Cooksister | Food, Travel, Photography

Food, photos & faraway places

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • About me
    • Contact me
    • Work with me
    • Legal
      • Copyright notice & Disclaimer
      • Disclosure
      • Cookies and Privacy Policy
    • Press and media
    • Cooksister FAQs
  • RECIPES
    • Recipe Index – by course
    • Baking (savoury)
    • Braai/Barbecue
    • Breakfast & brunch
    • Christmas
    • Dessert
    • Drinks
    • Eggs
    • Fish
    • Gluten-free
    • Leftovers
    • Pasta & rice
    • Poultry
    • Pulses
    • Salads
    • Soup
    • South African
    • Starters & light meals
    • Vegan
    • Vegetables
    • Vegetarian
  • RESTAURANTS
    • British Isles restaurants
    • Dubai restaurants
    • France restaurants
    • London restaurants
    • Montenegro restaurants
    • New York restaurants
    • Pop-ups and supperclubs
    • Serbia restaurants
    • Singapore restaurants
    • South Africa restaurants
    • Sweden restaurants
    • Switzerland restaurants
    • USA restaurants
  • TRAVEL
    • All my travel posts
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Canada
      • Dubai
      • Cruise ships
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Grenada
      • Hong Kong
      • Hotel reviews
      • Italy
      • Israel
      • Jersey
      • Mexico
      • Netherlands
      • Norway
      • Portugal
      • Singapore
      • Ski & snow
      • South Africa
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • UK
      • USA
      • Wales
  • PORTFOLIO
    • Freelance writing portfolio
    • Speaking and teaching
    • Photography portfolio
    • Buy my photos
You are here: Home / Restaurants / London restaurants / Mamounia Lounge

Mamounia Lounge

by Jeanne Horak on October 23, 2012 5 Comments in London restaurants

Mamounia Lounge © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

When you have lived in London for a few years, it’s easy to become blasé about the old place. You get so frustrated on the days when your train is delayed by 10 minutes that you forget what a total miracle our extensive, complicated, largely safe and mostly on-time public transport system is to visitors.  You get annoyed with tourists who stand on platforms or escalators taking photos – why on earth would you want to take photos of a grubby old Tube platform?  But when I think back to being a teenage tourist in London, one of the things that I loved most of all was the Tube, which I thought to be the height of Cool Britannia. How soon we forget. I also remember coming to Harrods as a tourist back in the 1980s and walking around in a daze, just mesmerised, both by the insane merchandise (a luxury dog kennel for £1,200!!) and the ornate building which looked unlike any store I had ever seen in my life. I tried to remember my sense of awe as a tourist in an attempt to stay patient and calm as I weaved my way through the gawping throng of tourists moving at glacial speed past Harrods on a sunny Saturday last weekend. My destination was the Mamounia Lounge restaurant, a stone’s throw from Harrods, to meet Michelle, Sarah and Margot for an afternioon of Middle-eastern feasting.

The Mamounia Lounge takes its name from fabulous 200 year old gardens of the Mamounia Hotel in Marrakech, which cover 20 acres and were laid out in the 18th century as a wedding gift to Prince Moulay Mamoun from his father. The restaurant may not be 200 years old or of royal bloodline, but it certainly is very lovely to look at with its sultry Moroccan-inspired bar, its banquettes scattered with comfy cushions, and its pretty perforated light fittings that trace pattens on the ceiling and walls.  Mamounia bill themselves as a restaurant serving modern Arabic fusion food – predominantly a mixture of Lebanese and Moroccan food. There is also a pavement terrace for shisha, and an upstairs function room which I did not visit. Soon I was reclining on my banquette, all thoughts of annoying pedestrians forgotten, perusing the cocktail menu.  You certainly are spoilt for choice – there is a range of unusual long and short drinks to tempt you, from the Marrakech Express to the Raspberrita via the Gold Digger (!) and the watermelon martini.  I chose the Chamberry (fresh raspberries shaken with Belvedere Black Raspberry Vodka and Chambord, topped with Champagne – £11) while my companions opted for the Passion Champagne (passion fruit, Passoa and Cassis topped with champagne – £12).  Although my Chamberry was delicious and pretty, I sincerely doubt that any fresh raspberries were shaken in its making. It seemed to be simply the Vodka and Chambord in the bottom of the glass, topped with champagne – it was garnished with a raspberry, but that’s hardly the same thing.

 

Mamounia Lounge table © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

Mamounia Lounge Chamberry © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

As we sipped our cocktails, we took a look at the menu, which is divided into salads, soups, cold mezze, hot mezze, fish, couscous, tagines and charcoal grills.  Caught up in a rush of enthusiasm for the mezze, our eyes were immediately bigger than our stomachs and we wanted to order absolutely everything.  We called our waitress over to ask for some advice as to how many mezze dishes would be appropriate to order between four, but she was vague to the point of uselessness, despite our explaining that we wanted to share and try as many things as possible. In the end, based on or own ideas rather than any sort of helpful suggestions from staff, we opted for the cold mezze selection, plus some add-ons so that we could sample a good selection while still leaving space for our main courses.  First to arrive was the pretty spectacular fresh pita bread, puffed up like clouds of warm dough.  Our accompanying selection of starters kicked off with the cold mezze platter (£12.50): hommus(chickpea puree), moutabel (smoked aubergine puree topped with pomegranate arils),moussakaa (aubergine baked with tomato), labneh (a fresh Lebanese yoghurt), tabbouleh(chopped parsley, tomato and crushed wheat salad), loubbieh (confit of French beans with tomato and spices), and foul mukala (broad beans cooked with coriander, garlic and olive oil).  In addition, we ordered the mohammara (£7 -roasted crushed nuts mixed with sweet chillies, red pepper and olve oil) the sambousek cheese (£6 – small fried half-moon pastries filled with halloumi cheese, onion and pine nuts) and the sambousek lamb (£6 – small fried half-moon pastries filled with halloumi cheese, onion and pine nuts).  The cold mezze platter was a delicious and of a generous size – definitely enough for 2 people to share, or in our case, four people looking for a not-too-huge starter! The hommus was excellent and I loved the pomegranate arils with the moutabel, although Michelle thought there was too much tahini and not enough aubergine in the dip. Stand-outs for me were the loubbieh which were lightly cinnamon-spiced; and the garlicky foul mukla. I liked the fact that the sambousek were lighter than expected and not at all greasy, although the cheese ones could have done with more filling. We were not all convinced by the mohammara though.  Although I have eaten it elsewhere as a dip, this example was very rough-textured and the nuts did not taste roasted to me.  Also, although the recipe usually calls for pomegranate molasses to impart sweetness, I would eat my hat if this one were made with anything more exotic than sweet Thai chilli sauce. Not a huge success, and a tiny portion for £7 – but that was the only duff note among the starters.

 

Mamounia Lounge pita © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

Mamounia Lounge meze platter © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

Mamounia Lounge cheese pastries © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

Mamounia Lounge muhamara © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

Of course, man cannot live by mezze alone, so up next was the main course, and we had each gone for a different tagine.  Margot had the seasonal vegetable tagine (£16), a combination of chickpeas, carrots, potato, courgettes, butternut, parsnip and dried fruit in a thick tomato sauce.  She pronounced the butternut to be delicious but was less convinced by the turnips and pasrnips.  Sarah had the kafta tagine (19.50) – spiced minced lamb meatballs in a tomato sauce.  This proved to be the least appealing of the tagines, with the lamb underspiced and slightly dry and the whole thing resembling a middle-Eastern take on IKEA meatballs.   However, my and Michelle’s tagines proved to be a hit. Michelle had the lamb tagine (£19.50) – slow-cooked lamb shoulder with prunes, apricots and almonds – and it was a bowl of heaven.  The lamb was meltingly tender and the fragrant spicing of the dish was beautifully matched by the dried fruit.  Menu envy! But my envy was appeased when my own choice arrived: tagine of slow-braised lamb shank (£19.50). Whereas Michelle’s tagine had a sweet flavour, this was defintiely savoury, with a well-seasoned tomato-based sauce.  The portion was very generous (as were all the tagines) and I loved the texture that the plentiful almonds mixed into the chickpea sauce imparted. Neither Michelle nor I could finish our tagines and the staff were happy to pack the leftovers into doggy bags for us to take home. If you have had starters, I would recommend getting a tagine and some couscous between two people.  With our tagines, we had side orders of plain couscous which was bog standard and unexciting; plus some deep-fried cauliflower which sounded a lot more exciting than it was (i.e. limp by the time it got to our table), but it is the only non-starch side dish on offer.
Mamounia Lounge tagines 1 © J Horak-Druiff 2012
Mamounia Lounge tagines 2 © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

Mamounia Lounge lamb shank tagine © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

No middle-Eastern meal would be complete without something sweet, so our final stop on the menu was the dessert section which comprises a number of fruit platters and traditional middle-Eastern desserts, plus a token chocolate fondant. The thing that really struck me about the dessert menu though was the prices: £9 for a platter of watermelon; £9.50 for a chocolate fondant pudding with ice-cream; and an eye-watering £16.00 for a platter of passionfruit.  Frisky.  Margot chose the fig tart with cinnamon ice-cream (£7.50 – not pictured) which was good with a buttery pastry case and a generous amount of fresh fig filling, but the delicious cinnamon ice-cream definitely stole the show. Sarah went with the chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream (£9.50) which was a perfectly pleasant, average-sized chocolate fondant, but most certanly not worth £9.50. Michelle’s platter of passion fruit (£16) did what it said on the tin – 8 passion fruit halved and served topped with a berry each.  But the price….!  Just eye-watering, considering all the kitchen had to do was slice the fruits open and plate them.  The best deal seemed to be my choice:  the selection of baklava (£7.50).  Comprising 6 different types of pastry and 8 individual pieces, this was also enough to share between 2 people.  All the pastries were fresh and crisp, and the large one in the centre stuffed with candied hazelnuts was particularly more-ish – definitely the winner among the desserts.  And of course, all good middle-Eastern meals should finish with some Moroccan tea (£3 per person), poured expertly from a great height into little glasses, scenting the air with the aroma of fresh mint leaves.

 

Mamounia Lounge chocolate fondant © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

Mamounia Lounge baklavas © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

Mamounia Lounge passion fruit © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

Mamounia Lounge tea diptych © J Horak-Druiff 2012

Mamounia Lounge teapot © J Horak-Druiff 2012
My overall impressions?  I really liked the space itself: a lot of attention has been paid to the decor and it looks exotic without resorting to pastiche.  It also feels like the kind of place where you can while away the hours, watching the shisha smokers on the terrace and the passing parade on the pavement, while sipping on your mint tea. A touch that I particularly liked was that as we were leaving, staff were scattering red rose petals on the tables set up for the Saturday evening service, which is a nice touch (there is evidently also belly dancing on a Saturday night!). My food overall was very good, although perhaps some of the other menu choices (the lamb meatball tagine or the chocolate fondant) were less successful.  My main gripe would be the erratic pricing.  Charging more for a small ramekin of indifferentmohammara than for a generous portion of four sambousek pastries makes very little sense.  And although I thought the tagines were big eough for 2 people to share and therefore excellently priced at £19.50 each, the dessert prices are frankly bizarre. I mean, £9.00 for a platter of watermelon, or £16 for a platter of passion fruit which require only slicing; as opposed to £7.50 for a plate of intricate pastries?  Surely they are having a laugh?That said, there was a constant stream of customers walking through the doors when we were there on a Saturday afternoon, either to have a meal or to enjoy the shisha terrace, and the vast majority of them were middle-Eastern.  To me, it’s always a good sign if an ethnic restaurant is patronised by people familiar with the cuisine it purports to serve – so according to that measure, Mamounia surely is doing something right.  I am certain that it is possible to find both more authentic and/or cheaper middle-Eastern food in London, but if you are in the area and need a plush place to sit down and chat over a plate of mezze or a tagine, Mamounia Lounge is certainly worth a visit and can be quite affordable if you choose circumspectly from the menu.Mamounia Lounge light © J Horak-Druiff 2012Mamounia Lounge bar © J Horak-Druiff 2012

Mamounia Lounge rose petals © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

Liked: the decor/ambience, the generous tagine portions, the mezze
Disliked:  the somewhat indifferent service, the hilariusly overpriced desserts
On a scale of 1 to 10:  6.5

For other perspectives on this meal, please check out:

  • Sarah’s review
  • Margot’s review
  • Michelle’s review (to follow)

 

DISCLOSURE:  I enjoyed this complimentary meal as a guest of Mamounia Lounge but was not paid to write this review and all my opinions are my own.

 

MAMOUNIA LOUNGE 136 Brompton Road Knightsbridge London SW3 1HY

Tel: +44 (0)207 581 7777 Fax: +44 (0)207 581 5777

 

And in other news…

My latest article to appear in Crush Magazine (p34-35) is all about visiting the Vaucluse region of Provence – have a look at the gorgeous layout of my words and pictures that they have produced!

 Crush Vaucluse article 1

 

 

SidebarIrelandAlso – this week we mark another milestone in our Plate to Page story. We’ve been working on our sparkly new website behind the scenes and putting together a brand new workshop for 2013. We’ve worked hard and there were many frustrations, highs and lows but in the end we rocked it. The Plate to Page website is looking hot – isn’t it?

We’re absolutely thrilled about our fourth workshop taking place in May 2013 in Dublin, Ireland. Mark those calendars! From 10th – 13th May 2013 we’re taking the From Plate to Page workshop to the beautiful rolling green hills of County Meath, Ireland. You’ll find all the details to the workshop in our Ireland announcement page. And if you’re wondering whether the workshop is right for you, just read what our past participants have said about our workshops!

More deliciousness for you!

  • Chicken, roasted butternut and feta lasagneChicken, roasted butternut and feta lasagne
  • Review of Pho (Spitalfields) Review of Pho (Spitalfields)
  • Warning! Tearful acceptance speech ahead!
  • Beef, broccoli and udon noodle stir fry from “The Japanese Larder” by Luiz HaraBeef, broccoli and udon noodle stir fry from “The Japanese Larder” by Luiz Hara

Never miss a Cooksister post

If you enjoyed this post, enter your e-mail address here to receive a FREE e-mail update when a new post appears on Cooksister

I love comments almost as much as I love cheese - so if you can't leave me any cheese, please leave me a comment instead!

« Saturday Snapshots #217
Chicken and chanterelle mushroom fricassee »

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Sarah, Maison Cupcake says

    November 26, 2012 at 5:13 pm

    Very apt… the pricing was all over the place. I did enjoy my passion champagne cocktail very much though…

    Reply
  2. Margot @ Coffee and Vanilla says

    November 26, 2012 at 5:14 pm

    I’m glad to see I wasn’t the only one obsessed with the lighting! Amazing photos, as always 🙂

    Reply
  3. Kit says

    November 26, 2012 at 5:15 pm

    Eye-watering prices looking at them from over here – I’m going out to water my grenadilla plants right now! It’s always good to hear what’s going on in the London restaurant scene tho and savour it vicariously.
    When I lived in London I remember thinking the only reason to go through Harrods was as a shortcut to get to Rigby and Peller – quicker nipping through the food hall than dodging the tourists outside. Now I’d probably be one of those tourists myself, albeit still on the way to Rigby and Peller!!

    Reply
  4. Firefly says

    November 26, 2012 at 5:15 pm

    The portions look a lot bigger than most of these type of restaurants and I love the presentation. Just a little pricy me thinks

    Reply
  5. Ivy says

    November 26, 2012 at 5:19 pm

    I love your passion and dedication to African food. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Never miss a Cooksister post!

Get my latest recipes delivered by e-mail!

Search over 500 recipes

Recently on Cooksister

  • Masalchi by Atul Kochhar – Indian street food in Wembley
  • Barbecued salmon with blood oranges and capers
  • Roasted Brussels sprouts with feta, pomegranate and pine nuts [GF, V]
  • Love Yourself healthy meal delivery [Review]
  • Antillean
  • Festive roast lamb with pomegranate glaze
  • Rustic blood orange and pistachio galettes
  • Cauliflower steak Welsh rarebit

Archives by month

Archives by category

Popular posts

Oxtail and red wine potjie
Peppermint Crisp fridge tart - a South African treat
Nigella's Bakewell slices & the Big Bakewell Taste-off
Char-grilled asparagus, courgette and haloumi salad - I'm in love!
Gem squash 101: how to find them, how to grow them, how to eat them!
Roosterkoek - a South African braai essential

Featured on

Also available on

🌷🌷🌷 It’s tulip season in London! Every 🌷🌷🌷 It’s tulip season in London!

Everywhere you look, these long-legged floral supermodels are adding a splash of colour to parks and gardens and I just can’t get enough of them! It’s easy to see how they inspired a collective buying frenzy in 17th Century Holland, called “tulip fever”, but today there are less dramatic ways to enjoy them. Here are a couple of suggestions of where to see them at their best:

🌷 The ultimate tulipalooza is the annual opening of Keukenhof gardens outside Amsterdam where 7 million (!) bulbs burst into life each Spring. This year the gardens are open 24 March-15 May (click on the link in my bio for FAQs and my top tips for visitors)

🌷In London, Kew Gardens always has spectacular displays of tulips; but you can also see excellent and free tulips in most of the Royal Parks such as Regents Park. 

🌷The Hampton Court Palace tulip festival is on until 2 May and the Hever  Castle’s Tulip Celebrations until 24 April - both within easy reach of London.

🌷The Morges Fete de la Tulipe in Switzerland takes place every year against the spectacular backdrop of Lake Geneva - it is on until 8 May this year.

I spotted these spectacular red frilly parrot tulips beside St Paul’s Cathedral yesterday 🌹 Where is the best display of tulips that you have ever seen?
MASALCHI BY ATUL KOCHHAR - pan-Indian street food MASALCHI BY ATUL KOCHHAR - pan-Indian street food restaurant in Wembley

Remember to save this post so you can find it later! 🔖

[Invited] If you thought Brick Lane and chicken tikka masala or madras were all there is to know about the food of the Indian subcontinent, think again! In the shadow of the Wembley arch,  @chefatulkochhar has opened his first casual dining restaurant,  showcasing the rustic, spicy, diverse street foods of India. 

Highlights when I visited included:
1. Carrot halwa
2. Papdi chaat
3. Chicken 65
4. Tandoori broccoli
5. Smoky aubergine chokha
6. A snap of all our mains - you can read all about these and more in the full review on my blog - click the link in my bio or go to:
 https://www.cooksister.com/2022/04/masalchi-atul-kochhar-indian-wembley.html

What is your favourite dish from the Indian subcontinent? Let me know in the comments 🌶🌶🌶
🍒🌸 It’s cherry blossom season! 🍒🌸 T 🍒🌸 It’s cherry blossom season! 🍒🌸

There is no season in London that I love more than cherry blossom season! From March through to April, trees in various parks and gardens in London put on an amazing display of delicate pink and white blossoms - and everything in the city seems a little more magical. This particular tree near St Pauls must be among London’s most photographed, and it’s not hard to see why 💕

Did you know that...

🌸cherry blossoms are Japan’s national flower and are known as Sakura 

🌸In 1910, Japan sent the USA some cherry trees as a goodwill gesture… and the Dept of Agriculture inspectors nearly caused an international incident by burning them as they were carrying insects and diseases! But in 1915 Japan sent more cherry trees that survived the inspectors, and these marked the start of cherry trees in the USA.

🌸 Peak blossom season is usually only two to three weeks in March/April but is hard to predict as the weather and the subspecies of tree influence the timing.

🌸The cherry blossom capital of the  world is Macon, Georgia with 300,000 - 350,000 Yoshino cherry blossom trees.

🌸 There are over 200 different varieties of cherry blossom and some are purely ornamental (meaning they produce no cherries)

Where is your favourite place to see cherry blossoms in London or around the world? Let me know in the comments and happy blossom hunting! 🌸🍒🌸

#pinkpinkpink
Dyed Gwyl Dewi Hapus - that's Happy St David's Day Dyed Gwyl Dewi Hapus - that's Happy St David's Day to those of you who don't speak Welsh! 

1 March is the Welsh national day  and what better way to celebrate than surrounded by daffodils -  the Welsh national flower!

Did you know that:
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 The English name "Wales" comes from the Anglo-Saxon word meaning "foreigner" - but the country's Welsh name "Cymru" means "friends" in Welsh.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 The  Welsh language Cymraeg is the oldest language in Britain, at about 4,000 years old!

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 There are more castles per square mile in Wales than any other European country.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Mount Everest is named after George Everest, the Welsh surveyor who first mapped the peak on western maps.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 The beautiful Menai bridge (spanning the Menai Strait between the Isle of Anglesey and mainland Wales) was the first suspension bridge in the world.

Have you ever visited Wales? What did you like most about it?
*NEW RECIPE* Barbecued salmon with blood oranges, *NEW RECIPE* Barbecued salmon with blood oranges, capers and dill. Pretty in pink 💕

[AD] Blood oranges are a small obsession of mine - from blood orange posset to blood orange and halloumi salad to blood orange & Cointreau upside down cake, I am always looking for new ways to make the most of their short season. Barbecuing them with salmon, capers and dill is a perfect match in terms of flavour as well as colour (or you can oven bake the salmon if it's not barbecue weather where you are!)

When @grahambeckuk asked me to suggest some recipes to match their wonderful Graham Beck Brut Rosé NV sparkling wine from South Africa, this was a pairing made in heaven, and wonderfully colour co-ordinated with their silver-pink bubbly. Get the full recipe and find out more about Graham Beck's sparkling wines, made using the same methods as Champagne, on my blog - link in my bio above. 

What do you like to do with blood oranges? I'd love to hear in the comments!
💘"Love yourself first and everything falls into 💘"Love yourself first and everything falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world." - Lucille Ball

Whether you are celebrating with a partner, with friends, or by yourself today, I hope most of all that you love yourself, love your body, love your strengths, love your weaknesses, and love who you are (or are becoming). Because... you're worth it!

Are you doing anything celebratory today? Let me know in the comments 💘💘💘

(The beautiful street art is London Hearts by @akajimmyc)
📸: @girl_travelsworld
Would you believe me if I told you this is NOT a p Would you believe me if I told you this is NOT a picture of a Moorish palace, a castle or a cathedral? And that you can get to it from central London in under an hour?

This is Crossness Pumping Station @crossnesset , a Grade I listed heritage site and one of London's last remaining magnificent Victorian sewage (!) pumping stations in Abbey Wood near Rainham. 

Did you know that...

💩 You can visit the building on monthly open days - the next one is Sun 20 Feb. Book at www.crossness.org.uk

💩  It was only in 1856, after 3 major cholera outbreaks in 30 years and the Big Stink when the stench of London's sewage finally reached Parliament, that construction of an intercepting sewer system for the city was approved.  The system (parts of which are still in use today) was designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette, Chief Engineer of London's Board of Metropolitan Works at the time.

💩  At Crossness, all London's sewage from south of the river was was raised by 9-12 metres to large reservoirs so that gravity would cause it to flow further east and into the Thames estuary. (Yes, until the 1880s, raw sewage was simply pumped into the Thames!)

💩 The incoming liquid was raised by the four enormous steam driven pumps, built to Joseph Bazalgette's design. The pumps were named Victoria, Prince Consort, Albert Edward, and Alexandra. They are thought to be the largest remaining rotative beam engines in the world, with 52-ton flywheels and 47-ton beams. 

💩 The pumping station was decommissioned and abandoned in the 1950s but declared a listed building in 1970.  Although all 4 beam engines remain in place, they were so damaged that today (thanks to the efforts of the Crossness Engines Trust) only Prince Consort has been restored to working condition and can be seen in action on open days.

💩 The exuberant and colourful wrought ironwork inside is the amazing work of architect Charles Henry Driver. My favourite detail is the fact that the pillars in the central atrium are topped with stylised figs and senna pods... two of nature's greatest natural laxatives 🤣
*NEW RECIPE* Roasted Brussels sprouts with feta ch *NEW RECIPE* Roasted Brussels sprouts with feta cheese, pomegranate and pine nuts

Ever noticed how you are affected by colours? 🌈

Maybe some colours make you agitated and some make you relaxed. Or maybe you find yourself inexplicably attracted to a particular colour (oh, hi teal and aqua!💙). On the basis that all colours have a wavelength, and that those outside the visible spectrum can affect us, it makes sense that the colours we see can affect our mood or even our physiology. Did you know for instance that exposure to red light can increase your blood pressure and heart rate? Are there any colours that you find yourself particularly attracted to or affected by?

The pretty colours of these roasted Brussels sprouts with feta cheese, pomegranate and pine nuts will be the first things that attract you to this dish - but it is the delicious combination of flavours and textures that will keep you coming back for more!

The recipe (and more about how colour affects us mentally and physically) is now live on my blog - click the live link in my profile and remember to like and bookmark this post to see more Cooksister in your Instagram feed ❤️
Perspective: a particular attitude towards or way Perspective: a particular attitude towards or way of regarding something.

Perspective is the one thing that the Covid-19 pandemic has given us plenty of. It has certainly made us re-evaluate what is truly important, and also what we did and didn't enjoy about our lives  before the pandemic and its associated lockdowns. It made me appreciate how much happiness my house, my job, my friends, my own company and my running bring to my life (and how fortunate I am to have all these things). But it also brought home how much I enjoy and miss travel, the theatre, and the luxury of reataurant visits at the drop of a hat. I don't think words can describe my joy at sipping the first coffee purchased from a coffee shop in summer 2020 as lockdown eased. It's the little things...

One of the things I have enjoyed and will not miss as the world creeps back to normality is the absence of crowds in what is usually a crowded city. On the occasions that I have been in central London since the start of the pandemic, streets have been blissfully empty and it has felt as if I were discovering my city anew. This glorious perspective (hah!) of St Paul's Cathedral normally requires a long wait while a queue of tourists and "influencers" ahead of you pose for photos - but on this glorious day last Spring it was almost deserted. I will miss that...

Is there anything you will miss as Covid-19 restrictions start to be lifted?
Load More... Follow me on Instagram

Follow Jeanne Horak-Druiff's board Recipes by Cooksister on Pinterest.

Cooksister

The South African Food and Wine Blog Directory

The South African Food and Wine Blog Directory

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Jeanne Horak is a freelance food and travel writer; recipe developer and photographer. South African by birth and Londoner by choice, Jeanne has been writing about food and travel on Cooksister since 2004. She is a popular speaker on food photography and writing has also contributed articles, recipes and photos to a number of online and print publications. Jeanne has also worked with a number of destination marketers to promote their city or region. Please get in touch to work with her Read More…

Latest Recipes

Salmon with blood oranges dill and capers
Brussels sprouts with feta and pomegranate
Roast lamb with pomegranate glaze
Blood orange & pistachio galettes
Cauliflower topped steak with melted cheese
Plate of potted smoked salmon with slaw and a glass of champagne
bowls of pistachio pomegranate bircher muesli
Brussels sprouts with chorizo & hazelnuts

SITEMAP

Home

Contact

About me

Recipe Index

Restaurant Index

Copyright & Disclaimer

Cookies & privacy policy




blog counter

© 2004 - 2022 · Jeanne Horak unless otherwise stated - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. You may not reproduce any text, excerpts or images without my prior permission. Site by RTW Labs

Copyright © 2022 · Cooksister on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Cooksister cookie consent
We use cookies to ensure you receive the best experience on our site. If you continue to use this site, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions. Accept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT