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

Beautiful Summer Day

Summer is here for sure! Its 28 degrees over here and we are ready to celebrate the sun! My friend came back from Africa and we managed to organise a high school reunion/ BBQ party! We had the best time talking about past times about high school and some anecdotes made us laugh uncontrollably. The last time we had a BBQ together was when we were 16, just graduated from our GSCE exams. To start the fire we used my old text books! Ahhhh old times... Fast forward a few years and our BBQ has gained a little more sophistication!  The food was simple, but when it's so fresh, simple is best. We made four different salads, homemade Aioli sauce and finished off with chocolate fondue for dessert. The meal was accompanied by some sweet Moscatel wine and iced tea to quench our thirst in the summer heat.... Thank you for such a wonderful meal...good people...good food...good health.

Quirky Cafe Soho: Kingly Court

A fan of Soho Hong Kong? Well Soho London offers a similar experience with a British twist. Full of cafes, studios, workshops etc I love coming here to relax after a busy day in the city. For shopping, there are a few boutiques that are interesting but otherwise high street brands have taken over places like Carnaby street. I usually head to Berwick street to take a look at their fabric shops and vintage clothes stores. Kingly Court is a three story high open complex full of one-off shops, cafes, lifestyle stores etc. Stop by to learn cupcake making at one of the cookery studios or indulge yourself in a sweet afternoon tea. 

Spitalfields Market

Spitalfields Market has been open for for nearly years now! Although the market stores sell mostly imported goods from China etc, I still enjoy taking a peep at the quirky stores around it, especially the fantastic antique furniture shop, Elemental. I remember a few years back the stores were full of unique hand crafted goods, but they seemed to have moved elsewhere, perhaps Bricklane's Up Market. This is a great visit if you are en-route to Bricklane on a busy weekend. There are many restaurants surrounding the market stalls, so you sure won't get hungry from all the shopping... we had an early lunch at 'Canteen', a chain restaurant that celebrates and revives simple British foods. 

The most amazing antiques shop... Elemental. They are very strict on not letting you take photos, so these are from their website. They stock real high quality and vintage furniture from the Victorian era to 1970s. I especially like their industrial lights, chairs and old mannequins. My dream home would be furnished with pieces from here! The prices are so insanely high that a poor student like myself can only look with admiration... 

Fish and Chips at 'Canteen'. Although nothing too special, the place and staff were friendly. 

Fish and Chips at 'Canteen'. Although nothing too special, the place and staff were friendly. 

The Brick Lane Effect

Bricklane... one of my favourite spots in London. Full of vintage markets, contemporary galleries, boutiques... this place attracts some quirky youngsters every weekend. There was a pop up sample sale shop open during our visit and my friend managed to find a few adorable summer dresses made by Japanese designer 'Tofu'. I probably wouldn't buy any antiques here (or anywhere in London for that matter) because they are obviously higher priced compared to pieces that i can find outside of the this tourist filled city. With a little patience, antiques can be hunted at nearly half the price in the countryside. 

The 'Boiler House' is full of pop up food stalls, serving dishes from around the world. Although many stalls serve fast greasy fast food, high quality, gourmet street food can also be found here. The Burmese noodle stall served some really fresh authentic dishes...definitely deserve a try! After choosing your food from around 30 stalls or so, you can sit outside in the courtyard and enjoy a bit of the british sun... 

Sunday Up Market is full of quirky little shops, selling everything crafted, hand made, bric-a-brac and some lovely second hand clothing. Brickane's 'Backyard Market' also supports local designers and artists, with an eclectic range of stalls, each one showcasing the designers' signature style. To see up and coming designers, this is a must visit for people wants to support the creative industry! I managed to find the most adorable pug print sweater designed by a young illustrator who had a collection of awesome artwork. 

Although Bricklane is a place filled with youth and colour... i prefer showing you my experience in black and white.... leaving your imagination to run wild...

Seasons at Rachel's Kitchen Finally Printing!!!

Happy Birthday to Seasons at Rachel's Kitchen! After all the hard work and sleepless nights.. you've done it Rachel!!! The book is finally printing! I enjoyed every minute of this project and working with you was so incredible... our artistic visions collided and I am so proud of what we have done (although there is always room for improvement obviously). Thank you so much for this opportunity. Thank you for all the 'after' work... I had the fun part and you were left behind with all the hard work!  I am sad that i can't be around Hk when it comes out but I can't wait for our next project! 

Here is a behind the scene look: