A Weekend in Londonby Janice Rossen
From the National Gallery, I love to stroll around Trafalgar Square and look at those lions. Then I always pop around the corner to my favorite dress shop in the world, Droopy & Brown's (which can be found at 99 St. Martin's Lane), and I came away with a dress that must have come straight out of a Grace Kelley film.
Since Barbara and I both grew up in Los Angeles, we were eager to try the Beverly Hills Bakery, just down the street from the hotel, and we had a lovely breakfast there.
The great feature of this mini-trip, for me, was the chance to rush around London with Barbara. Sometimes travelling is important because it introduces us to an exciting place. Other times it allows us to connect with a spot we already love, and to find ourselves again. On still other occasions, it brings the warmth of friendship from out of the past. The following addresses may be helpful in planning a trip: The Franklin Hotel, 28 Egerton Gardens, Knightsbridge, London SW3 2DB, tel. (020) 7584 5533, www.franklinhotel.co.uk The Beverly Hills Bakery website is: www.beverlyhillsbakery.com . Clarke's is located at 124 Kensington Church Street, (about two blocks away from the Notting Hill Gate tube stop), tel. (0207) 221-9225. The web-site is: www.sallyclarke.com |
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My cousin Barbara and I have not met up for a slumber party since we used to spend the night at my grandmother's house in Los Angeles, watching old films and baking chocolate chip cookies. A few weeks ago, however, we both happened to be in London at the same time (I felt extremely grown-up), and spent a fabulous couple of days strolling around one of the great cities of the world.
My plan was to rush straight to the National Portrait Gallery, an all-time favorite of mine, and dine at their new restaurant on the top floor. This offers a breath-taking view of London--the river, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben . . . not to mention some of the best food you could wish for: their salad nicoise was perfect. And the museum itself is fabulous--a series of faces, since every piece in it is a portrait. If you begin at the top of the gallery, with all of the Tudor kings, you can make a dizzying progress through the following centuries, ending up with contemporary film stars, rugby players, politicians and eccentric artists in a variety of media.
But the best of our stay in London was the hotel which Barbara had cleverly chosen. The Franklin Hotel feels like a country house hotel, though it is located in Knightsbridge. (Yes! More good shopping nearby!) There was a real wood fire in a pleasant drawing-room, and one evening we ordered a tarte tatin and a pot of tea, and sat quietly admiring the huge bouquet of Star-gazer lilies. The hotel staff were quick and bright, and eager to help us find what we needed, or to point out directions on the map. The room itself was absolutely sumptuous.
My other secret ambition was also met, on this trip: at last, I found the perfect little French restaurant. (I knew that there had to be one, in London.) I am indebted to my friend Max, for introducing me to Clarke's, where the genius of Ms. Sally Clarke creates a new menu daily from the freshest of fresh ingredients. A crab blini delighted me, followed by scallops and the Perfect Tarte Tatin. Her cookbook, which I bought immediately, inspires one merely by its photographs. One of the best features of Clarke's is the tiny shop next door to the restaurant, where you can purchase exotica such as "exquisite candied violets," a variety of gorgeous cheeses or breads, or sit and have a cup of coffee.