Yummy Mummy

Ham&High restaurant critic Victoria Prever's guide to where to
take your mum to make her feel pampered this Mother's Day

MOTHER'S Day is firmly inked in my diary each year. A card is sent, flowers dispatched and a meal cooked.

Naively, I assumed Mothering Sunday had been celebrated in Britain as a Christian holiday ever since the seventeenth century.

Back then it was a day to visit your home (or mother) church, giving apprentices and servants a chance to return home to see their mothers.

They'd take them a 'mothering cake' and enjoy a family meal together.

How quaint, I thought, that we've continued such a lovely custom.

But it turns out we didn't.

The Mothering Sunday custom had more or less died out here by the nineteenth century.

It was only after World War Two when the US servicemen (who'd been celebrating their version of Mother's Day in May since the early 1900s) returned the custom to us.

Greetings cards manufacturers hooked onto it and another shopping excuse was born.

Whatever the origin, it's still a chance to spoil your mum or get spoilt yourself if you are one.

If your mum likes her food there are plenty of local choices – whatever your budget.

For the environmentally sound mum you can't beat a Mother's Day trip to Marylebone Farmer's Market.

It opens from 10am to 2pm but won't take too long to walk round.

Win points with a bunch or two of (good value) daffodils and tulips from the market.

Then have a mooch around the fish, fruit and veg, meats, cheeses, chutneys, cakes and other locally produced goodies.

You can delight her with a trot down to nearby organic butcher the Ginger Pig, cheese lover's heaven La Fromagerie (complete with walk in room of cheese) and (further up Marylebone High Street) chocaholic's paradise, Rococo.

If you're a devoted child, perhaps you'll take home a selection of goodies to cook up for her lunch while she puts her feet up.

If you're culinarily challenged, and if Mum likes a bit of culture, take a stroll down to The Wallace Collection.

At the back of the house, in a glassed over courtyard, sits a restaurant owned by Oliver Peyton – the tall thin judge on the left in the Great British Menu.

Wrought iron chairs with burgundy and gold cushions complete the French conservatory feel although the incongruous wooden bar with burgundy fringing appears to have been plucked and plonked straight from a Marriott hotel.

The Collection (amassed by four Marquesses of Hertford and one Sir Richard Wallace) includes work from many of Europe's finest, such as Titian and Rembrandt.

The menu is 'tres French'.

They will be offering a special Mother's Day menu, are child friendly and expecting a crowd so make sure you book.

If you fancy staying closer to home, you could take your Mum for a spin round Lauderdale Park with its manicured gardens and great views over London.

If Mummy's offspring are at ankle biting level, pop into the café in Lauderdale House, run for 25 years by the charming Kate and Salvatore.

Their simple menu offers a Sunday Roast and plenty of child friendly dishes.

If you're the child, why not drag your mum over to Highgate High Street to San Carlo where you can keep conversation to a minimum as you enjoy their Sunday Jazz Brunch.

If all you want is a bit of decent posh nosh then my advice would be to seek out one of the really good value set menus offered in some of our local eateries.

I have made no secret of my passion for Odette's and their great value set lunch.

My mother would be there in a shot – knife and fork in hand.

They do have competition on the Sunday lunch venue slot.

Around the corner, L'Absinthe offers a more casual but equally delicious alternative.

In Swiss Cottage, Bradley's glamorous décor and Sunday lunch menu is also a good choice.

West Hampstead newcomer, The Green Room, is also somewhere to do Mummy proud.

Marylebone Farmer's Market
a: Cramer Street Car park Just off Mar ylebone High Street, W1
t: 020-7833 0338
Opening hours:
Sundays 10am

The Ginger Pig
a: 8-10 Moxon Street Marylebone London W1U 4EW
t: 020-7935 7788
Opening hours:
Monday – Thursday 9am-6pm
Friday – Saturday 9am- 6.30pm
Sunday 9am-3pm

La Fromagerie
a: 2–4 Moxon Street, Marylebone, London W1U 4EW
t: 020-7935 0341
f: 020-7935 6245
e: moxon@lafromagerie.co.uk
Opening hours:
Monday 10.30am-7.30pm,
Tuesday - Friday 8am- 7.30pm,
Saturday 9am-7pm
Sunday 10am-6pm

Rococo
a: 45 Marylebone High Street, London W1U 5HG
t: 020-7935 7780
f: 020-7935 7766
e: 45marylebone@rococochocolates.com

The Green Room
a: 182 Broadhurst Gardens NW6 3AY
t: 020-7372 8188

The Wallace at The Wallace Collection
a: Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN
Collection open daily 10am – 5pm The Wallace open daily Sunday - Thursday: 10am-5pm (last orders at 4.30pm) Friday - Saturday: 10am-11pm

Lauderdale House
a:Highgate Hill, Waterlow Park, London N6 5HG
t: 020-8348 8716
Café open 10am until dusk

San Carlo
a: 2 Highgate High Street, Highgate, London, N6 5JL
t: 020-8340 5823

Odette's
a: 130 Regents Park Road, London NW1 8XL
t: 020-7586 8569
w: www.odettesprimrosehill.com

Bradley's
a: 25 Winchester Road, London NW3 3NR
t: 020-7722 3457

L'Absinthe
a: 40 Chalcot Road, London NW1 8LS
t: 020-7483 4848
Opening hours:
Tuesday – Friday: 12pm-2.30pm and 4pm-10.30pm Saturday: 12pm-4pm and 6pm- 10.30pm Sunday: 12pm-4pm and 6pm- 9.30pm