Food-To-Go à la Haute Couture! At Ottolenghi, they take their food seriously and make everything from scratch – from the marshmallow to a French bean salad. And their croissants were named “best in London” by Time Out and take three days to make in the traditional French way.

The little deli in Belgravia opened on March 1 and is the fourth Ottolenghi shop in London. Manager Trisha is passionate about her fresh food, all made on-site in a kitchen below the shop. With inspiration from the Mediterranean countries, the deli has a daily changing menu, enticing your taste buds with lovely fresh salads, roasted aubergines, oven-dried tomatoes, roasted beetroot, roast potatoes, roasted chicken and much more. And a wide selection of baked and patisserie goodies for your sweet tooth.

There is also a café in the deli, with a small communal table at the back for a quick grub. Don’t know what to cook at your small dinner party? Let Ottolenghi replicate their luscious counter at home.

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Address: 13 Motcomb Street, London SW1X 8LB
www.ottolenghi.co.uk

Now Europeans don’t have to go to New York anymore to get their Banana Republic fix!

On March 20, the cheap’n’chic U.S fashion giant is opening its first European flagship store in Regent Street. According to Vogue.co.uk, the new three-story flagship store will include Michael Hoppen-curated art collections and furniture.

Banana Republic is known to be an accessible luxury brand, offering high-quality apparel and accessories collections for men and women to affordable prices. And for 2008, the collections seem to have moved out from the board rooms and into a chic happy holiday life.

Let’s go bananas next week!

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Address: 224 Regent Street, London W1B 3BR
www.bananarepublic.eu

London’s hip crowd has waited long for Alan Yau to open his new Japanese restaurant in Mayfair - Sake No Hana (saké flower).

A follow-up to Yau’s Chinese megahits Hakkasan and Yauatcha, this brand new restaurant was originally scheduled for launch in February 2007, but finally had their first guests in the beginning of December of last year.

The minimalistic restaurant is designed by architect Kengo Kuma and breathes breathes the spirit of traditional Japanese craft. It’s inspired by an Japanese izakaya - the low-seating sake bars where workers gather to drink and graze.

The menu is made up of small plates meant to be shared. Yau has created a pick’n’mix menu of both home-style and creatively modern dishes of traditional Japanese cuisine. And as the restaurant name implies, Sake is a specialty here. Try the sakatini, a fresh, superdry martini infused with cucumber.

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Address: 23 St. James’s St., London SW1

As Valentine’s Day approcahes, it’s time to figure out how to say ”I Love You”. Perhaps a handwritten message to get your loved one to melt in your hands. The cool chocolate boutique Melt in Notting Hill, offers a super shiny chocolate heart to fill with your own personal message.

Melt is a veritable mecca for chocolate lovers. The chic, all-white boutique on Ledbury Road makes their amazing range of chocolates on the premises. Here customers can watch the chocolatiers in action, using quality ingredients from all around the world and organic where possible and appropriate. Just imagine the intoxicating och lovely smell.

Happy Valentine!

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Address: 59 Ledbury Road, Notting Hill, London
www.meltchocolates.com

Andaz is a new boutique hotel created by The Hyatt Hotels, who has taken over the former Great Eastern Hotel.

The Andaz promise a new hotel experience and aims to be personal, simple and effortless. There is no front desk, no check-in lines, no separate concierge desk or receptionist – just a welcome area resembling a living room rather than a lobby. Instead guests are greeted by a personal host, who is dedicated to the comfort and preferences of the guests during their stay.

The hotel is also eco-friendly by offering organic food and beverage, using fully biodegradable products and focusing on energy efficiency. The hotel has five restaurants that specialize in sushi, pub food, fine dining, seafood and bistro fare.

More Hyatt Andaz hotels will open around the world and next to open soon are two hotels in New York.

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Address: 40 Liverpool Street, London, EC2M 7QN
london.liverpoolstreet.andaz.com

The world famous French chef Alain Ducasse is coming to town. His new culinary creation, Ducasse at The Dorchester, opens in November at the legendary hotel The Dorchester. Overlooking Hyde Park, the restaurant seats 80 guests, including a small private dining space and occupies the area where the Terrace private dining room is currently located.

With an entirely new and original menu overseen by Ducasse and his team, the venue is sure to become one of London’s quintessential fine dining experiences.

Alain Ducasse has a collection of Michelin stars as well as a collection of restaurants. In Paris, he oversees the restaurant at The Dorchester’s sister hotel and operates his own restaurant, the Hôtel Plaza Athénée. Spoon, Louis XV, a couple of French country hotels and the upcoming Adour in New York are more stars on his restaurant heaven.

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Addess: Park Lane, London W1K 1QA, England
Tel: +44 20 7629 8888, Fax: +44 20 7629 8080