Due Sept 05 - LONDON MEET - Aug and Oct welcome!

[franch]

Just seeing if we can get the ball rolling. I'm in N1 and am free most mornings till about 12, and most afternoons except Fridays from about 3.30, though these times can be shifted a bit.

Everyone else: times, places?

Fantastic - looking forward to it! Have been to the Providores a few times in the weekend - not sure when their brunch menu ends and their tapas menu starts, but their brunch menu is still tasty (and they have great coffee for those of us not abstaining - most coffee makes me gag these days, but for some reason can happily drink theirs!). Also, you can't book for their brunch sittings, you just turn up and queue, but the queue usually moves quite fast. We could always meet there and assess the queue and go somewhere else if the wait is going to be too long...

Breakfast at the Tapa Room is served 10am-3pm on Sats; 'meals' aren't served till 4pm. So if we don't fancy queueing and/or want more than what Time Out calls 'posh breakfast fry-ups and brunchy snacks', we might be better trying elsewhere? My only concern is that queuing while simultaneously trying to find 4 other people we haven't met before might be a recipe for chaos!

Just realised you don't need my password to access the Time Out reviews & info - they do a free trial I think. Once you've registered just type W1U 4QF into the 'location' box and you'll get a list of all the nearest eating places.

I see what you mean about the Fromagerie place! Here's the review of No. 6:

"Small but complete, No.6 is a beguiling sort of place. It?s a deli-cum-café, with a counter at the front dispensing pastries, tarts, slices of quiche and other tempting delicacies. The space is light and airy, furnished with a few stripped pine tables and chairs and fresh flowers. Excellent bread, unsalted butter and olives arrive at the table together with the menu: a daily changing list offering half a dozen choices in each course. It?s all kept very simple; a few fresh ingredients are carefully put together with the minimum of fuss but maximum flavour. Delicately perfumed courgette and basil tart came with a glossy side salad of mixed leaves. A heartier main course of grilled lamb cutlets was served with aubergines, rocket and rosemary-roasted potatoes. Another main ? an exceedingly light and fluffy goat?s cheese soufflé ? was cleverly brought down to earth by a beetroot and walnut salad. Puddings are equally rewarding, whether apple tart with ginger ice-cream, or a creamy amaretto cheesecake. Service is charming and prompt, though you?ll want to linger over lunch."

YUM! I've had my lunch, and reading that has made me hungry again! Agree that it will be more difficult to find each other in a line - a booking is probably a better idea. No. 6 sounds good to me. Do you think that 1pm would give us enough time to eat and get to the nail place, or should we meet at 12:30?

12.30 sounds safer. Rather fancy the goats cheese souffle though - aaggghhh!!! 19 weeks to go.....

Andif - I went to an 'Early Pregnancy' evening with an NCT teacher the other night, and she put on nibbles for us - among the nibbles were 3 yummy goats cheeses, which she said are fine because they were pasteurised. Think she got them at Waitrose - might help kill the craving (and am sure that if you asked at the restaurant they'd be able to tell you if the cheese they used was pasteurised or not - fingers crossed that it is !)

Thanks for that Kiwifruit - I thought it was the fact it came from goats! Does that mean feta can be ok too (although I ate loads the other day anyway before I realised/thought I shouldnt!) Trouble is, it's blue cheese I crave most and as far as I know, it's never pasteurised!!! Will def look out for the goats cheese when I do my ocado shop tomorrow though!

No, it's not the goats, it's the pasteurised thing - I saw some pasteurised feta the other day at the shop around the corner from us - guess you just need to check the label. Go forth and shop!

I know this is hijacking the thread, but I'm getting very confused about cheese!! Found some yummy looking goats brie today which said it was from pasteurised milk, but said mould-ripened which is what we are meant to avoid! HELP!

On a more relevant note, don't forget to wear flip flops to the meet up - I ruined my first ever pedicure by shoving trainers back on afterwards!!

Yep, looks like mould ripened is out - check this link out from the University of Sheffield, which has a good list of cheeses you can eat, and those you can't... food lists

Good tip about the flip flops - ruined my last pedicure by putting my shoes back on

We are going to look so hilarious, 5 bumps waddling along Marylebone High St in our flipflops

Shall I book then - No. 6 for 5 people at 12.30??

Oh - we should probably exchange mobile no's in case we all lose each other on the day. If you CAT me I'll compile a list and forward it to everyone if that suits?

Franch, if you could book, that would be great. Will CAT you with my mobile number

Great Franch, will CAT you if I can work out how!!

Great list of cheeses Kiwifruit, but I only fancy the ones on the AVOID list, having stuffed half a block of emmental this afternoon!!

OOh, I've done it!! (Sorry for overexcitement, but brain not working well these days so quite an achievement!......)

At least we won't have to wear pink carnations or anything, if we're all wearing flip flops!!!

Have just left a message on No. 6's answerphone. Will of course ask them to add a chair or two if we get any late additions to the gang! Info:

Address: 6 George Street, W1U 3QX
Phone: 020 7935 1910
Travel: Bond Street tube

Those of you who CAT me, I'll also email you the name that the table is booked under, so that you can ask for it when you arrive (no peering under the tables to spot bumps and flipflops )

Just waiting for CATs from LadyL & Boompi, then I'll email you all (not sure when Boompi gets back from holiday)

I've sent you a "CAT" thingiebob (I think!!) That No.6 place looks lovely!

Agh - No. 6 rang me back and they're not open on Saturdays! Never occurred to me tbh.

Here are some alternatives:
Divertimenti - small cafe at the back of the cookshop
Eat and Two Veg - veggie (obviously)
Marco Polo - "breezy, bright caff" that does Middle Eastern food as well as all-day breakfasts etc - apparently a haunt of stars working at the BBC next door
La Galette - Breton creperie

Pooh. Divertimenti always smells great when you go in there, but there's just one big table at the back, and you can't book. Eat and Two Veg would be fine (haven't eaten there, but it's always a busy) - am pretty sure you can book, and would be good for LadyL. Haven't heard of the others, but they sound fine too.

Knew it was all going too well! [eternal pessimist face]

I'll leave the decision up to those of you who seem to know the area well! (Cop out i know!)

They all sound lovely! The Veggie restaurant looks fab, but I don't want to monopolise the food situation I like Middle Easern food and pancakes so I'm easy with whatever other people want to do

Yay! I've just booked a table for 5 @ Eat and Two Veg for 12.30pm on Sat 14 May. Will email you the name it's booked under, plus all RL names & mobile no's, once I've heard from Boompi

Back from holiday - plans sound great. Thanks for all organisation guys! Will CAT you now Franch.

Thanks for all the CATs - have changed the lunch booking to 6 people, and have just emailed you all the relevant mobile no's etc.

Can't wait