Author Archives: Sophia Mead

STEP ASIDE GU – THERE’S A NEW DESSERT DON IN TOWN

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Every once in a while a sweet treat lands in our lap that changes EVERYTHING. Pati & Coco’s multi-layered, multi-textured chocolate desserts have done just that.

Picture this, you start by cracking through the signature layer of fine tempered dark chocolate. Once through, experience patisserie folds of luscious ganache and delicate sheets of chocolate underneath before ending with a satisfyingly crunchy biscuit layer at the base. Swoon.

Available in packs of 2, these 80g pots come in four intense and luxurious flavours. Disclaimer, our favourite was the caramel & choc pots, giving decadent, millionaire’s shortbread vibes!

  • Ganache & Choc
  • Praline & Choc
  • Caramel & Choc
  • Pistachio & Choc

Available to buy at Sainsburys

HYDRATION, HYDRATION, HYDRATION

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We all know the importance of keeping hydrated and the benefits extend to the whole body. Shop our targeted roundup below.

FOR THE BODY: THE ION8 LEAKPROOF 1 LITRE BOTTLE

One of the easiest way to keep hydrated – DRINK WATER! Drink the full bottle before lunch and you’re halfway to your daily target, simply refill once and drink the rest before the end of the day and you’re done. Just one pitstop at dinner to refill is all you need to keep you on track.

Buy for £13.89 from Amazon

FOR THE FACE: CLINIQUE DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT HYDRATING JELLY

Hyaluronic acid is the hydrating elixir for the skin and its popularity has sky rocketed over the past few years. The Clinique Jelly is a super lightweight gel which is packed with Fortified with hyaluronic acid and innovative Clean Shield Technology™ (a blend of Sunflower Seed, Barley Extract and Cucumber. It offers 24hr hydration and the best part is that a little goes a long way – meaning you’re getting more for your money too!

Buy for £31 from Look Fantastic

FOR THE SKIN: EMBRYOLISSE LAIT-CRÈME FLUID

A top way to avoid dryness and redness across the body is to keep hydrated and moisturised and our favourite is from Europe’s number one, Embryolisse fluid is a brilliant way to achieve oft and supple skin. Once applied, you’re instantly treated to a velvety feel finish on the skin. This one though, has a number of benefits – everything from removing make up and soothing skin after skin exposure.

Buy for £16 from Cult Beauty

FOR THE HAIR: PHILIP KINGSLEY ELASTICIZER

It turns out that elasticzer was originally created over 40 years ago for Audrey Hepburn to keep her hair looking healthy so if it’s good enough for Audrey, it’s good enough for us! The Philip Kingsley elasticizer is enriched with castor oil and olive oil, which is high in Vitamin E and fatty acids. Generalyl,  elasticizer delivers a rush of moisture to the hair’s cuticle, helping to lock in and retain moisture. Suppleness, elasticity and bounce appear instantly without weighing down or coating the hair. Dreamy

Buy for £33 from Philip Kingsley

 

 

BAR + BLOCK ALDGATE: A RESTAURANT TO BLOCK OUT SOME TIME FOR

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As soon as you enter Bar + Block you’re immediately enveloped by this cosy, atmospheric and bustling steakhouse – mood lighting included! We took a trip to this humble favourite and are here to give you the lowdown.

THE FOOD

If at first you’re intimidated by the extensive menu, you’ll soon  be put at easy by the modest, and ‘so-not-London prices’. Everything about the menu screams comfort and big flavours, from the pulled beef tacos, aromatic crispy mushroom pancakes and middle eastern king prawns through to the hispa cabbage and beef dripping triple cooked chunky chips (heaven). And that just scratches the surface. The quality of the steaks at Bar + Block rivals the best steakhouses in town. Choose from classic cuts like rump and ribeye or specialty steaks like the spiral cut (marinated in garlic and parsley) or the Tira De Ancho (similar to the spiral marinade but with a chilli kick and chimichurri sauce).

Steak not whetting your appetite? Don’t worry, you can choose from handmade burgers, grills or fish. We hear that the grilled veg and burrata burger, lamb souvlaki and grilled salmon are excellent choices. If you think you’ve got room for appetite, we struggled but made it through, the Chocolate Toffee Fondue Sharer is the perfect sweet ending. Made up of warm churros coated in cinnamon sugar, triple chocolate brownie chunks, fresh strawberries, banana and apple served with a chocolate toffee dipping sauce – you’re welcome.

THE DRINK

As with the food, the drinks prices are much more appetising than that of other steakhouses. Cocktails start at just £7.99, swoon, and specialty gins come in at £4.95. Take your pick of wine, beer or soft drinks if you’d prefer – the welcoming prices continue!

THE ATMOSPHERE

Warm and welcoming would be how we sum up the atmosphere at Bar + Block. There’s a constant buzz about the large dining area and it’s packed with a mix of corporate singletons grabbing dinner, groups of friends, date night couples and families.

THE PRICES

Starters begin at £3.95 for the creamy mac and cheese bits and steaks begin at £12.95 for an 8oz rump. A steak sample will cost you £27.95

THE OFFERS

Half price cocktails Monday to Thursday – 5pm – 7pm

LET ME BOOK

To book, visit https://www.barandblock.co.uk/en-gb/locations/london-aldgate/book

 

 

 

 

AS EASY AS RIDING A BIKE: HAPE INTRODUCES A GAMECHANGER

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One of the most momentous occasions is when your little one gets behind the wheel. Well, above the wheels in this instance.

Perfect for children over the age of three Hape’s Balance Wonder Bike is the two-wheeled scooter, perfectly-sized for speedy escapades. Like with all Hape products, this helps to strengthen the senses and a renowned sense of balance is the key here. As always with Hape, this aesthetically stunning piece helps to grow the confidence little ones need to ride a bike and encourages children to stay active, all while providing the perfect opportunity to skip the training wheels.

You can easily adjust the seat to suit and once they feel comfortable walking with the bike and balancing, the bike is able to adapt to your child’s development as they begin to coast and steer on their own. Here’s to cruising through a world of adventures with style and confidence!

Our favourite bit? The rubberised wheels. Wave goodbye to scuffs around the house with this one and it suitable for scooting inside or outside, our new favourite all weather companion!

As the world’s largest producer of wooden toys, this is made primarily of wood, meaning it’s durable enough to last for generations – a money saver and a memory maker in one!

The Hape Balance Wonder is available to buy online for £57.49 from Amazon.

360 RESTAURANT: TAKING TAPAS TO THE NEXT LEVEL

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When you think about tasting the most wonderful tapas, your mind won’t immediately spring to Surbiton. But after one mouthful of its olivo ascolane, you’ll shun central London and be waiting at Waterloo with your return ticket to Surbiton ticket in hand..

The food

Using only the freshest ingredients, Chef Akshay Sabharwal has brought a modern, flavoursome flair to the Kingston area. Having worked for the likes of Emirates and F1-Silvererstone, Sabharwal has thrown everything into 360 and his vision comes through in his dishes. Aside from the tapas, our personal favourite dishes of the day included Crisp Fried Crab with black risotto rice and a passionfruit and chilli sorbet or a Crispy Talo Corn Tortilla with burrata, heritage tomatoes, micro basil, chlorophyll infused olive oil. Still not convinced? Two words for you… truffle arranchini with Parmesan cream. OK that’s five, but we had you at ‘truffle arranchini’.

Every ingredient at the restaurant is paired in a way that’s the most sophisticated form of matchmaking we’ve seen. Not ordinarily searching for the sweets, we almost went to heaven when we saw the dessert menu and the tastes far outweighed the expectations set by the words on pages of the printed menu. The Pecan and Whiskey pie packs an almighty punch combo – sweet and seriously boozy. If chocolate dessert is your vibe, the Chocolate 360 Orbit with dark chocolate mousse, hazelnut praline ice cream, milk foam, honeycomb and popping candy will blow you away. Rich, sophisticated and deliciously decadent, we’d seriously suggest saving some room for this one, if you can contain yourself.

The drink

One of the things that surprised us the most about 360 was the affordable and classic cocktail lists.  From the whiskey sour, through to the coveted cosmo and margarita, you’d be hard pressed not to find your favourite. We opted for the gin fizz and spiced mojito – a culmination of fresh and festive in one serving! If you prefer a crisp and cold glass of wine to accompany your taste buds’ trip around the world, the wine selection is impressively varied, a true reflection of the restaurant itself. Choose your tipple from south Africa, Chile, Spain, New Zealand, Italy, the USA or of course, the Queen’s country itself.

The prices

Tapas start at £4.50 for Galician padron peppers and go up to £9.95 for smoked Scottish scallops. Dessert starts at £7.50 for a vanilla panacotta or a warm chocolate brownie and at the higher end is £8.95 for a cheeseboard. A glass of white wine starts at £5.50 for a crisp, dry Spanish and if you’re feeling like splashing out you can buy a Tattinger Brut Reserve for £45

The atmosphere

Set directly to overlook the Thames, 360 has a chic and modern look and feel. Plush seating, burnt orange and teal accents throughout the space and a venue is flooded with natural light, it’s a formula for a London local’s oasis. Soft and subtle music often plays the air warves and the team are more than happy to help, whatever your needs. For us, the beauty of 360 was that the London bubble felt like a distant memory. We were able to relax and immerse ourselves in whatever part of the world our palette was experiencing.

The important bit…

To book a table at 360, visit https://www.hikingston.co.uk/restaurant-and-bar/ or call
020 8786 6520

HEARTY FOOD AND HOMELY VIBES: THE MANOR ARMS

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Situated on the streets of Streatham, we popped along to the Manor Arms to trial its upgraded space, upgraded food and, most importantly, upgraded drinks list!

You’ll find this dog friendly, country-style pub a stones throw from the High Street and its undoubtedly set to be a local  favourite. Here’s what we thought

THE FOOD

An absolute beige beauty. Too many people shun the thought of beige food but quite frankly, when done right, we love it. The Manor Arms partners proper comfort food with sophisticated flavours and its variations of crispy, deep fried coatings (from batter to breadcrumbs and everything in between), are cases of pure joy. Fillings don’t disappoint either, flakey white cod sits in a golden batter and is served with an extremely generous portion of chips and both duck croquettes, halloumi fries are packed with flavour and fried, breaded meats.  Prices for food are really reasonable at just £5 a portion for sides and up to £18 for a main including lamb shank shepherd’s pie.

THE DRINK

The Manor Arms seems proud of its drinks offerings and whether it’s local, national or international, the passion is there! Their wine list boasts beautiful variations from Chile as well as sparkling offerings from South Africa and the beers hero local London creations including the Camden Beer Co. Find yourself more set on a spirit? Don’t worry, the gin list and spirit spritz’ are second to none.

THE ATMOSPHERE

No matter what time of year you pop on down to the Manor Arms, we think you’ll be pleased. It’s revamped outdoor space is decorated with lights and there are hideaways strewn with blankets and log fires that you can hire for groups or a cosy eve for two. Inside, the space resembles those not-so-hidden gems you stumble across on a weekend of exploring outside of the city. Soft lighting and soft colours make for a relaxing trip. There’s also The Kite Room which often acts as a bar area overspill but also can be hired for larger groups. Still want more? They’ll throw on some truly exceptional live music. What’s more to love?

 

To learn more or book a table, visit https://www.themanorarms.com/

 

FINALLY, A GIG MADE FOR THE GRAM

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Live music is the best. The sound systems, lights, energy of the crowd and seeing your favourite artists in the flesh. But it’s always a challenge to capture the best shots for your Instagram channel, right? Well, not at the launch of Samsung KX.

 

This week, London’s new experience space for culture and innovation launched with a bang by hosting the world’s first vertical staged gig – fit for Instagram stories. Based on research that shows 94% of phone users capture content vertically and 79% find vertical content the most interesting, Samsung KX wanted to provide Londoners with the ultimate shareable gig experience.

Mabel performed to crowds of 2,000 across Coal Drops Yard to celebrate the new Samsung inspiration hub officially opening its doors.

 

Celebrating 50 years of innovation by showcasing a glimpse into how we could live in the future, the new space offers guests a taste of a fully connected lifestyle with a range of experiences featuring cutting-edge technology.

 

So, is this a taste of how gigs will be in the future? We hope so because, let’s be honest, our Instagram feeds certainly need it!

JULY BEAUTY EDIT

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From miracle hairbrushes to an egg mousse for the body, you’re in for a treat with our July Beauty Edit!

Protect your skin from free radicals

Daytox Natural Day and Night facial oil is a light, dry oil that easily absorbs into the skin. This must-have contains vitamins E and C to help fortify and strengthens the skins natural barrier, and almond oil, a powerful natural antioxidant that prevents the effect of stress and harmful ultraviolet radiation rays to the skin. We’re assured it’s fab for the fight against pollution on the skin too.

£24 – Ocado

 

Turn up the TLC with this meringue-like mousse

 

Too Cool For School Egg Mousse Body Oil magically transforms into an oil that absorbs deep into your skin for ultimate hydration. It instantly softens rough skin for cashmere-soft smoothness and is a cocktail of five botanical oils creates a protective moisture barrier without clogging pores. Egg yolk extract and albumin in egg white extract work together to boost the skin’s natural ability to repair and regenerate, supporting natural cell turnover and collagen production for firmer, more supple skin.

£24.50 – Boots

 

Soothe your strands with GHD’s hot brush

Known as the ‘super brush’, this invention gives ‘I woke up like this’ salon worthy hair. Not yet available here in the UK but you can pre-order this hot commodity (pardon the pun) which makes it worthy for our wishlist. This one will tames and smoothe dry hair, reaching 185 degrees and eliminating frizz in just a few strokes. So, miracles do exist.

£139 – GHD

Summer scented setting sprays

There are few things more iconic on the beauty scene than MAC’s Prep + Prime Fix + Extensions. So, what have the beauty boffins gone and done this time? Given us five, yes five, limited edition scents of the miracle mist, each still leaving you with that soft sheen. Choose from cucumber, watermelon, Peony, Pineapple or white tea.

£12.50 – MAC

Lift the lashes with Too Faced

If it gets a thumbs up from Huda Kattan, then it gets a thumbs up from us! Too Faced have kept pretty loyal to their absolute wonder mascara that was Better Than Sex until this super recent surprise drop. With endorsements FLYING in for the soon-to-be fan favourite, the formula is described as “a revolutionary creamy mousse, developed with a special blend of whipped melting waxes (waxes injected with air)’. This blend will give you a ‘ weightless super lash’ and volume like no other.

£22 –Too Faced