LONDON: Fernandez & Wells

If I had to choose a place that would represent my final year at King's, it would have to be Fernandez & Wells. Ever since the law school opened up at Somerset House, I've been practically living there in between lectures/tutorials. The food is well-sourced, prepared with astute taste and well priced as far as cafes in London go (KCL students get a discount). Unfortunately, the distinct quality of their food and service isn't lost on Londoners who have flocked to Fernandez like bees to honey. 

I highly recommend the poached salmon sandwich and the aubergine goat's cheese sandwich, both toasted. 

As a tapas bar that draws inspiration from the food of France and Spain, Fernandez is a step above almost every cafe that I've visited. With its elegantly light spacious interiors of metal, wood and stone and warm wait staff, it makes for a pleasant afternoon catching up with friends and never fails to satisfy my craving for an honest-to-goodness meal. 

Unfortunately however, Fernandez's open concept, as enticing as it is as an interior, fails to serve its purpose in the ventilation department. The chefs are so often smoking hams or cooking things between the toasters placed in the same room as the customer's tables that you tend to leave it smelling like the food. 

Have you heard of a sinful vegetarian sandwich? I didn't think they'd exist until I tried Fernandez's Portobello mushroom, stilton & spinach sandwich and their Grilled aubergine, goat's cheese & pesto sandwich. Who thought stacking a mishmash of ingredients between two slices of bread would taste so heavenly? 

Sandwiches run out fast - get yours before 3pm hits. 

Attention to detail is the winning factor behind the food at Fernandez. The founders, Rick Wells and Jorge Fernandez, were previously at Monmouth Coffee Company and that might explain why the coffee at Fernandez is so good - a rarity amongst most non-coffee-focused eateries. 

Fernandez & Wells

Somerset House

Opening times: 

MON-FRI 8am-10pm
SAT 10am-10pm
SUN 10am-8pm

0207 420 9408

LONDON: Texture

COCONUT

CHOCOLATE, ICE CREAM, YOGURT

A world without a sense of taste or smell would be tragically dull. Having been sick for the past week, I am, unfortunately, acutely aware of this fact. To console myself, or perhaps to motivate my recovery process, I've decided to write about Texture. The restaurant was refreshingly affordable for a michelin starred restaurant at £21.90 for 2 courses on the lunch menu. With its icelandic influences, Texture successfully pulls off a playful twist on the myriad flavours and textures that food has to offer. 

SALMON CEVICHE

ASIAN FLAVOURS

ORGANIC DUCK

LEG, CELERIAC, BACON 

CORNISH SKATE

FREGOLA, LEMON, SEA VEGETABLES, VEGETABLES VINAIGRETTE

Though my scallop starter was mediocre at most (I've even forgotten its name), I was delighted with my main course of cornish skate. I'd previously tried ray wing at Dinner by Heston and knowing the two are similar, I was immediately drawn to it on the menu. Somehow intensely flavoured yet light at the same time, the skate melted onto my taste buds like butter. The coconut dessert (above) that we ordered as an afterthought was a playground of textures and flavours, with the comfortingly warm coconut cake in the centre juxtaposed by cool chocolate and yogurt.

If you're looking for a light-hearted, fresh, yet reasonably priced meal, I'd suggest spending an afternoon at Texture. 

CHOCOLATE & EARL GREY GANACHE

YORKSHIRE RHUBARB, MILK ICE CREAM, HAZELNUT CRUMBS

Texture restaurant 
34 Portman Street
London W1H 7BY
020 7224 0028

LONDON FASHION WEEKEND SS13

What better university campus is there in the whole world when your very own - KCL's Law campus at Somerset House - changes every season? In the summer the courtyard blossoms with flowers, the winter brings with it an ice-skating rink and this spring, Somerset House has bestowed upon us (as it does every season) London Fashion Week. You can't live in London without being influenced by its quirky styles - pastel haired girls, metallic studded leather boots and loud, bright colours pepper London's streets.

As a final year student, I feel an uncontrollable desire to experience everything I can before my time here is up, so I finally made it a priority to go for LFW. Unfortunately, all the designer catwalk tickets were sold out, but I managed to snag tickets for the trend catwalk + shop. Curated by Hilary Alexander, the SS13 trend show comprised 4 trends, all collections from Issa London, ALICE by Temperly and Twenty8Twelve. 

First Trend: Eastern Promise

It's incredibly difficult to photograph models on a runway because they're constantly moving. There is a split second when they pause to pose, and that is your highest chance of getting a decently composed shot without the bright lights overexposing your subject.

Note to self for future catwalk shows: 
1. Move to the very front of the catwalk so the lights are behind you. 
2. Adjust ISO to 100 and exposure compensation to -1.1 so as to prevent the models from looking like indiscernibly white figures. 
3. Hold your breath when you squeeze the shutter so you don't get blurry photos

Second Trend: Dolls House

 Third Trend: Graphic Art

Finale

LFW Shop at Somerset House

"Like bicester village on steroids" - Charlie 

 If you're into designer shoes, dresses or maybe even, like me, looking for a clutch for the upcoming law ball, Somerset House is currently stocked to the brim with unique finds at decent prices. (By decent, I mean decent for designer wear.) I found a House of Harlow clutch that looks very similar to one I saw at Alexander McQueen in Bicester Village for £75 (previously at £210). If you're a girl sorely in need of a good shopping spree after a long week of essay writing, I'd suggest saving up and getting a ticket for LFW Shop. If all the good stuff has run out by the time you read this, then check out Toni & Guy for a £5 fringe trim, get your nails done for free at the vodafone lounge or buy Elle for £1. 

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I could photograph people all day; I'm so jealous of Scott Schuman of The Sartorialist. Immersing myself in the creative energy that fashion inevitably carries with it, I can't help but get a little wistful - as hard as it is to break into any kind of creative industry, be it fashion or photography or journalism, the one, very rare, thing that keeps these people going is passion. 

LONDON: Restaurant Gordon Ramsay

Roasted rabbit loin with Bayonne ham, confit leg, Puy lentils, toasted hazelnuts and pickled mustard seed

A world away from Gordon Ramsay's Maze, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay was a breath of fresh air. Although my salad starter was nowhere near as epiphany-inducing as the lemon salad I had at Dinner by Heston, Gordon Ramsay's mains were exquisitely executed. My roasted rabbit loin (I know, I know. I'm eating a bunny. But it was oh so worth it.) was tender, flavourful and ingeniously paired with a side of lentils enveloped in hazelnuttiness. 

The better the bread, the better the restaurant. The mark of a truly good restaurant is warm, freshly toasted bread. This is the most irresistible form of carbohydrate out there and, slathered with butter, a revelation on the taste buds. 

Smoked potato and poached hen’s egg ravioli with pak choi, roast chicken jus and leek veloute

Spiced free range Devon duck with Swiss chard, beetroot and grilled onions

Banana parfait, peanut butter mousse and bitter chocolate sandwich with caramelised bananas

Roasted pineapple with coriander financiers, coconut sorbet and vanilla cream

Though I found the roasted pineapple slightly disappointing in terms of the excitement/luxurious factor, the financiers it came with were one of the best I've had. (My other favourite financiers are the ones at Pollen Street Social). Moist without being cloyingly sweet, these financiers are the pinnacle of baking - simple, uncomplicated and perfect from crust to centre. 

The post-dessert treats that came were no different from the ones that were presented two years ago when I first came to London. Strawberry ice cream is encrusted in white chocolate and floats magically on a bed of dry ice. If there were one thing differentiating this michelin star restaurant from the rest, it would be this. 

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay

68 Royal Hospital Rd

London

Greater London SW3 4HP

020 7352 4441