Culinary Perfection: Café Des Amis

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Restaurant review of Café Des Amis

This week I had the joy of spending the evening in one of London’s top French restaurants: Café Des Amis. Situated in the heart of London (Covent Garden), the classically French restaurant delivered modern style, elegance as well as sublime flavours throughout.

The atmosphere in the restaurant was busy yet not crowded – just a comforting social buzz as soft background music permeated through the restaurant. Our waiter was outstandingly attentive with our glasses constantly refilled and our meals arriving in record time.

 The restaurant presented an extensively delectable menu which made my decision near impossible with so many temptations on offer. However in the end I chose “wild mushroom risotto, rocket, truffle oil” (£9.00). This turned out to be a wonderfully light risotto – delicately balancing the pepperiness of the fresh rocket with the abundant wild mushrooms – superb!

For my main I had “roast rump of lamb, buttered green beans, fondant potato, lamb jus” (£24.50). This divine dish was certainly the star of my meal. As the meaty aroma wafted itself in my direction I knew the dish would be good but didn’t realise it would be excellent until my first mouthful. Wow! The lamb was cooked to utter perfection – wonderfully tender with a gorgeously subtle rosemary undertone as it was soaked in the gentle jus. The aldente green beans, although simple, were glorious and added a good dash of texture to the dish. These complimented well with the fondant potato – another element cooked to perfection – wonderfully buttery yet still firm – an elegant compliment to this refined dish.

For my desert I had “Crêpe des Amis, chocolate sauce, vanilla ice cream” (£7.50). The crêpe was perhaps a little thicker than I was expecting but was none the less gorgeous with a wonderful crisp edge to offset its slightly thicker texture. This was a sublime combination as it was accompanied by fresh strawberries and dark chocolate sauce. My mouth is honestly watering just thinking about this meal, let alone when I was actually enjoying it.

Overall, a wonderful night out and I’m sure I will be returning soon to delight my taste buds again at this luxuriously fabulous French restaurant –délicieux!

Pictures: http://www.cafedesamis.co.uk/ + Own editing on Paint; Own taken in restaurant (11-14 Hanover Place, (off Long Acre), Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9JP ) 

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A Royally Unforgettable Performance - Coldplay!

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Review of Coldplay at the Royal Albert Hall, London

This week I had the immense pleasure of going to see Coldplay perform live at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Tickets sold out in a matter of minutes for the two exclusive gigs as Chris Martin emphasises they’re not doing the whole “world-wide-tour-thing” for this album – just a few ‘here and there’.

I’m a massive Coldplay fan and have previously loved their shows at the Emirates Stadium and at the O2 Arena. However, in this prestigious, more intimate venue, the band really came alive and indeed felt more personal than in the other venues I’ve seen them perform. After his recent seperation from Gwyneth Paltrow, their latest album, ‘Ghost Stories’, is a lot softer/gentler than their most recent previous albums such as ‘Viva La Vida’ or ‘Mylo Xyloto’. This meant their performance was more interlaced with many slower songs rather than their standard slower section.

However, the party got into full swing by their supporting act, AlunaGeorge, famous for their hit 'Attracting Flies'. What a way to start the show! They got everyone on their feet – clapping and cheering to the music – especially when they performed theirs and Disclosure’s Brit nominated hit single ‘White Noise’. They expressed such a strong, party, feel-good vibe that pumped us all full of energy and euphoria – an excellent performance.

 

Then of course Coldplay stormed onto the stage – absolutely owning it as they performed in-the-round meaning everyone got a fantastic view and made the most of this grand arena. Blinding us with lasers, canons of confetti and wonderful light displays, including full use of the diffuser discs on the ceiling of the hall as projections of coloured smoke exploded above the crowd making the gig a true beauty and party to watch.

They started off the show with ‘Always in My Head’, which led into the more upbeat ‘Charlie Brown’ and ‘Paradise’ . These immediate hits made the crowd feel electric, all of us chanting together with the band who performed under ‘A Sky Full of Stars’ – suspended above them were illuminated stars hung from wires over the stage to truly enhance the softness of the gig and then to liven it up as they flashed to the beat.

They played songs from across their 6 albums – from ‘Clocks’ (one of my all time favourites, particularly live); ‘Til Kingdom Come’; ‘The Scientist’; ‘Every Tear Drop is a Waterfall’. To perhaps my favourite of the night – ‘Viva La Vida’ where Chris and Will moved to a smaller stage to the delight of many thrilled fans (myself included). This number was truly incredible – everyone roaring in unison, hands swaying, fists pumping in a euphoric cloud of true pleasure as their wonderful music washed over the pulsating arena – just outstanding!

Yet even more emotional was perhaps ‘True Love’ where you could have shed a tear for Chris as he softly belts out the heart breaking lyrics “Tell me you love me, if you don’t then lie oh lie to me”. I wasn’t at all surprised his famous love song to Gwyneth Paltrow, ‘Yellow’ wasn’t played after this moving performance. However, in their (what now seems tradition) encore they did bring the party back to full blast with ‘A Sky Full of Stars’ and finished on their absolute classic ‘Fix You’.

Overall, despite a slightly toned down gig this time, the guys are still true performers and are just a pleasure to watch, especially with Chris shouting down the mike they have “the best fans in the world” and thank us for “giving up our Tuesday night to go see them perform” – ever humble despite their roaring success makes the band even better. This was probably my favourite time seeing them live as they delivered the best of both sides of Coldplay – equally gentle and equally festival, not least helped by such a cracking venue – just magical! 

 Pictures: http://life.royalalberthall.com/2014/07/02/coldplay-make-their-long-awaited-return-to-the-hall/

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Transfixing Theatre at its Best - 'The Crucible'

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Review of 'The Crucible'

 

SPOILER ALERT!

 

Written by Arthur Miller in 1953, “The Crucible” depicts the 1692 and 1693 Salem witch trials that took place in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, America. The brutal play unravels through town hysteria and paranormal activity as the events of the witch trials put innocent women through perils and intense hardship at these suspicious and terrifying times. Richard Armitage (“Spooks”, “Robin Hood”) played the principal of John Proctor, joined by the equally talented Anna Madeley (Elizabeth Proctor), Adrian Schiller (Reverend John Hale) and Samantha Colley (Abigail Williams). The play runs until 13^th September 2014 at the Old Vic Theatre, London with a running time of 3hrs 30mins (including a 20 minute interval).

 

What an intensely, satisfying, dynamic show! Incredible performances all round make the seemingly long play not long enough! As the intimate setting of the Old Vic Theatre presented the play in the round, the piece felt literally surrounded (as I’m sure its characters did) and conveyed a shocking depiction of Arthur Miller’s infamous classic. The setting itself was minimalistic which I often prefer as it gives actors more freedom and allowed our imaginations to run riot in this powerful portrayal.

As we encountered the town disputes that led up to the trials, all actors performed incredibly – all were dynamically detailed and thought provoking. Particularly, the performances from Adrian Schiller who played Reverend John Hale and Anna Madeley who played Elizabeth Proctor. Schiller delivered a wonderfully developed performance as his character emerged as a dominant authority in deciding whether witchcraft had indeed entered Salem to becoming a dishevelled, broken man, pleading for the lives of those he’d allowed to be condemned. He enabled us to truly empathise with the weight of his character's earlier decisions to then sharing his grief and misery of what he had unleashed – just stunning. Madeley must also be mentioned as she portrayed the rightfully bitter Elizabeth Proctor outstandingly as she enveloped you in a wonderfully tense atmosphere as she resents her husband’s actions yet also conveyed the underlying love of the couple. This chemistry most clearly portrayed at the climax of the play when her love was sentenced to hang for his uncommitted crimes indeed moved me to tears as they uttered their final farewell in the madness of the play’s events.

I felt all the other actors also portrayed their parts admirably with similar depth to that of Madeley and Schiller. However, I felt Samantha Colley who played Abigail Williams had perhaps not quite understood her character as thoroughly as the rest of the cast. Of course she was strong, confident and out-spoken as this is what the character of Abigail entails yet she seemed to lack the subtlety that can make an actor go from being ‘great’ to ‘inspirational’. I felt on a few occasions she could have embellished her character more by whispering to the Judge or Proctor rather than brashly shouting every one of her lines. However, I realise I’m being quite picky here as for the most part she did the role justice. One element of hers and indeed the other girls, who dominantly steered the accusations, that cannot be overstated was the overwhelming hatefulness they portrayed yet almost an underlying awe as they contorted their bodies in abnormal ways in fits of possession, hysteria and enchantment as they pretended to be controlled by witchcraft in order to wreak revenge on their enemies. Most shocking of all was Marama Corlett who played Betty Parris, Reverend Parris’ sick daughter who began the rumours of witchcraft throughout Salem as she contorted herself into strenuously unnatural positions – contorting her back into an arch for over 10 minutes, holding it there like a statue with her arms splayed against the blood stained bed whilst the action continued around her – culminating in an overwhelmingly eerie and discomforting performance – just exquisite!

However, the true star of the show had to be Richard Armitage. He played John Proctor to absolute perfection – showing how guilt can truly corrupt a good man into madness by his own actions (or those of his mistress!). From the outset he portrayed the booming John Proctor first with authority then into bleakness as he perfectly expressed the broken, uncomfortable marriage he had been left with and the pain this caused him. Truly owning the stage as he demonstrated the lustful outrage of Miller’s character in a fury so violent I was pleased I was sitting on the balcony above – far from his reach.  The anguish he expressed – often without even needing movement – was astonishingly satisfying: just the flick of his head, the change in his tone was enough to draw all eyes to him and him alone. Wonderfully balancing subtlety with a true satisfyingly brash interpretation, Armitage interpreted the character faultlessly – it was truly mesmerising. All this culminated in the final scene, where his initially soft and tender farewell to Elizabeth developed to a finale in fire and anguish as he tore up the stage at the Old Vic in his electrifying end monologue. All eyes were glued; I’m sure, to his delightfully enthralling, transfixing, clever performance of this innocent, dishevelled man.

Overall: 5 Stars.

 

An intensely electrifying production of "The Crucible". Powerfully emotive – enough to move one to tears – emanating to a truly fantastic portrayal. I highly recommend and am only disappointed I cannot see it again. Wonderful!

 

 

Picture: http://www.oldvictheatre.com/whats-on/2014/the-crucible/

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