Bucket: 107 Westbourne Grove, Bayswater, London. W2 4UW

You would expect a restaurant featuring fish to be be able to excel at cooking fish and spoiler alert, Bucket Restaurant does so exceptionally well, but the sheer breadth of the menu at Buckets posed quite a problem when coming to write this review.

However, when faced with such a conundrum I like to concentrate on the small things, the things that are so often overlooked and for this I have devised a series of tests. Entering Bucket on a cold wet November evening is a welcomingly surreal experience. Greeted warmly by staff the restaurant has a beach bar theme, which works well with tables arranged to accommodate 4 people so that you are aware of others but not to the point of overhearing their conversation. Longer tables accommodate bigger parties of diners.

Each table has a sprig of Rosemary placed on each napkin, whilst a whole lemon sits on a small board waiting to be cut in half and spritzed over the fish.  Copper cutlery and night lights seated in glass jars filled with fine gravel. Everything subtly suggests a fish bar on a Mediterranean beach. Due to a problem with the trains my friend was 30 minutes late, but I was assured that this was no problem. I ordered a gin and tonic whilst I waited and it arrived in a glass filled with ice with the tonic served separately. Test 1 passed with flying colours.

I must have looked hungry (or perhaps I was looking hungrily at the food being enjoyed by the other diners) as Nara, our Columbian waitress asked if I would like some bread and butter. Warm tasty Sourdough bread duly arrived with a smear of the most perfectly salted butter that I think I have ever tasted. Tests 2 Hospitality and Test 3 Bread and butter both passed with distinction.

The problem with a restaurant that specialises in one thing, in this case, sustainable fish, is that it precludes groups that may include vegetarians. Bucket offers several vegetarian options but if they were concentrating on fish just how good was this likely to be? Time to set another test. My starter of Artichoke Hummus (£7.25) was something that I had never heard of or indeed conceived of and it was a revelation. This was no sop to vegetarians; this was a homage to the artichoke where artichoke crisps contrasted with the unctuous hummus and the flavour brought out by the Dukkha. The Malden Oysters (£4.00 each) served ice cold with a tangy accompaniment of red wine and shallot sauce were fresh and as salty as you would expect and so loudly proclaimed as being so completely delicious, that people at the next table would have been well within their rights to complain about the noise.

Chalk Stream Trout Tartare

A plate of Chalk Stream Trout Tartare (£10.25) with pickled apple, Kohl Rabi, Cucumber and Dill followed and was so fresh tasting with all the flavours so finely balanced and complimenting each other.

The wine list is varied and wines have been carefully selected to bring out the best of the fish. We chose a bottle of Castano Macabeo 2018 (£26.00), a light and fruity organic white wine, which went perfectly with our food but didn’t break the bank. The wine list features wines ranging from £23.00 up to £90.00 the latter for those special occasions or when you wish to treat yourself.A good test of a wine list is when the cheaper wines taste good rather than adequate and the Castano certainly did that.  Nara, could not have been more helpful knowing exactly when to clear plates, so as not to interrupt the flow of conversation, whilst being friendly and efficient. A gift not given to all, but one that makes such a difference to a meal.

Goan Sea Bass with an onion Bhaji

Our mains consisted of Goan Sea Bass from the “Specials” menu that is changed according to what is fresh on the day, Served with an onion bhaji and a myriad of fresh herbs and spices.  We declared this truly delicious, mouth tingling but not overpowering. No clinging sauces but perfectly pan cooked whole fish where the white, tender meat was accompanied by a delightful combination of chillies and spices making the dish absolutely perfect.

Meditteranean Mezze

As the vegetarian starter may just have been a flash in the pan (all puns intended) we also went for the seasonal vegetable Mezze which was so generous that it could easily have been shared by three or four people. Aubergine, Baby Sweet Corn, Halloumi Cheese and Peppers, simply griddled (think beach barbeque) and served with a punchy green sauce consisting of herbs including mint and dill in a thin olive oil adding piquancy. Sometimes, simplicity is all that is called for if the ingredients are allowed to speak for themselves and a good Chef understands this. Mack Barnstable is such a chef.

The Mezze includes two side plates and I was persuaded by my companion to have the Fries (£4.50 when not served with the Mezze) these were good, but given everything else on the menu I should not have listened to her.Where I did score highly was the creamy Polenta (£4.50 when not served with the Mezze), which was light and incredibly delicious and all I will say, is that this will make you forget every other Polenta that you have ever eaten. I could have had nothing but this for a starter and a main and considered myself well fed. By now my friend and I were professing ourselves full. ‘Just coffee,’ we said to each other, and then the pudding menu arrived with desserts range from £4.50 to £9.00.

Don Pedro

We agreed to share the Don Pedro (£9, 00), which is a super light, Whisky and whipped Vanilla Ice Cream scattered with Pecan nuts lending this desert an almost Zabaglione consistency with a contrasting crunch.We were no longer surprised that this was a finely judged dessert, well balanced earthy whisky flavours and yet so light.The whole menu is designed to be shared, but with food so finely cooked it is hard to watch your friends digging into a dish that you have selected or perhaps that is just me? We couldn’t help but notice several lone diners who presumably lived in the neighbourhood and who felt comfortable enough to drop in and enjoy a meal. This has to be due to the ethos created at Bucket by Mack Barnstable, the new Head Chef who has created the new Autumn menu.

Mack works closely with his fish suppliers to deliver interesting blackboard specials and guest oysters on a daily-changing basis. Little surprise then that Mack Barnstable grew up near the South West Coast and has an affinity with fish, formed when he was pulling in Mackerel off the Cob in Lyme Regis and working on an Oyster Farm in Australia.  It is possible to eat well and relatively cheaply at Bucket, but with food this tasty why would you?

If I lived in the area, I would go to Buckets simply for the bread and butter, oh and the Artichoke Hummus, the Polenta and the Chalk Stream Trout Tartare.  Actually, if I lived in the area, I would simply take up residence.

View the full menu @ https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ae32324a2772cce555e6fac/t/5d9

336d9fb48423f80f6a2f9/1569928923122/bucket_website_menus_oct19.pdf

Bucket is located at 107 Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill, London, W2 4UW

www.bucketrestaurant.com   Instagram: @bucketlondon  Facebook: bucketlondon

Brightening Ginseng and grapefruit jelly face mask. Ginseng helps to plump and firm skin which leads to a naturally radiant glow whilst Grapefruit helps to even the complexion delivering a natural luminosity

Kind Natured are thrilled to announce the launch of their new brightening jelly mask which costs £9 and is available from Boots and boots.com. treat your complexion to the ultimate brightening remedy that utilises a blend of nourishing ingredients to deliver effective exfoliation whilst energising the skin.

Make uneven skin tone a thing of the past as this radiance enhancing jelly mask harnesses the powers of natural ingredients to promote a visibly plumper, firmer and brighter complexion. Replenish dull and dehydrated skin with key ingredient Grapefruit which is a natural antioxidant that helps protect from free radicals which can make skin look dull and tired. Ginseng also works hard to revive the skin to ensure you always wake up to a glowing, revitalised complexion with restored luminosity.

Directions for use- apply one or twice weekly to clean skin, leave for 5 minutes then rinse.

My first impression of this face mask was that it smelt great, a lovely light fruity, citrusy scent. It felt lovely with the subtle exfoliating beads. When I applied it, I was surprised with how light it felt on my face, it didn’t set rock hard like other face masks tend to do. It wasn’t sticky at all; it was easy to clean off with some warm water. The following morning, I noticed that my redness had gone down slightly and my skin wasn’t looking as dull as it had been. I used it again a few days later and again the following morning I noticed a change in my skin, it was much more noticeable this time my redness had all but gone and my skin looked so fresh and radiant.

This gorgeous face mask is a must for this time of year when the cold weather creeps in leaving your skin looking dull and congested. For 5 minutes once or twice a week you can wave goodbye to it.

More information from    https://www.kindnatured.com/shop/

The price is £9.

It can be tricky finding the perfect gift for foodie family members and friends. Well, have no

fear this year as Wing Yip, the UK’s leading Oriental supermarket, has the perfect solution to

your Christmas gifting woes.

As someone who loves cooking, I spend a lot of time in the kitchen, so anything that can produce great results and is inexpensive, is a winner in my eyes, which is why I couldn’t have been more thrilled to try out the Kitchen Craft 1.5 Litre Microwave Rice Cooker – £8.59 and the Hancock 10″ Bamboo Steamer and Lid – £2.46.

It’s not that I can’t cook rice and other grains, although I should confess that the results can be somewhat variable. The joy of the Microwave Steamer is that all I had to do was follow the simple instructions, pop it into the microwave and voila, perfect Jasmine Rice.

Wing Yip’s Hancock Bamboo Steamer is another kitchen staple used in Oriental cuisine and cooks perfectly steamed dumplings or a range of vegetables every time. Gently steaming vegetables preserves much of the vitamins that can be lost when boiling. Not only practical, the Bamboo Streamer has the kitchen aesthetic beloved of all Jamie Oliver wannabes.

In addition to us Kitchen addicts, I can think of another group of people who might welcome these as a Christmas gifts, not least because it is a lazy stereotype that all students live on a diet of Pot Noodles. Obviously, students have time constraints, their kitchens may not be well stocked and they certainly don’t need expensive kitchen equipment, all of which makes the Rice Cooker and Bamboo Steamer the perfect gift to pack them off back to University.

Both of these Oriental kitchen essentials are available to buy in the Wing Yip superstores and

online. Visit the online store at: www.wingyip.com

​

‘Men are so difficult to buy for,’ is a common theme at this time of year, mostly opined by my wife somewhat accusingly, as though I have somehow been born a man, with the sole purpose of making her Christmas shopping trips more difficult.

Well, not this year, because Graham’s have produced a range of Ports that are just the right size to slip into a Christmas stocking and at a very reasonable price.

In fact, if your Secret Santa sets a suitable limit you can buy one of these from between £10.00 and £20.00.

The size is also perfect from another point of view, chiefly mine: smaller than a full size bottle It is big enough to afford several glasses, but not so big that one feels that it is necessary to share.

This 10 -Year Old Tawny is rich with the taste of Christmas nuts and figs. Its mature flavours match perfectly with sweet desserts, especially dark chocolate with ginger or orange notes.

Actually, just in case my wife is reading this, if the Port were to be accompanied by a box of salted caramels, I would think she could put her feet up and consider Christmas sorted, at least as far as this man is concerned.

I even promise to act surprised.

Happy Christmas.

Stockist Information:

Available from Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury’s & Ocado

Graham’s 10 – Year Old Tawny Port (75cl) RRP £20.00

Children can be expensive at the best of times and their specialist furniture is a good example. First a cot, then a child’s bed with safety rail, then, as they grow older, a desk to do their homework. Oh, and possibly the patter of more little feet …

So thank goodness for Wooothy and their modular furniture, which is all produced from high quality beech trees from Slovenia. It’s all designed with adaptability in mind, so you can use it for a long time.

The key is the modular design so that items can be reassembled to fit different rooms, lifestyles and needs as time goes on.

A simple single bed is the basic module. However additional modules can turn this into a canopy bed (useful for princesses), safety rails can be added for toddlers – and later removed when no longer needed.  A mid high leg construction raises the single bed, so your youngster can store toys underneath and play – useful in a small bedroom.  When the young master starts school, the mid high legs can be replaced with higher legs, and the under bed area becomes a useful workspace with desk.

Then when the stork visits again – two single beds can be converted into bunk beds.

Oh, and for teenagers there’s a couch option. Worth looking into if you’re thinking of buying a bed.

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

As a child coffee meant a cup of instant. How things have changed. At first, rather complicated Italian coffee machines hit UK shops – wonderful coffee, but a little expertise was required. Then came Nespresso.

Nespresso has transformed coffee-making. The neat machines sit unobtrusively in the corner of any kitchen. You simply fill the reservoir with water, insert the capsule and press a button.  Even I can make a fabulous cup of coffee – with crema – every time.

The latest range of Vertuo Nespresso machines use Centrifusion technology – but you don’t need to know that – just press the button.

The pods come in five cup sizes from Alto (414ml) down to Espresso (40ml) – yes you really can be your own barista.

There’s a myriad of Nespresso coffee ranges – to suit your taste or mood, but the new limited edition Nordic Moments Range is perfect for the Festive Season. These fun flavours are inspired by Nordic culture and include Vanilla Princess Cake (perfect to be drunk with a slice of … well you’ve guessed), Cinnamon Swirl, and the simple but sophisticated Nordic Black.  There’s a lovely story behind the traditional Skandinavian Princess Cake, so-called because three small princesses loved it so much, and the matching coffee is a blend of decaffeinated and regular roast coffee with natural vanilla flavours.  The Cinnamon Swirl blend, named after a rather delicious pastry also contains decaffeinated and regular coffee plus natural flavourings. However Nordic Black is pure regular coffee, consisting of African and South American Arabica beans – definitely my favourite. There’s a Nordic Almond Cake and a Cloudberry blend too, so why not get into the Christmas mood with this great new range?

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

Jigsaws, once confined to childhood and wet Sunday afternoons have more recently become beloved of adults too, or perhaps we just forgot how much we enjoyed them.

How things have changed.

Friends may now see it as a way of relaxing or keeping the brain cells ticking over, but I see it as the ideal Christmas gift.

Most of my friends have reached a point in their life that they have acquired all they want or need, so, each Christmas it has become harder to find something quirky but enjoyable rather than gimmicky.

I was therefore delighted to stumble upon Rachel Lowe Games and Puzzles who provide a range of jigsaws that would suit either the beginner or indeed, the enthusiast.

My favourite has to be the Laurel and Hardy Jigsaws, my personal preference the 1000 pieces which immediately sounds challenging but 500 – piece puzzles are also available.

The Laurel and Hardy puzzles feature two of the most iconic images of the comedy duo, trying to overcome their own puzzle dilemma. The images are from the 1933 film Me and My Pal in which Laurel’s character gives Hardy’s character a puzzle as a wedding gift. The two get so preoccupied with the puzzle, as do a group of their friends, that Laurel late for his own wedding, much to the dismay of the bride’s father.

The picture is black and white, increasing the skill level required, but for me the clincher is that it is taken from one of their films and shows them completing a jigsaw. How meta is that?

There are many other films and tv images to choose, from but these were easily my favourite.

To discover the full range, follow the link below.

The puzzles are both available from www.rachellowe.co.uk

1000 Piece Puzzle: RRP £14.99
500 Piece Puzzle: RRP £11.99

Do you have someone to buy for, who is just that bit difficult? They don’t drink, they’re watching their figure and they have pretty much everything? Well if you have, here are a couple of fabulous gifts – and if you haven’t, these are still fabulous gifts for anyone.

‘Just The Tonic’ is a most fascinating book. Beautifully bound and illustrated, it would look lovely on a coffee table, but it is so interesting I fear it will soon be well-thumbed. I mean, did you realise that all those ex-pats chugging G&Ts in India and the tropics weren’t just being decadent and self-indulgent. No, they were protecting themselves from malaria – long before modern anti-malarials were available.

Co-written by Kim Walker (a medical herbalist) and Mark Nesbitt (curator of the Economic Botany Collection at Kew Gardens), the book is filled with fascinating facts. It doesn’t just tell the story of Indian tonic water, but explains the cultural, medical and political influences which shaped many of today’s drinks – both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.  And if you’re feeling exhausted from reading the whole story in one sitting (I promise you, you won’t be able to put it down until you’ve finished), the last chapter is thoughtfully devoted to cocktail recipes – go treat yourself.

Available from Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew Shop RRP £18.

The Kew Shop has many other interesting and unusual gifts on their website too, including a book containing twelve sheets of high quality wrapping paper, each printed with a painting from the Marianne North collection. These are gift wraps with a difference, to be reserved for very special people. In fact they are so beautiful I’m not sure I could bear to use them. Ms North was a Victorian traveller and painter and her collection is housed at Kew. Each painting is unique and stunning – different flowers, fruit, birds and insects – I particularly love the stick insect painting, created in 1880.

Available also from Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew Shop RRP £10

I strongly recommend you take a look at the Kew Shop – so many beautiful and unusual gifts.

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.