First class Noël

I was joined again by my father for the festive season this year and we've had ten thoroughly enjoyable and indulgent days.

On Christmas Eve we saw the English National ballet perform The Nutcracker in the Coliseum's lovely theatre which ensured we were feeling suitably festive. I woke up with sugar plum fairies dancing in my head to unwrap presents and meet David for a traditional lunch at York & Albany on Christmas Day which, as is our new tradition, lasted for seven hours starting with champagne and finishing with port. We spent Boxing Day relaxing at my place in Balham with a roast lunch - cooked by me! - and Downton Abbey DVDs.

On Monday we took the Eurostar to Paris staying at the very nice Hotel Tremoille, a stone's throw from the Champs Elysées and the Eiffel Tower for two nights. After a walk in the 8th arrondissement we ate delicious lamb and potatoes dauphinoise and washed it down with a bottle of red at a neighbourhood bistrot, D'Chez Eux. On Tuesday we had a near-perfect day. There was shopping at Printemps, lunch at Café Marly overlooking the Louvre and pyramid - I had an omlette followed by a gorgeous citrus and raspberry tart - and wandered through my favourite part of Paris - the Marais. That night we had a second superb dinner of steak, frites, green salad, apple tart and an excellent bottle of red at Bistrot Paul Bert. After a last walk in the city the next morning we had lunch at Rose Bakery which I've been reading about for months and headed back to London.







In amongst this we've spent quite a bit of time strolling the streets of London and dining at The Punch Bowl, Bocca di Lupo, Dean Street Townhouse and Cecconi's.