FESTIVAL BRAZIL

As a Brazilian I often come across stereotypical comments about my country; Football, Samba, Beautiful Women and Carnival are the words most associated with Brazil. However from time to time Brazilians take over a little part of the world and show their complexity, creativity and passion as individuals and an emerging country.

I see myself standing in the middle of a crowd at the Royal Festival Hall during Festival Brazil; counting my steps and looking attentively to the instructor on stage while she tries to teach ,a group of enthusiasts, the first steps into a Samba routine. 5 minutes into my shameful attempt at samba dance and I am sweating, as if I was under Rio`s 40 degrees; I stop to take a breath and can`t help but notice that there are over 100 people uncontrollably shaking their bodies to the intoxicating rhythm of the live performance of Paraiso School of Samba. I feel my eyes filling up with water and my heart with pride, but I am not quite sure if the tears are a mix of emotion or just the pain on my tights. No wonder "cariocas" have an amazing body - What a work out!

And if like me a cultural feast is not complete without food, London has many wonderful authentic Brazilian restaurants, so enjoy a little bit of Brazil in London and for information and promotion in some of the best Brazilian restaurants sing up now at realtimeseating.com 

24/08/2010 permalink | 0 Comments »

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What is Otarian?

Otarian, a new boutique fast-casual restaurant

chain, is set to have a big impact on the influential London food scene with

the opening of its first location in the United Kingdom this summer. Built

on a sustainable platform and based on the principles of vegetarianism,

Otarian will be the first global chain to carbon footprint all of its menu.

Otarian provides consumers with a simple and delicious way to do their bit

for the planet. For example by swapping your usual meat based lunch for an

Otarian Carbon saving combo meal you could save 2.3kg of carbon, that's

equivalent to the CO2e emissions of 4 central London black cab journeys.

While if every meat eating Londoner swapped their usual lunch for an Otarian

Carbon Saving Combo once a week for a year 0.86 Mt CO2e would be saved -

that's equivalent to turning off the power at the Houses of Parliament for

over 70 years.

According to Otarian founder Radhika Oswal, the Otarian concept combines a

strong commitment to sustainability with a passion for superb cuisine,

resulting in a mouth-watering dining experience that is also good for the

planet. The business has been built on the three key pillars of

sustainability: Environmental, social, and economical.

Otarian also represents a significant advancement in sustainable business

practices. All decisions about Otarian's food and operations are made with

sustainability at the forefront. Some of these include:

* Dishes that yield lower carbon foot prints than comparable meat-based

dishes

* No air freight policy - Ingredients that would typically be air freighted,

are instead transported by road. Dishes are reformulated to exclude these

ingredients if a reliable supply is unavailable without using air transport

* 98% of restaurant waste composted or recycled

* All packaging compostable, recyclable or reusable

* Sustainable design and architecture

Otarian will open the doors of its first restaurants in London at Wardour

Street, Soho and Shaftesbury Avenue, Covent Garden on August 20th, and

Regent Street later in the year. Restaurant hours will be 11 am -10 pm,

prices range from £3.95 - £6.25 for a main dish. For more information visit

www.Otarian.com

24/08/2010 permalink | 0 Comments »

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Dinner on the London Eye

For the second year running Ramsay will be cooking in London's most

sought-after pop-up restaurant where one capsule on the London Eye will be

transformed into the capital's most exclusive restaurant, completing one

rotation for each course. Ten guests will have the London Eye to themselves

to enjoy dinner 135m above the River Thames with what's been described as

the UK's most exclusive chef's table.

London Evening Standard restaurant critic and Festival Founder Fay Maschler

said "The London Restaurant Festival 2010 is so proud to be working with

Gordon Ramsay once again. This night means such a huge amount to the

festival but also to our official LRF charity StreetSmart."

The StreetSmart charity works with London's homeless to provide food,

clothes and shelter and is well known for working with London's restaurant

industry to raise money.

The winning bidder and their nine guests will have dinner cooked for them by

Gordon Ramsay and will get then chance to meet the chef. There will also be

a champagne reception which will be hosted at the brand new Park Plaza

Westminster Bridge Hotel. A varied wine selection which has been designed to

complement each menu will also be served

Last year an anonymous bidder paid an impressive £23,000.00 for the experience, so if you have some spare cash and would like to have dinner in the sky, that is your chance.

On the other hand, if like me your budget is tight you can still enjoy fabulous dinner experiences at your favourite local restaurant with up to 50% off. Now, that is a deal not to be missed! Just sign up @ realtimeseating.com

The 2010 London Restaurant Festival (4-18 October) http://www.visitlondon.com/londonrestaurantfestival/

in partnership with American Express

19/08/2010 permalink | 0 Comments »

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Happy Hour

Have you had one of those days when from the moment you wake up everything goes wrong?

Well that is exactly what happened to me last week.

As I made my way to an interview with Sally James - Business Affairs at Brooklands Radio; I left home at 11:30 and missed the train at Clapham Junction by 1min, one of those scenarios where the train is still at the platform but doors don`t open.

Following that the next train was delayed by 20mins.

By the time I got to Weybridge it was already 12:45pm (my interview started at 1pm)

I had never been to Weybridge before so I looked for a cab.No cabs anywhere. Asked for directions the guy said "short walk", it turned out to be a 15min walk, not good if you are already late worst if you are in very high heels.

On the way to the radio station I was caught by a downpour  without an umbrella.

Got to Weybridge centre, soaking wet, in a foul mood, aching feet and no one knew where the radio was.

I finally hailed a cab, just to realise that I had no money. "Can we stop at a cash machine?"

Tried to get money out of the cash machine, cash machine out of order. My patience was wearing thin, I was ready to sit down and cry, but instead I apologised to cab driver and asked for directions; only to learn that I was in front of the building

As soon as I got in, it was time to go on air.

As I sat down in front of the mic., partially out of breath all I could think was I am dripping wet!

What a day! Dare I listen to the interview?

Moral: We all have one of those days, thank God for the invention of happy hour. sign up at realtimeseating.com  and you can have even happier hour with up to 50% off discount.

Lucy (the soaking wet boss!)

17/08/2010 permalink | 0 Comments »

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On the spotlight

As soon as the Press Release for Real Time Seating was launched, we were inundated by local and national press wanting to know more about us.

Apart from the fact that the sole purpose of PR is to bring attention to your business, I was not quite prepared to the whole 15 minutes of fame experience, but again I am exaggerating the fame bit.

The PR kicked off with a series of photo shoots at the fabulous Twickenham restaurant Arthur`s on the Green. From there we moved on to radio interview. As a fist timer on the radio I felt a bit like a rabbit caught up on the headlights, but according to the experts I did a great job, however as a self confessed perfectionist I think I did a reasonable job and learned that laughing on air is not not such a good idea (it sounds horrible). You can listen to the interview athttp://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0092ysn/Surrey_Breakfast_with_Nick_Wallis_05_08_2010/(The interview is at the very end after the song "Hello")

As I get to grips with my new found fame, I am now preparing for a radio comeback, this time at Brooklands Radio (Friday 13/08/10 - time TBC). I must admit that I find the attention quite amusing and am looking forward to what is next; TV here I come. she says…

To find out more, sign up at realtimeseating.com and follow us on Twitter.

Until Next time...

Lucy

10/08/2010 permalink | 0 Comments »

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Village life in London – yes, we’re in Chiswick

Funny place, Chiswick. Famous for its villagey atmosphere, it’s also a town but, only 25 minutes by tube from Piccadilly Circus, it’s very much in London. Just don’t ever describe it as a suburb. We are Londoners who live in Chiswick.

With numerous independent shops – a butcher, fishmonger, greengrocer, grocer, several delicatessens, a baker, chocolatier, an ice cream shop and numerous one-off cafés – Chiswick is on the map as one of the capital’s best foodie shopping areas.

Yes, Chiswickians love to cook. We buy wallet-scorchingly expensive olive oils. Smoked mackerel, fresh from the smokery not vacuum-packed in a factory, turns into paté – when we’re not eating oysters. We’re the first to have Vacherin Mont D’Or on our cheeseboards in winter and the last to gorge on Bombay Alphonso mangoes as spring becomes summer. In the annual marmalade-making competition, the men are the most competitive – using unnecessarily extravagant ingredients to impress the celebrity judges.

But we’re not slaves to the kitchen. People who cook in Chiswick also eat out in Chiswick. A lot. From the Michelin-starred La Trompette to the greasy spoon by day, Thai by night, café (of which we have two), supper is not a meal but a hobby.

And we pursue our hobby locally – and I don’t mean in Chiswick. People who live in central Chiswick patronise restaurants near the High Road. Bedford Park residents stroll to the Duke of Sussex for a taste of Spain and Le Vacherin for Gallic gastronomy. Annie’s and Reef are first choice in Strand on the Green or around Chiswick House. Pissarro’s draws crowds from homes on the river. Stamford Brookers go to The Brook. Venturing beyond your very local restaurant does happen, of course, with many braving the long hard journey over the Hammersmith border to the sophisticated but unpretentious Indian Zing.

Which Chiswick eatery gets your vote? Nominate your favourite at www. realtimeseating.com  – and you could soon receive a special invitation to take up your hobby (or should that be habit?).

04/08/2010 permalink | 0 Comments »

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