Honest Burgers and Tragic Opera

Alex's current show, the great tragic opera La Traviata by Verdi, premiered at Soho Theatre a fortnight ago. Alex wore his dinner jacket, his performance uniform, and I dolled up in the full-length dress I wore to St. John's May Ball, for a night at the opera.

But first, burgers.

Honest Burgers is on Meard Street, a mere stone's throw from Soho Theatre, so Alex and I decamped there for some delicious meat and carbs to tide us over during the performance. 

We both ordered the Cheese with Stilton, and extra backyard mayo - a ramped-up condiment to accompany the famously delectable chips, generously seasoned with rosemary salt. 

Can't help feeling hungry every time I see that photo. A really top-notch burger, one of the best I've had in London for sure.

We walked back to the theatre along Meard Street, home to one of the best door plaques in London.

Also some of the prettiest looking inner-city houses that A and I were lusting after.

And then it was showtime. This was my first time seeing La Traviata performed and, as always when I've listened to a show soundtrack before seeing it live, it was wonderful to see the plot weaving together. 

There was some truly amazing talent in the cast and band, just one of four casts and three bands which rotate most nights. As is standard with Opera Up Close, the company Alex works with, the giant orchestra usually typical to a Royal Opera House or ENO performance of a work like Traviata has been stripped down to a grand piano, clarinet and cello, meaning that the vocalists are given more room to shine in the small venue. Louisa Tee, playing the doomed courtesan Violetta, especially sparkled on stage, with her sassy attitude and stunning, technically strong vocals. I also loved the decadent Roaring Twenties flavour of the wardrobe and set. 

After La Traviata came celebratory opening night drinks in the bar downstairs, mixing with Alex's theatre buddies and a big cuddle to say well done!

La Traviata has deservedly had some fantastic reviews - The Stage said it 'hit all the right notes' - and I urge anyone with an interest in drama and music to go and see it before it closes on 14th September! You can read more about the show on the Soho Theatre website here. 

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Riverside Feast at Battersea Power Station

I'm a bit of a fan of Battersea Power Station. London definitely wouldn't be complete without its mammoth shadow over the Thames. Usually I don't have much of an excuse to visit it, but excitingly, there's a 'Power of Summer' pop-up park playing host to the Everyman Cinema and Street Feast right on the doorstep of this industrial behemoth at the moment, up until the 31st August. If you're in London make sure you pop down south for a visit before it's redeveloped into apartments. How cool would it be to live inside the Power Station?!

Jess and I were feeling peckish and decided to swing by Riverside Feast for a bite to eat and to perve on the industrial beauty of the surrounding area. Okay, maybe that last bit only applies to me...I gawked up at the mighty Power Station and reached for my trusty SLR straight away for a picture, then realised that I'd idiotically left my camera battery in its charger. So it's iPhone snaps all the way today, I'm afraid!

We made a beeline for the bar to quench raging thirsts brought on by stifling Tube and bus journeys. I had a whole pint of beer (I usually go for hobbit-sized half-pints so this was quite a feat for me!) 

What goes with beer? Dirty chicken, of course. We bought a plate of Orange Buffalo chicken wings. The meat is smothered in a bright orange, tangy sauce, accompanied by a puddle of blue cheese crack dip and a few sticks of celery, which I'm sure basically cancelled out the rest of the calories. This is messy, moreish food - perfect food for stuffing in your face as you're revving up with a good gossip with a friend you haven't seen in months. Our faces were practically orange by the time we'd finished.

We ran around the park shutterbugging with Jess's awesome Fujifilm Instax and making friends with randomers kind enough to take pictures (and have pictures taken themselves!)

Oh Battersea, you photogenic thing, you.

Next up? More food, of course...

Jess went for an amazing looking burger from Dip & Flip (see top of this post to see its droolworthiness captured in all its iPhone glory), while my poison of choice was a Nikkei salmon salad from Aji Ceviche. I was a wee bit disappointed that there wasn't more ceviche, as I'd expected a bed of salmon surrounded by the other ingredients. The quinoa and cholco corn made up for it though, and was pleased I chose this as my main as it was quite light, leaving ample room for...

Le Bun fries with truffle mayo! These were INCREDIBLE. Possibly contender for best fries I've eaten in my life! The fries were crisp and skinny, smothered in rich, hot truffle mayonnaise. The stuff of dreams.

I've fallen in love with this American Apparel skirt which I picked up a couple of weeks ago! It was pricey (as all AA products are) but I feel so breezy and happy when I'm wearing it. And I love the way it swishes around when I walk.

Finally the sun crept to the edge of the horizon for one of the most beautiful sunsets I've seen this summer, promising at least one more day of the hot weather we've been having. We Londoners have to embrace it - this is our short-lived summer!

Halo glow from the sunset!

Cheers for a fantastic evening, Street Feast! I'll be paying you another visit very soon. Next on my list is the Dalston Yard outpost...Summer is going a little bit too quickly for my liking!

What did you get up to this weekend?

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