Restaurant Review: Paradise Garage

Clearly railway arches are the new place to be if you’re a restaurant. Robin Gill’s third restaurant sits under the railway arches of Bethnal Green, sat along next to gorgeous restaurant by Sager & Wilde, Mission. 

He is the chef who created and owns the well-renowned restaurants in London, The Dairy and The Manor.

Already completely enchanted by The Manor and The Dairy, I knew this would be good, but how could he possibly surprise me and surpass himself with this new venture?

The Manor, Clapham.

The end of December. That weird time of limbo between Christmas and NYE. I was working, not much else was happening, as we were all busy getting over Christmas and preparing for New Year. The Manor, sister restaurant to the Dairy opened at the beginning of December (if I remember correctly) and from the minute it opened, everyone was going crazy about it. And if the Dairy is anything to go by, I had no doubt the praise was well deserved.

Being bored around this time, I decided as this is the time for feasting and over indulgence, why not try booking a table. Unbelievably that night The Manor had tables free (may have changed now!). I booked without hesitation!! And trecked it down to Clapham.

We had a little amuse to start of of a cracker with nori.

My Favourite Things of 2013

As it's nearly February I thought it was time I made some kind of a roundup of 2013.

Best Place Visited

Valencia. 

And what a surprise that was, considering I have never liked any visit to Spain before.

A gorgeous old city, full of beauty, history and culture, with incredible food and wine, an amazing beach and nightlife….what more could you want from a holiday?


Best Restaurant

There are two.

Duck and Waffle, for creative food in a casual, vibrant atmosphere with incredible drinks. Did I forget something? Oh yeah. THAT view.

José, the cutest, busiest tapas joint in Bermondsey. Be prepared to wait for a tiny table, knocking elbows with everyone around. But that's all part of it's charm. It's loud, it's busy, but it's beautiful and the tapas is some of the best to be found in London.


Best Dish

Grilled Iberico Presa with whipped jamon butter, from Ember Yard.

Far and away the best dish I had last year. I can still remember how soft and tender the pork was, the gorgeously smokey charred taste it left in my mouth from the charcoal grill and the jamon butter, which should be renamed crack.

If you only go to one restaurant this year, please make it Ember Yard so you can try the beauty that is this dish.


Honorable Mention

Peckham Bazaar.

Incredible Greek food, just a little too far out of the way to make it a regular haunt - it is literally in the middle of no where in Peckham. But serves the most beautiful Greek/Middle Eastern food in all the land.


Best Drink

Experimental Cocktail Club, China Town (try to find it behind the white door!). It pains me to say I can't remember the name of this drink, but I still remember it tasted like the Caribbean. It came in a bottle as it had to be stored for 3 days before serving. It contained coconut, tea, rum, and much more and it was beauty in a bottle!

Closely followed by the smokey cocktails from Ember Yard too. If you like floral, try "Il Profuma Di Maria".

Best Bar

Dr Evans and Peel Detective Agency, Earl's Court.

Very secret. Book an appointment and have a case at the ready!

Opium, Chinatown. For reasons that shall remain secret :) 
Try and find that one too! Behind a green door this time.

My favourite thing to do?

Visit a food market. Either Borough, for Bread Ahead's Brownies, or the Real Food Market on Southbank, along with a walk up and down to look at this view.

2013 was a year of extreme highs and lows. Only 21 days in and 2014 is already kicking 2013's butt.

Ellie Loves....

Things I am loving this week:

Green and Blacks Hazelnut and Currant Dark Chocolate
This has been keeping me sane all week.

Currently on offer at Ocado

Pukka Green Tea with Mint
Always an obsession of mine, but stepped up a level this week to make sure I am not ill for my speaking exam on Thursday!

Available from Ocado

Travel-sized packaging
Packing for a weekend away, only taking hand luggage, has left me frantically buying all my beauty necessities in under 100ml bottles. A friend pointed out you can get these £1 empty containers to transfer products into. Would have saved me a lot of money....
Maybe I'm naive not knowing about this sooner, but I don't usually travel with just hand luggage. I'm definitely not a light packer.

Available from Superdrug

Three Floor Fashion
I have just discovered this brand and although some of their dresses are not to my taste or my style, some are absolutely gorgeous. I'm thinking one of these two numbers for my birthday dress. Very similar, but both gorgeous in their own ways. The dress on the left has a very sporty, Victoria Beckham Spring/Summer '13 feel to it, with the orange colour and the halter neck. The dress on the right is a much more elegant, classy and understated dress but with that hint of sass.
Both are great for different party occasions. I think I might just get both.

Candles
I love candles, I have one burning constantly and my new favourite one this week is the White Company's Fresh Thyme scent. I love fresh, citrus smells, even more so when the weather gets warmer. Perfect scent for Summer.

Available from The White Company

Ruby Woo Lipstick by MAC
I have been showing this lipstick some love for a few weeks now. I've been working on building up my confidence lately and what better way to do that than step outside with bright red lipstick?! She says. Work in progress.

Available from MAC

Pinterest
Yes, yes late to the party. And probably not the best time to become addicted to something but I am currently designing my dream house through pinterest boards. Just need the house in Notting Hill now.

Pistachio, raspberry and chocolate cheesecake tart

Yes. You read that correctly.

Whichever way you look at it, still mind-blowingly delicious.