London, England - Bubbledogs

The line to get in!

First it was Meat Liquor, then it was Burger & Lobster, and now following in this formula of restaurants that offer very few menu items and do not take reservations, thus ensuring achingly long lines, is Bubbledogs. Recently opened Bubbledogs, with it wine bar style interior, only serves two things: grower champagnes and hot dogs. Literally, that’s it. An interesting combination, to say the least.

Whether Bubbledogs, with its catchy name and clever logo, is another flash in the pan restaurant fad or will be around for years remains to be seen. But, at the present moment the lines are out the door at both lunch and dinner.

I went to Bubbledogs this past Wednesday night with ten other American friends. We had originally reserved the Kitchen Table, the only reservable part of the restaurant (picture below), but our reservation somehow didn't make it into their system. While we were disappointed to miss out on the action in the kitchen, the manager bent over backwards to accommodate us and at least secured us two tables next to each other. He kept the champagne flowing and comped our entire bill. Unexpected and highly appreciated. 

Kitchen Table

great logo! 

The menu

What we drank

You have your choice of all beef, all pork or all veggie hot dogs, and then you can decide on any of about twelve "interesting" topping combinations. Here are two of what we tried (everyone else was too hungry to wait for me to photograph their dogs):

Sloppy Joe all beef hot dog with chili, cheese and chopped onions

Fourth of July: all beef hot dog wrapped in bacon with smokey BBQ sauce and coleslaw

Tots

Sweet potato fries, my favorite! 

Final verdict: its great to know I have a place to go in London where I can get champagne and hot dogs, but let's be honest, I'm not sure how often that craving will strike. Both the champers and the hot dogs were high quality and delicious, and it was a fun experience, but given the long lines and limited menu, its not a place that will make my roster of go-to spots. 

Call me nostalgic, but I prefer the simplicity of a hot dog with char-grill marks topped with Heinz ketchup, mustard, and relish from someone's backyard barbecue. 

Here's our group of American ex pats, minus me, the photographer

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London, England - Hakkasan Mayfair

© 2012 Karim Merie Creative Visual Services

© 2012 Karim Merie Creative Visual Services

© 2012 Karim Merie Creative Visual Services

© 2012 Karim Merie Creative Visual Services

© 2012 Karim Merie Creative Visual Services

Sometimes there is no better recipe for a Saturday night in London than putting on a slinky dress and slithering into the glamorous dim-lit Asian den of seduction that is Hakkasan Mayfair. The people are beautiful, the vibe is electric and the in-house DJ spins sexy beats as a backdrop to the Cantonese specialities that entertain your palette. Is that a celebrity lurking in the shadows? Maybe. But I'm too busy concentrating on dim sum, crispy Peking duck and sizzling claypots. There are explosions of flavor going on here. Good thing the lighting is so dim, that slinky dress is fitting more snugly on the way out. 

Soft shell crab in a haystack of crunchiness 

Stir-fry black pepper vegetarian chicken with sugar snap

Crispy duck rolls

Sanpei chicken claypot with sweet basil, chilli and spring onion

Vegetable fried rice

Tofu, aubergine and Japanese mushroom claypot with home made tofu,
chilli and black bean sauce

Spicy venison stir-fry with eryngii mushroom, baby leek and dried chilli

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Paris, France - Van Cleef & Arpels Exhibit

I was in Paris earlier this month and could not resist a visit to the Musee des Arts Decoratifs for the Van Cleef & Arpels: L’art de la haute joaillerie exhibit. It is a bit cliché to submit to the fact that all girls love sparkly things (albeit true!), but the astounding craftsmanship that went into each and every single one of the pieces on show at the museum was just mind-numbing.

The history of Van Cleef & Arpels began in 1895 with a love story, when Estelle Arpels, the daughter of a precious stone merchant, married Alfred Van Cleef, the son of a lapidary and diamond broker.

In 1906, their passion for jewelry and spirit of enterprise inspired them to open a boutique at 22 place Vendôme in Paris.

Worn by Liz Taylor

The Alhambra necklace is still as popular today (if not more so) as it was forty years ago: 

My necklace!

The way the show was curated was just phenomenal; the pieces were hung in such a way so that they appeared to be floating in mid air.

The show will continue until February 10, 2013, so if a trip to Paris is in your future, make sure to set a morning or afternoon aside for a visit.

Its just a quick walk around the corner from the Musee des Arts Decoratifs to the famous courtyard of the Louvre:

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London, England - Dukes Bar = Best Martini in London

Dukes Hotel 

Alessandro Palazzi, head bartender, has been mixing libations for over 10 years

With the release of the 23rd spy film, Skyfall, James Bond fervor has reached epic heights here in London. The local papers have been inundated with red carpet photos from the premier and socialites pictured front row at special screenings of the movie. Afterall, Mr. Bond IS a Brit, so it makes sense that the world premier was held here in London at Royal Albert Hall, with Prince Charles and Camilla in attendance. You may remember I had lunch next to James Bond himself, Daniel Craig, here. 

The Dukes Bar in the Dukes Hotel is frequented by James Bond author Ian Fleming and said to be the inspiration for the now infamous line ‘shaken, not stirred’. Hands down, the best spot in London (and some same the world) for a Classic Dry Martini, the barman, dressed in white jacket and tie, mixes your arctic chilled Martini from a trolley directly at your table.

Hidden down a dead-end alley in St. James, the 1920s feel of this cozy bar is my secret weapon for impressing out of town visitors. Be careful though, these Martinis are potent (the house maximum is three per customer), and even after one, the most tight-lipped will be spewing State secrets. Hope there are no Russian spies in earshot ... 

© Emilia Brandao Photo

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