British Invasion

Its official. 

I have my first ginger obsession. Not like the condiment ginger which I will inhale at every sushi place that I go to. But my first ginger obsession via the human kind. 

Here's how it started.... it was a cold and blustery day.

 Kidding. It was a normal Tuesday and I was on my lunch break reading everything that I could about Katherine Middleton. Don't question, just accept that I have a recent British fetish. I pretty much kissed the clerk when I found my local Trader Joe's carries crumpets  I mean, really! How exciting is it to have tea and crumpets?! I'm practically hanging out in Notting Hill for pete's sake! 

Anyhooo.... I was reading about the exploits of the Duchess when I suddenly took a google detour and found myself staring into the broodingly handsome, unshaven in the best possible GQ kind of way, face of Tom Aikens. 

Now you know me, while a pretty face is enough to give me pause I also need substance of some sort. I have to have some kind of seasoning in the broth in order for me to want to dip my pasta into it. 

Luckily for me (and you, now that I have made you aware of this wonderful man) Tom's talents extend past simply looking good. He was the youngest British chef to win two Michelin stars at Pied a Terre, in London's Charlotte Street, in the 90's. Since he graced the earth with his presence in 1970 this would out him barely in his 20's when he accomplished this feat! 

Swoon! 

And his talents go even deeper! My tittering on food is positively childlike compared to his prose on the culinary experience in his restaurant. I wish I could hear him say this in that sexy British accent of his!  

‘The change is more than skin-deep. The experience begins in understated surroundings, with just a linen napkin and a glass. From there it builds up and unfolds, like a story: excitement and surprise as each course arrives.’’

Seriously! Someone who is that passionate about food has my attention. 

Go here if you are lucky enough to get to London http://www.tomaikens.co.uk/
If your not, you can always check him out on youtube. I have to admit that I did watch one or two of the videos just to hear him talk about nosh. 

What I wouldn't give to have breakfast in bed with this fellow! I am a sucker for whiskers but on Tom for some reason they seem that much more manly!