florence and pisa

As my career has progressed I have realised that I like to research and organise. So for the second time in four years I organised a city break for myself and my female colleagues. I am lucky that the females in my department are such good friends and all around the same age. Four years we went to Istanbul and it was fantastic.

This year we decided to go to Florence. It is a place that all eight of us had not yet been to and all wanted to visit. So in the Summer of last year we booked flights with British Airways for under a hundred pounds.

Florence is beautiful and much more than I had expected. Sometimes it felt that you are were walking in a film set because it just seemed so surreal. The biggest surprise was the food. Because there was so many of us I researched hard for restaurants that took reservations and served traditional food that was popular with Florentines and not so much with tourists.

Anyway below are some of the pictures from my trip. Highlights were the pizzas at O'Munaciello which were fantastic and the eat all you want buffet brunch (22 euros)at Obika which was just sublime. Seeing the Leaning Tower was also a bit surreal for for all the times you see it in images the lean in the tower is really breathtaking.

 Quirky Interior of O'Munaciello

 Antipasti

 One of the best pizzas I have ever had

 Ponte Vecchio Bridge at night

 View of the Al Duomo

 Tiramisu Masterclass

 Al fresco dining at Il Latini www.illatini.com

Rabbit Gnocchi

Rabbit, veal, beef, chicken, pork

 Brunch Buffet at Obika

The Leaning Tower of Pisa



the perfect blue shirt

I have been on the look out for the perfect blue shirt for a long time. My style is very simple and classic and though I would love to rock an oversized white shirt for some reason I can't help thinking about my old school uniforms where a white shirt was mandatory everyday. A compromise however would be a classic blue shirt. I like the idea of wearing such a piece with denim shorts in the Summer or under a navy jumper in the Winter. The item is a versatile classic.

For me finding a shirt that fits right is like finding a pair of jeans. It is not easy. Only a fortnight ago I was in a GAP changing room with 5 different blue shirts and a range of sizes and not one fitted well. We all are different shapes and sizes and for me I need a shirt to fit my more than ample bosoms and the petite frame. .

Happily browsing online one evening last week I stumbled upon this shirt from the Atterley Road website.  It arrived very quickly and it is just the perfect fit. The shirt is made in Italy and the quality is very good. I also like to be comfy so the oversized style was the one for me. It is also currently on sale.

I wore it , just like the model below, with my white converse and my skinny jeans on Friday.

chocolate covered strawberries

I know this is a bit of a shocker but I have never had a chocolate covered strawberry until today. I remember walking past Godiva, several years ago in NYC I think and watching the shop assistants preparing them in the window. They drew one hell of a crowd and I just thought its a strawberry with chocolate, right? Wrong.

So today I decided to make my own. There is no recipe involved. Its pretty straight forward. Melt some chocolate then dip the strawberries and leave to set.

The outcome is pretty amazing. So simple but so delicious. I have now seen the light and next time I have a dinner party I'll be making these babies to have with coffee.

tonkotsu v bonedaddies

Sometimes after work, when both OH and I can't be bothered to cook, we eat out. We have our favourite places but lately over the past year we seem to have been choosing Japanese ramen more than anything else.

In the world of cheap eats, ramen is definitely a hearty contender. Its wholesome, filling and extremely delicious.

There are two ramen places in Soho which come to mind that are very popular with the London crowd. Both have queues snaking out of the door during peak times and both have a similar menu of a very limited number of main noodle soup dishes of three to four and a small selection of starters/sides.

The first place is Tonkotsu at 63 Dean St. Its small with an industrial stripped back interior which is basic but effective. In the window is the kitchen where the famous tonkotsu broth is made. (Tonkotsu  by the way is a ramen soup made from pork bones that are boiled for anything from 18 to 24 hours. The resulting broth/soup is creamy and delicious).

Tonkotsu the restaurant was opened by two men who saw a niche in the London market for a good ramen place. Recently they have also started to make their own noodles in-house using a traditional noodle making machine imported from Japan.

The second place is called Bone Daddies and was started by a chef that once worked at Nobu, the famous Japanese eaterie. Here the atmosphere is very different, the staff and the customers seem to be young twentysomethings who have the time to queue and the disposable income to spend. There is super cool music in the background that almost makes you believe you are in a club surrounded by the beautiful people rather than just eating a simple bowl of noodles. Tonkotsu on the other hand seems to tailor towards the quieter and more mature crowd.

Now down to the food. For me the best tonkotsu is from Tonkotsu. The broth is more flavoursome and creamy. Do not get me wrong about Bone Daddies though as they also do a very good tonkotsu but the other place has a far more superior soup and noodles concoction. However for side dishes/starters Bonedaddies were better in terms of taste and choice.




Tonkotsu Ramen from Bonedaddies

Tonkotsu Ramen from Tonkotsu



 

 

For me I also like the simplicity Tonkotsu offers in its stripped back interior and more laid back, slightly less unpretentious atmosphere because at the end of the day you cant get anymore humble than a simple bowl of soupy noodles.



outlet shopping in Hackney

A few years ago I heard that there was a Burberry Outlet shop in East London and in Hackney of all places. I did not believe it at first because Hackney is probably the last place where you would think Burberry would be. To be honest, Hackney is a bit out of the way to get to to only find the dregs of a sale rail there. You know some sort of high fashion pair of trousers only suited for the editorial pieces in Vogue rather than every day living. I guess hit and miss past experiences of outlet shopping in the UK have left me weighing up the pros and cons for taking time out of the weekend for something that may not be worth it at all.

Image from 360.com

Well after a discussion with my brother on the Saturday whene he told me he had bought a full price trench coat  from the flagship store on Regents Street ( what was he thinking at full price!?!)I thought I must visit the outlet. So off I trotted and drove to EH9 6LP in Hackney which only took 20 mins in the traffic. As expected it is in the most obscure place and was a standalone store until Pringle and Aquascutum moved next door late last year.

The Loot

Ok so first off was Burberry and my oh my what a surprise. The store is modern and large and stacked full of clothes, bags, scarves, accessories the lot. The store is also tailored to the Chinese tourist with signs in English as well as Chinese. The prize garments are obviously the trench coats and the range was amazing mostly all sizes and all colours. They also had a lot of thicker winter coats and light jackets. Prices are basically 200- 300 pounds off the market price for the popular trench coats. Everything else ranged from anything from 30% up to 70%. For the men the deals were a lot better and they also had a small children's wear section.

My purchases were a striped casual dress reduced from £265 to £79 from the Burberry Brit section. Teamed with simple ballet flats or sandals I think it will be a key Summer staple.

Perfect Summer staple

I also got a beige v neck 50% cashmere 50% wool jumper for my mum reduced from £175 down to £39. Simple and classic.

Aquascutum is a brand which is having a revival of sorts.It opened their outlet here at Chatham Place in December.  Hoping to take on its rival traditional English outfitter, Burberry, it is updating its rather old fashioned image. Its not there yet but with some clever marketing and hiring a hot designer I think it has the established name to do it. Anyway from here I got two grey simple round neck cashmere jumpers for the mother and mother in law. Holding these back and saving these as Christmas presents, I am sure they will appreciate them in Winter. The jumpers were 225 pounds down to 70 pounds and such bargains! Apparently the sales assistant told me that had I come before Easter everything in store was a further 30% off.

As for Pringle there was nothing there for me personally.

So for anyone wishing to visit Burberry Retail Outlet in Hackney please do so as I think you will find some real bargains!!!

All three stores are located on Chatham Place, Hackney, EH9 6LP.

what's inside my bag

I think the majority of women love to see what is in another womens bag. So this is what is in my work bag. My bag at the movement rotates between the Longchamp Le Pilage Large Shoulder bag in Camel and the Louis Vuitton Neverfull in GM. For looks the Neverfull is the one but for practicality it has to be the Le Pilage. Its brilliant for work. I never knew why these nylon bags were so popular but I know now.

Louis Vuitton Neverfull in Damier Ebene GM

Longchamp Le Pilage in Camel

 

 

 

 

Cath Kidston Umbrella- I live in England it always rains.

 

Moleskin The Little Prince Diary- For those dates and appointments.

 

Reusable Shopper- Always comes in handy and is more sustainable

 

Louis Vuitton Brazza Wallet- It is actually a mens wallet but

much slimmer than the Womens range of large purses. I love it and highly recommend it. Mine is the plain brown leather inside but it now comes in a coloured interior, more details here.

 

Tissues- why not

 

Camera- In a padded fabric case from Etsy. Perfect size

 

Liberty Pouch- contains the essentials, i.e hand cream, make up, paracetamol, plasters, fresh wipes.

 

Leather Mimi Pouch- keys, inhaler and usb stick 

saltwater sandals

If there is one thing that I wear a lot in the Summer it is my saltwater sandals.I was first made aware of them during the Indie days of my twenties when I saw Alexa Chung wearing a pair.

I just thought they were simple, chic and comfortable. So I looked into it.

I found that, back then, they were not available in the UK so I ordered them directly from the USA from  here.  I also took advantage of any friends and relatives going to the USA to bring me back pairs. Now they are now available from Toast but I think the price is too expensive.

I have these in tan and black and I love them. Below is a staple Summer outfit for me.

French Connection white cotton tunic

focaccia

I love baking it's not a secret but I never bake savoury, always sweet.  So I decided to bake some bread and the first attempt was focaccia with rosemary and sea salt.

I think it turned out alright :)

I used this recipe.

running free

Since December I have been on a health kick. In the Winter I always put on weight. A combination of craving more carbs to keep warm in the colder months and the lack of will to trek to the gym in the dark after work it is always inevitable for me. This is counteracted by the Summer when lighter food is the preferred option and the warmer climes are perfect for running. So by the end of each year I maintain the same weight.

This year there is also the added momentum to lose weight for the wedding. As I tell the OH the wedding lasts for the day but the photos last a life time!

I will try to go running at least 3 times a week and a long swim once a week.

I have also cut fat and sugar from my diet. It was hard at first but after 3 weeks it has been quite easy to maintain this switch in diet. I obviously have the odd treat here and there. The key is moderation.

The weather this week has been mild and I have taken advantage. This week so far I have run 15 km.

I have also bought some new kit in the sales to help me along.

Adidas Climacool Runnig Tights

Nike Free Run trainers

Panache sports bra to reduce bounce!

I love Scotland

I have just got back from a 4 day break in Scotland. I went to University in Edinburgh and worked there too after graduation before finally settling in London. I therefore think for an Englishwoman I know Scotland quite well. I have travelled to many places in Scotland over the years and the place is very dear to my heart. I have been very lucky in my life so far to have travelled to many places including Mongolia, Mexico, India, Nepal to New Zealand but for me the many landscapes of Scotland are the most breathtaking. I try to go back to Scotland as often as I can and this weekend I travelled to the Isle of Islay on the Western Isles. It began with a early morning flight from London to Glasgow, a 3 hour drive to Kennacraig and then a 2 hour 20 minuteferry crossing. The OH is a whisky lover so we visited some distilleries too. Here are a few snaps of our trip.I cannot wait to go back.

Loch Lomand from Luss

Loch Fyne

The ferry

Salmon three ways at the Port Charlotte Hotel, Isle of Islay

View from our room at our guesthouse

Our guesthouse, Loch Gorm House, Islay

The Sound of Jura

Islay

Sunset at Bowmore

love a bit of leopard.....

though this was not always the case. Leopard print has some negative connotations, wear too much and you can look like Bet Lynch. For all you who don't know who she is she is a character in a long running soap here in the UK.  Leopard was her favourite as you can see.

Unlike Bet, I like leopard but in very small doses. I think leopard acts as a great neutral to off set plain coloured clothes. I have a scarf that I wear a lot and a pair of ballet flats if I want to liven up a plain outfit.

I saw this and now I want this dress. Its from Whistles' new collection and I think will be a great staple for Spring and Summer. You can dress it down with sandals (I live in Saltwater sandals during the Summer) or white converse. If I want to dress it up I will pair with leopard kitten heels. These are by Jimmy Choo but as I have said I am not a shoe person and will settle for a less costly pair....so now I am on the look out.

I will get the dress next week. I am now, as of tomorrow,  off to Scotland for a visit.

wild at heart

I have two more things to do for my small wedding in July; get shoes and choose the flowers for my bouquet. Not a shoe person I am holding off the latter task until I can brave a day of proper 'sole' searching.

Even before I got engaged I already had an idea of where I would get more flowers. I have lived in London for nearly 7 years and one of my favourite places is Liberty the department store. I will have to do a separate post on this place alone. Liberty is housed within a mock Tudor building and in the lobby of the main entrance is Wild at Heart florists. The smell of the flowers each and every time I enter the store is evocative and brings me so many memories. So for sentimental reasons I have chosen this florist.  It also helps that Wild at Heart is a modern and chic florist that is so far removed from flowers that you get from the supermarket.

Even though I am still 5 months away from the big day I wanted an idea if I could get the kind of wedding bouquet I have in my head. But first I needed to know what I wanted. As my wedding is small and not dictated by a colour scheme I can basically get anything I wanted provided the flowers were in season. Out went my first choice of peonies as these are a Spring flower and not guaranteed in July. I also wanted to stay away from roses as for me they are a bit cliche and I wanted something different.  Below is a selection of bouquets I have found overtime that I like but have ultimately shown me that I like textured but simple bouquets.

I definitely want the stems showing so that the full form of the flowers can be seen. I also want them to be tied simply with a simple ribbon.

bocca di lupo

I have never been a fan of Italian food. When choosing a place for dinner Italian was never on the list... until I discovered Bocca Di Lupo two years ago. This restaurant does not have any pizzas, lasagne or dough balls on the menu but what they do have on the menu is authentic rustic Italian dishes that I imagine an Italian grandma would make.
Bocca Di Lupo is located on an quiet side street in Soho. The main focal point of the restaurant is a long marble bar which is located in front of the kitchen. Unless you book weeks in advance you are more likely to be sat on this bar when dining. Some like this and some would prefer to sit in the rear restaurant area. I actually like sitting on the bar watching the chefs cook the food.

What makes this place so great is the simplicity of the dishes. The ingredients are high quality, seasonal and intellectually combined. The format of the restaurant comprises of a tapas style  menu where the dishes are to be shared. Each dish notes the region of Italy where it comes from. All the cured sausages are homemade by the restaurant and they are delicious. The menu changes daily.

My personal favourites, when available, are the selection of the fritter starters and the bruschetta.

Selection of the bruschetta

 Main course including their very good homemade sausage

P.S Bocca di Lupo is the big brother establishment to Gelupo. See previous post.