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Where to Eat in London: Wa Cafe

wa cafeWa Cafe | Japanese Patisserie | Nearest Tube: Ealing Broadway

Some may say that France has the best patisseries in the world, however I would have to disagree. Japan has learnt from it’s European counterparts and created something altogether unique – fusing traditional ingredients with modern techniques. I’m sure you won’t find it odd when I say I miss Japanese food. However you may be surprised that a lover of savoury items such as myself, misses Japanese pastries. I can’t begin to explain how delicious and light they are. It’s something sweet and savoury fans alike should experience at least once in their life. So when I heard that Wa Cafe (an authentic Japanese patisserie) had opened in Ealing Broadway, I knew I had to try it. Skip ahead almost a year, and I was back again for my birthday weekend.

The Savoury…

 The first time I visited Wa Cafe they had run out of sandwiches, so I knew I had to grab one this visit. Two soft, chunky slices of bread encompass the Chicken Katsu Sandwich. Inside, the breaded chicken is accompanied by lettuce and a delicious salad dressing. This is one gigantic sandwich; perfect for sharing. However a dish this delicious may leave you wanting a whole one for yourself.

And The Sweet…

The savoury dishes here may be wonderful, but I know you’re all wondering how the cakes are! This visit I had the Strawberry Shortcake, and I was not disappointed. Japan’s Strawberry Shortcake is very different to the UK kind. A light sponge is layered with cream and strawberries. It’s very popular as a birthday cake in Japan, so it seemed fitting for this particular visit. Wa Cafe’s is just as light and airy as those I ate in Japan. The cream is sweet, but not sickeningly so. And even as someone who dislikes strawberries (yes, I’m weird), I enjoyed this cake immensely.

Final thoughts on : Wa Cafe

Wa Cafe is well worth the journey (around an hour from my East London dwellings), and well worth the wait. The cakes are as delectable as they are aesthetically pleasing. I spent around £17 on this particular visit, and I don’t regret spending a penny of it. Previously I tried the Matcha Swiss Roll, Curry Pan and the Melon Pan – all of which I would have again…once I’ve worked my way through the rest of the dishes. Of course. I could easily have breakfast, lunch and dinner here. In fact I’m not even upset that visiting means becoming more acquainted with my gym membership.

Read more in my Where to Eat in London series.

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Introducing… Finch Womenswear

finch womenswearFinch Womenswear | Norwich

The date is Mid-2015. Location: my sofa, probably. I have found myself on an endless Instagram loop. You know the kind. You find a new account that you fall in love with; so you click on one of their photos, follow a hashtag, check a location etc etc. This time it just so happened that my loop ended when I came upon a store based in my hometown of Norwich. I hadn’t heard of Finch womenswear before, but the aesthetic and brands they carried matched my personal style down to a tee.

My personal style has changed a lot since I moved to London, that much is evident from my Style Evolution posts. This paired with my fussy taste in clothing makes it difficult for me when purchasing clothes. I have my favourite shops in London, but never found anything matching them in Norwich. Luckily Finch has changed all of that. I now make a habit of visiting whenever I’m back.

Finch womenswear stocks well known brands such as Wood Wood, Norse Project and Rains. Alongside these are also new names like Delores Daywear. Everything has been lovingly hand selected by Sophie, and it shows. Their carefully curated selection of brands and items are easily on-par with their London counterparts. It’s easy to see why the store has become so coveted in such a short period of time. It really is a must visit for those with a penchant for minimalist, quality fashion. And if you don’t believe me, check out my fave Brittany Bathgate‘s love for the brand – she even modelled for their latest campaign.

You can find Finch womenswear at 14 St Benedicts Street, NR2 4AG, and online at Finch.

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bloomzy /

A London Life… at Sushinoen with Nuffnang UK

sushinoenSushinoen* | Japanese | Whitechapel | Nearest Tube: Aldgate East

London is a culinary melting pot of cuisines. We have the complete A-Z of food, from Algerian to Zambian – Foodies need not be disappointed. Whereas I do enjoy discovering new cuisines, there’s one I always go back to – Japanese. After living there, I have a handful of recipes that I like to re-create at home. However there’s nothing better than having someone else cook for you, am I right?

This past weekend I was lucky enough to be a guest at Sushinoen, courtesy of Nuffnang UK. A cute Japanese restaurant tucked away in the heart of Whitechapel, Sushinoen serves up a variety of Japanese dishes. We were sat at a sunken table (horigotatsu), which I always find super comfortable. After everyone had arrived we ordered a bottle of plum wine (umeshu) – my favourite Japanese tipple. Conversation flowed as the first round of food was brought to the table: Butakakuni, Agedashi Tofu, Beef Tataki, White Tuna Carpaccio, Mixed Seaweed Salad, Shumai, and Chicken Gyoza. Honestly I would recommend it all, but it was the Butakakuni and the Agedashi Tofu that really had something special. Agedashi Tofu is probably my favourite Japanese side dish, the crispy outer is complimented by the soft inner (and a wondrous tentsuyu broth). However it’s the Butakakuni that surprised me the most, as I’m not the biggest fan of pork belly. This though was so tender it fell apart and melted in the mouth – definitely my dish of the day!

At this point I was already starting to feel full, and then a wild plate of sushi rolls appeared! We had the Bravo Duo (seared tuna & salmon on California roll) and Spider (prawn tempura on California roll) rolls. I could only manage a couple of bites, but I was left wanting for more  – thank you Hidekazu Tojo for this marvellous invention! Unfortunately we were all too full to eat any Sukiyaki (the next dish on the menu), but nothing was wasted as we were given boxes to take home. The dessert of matcha ice cream & mocha was a light & refreshing end to the meal. Of course I always have room for something sweet – my friends say I have betsubara – especially if it’s matcha.

For any bloggers interested in working with brands, I’d highly suggest checking out Nuffnang UK.
And for those with a rumbly tummy, Sushinoen is definitely worth a visit.

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bloomzy /

Christmas Gift Guide | The Interior Lover

christmas-gift-guide-7Bloomzy’s Christmas Gift Guide, for The Interior Lover

It’s that time of the year again when we all start wracking our brains as to what we should buy our loved ones. And whereas they will always tell us “oh you don’t have to worry about getting me anything”, we all know we’re going to anyway. So to try and make it a little bit easier for you, I have put together a few gift guides. Each Christmas gift guide has been carefully curated by yours truly, to showcase what I believe are affordable, quality gifts that will appeal to all (well, pretty much anyone). So grab a cup of tea, sit back, and let me do all the hard work for you.

A Gift Guide for The Interior Lover:

  1. Robin & Holly Oven Glove – Thornback and Peel*
  2. Stag & Mistletoe Tea Towel – Thornback and Peel*
  3. Stackable Copper & Gold Containers – Tiger
  4. Inissia Black Coffee Machine & Aeroccino – Nespresso
  5. Nespresso Machine Coffee Capsules*

You may be thinking to yourself right now, but I don’t see a Nespresso machine in the photos. Well I’m not gonna sugar coat it, it’s a bit of a b*tch to include in a flat lay. But I’m sure you can get the idea. Anyway, I wanted to include an interior gift guide this year as I have become a bit of an interior geek as of late – I blame my new apartment. Plus, interior is so hot right now. Am I right?

Don’t forget to check out the rest of my Christmas Gift Guide series.

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bloomzy /

Christmas Gift Guide | The Beauty Lover

christmas gift guideBloomzy’s Christmas Gift Guide, for The Beauty Lover

It’s that time of the year again when we all start wracking our brains as to what we should buy our loved ones. And whereas they will always tell us “oh you don’t have to worry about getting me anything”, we all know we’re going to anyway. So to try and make it a little bit easier for you, I have put together a few gift guides. Each Christmas gift guide has been carefully curated by yours truly, to showcase what I believe are affordable, quality gifts that will appeal to all (well, pretty much anyone). So grab a cup of tea, sit back, and let me do all the hard work for you.

A Gift Guide for The Beauty Lover:

  1. Coco Mademoiselle Eau De Parfum – Chanel
  2. Marvellous Moxie Lipgloss (in Life of the Party) – Bareminerals*
  3. Fat Liquid Eyeliner – Eyeko
  4. Make an Entrance Lip and Nail Sonata Gift Set – Temple Spa*
  5. Coconut Oil – Vita Coco*
  6. Brightening Facial Oil – Manuka Doctor*
  7. Rosehip Collection Gift Set – Trilogy

Beauty products are my go-to Christmas gift. The variety of amazing Christmas gift sets in Boots has me transfixed year after year. Even so, you may not always want to buy a whole gift set. Sometimes I prefer to create my own. This year I’ll be making mini beauty hampers for my nearest and dearest, and it’s safe to say that all of these brands will be making an appearance.

Don’t forget to check out the rest of my Christmas Gift Guide series.

christmas gift guide chanel perfume christmas gift guide manuka doctor christmas gift guide bareminerals christmas gift guide eyeko coconut oil

bloomzy /

Christmas Gift Guide | The Fashion Lover

christmas gift guide Bloomzy’s Christmas Gift Guide, for The Fashion Lover

It’s that time of the year again when we all start wracking our brains as to what we should buy our loved ones. And whereas they will always tell us “oh you don’t have to worry about getting me anything”, we all know we’re going to anyway. So to try and make it a little bit easier for you, I have put together a few gift guides. Each Christmas gift guide has been carefully curated by yours truly, to showcase what I believe are affordable, quality gifts that will appeal to all (well, pretty much anyone). So grab a cup of tea, sit back, and let me do all the hard work for you.

A Gift Guide for The Fashion Lover:

  1. T-shirt – Wood Wood @ Finch Norwich
  2. Necklace – Clarice Price Thomas @ Parla*
  3. Marble iPhone Case – Madotta*
  4. Shoes – Jones Bootmaker*
  5. Purse – Commes des Garcon

Fashion is very subjective, so it can be difficult to purchase clothing or accessories for someone else. However there are several pieces that will always be timeless, and can fit into pretty much any wardrobe. For me that’s a well constructed t-shirt, a pair of boyish flats (perfect for the party season), a chic phone case, a necklace that can be worn on any occasion, and a little black purse.

Don’t forget to check out the rest of my Christmas Gift Guide series.

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bloomzy /

My Travel Skincare Essentials | 2015 Recommendations

travel-skincare-essentials-avene-weledaMy Travel Skincare Essentials

My day-to-day skincare regime includes cleanser, toner, moisturiser, body lotion, lip balm and eye cream. Thanks to these brands and products, I’m able to continue it during my travels. My go-to favourites are there (ehem, Avene Thermal Water Spray), alongside some new friends (Dr Lipp Miracle Balm). Check out the full list of my travel skincare essentials below:

My Travel Skincare Essentials
+ Avene Cleanance Micellar Water*
+ Avene Eau Thermal Spray*
+ Weleda Skin Food
+ Dr Lipp Miracle Balm*
+ Weleda Sea Buckthorn Replenishing Body Lotion*
+ Yves Saint Laurent Forever Youth Liberator Eye Cream

Everything I have included is travel-sized. However unfortunately I was unable to find some of the sizes available for purchase online. For these items I have included links to the full size products, as they’re totally worth buying full size anyway. After all you can always just depot them into travel friendly bottles.

Happy travels!

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