3 things, take them with you – regale, delight and enthrall!

Where have I been lately?  Well I went to La Gavroche (thank you so, so much Mr!) – totally amazing and a new contender for my best restaurant in the UK (world actually), also went to Corrigans in Mayfair and had a schnitzel off a food stall on Portobello market, see how versatile I am?  I will be in so much in trouble for that! (sorry mum and all my teachers)  Oh and a couple of restaurants that I went to with some friends that were ok but not worth a mention.

Do you remember me enthusing about the foodie market that happened in Plymouth once a year?  Well, they happen every week here in London.  Yes!!  Ive been to Pimlico market and Borough Market and all manner of fab deli’s. If ever there was an opportunity to be greedy, it is here.  Off to the gym then. x

London Escorts SW1

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I went to the Saachi gallery in Chelsea and I know its ever so fashionable to be into modern art, and although I found it interesting, would I have any of those pieces in my home?, probably not.  As I say though, very interesting.  I was with a few gals and so didnt get a chance to really examine everything as long as I would like (they spotted a cake shop :) but then again I think someone once said that art has to touch you, if not then the piece is not for you.  Modern art though strikes me as being a bit different.  Sublminal messages if you like.  I did some deconstruction of film when I was at uni and it reminded me of that.

I also went on a London ghost tour. Whooooooooo.   Oh yes, I love anything like that, gory, gory, gory.  Dont worry though, I dont have gory tendancies towards you young man, just step into my lair, thats it… hahaha

Anyway, it was as mad as you like, this tour.  They had actors who were meant to give atmosphere to the thing but it was like being sat next to the nutter on the bus, you know the one and he always chooses you.  A really funny time though :)

And then I went to Nobu – I told you I was busy didnt I?  You know Nobu, that top Japanese restaurant on Park Lane that all the celebs go to (Victoria Beckham’s favourite, I hear).  We didnt see any celebs but we did spend a very pleasant afternoon munching through 7 courses – they were tiny, honest!!

It looks like another busy week for me chaps, I may have a teeny space in my diary over the weekend, failing that it will be 9 or 17 March. See you soon?

PS   Spring is coming, I can feel it!

Westminster Escort

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But no, now there is a 12.5% service charge slapped on the bill automatically. Can you imagine going to see a ‘lady’ and her saying ‘Oh that will be an extra 12.5% because I opened the door and let you in’?  Ive seen worse though.  When I was in California for a few months, you could not get a second drink in a bar unless you gave a dollar tip – every single time you had a drink.  Every time, regardless of whether the service was poor, mediocre or diabolical.  They totally ignored you without the flash of a greenback but if they did deign to glance in your direction, the look they gave, honestly, turn a hot chick to stone it would.   Madness.

Mature Escort

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Do you remember, they were really popular when I was in Devon?  Well, I have managed to source some Cornish lobsters and get them sent to me in London under ice.  How fab is that?

Oh, I am really pleased to be able to put that back on as a date,  so do you fancy it?   Lobster and a little something sparkly, followed by a little something extra-saucy? ;)

I can also offer a super-duper luxury lobster lunch or dinner with a rather fine Dom Perignon 1999 Vintage Champagne.  A totally outstanding year, that’s if you are in a celebratory mood of course :)

Please go here for full details.

Hope to see you very soon x

” I drink it when I am happy, and when I am sad.  Sometimes I drink it when I am alone.  When I have company I consider it obligatory.  I trifle with it if I am not hungry, and drink it when I am.  Otherwise I never touch it – unless I am thirsty‘

- Madame Lily Bollinger, when asked ‘When is the best time to drink Champagne?’

PS Forgot to mention, I am away playing golf in Spain from 18-24 March and only have a few available dates left in March so please get in touch if you would like to see me next month, til then xx

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Now then, the club I refer to is a wine club.  ‘Not before time!’ I hear you shout.  The ever-delightful Mr I, recommended the Sunday Times Wine Club.  I have been a member of a wine club before and I cant remember why I discontinued my membership, perhaps not enough of the sparkly stuff.  Anyway, I decided to join this one and I had my first box delivered today.  It looks good, wine tasting notes included and provenance and regular tastings in London too, that suits me!

As I mentioned before I am very keen to pair the perfect wine with the perfect dish and this might just do the trick.  Its exciting too getting a delivery, a bit like Christmas. I dont aspire to be a wine bore though.  Tell me if I am and I will nip down the ‘offy’ and get you an Asti Spumante tout suite darlin’  :)

Is there such a thing as a champagne club? – takes a minute to check – oh, sadly nothing of note :(   Another business opp though for a budding entrepreneur out there?

I forgot to tell you that I did a little tour (not that kind of tour!) around the champagne region in France last year and very delectable it was too.  I visited my favourite champagne house – Veuve Clicquot – and had a taste of the Grand Dame vintage.  Very different to the normal vintage or the usual champagne that we all know and love and much more expensive, not sure if it is worth it.  I went down into the caves where they process and store the precious stuff, they greeted me like an old friend seeing as I buy so much of it  (only kidding, they should though :)  I didnt bring any back because it was the same price as the UK.

France is glorious in the summer, isnt it?   I love it and feel very much at home there whenever I visit.   Holidays this year extend to golf in Spain so far.  I really want to go to South Africa though  if I can and I am going on the Orient Express too.  Oh I am so excited about that! And then there’s Ascot and Glyndebourne and The Last Night of The Proms.  Its going to be a good year (is that a tyred expression?, ducks for cover, yes I know groan, groan!)

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Back to The Ritz though.  It was nice, the afternoon tea.  If you looked at the components of it, a few sandwiches, some cakes (and we had champagne instead of the tea) it really is nothing you couldnt put together at home.  But the ambience and the ceremony? That I guess is what you pay for, and that is what you get.  I wanted to wear a pretty tea dress but it was too cold.  I’ll be back to The Ritz, that is definite.  I fancy a New Year’s Eve party there.  Hmmm.

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I had the taster menu.  Only 7 courses.  ‘Oh you greedy mare!’ you cry.  Nooooo. These things, these courses are delicate, intricate little creatures – works of art in fact.  You only get a little morsel and then you are done.  I like it like that though. It means I can try lots of tastes.  Fantastic.

So, what I wanted to tell you about was the wines.  Now, you know I only like certain wines dont you?  Usually anything from the Loire Valley in a shade of pale is always going to delight me.  Oh and anything beginning with a C and ending with an E  with a bit of a fizz in between, of course :)

Now I know that certain wines are meant to go with certain foods,  yes, yes, yes of course who doesnt?  I kind of left that behind years ago  though declaring, ‘Well I like what I like and I will drink what I like with what I like!’   ‘And anyway, champagne goes with anything (except fish and chips)  huh!’

But this taster menu, I chose the accompanying wines with it didnt I.  I have never done that before, with a taster menu. But you have to try it dont you?, especially on one’s birthday.   Do you know what?  It was incredible.  The lady Sommelier was amazing.  Each wine (and there were 7!)  was perfect for each course.  Oh I am in awe of them now.  What a skill, to be able to choose the perfect, absolutely perfect accompaniment to any dish.  That is so clever.

These were wines that I would never, ever have chosen.  You cant drink the whole glass full, I couldnt but maybe you can?  All in all a perfect delight and a wonderful drive back with a beautiful star-lit sky.  Yes, a very happy birthday x

Oh and I just received a very special gift from a gent travelling over from France.  A beautiful bottle of wine, perfect with cheese apparently.  Cant wait to try it!

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My escapism though,  for now, is cooking.  I did that cookery course, you know;  the one I told you about, with a top chef and I loved it!  I felt a real sense of peace float over me as I was doing the prep.   No it is not my destiny, being a chef.  I’ll tell you a secret.  I actually once worked in the catering profession, thought it was what I wanted to do and no and it wasnt for me.  Too pressurised.  When you do it for you or for a dinner à deux though, its wonderful.  Everything, from the peeling of the vegetables to the making of the stock.  I love it.  I have started also, to have a practice day of cooking, once a week to perfect the skills.

I also now want to go on a week’s holiday in France for a top notch cookery course, probably in the Loire Valley – uh oh, you say :)

Now then, the only problem with sharing all of  this with you is that if you pop around for dinner you will feel that you have to compliment me on my fine cuisine, well yes you have to do that, of course :)  but also feel free to have some fun too.

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I got into trouble once, in a PC environment in the north for calling someone, a colleague  ‘bird’.  My defence, your honour was that it was a colloquial saying where I come from and therefore I was entitled to say it, so don’t tell me what I can and cannot say.  Sigh.  Don’t you wish you shouldn’t have to explain this stuff – these things that mean no harm to anyone to these PC maniacs?

Anyway, if you are a man and are called that;  bird  that is fine but maid is not (please keep up darling)   Maid is  definitely only for women.   So I was saying;    Oh yes  ‘Look at that maid  traipsing around looking like God knows what!’     Hmm and I thought God knew everything. (nods head unsagely)

Oh anyway, I digress  :) where was I?,  oh yes traipsing around the apartment semi-naked freezing my wotsits off.  Oh no.  You will find a warm and toasty welcome here. Yes indeed.

I don’t know about you but my attention goes to comfort food (yes food again :) when the autumn peeks it’s coppery head around the corner.  And that means….. ahh roast dinners.  Oh my word,  yum. Now, who on this whole planet doesn’t like a well-cooked roast?  No I thought not.  Everyone does.  I actually like cooking them too.  I know they can be time consuming and all that washing up (horray for dishwashers!)  So here is the deal, humour me, pander to my cravings and book a sunday lunchtime appointment and you will get…. eggs on toast.  No just kidding, a roast of course. Chicken, Beef, Lamb, Pork, whatever.  I don’t care.   Just let me,go on let me do it for you!  Or we could always pop out to a nice country pub and eat one there?

Talking of weekends, you will note that I have been away a fair bit lately and not available every weekend, well I am here for the next 3 (sorry, this weekend – 12 Sept – is fully booked though).   But if you want to see me during the other ones and claim your roast, you know what to do ;)…    A Roast and a Romp?  Ooh er Missus!

London Tour Update

Getting excited about my forthcoming London trip.  Very excited.  Apart from the splendiferous hotel I am booked into,  just you wait and see!  I have lots of other things planned too.  Meeting my sexy London chaps of course!,  lunch with the fabulous  Miss Dollymopp,  a party (yes I have been invited to a party! – whoo whoo!  I can’t remember the last time I went to a proper party – sad isn’t it?  hehehe).  Obviously I am going to do a spot of shopping  while I am there, maybe buy some new fancy pants and possibly take in St Paul’s Cathedral.  I haven’t visited there before and I am gradually ticking off all the major sites of London during my tours.

Unfortunately for those wishing to see me in London this month, I am now fully booked for this tour (I have a list though – I love my lists! -  for if you want me to contact you in case of cancellation) but I think I may be back sometime in November, so keep a look out for the dates my lovelies.  I think some new pictures are in order for then too.  The fellas on my VIP list will get first notification of those dates, oh and the pics.  What?  You are not on my VIP list?  And you being a VIP and all?  Scandalous!   Send me an email darling;  rhiacharles@yahoo.co.uk and I will pop you on there, quick as you like.

So roasts and toasts, looks like a splendid September after all! x

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Southwest Escort

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