Top 20 best London suburbs for families for long-term stays
So, you’re thinking about setting up camp in London with your little ones? Choosing the right area to call home in this sprawling city is no small feat. Between juggling nappy changes and school runs, you’ll want a neighbourhood that ticks all the boxes—safety, great schools, green spaces, and a real sense of community. Lucky for you, the London boroughs are brimming with family-friendly suburbs that offer all of that and more. Whether you’re after the quaint charm of Richmond or the bustling vibe of Fulham, there’s a spot for every family’s taste and budget. So, grab a cuppa, and let’s dive into the top 20 best London suburbs for families for long-term stays.
Why stay long-term in London?
It can be difficult to achieve a good life balance, especially while trying to get your business up and running to provide a comfortable living in the next five to ten years! But it is doable, and your business and your family can benefit from experiences that might otherwise be drawbacks.
If you are trying to put together business deals, it can be a time-consuming process, and if you don’t want to be away from home for the time needed – anywhere from three to six months, there is the option to transplant the whole family for a while. Your children will benefit tremendously from experiencing life as other countries or communities live it.
London is an especially educational choice as it is packed with cultural offerings, historical buildings, and a thriving multicultural commercial aspect created by the ingress of the brightest and the best from all over the world who come to London to make their name and achieve their goals.
Most schools will help your children to maintain their education, either by letting them attend locally while you are living in the neighbourhood or by sending over work-packs to get them through the curriculum in time with their contemporaries. And you don’t have to put up in a hotel for that duration, which can become tiring over a long period, not to mention expensive. Instead, opt for a serviced apartment; you can check out some check out luxury aparthotels in London here.
Now, let’s explore the best family-friendly neighbourhoods that make London an ideal place for a long-term stay.
The top 20 best London suburbs for families for long-term stays
1. Richmond upon Thames
“Lovely place to live in”
Richmond is often at the top of any family’s list when considering where to live in London. Nestled by the River Thames, this suburb offers a countryside feel while still being close to the city centre. Richmond Park is one of the largest green spaces in London, where kids can run wild, and families can enjoy weekend picnics. The area is renowned for its excellent schools and a strong sense of community, making it an ideal place to raise children. Richmond also boasts some of the most beautiful houses in the city, making it a top choice for those looking for a family home.
Richmond benefits from excellent transport links like the London Underground (District Line tube stop), London Overground, and National Rail services, providing quick access to central London and beyond. The area also has easy access to the A316, which connects to the M3 motorway.
2. Greenwich
“Ideal for First-Time Buyers”
Greenwich is a tranquil area known for its maritime history and stunning views of the Thames. The Royal Observatory and the Cutty Sark are must-visits, offering educational experiences for the entire family. The schools here are good, and the area’s blend of historic charm and modern amenities makes it perfect for those new to London. Greenwich is also home to many international schools, making it a great choice for expat families.
Greenwich is well-connected by the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), National Rail services, and the Thames Clipper river services, which make commuting to central London and Canary Wharf
3. Sutton
“Great Location for Family”
Sutton is the perfect blend of suburban life and city access. Known for its outstanding schools, low crime rates, and family-friendly atmosphere, it’s a top pick for parents who want a peaceful environment to raise their children. The parks and open spaces are ideal for outdoor activities, making Sutton a firm favourite among families. The area is also well-known for its state schools and private schools.
Sutton has excellent National Rail connections to central London, with regular trains to London Victoria, London Bridge, and St Pancras International. It’s also well-served by buses.
4. Waltham Forest
“Costa del Walthamstow”
Waltham Forest, particularly Walthamstow, has seen a surge in popularity among young families. This vibrant area offers a mix of East London’s trendy vibe with a strong community spirit. With plenty of parks, good schools, and the famous Walthamstow Market, it’s a great neighbourhood for families looking for a lively environment. The area also offers some of the lowest crime rates in East London, making it a safe option for families.
5. Putney
“Nice view”
Putney is a picturesque area by the Thames, offering great views, plenty of green spaces, and excellent schools. The riverside walks and Putney Heath are perfect for family outings. It’s a quieter part of London, which appeals to those looking for a suburban feel with easy access to the city. Putney is also known for its independent shops and coffee shops that give the area a village-like feel.
Putney is served by both the London Underground (District Line) and National Rail services, providing quick access to central London. The Thames Clipper also offers riverboat services, and it’s close to major road networks like the A3.
6. Kensington and Chelsea
“Living in Portobello Square”
“Great value for money, particularly given the location”
Kensington and Chelsea may be known for their posh reputation, but they also offer a fantastic family environment. The area is packed with cultural attractions, top-tier schools, and beautiful parks. South Kensington is particularly popular with families, not only for its beautiful homes and garden squares but also for its proximity to some of London’s most famous museums, including the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum.
This iconic British museum is a must-visit for families, offering everything from dinosaur skeletons to interactive exhibits that will keep the little ones entertained for hours. The area around South Kensington is well-served by the London Underground (Piccadilly, Circle, and District Lines), making it easy to access other parts of the city. Portobello Market, located nearby, is a lively spot for weekend outings, and the neighbourhood’s safety and amenities make it a great choice for families. Kensington Gardens and Kensington Palace are also within walking distance, offering even more green space and outdoor activities.
This area is exceptionally well-connected with numerous London Underground stations (District, Circle, and Piccadilly Lines) and bus routes, making it easy to get around the city. Holland Park, another nearby green space, is perfect for a short walk or a relaxing afternoon with the kids.
7. Chiswick
Chiswick is a leafy suburb that feels like a village within the city. It’s perfect for families who want a slower pace of life without sacrificing proximity to central London. The area is home to excellent schools, beautiful parks, and a vibrant high street filled with independent shops and coffee shops.
Chiswick has great transport links via the London Underground (District Line) and National Rail services from Chiswick and Gunnersbury stations. It’s also close to the M4 motorway, providing easy access to Heathrow Airport and the west of England. Chiswick is also popular with prospective buyers looking for a new home in a great neighbourhood.
8. Fulham
“Perfect city life”
Fulham offers the best of both worlds—urban living with family-friendly amenities. The area is known for its excellent schools, parks, and community feel. With plenty of green spaces and a riverside location, Fulham is ideal for families who want to be close to the action without sacrificing comfort.
Fulham is well-served by the London Underground (District and Piccadilly Lines) and has multiple bus routes, making it easy to reach various parts of London. The area is also within close proximity to Covent Garden, a major attraction in the West End, known for its theatres, coffee shops, and family-friendly restaurants.
9. Wembley
“I and cats rate it 10/10”
Wembley has transformed from just a stadium hotspot to a thriving community with excellent housing options for families. The area is multicultural, vibrant, and offers great schools. It’s affordable, well-connected, and perfect for families looking for a dynamic environment. Wembley is also popular with sports fans due to its proximity to Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena.
Wembley is served by the London Underground (Jubilee and Metropolitan Lines), London Overground, and National Rail services, offering excellent connectivity to central London and other areas.
10. Havering
“Amazing and convenient place to live”
Havering offers excellent value for money, with spacious homes, good schools, and a safe environment. It’s an ideal suburb for families who need more space but still want to be within easy reach of London. The green spaces and community vibe make it a top pick.
Havering, particularly Romford, has strong transport links via National Rail, which provides regular services to Liverpool Street. The upcoming Crossrail (Elizabeth Line) will further improve connectivity. Havering also offers some of the lowest crime rates in London, making it a perfect place for families looking for a family safety score.
11. Hampstead
Hampstead offers a quieter lifestyle with plenty of wonderful walks and perhaps the best land-based view of London from Parliament Hill. Known for being academic and arty, Hampstead is an excellent place for children to pick up lifelong learning habits. The area is also home to some of London’s best independent schools.
12. Notting Hill
Famous for its vibrant culture, Notting Hill is colourful, diverse, and full of character. It’s close to Portobello Road, perfect for vintage shopping, and offers a Bohemian lifestyle that appeals to families looking for something unique. The area is also renowned for the Notting Hill Carnival, one of the most celebrated events in London. Notting Hill is a great option for families who enjoy a lively environment with plenty of cultural experiences.
13. Battersea
Home to Battersea Park and excellent schools, Battersea offers great family living close to the river. It’s a lively area with plenty of activities for kids, making it a top choice for families who want to stay close to central London while enjoying a vibrant community. Battersea is also close to the South Bank, offering a variety of cultural experiences. The ecole de Battersea is a popular choice for parents seeking a bilingual education for their children.
14. Bayswater
With its central location and proximity to Hyde Park, Bayswater offers a blend of city life and open spaces. The area is known for its beautiful Victorian architecture and access to top schools, making it an attractive option for families. Bayswater is also a great neighbourhood for prospective buyers looking for a new home with easy access to London’s best areas.
Bayswater is centrally located with access to the London Underground (Circle, District, and Central Lines), making it very convenient for getting around London. It’s also within walking distance of Kensington Gardens, making it a great option for families who love spending time outdoors.
15. Primrose Hill
Famous for its stunning views and village-like atmosphere, Primrose Hill is a hit with families who enjoy a more relaxed pace. The area offers excellent schools, beautiful parks, and a strong sense of community. Primrose Hill is also within close proximity to Regent’s Park, which houses the famous London Zoo.
16. Dulwich
South East London’s hidden gem, Dulwich, offers excellent schools, green spaces, and a real community vibe. The area’s picturesque streets and high-quality educational institutions make it a great place for families. Dulwich is also a perfect place for those who want to enjoy the tranquillity of rural areas while still being close to central London.
17. East Finchley
A quiet, leafy suburb with excellent schools and easy access to central London, East Finchley is perfect for families who want the best of both worlds. The area’s peaceful environment and strong community spirit make it an ideal place to raise children. East Finchley is also well-connected via the Northern Line, providing quick access to the city centre.
18. Highbury
Combining Victorian charm with modern amenities, Highbury is a top spot for families who want to be close to the action without sacrificing green space. The area’s parks and excellent schools make it a family favourite. Highbury is also a short journey from Finsbury Park, another great spot for outdoor activities.
19. Queens Park & Kensal Rise
These neighbouring areas offer a strong community feel, great parks, and a host of family-friendly activities. The area’s vibrant atmosphere and excellent schools make it a popular choice for young families. Queens Park and Kensal Rise also offer plenty of independent shops and cafes, making it a great neighbourhood for families who enjoy a lively local culture.
20. Blackheath
With its village atmosphere and stunning heath, Blackheath is perfect for families who crave open space and a sense of history. The area’s excellent schools and peaceful environment make it an attractive option for long-term family living. Blackheath is also close to the Greenwich popular attractions like the Royal Observatory and Cutty Sark, making it an ideal spot for family outings.
What makes an area perfect for families?
When considering a neighbourhood for long-term family living, several factors come into play. Here’s what makes an area ideal for families:
Safety
Safety is a top priority for any family. You want a neighbourhood where you can let your kids play outside without constantly worrying. Most of the areas listed above have low crime rates and strong community policing, giving you peace of mind.
Schools
Good schools are essential when choosing where to live. London boasts some of the best schools in the country, from state to private, ensuring your children get a quality education. Areas like Sutton and Richmond are particularly renowned for their excellent schools.
Green space
Kids need space to run, play, and explore, and green spaces provide the perfect outlet for their energy. Whether it’s the vast Richmond Park, the scenic walks in Hampstead Heath, or the smaller local parks in Fulham and Putney, having access to nature is crucial for family well-being.
Top five areas for families to live in London
While all 20 areas offer fantastic family environments, these five stand out as the top choices for long-term family living in London:
Richmond (South-West)
Richmond is the ultimate family suburb, offering a blend of nature, top schools, and community spirit.
Battersea (South-West)
Battersea’s riverside location, coupled with Battersea Park and excellent schools, makes it a favourite for families.
Blackheath (South-East)
Blackheath combines historical charm with modern amenities, offering a village feel in the heart of London.
East Finchley (North-West)
A quiet, leafy suburb, East Finchley offers excellent schools and easy access to central London.
Highbury (North-East)
Highbury’s Victorian charm, green spaces, and proximity to central London make it a top pick for families.
Which are the best neighbourhoods for children?
These neighbourhoods are particularly well-suited for families with children, offering a mix of educational opportunities, cultural enrichment, and safe environments:
Regent’s Park
An expensive but beautifully central area, Regent’s Park offers a large green space, the famous London Zoo, and elegant Neo-Classical and Georgian houses. It’s a great area for families who can afford the luxury.
Hampstead
Hampstead offers a quieter lifestyle with plenty of wonderful walks and perhaps the best land-based view of London from Parliament Hill. Known for being academic and arty, Hampstead is an excellent place for children to pick up lifelong learning habits.
Notting Hill
Famous for its vibrant culture, Notting Hill is colourful, diverse, and full of character. It’s close to Portobello Road, perfect for vintage shopping, and offers a Bohemian lifestyle that appeals to families looking for something unique.
Richmond
Richmond feels like countryside living but with all the amenities of the city close by. It’s outdoorsy, perfect for families who love spending time in nature and offers excellent schools and a strong sense of community.
Greenwich
A tranquil area packed with history, Greenwich is perfect for families who appreciate cultural and educational experiences. The area is close to central London yet offers a peaceful retreat from the city’s hustle and bustle.
Final thoughts
If you have to stay in London for the long term, taking the family with you is a great way to ensure you don’t miss any of the children’s milestones while also doing the best for your company. London’s diverse neighbourhoods offer something for everyone, whether you’re looking for the tranquillity of Richmond, the cultural richness of Greenwich, or the vibrancy of Notting Hill.
Choosing the right neighbourhood for your family is essential to making the most of your time in London. With excellent schools, safe environments, and plenty of green spaces, these 20 areas are the best places to live in London for families planning a long-term stay. By immersing yourself and your family in the life of this incredible city, you’ll create memories that will last a lifetime.
FAQ
Choosing the right area for your family
What area of London is best for families?
Richmond, Sutton, and Greenwich are among the top areas for families due to their excellent schools, green spaces, and safe environments.
Where do families live in London?
Families are spread across London, but areas like Richmond, Putney, and Hampstead are particularly popular due to their family-friendly amenities and community feel.
Where should we live in London with a young family?
Consider Richmond for its green spaces, Sutton for its excellent schools, and Kensington and Chelsea for a blend of luxury and family amenities.
Where to live in London with kids?
Richmond, Greenwich, and Chiswick are great options with plenty of parks, good schools, and safe neighbourhoods.
Where to live near London with family?
Areas like East Finchley and Blackheath offer a quieter suburban feel while still being within easy reach of central London.
Safety and affordability concerns
Are there any areas of London that are affordable and safe for young professionals to live in with a family?
Sutton and Waltham Forest offer affordable housing options with low crime rates, making them ideal for young families.
What are the safest places to live in London?
Richmond, Sutton, and Havering are known for their low crime rates and safe environments for families.
What are the safest suburbs of London?
Richmond, Kensington and Chelsea, and Putney are among the safest suburbs with family-friendly amenities.
Where is the safest place to raise a family in London?
Richmond and Sutton are top choices for safety, excellent schools, and green spaces.
Specific Neighborhood Comparisons
As a family with a newborn, where should we live in London: Richmond, Angel Islington, Belsize Park, or Hampstead?
Richmond offers the best balance of green spaces, safety, and excellent schools, making it a top choice for families with newborns.
Should we live in West London or Northwest London with young children?
West London areas like Richmond and Fulham are great for families, offering plenty of parks and top schools, while Northwest London’s Hampstead provides a quieter, more academic environment.
What is a good area near London for a family with three young children moving from the States and having never been to Europe?
Sutton, with its excellent schools and suburban feel, and Richmond, with its green spaces and family-friendly amenities, are both ideal for families new to London.
What is the best location to settle with a family in West London?
Richmond and Putney are top picks in West London, offering green spaces, good schools, and a strong community vibe.
What are the best places to live in London that are equidistant to Marylebone and Heathrow for a family?
Consider Richmond for its excellent connectivity, family-friendly amenities, and proximity to both Marylebone and Heathrow.
Schooling and childcare
What are some recommended areas for an Indian family with children to live in London? Which areas have good schools and are considered safe?
Sutton, Richmond, and Waltham Forest are recommended for their good schools, safety, and vibrant multicultural communities.
What are some things to consider when choosing where to live with a child in London? Is it better to be closer or farther from school?
Proximity to good schools, safety, and access to green spaces are key factors. It’s often beneficial to live closer to schools to minimize travel time and provide a stable routine for children.
Relocation and Expat Concerns
What are the best London suburbs for expat families?
Richmond, Greenwich, and Hampstead are popular among expat families due to their international communities, excellent schools, and family-friendly environments.
Is it still worth moving to London? Is London still a good city to live and/or raise children?
Absolutely! London offers a wealth of cultural, educational, and recreational opportunities, making it a fantastic place to raise children, especially in its family-friendly suburbs.
Lifestyle and Community
What are the rich suburbs of London, i.e., the Hamptons of London?
Kensington, Chelsea, and Hampstead are considered some of the wealthiest and most prestigious suburbs in London.
What are some middle-class neighbourhoods in London?
Areas like Chiswick, Fulham, and Dulwich are solidly middle-class, offering a good balance of affordability, safety, and amenities.
Why is it that many people don’t like living in London, UK? Is it not a great place to live and raise a family?
While London can be busy and expensive, many families thrive in its vibrant, diverse neighbourhoods, especially in the family-friendly suburbs that offer a quieter, more balanced lifestyle.
Housing and real estate
Where is the best location to live with a family in Greenwich, London, that’s affordable?
Areas like West Greenwich or parts of East Greenwich offer a good balance of affordability and access to top schools and green spaces.
*Collaborative feature post*
Royal Lancaster London Hotel Review
I’ve mentioned in previous articles that my boys have travelled abroad quite a few times in their short 6 and 7 years. But where we have been lacking is holidaying in the UK, mostly due to the temperamental British weather, which clouds the fact that the UK boasts an abundance of mini-packages specially built for families. And, its capital city, London, is one of, if not the most touristic place to travel to in the world. Funnily enough, London is literally on our doorstep too!
Below is a video recap of our event with more information on our stay below:
https://youtu.be/bA6v7ttsHn0
The Royal Lancaster London was recently renovated for £85 million, and the prestigious hotel that overlooks Hyde Park has been completely transformed, both inside and out. The front part of the hotel now features a dramatic 8-metre high glazed façade and an impressive double-height reception space.
“The hotel has had a rich and celebrated past, having opened as one of the chicest hotels in London in 1967. 50 years later, Royal Lancaster London will reopen in 2017 to once again be one of the most stylish hotels in the capital. Our Thai owner, Khun Jatuporn Sihanatkathakul has been directly involved in the new design which exudes mid-century glamour and understated elegance synonymous with London. We are looking forward to the next 50 years.” Sally Beck, General Manager of the Royal Lancaster London
The lobby has a sweeping staircase which is made of 300 square metres of white Carrara marble. Champagne and cocktails, as well as coffee and cuisine, are served throughout the day, and the 18-storey hotel encompasses a refurbishment of all 411 guestrooms and suites.
Every guest room boasts a beautiful view of London, which overlooks the greenery of Hyde Park and most of the famous landmarks in London. The Duty Manager at The Royal Lancaster mentioned to us that around 3 months before New Year’s Eve events, the rooms get booked up so that people have a first class view of the fireworks when the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Day. Can you imagine how that would look from the 15th floor!?
It was a beautifully clear, but relatively chilly day and the boys had been raring to go since 6am. We parked up at a nearby spot, which we had found from Parkopedia, right in the heart of affluent London, next to Hyde Park. You could spot The Royal Lancaster from afar, amongst the roadworks and other building works still happening at the hotel.
As you walk into the hotel, you do feel like you are walking into a 5-star hotel. The renovations are evident amongst the spacious marble floors and the high top ceiling lights. There was plenty of concierges around to take our luggage, and as I discussed the details of our stay with the reception desk, the boys waited patiently in the beautifully spacious lobby area.
Upon arrival, the boys were given Paddington Bear, and the reception manager explained that Paddington Bear had come to visit from Paddington Train Station which is only a 6-minute walk to the hotel. To this day, Paddington has not left their side!
We followed the lovely reception manager to our rooms, which were on the 15th floor. Hubby and I got our own room. 1510, while the boys had their private room, 1508. We were massively surprised by the generosity of the complimentary stay and couldn’t believe that we each had conjoining rooms. The manager showed us how to use the simple keycard mechanism and then showed us around the place, where we could find the amenities.
As soon as we entered the room we were taken aback at how light and spacious the room felt and, of course, the breathtaking views!
The boys didn’t waste any time settling in, while we had the chance to take a look around the rooms. The TVs in each room offers over 138 international channels and 33 radio stations, so the boys found the football channel quite easily!
We were shown where the Nespresso machine and drawer full of cookies, milk and other complimentary items were and each room was greeted with some lovely sweet treats welcoming us to the Royal Lancaster Hotel (the adults received an extra special gift in the form of a delicious bottle of red wine, which hubby and I enjoyed later!) Hubby fell in love with the couch at the end of the bed, and so did the boys who amused themselves, leaping from the sofa onto the bed and vice versa. And because of space, it meant that they were able to do so without causing any injury! I learned to look the other way on this occasion…
I got myself settled on my makeshift office desk for the weekend, right next to the handy phone. The travel handy is quite an exciting piece of gadget. You can make unlimited calls, and it’s packed full of ideas on how to make the best use of your time in London as a tourist.
Each guest room has hidden international plug sockets, which means you don’t have to carry your own with you. Mirrors are placed strategically around the room to make the place feel bigger and brighter, and each is equipped with a day and night blinds. There were also little switches located by the side of the bed which enabled you to switch on a night light if you needed to make a bathroom pit stop in the middle of the night. I found this particularly helpful for the boys who were able to see the bathroom quickly and prevent accidents. It also meant that one wouldn’t wake the other either.
We had booked dinner for 6.30pm so I figured it would also be a good idea to get breakfast sorted early too. We like to eat breakfast in peace, so we always order breakfast to our room. It also means that if the boys do anything embarrassing over breakfast, no one is around to see it.
Each guest are also provided their own bathrobe and slippers (even kiddie sized for the kids) and lovely The White Company toiletries to accompany the waterfall showers and underfloor heating in the bathrooms. Honestly, I could have lived in the bathroom, it was so cosy!
The Gym
Before we were scheduled to head down to dinner, I thought I’d try out the gym services located on the 2nd floor (which I always do) and was pleased to see that I had the entire gym to myself.
Lovely and spacious, the gym was kitted out with state of the art machines, including a row of treadmills, bikes, and cross trainers. And there was a rather sizeable mat area to exercise with weights too, as well as complimentary water and towels. Each machine boasted its own Technogym equipment, which meant that you could watch TV, play games, listen to the radio or your own music connected by Bluetooth. You could even work out while imagining you were outdoors, by selecting the screen you wanted, for example, a route by the beach, mountain climbing or skiing. I tried all of these settings and found that it was just easier to listen to my music while watching TV with subtitles.
After the gym, I had a lovely hot shower under the standing waterfall shower which was amazing! I loved the products so much they smelled lovely and left my skin feeling really soft and smooth. After that, we all got ready to head down to dinner because we were starving at this point.
Nipa Thai Restaurant
Ready to tuck into some 5-star Thai food, which we could smell on the way from our room, we headed around the corner to be greeted by the restaurant manager. You can opt for different types of cuisines at the Royal Lancaster, including the classic Island Grill. But as the boys had never eaten Thai before, we figured we would introduce them to not just any Thai Restaurant but an award-winning 5-star Thair restaurant with ethically sourced authentic Thai food.
The first stage of The Royal Lancaster’s refurbishment was with the redesign of Nipa Thai back in 2015. Nipa Thai is located on the first floor and offers a holistic experience, with the refreshing smell of essential Lemongrass oil that permeates the restaurant.
The 55-seated restaurant offers a teak panelled interior with traditional Thai furniture and ornate décor crafted in Thailand. Each of the traditional cuisines is prepared by the Head Chef Sanguan Parr and her dedicated team of all female kitchen staff.
At 6.30pm the restaurant was quiet, and the couple next to us looked in horror when they saw our family of four seated right next to them. So, for the first half an hour we were unable to relax and kept nitpicking at the boys to sit straight, be quiet and act gentlemanly. We were grateful to start seeing people flock in at around 7pm as the restaurant became louder and more animated. We could relax a bit, and, in fact, the boys were on their best behaviour, so we felt quite bad about what we were like with them at the beginning. In hindsight, it was the best behaviour we had ever seen from them at the restaurant! Our nagging paid off!
There are no kids menus available at Nipa Thai so we just went for it and ordered a set list of what we thought the kids would eat. We ordered the Suriyan Menu for us, which contained the following:
Ruam Mitr – a selection of Chef’s individual Thai starters)
Tom Kha Koong – Coconut and lime based soup that included prawns, lime leaf galangal and lemongrass,
Kaeng Massaman Kai – Chicken, onions and baby potatoes in well-cooked coconut milk and Massaman Curry Paste,
Phad Kra Prao Pla – Crisp Fried Seabass with aromatic coriander, chillies and fired holy basil,
Phad Pak Ruam Mitr – which was friend mixed vegetables
Kao Suay – Thai Jasmine rice
Ice Tim Ka Ti – Coconut Ice Cream
Kafae Rue Cha – Coffee or Tea
It was quite a lot of food. The appetisers consisted of spring rolls, dumplings, chicken satay, prawn crackers, and a tray of sweet sauces. The peanut sauce was absolutely delicious. The first course was soup with a coconut cream based sauce with lime and 3 main dishes, jasmine rice, mixed vegetables, i.e. broccoli, mini sweetcorn, coconut-based chicken, and sea bass, which had a bit of a kick to it. The dish that had chicken that came from the bone was a firm favourite amongst all the boys, but the peanut sauce for me was the winner. It was ridiculously good!
For the boys, we ordered Chicken Pad Thai and rice noodles, which were a big hit, and fish cakes, which were too spicy. The boys got to try a bit of everything also, and their overall reaction to Thai food was a huge success. They ended their meal with Ice Tim Kluay Tod, which was Crunchy fried banana topped with honey and vanilla ice cream. It was a rather sizeable dessert dish so I was amazed to see that they had finished everything on their plates. We had our lovely coconut ice cream served in a coconut shell, which was delicious as well. We especially loved the coconut flakes inside the ice cream too.
Nipa Thai, although, upmarket in its appearance, was a lovely comfortable and cosy setting which the boys enjoyed taking in, especially the decorative ornaments on the shelves, which looked like Thai deities or gods. The only issue we had was that our youngest, Aidan, accidentally bit off some glass from his extra thin glass of water. And, even though it was his fault technically for messing around with the glass, we had expected more of a commotion from the wait staff, as the broken glass had gone into his mouth. We had no idea whether he had swallowed it or if it had fallen somewhere else.
Overall the food was absolutely delicious, and I would recommend anyone who loves Thai food to try out Nipa Thai without fail. You won’t be disappointed! Click here for more information on Nipa Thai and its authentic food offerings.
I ended up chatting to our neighbouring table, and all three boys got bored, so they ran around the lobby area and had their picture taken until my youngest had to come and get me, so they could go back to the hotel room to shower and get ready for bed.
Boys having their photos taken while mummy chats to random strangers at Nipa Thai restaurant.
The boys got to enjoy a lovely bath in their own private bathroom while I lounged on the bed watching TV and drinking tea. It was so nice to relax without having the noise of the kids to break me out of my mellow mood
It didn’t last long though…
After a bit more jumping around the boys were ready for bed. However, as soon as they got into bed, they couldn’t sleep. Overtired and excited from the day’s events, they decided to work out how all the lights next to their bed worked, and it took us a good few hours to settle them before they were actually able to pass out. It was around 11pm!
“I love that there is a desk next to the bed and so many switches to control the lights!” Aidan, 6.
Hubby got to work taking photos of beautiful London at night, and some of the pictures that he took were breathtaking! Here’s one:
Nevertheless, it was a comfortable night, and we all slept like logs. I planned to go to the gym before breakfast, but I was having so much fun relaxing in our comfy bed that I decided to stay in bed until breakfast came. And, wow, there was a lot of food!
We had literally ordered everything on the menu, thinking they would come out in small portions. We were wrong.
At around 11.30am, we packed our belongings, said goodbye to our home for 2 days and headed home with lots of beautiful memories of spending some real quality time together as a family for a change and being waited on like VIP.
What did everyone like about The Royal Lancaster Room?
“My favourite thing about the whole room was that it was huge and we were next door to mummy and daddy so if we needed them we could open the door and come to mummy and daddy’s room,” Aidan, 6
“My favourite thing about the whole room was that it was next to mummy and daddy, but we could close the door and have our own privacy if we wanted to,” Aron, 7
Upon exit of the Royal Lancaster, the duty manager approached us with a little bag of chocolates and a card that requested we review our stay at Tripadvisor. As The Royal Lancaster is an independent hotel, reviews mean a lot, so we will be reviewing our stay because we enjoyed it so much!
I would say the only negative thing to comment on was that complimentary water was a little on the low side. I had to keep calling to ask for more which I don’t like doing. Perhaps, it would be nice to stock 1.5l or 2l bottles of water in the room, as we used most of our smaller bottles for making tea.
Our recap video again:
https://youtu.be/bA6v7ttsHn0
*Thank you to the Royal Lancaster London for our complimentary one-night stay, we had the best time! All opinions above are 100% our own
Demystify code at the Institute of Imagination’s first ever ‘Lab Live – Recode’ exhibition
In this technological age of iPads and Smartphones, it is becoming increasingly difficult to engage our modern child with wooden building blocks or even pen and paper. While I still think the classic art of handwriting and physically turning the pages on a real book still has a large place in our current curriculum, I am noticing that to beat the system, you must join it. Schools are turning to handheld technical devices to create art and protractors are becoming a thing of the past. And, yes, I do believe that we parents should roll with the times, however, I do not think that we should say goodbye to the tools of yesteryear. Surely, the most important factor that we should all be concentrating on is engaging the child’s supersonic sponge of a mind through imagination and creativity, no matter whether they use electricity or core motor skills. So, when I heard about The Institute of Imagination, the world’s first hub for imagination, I was both thrilled and curious as to what this kind of event really meant. The Imagination Lab, which opened on 11th February 2017 was a cross between a community centre, a laboratory, a gallery, a science centre and a museum. Recode, its first ever exhibition, which offered an exhilarating day of dance, movement, crafting, engineering, numbers, language and demystifying code by asking children to recode, was truly one of a kind. Although, brand new in its innovative approach, the Institute of Imagination received dedicated support from a range of partners, including the Royal Academy of Dance, Makercart and Maths Explorers. Children from 5 – 12 years old were immersed in numerous opportunities to engage in a vast array of activities and really stretch their imagination to the max. Adults and children tested their words, symbols, sketching skills, movement and sound to rework, mix and share ideas on what code is and how it can be used.
The boys and I truly witnessed an amazing fusion of computer coding and dance, as well as coded languages through Morse code and finding our zen in the calm room. Here are just a few of the activities that we managed to immerse ourselves in at the Imagination Lab’s ‘Lab Live – Recode’ family festival on Saturday 11th February:
Design your own Denster
A Kickstarter project, launching on November 1st, Densters are a set of flexible toy monsters that attach onto furniture and allow children to build their own forts at home, unleashing their creativity through play. Each Denster is a character that also serves as a function in the house, for example, a bookmark, a door stopper, or a phone holder, but once they connect, they assemble to make a magical hideaway.
Each Denster has a unique method of grabbing onto furniture.
Cheekabook clamps on shelves and chairs
Hoopsta hooks around curtains and knobs
Snella sucks onto windows and walls
Wizetta curls around handles and rods
Grumpo tucks underneath doors or wardrobes
Zigzies clips onto bed sheets and blankets
Check out Densters in action and support their project here:
https://youtu.be/1vEa_87ILJY
The boys were introduced to the Densters at the Imagination Lab, by working on a fun activity of combining inanimate objects and animals to bring them to life. The boys were handed two piles of cards, one containing animals (domestic and wild) and the other containing everyday objects.
Aidan chose a tape measure as an object and snake as the animal and his Denster was called ‘SnakeTape”. Aron chose a computer mouse and a crocodile and he created ‘CrocSnakeMouse’.
Product designers are taught to treat objects like they are alive and this activity encouraged the children to stretch their imagination and treat the objects as if they were animals. It was great to see the boys thinking outside of the box and I do believe these kinds of projects should motivate children to treat their belongings with more care and creativity.
To find out more about Densters, visit their website here and follow them on Instagram.
Okido Drawbots
On the left-hand side of the entrance, we could see a bunch of pens bundled together in a tripod-like stance, circling around a long piece of paper and creating pretty circular designs. The boys were quite intrigued and wanted to take a closer look. They couldn’t quite work out how the pens were moving because they knew that pens generally are inanimate and can only be used for colouring. Upon closer inspection, the pens were attached with a rubber band to a little battery-powered hexbug to create the ‘draw-bot’ (by Okido). The vibration of the hexbug moved the drawbot and if you spaced the pens differently, the drawbot could draw straight lines too!
If you want to try making this at home, follow the instructions below to make your own Draw-bot.
What you will need
Three pens
Blu-tack
Elastic band
A big piece of paper
A hexbug
Squeeze the pens onto the blu-tack to make a tripod
Use the elastic band to hold them together
Attach the hexbug with a small piece of blu-tack, and turn it on!
Okido is a bi-monthly Arts & Science Magazine for children aged 3 to 8 years old that includes stories, games, doodles, recipes and poems.
Visit their website here for more information on subscribing to their magazine. Don’t forget to check out their Facebook page for updates on their innovative creations!
Ozobots
Aidan saw a tiny little light moving on a table nearby and was intrigued as to what this light could be. These little glowing and moving lights were, in fact, tiny little robots called Ozobots, which were travelling around on what looked like little road maps with blue, red and green squares. These roadmaps were coded little pathways for the Ozobots to travel around. I had no idea how these little roads worked, but the boys were shown how to calibrate these circuits either via a smartphone or a tablet. So, a representative handed them some pens and off they went drawing circuits for their little Ozobots.
Ozobots are programmed little robots which follow a circuit that you draw with a black marker pen on a piece of paper. The fun part is that you can control the Ozobot by adding additional coding, which would be represented by the different colours, i.e. green, blue or red. You can find out more here http://ozobot.com/ or via their Twitter, Facebook, YouTube or Instagram pages.
Aidan is a huge fan of fixing things. He’s not fussy as to what thing he is fixing, as long as he gets to use a screwdriver. So, when we happened upon the Restart Project’s table, where their ultimate objective is to encourage people to fix electronics rather than throw them away when they break down, Aidan was very interested in learning more. Thankfully, a representative had a broken computer DVD drive that needed fixing and Aidan got to work straight away, spending an age unscrewing all the tiny screws and prying the top open. He was given a brief overview of everything inside the DVD drive, including how each part works and what was wrong with it (although, I wasn’t too sure what that reason was). After the overview, Aidan proceeded to screw everything back on with patience and a certain calmness that I can only be proud of. My dad (a self-employed design engineer and consultant) has always said that Aidan has the patience of an engineer, so I will be watching this space very closely from now on!
The Restart Code’s aim is to encourage people to fix their relationship with electronics and make devices last longer. If you’d like to learn more, they regularly hold meetings, which you can find out more about here or you can visit their website to learn more.
“Don’t’ despair, just repair!” #RestartParty
Maths Dance and the Royal Academy of Dance
We got to witness some interactive dance workshops and movement games with the Royal Academy of Dance and Maths Dance, where children were encouraged to draw what they were feeling when they watched the dance in front of them.
I thought this was a great idea to tap into your inner creativity and draw what comes from the heart when you’re seeing beautiful dance in motion. However, the boys were less interested in watching the dance and more into what they were drawing in front of them. Aron did draw a beautiful tree, but I am not too sure whether this tree was dance-inspired…
The Calm Room
Just before heading off to lunch, Aron and I spotted a little yellow den called The Calm Room and, as we’re both generally quite calm people (ish), we thought we’d find our zen a bit before finding something to eat. I was half expecting Aron to jump up and down, not sit still or tell me that he was bored. But, in fact, he did quite the opposite.
A curly haired woman sat cross-legged and very still, as she placed a finger to her lips to signify that no one speaks in the Calm Room. She motioned for Aron and two other children to sit in the same way, i.e. cross-legged, and close their eyes, which they all faithfully did very well. The lady picked up some chimes and clanged them together to make a resounding sound which lingered in the air. I decided to join in as she passed the chimes around so that each could reproduce that same echo sound. Again, Aron repeated her movements with concentration. She went on to ring the bell behind her and then glide an instrument around a bowl which made the softest sound. She motioned for the children to do the same. She put all the instruments away and sat very still and quiet as we stared at her, listening to the soft meditation sounds coming from the nearby speaker. I was watching Aron closing his eyes and sitting as still as the lady and I was blown away by his inner zen. He, indeed, had bundles of zen and when the lady reopened her eyes, she smiled at Aron and ran a very affectionate hand through his hair. I think she was as impressed as me that he had sat so still, repeating all the calming motions so well. This prompted me to start thinking about a zen corner for Aron at home because I think that this calm would make all the difference to his frequent troubles with getting to sleep at night, due to his over-active imagination. To say I was proud, was an understatement. After about ten minutes, we quietly left the room and we were calm.
Lunchtime
All that fun work of coding, designing, moving and sketching had worked up a huge appetite, so we found a place to sit at the back of the large hall, whilst I grabbed some much-needed coffees for hubby and me, and juice for the boys. We also bagged some pretty delicious looking crepes from a very hard-working and lovely man called Kaz from Heavenly Crepes, who worked tirelessly to provide us (and 600 other visitors!) with delicious crepes (I was very tempted to buy the fruit version or the Nutella crepes, but, as we still had quite a bit of the exhibition to see, I didn’t want the boys to suffer from a sugar crash and then get tired and irritable. The cheese and tomato crepes were just as good, though.
While hubby and I were catching our breaths back after a mentally exhausting and exhilarating morning of learning all about code, the boys were working off their crepes in the corner of the room, with a very engaging SEN activity, which was simply aiming a ball at the interchangeable lights on a custom-made wall. I overheard that this particular activity is used for children with special needs because it supports their learning. This ball to light activity was unanimously the boys’ favourite game at the exhibition.
Maths Explorers
Fuelled up after lunch and eager to learn more, we headed over to a rather large section of the exhibition that was dedicated to maths. Both of my boys like numbers and I’m pretty sure that they would choose numbers over letters if they had the chance. So, I was very interested in learning more about Maths Explorers, where the club encourages children to learn all about maths through inventing dance/movement and number coding. Aron took a particular interest to this, as he caught on quite quickly to the idea of using a square that was numbered with, ‘1’, ‘2’, ‘3’ and ‘4’ in each corner, to work out addition and subtraction problems. A very bright and energetic Maths Explorer representative asked Aron to make ‘6’ using 2 of the numbers on the square and then make the same number using 3 and then 4 of the numbers. After about 5 minutes, Aron had all hands and feet sprawled on the floor in an attempt to use all his limbs to make a total of ’10’.
Hubby was even roped into also creating numbers, this time through dance and movement, and both boys really enjoyed seeing him prancing around and forming numbers with his body.
I think the idea of using movement to understand basic math is a brilliant idea to encourage children who may not be as interested in maths and tap into their creative side to understand the basic rules of addition and subtraction. As the boys already enjoy maths anyway, these extra ideas were just bonus points into working on what they already love doing. However, I can totally understand how Maths Explorers can bring out those maybe less confident to give it a shot and understand maths in a much more creative way. If you’d like to find out more, you can email Maths Explorers at maths.explorers@gmail.com and schools can also register their interest in using Maths Explorers in addition to the current maths curriculum.
Code club
We didn’t manage to attend the several workshop areas that the Code Club were hosting, for example, their Lost in Space project, which offered children the chance to learn how to program their own animation using Scratch software and create a spaceship which they could control, as well as include additional galaxy components, like the earth and stars. However, the boys did get to spend quite a bit of time on the ‘Synchronised Aliens Dancing’ project by the Code Club, where they created aliens out of play-doh and Plasticine and used them as controllers to code the alien to perform a dance routine on the computer.
How it works:
You make 5 mini aliens out of play-doh or Plasticine to use as the controller
Connect the computer using a program called Makey. Connect each alien to Up, Down, Right, Left, and Space.
Write Scratch write code to perform a synchronised dance routine. You can code the alien to draw colourful patterns. For the finishing touch, you can add music too.
Finally, watch the alien clones as they perform their colourful synchronised dancing routine
The Code Club is a nationwide network of volunteer-led after-school coding clubs for children aged 9 to 11 years old. For more information, please visit their website www.codeclub.org.uk, or get in touch with the team at hello@codeclub.org.uk.
Hackadoodle
Apart from the lunchtime ball-to-wall SEN activity, the boys spent most of their time in the Hackadoodle section, created by a brilliantly quirky man, Sam Cox, A.K.A. ‘The Doodle Man’, who encourages you to ‘hack’ doodles with your own ideas. The Hackadoodle workshop area was covered by black and white doodle designs, inviting adults and children to come along and hack his doodles with some colour, by creating characters, giving them eyes and teeth, filling in empty windows and cars, designing smaller doodle worlds, and literally bringing art to life. I noticed a lot of adults were joining in too and there was something very therapeutic about sitting down and creating doodle art. If you want to learn more about The Doodle Man, he has an awesome documentary on his website, which contains a fantastic story about being kicked out of this world due to his doodles and landing in his own world, Doodle Land. His evil brother fought The Doodle Man and kicked him out and so he is now trying to find a way to get back to Doodle Land.
The Doodle Man’s designs are so intricate and wonderful that I will definitely be looking into hiring Sam Cox to create a Doodle Wall in my children’s bedroom very soon!
Shattered Glass to Chandelier – Poetry Bucket
Just before finishing up, we noticed a poetry area, which was all about picking 1 word from the 4 words provided on the table (‘code’, ‘data’, ‘game’ and ‘play’) and finding 3 rhyming words to make a poem. We had learned so much about numbers and maths at this exhibition that I thought it would make a nice change to get creative with words too. The Poetry Bucket, by Shattered Glass to Chandelier, is not just a play on words, but its sole purpose is to eliminate discrimination and challenge negative ‘Attitudes and Values,’ ‘Recycling and Educating’, and ‘Equipping and Empowering’, with what the founder, Meshack Pond, calls Communication ‘Survival-Skills’. Meshack’s communication survival-skills have helped him navigate his own countless challenges and his aim now is to demonstrate how to translate those negatives into positives through Shattered Glass to Chandelier (beautiful name). Watch this space, as I will be looking to work more with him to help spread the support via Motherhood Diaries too.
Vivid Matcha green tea – make your own juice
Our very last activity was spotted by accident when we were sat at the HackaDoodle table. We gazing through a nearby window, where we saw a young woman combining juice from 3 cartons to create one super juice. I was interested in learning more about what was going on at her table, so I took the boys over and she beckoned for them both to sit down. The aim of this activity was to create your own Vivid Drink. This juice project, hosted by VIVID Matcha Green Tea, was all about creating a juice that encourages your mind to be focused and full of energy but, also, to take it one step further and think about its packaging and brand name. So, this activity got the boys thinking about the marketing and design process around the juice brand that they were creating and not just about how it tasted. It was a very basic introduction into the world of manufacturing and marketing and so I was 100% on board, as these areas are most likely going to grow exponentially, as we delve further into the technological and digital side of marketing.
How it works:
Part 1: Flavour design
Start with a base flavour – 125ml
Choose a juice or water that would work with a lot of flavours and acts as a good base
Grape
Coconut
Sparkling Water
Apple
Add your main flavour – 75ml
Choose your main flavour of juice. Think about what will stand out and work well with your base flavour
Blueberry
Pineapple
Cranberry
Put a flavour twist on your drink – 25ml
Give your drink an interesting twist
Pear
Mango
Pink Grapefruit
Pomegranate
Part 2: Branding
Decide on a brand name and design your packaging. Use coloured pens and design a logo for your bottle.
Aron’s juice drink combined mango, grape and apple to make his new brand of juice, ‘Relax Fruit’.
Aidan’s final drink contained mango, grape and apple (which was a little different to the instructions that were set out) and he named his drink ‘AppleFlash’.
After downing their bottles of juice, the boys and I decided that it was time to go home. It was nearing around 4 pm and we were all shattered. We had used our brains so much that we could not fit in anymore. There was so much to see at the Imagination lab that we didn’t even make our way around all the workshops.
All children were invited to vote for their favourite art concept for the new interactive installation that the Institute of Imagination has commissioned in partnership with ICF International Charitable Foundation. The three shortlisted creators were Shawn Brown, the art group from London Brain Project and Jim Bond.
What we had seen at this exhibition was truly mind blowing. I had learned so much myself about coding and just how important it is to get the children to think about their methods and explore other ways of getting to their solutions. My favourite part of the exhibition was the Calm Room because I got to see a totally different side of Aron, one I had never seen before. Since that day, we have been playing yoga and meditation music to help Aron to get to sleep and it has worked simply wonders on him.
The Institute of Imagination constantly update their website with new events, so please make sure you keep an eye out for these. To find out more about the Institute of Imagination and to attend one of their events, make sure to visit their website here and follow them closely via Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Events generally take place in a dedicated Imagination Lab space over a morning or an afternoon.
The Institute of Imagination’s next event is on 1 May and the next theme is ‘reality’. The event is promising to be filled with lots of virtual and augmented reality activities, so I thoroughly recommend that you and your family attend.
We are the ones holding the keys to our children’s future, so let our forthcoming generation be filled with imagination, creativity and education, for I believe these three very important factors are what puts us back on track to making the world a better, smarter and more inspirational place for the generation of our future.
#labliverecode
*Disclaimer: Motherhood Diaries and family were gifted tickets to attend probably one of the greatest events we have ever witnessed for the children. All views are 100% my own and if I could write 3,000 more words about the Institute of Imagination, I would! *
The boys and I massively love our food, so I had some glimmer of hope that they’d remain pretty open-minded about trying Quorn out for the first time at a cookery class hosted by the Kids Cookery School (KCS). KCS is quite a unique school indeed! The charity aims to teach kids culinary skills that they can take away with them for the rest of their lives, as well as build on their palate, so that children are more confident in trying out healthy ingredients as well. So, I enthusiastically accepted the offer to take my kids along to a cookery class all about substituting Quorn into every day children’s favourites like pizza and burgers. We opted to attend the morning session, as my husband was appointed as the professional photographer for the event and we were the first of the blogger families to arrive at the KCS in Acton.
We sat in the waiting area and chatted to the Quorn, PR and KCS team, whilst the boys borrowed an impressive array of crayons, so they could create some pieces of art to hang on the KCS wall.
It was a special day for our little family too, as it was my little one’s 4th birthday, so Aidan was experiencing a particularly fun birthday of cooking Quorn meals for his family. He had enjoyed a great sports party the Saturday before, so Aidan was quite happy to keep the birthday surprises rolling in.
After half an hour, we realised we were the only ones attending the morning session, as most of the families could only make it to the afternoon. This meant that Aron and Aidan were going to receive a very special private cookery lesson from Chef John, the Head Chef, who really is super talented with the kids. As we headed over to the kitchen area to get the boys started on making some delicious Quorn recipes, I could see Chef John and Chef Oliver busy preparing all the ingredients for the cookery lesson.
The kitchen was warm and inviting with lots of colourful and informative posters about teaching the children a little bit about the food they were cooking and how eating a balanced diet would benefit their health in general.
Little bit about the Kids Cookery School
The KCS is a registered charity that aims to provide children and young people with the skills and knowledge needed to make healthy food choices for themselves. KCS teaches around 2,500 students each year on how to cook and eat healthy food. The kitchen is based in Acton, West London, where the majority of their practical cookery projects take place. They’re so much in demand that they’ve actually gone mobile, so they can come to any school in the borough of London or at any other chosen venue within the vicinity. It’s great to see that they’re so enthusiastic and passionate about teaching children and young people how to cook for a healthier future. For more details on booking the KCS for any events, please visit their website here.
Time to get cooking with Quorn
I handed the boys over to the very capable hands of Chef John and Chef Oliver, as I tucked into an impressive display of Quorn food dishes in the adult corner nearby. As a new lover of Quorn, I had no problem trying out all the different Quorn dishes on the table and, in fact, I actually found them all to be super delicious!
The Quorn team had cooked up the following:
Quorn Sausage Rolls
Quorn Sausages
Quorn Scotch Eggs
Deliciously marinaded Quorn Chicken pieces
Quorn Beef, Chicken and Ham Sandwiches
Introductory cooking games to ease the children into cooking
The boys sat down at the opposite end of the kitchen table to Chef John, donning a bespoke Quorn apron and freshly washed hands.
Chef John started the lesson by teaching the boys all about measurements (i.e. tablespoons versus teaspoons) and rather expertly engaged the boys on the importance of eating a 5-a-day diet of fruits and vegetables.
The boys then enjoyed a ‘fruit versus veg’ quiz, where they had to guess the fruit or vegetable hidden under a tablecloth and match them to their respective family. Aron correctly guessed the first item to be a tomato and Chef John challenged Aron to work out whether the tomato was a fruit or a vegetable. Aron wasn’t too sure of the answer, so Chef John explained that the seeds in the tomato make it a fruit.
Round two and the boys were asked again whether they could guess what the item was. Aron correctly guessed that there was a bell pepper hidden underneath and that it was a fruit because it had seeds, which hadn’t occurred to me before. I always thought of a bell pepper as a vegetable!
Round three and Aidan correctly guessed that there was an apple under the tea towel. Chef John continued to teach the boys about the differences between a fruit and a vegetable and that the apple was a fruit like the banana because it lived up in the trees and not underground. Aron also guessed a lemon and that it was a fruit and Aidan correctly found broccoli and believed it to be a vegetable because it didn’t contain any seeds. I wasn’t that surprised as Aidan weirdly loves broccoli, especially when it’s smothered in cheese.
Making the Quorn Pizzas
The first lesson was on making a fresh Quorn pizza, complete with pizza dough made from scratch and topped with lots of awesome veggie goodness and, of course, Quorn. Whilst I was sipping my tea and tucking into my Quorn lunch, the boys actively engaged in the pizza-making process and thoroughly enjoyed messing around with the pizza dough.
They seemed to be quite overwhelmed with the amount of pizza toppings available, but I could see that they enjoyed looking at a very colourful and inviting pizza, as opposed to the bog standard cheese and tomato they normally opt for. I was also pleasantly surprised that they actually enjoyed biting into their pizza creations, which contained a tower of freshly made tomato sauce, spring onions, sweetcorn, peppers, garlic, Quorn chicken, beef, and ham. They did look so tasty!
Quorn Burgers
The boys stared on making the burger buns as their Quorn burgers were cooking in the oven. Aron is not a meat eater, so I was interested to see whether he would try the Quorn alternative.
Once the bread roils were cooked and ready, the boys enjoyed garnishing their burgers with pepper, tomatoes and cucumber.
They, of course, were invited to try out their own Quorn burgers, which they also thoroughly enjoyed too.
The morning cookery class was wrapping up for a break, in time to prepare for the afternoon session. But, as we had to wait for my husband, who was photographing both the AM and PM sessions, we had about four hours to kill. So, I took the boys to the local Acton park, which is a brilliant park if you ever want to burn your kids’ energy because there are tons of playground equipment available for kids of all ages. Unfortunately, it was a rather turbulent and particularly common April day (sun, wind and a little bit of rain), so we strolled back to the KCS, where we met the other blogger families, who were deep in session with the Quorn team about special diets and nutritional information on Quorn. There was another great lunch laid out on the table and, as the boys and I were so famished after our three-hour park workout, we very much enjoyed a healthy and quite filling Quorn lunch. The boys even tried Quorn sausage rolls and sandwiches, as well as their favoured carrot and cucumber sticks.
diets were when we were kids, yet it was plain to see that our unanimous objective is to provide our own kids with a varied and balanced diet, so they grow up with a healthy affiliation towards food in general.
A little bit about Quorn
I’ve had the privilege of being able to attend a Quorn Summer BBQ Event, a Quorn cookery class (for adults), create lots of great recipes using Quorn (including my Quorn Mince Sausage Rolls and Quorn Meatballs and ‘Getti (Spaghetti)) and write about Quorn and its health benefits in general. So, I feel like I have a good idea of why Quorn is such a great addition (if not, substitution) to meat in our diet. Quorn is made from a plant protein called Mycoprotein that replicates the texture and taste of meat. Mycoprotein is a great source of protein and dietary fibre and it’s low in saturated fat, so it helps maintain healthy bones and cholesterol levels.
What we learned from the Kids Cookery School about Quorn and cooking in general
I was secretly proud that my 4 and 5-year-old boys knew so much about food, especially fruit and veg. They are not super fussy eaters and I believe this is partly because I encouraged baby led weaning from six months old and always placed everything on their plate, whether they liked it or not, with the hope that they’d eventually eat it. That’s true of some food, not all. I still can’t get them to eat avocado…
As well as Chef John, we also got to meet the rest of the team over at KCS; Fiona Hamilton-Fairley, who is the CEO & Principal, Irene Mensa-Bonsu who is Operations Manager and Fiona’s PA, and Oliver Knowles, who volunteers as a young Junior Chef in between his University studies. It’s clear to see that they are all passionate about helping the kids cook, which transpires clearly to the atmosphere of the kitchen.
Quorn products are so versatile that you can pretty much substitute any meat recipe with a Quorn alternative and it tastes just as good.
If you encourage your kids to make the food, they are more inclined to be experimental and try out their own creations, even if its drowning in lots of veg and Quorn food. The boys loved their pizza and burgers and we got to enjoy x 2 of both when we got home. I was thoroughly impressed myself, both the pizza and burgers were bursting with flavour and far healthier for kid and adults to eat than greasy cheese and tomato pizza.
The boys took away with them some very valuable cookery lessons from KCS, like the differentiation between fruit and veg, how to make a pizza dough and how to enjoy a great meat-free burger, which is so much healthier than the fat ladened beef mince burger that’s packed with fat and cholesterol.
There’s a brilliant new recipe book out, which includes lots of awesome recipes on how to cook with Quorn – I want it!
P.S – It was Aidan’s 4th birthday so to celebrate in style, the Quorn and PR team very thoughtfully brought a delicious chocolate cake, complete with candles to celebrate the occasion. What a lovely gesture, thank you so much!
On the whole, we had such a brilliantly fun and informative day and tried lots of delicious Quorn food in the process. I’m mostly happy that the boys actually learned something valuable at this event. They are far more eager to help in the kitchen now and are open to trying more ingredients on their pizzas, which is great. I did try to introduce kale to their pizza, however, that’s just a step too far for them. We’ll get there…
*Disclaimer – The Quorn team and Kids Cookery School invited the boys and I to a Quorn Cookery Class to learn about cooking Quorn with kids. All experiences and opinions of the Quorn event are 100% our own. *
A great afternoon tea for two at Le Restaurant de PAUL in Covent Garden
It’s not easy for a busy mum to find three hours out of her hectic schedule to enjoy a great spot of Afternoon Tea with her best friend. But, thankfully, PAUL in Covent Garden throws a fabulous Afternoon Tea for two and Motherhood Diaries was invited to attend and review the selection of artisan bakery that PAUL is so famously well known for.
A little bit about PAUL
PAUL is a French artisan bakery that originates from a family of agricultural workers in the Artois region of Northern France. In 1889, Charlemagne Mayot and his wife opened a small bakery located in rue de la Mackellerie in Croix, near Lille. PAUL branched out of France, towards Barcelona in 1985 and incorporated a tearoom/restaurant alongside the bakery. Today, PAUL continues to be a family owned company, built on the foundations of time-honoured product methods, which have been passed down through five generations. PAUL is shared in more than 25 countries today and in 2012, PAUL opened its first bakeries in Singapore and Moscow.
Afternoon Tea at Le Restaurant de PAUL in Covent Garden
I arrived an hour earlier than the allocated time for Afternoon Tea, at 2.30pm, and entered a hugely bustling and overflowing bakery, draped in different food delights, ranging from Bread and Sandwiches to Viennoiserie and Pâtisserie. Weaving through the relatively small front-end bakery/café, I found a petite French woman dressed in black and assumed her to be the manager, as she stood out from a healthy number of staff dressed in chef white colours. She was very accommodating and, although I was an hour early, she found a seat for me in the tearoom/restaurant at the back of the café, which was only slightly larger in comparison.
As I was studying the beautiful French imagery on the walls, an enthusiastic waiter hovered over to offer me a drink, for which I opted for a Cappuccino and an Americano for when my absent friend arrived.
I had some spare time to sip my chocolate-sweetened Cappuccino before the afternoon tea portion began, so I made full use of the free Wi-Fi and signed up for PAUL’s loyalty card, which works a little bit like a payment card, i.e. 1 point = £1. Also, for every 9th stamp you get, you can enjoy a free food or drink item of your choice.
After about ten minutes, the manager came over and offered to move me to a more private and spacious area, tucked into the corner of the tearoom. The seating area was large enough to hang my coat on the side, allowing me more seating room. I people-watched for a while, whilst pondering whether PAUL was suitable for families, as my two boys would really appreciate the vast array of patisseries on display. As soon as I had the notion, a family of four entered with two young babies and sat beside me. At this point, my friend had also arrived and walked past the waitress, who was securing the two highchairs in an already seemingly tight space. I asked the waitress about what was on offer for kids and she advised that no separate kids’ menus were available and that, generally, they can choose anything from the ‘Aperitifi and Plateaux’ menu or the ‘Pre-Theatre and Plat Principaux’ menu.
My friend and I chatted briefly about the ‘La cave a vin de PAUL’ wine and artisan bread displayed provocatively in front of us, perhaps, to entice us to a little aperitif with our Afternoon Tea. As both of us were recovering from a cold, we opted to stay on hot beverages and water. However, you can choose a glass of Crémant Brut or Champagne Camille Saves with your Afternoon tea, which will cost £30.00 for two or £35.00 for two, respectively.
To the left of us, past the second partitioned restaurant area, we could see the chef’s kitchen, which was decorated with a display of wooden chopping boards and garlic and herbs, layered to mimic the authenticity of Paul’s French cuisine. Again, champagne and white wine were peeping out of the partitioned windows that separated us from the restaurant area and the kitchen.
Waiters were rushing past us with a beautiful selection of pastries and the smell of what I believed were French salads with the classic Vinaigrette dressing. And, the aroma of meat was also wafting in the air as ‘Burger Boeufs’ were being presented in bright white plates and garnished with some greenery. Adults and children alike were enjoying the sweet dessert menu of glaces, sorbets and cakes.
The menu at a busy central London setting is quite reasonable, with prices ranging from £10.95 for simple ‘végétariens’ salads, to £14.95 for the ‘burger trois fromages’. The extra 150g beef steak to complement the burger boeuf was a small £3.50 on top of the £12.95, which totalled to £16.45. And you’re getting the full shebang in this menu, with a total of 350g beef steak burger, which is 28 days dry and aged from the queen’s butcher, Donald Russell, and garnished with baby gem lettuce, tomato and gherkins. Not bad for a royal burger meal!
On to the Afternoon Tea
Both my friend and I were pleasantly surprised at the amount of food offered when the Afternoon Tea had arrived. We were served with the following:
2 x Grilled chicken, tomato, mustard mayonnaise and lettuce on white bread
2 x Brie and lettuce with butter on white bread
2 x Smoked salmon and cream cheese with lettuce on white bread
2 x Brioche drizzled with sugar rocks and served with clotted cream and strawberry jam
2 x Carrot cakes with walnut and cream cheese filling
2 x Strawberry and custard cream cakes with pistachio marzipan
1 x Coconut macaroon
1 x Caramel macaroon
Alongside our Afternoon Tea, we also ordered a large bottle of Evian water to help wash down the highly sweet treats.
At £25.00 for two, PAUL’s Afternoon Tea was fresh, flavoursome and not too overly sweet as some other Afternoon Teas I have experienced in the past. The sandwiches tasted fresh and light – my favourite was the chicken and mustard mayo, sandwiched in fresh spongy bread. The brioches were just lightly sweetened with sugar rocks on top and the clotted cream was a little on the thin side, but the rich strawberry jam made up for the taste. We finished off our highly decadent Afternoon Tea with a macaroon each. I opted for the caramel flavour and my friend enjoyed the coconut alternative, which she said was very sweet and tasty. The carrot cake zinged with the flavour of carrots but, at that point, we were nicely stuffed and could only stomach extra water to finish.
The staff were helpful, friendly and present, checking sporadically as to whether we needed any top-ups and not rushing us at all when 5.30pm came around. The manager was conversational and communicative, even though the café had been heaving for the entire 3 hours.
Perhaps, the Covent Garden branch could benefit with a larger space for their Afternoon Teas, as it seems to be doing so well with customers, and our waiter, although, understandably rushed off his feet, should pay extra care to how he picks up our drinks. My friend commented twice on the way the waiter handled her jar of hot water. He had picked the jar up, rather un-hygienically, by the spout. Having said that, we had a great time and enjoyed a full afternoon of glorious tea, which, I believe, is massively value for money and the perfect way to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily parenting duties – without breaking the bank!
Where’s your favourite place to go for Afternoon Tea? Leave us a comment with your experiences too.
Quorn Cookery Class at Underground Cookery School (Includes 3 Recipes)
Date: Monday 11th May, 2015
Time: 18:30 – 21:30
Venue: Underground Cookery School – 201-203 City Road, London EC1V 1JN
Motherhood Diaries was greeted with another opportunity to work with Quorn, this time at a Quorn cookery class held at Underground Cookery School. Back in August 2014, Quorn held a BBQ event to accompany the lovely summer we were having and we got to learn about how we could replace our normal meat BBQ products for Quorn sausage rolls, scotch eggs and burgers (link here to the full post). The guests’ appreciation at being provided with delicious Quorn BBQ food were unanimous. You couldn’t tell the difference! So inspired, I went home and recreated some Quorn recipes for my family. You can find the full recipes and more about Quorn here.
What is Quorn?
Very briefly, Quorn (by Quorn Foods) is made largely from an ingredient called Mycoprotein, a nutritious member of the fungi family and a healthy protein source. Quorn, a meat alternative, is high in dietary fibre and low in saturated fat, therefore, making it a healthy food source for a varied and balanced diet.
There are a number of different Quorn products out there now, all packing a healthy punch. A full list of Quorn products can be found here: Quorn Product Range
Quorn Cookery Class
Armed with an open mind and an empty stomach, I arrived at the Underground Cookery School to be greeted by bloggers from the food, lifestyle and parenting industry. I had met some of them before, so it was nice to catch up again over a glass of Prosecco and some lovely Quorn Canapes.
Links to other events at Underground Cookery School can be found here.
Quorn Canapes and Prosecco
Before unleashing the bloggers into the kitchen, we sat down and had a talk about Quorn and its nutritional benefits.
Here are some facts about Quorn that you may or may not know about already.
Quorn has/is:
90% less fat than a meat spaghetti Bolognese
A sustainable alternative to meat
Up to 90% lower emissions than beef
“There is no secret to my success – I train hard and eat right. It’s simple – practice and protein. Having the right training regime, supported by the right nutrition, has helped me to win an Olympic gold” – Mo Farrah
The cooking lesson commences
Starter – BBQ Pulled Quorn and Pink Coleslaw
We started the class by learning how to make BBQ Pulled Quorn and Pink Coleslaw (recipe below). The very talented chef expertly showed us how to make flavoursome Quorn. The trick is to marinate it, which is not what I have been doing with my Quorn ingredients at home. A lot would say that substituting meat for Quorn means you sacrifice on flavour. But, if you flavour your Quorn first, you really cannot tell the difference!
BBQ Pulled Quorn and Pink Coleslaw – motherhooddiaries.com
BBQ Pulled Quorn and pink coleslaw recipe
Serves: 10
Ingredients:
Quantity Ingredient
10 Quorn fillets, defrosted
200ml BBQ sauce
Coleslaw
150g white cabbage, finely shredded
150g red cabbage, finely shredded
150g carrots, grated
100g red onion, finely chopped
4tbsp mayonnaise, low fat variety or natural yoghurt
1tsp Dijon mustard (optional)
Seasoning
10 bread buns
Method:
1. Hand shred the Quorn fillets and mix with the BBQ sauce. Leave to marinate for 30 minutes.
2. Mix together all the coleslaw ingredients and season to taste, chill until required.
3. Tip the Quorn onto a baking tray and bake in the oven for 15 minutes at 180C/Gas Mark 4 or until core temperature is reached.
4. Divide the coleslaw between the buns and fill with the pulled Quorn
Main – Quorn Thai Curry
Next on the agenda we learned how to make the classically delicious Thai curry and the infamous Thai curry sauce, which filled the air with its highly appealing aroma. Recipe below:
Glass of Prosecco in one hand and a wooden spoon in the other, tending to the delicate Thai curry sauce – a true multi-tasker!
400g onion, peeled and chopped 4 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped 1 tbsp fresh grated ginger 60g fresh coriander 1 tbsp fresh, frozen or dried lime leaves (optional) 1½ tbsp turmeric 1 vegetable stock cube, crumbled 2 x 400g tin coconut milk 3 tbsp sweet mango chutney 30g fresh basil 350g red peppers, thinly sliced 200g mangetout or sugar snaps, halved
Method:
Mix the marinade ingredients together in a bowl until the Quorn is coated. Transfer to the fridge to marinate for at least 30 minutes.
To prepare the sauce heat the oil in a pan then gently fry the chopped onion, garlic and ginger for 5 minutes until softened but not coloured.
Add half of the coriander, the lime leaves, turmeric, stock cube, coconut milk, and mango chutney. Gently bring to the boil then simmer, covered for 20 minutes. Add the basil and remaining coriander to the sauce for the last 5 minutes of cooking time then remove the pan from the heat and blend until smooth with a hand blender.
Meanwhile transfer the marinated Quorn pieces to a baking tray and cook in a moderate oven 180°C/Gas Mark 4 for 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and reserve.
Add the Quorn pieces, red pepper and mangetout to the sauce and simmer for 5 minutes or until the vegetables are just cooked.
*TIP – This curry also works really well using Quorn fillets torn by hand or sliced in chunky pieces.
Dessert – Chocolate Torte
Always partial to some chocolate torte, I was very excited to learn about this sweet recipe, even though it was totally unrelated to Quorn. Our outspoken, but equally as entertaining and amusing chef let us in on a few secrets to making the perfect chocolate torte, including powdering the cake tin with dark chocolate, which, not only helps the torte come out of the tin, but it also adds to the flavour and texture of the torte as a whole. But, bringing the torte ingredients together was no easy feat! Whipping the cream was one heck of a workout for the arms and I felt like I had earned my dessert after a gruelling ten minutes of whipping up the cream.
Chocolate Torte Recipe
Serves 6
Ingredients
300f Choc (7.05oz) Best quality chocolate (70% cocoa solids)
225g Butter (5.29oz) Unsalted butter, plus a little extra for greasing
6 Eggs, separated
150g (3.52oz) Caster sugar
Method:
Preheat the oven to 180 C/350 C/Gas 4.
Place the bowl on top of a simmering saucepan of water, making sure the water does not touch the bowl.
Melt the butter and chocolate and stir to combine to a rich velvety smoothness.
Take off the heat and set aside.
Separate the Eggs.
Now whisk the whites, until stiff peaks and set aside.
Grease the tin with the butter and coat with sugar to stop the cake sticking to the tin.
In yet another bowl add the yolks and then sugar, and whisk until thick and creamy (about 2 minutes).
Add chocolate mixture and combine.
Now using a stainless steel spoon, fold in the egg whites and empty the contents into the tin.
This torte can take up to 30 mins to bake.
It’s ready when you stick a skewer in the middle and it comes out clean and clear.
The sit-down dinner
After a hard few hours of cooking and baking, we were allowed to go back to our seats and wait for our meals to arrive. The chefs were kindly whipping up all 3 courses for us to try. I had an empty stomach when I had arrived at the Underground Cookery School at 6.30pm, but at around 9pm, I was ravenous.
The starter, the BBQ Pulled Quorn and Pink Coleslaw, tasted delicious! The BBQ Sauce complements the other ingredients so well and, actually, it didn’t taste like a burger, but more like a vegetable butty with highly flavoured BBQ Quorn. I could easily eat this again, it was so tasty.
The main, the Quorn Thai Curry, tasted just like Thai Chicken Curry. When eating it, I did not miss the original version at all. In fact, I could quite happily opt for the healthier Quorn alternative from now on. The Thai curry packed a ton of flavour, so you wouldn’t be missing out on anything at all by replacing the chicken with the Quorn version. Well, just the calories, but that’s a good thing!
The Chocolate Torte was divine, as I knew it would be. The rich dark chocolate flavour complemented the vanilla ice cream and, even though I was full, I managed to scoff all of my dessert before sinking into my seat fully satisfied after a very tasty 3-course meal, so kindly offered by Quorn and The Underground Cookery School.
What a fantastic night. I came away knowing so much more about Quorn’s versatility and health benefits and I learned a few cookery skills on the way. It’s definitely worth taking the time to marinade Quorn first before cooking your meals – you will notice the difference in flavour straight away.
I’m a huge fan of Jamie Oliver, whether it’s because of his apparent love for Mediterranean-infused dishes, or his simplistic approach to elaborate meals that can be replicated by many. But, his mantra towards advocating a healthy food education for kids was what touched my heart more than anything. As a father of four children, it’s clear that he has a strong intention to involve his children in his cookery, in order to set them up with strong, lasting knowledge of good and bad food. And, he’s extended those expertise towards parents, so they can, in turn, teach their children the value of nutritious and tasty food – yes, children, healthy food can, indeed, taste good!
So, of course, I was extremely excited to review Jamie’s Italian restaurant, situated in Westfield’s Stratford City, a bustling pace full of multi-culture, and see whether his passion for great, simple and healthy food had translated to his many restaurants.
Who’s Jamie Oliver?
Born on 27 May 1975, Jamie took an early interest in food. He grew up in Essex, where his parents, Trevor and Sally, still run their own highly respected pub/restaurant, The Cricketers, in Clavering. Jamie was frequently found helping out in the kitchens where his fascination for food grew and at 16 he left school to complete his training at Westminster Catering College. After spending some time working in France, followed by a stint at Antonio Carluccio’s Neal Street Restaurant (where he first met mentor Gennaro Contaldo), Jamie joined the acclaimed River Café where he worked for three and a half years alongside Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers.
In 1997, Jamie was featured in a television documentary about the River Café. Soon after the documentary was aired, Jamie was offered his own television show and The Naked Chef was born. By the end of 2001, Jamie wanted to ‘give something back’ to the catering industry and decided to open a training restaurant for young people who were not in full time education or employment.
In 2004, motivated by the poor state of school dinners in UK schools, Jamie embarked on one of his most ambitious ventures to date. He went back to school with the aim of educating and motivating the kids and dinner ladies to enjoy cooking and eating healthy, nutritious lunches rather than processed foods that they were used to. Jamie launched a national campaign called ‘Feed Me Better’ (www.feedmebetter.com) and launched an online petition for better school meals. As a result of the 271,677 signatures on the petition, which Jamie took to 10 Downing Street on 30th March 2004, the government pledged an extra £280 million to improve the standard of school meals, to provide training for dinner ladies and equipment for schools.
Jamie Oliver is a phenomenon in the world of food and one of the world’s best-loved television personalities, as well as one of Britain’s most famous exports. Jamie has inspired people to spend more time enjoying cooking delicious food from fresh ingredients.
And, so Jamie’s Italian was born
Jamie’s Italian was founded in Oxford in 2008. Since then it has grown to more than 30 restaurants worldwide, and there are plans to build more in towns, counties and countries around the world.
Jamie’s Italian is inspired by Jamie’s passion for the Italian way of life:
“Since I was a teenager I’ve been totally besotted by the love, passion and verve for food, family and life itself that just about all Italian people have, no matter where they’re from or how rich or poor they might be. And that’s what I’m passionate about – good food for everyone, no matter what… but the thing I love most about the Italians is that somehow, although they have some of the best fashion designers and cars in the world, they’ve managed to retain a unique sense of tradition and village spirit.”
Jamie’s Italian’s menu contains authentic, rustic dishes created using tried and tested recipes. Jamie’s friend and mentor, Gennaro Contaldo, has added substance to what is now the essence of Jamie’s Italian – tradition combined with current, innovative ideas and a Jamie twist.
The ingredients used are sourced from producers, both in Italy and around the UK, and the staff are trained to have a thorough knowledge of all the dishes served at Jamie’s Italian. The restaurant is designed to be accessible and affordable, where everyone feels welcomed and comfortable, no matter the time of day. Each restaurant is uniquely designed to incorporate the history of the building and personality of the city, as well as creating an environment where the focus is on exceptional food, good company and the relaxed conviviality of the “Italian table.”
Jamie’s Italian’s Website and Social Networking Sites:
Considering we live at the other end of London (North West), we figured it was going to be a long drive to Stratford City, but it was only a 50 minute journey by car, despite the heavy traffic. We initially struggled to find Jamie’s Italian restaurant, which was actually situated outside of Westfield’s centre, in the food court, and we had to walk around a little bit before we found the restaurant tucked away in the corner, opposite John Lewis’ large store.
As soon as we entered Jamie’s Italian restaurant, the rustic Mediterranean atmosphere was overcoming. The building is decorated with authentic Italian hams and other various condiments and the wooden flooring and glass frontage of the restaurant allows you to get away from the hustle and bustle of Westfield and relax by the window or alfresco in the Four Dials square in front of the restaurant. We were directed to sit in the middle of the restaurant downstairs, with easy access to the disabled toilet.
After a few hiccups with the booking reservation, which was quickly sorted out, we were handed our menus, including two 3D Image Binoculars for the kids that displayed the kids’ menu inside and some crayons, complete with colouring in sheets of paper (which hubby took a particular interest in).
We had lots of fun choosing the kids’ meals and we ended up ordering the following:
For the Kids
Nutritional and Meal Information
Price
For the Parents
Nutritional Information
Price
Starters
Artisan Italian Breads
308.6 Calories –Suitable for Vegetarians and Vegans
Homemade rosemary focaccia, sourdough, music bread & grissini with olive oil, balsamic & sun-dried tomato & olive tapenade.
£3.85
Main Meal
Spaghetti Bolognese
The old-school sauce made with beef and pork, tossed in homemade spaghetti.
£5.95
Superfood Salad with grilled chicken
367.7 / 502.1 calories – suitable for vegetarians and Gluten free.Avocado, fennel, garden leaves, shredded asparagus & courgettes with candied beets, cime di rapa & a mix of grains, shoots, nuts & seeds. Served with smashed cannellini bean, hummus, cottage cheese & fennel blossom harissa.
£13.95
Mini Sliders
Organic chicken & beef patties with soft lettuce and a tomato, served in a seeded bun with baked crinkle-cut wedges.
£5.95
The Jamie’s Italian Burger with chips
1033 calories – contains sesame, Milk, Egg, Gluten, Wheat, Lactose and Chilli. Suitable for gluten free if served without the burger bun.Prime British chuck & flank steak with smoked mozzarella, mortadella, balsamic onions, tomato, pickles & chillies.
£13.45
Chicken Lollipops
Three free-range organic chicken fillets, chargrilled & served with a lemony yoghurt, crunchy mixed seeds & baked crinkle-cut wedges.
The boys were apparently very hungry, so we decided to order three kids’ meals (the Spaghetti Bolognese, Mini Sliders and Chicken Lollipops) and share the third amongst ourselves in case the boys couldn’t eat it. The waiter was fantastic, offering healthy and attractive options for the boys and even adding on a little extra service, kindly informing us that the apple juices were free and that the boys would love the selection of breads – and so we went for that. The drinks were brought on first and the boys downed their apple juices, not listening to us parents warning them that they’d be full before dinner or that they’d have nothing to drink during their meal. The apple juice tasted fresh, but sweet and we considered ordering them another, but we thought better of it. I tucked my Limonata away, knowing full well the boys would drink it anyway, and enjoyed my Prosecco with a raspberry inside – it was quite strong!
Artisan Italian Breads, £3.85 (Starters)
We opted for the Artisan Italian Breads selection for starters, which were fresh and delicious and garnished with lemon juice, garlic and rosemary. There were a wide variety of breads displayed next to our table and Aron kept calling on the waiter to have him deliver the ’round’ bread on show. The waiter was very patient and calmly explained that they were just on display and that the Artisan Italian Breads they had ordered were much tastier. Six points to the waiter who had managed to steer Aron away, so that he could concentrate on his own starter, which he thoroughly enjoyed. I managed to try out a little bit of all of them and the soft bread went perfectly with the olive oil and balsamic vinegar, a pair that I’ve always lovingly complemented with my toasted bread in the mornings.
We had about a fifteen minute wait before the main meals arrived, which all came at once, and we were pleasantly surprised at the amount of food that we were provided on the dishes. I thought to myself that there was no way the boys could finish all of their three meals, but, boy, was I wrong!
(From top left to bottom right – The Jamie’s Italian Burger with Chips, Superfood Salad with Grilled Chicken, Posh Chips, Side Salad, Aidan tucking into his Mini Sliders, Grilled Chicken from the Chicken Lollipops Kids’ Meal, Mini Sliders, Mini Sliders Pattie, Aron enjoying Spaghetti Bolognese).
The Superfood Salad with Grilled Chicken, £13.95 (Main Dish)
Being Mediterranean myself, the food suited me to a T. The Superfood Salad was simply amazing and actually filled me up completely. The grilled chicken complemented the zesty salad and the avocado balanced the overall taste of the dish perfectly. I even struggled to complete the meal as I was quite comfortably stuffed. I don’t think I’ve ever been ‘full’ on a salad at a restaurant before. If I could feel this satisfied after a meal like the Superfood Salad – the healthiest main meal on the menu – then Jamie’s Superfood Salad is real nutritional value for money in my eyes.
The Jamie’s Italian Burger with Chips, £13.45 (Main Dish)
Hubby really tucked into his burger and chips and commented that the meal had a real home-made feel to it. The burger contained less salt and the meat was juicy. But, hubby mentioned that he struggled to understand why the burger was sitting on a paper napkin, which he cut into and almost ate a few times. I mentioned that it was probably the restaurant’s way of minimising the cleaning job afterwards and that the napkin kept the wooden platter clean. Hubby was unimpressed with this notion…
Aron’s Spaghetti Bolognese, £5.95 (Kids Meal)
Aron has always been a huge fan of Spaghetti Bolognese, despite not being a meat eater. It’s been the only way I can get meat into his diet at home, so I thought it was the safest option on the menu. I pictured a small dish with a few bits of spaghetti and a little bit of meat being brought out, so ordering the third kids meal was originally meant for Aron in mind. But, when the waiter brought over a large bowl of spaghetti, I thought that it was the perfect size for Aron’s large appetite. I snuck in a taste of the Spaghetti Bolognese and I found it to be slightly bland, but Aron polished the whole meal and even asked for seconds (see!) I offered him some of Aidan’s Chicken Lollipops, but he insisted on eating hubby’s leftover bread and the buns left on Aidan’s Mini Slider patties. Jamie’s Spag Bol had passed the ‘Aron Taste Test’ and scored a huge thumbs up from hubby and I.
Aidan’s Mini Sliders, £5.95 (Kids Meal)
Aidan took great enjoyment in tucking into the meat inside the patties. He left the buns to Aron as he’s not much of a bread eater (sometimes I wish I could marry the two boys’ protein and carbs preference to create one perfect appetite). The dish was presented really well with a cute ‘Jamie’s Italian’ flag skewing the patties to keep them upright. The meat was well cooked and the chips were gorgeous – soft and not greasy. Aidan even tried the Balsamic/olive oil sauce and enjoyed it – he is a true Mediterranean.
Aidan’s Chicken Lollipops, £5.95 (Kids Meal)
When I say Aidan is a chicken fiend, I mean that Aidan would choose chicken over chocolate (perhaps not ice cream). Aidan would meticulously pick out all the chicken bits in some of the meals I make at home and give the rest of the meal to Aron. So, it is but a mere understatement that Chicken Lollipops were the perfect choice for Aidan on the menu.
True to form, Aidan took his time carefully nibbling at the skewers to ensure none went to waste and when asked if I could try some, he pushed his patties at me. So, unfortunately I never got the chance to try the chicken, which did look tender, but cooked well. However, if Aidan had managed to easily polish off his four skewers of chicken, then the Chicken Lollipops were, no doubt, a success, even if they were being lovingly received by a loyal chicken fan. Four thumbs up from Hubby and I.
Dessert
After the meals were devoured, I thought that there was no way the boys had the stomach for dessert, but as soon as the waiter asked whether we wanted to see the dessert menu, the boys shouted in unison, ‘yes’. So, we were going to get dessert. We all chose quite quickly (I’m a sucker for Tiramisu, hubby loves the indulgent Epic Brownie and the boys always pick ice cream (chocolate for Aron and vanilla for Aidan). We waited quite a while for the dessert, so the boys decided to entertain themselves with a Uri Gellar trick – balancing a metal spoon on their nose. We were surprised that Aron could actually do this and wondered whether he had Uri Gellar’s magical touch.
The desserts finally came and we tucked into our sweet dishes.
Tiramisu, £5.25 (Dessert)
I absolutely loved the Tiramisu, although it wasn’t presented as beautifully – just a slice of cake thrown onto the plate. The coffee flavour complemented the alcoholic twist and the dessert tasted authentic. Tiramisu has always been my chosen dessert at restaurants and, although, the Tiramisu had a lovely rich flavour, it wasn’t the best I’d ever tasted. The dessert could afford a little more softness to the sponge and the other flavours were masked by the strong coffee and alcohol. But, still a nice dessert to enjoy with a creamy Cappuccino.
Epic Homemade Brownie, £5.25 (Dessert)
Hubby mentioned that his Epic Brownie was super rich, but he still managed to eat some before the boys took over and ate the rest. I managed to catch a taste too and I did really like the addition of the caramelised amaretti popcorn that offered a lovely crunch to the pudding. But, it was also too rich for me, the sweetness of the chocolate was too much for hubby and I. I couldn’t offer any of my Tiramisu to the boys because of its alcohol content, so hubby had kindly donated the rest of his dessert to the boys and they welcomed it after their unenthusiastic approaches to their ice creams.
Chocolate and Vanilla Ice Cream, £0.50p each (Kids’ Dessert)
I was a little disappointed with the boys’ ice cream and for 50p I shouldn’t have expected much more. I couldn’t understand why the one scoop of ice cream was offered with a large tablespoon in an ugly metallic bowl. They looked so second rate to our lovely adult desserts. Nevertheless, it’s ice cream and the boys did their best to enjoy every morsel. Naturally, they asked for more, but seeing how they demolished hubby’s Brownie, we thought that was quite enough sugar for them in one afternoon.
With all the dishes cleaned off the plate, hubby and I thought Jamie’s food was a raging success. Not only did we manage to get the boys to eat all of their food, but they shared three whole kids’ meals and felt satisfied, with nicely stuffed tummies full of healthy goodness. I was very impressed that they liked Jamie’s food and I was sure that we would be returning again as a treat for the kids.
What did I like most about Jamie’s Italian Restaurant?
The wait service was friendly and efficient, and the waiting staff were easily accessible. Our personal waiter was particularly attentive and helpful, offering us alternative options and advice on the menu that he believed the boys would like and we had a lovely chat after the meal about blogging and healthy food in general.
The restaurant’s main toilets are upstairs and round the back, which is quite far away. But, we were seated opposite the disabled toilet, which was only a few yards away. This was perfect for the boys and I wondered whether it was a conscious decision to seat us by the disabled toilet, so that we had easy access. It definitely came in handy after the copious amounts of liquid Aron had consumed during that lunch.
What to watch out for:
Ingesting paper napkins during your meal and choosing your dessert because if you’re going to order your children the 50p ice cream, they will certainly be tucking into your dessert too. On the flipside, it is probably the amount of ice cream I would offer to my boys at home too because you don’t want them to take so much sugar in. So, either hide your dessert or be prepared to give some of it away.
Other points to note:
We gave the boys a hearty breakfast and then no snacks at all until we got to Jamie’s Italian at 2.30pm. So, perhaps, the trick is to stave off food for just a few extra hours to ensure children eat most, if not, all of their food in order to increase chances of happy, full tummies after a great meal.
Rating:
5 out of 5 – Even though there were a few minor grievances, both hubby and I found Jamie’s Italian to be a huge success for the boys, who happily ate all three of their meals. The dishes were healthy, simple and delicious and the restaurant managed to emit a lovely calm and homely atmosphere, as we didn’t experience any complaints or tantrums from the boys. A very lovely and healthy day out with the kids – we will definitely come back for more.
*Motherhood Diaries was offered a £50 voucher to review Jamie’s Italian restaurant in Westfield’s Stratford City, whilst the children ate for free. The post about the restaurant has been 100% written by Motherhood Diaries and the opinions and statements are 100% our own.*
Sarson’s Cookery School – A Vinegar Kick to 3 Traditional Recipes and a Fun Day Out!
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of cooking and when I was offered the chance to attend Sarson’s Cookery School event at Central Street Cookery School in London, EC1, I was more than pleased to go and learn some invaluable lessons from Nick Coffer, this generation’s best loved Daddy Food Blogger and a very talented and personable chef.
Sarson’s Cookery School’s Chef, Nick Coffer from My Daddy Cooks
Nick found himself as a stay-at-home dad after losing his business in 2009. Stemming from his love for cooking for his children at home (6 year old Archie and 2 year old Matilda), Nick set up a hugely successful blog, My Daddy Cooks, which features videos of Nick cooking recipes with his children, with the focus on being fresh, healthy and interesting meals cooked on a very modest budget.
In 2010, Nick published My Daddy Cooks book which is a best-seller in its category. Nick also presents a daily show on BBC Three Counties Radio from 12-3pm and weekly food show, Nick Coffer’s Weekend Kitchen, on the same station on Saturday lunchtime. He appears regularly in national newspapers and lifestyle magazines and on national radio and television, talking about issues ranging from food to parenting.
What is Sarson’s Cookery School All About?
As part of a new campaign focusing on families, Sarson’s vinegar has teamed up with Nick Coffer to create a selection of fun and healthy recipes that are simple and enjoyable to cook with the kids. The emphasis is on making cooking fun and encouraging children to get involved with creating healthy and tasty recipes that they will enjoy creating as well as eating.
The recipes are all prepared using Sarson’s, demonstrating the versatility of the nation’s favourite malt vinegar and proving it doesn’t just taste great on a portion of chips! The four recipes below especially created by Nick include salt and vinegar popcorn, a healthy twist on traditional fish and chips, a barbeque marinade with a kick and crispy meringue pavlova.
“I am absolutely delighted to be working with Sarson’s. Not only is it an iconic brand, I have memories of using it from when I was barely knee high to my mum in the kitchen! For me, fish and chips is one of the ultimate family meals and it is never eaten without Sarson’s in my house. I have really enjoyed creating a delicious twist on traditional fish and chips and I can ensure that my tasty barbeque chicken wings with a kick will be a hit with parents and children alike.”
Sarson’s Cookery School Event
I was excited to get started and attend the Sarson’s Cookery School event. I planned to take the boys, but they had terrible sleep the night before and were very grumpy when they woke up in the morning. So, hubby agreed to look after them and I would go to the event alone. I was gutted to have not brought them, though, because when I had arrived, mums were already there with their children, sitting around a large kitchen table, listening to Nick talk about his cooking background. I was hugely impressed by the kitchen, secretly wishing that my own kitchen could look remotely like the counters that were neatly lined around the entire room, stacked with tons of amazing cooking utensils.
Nick got started straight away, conscious of the time we had allocated for cooking 4 recipes and talked about how to get the kids involved in the kitchen. Nick briefly talked about what we had available in front of us to make these recipes and how we could get the children involved too. I would have to make a mental note of this as I was on my lonesome this time.
Barbeque Marinade with a Kick – for Chicken Wings
We started off by learning how to make a very delicious, sweet and zingy marinade for the chicken wings set out in front of us. Nick taught us how to trim chicken wings, first by cutting the wings’ tips and then the main wing in half, finishing off with trimming off any fat along the sides.
The marinade smelled gorgeous and I made a quick note of all the ingredients, so that I could try them out at home. We gave our marinated chicken wings to Nick’s assistants, who then placed them all in the fridge to set for about an hour.
Once the chicken wings were out of the oven, we all got to taste everyone’s masterpieces and, boy, did they taste good! The honey provided a fantastic sweet taste to the chicken and the vinegar offered a lovely kick at the end.
As part of the recipe, A healthy Twist on Traditional Fish and Chips, we made some salmon goujons, covered in panko breadcrumbs, lemon and sundried tomatoes, which Nick believes to be a very healthy and equally gorgeous way to bread fish or chicken for the family. I was amazed at how quickly you could prepare these goujons and pan fry them in literally 5 minutes! Perfect for the busy parent.
I almost burnt my goujons, not realising that the salmon cooks itself for a few minutes after you take them off the pan. Nick ran round to my aid and quickly whisked the goujons off the pan, to which I replied with, “But, I’ve only had them in the pan for 3 minutes!”
I was shown how to effectively slice the potatoes for the chips and they were taken away to be cooked together with the others.
This was going to be my favourite recipe, I just knew it. I love Pavlovas, but I have never made them before. I was very surprised to learn that you add vinegar to the recipe, which I later found out was common knowledge for most folk. Adding cornflour folded in at the last minute ensures that the inside of the Pavlova is all soft and chewy and having known before that Pavlovas were round desserts, we ended up making a rectangular version instead. I really struggled with making the cream, twice overbeating the eggs, resulting in curdled cream. Nick took pity on me and helped me make the third batch, which thankfully came out all nice and fluffy.
We decorated our Pavlovas with tons of strawberries and kiwis, flowing around the table, and I couldn’t help but sneak in a few bites of the gorgeous fruit.
Now, I normally like my popcorn sweet or salted, but I’ve never tried salt and vinegar popcorn before and I felt like I had missed out all these years. I absolutely love very salty and vinegary fat chips, so of course I was going to love salt and vinegar popcorn. I make popcorn all the time at home for the boys as they are huge popcorn lovers like I am, so I knew how to make popcorn quite well. Simply add 100g of popcorn kernels to a heated and oiled pan and close the lid tightly, shaking regularly to separate the kernels and holding the lid closed when the popcorns pop up inside the pan. As soon as the popping subsides, you take the pan off the heat and into a large bowl.
100g makes LOADS of popcorn, so opt for a large bowl.
Here is the recipe for Sarson’s Salt and Vinegar Popcorn.
On the whole, I had a fantastic time with Nick Coffer and the other mummy bloggers, and I learned so much about the versatility of Sarson’s vinegar. My favourite part of the whole day was making the summer fruit pavlova and I will definitely be reproducing all of these recipes at home.
Sarson’s invited Motherhood Diaries to attend their Sarson’s Cookery School in London, and have not paid me in any way to create a post about the event. The post is completely my decision because I wanted to share with you how awesome Nick Coffer and the Cookery School are and how easy it is to make these great and healthy recipes.
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