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A FEAST for The Eyes…and Mouth

For the last few years I have dreamt of visiting the handful of food festivals that pop up around London every year. However I was never able to because of work etc. So when I was offered tickets to FEAST (thank you Nuffnang) on a free weekend, I knew I couldn’t resist. FEAST features the best of street food, restaurants, marketplace and bars all cozied up in East London’s renovated Tobacco Docks.

I arrived with Alex around 12, ready for the Friday morning/afternoon slot. We were greeted by a small selection of stalls outside, such as: The Breakfast Club and Primrose Bakery. Nothing new, but still some tried and tested favourites. As we ventured inside we spotted even more restaurants and street food vendors, offering up a selection of tasty looking grub. It was a little bit of a ghost town but we had secretly been hoping this would be the case, as we wanted to make the most of our time there.

Alex and I didn’t need much convincing which stall to stop at first, as we spotted The Frenchie. I’ve been dying to try their confit duck brioche burgers, and I was not disappointed. I can’t describe how delicious it was, but I can tell you that I am now addicted. Next stop was Anna Mae’s Mac & Cheese, and although the portion was ridiculously large (we couldn’t even finish one between the two of us) we enjoyed the bacon and basil oil combo. After filling up on cheese, we decided that we would lay off the food for a bit, which is how we ended up at Comins Tea House for a tea masterclass. Being tea lovers we couldn’t resist it when we saw the amazing collection of loose leaf tea available. We sat down with Michelle and she talked us through a variety of teas and their origins. It was lovely to meet a fellow tea enthusiast, and one who has created a career out of it too. I really hope I can visit the Comins Tea House one day. After quenching our thirst we stopped by The Marshmallowists so I could buy one of their matcha coconut marshmallows for later, then it was off to Hutong for some tossed buckwheat noodles. I needed to cool my mouth down after enjoying their spicy and sour noodles, so we ended with a visit to Black Vanilla for some salted caramel gelato.

As a foodie I adore the idea of tons of street food vendors, small business and restaurants under one roof. However the concept of paying to enter FEAST (although my ticket was gifted) seemed a bit silly. Why would I want to pay to enter a venue where I have to spend money? The food we did try was amazing and I saw so many other dishes that I wanted to try, but my belly (and wallet) couldn’t handle it – I’d love to see cheaper bite size portions next time. There were a few stalls that were stated as attending on the website that weren’t actually there on the day, such as The Brulerie so I definitely need to track them down sometime. The vendors at FEAST were in abundance and they invited some really great companies to take part, many of whom I can’t wait to visit again. I certainly can’t pretend that I wouldn’t consider spending £10 to enter next time. Myself, and my stomach, left satisfied.

bloomzy /

Cocktails and Dim Sum at Ping Pong

An invitation to dine on dim sum and cocktails for an evening is something I could never turn down, hence my attendance at Ping Pong’s Summer menu event last week. I was joined by some likeminded bloggers for a cocktail masterclass at the Stratford Westfield restaurant, where we would be making our own variations on the class Mojito, whilst nibbling on some of their best dishes.

We were hosted by Ping Pong‘s own mixologist Daniele, who showed us how to make the perfect mojito, and talked us through the tips and tricks of the cocktail trade. Then suddenly we were thrown into the deep end. We were asked to compete against each other to create our own Mojitos, which we would be judged on. At this point I’d already started eating and was so overwhelmed by the tastiness of the food that I’d completely forgotten all of the measurements. Not a great start. Still I tried my best and even though I felt mine was a little weak, I was given a 7/10, which I’m pretty happy with considering it was my first ever time making a Mojito. After some more dim sum (you MUST try the chicken and cashew dumplings!) I went back for round two, and tried making a Chambord Mojito…which was too strong. This cocktail malarky isn’t as easy as it looks! Still, I happily sipped away at my creations whilst chatting to everyone, and before I knew it they were all gone!

Ping Pong has been on my list of ‘go to places’ since I moved to London, but I can never find anyone who wants to go for dim sum with me. I’m not sure if it’s because the concept of sharing food is still a little lost on some people, or just because I don’t know enough people who enjoy the dishes. Either way I’m glad I went to Ping Pong’s event with V.A (a fellow Dim Sum lover) as she was the perfect foodie companion, as always. I had a wonderful evening and the food was absolutely delicious, I can’t recommend it enough. If you’re not a fan of sharing food then Ping Pong is the best way to get out of that habit. Although the food is so good you’ll probably end up fighting each other for the last dumpling. As for the cocktails, the Lychee Rose cocktail is now a favourite of mine (and exclusive to Ping Pong) and I would go back purely for another glass…or two.

Check out Ping Pong for your closest restaurant, and don’t forget to check out their new Summer menu.

Thanks to V.A (Chopstickpanorama) for taking the photos of me.

bloomzy /

Kawaii at Hyper Japan 2014

The kawaii life is a tough life. You constantly find yourself clasping your cheeks and screeching at the top of your lungs, all because something features a loveable mascot, or is fluffier than usual (etc etc). Yes, kawaii really is a lifestyle choice in Japan, and it’s everywhere. Whereas the term doesn’t really have a literal translation, the closest we can come to understanding it in English is: cute or adorable. The concept has become so big that recently Western cultures have picked up on the phenomenon – you’ll even find it in the Oxford dictionary. So I was pretty impressed when I saw just how well Hyper Japan embraced the idea this year. 
‘Hyper Kawaii’ was a special section of the exhibition that probably took up half of the venue. It featured a variety of British and Japanese fashion, beauty and lifestyle brands, as well as live performances and activities. The rise of kawaii in London was showcased by brands such as: Tofu Cute (snacks and lifestyle goods), Dreamy Bows (clothes, plushies and accessories), Doki (Japanese tableware), Glitterbomb (jewellery), Artbox (stationary and goods), Cutesykink (clothing) and so much more. 
Fashion and beauty are big parts of the kawaii lifestyle, but I plan to feature those separately in upcoming posts as I just couldn’t fit all of the photos and content into one post. ちょっと待って下さい！
bloomzy /

An Alternative Guide to Coffee in East London


Living in East London it seems as though a new coffee shop is popping up every five minutes. With so many cafes vying for your affections it can be a little confusing which one you should visit. There are books out there and even festivals, all hoping to point you in the right direction. So I thought I’d add my two cents and let you know about my favourite coffee spots in East London. The one thing that makes this post stand out from all the others? I can’t drink caffeine. You’re probably sat there with a look of shock on your face, wondering how I can even begin to explain myself. Well I’ve actually come upon some amazing cafes that also offer decaffeinated coffee. In the self-confessed land of coffee snobs, that’s a pretty big feat! It’s also not that easy to find decafe coffee that actually tastes like, well, coffee. Ben is usually in tow too though, and he does drink coffee, so I always end up asking him “Hows’ the coffee?” Boy do I miss coffee!
Anyway, sit back, relax and enjoy my alternative guide to coffee in East London.

Yellow Warbler – Northwold Road, Stoke Newington
YW is new to the world of coffee and to Stoke Newington. It’s off the main high street but that doesn’t mean that it packs any less of a punch. Looking at the menu you wouldn’t expect any decafe, however their table menu would prove you wrong. I ordered a cappuccino and found it to be chocolatey and sweet. Still, it had a genuine coffee taste to it, rather than an artificial flavour like some decafe. The South American street food on offer is also worth a mention, although it is a little on the pricey side.

Brick Lane Coffee – Brick Lane
Whilst you’re browsing the numerous vintage clothing stores on Brick Lane you may find yourself a little thirsty. Luckily, Brick Lane Coffee is smack bang in the middle of all the excitement. Their choice of coffee is impressive, ranging from banana frappes (which are amazing in the current heatwave) to a dirty chai (that’s a chai latte with a shot of espresso). They do also offer decafe and soya milk options for those who may not want to partake though. The coffee ‘alternatives’ are delicious and are definitely worth trying out.

Beyond Retro Cafe – Stoke Newington High St, Dalston
Beyond Retro don’t only cater to vintage loving fashionistas. Their Dalston store also offers somewhere for you to put your feet up after you’ve had a tough day shopping. They offer a variety of coffee-centric drinks, as well as decafe and soya options. The drinks are reasonably priced without forgoing quality. I also love their gluten-free food options, and the free Wi-Fi, of course.

The Hawkhurst Vault – Brick Lane
Ok ok, THV is actually a tea room, but it does also sell coffee. So what better alternative for the non-coffee drinker than tea? That way you and your coffee loving friends can enjoy the best of both worlds. Shhh don’t tell the coffee lovers I mentioned tea.

Ozone Coffee Roasters – Leonard St, Shoreditch
Ozone take coffee pretty seriously, which can be a little daunting for those who don’t drink it regularly. However the surroundings in Ozone’s Shoreditch cafe will definitely put any worries to rest. With two massive floors there’s plenty of space and atmosphere to soak up. I couldn’t see any decafe options on their menu, but I did love their inclusion of hot chocolate – my caffeine-free choice when decafe isn’t around. The chilli hot chocolate is to die for, and their coffee certainly impressed my friends.

Hopefully you’ve enjoyed my mini round-up of the best alternative coffee stops in East London. If you’ve enjoyed it and are still on somewhat of a caffeine high, check out Currys post about the UK’s love for coffee.

bloomzy /

House of Fraser – Christmas in July

Christmas…in July!? Yes, it is the unfortunate right of passage that every blogger and journalist must make during the sweltering July heat. It may seem insane, but there’s actually a lot of sense in it. The Christmas months can be a little hectic, but the stores still want to let the press know what will be hitting their shelves for the most wonderful time of the year. Hence ‘Christmas in July’. A month when everyone feels a lot less stressed, and a whole lot warmer. Giving the magazines and blogs plenty of time to prepare their features and own personal wish lists. 
House of Fraser were amongst the few I attended and I was certainly put into the holiday spirit. Christmas trees and stockings lined the hall, whilst waitresses offered us elderberry water and earl grey cookies. As I nibbled away, tiny hedgehog decorations and ornate Biba candles grabbed my attention (and personal affections). The sights, smells and tastes all screamed Christmas. 
I personally love gifting at Christmas, and I certainly have some ideas of what I’ll be putting under the tree this year. Still, it would be silly to say that I didn’t also enjoy browsing House of Frasers offerings for myself. Lulu Guinness always brings something fun and unique to the table, making her items some of the top on my Christmas list. The selection of high-end beauty products and perfumes also called out to me, most notably the Laura Mercier lip glosses, and Guerlain and Valeur Absolue‘s perfumes. 
Previous years saw me avoiding department stores but House of Fraser has changed that. In the past year I’ve found myself more and more drawn to their choice of brands. They’re a store that is keeping up with the times and continues to impress with their products. The variety of items available are enviable, as is the quality. If I had to choose only one store to buy all of my gifts this Christmas, they would win hands down. 
bloomzy /

ionFashion Blogger Conference

Walking into a room wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with sassy cats and a pair of high waisted jeans was probably not what you’d expect from someone attending a conference. Luckily for me, this wasn’t a boring business conference, it was the ionFashionUK blogger conference. I was joined by other likeminded bloggers as well as brands and magazines, all of whom were hoping to gain a better insight into the world of blogging.

As this was my first blogger conference I was very eager to get started. I sat down with the lovely Sophie-Anne and Danielle, who were super friendly and kept me chatting until we were all asked to go upstairs. We were then joined by Adora who I attended the Burlesque event with a few weeks ago. It’s always lovely to see old friends and make new ones at the same time. We grabbed front row seats, which promised us that we’d be smack bang in the middle of all the action. My excitement was growing as we were read the line-up for the day; talks by Lela, Really Ree, Fashitects, Rosie Glow and Diary Directory. I loved hearing about blogging from their different perspectives, and how some people are making a living from it, but still enjoy it as much as they did when they first started. Later, we were paired with brands to answer questions on the best way to collaborate with bloggers. Being asked how I felt about certain PR moves, and how I prefer to be approached on a collaboration was something I haven’t really been asked before at events. One of the main topics of the day was how bloggers dislike ‘spam requests’. You know, the generic “Dear Blogger, I’ve been looking at your site…” (yeah, I deleted the email at “Dear Blogger”). So you can understand why I thought it was a smart and much needed move towards creating better relationships between bloggers and PRs.
The food also needs a shout-out as it was arguably the cutest I’d seen in a long time, and you know I love my food. I’m talking mini-burgers and pulled pork buns, alongside miniature salmon bagels and cornichons. All washed down with unlimited glasses of prosecco (I promise I only had one). The star of the lunch though was the mouthwatering chocolate brownie, which I still dream of today.

We were promised a day of networking, education and enlightenment, which were certainly fulfilled. My favourite talks of the day were from the very personable Really Ree, and Fashitects – who taught us a thing or two about male style bloggers. I went to learn and be inspired, and I did both, as well as make some new friends and contacts along the way. This may have been my first blogger conference, but it certainly won’t be my last. Who knows, one day it may even be me giving a talk up on that stage.

Thank you to Blueclaw for hosting the event, and to Bay for the photos.