Ottolenghi Tart Meringue!

Lemon weekend torture for you. The twice annual trip to Ottolenghi (in the Guardian)for the superb passion fruit meringue tart is an essential.
Get out at tube stop, High Street Kensington, cross the road (carefully), seek out the almost hidden passage Kensington Church Walk. Turn right, walk to the end of the road to #1 Holland Street et voila! Heaven awaits.

Of course one must make a pretense of eating something sensible before dessert...

And there is certainly a plethora of sensible food here...

La salade...

TA-DA!

This time I got as well the lemon marscaponi tart as well. It was unctously lemony with sugar as a low note thank goodness.

At last, la piece de resistance! This tart does not disappoint. Louise, PLEASE come to London to complete your meringuee etudes. The topping is just the right amount of sweetness with exactly the right texture - not crunchy as you might expect with the toasty look of the meringue. Just enough sugar to contrast the very tart custard below...

I'm salivating just attempting to describe this tart's perfection. The heights have been reached.

I'm a disgrace when it comes to crust :(

But calories have been saved is the positive take on this loss. Still, can one truly experience inner meringuenese (if there is such a thing) by skipping the crust? Perhaps not.Later I met up with Karen of the delightful Pas Grand Chose. I'm addicted to her book reviews almost as much as tarte citron. We stop at Maison blanc to view my menu artwork...

Fortunately there are no meringue tarts on the premises.

In the evening at Piccadilly Prete a Mange for another sensible salad (balance is key) this lemony/gingerbread/cheesecake layered concoction beckons. The spoon must dive deep and then stir things - you feel you've had a hand in the making of it don't you?

This morning a friend mentioned her favorite toffee at Fortnum and Mason. Naturalement I must researche...

Somehow I resisted the toffee and instead went looking for lemon meringue flavors.
Fortunately there were none.

The club's lemony cat, Squeak, is guarding my seat at breakfast so I'll go down and start the day.
Do more lemon tarts await?

BONJOUR LEMON ANYTHING!

What 2 Eat in London?

I'll have four days in London during my Paris trip... What to eat? Starting the day with a proper English breakfast sets you up perfectly. You could almost eat nothing until tea time... I love the food served in the streets in London... All you need is a 'fiver' and you can eat superbly at Covent Garden...

Or Borough Market...

The classic fish n' chips - a must-do this trip

I've been going to Food For Thought for years - it offers balance to...

 Ottolenghi's divine passion fruit meringue tart.

However did I miss Ottolenghi's Lemon tart? This oversight must be remedied a toute a suite.

Stopping in at Sketch Tea Parlor is another repeat not-to-be-missed - perhaps the best tea salon in the world!

Faux cakes at Liberty's plus a stop at Fortnum & Mason are essential browsing.

Finally Gelato at Selfridges. Where should I eat during my 4 days in London pray tell.
BONJOUR LONDON EATS!

FORTNUM & MASON Xmas Windows?

Here's a London Xmas mystery for you to solve...
When I saw the windows at Fortnum & Mason in October I was puzzled...
I went inside and asked the liveried doorman if these mushroomie, underworld, Hobbit-esque window decorations were for Halloween?
I was assured these were the Christmas windows!?
What?

Is it possible?

Mustrooms and moss + British jams..?

Giant acorns + tiny lamps...

Champagne amidst the leaves - this looks a tad Christmasy...

But silver champagne glasses full of green moss?

Huh?

Champagne and macarons, contact me, 9" x 11"
Please say it isn't so!

I can live with a Beefeater chess set - what a perfect Xmas gift.

Burgundy velvet slippers in the hay?

Hmmm...

French parfums amongst the moss..?

non non non!

Mustard under glass - is this a vision from the latest, darkest Harry Potter movie? Please tell me someone was pulling my leg.

This can NOT be Christmas at F&M in Piccadilly.

Doesn't one deserve a bit of dessert after that?

BONJOUR FORTNUM & MASON!

London's Best Cake Shops

Isn't this the most whimsical cakestand?Come on you poor pups. I'm dragging you off on a tour of London's cake shops.I'll be in London for 5 whole days next month. Can you think of a better way to fight off a cold at present than research future cake places? I can't.. I love looking at Shop Image Graphics in London for clues. It says I must go to Aubaine - have you been?And what about Peyton and Byrne? Do advise svp. Your advice is the BEST :)

Primrose Bakery in Covent Garden looks awfully tempting too. Ah decisions, decisions... We've been to Hummingbird Cupcakes so we can cross that off the list... Isn't this a delectable macaron cakestand at La Maison du Chocolat on Piccadilly? Though we visited many times in NYC and Paris...hmmm Carluccio's is not strictly cakes but very appealing and nearby on Fullham road so I will pop in... Look. Faux gateaux at Liberty's What about an elegant china teapot to display your cookies? The British are very fond of cake. I like these macaron displays in Fortnum's windows...

I'm including a watercolor for good measure.

Shall we all hop in the pink roadster and take off for London's best cake shops?

Or would you prefer lingering over afternoon tea at the divine Sketch Tea Parlour? Thank you PBers for telling me about THIS place. Have you got others I must not miss?
Your suggestions have been noted:Primrose Bakery Melt Yauatcha William Curley Baker and Spice Burnt Sugar Euphorium Bakery Gail's Bread Maison Berteaux Patisserie Valerie Konditor and Cook Loafing The Wolseley Belle Epoque