December 2013
WhatsHappeningOnline.com
community & life
9
TRAVEL
London Dresses Up in its Holiday Finest Travelers often put London on their summer vacation bucket list, but the city looks even more special during the holidays. Storybook tales fill Selfridges’ and Harrods’ windows. Colorful lights twinkle across Oxford and other shopping streets. Shopping and sightseeing breaks are at afternoon tea. A good pot of Jodie Jacobs tea, some minisandwiches and sweets and any of the fine hotels on Park Avenue become a memorable treat to rest the feet. All you need to get ready besides a winter jacket are earmuffs, scarves and sweaters, because the weather is similar to the Midwest. Marriott Park Lane is a choice place to make your headquarters. It looks like a grand dame as it takes over the corner of Park Lane and Oxford Street, across from the Marble Arch. It also is on the tube and bus stop, which saves on cabs. Marriott.com. When ready to go exploring, pick up a day pass for the bus or tube. Taxis run on a meter, which means that with traffic as bad as Chicago and New York you are paying to sit in long stoplight lines. The hotel’s Champs-Élysées architecture belies its boutique-style interior. Just don’t expect a grand lobby. You can expect an excellent restaurant. Its 140 Park Lane Restaurant serves up yummy scallops, lamb chops and seasonal dishes. The hotel is a short walk from the
JODIE JACOBS
Selfridges in London lights up for the holiday season, both outside and in. Marlborough Head Pub for fish and chips, and also a couple of blocks from Marks & Spencer for men’s clothes and Selfridges, which is fun to browse. Selfridges.com. If you stay at the Marriott Park Lane, you are at the north end of Hyde Park. Harrods is at the south end in the Knightsbridge section. It’s a must-stop for its fairytale windows, food rooms, Egyptian stairway and art rooms. Harrods.com. Foodies will also want to do Fortnum & Mason. Antique hounds go to the Camden Passage Antique Market. Sightseeing depends on your interest, as there really is something for everyone. For a
KIM’S KITCHEN
Season’s “Brie-tings” from Chef Kim Bisk So many folks have been asking me for a really special holiday offering – one that will knock everyone’s socks off. I’ve been giving this a lot of thought. Do I do a main course? An appetizer? A dessert? How about two out of three? That’s right, this recipe can work as an appetizer or a dessert. Now it’s your problem – you figure it Chef Kim Bisk out! I did this at one of our recent In-Home Cooking Class Parties, as part of a French-themed menu. Everyone went nuts over it. It’s extremely easy to do. You can cook it in advance and pop into the oven to reheat later, or even serve it cold. I personally like warm better, because the cheese is nice and gooey. Baked Brie and Fig Pastry 2 ea brie rolls (about 2” diameter – logs, not wheels) 8 oz fig spread/preserves 4 tbsp light brown sugar 4 tbsp honey 2 oz pecans (chopped) 2 ea puff pastry sheets (thawed) 1 egg (beaten) [1] Preheat oven to 400. [2] In a bowl, mix brown sugar, fig, honey and pecans. Set aside. [3] Roll both pastry sheets and cut into nine squares each, so you have a total of 18 squares. You can do this one sheet at a time. [4] Cut each roll of brie into nine
equal portions. (again, 18 total). [5] Place brie in center of each pastry square. Top with a spoonful of honey and pecan mixture. [6] Fold two opposing sides over, and seal with a brushing of egg to seal. Repeat with remaining sides. This will make a cute little bundle. [7] Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Repeat process for remaining puffs. [8] Give them one last light brushing with egg. [9] Bake for about 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Keep an eye on these after about 10 minutes. Pastry cooks differently depending on oven temperatures and room humidity. Golden brown is the target. Here’s wishing you a happy and safe holiday season! Chef Kim Bisk and her husband Ellory own and operate Kim & Ellory’s Kitchen, a personal chef and catering service for northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Visit them online at kimandellory.com.
local hangout, go downstairs of St. Martin in the Fields Church in Trafalgar Square. Food is good and the bodies lie under your feet, as it is the Café in the Crypt. Time your visit for a free lunchtime concert or return for a candlelight concert (tickets needed). Stmartin-in-the-fields.org. Across from the church are the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery. Both are free and boast exceptional collections. Theater is another great option. “Les Miserables” is at the Queen’s Theatre thru mid-October 2014. There are many more things to do, places to
visit and shows to see than mentioned here, so a word of warning is in order. You will find that no matter how many days and places you have planned for your London visit, it won’t be enough. This is a town to return to again and again. Visitlondon.com. Jodie Jacobs is a travel writer – based on the North Shore, but in love with exploring the United States and the world. She is a longtime contributor to the Chicago Tribune. Her blog is travelsmartwithjodie.com, and she can be reached at jodie_jacobs@sbcglobal.net.