Full of ideas and surprises: 2011

July 05, 2011

port chambly

Continuing on the subject of Mauritius, I had the pleasure of being invited to a Jazz dinner @ Port Chambly.

Port Chambly @ Day

Inspired by Venice, Port Chambly has a deeply Mediterranean atmosphere, reminiscent of Italy and Southern France with its winding river, narrow stone-paved alleyways, arches, wells and waterfalls as well as a steeple towering over the Place du Campanile overlooking the whole village, the river and the sea

Located north of Mauritius near Baie du Tombeau, the small village offers a great choice of duplex apartments and villas as well as a hotel.

Hotel and clock tower

June 29, 2011

l'atelier dumont

I discovered this lovely restaurant on the inflight guide to Mauritius. The food looked amazing and I had heard some good reviews from friends so one night we decided to check it out since we were only staying 5min away.

L’atelier is located in Cybercity, an unlikely venue for a restaurant like this. The restaurant has a huge kitchen open totally to the main dining room and the bar. The restaurant is modern and rustic at the same time, with its outside terrace and fountain, offering Mediterranean cuisine which is both elegant and fresh.

L'atelier Dumont @ Cybercity

It was a weekday and the place was empty when we arrived but undeterred we started ordering. The bread was average, nothing particularly special but it was nice that it came warm.

June 27, 2011

rooftop boundary

On the beautiful sunny Sunday a few of us went to Boundary, a venture between Terence and Vicki Conran in partnership with Peter Prescott. It is located in Shorditch and designed by Conran & Partners. Formly a late Victorian warehouse, it is now transformed into 12 individually designed guest bedrooms plus 5 suites, 3 restaurants and bars, a foodstore and bakery.

Boundary

We were there to enjoy the beautiful weather @ the Rooftop but great minds think alike and there was a queue when we arrived. We waited nearly an hour in the baking sun and was it worth it? Hell yeah!

Rooftop

trou aux biches

It's been over 2months since my last post ... how time flies!

Anyway since my last post, I'd actually been on holiday for just over 2weeks to Mauritius!!

The highlight of the holiday was spending time at the newly re-opened 5 star Trou Aux Biches Resort & Spa! Trou Aux Biches is located on one of the best beaches on the north west coast of Mauritius.

Beautiful orchid arrangements at the reception area

The hotel was completely demolished and redesigned with a focus on tropical elegance, modernity, comfort, intimacy and luxury.

So tropical and modern

View from the reception area

April 13, 2011

lounging sunday

Oh it has been a while...

Anyway, last Sunday it was amazing weather in London. Not too hot but very very sunny. Not wanting to miss the lovely weather the day started relatively early for a Sunday. Originally was planning to go to Brighton but got a bit lazy... so instead it was off to Covent Garden. A quick stroll down Neals Street and it was eerily quite when we got there at around 11ish.

Stopped by at a sandwich shop and ended up having a chilli con carne jacket potato and orange juice for breakfast! lol

Doesn't the juice look tempting in the sun!

Covent Garden is a lovely part of London.

Alfresco-ing in the sun. Oh this photo is so British!

March 29, 2011

bellissimo bellaria

“The pleasure of eating the Italian way”

Bellaria was the venue for a birthday and early mothers day meal last Saturday.

Absolutely, charmingly unique. From street level, Bellaria seems like a simple Italian restaurant with bright and simple décor. However, a few steps below and guests are transported to a whole other world.

Romantic candle lit table

Very cosy atmosphere

Dining inside the arches

March 15, 2011

maison moschino

Moschino has blended fashion and design to create Maison Moschino situated at number 12 on the Viale Monte Grappa, in a former railway station.

Together with the Moschino creative team and designer Rossella Jardini, Stefano Ugolini has created a totally unique 65-room hotel. Converted from an 1840’s neoclassical railway station in the heart of Milan, the hotel features 63 guestrooms and two junior suites over four floors.

Each room and suite is unique, maintaining the common theme of fairy tales, with every room more magical than the next. The individually-designed rooms feature imaginative designs, including one where silk rose petals dangle from the chandelier as if falling from the sky.

Life is a bed of Roses

It really is a bed of roses!

a taste of france

On Sunday we went to Aubaine for a friend's birthday brunch. It's a place I'd heard about a couple of time but never had the opportunity to visit so it was nice to finally try the place out.

Aubaine on Heddon Street

Contemporary French bistro

March 07, 2011

art in a cup

On Sunday I had brunch at Le Pain Quotidien @ Covent Garden. I ordered my usual crab and avocado tartine and a cup of Latte and to my surprise it came with a nice Latte Art.

My BOWL of latte

A little faint, but it was a nice surprise!

March 01, 2011

flower power

We had a warm spell a couple of days ago and although it's gone cold again, it's March and Spring is just around the corner (hopefully real soon!!)

Fresh flowers and green plants add colour to interiors and can be a great source of inspiration for selecting decorating colours and ideas.


Pink wall and matching begonias

Green wall with contrasting flowers

February 18, 2011

hip to be square

W Hotel Leicester Sq finally opened its doors on the 14th Feb, Valentine's Day (oh how romantic!)

It stands 10 stories high on the corner of Leicester Sq and is covered in translucent glass which changes color according to the time of day and the ambience of the area.

February 14, 2011

happy valentine's day!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

My lovely red roses!

This weekend has been total chocolate overload!!

On Saturday, we dived into this box of chocolates from Mr Christian's Notting Hill.

Mr Christian's box of chocolates

This box of chocolates was surprisingly good! The strawberry cheesecake (dark chocolate with pink stripes) was to die for!! best chocolate I've had in ages!!

Sunday was the dusted strawberry truffles from Charbonnel & Walker. The dusted sugar was very sweet but the pink truffles had a subtle starwberry taste and were delicious!! Loving the pink box aswell!!

Dusted strawberry truffles from Charbonnel & Walker

And today... I will be digging into my box of plain chocolate truffles with edible gold leaf!

Plain chocolate truffles

Oh how I love chocolate...

Happy Yummy Valentine's Day!!

February 09, 2011

sweet love

Love Hearts or “conversation hearts” as they're known in the US has been a childhood favourite. I bought a pack the other day and realised how much I used to like reading the cute phrases that appeared on the sweets.

Why not personalise them and send to your SWEET Valentine?

February 08, 2011

pure love

LOVE IS IN THE AIR @ The White Company

I came across this lovely set of heart shaped plates when I was browsing through the Evening Standard today.

Portobello heart plates £35 for a set of 3

It comes in a set of 3 in graduated sizes and has been exclusively made for The White Company.

February 07, 2011

royal chocolatiers

LOVE IS IN THE AIR @ PRESTAT

Prestat is one of London’s oldest chocolate houses, and has quite a history. Founded in 1902, Prestat was, By Appointment to Her Majesty, The Queen of England as Purveyors of Chocolates. Aside from a Royal warrant (granted in 1975) it was also a favourite of Roald Dahl, author of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory of course.

The shop is located in Princes Arcade off Piccadilly. Be prepared when you visit because the shop is a kaleidoscope of colours!!

talk with flowers

Giving your loved one a beautiful flower bouquet on Valentine’s Day is part of a very long standing romantic tradition that started in the 1700s by Charles II of Sweden.

This Valentine’s Day why not send your loved ones pretty flowers from an online florist

One of the most popular flower choice is the classic Rose, well known as a symbol of love. But Valentine flowers shouldn't just be restricted to only red roses. It can be pink coloured roses, lilies, tulips or her favourite flowers.