Food: Britney's blowout

Things are definitely cooking for Britney as she opens her funky new restaurant in New York. So, forget trying to emulate Britney's washboard abs and instead work on your pot belly by sampling the princess of pop's favourite dishes. The restaurant was originally to be called 'Pinkies', Justin's pet name for her, but after their split Britney had a change of heart and named it Nyla after her favourite burger bar in Louisiana.

Ms Spears says, 'I am so excited about Nyla. It is going to be a hip restaurant with a southern flair in the heart of New York City. What more can I ask for?'

But you won't find the pop tart wearing a pinny and slaving for you in the kitchen cos she'll be far too busy munching her favourite fodder, Louisiana Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes (between ciggies that is).

Louisiana Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes

YOU WILL NEED

900g/2lb jumbo lump crabmeat

large pinch of fresh tarragon

large pinch of fresh thyme, chopped

3 cloves of garlic, chopped

75g/3oz mayonnaise

salt and pepper

125g/4oz flour

2 eggs, lightly beaten

175g/6oz breadcrumbs

knob of butter

Roll together the crabmeat, fresh herbs, garlic, mayonnaise, salt and pepper into 50g/2oz balls. Dredge the balls in flour and coat with the egg, using an eggbrush. Cover each cake with breadcrumbs. Saute in butter until golden brown. Place in the oven for 5 minutes at 200F/400C/gas mark 6 to finish off. Serve with salad.

Red Velvet

Cake

YOU WILL NEED

125g/4oz butter

350g/12oz sugar

11/2 tsp vanilla essence

2 eggs

3 level tbsp cocoa powder

pinch of salt

4 tbsp red food colouring

450g/1lb self-raising flour, sieved

225g/8oz buttermilk

1 tbsp white vinegar

1 tsp baking soda

For the cream cheese icing:

225g/8oz butter

225g/8oz cream cheese

450g/1lb icing sugar

1 tsp vanilla essence

Cream together the butter, sugar and vanilla essence until fluffy. Beat eggs into the mixture. Stir together the cocoa, salt and food colouring until it's a paste, then add to the butter, sugar and egg mixture. Add the flour and mix in, then add the buttermilk. Mix the vinegar and baking soda together, then add to mixture. Place in a 9- inch spring-form pan. Bake at 180F/350C/gas 4 for 30 mins. For the icing, beat butter until light and fluffy. Add the cream cheese, icing sugar and vanilla essence and apply to cake.

French Quarter Lemonade

It's normally comprised of Bacardi, lemonade and cranberry juice. But of course Britney drinks it without the Bacardi, being only 20.

Celebrity owner

Britney Spears

Celebrity sightings

Jessica Simpson, MTV's Brian McFayden, Lionel Richie, Ja Rule, David Copperfield, Donald Trump, BB Mak, Nikki Hilton

Cuisine Regional American cuisine, with major influences from Britney's home state, Louisiana.

Nyla restaurant/lounge is in the Dylan Hotel, 52 East 41st Street, New York 001 212 682 2860.

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