Maison Bertaux

I don't want to head up the majority of my posts with the name of a Soho eat or drinkery but I guess I am surrounded by them so it is where I go! In fact it is the principle reason why I rarely venture to other areas of London
Before entering Maison Bertaux territory I must just recount last night's revelry which was a lovely pizza once again at Lorelei. I have also discovered what that word means - there was a clue in the restaurant - a ten foot square mural on the wall depicting a mermaid alongside a river!
The Lorelei is a mythical creature thought to have been responsible for luring sailors and boatmen to their deaths at a certain point along the Rhine. Mermaid like or at least female in appearance. I only found out coz it was the answer to yesterday's 19 down in the Daily Telegraph Cryptic crossword!
So this morning I ventured to Maison Bertaux - just across Old Compton Street and to the south part of Greek Street. It always has the old rustic tables outside with blue check tablecloths. It is another time capsule inside with a melee of trinkets, champagne bottles , an old piano , peeling paint - just like your grandmother's front room (although not my grandmother's front room which was demolished with the rest of her house to make way for the car park to a large office block!) A very charming experience with the pastry chef bringing down tray after tray of beautiful smelling croissants and cakes - a true cholesterolfest of a place. I had a cup of tea - served in a pot with a strainer - that's the way - with a lovely butter croissant - delicious.
On the subject of Champagne Bottles, I am somewhat intrigued as to the various names for the different sizes - so I think it is time I learned them :
Magnum - two bottles
Jeroboam - four bottles
Rehoboam - six bottles
Methusela - eight bottles
Salmanazar - twelve bottles
Balthazar - sixteen bottles
Nebuchadnezzar - twenty bottles
My Judy Really Makes Splendid Belching Noises - is the way to remember the names (apparently!)
And I know in Kettners (champagne rooms round the corner in Romilly Street) they have a Nebuchadnezzar on the menu - about £1,000 as I recall - can't remember the brand (not as in Russell...)
Last night before dinner I put together some old footage of the horn section miming on a beach in Scotland to Red Stripe Boogie. We were playing at the Kirkcudbright Jazz Festival in the summer of 2007 - it was raining but between the drops we did a little bit of filming - it has come out quite well as you will see - obviously subject to your opinion.................
If I hadn't been at Lorelei last night I would have probably been at the Sebastian Horsley Appreciation Society's night out having now finished his book and seen the youtube video of his crucifixion (yes I did use the right word!)
So anyway back to work now - looks like we are going to be returning to some festivals we played at a few years ago and Marlborough Jazz Festival has just been confirmed which is nice. Enjoy the vid.........