Author: Sarah Kemp

Petersham Nurseries Teahouse

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The winter that we have just endured felt particularly long so I was overjoyed with the weather today. I spent most of my time this weekend basking in the sunshine outdoors, and on Sunday I hopped on my bike to cycle to Richmond for a salad, a pot of tea and a slice of cake at the Petersham Nurseries Teahouse. My boyfriend and I do this a few times over the summer and this was our first visit of the year. I still haven’t dined at the newly Michelin star awarded cafe, which is run by Skye Gyngell but I’m perfectly content with the salads and cake on offer at the Teahouse. We grabbed the last table in the sun and went inside to order. It’s not table service, which to me is a good thing because it allows you to see the fantastic array of freshly baked cakes on offer. After choosing my cake (rhubarb and polenta), I perused the menu and opted for the faro butternut squash salad. I have never eaten faro …

Albion at The Boundary Project

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I’ve had my eye on Albion ever since they started using the fantastic social media contraption that is Baker Tweet. So why is it that I’ve not visited until this weekend? Who knows. After a short stint at the London Coffee Festival, we walked over and were lucky enough to snag a table outside. We walked past the fantastic array of freshly baked loaves, cakes, GIANT cookies and delicatessen and were presented with the menu. Having not eaten breakfast deliberately so that I could enjoy a lazy brunch, I was quite disappointed when I looked at the menu. The only breakfast options were a fry up (called Albion breakfast), a breakfast bap or field mushrooms on toast. Not a sweet brunch treat in sight and I felt it slightly inappropriate to opt for the GIANT cookie or inviting rhubarb tart for breakfast. So we went for the Albion breakfast and field mushrooms on toast to share. A tin of freshly baked bread and a pot of butter arrived at the table first, which was a …

Decadent Chocolate and Ginger Mousse

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Easter is upon us and all I can think about is chocolate. But, rather than settling for a shop bought Easter Egg this year, I’ll be making a delicious, rich and decadent chocolate mousse. Why not try it yourself – enjoy as a dessert or a very naughty sweet treat. Ingredients 250g dark chocolate (I used 70% Lindt) 50g unsalted butter, softened 9 eggs whites 6 egg yolks, beaten 50g golden caster sugar 1 tsp ground ginger Extra chocolate shavings to sprinkle on top Method 1. Melt chocolate in bain marie. When melted, stir in the softened butter until smooth 2. Whisk egg whites until frothy but not stiff. Add half the sugar and whisk until stiff. Add the rest of the sugar and whisk until the egg whites stiffen further. Fold in the beaten yolks using a metal spoon. 3. Whisk half of the egg whites into the chocolate until thoroughly mixed, then fold in the second half until evenly combined 4. Pour into glasses and leave to set 5. Sprinkle chocolate shavings onto …

My mum bakes cakes

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My mum makes the most delicious cake pops. I introduced her to them at Selfridges when we visited a few months ago and it was made by the delightful Molly Bakes. She was hooked straight away and since no one else is baking them in Nottingham, decided to get her skates on and bake. href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/foodforthink/5591790734/” title=”Untitled by Food For Think, on Flickr”> Her cupcakes are also a delight. I did a little photoshoot for her when I went home over the weekend, which she’ll use on her blog – coming soon! So if anyone lives in Nottingham and would like to order cakes, drop me a line. She bakes for any occasion – from cupcakes to cake pops, birthday and wedding cakes in small to large quantities.

The Modern Pantry

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My mum loves coming down to London to visit every once in a while so I thought it would be nice to treat her to lunch at The Modern Pantry on Mother’s Day. After all, this is the day to pamper her and show her just how grateful you are that she has put up with your endless tantrums over the years. Anna Hansen has gained a lot of column inches recently, especially after her recent pop up Pantry at Meza in Soho, so as she was at the forefront of my mind, I decided to book a table at her full-time restaurant, The Modern Pantry in Clerkenwell. The graceful historic Georgian Townhouses and laid back atmosphere of Clerkenwell was a refreshing change to the horific crowds in central London that we had endured the day before – tempers frayed. In better moods, we arrived at The Modern Pantry and were shown to our table in the light and airy upstairs dining room. We were given the menu and I was surprised (pleasantly) to see …