Arts & travel

There are lots of places in London that are used to kids, and lots that prefer you not to venture in with noisy under 7s! I have been testing the waters a little more now my kids are getting a bit older and more used to eating out in different types of restaurants. I regularly choose to eat in Spanish places in London. One of my favourites is Tapas Brindisa in Borough Market. The Brindisa shop is just a few steps away, and this is where I stock up on Arbequina Extra Virgin olive oil and chorizo and may be some delicious Ortiz tuna. Tapas Brindisa is a reliable choice for fresh, authentic Spanish tapas, using ingredients sourced from the Brindisa storecupboard and UK producers including some of the Borough Market food specialists. When I visited last week with my 4 year old, we chose a large selection of hams, which included Serrano, Recebo and Carved Iberico de Bellota, my favourite. We also tried the traditional tortilla. A fine looking vanilla ice cream was served up for pudding and my little companion was delighted. Had we wanted to be a bit more adventurous there were lots more enticing hot dishes I would have liked to have tried including pork belly and quince and prawns al ajillo. I will be making a trip back soon, probably with the whole family. Brindisa currently has 4 restaurants in London including Casa Brindisa, South Kensington, pictured above, and the very centrally located Tierra Brindisa in Broadwick Street. www.brindisa.com

An elegant place to stay in the city

The UK is well loved for its bed and breakfast accommodation. My experience of this type of place to stay has been really lovely, but I would normally only expect to find a superb b&b in the countryside. As I am always being asked where the good b&bs are in London I decided to identify one that I would choose to stay in, and this is it! Tucked away in the residential area of Islington, this is a handsome house with a stunning antique filled interior. It’s a perfect stopover for a night or two and the location is far enough away from central London to give you an experience of London life, with plenty of interesting shops and boutiques and places to eat within walking distance….and it’s easy to travel to and from by public transport (tube and bus) should you want to visit sites and museums in the centre. Lovely garden, should you visit in Spring/Summer. Book ahead as there are just two rooms…for more pictures and prices, visit www.arlingtonavenue.co.uk

Paris Retrospective

The eternally elegant, always turbaned Madame Grès, is truly one of the great masters of Couture.  Her designs are carved like sculpture.  In fact, she wanted to  be a sculptor, and she constantly said, throughout her long and productive life (1903-1993) that “working with fabric or stone is the same thing.” She was born Germaine Krebs, and fashioned herself Madame Grès, a woman whose sense of purity, simplicity and  timelessness, is still an inspiration for couturiers and designers today. Madame Grès, Couture at Work, is the first Paris retrospective of this grande dame of style.  More than eighty of her luxurious designs, along with original photos and drawings are on display at the Musée Bourdelle www.bourdelle.paris.fr. Her creativity and  figure-moulding drapery, plus her choice of superb fabrics are uncompromising.  For fashion and social history enthusiasts, this exhibition is a must. 25 March-24 July 2011.  The Museum is closed on Mondays.

Galliera hors les murs au musée Bourdelle Madame Grès, la couture à l’œuvre, 25 mars – 24 juillet 2011. Photo: Grès, Robe du soir, vers 1947. Fourreau à dos nu triangulaire. Jersey de soie noir. © Stéphane Piera / Galliera / Roger-Viollet.