it wasn’t with the main guys on that website, can’t remember who, but I think they are all good.
Raglan – A very chilled out surfing hippy town. Pretty fun.
Coromandel – I think we went here, rainforests I think.
There were many more places that I don’t remember but these were definitely my favorite. I’m so jealous. I love love love New Zealand. Make sure to eat some Steak and Cheese pies for me!