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| Wed 19 December, 2012 |
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| HAPPY CHRISTMAS! |
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| Our Festive Picks |
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| Ah, 2012. The year of the Rain Room, the burger, polka dots, pop ups and the high-brow-low-brow fashion collaboration. We've seen the birth of Peruvian cuisine, the re-birth of Mexican, a Korean surge, not to mention brunch parties, lobster rolls and junk food taking over le capital. Oh – and it was also the year that London went late night (finally). So, what's next? We're predicting haute popcorn bars and a Brussels sprouts phenomenon (à la NYC). We're serious. |
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We're going on Christmas break until January.
Until we're back in the New Year, here are a few offerings to keep you ticking. Otherwise, check our Agenda, Twitter and Instagram.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Team UJ
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ESCAPE:
Aspen |
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That's right. We're advocating leaving the extended fam, the Xmas presents and the Boxing Day visits and upping sticks to Aspen this Crimbo for a little all-American, Ralph Lauren-style, ski-in/ski-out fun in the snow. There are still hotels left for the festive period. Our fave is The Sky Hotel, a fun, bling boutique at the bottom of Ajax mountain. Alternatively, go for a big-pimpin' Aspen classic at the St. Regis. |
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The Sky Hotel, 709 E. Durant Avenue,
Aspen, Colarado, USA, rooms from $179
St. Regis, 315 East Dean Street, Aspen, Colorado, 81611, rooms from $1899
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XMAS FILM:
Home Alone &
It's A Wonderful Life
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It's not Xmas without an annual film outing. Our picks this December are Frank Capra's feel-good classic It's A Wonderful Life at the BFI and Home Alone at Pop Up Screens on Brick Lane. Keep the change, you filthy animal. |
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It's a Wonderful Life at the BFI,
Dec 14 - Jan 3, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XT, £10
Home Alone at Pop Up Screens Brick Lane,
Dec 20, Dray Walk Gallery, 91 Brick Lane,
E1 6QL, £14 |
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NYE AWAY:
Rio de Janeiro |
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The eternal question: what to do on New Year's Eve? We've got the answer: Rio de Janeiro. Most party people avoid the clubs and head to Copacabana beach (everyone wears white) for samba, fireworks and champers. A lot of the go-to hotels are fully booked (shame about Copacabana Palace), but thankfully Mr and Mrs Smith have some rooms left at La Maison in Ipanema (boutique, residential-like) and the cliff-side La Suite in Joatinga. |
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La Maison, 58 Rua Sérgio Porto, Gávea, Rio De Janeiro, 22451-430, rooms from £137
La Suite, 501 Rua Jackson de Figueiredo, Joa, Rio De Janeiro, 22611-000, rooms form £251 |
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XMAS LUNCH:
Tudor Roast |
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Turkey ain't cutting it no more. Now, it's all about the bird in a bird in a bird in a bird… 1 Lombard Street's Christmas Tudor Roast features a 14 bird-in-a-bird roast including quail, squab pigeon, teal, wood pigeon, French partridge, mallard, woodcock, guinea fowl, pheasant, Barbary duck, Aylesbury duck, peacock and a wild American turkey. All stuffed into a goose. Served with root veg, game crisps and watercress, if you were wondering. |
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Tudor Roast at 1 Lombard Street, EC3V 9AA
From £995, serves from 20 - 30 people
To enquire email events@1lombardstreet.com
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SHOW:
The Supreme Fabulettes |
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| Go big diva for your Christmas show. Expect big hair, big costumes and even bigger voices from The Supreme Fabulettes, who will be performing the world premiere of 'You Ruined My Xmas', written by Boy George. |
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Christmas with The Supreme Fabulettes, December 19, £19.50
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STOCKING FILLER:
Socks |
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A standard stocking stuffer. We like these trash food inspired-tootsies. |
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Available from Lazy Oaf, £8
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PARTY:
Urban Nerds:
Aboard the Ms Stubnitz |
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| Celebrate Crimbo in style aboard the Ms Stubnitz with Urban Nerds' Christmas Boat Party (we do love us some maritime fun with UN). Their secret line-up of UK bass, garage, house and four-to-the-floor beats will take place across two rooms in the hollow hull of this German deep sea fishing vessel. All aboard… |
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Urban Nerds Xmas Boat Party, Dec 22 11pm-6am, Ms Stubnitz, moored next to Connaught Bridge, E16 2BU, from £6
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DOM OFF:
Xmas Drinks |
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And for Crimbo drinks it has to be Dom Pérignon limited edition sets by David Lynch and Sylvie Fleury.
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Dom Pérignon by David Lynch,
available from Selfridges, £140
Limited Edition Sylvie Fleury giftset,
available from Amathus Soho (in-store only), £379
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VIDEO:
Harvey Nichols' Same Dress Viral
Sponsored Listing
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Remember last year's Harvey Nicks' viral, Walk of Shame? This year their viral vid focuses on the classic Xmas party no-no: The Same Dress. Don't make the same mistake. |
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| Watch Video |
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ALTERNATIVE XMAS TREE:
Reindeer |
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| We're so post-Christmas tree. This reindeer is pine/bauble-free and yours for just £100. |
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Available from Cass Art (in-store only),
24 Berwick Street, W1F 8RD, £100
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| Reserved |
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| HKK – Hakkasan does Chinese banqueting |
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| Broadgate West, Worship Street, EC2A 2DQ | 020 3535 1888 | @HKKlondon |
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| In a sentence |
| 15 courses, 3 hours and a brilliant edit of Cantonese cuisine. |
| Location |
| Next to Chrysan in Broadgate West on Worship Street (also part of the Hakkasan contingent). A stone's throw from The City, with a decidedly corporate feel. |
| Vibe |
It was quiet when we were there (it was a Tuesday) and very calm, which is just what you need when mentally preparing for a 15-course showdown. It feels almost theatrical with a central table – where meat is carved and the "tea ceremony" is carried out – and a near-ceremonial placing of dishes. It's small and intimate, with only 48 seats, and refined, with not a chopstick or member of staff out of place.
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| Flavours |
The 15-course menu (the only variation is a veggie option) is based on the traditional Chinese banqueting tradition but given modern flair by Chef Tong Chee Hwee. It consists of two apéritifs, two starters, three mains, a palate cleanser/tea break, four second courses, two desserts and petit fours.
The execution of flavours, textures and presentation is impeccable and just as it should be in top-tier cooking. Yet what is striking about HKK is the fact that, although it has the moniker of haute cuisine, the flavours are familiar and accessible. The cherry wood-roasted Peking duck (a favourite) balances the familiar and the haute – dip the crispy skin in sugar and hoisin before eating the chili-laced salad and the duck pancake – as does the classic dim sum trilogy, which comes with paint-on soy sauce. It's the (literal) tiny touches that add a cutting edge to the flavours: the sweet goji berries in the poulet and dried scallop soup; the tiny, tart pepper on the drunken chicken starter; the deep fried jasmine tea decorating the beef; and the crunchy lily bulb in the refreshing salad.
It goes up a gear in the second courses: think monkfish on risotto-like, sake-drenched rice, pumpkin tofu, Jasmine tea-smoked wagyu beef (another highlight) and steamed razor clam with glutinous rice. The first of the desserts, passionfruit and lychee tapioca, is a welcome, zingy break (though directly followed by a pineapple fritter, salted lime jelly and coconut ice cream), while the petit fours bring you back full circle with a ginger macaroon, 5-spice cake, Szechuan chili chocolate and green tea mochi. Wine pairings or fruit juices can be added to the tasting menu, though we went for cocktails and a red wine pairing with the wagyu beef (the sommelier knows his stuff). In short, this is exciting eating. You're not given the menu until the end, so we suggest you don't do your research prior to going, as it heightens the experience. |
| Décor |
| Pared back, polished and angular. We really liked the cut-out, geometric-style chairs (and uniforms). The thematic rectangles that appear throughout the room – from the glass window to the duck oven and even the hollow window that frames the mixologist at the bar – are softened by the central, glowing chandelier of bone china peaches. We were also big fans of the tableware: minimalist bowls, traditional tea cups and avant-garde plates. |
| Upshot |
| Exciting Chinese cuisine is finally back on the radar, with recent openings like Opium and Bo London setting the bar for Cantonese with a twist. HKK is definitely the leader of the pack. |
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by JC |
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(c)
2012 Urban Junkies. All rights reserved.
Reproductions of any portion of this website only with our express permission. Urban Junkies is a free daily mailer. All listings and features are editorial: We do not receive any payment from venues, artists or promoters. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of information listed but we cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions.
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