29 on the 29th

Image from the birthday card I gave her

I have just been to London to spend a few days with my sister for her birthday. I hope she doesn't mind me sharing her age with you (too late now) but it was a great time and we did many memorable things to celebrate. Our days were full but a leisurely type of full, if you know what I mean. If you don't, it was as follows. Wake up when you are good and ready. Eat some cereal. Get dressed and if you aren't happy feel free to have an outfit change or three, with your sister as your audience, sitting on the bed, nodding or grimacing accordingly. Head into town for a spot of shopping, stop for a drink or a bit of lunch. Hit the shops with renewed energy. Perhaps pop into a gallery and take in an exhibition. Discuss the finer points as you stroll over to Covent Garden, where you meet up with some friends and drink a pear cocktail or two. If you are feeling peckish, make a quick stop at the local GBK (Gourmet Burger Kitchen) before heading over to West End for a musical (in our case Oliver), before hopping back on the tube humming musical tunes (resisting the urge to burst into song and trying to control your dancing feet) all the way home. Yes, it was a special trip. We found some great bargains (leather boots for 19 pounds, the cutest silk skirts for 15 pounds) but I won't go into too much detail, I hate to be the cause of envy. Speaking of which I haven't yet mentioned the show stopper, icing on the cake, rice pudding with a cherry on top moment that was Nobu. A birthday gift from my parents to my sister. The best type of present - one that I could share. So, between checking out the 30 000 pound cooking ranges at Harrods (dreaming is free daaarling) and more shopping at Knightsbridge we wandered over to Park Lane for a celebratory lunch at the restaurant Nobu. Walking past Fergie (not of The Black Eyed Peas variety, rather, the Duchess of York) on the way there and spotting Mr. Liz Hurley, Arun Nayar, leaving the restaurant just as we sat down at our table overlooking Hyde Park. Consider yourself at home!

What we ate, in the order the dishes arrived...

Rock Shrimp Tempura with Creamy Spicy Sauce

Black cod with Miso, our favourite, it had a texture that my sister described as 'silky'

Beef ''Toban'' Yaki, this came sizzling with really tender, rare pieces of beef

Chocolate Bento Box: Flourless chocolate fondant served with green tea ice cream

Pine nut Cake: Sabayone cream, pine nut mousse, purple potato ice cream and yoghurt

We enjoyed really helpful service on our visit. From the young French chap who collected our coats when we arrived, to our waitress who was very free with her recommendations (something I appreciate), to the Swiss waiter who told us to try the pine nut dessert. We probably wouldn't have ordered it otherwise (we planned to share the Chocolate Bento Box), he also kindly offered to take a photo of us. Whether it was all this, or the Saint Clair Sauvignon (closest to home we could find on the wine list - we get nostalgic on birthdays) that we washed it all down with, we were feeling rather giddy when we left. Each secretly wondering how the parents would react to the bill, and if we'd have to pick a pocket or two (or worse! stay away from the shops) to make it up to them.