It's been too long, lets catch up over a nice cup of tea!

It's been too Long! Let's catch up on a nice cup of tea! Ever since moving from Yahoo, i have completely neglected my blog. Unfortunately I feel like many blog friends and vintage lovers have been lost.  From now, I promise to keep in contact with all of you again! 

Since my last post, semester two of university has taken up most of my time. Considering it's the last every year of my studies (unless in the distant future i want to continue my PHD...you can never stop learning),  I am trying my best to concentrate on my projects. However, unlike my undergrad studies, I am trying hard to balance my social life with work and this time round, I have made some lovely new friends from all around the world and all walks of life. 

Stay tuned for a quick summary of my past three months in the next couple of posts!

Anyway back to this post. Since i've been away, I have still magically managed to find time to treasure hunt for more vintage chinaware! Exploring markets and antique fairs gives me the chance to escape work... it's my guilty pleasure. Also since my entire family are also vintage lovers, we try to make it a family activity. I love sharing my passion with Mama and Papa and all we are waiting for is Rachel to come over from HK and we are ready for our road trip across the UK to continue our treasure hunt!

A dreamy afternoon nap with macarons and lots of TEA!!!

Royal Crown Derby trio

Adorable blue Shelly cup and saucer

I generally love blue and white designs, the gilding 

adds to the elegance of the long and lean shape .

Sometimes the most simple design can leave 

the biggest impression. 

This is understated elegance

Hand painted coffee and tea cups. 

Around 1910-1920, unmarked.

50's cake Doilies 

Rare Shelly pink tea set! So difficult to find

and the condition is excellent! This is going to 

be my wedding dowry haha!

Gatsby Art Deco coffee cup and saucer

Reservation pour trois svp...

My friends and I are complete foodies and we have been anticipating to try the Michelin star restaurant by head chef Pascal Nibaudeau ever since we booked our holiday. Table was booked... and we ate very light and bland during the day to saviour our tastebuds!  The restaurant was situated on the 1st floor of the Grand Hotel so we enjoyed a few aperitifs before we sat down on our table. Although the setting was formal, the staff were so friendly and even gave us a little souvenir at the end to make our dinner that little more special.

Entrees.. lobster macaron(absolutely amazing), savoury chocolate bite,

Tempura herbs, breadsticks with a mustard mayonnaise dip. 

Amuse Bouche...lobster and butter sauce

Sea bass and Aquitaine caviar with oysters and a sour cream sauce. 

Wild Turbot roasted on the bone and oyster béarnaise and two different
sauces, red wine and Choron sauce.

Palette cleanser: Melon puree with mint ice cream. 

Dessert- Lemon and Raspberry Vacherin... to be honest i didn't really

know what i was ordering at apart from the fact i knew it was going to be lemon and raspberries haha...when it turned out so pretty, i was really happy. 

Hello Bordeaux

This was a last minute girly holiday, booked only the week before we set off. Whilst many people my age would enjoy a wild weekend away in Ibiza with sun, sea and probably A&E.... I feel like my old bones simply couldn't take such 'wild' entertainment anymore. I knew Bordeaux would be the perfect place for me and my two girl friends to relax and enjoy some quality wine. One thing i underestimated was the heat wave that took over Bordeaux! 37 degrees when we landed!!! I never felt so hot in my life! And with Bordeaux being a pretty Green city, not many places had air con either... Ice bags, cold showers and swimming pools were much appreciated!

Since we arrived after their busy festival Les Epicuriales, the town was totally quiet, with only locals and students around the small city. This was the perfect opportunity for me to make friends with the locals and brush up my French... which has been neglected since High school days. The locals were all really friendly and we managed to spark up a few interesting conversations with some wonderfully quirky characters. Being probably the only few asians in town made us easily recognisable in such a small place. One the first day of our trip, we spent the afternoon lazily wondering the whimsical streets of Bordeaux. The locals are definitely very relaxed and nonchalant... not many shops were opened and cafes were filled with families, enjoying wine and people watching. After a long wonder around, we enjoyed an early bird dinner at the acclaimed Le Gabriel Bistro. The price wasn't too bad for the good quality of food. Expect to pay around 25Euros plus a head for a main course and a bottle of wine shared between friends. 

I probably enjoyed myself a little too much and forgot to take photos and document my trip... so i am trying my best to show and share with you my personal experience with very few photos....Forgive me please...but a girl has to play right? 

Sweetest little macaron boutique on the side streets in town. The packaging was so ADORABLE!

A lovely little character awaits you in Le Gabriel

DIY Macaron...Sweetest Experience!

With the opening of Laduree last month in Hong Kong, people seem to be going crazy over this sweet treat. This is one of the things on my must learn list... so before i leave HK, Rachel has promised to teach me a fail safe method that can be done even back home in my humble kitchen. These little delicacies are just too addictive... I can easily eat ten...twenty, one after another.

So before i master these tricky little sweeties, I can always visit my nearest Laduree. Back in the UK I am a regular at the French patisserie, often stopping by the Harrods branch for afternoon tea...mmmmm. Also, don't forget the wonderful confectionary department at Fortnum and Masons.. where the turkish delight and Arabian Chocolate will simply enchant you!

Inspired by all my favourite confectionaries (and with a lot of free time after graduation), i decided to DIY a 'sweetie necklace' and sewed up some candy coloured vest tops to add some sugar to my day!