bloomzy /

Wedding Planning Made Easy

I’m not sure as whether this post will surprise anyone or not, but the fact of the matter is I will eventually be getting married at some point in the near future…at least that’s what I’ve been told this whole engagement malarky equals out to. Joking aside, I was recently talking to a friend of mine who is getting married this year and is currently planning everything, when the realisation hit me – I’m gonna have to do this at some point too! Booking venues, tasting cakes, finding the dress. One thing I’d never thought of before though was stationary. According to my friend this is no easy task, and actually you have to put a lot of thought into it. That means save the dates, invitations, place cards, thank you cards…the list goes on and on. Suddenly I began to sweat a little bit, wondering if I’d ever be able to understand something so foreign to me. Please note I don’t own a handful of pens and notepads, which I don’t even use. Stationary is not something I fully understand.

Luckily for me I discovered printed.com – an online printing company that does everything from posters, to yes you guessed it, wedding stationary. They sent me out a sample from their Wedding Collection so I could get an idea as to the paper, colour and texture options. Honestly I was so impressed with the quality of the paper, and the variety of colours and textures available. I never knew so much thought and effort went into everything. The Sirio Pearl Oyster (reminiscent of freshwater pearls) had to be my favourite by far – clean and pearlescent, it seems perfect for any wedding stationary – because if you can’t go a little fancy on your big day, then when can you? As for place cards the Tintoretto Gesso paper has a lovely hammered texture and is strangely satisfying to hold in your hands – perfect for a wedding invitation, no? As for thank you cards, the more simplistic Kraft paper (reminiscent of brown paper and wooden tabletops) fits my day-to-day aesthetic perfectly. 


I may not have fully decided on everything for my wedding, but at least I now know that I don’t need to worry about something as confusing (for me) as stationary. There are so many options and possibilities to personalise the wedding collection (one of the widest ranges of stock available in the UK by the way), so any soon-to-be married couple or stationary geek will love checking it out.

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This post is in collaboration with printed.com but all views, photos and words are my own.

bloomzy /

Kuriya Keiko: A Masterclass in Sushi

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I love re-creating my favourite dishes at home, but some of them are more intricate than others. Sushi is one of those dishes. The California roll may not be authentic Japanese sushi (not surprisingly) but it is a great lunch staple, especially in the hotter months. In fact in the Summer you’ll find me rolling sushi most evenings, as it’s as healthy as it is tasty. So when Zomato invited me to a sushi-making masterclass at Kuriya Keiko – a Japanese restaurant-come-cookery workshop space in Islington – I was eager to learn more.

We started the evening with a plum wine cocktail (heavenly) and an introduction by Keiko, who told us all about her background as a chef, and her love for sushi. She proceeded to teach us all the best way to prepare sushi rice (1.15 cup of water to 1 rice), before giving us an in-depth tutorial of how to make a California Roll, and an Inside Out Roll – the latter being the more technical of the two. Keiko was vibrant and energetic, offering us words of advice and encouragement as we battled with our rice (key tip: keep your hands wet!). We were given ingredients to place inside the rolls, such as smoked salmon, avocado and ham. Yes, ham! Keiko told us how she loves experimenting with flavours, and I was pleasantly surprised to hear that one of her favourites is Italian ham and olives – certainly not your usual Japanese flavour combo.

After we were all finished with our creations, we were told to tuck in. They always say something tastes better if it’s made by your own hands, and I would have to agree. My sushi tasted so much more tangy and refreshing than any I had made before. It reignited my love for the simple California Roll, and I made a pact that from here on out I would always make it this scrumptious. As we ate, Keiko gave us a presentation on how to make another Japanese favourite – gyoza. Afterwards we were given some freshly made gyoza to try, accompanied by a traditional sake from Kyoto. I love gyoza so much that I actually burnt my mouth as I shovelled in one of the delectable dumplings. The moral of the story? Wait for your food to cool down before you eat it!

Kuriya Keiko often holds cookery workshops and you can get involved at a great price! I would highly recommend it for food lovers, and fans of sushi. Doing it with a friend or group is even more fun too.

We also enjoyed a lovely meal after our masterclass, but that’s another story for another post.
You can read more of my restaurant reviews on Zomato.

bloomzy /

The Bloggers Cake School with Konditor and Cook

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My baking skills have drastically improved in the past few years, although I still have a long way to go. If I had to sum up my baking technique it would be all substance and no style. For all of the delicious cookies I have made, there are a ton of badly decorated cakes. As happy as I am with my technique, I would love to be able to create something beautiful too. So when Nuffnang invited me to a bloggers cake school event with Konditor & Cook, I knew I had to say yes.

We started the evening with a short introduction to Konditor and Cook. One I did not actually need, as I am a regular customer at their stores. Even so it was lovely to hear how passionate the brand is about bringing delicious food to their customers. Laure was our teacher for the evening, and she began by showing us how to create a pipping bag from scratch and how to do some basic piping techniques – among them, hearts and calligraphy. Of course we all got stuck in straightaway, practising on a few biscuits Laure had given us. I tried my hand at creating a gingerbread self-portrait…until I ran out of icing and gave up. I don’t think I did too bad (just look at that pout), but it’s safe to say my fellow bloggers definitely showed me up. Still, I was optimistic about my cake…

The Curly Wurly cake is definitely one of my favourites at Konditor & Cook. I can’t even begin to describe how deliciously chocolatey and indulgent it is. Everyone really must try it! I decided to go for a chic, minimalist design for the top of my Curly Wurly cake, so I went for polka dots (read: I wanted to do the least amount of damage possible)! The final product didn’t turn out too bad, and when I shared it with friends the next day they were all too busy saying how delicious it was to bother with the decoration. Luckily I was saved by K&C’s expert baking!

I had a wonderful time at the first Bloggers Cake School and I left feeling that my decoration skills had certainly improved. Now I just need to get practising at home on my own creations. Luckily I left with Konditor and Cook’s new recipe book Deservedly Legendary Baking, and a few treats to nibble on whilst I plan my next big bake!

bloomzy /

Where to Eat in London: Tombo Japanese Cafè

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Tombo | Casual Japanese Dining | South Kensington | Website

– reservations not available –

If you had told me a few weeks ago that there was a small slice of matcha heaven at the other end of the Piccadilly line I would have laughed in your face. That was until I learnt of Tombo, a casual Japanese dining experience with a strong emphasis on tea.
V.A and I headed to South Kensington on a Saturday afternoon around 2pm. We found the restaurant pretty easily as it’s only a minute walk from the tube station, and is right next door to Exhibition road.  It was quite busy inside, but we were sat straight away – it seemed that we had timed our arrival perfectly. I surprised myself by instinctively replying to our server in Japanese as we were sat. I guess that means I haven’t completely forgotten it.I had already decided prior to our visit what I would be having – the Bonsai tea (genmaicha with matcha) and a Miso Salmon Bento. When our tea arrived it was presented in a traditional Japanese lidless pot and cup, with a thermos of hot water for top-ups. The smell of the tea wafted over us, and I was automatically relaxed. Green tea can be a little bitter for some people, but I find the flavours distinct and refreshing. Our food took took a little while to arrive, but it meant we were able to enjoy our tea properly. When it did arrive my bento came with a large portion of miso salmon, rice and a variety of salads. Japanese salads are my favourite – they’re full of flavour and offer much more in terms of nourishment than their British counterparts. So you can imagine how happy I was when I spotted 4 on my plate. Each one containing a variety of vegetables, some marinated with sauce, others pickled, but all containing authentic Japanese ingredients. This is what I’d been missing since my move back from Tokyo.

We probably spent a good hour eating and chatting, and it was lovely to be offered that luxury and not rushed out of the establishment – as some London restaurants tend to do. The best thing about Japanese food, apart from the taste, is that you can eat a good meal and not feel bloated or stuffed. Of course that meant we had room for pudding too – the matcha sundae I had been waiting for all week long! Tombo’s desserts are one of the main reasons behind their popularity, so I had high expectations. My matcha sundae included matcha ice cream, matcha gateau, azuki paste and oats. My verdict? Absolute heaven! Although really it was the small bites of matcha cake that won me over. They were moist and soft with a potent taste of matcha. I will definitely be ordering the matcha gateau next time!

At the end our bill came to only £23 each! Lovers of Japanese food in London will know this is ridiculously affordable. Will I be back? You couldn’t stop me if you tried!

You can read more of my restaurant reviews on Zomato.
bloomzy /

Travel Photo Diary: A Belated Slice of Heaven

A few days ago I realised that I never finished my Chamonix travel diary which made me equal parts nostalgic and annoyed (with myself; because I should have done it 4 months ago). So I decided to dust off the photos and finally put them up. If anything they’ll offer a sweet reminder of what’s to come when Britain finally decides to end it’s childish fight with the sun – flowers, clear skies and light, glorious light!

bloomzy /

Where to Eat in London: Rita’s

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Rita’s | Lunch & Dinner | London Fields, Hackney | Website
– reservations available –

Birthday’s can either be ridiculously indulgent, or something you would rather forget about entirely. Clearly, I favour the former. In fact each year I have a ‘birthday week’. It’s not an original concept, but it’s something I like to spoil myself with…because if I can’t do it for my birthday, when can I? My ultimate form of indulgence is food, so in the lead up to my birthday I book myself into several of the best restaurants I have on my ‘to-visit’ list. This year Rita’s was one of them.

Rita’s is a tiny hidden gem in the heart of Hackney, whose subtle pink hues transcend their website into the restaurant itself. I arrived with five friends on a Tuesday evening, after making a reservation several days earlier. The restaurant was quiet and it did get busier during the evening, although it still wasn’t at full capacity. We were seated at the rear of the restaurant, close to the kitchen and bar. Some might say it was the perfect location. I would agree.

Even after several days of examining Rita’s menu, I still found myself unsure of what to have. Everything sounded amazing, and I didn’t want to commit to one dish. So after a cocktail (or two), we all decided to share some sides, and promised that we would allow each other to sample our individual dishes. Our waitress helped me finally decide on the Patty Melt Deluxe (a firm favourite at Rita’s) with a side of fried cheese. The fried cheese was soft with a crunchy outer, and was seasoned well with a mixture of salt and herbs. When my PMD arrived I was a little confused as to how such a casual looking dish could be so popular. That was until I took my first bite. The beef melted almost instantly in my mouth. For someone who so often suffers from food envy, I knew I had made the right decision. The onion marmite and bone marrow butter add a completely new dimension to the American staple. The PMD is decadently greasy and I worried that I wouldn’t be able to finish my meal. Thankfully the salty, crunchy ‘crispy fried crushed potatoes’ helped cleanse my palette, allowing me to go back for more. This would be my last meal request.

Of course we ordered dessert, although again we all had to seriously consider our options. In the end we all went for the Dulce de Leche Beignets…because, who wouldn’t? Mine arrived with a birthday candle, and was presented by the chef himself who proceeded to grate foie gras over top (yes I went for the additional foie gras). The beignets were light and crispy, with a generous helping of dulce de leche. Honestly I could only finish one, so I took the other home for later.

Would I visit again? Of course! Although I know I would go against my ‘try something new’ motto and have the Patty Melt Deluxe again…and again…and again. Granted I would mix it up a little, as I have my eye on the Oreo Pie!You can read more of my restaurant reviews on Zomato.