0 What 2 Eat in London?

I'll have four days in London during my Paris trip... What to eat? Starting the day with a proper English breakfast sets you up perfectly. You could almost eat nothing until tea time... I love the food served in the streets in London... All you need is a 'fiver' and you can eat superbly at Covent Garden...

Or Borough Market...

The classic fish n' chips - a must-do this trip

I've been going to Food For Thought for years - it offers balance to...

 Ottolenghi's divine passion fruit meringue tart.

However did I miss Ottolenghi's Lemon tart? This oversight must be remedied a toute a suite.

Stopping in at Sketch Tea Parlor is another repeat not-to-be-missed - perhaps the best tea salon in the world!

Faux cakes at Liberty's plus a stop at Fortnum & Mason are essential browsing.

Finally Gelato at Selfridges. Where should I eat during my 4 days in London pray tell.
BONJOUR LONDON EATS!

0 Sant Ambroeus

I HEART Sant Ambroeus big time I feel like this everytime I stop in Sant Ambroeus on 1000 Madison Ave. at 76th street. They're in the Village at 259th West 4th street.

Everytime I go to the Met it's compulsory to stop for a gelato...

They have 24 flavors ($3.00 for a single)

If you sit at a table (just like in Italy) it will cost you more ($4.50) Yes I'm addicted to gelato pistache...

You can stand up at the bar and pay less (just like in Italy).

Sant Ambroeus has those little bite-sized sandwiches/panini (just like in Italy).

 In the back they have a nice dining room...

I LOVE looking in their pastry case...

 In my opinion there's either a French pastry chef lurking in the back...

Or someone who's done a stage at Pierre Herme in Paris...

They have an upscale version of tiamisu.

And your very traditional Italian cookies/biscotti. Sant Ambroeus is a Milanese pasticceria/confetteria.

I'm not wild about traditional Italian biscotti but for this pretty Italian cookie box I'd commit hari-kiri. Wouldn't you?

I feel like a kid in Sant Ambroeus. Lick lick :)

Other times I feel like this lady(at the Met Infinite Jest show). After looking at all those scrumptous desserts I still always end up with the gelato.

BUON GIORNO SANT AMBROEUS!

0 The Ice cream Cometh...

Can you ever have too much ice cream? BEAR says NO!
I am inclined to agree with BEAR. Perhaps that's why we get along so well...

Looking at ice cream cones is almost as good as holding one.

Don't you think?

If a French friend invites you to Berthillon you must eat your framboise ice cream in a cup. A cone is not acceptable a table.

 I love this Wayne Thiebaud etching of ice cream in a cup.

Sketching cones is great fun.

But painting ice cream 'from life' has it's drawbacks...

Ice cream refuses to sit still and will melt on you in situe...

Much as I love my ice cream in a cone I prefer not to sit on one...

Nor do I like having a cone plopped in my cuppa - who's bright idea was this?

The Italians like the idea of a half cone...

Laboratorio del Gelato's ice cream is quite pleasent in a cup yet they insist on closing their shop at 6 PM! Why do they think New Yorkers can make it to the Lower East side by 6 PM? Anyone who wants to join me in a PROTEST Demonstration let me know svp.

My latest favorite flavor is Black Sesame at Sundaes and Cones. I have big plans to make black Sesame macarons soon...

These days I'm reduced to grabbing a dixie cup in a pinch. Unlike Paris, which has ice cream shops on every corner (is that why I love Paris?) New York is not so well-endowed.

I'm happy to report Amorino, the French gelato chain has opened a shop in New York. I'm not happy to report it costs $5+. I have my limits.

I'm sorry to report that La Maison du Chocolat, who formerly scooped out their ice cream fresh is now offering only ready-filled cups. A step down in quality IMHO. 

So what's YOUR favorite ice cream flavor?

Do tell all PBers

EAT LOTS OF ICE CREAM THIS WEEKEND!

0 Gondola Fever

BEAR and I are too busy shipping out your chateaux to jump in a Venice canal and think about gondolas...
But no reason YOU can't dream of gondolas...

'Gondolier Fever' has been going on since Canaletto and before after all...

It does look terribly relaxing...

Gondola dancing anyone...

Who knew?

Are there gondola parking lots?

Can you get a ticket for double parking?

Which would you rather have?

A ride in a gondola...

Or a pistachio gelato? I know my answer...Hmmm

Pistachio wins hands down.

I think I caught gondola fever from looking at this watercolor book by Jean-Louis Morelle. Though the only Venice scene is on the cover - sometimes that's all it takes...

Please vote in the comments if you would like a gondola watercolor SALE on Monday...

Oui or Non...

Chateaux are shipping out TODAY by Priority Mail not gondolas - too slow!

BONNE WEEKEND PBers!