Category: Lifestyle

Lifestyle

P.F. CHANG’S ASIAN TABLE COVENT GARDEN

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If you are a fan of Asian food then P.F. Chang’s Asian Table is the place for you. We enjoyed a lovely early evening meal last weekend and we’re literally planning our next visit! The restaurant is so lively and vibrant. When you arrive you are greeted with the most delicious smelling food.

For starters we both had the Handmade Pork Dumplings which was drizzled with soy sauce and chilli mash. This dish is an absolute must have! The dumplings literally melts in your mouth and tastes amazing.

You are spoilt for choice with the variety of different dishes. One of the dishes you could choose from the Honey Chicken or Honey Shrimp. We went for the Honey Shrimp which is lightly battered in sweet and tangy honey sauce, with spring onions served on a bed of crispy rice. Alongside Wasabi Mash Potatoes infused with wasabi, lemongrass, spring onions and cream. We also ordered Sichuan Green Beans marinated in sambal chilli paste, ginger, garlic and pickled Chinese radishes.

The dessert menu looked so good! But to be honest we were so full there was just nowhere for it to go! Lol. We did have room for a couple of cocktails though.. and tried the ‘Azure’ filled with Tequila, Shiso, Elderflower, Grape and Lemon which was very tasty but our favourite cocktail we tried that night had to be the ‘Purple Colada’. OMG!! If you love a pina colada then this drink is most definitely the one to go for. Mixed with coconut rum, Amaretto, pineapple juice, lemon juice, blue tea and coconut cream.

P.F. Chang in Covent Garden is about a five minute walk away from Charing Cross station. The restaurant also offers a lunch time menu and if you have a special occasion coming up they offer celebratory cakes with personalised messages made fresh from their pastry lab.

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Shelley & Michelle xx

Lifestyle

LONDON FASHION WEEK AFTERNOON TEA

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London Fashion Week has come to an end and unfortunately we didn’t attend any shows but we did get to celebrate our own way and that was… no other than a cheeky afternoon tea.

To celebrate, The Hilton Hotel on Park Lane put on a fantastic spread for a Chanel-themed afternoon tea. We were presented with an array of delicious cakes. They paid tribute to the late Karl Lagerfield – who was the creative director of Chanel – with a blood orange and white chocolate tart which had his face imprinted onto it with his signature glasses. There was even a mandarine praline ‘Chanel handbag’. The attention to detail was on point!

We also enjoyed freshly warm baked scones that came with a salted caramel spread, Cornish clotted cream and strawberry jam. Coconut macaroons was on the menu alongside more pastries and fondant fancies. The sandwiches were divine and was presented to us so immaculately! The toppings were smoked salmon and horseradish cream, cucumber, chive and cream cheese, prawn cocktail and lettuce, coronation chicken, curry and pineapple, ham, tomato chutney, mustard and cress.

To wash down all this yummy food there was a great selection of teas to choose from. Shelley had the Organic Jasmine Pearls and Michelle had the Classic Organic English Breakfast which was so refreshing!

We totally recommend experiencing The London Fashion Week Afternoon Tea. The experience costs £39 per person or you can upgrade to the deluxe including champagne that costs £49. You need to get your skates on though because it’s available until September 22nd.

 

You can follow Shelley on Instagram here

You can follow Michelle on Twitter  here

Shelley & Michelle xx

Lifestyle

London Diaries Shaka Zulu in Camden Town

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We both love Camden!

For the quirkiness, vibrancy and bohemian chicness, it’s one of our favourite places to visit in London. So we thought it would be nice to spend an evening at Shaka Zulu.

Located in the Stables Market in the heart of Camden, Shaka Zulu (here) is a South African restaurant, bar and club. We had heard a lot about the restaurant but this was our first time visiting. So of course we were excited to see what Shaka Zulu had to offer.

As we stepped off the escalator which takes you to the first floor of the restaurant, we were both in awe of the stunning interior. Our highlight of the evening was Shaka Zulu’s impressive decor especially on the second floor that has 20 feet tall warrior statues which are amazing! There are carved wooden murals which cover the walls and ceilings with dim spot lights to give the restaurant an intimate and relaxed vibe. The space is really big and spacious and has a great atmosphere.

We arrived late afternoon (just in time for happy hour) which includes two for one cocktails!

We certainly recommend having a cocktail. It was probably one of the best cocktails that we’ve had in London. We both are always a bit dubious of cocktails as it is hard to get it right. But the bartenders at Shaka Zulu did not disappoint. The cocktails were absolutely on point!

Blue Crush and Mojito Cocktail

The cocktails made such a great impression on us that we could not wait to devour some food.

Shelley ordered the steak and Michelle ordered the ribs (not exactly South African cuisine). The food was pretty basic and bland in taste. Also, the portions were small so if you are feeling a bit ravenous one evening, possibly order two plates. No shade!

Don’t get us wrong, it was not the worst meal but certainly not the best meal that we have had. However, the decor, atmosphere and cocktails made up for the less than satisfying meal.

It was a pleasant evening and we would certainly go back for the cocktails. Also, the restaurant turns into a night club from 10pm to 2am so if you want to shake a leg then Shaka Zulu may be for you.

You can follow Shelley on Instagram here

You can follow Michelle on Twitter  here

Shelley & Michelle xx

Lifestyle

London Diaries Part Two: Afternoon Tea at Fortnum & Mason

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As we were feeling rather royal after our Buckingham Palace tour, we decided to stick with our royal theme and complete our day by having a Champagne Afternoon Tea at Fortnum & Mason in Piccadilly, London.

Fortnum & Mason is one of London’s most recognised department stores and is also known for it’s world renowned Afternoon Tea. We both knew that we had to experience this upmarket Tea Salon for ourselves.

Located on the fourth floor, we entered The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Room, that has a very grand black piano near the entrance, with the pianist playing softly that added to the calm ambience of the room. A very nice touch!

Our Tearista sat us at a very elegant table, with very comfy sofas and chairs.
Champagne (accompanied with a glass of water) as we didn’t want to get too tipsy!

Our Tearista talked us through the menu and the various teas that are on offer. We opted for the Queen Anne Blend (this tea was created in 1907) and has a very smooth flavour. We also chose Jubilee Blend, that had a sweet taste and was very golden in colour. Both teas were in a form of tea leaves.

We were both brought a three-tier platter, with a delectable assortment of finger sandwiches, cakes and scones, served with strawberry and raspberry jam. The scones were also accompanied with the most delicious clotted cream that we have ever tasted!

We both ordered a second helping of sandwiches and have to admit we struggled to finish them all…but the best part of the experience was that you could refill on tea, cakes, scones and sandwiches as many times as you wanted too. Definite treat.

We were offered complimentary chocolate cake to take home (which we certainly did not refuse), plus all the cakes that we didn’t finish we were also able to take with us. You most certainly get your money’s worth and we must say Fortnum & Mason were very generous with their servings.

So if you are looking to treat a loved one or just want a nice afternoon out in London, we would certainly recommend the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon at Fortnum & Mason. It truly is a lovely experience and is quintessentially British, you will not be disappointed.

Fourth Floor, Fortnum & Mason 181 Piccadilly, London, W1A 1ER

You can follow Shelley on Instagram here

You can follow Michelle on Twitter  here


Shelley & Michelle xx

Lifestyle

London Diaries Part 1: A Royal Occasion

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Living in such a great city, it is easy to take for granted the different attractions that are on your doorstep!

So we thought, what better way to start our London Diaries with a tour of London’s main attraction, Buckingham Palace where we took a guided tour of The State Rooms and The Royal Gardens.

Of course, visiting an historical landmark of this magnitude, we did not expect anything less than impressive. We can certainly say that The Royal Palace did not disappoint!

We visited up to 15 state rooms in the Palace that were a maze of gold and marble, with high ceilings, grand staircases, impressive chandeliers and portraits of past Kings and Queens. It was everything that you would expect from a Queen’s headquarters and so much more. It exuded elegance and was truly regal.

To end the tour, we walked through Her Majesty’s Royal Gardens. It was very serene and was the perfect back garden to the gigantic Palace that you could get lost in. The lake had swans and a little family of ducks on the water. There was a small café, a gift shop and a must try ‘Royal Ice Cream’ stand.

You are not allowed to take photos inside Buckingham Palace but you are able to take as many pictures as you want in The Royal Gardens.

It was truly a remarkable experience and was one of the places we have both wanted to explore since we were kids. It is seeped in British tradition and would recommend that whenever you are in London you make the Palace your first tour stop!

The Palace is open for 10 weeks from July through to September each year, so take that into account before you book.

You can follow Shelley on Instagram here

You can follow Michelle on Twitter  here

                                                              Shelley & Michelle xx

Lifestyle

Rum Kitchen, Carnaby Street

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We had been talking about going to Rum Kitchen for awhile and a friend of ours had recently been and could not stop talking about how delicious the food is….so we said why not give it a try.

An inviting West Indian restaurant tucked away in Kingly Court on Carnaby Street, buzzing with people, with tasty Caribbean cuisines and delicious cocktails we knew we were in for a treat.

A great atmosphere, designed like a Caribbean beach hut, there was a DJ on the decks playing good upbeat tunes and it felt like you were being transported away to a Caribbean island. So if you are looking for tasty West Indian cuisine with the best cocktails, then look no further than Rum Kitchen.

Chilli Prawns with jerk sauce
Jerk Bowl….rice and peas, coleslaw, watermelon, pineapple and jerk gravy
Proper Jerk….two chopped legs, with rice and peas, coleslaw, watermelon and jerk gravy

We are lovers of Caribbean food so are expectations were pretty high! Lol. The Rum Kitchen offers a very meat filled menu with some of our favourite dishes. From jerk chicken, to curry mutton, plantain to macaroni and cheese. We couldn’t decide what to choose from on the menu (nothing new). But we decided on the spiced prawns, the jerk bowl and the proper jerk dish. You can choose the level of spice that you prefer, so if you like it hot or not, the chefs will cater to your taste buds. Sides include sweet potato fries, callaloo, spinach, ackee and a few more options. The meat focused menu is balanced out with exotic fruit that included watermelon and pineapple sprinkled over the coconut rice that complemented the dish and got your taste buds bursting with a combination of flavours.

Rumbuston…Kracken, Apricot mix, Pineapple Juice & Coconut Cream
Passionfruit & Lime Mojito…Barcadi Superior, Passionfruit & Lime Juice, Soda & Mint
Ting Wray….Wray & Nephew, Blue Curacao, Ting Grapefruit Soda & Lime Juice

You can not be in a Caribbean restaurant and not be sipping on a cocktail or a little bit of rum. The Rum Kitchen do a perfect mojito, so of course we had to order more than one…it would be rude not too. We must admit, that we are picky when it comes to cocktails but the cocktails were soooooooo tasty. You can tell that the cocktail makers put a lot of emphasis on creating the perfect drink. You can order Happy Hour drinks between 5 to 7pm.

We do recommend booking Rum Kitchen in advance as the restaurant gets very busy. So if you want to experience a taste of the Caribbean in the heart of the West End then take a stroll to Rum Kitchen. It is only a 6 minute walk from Oxford Circus tube station. Or why not try, Rum Kitchen in Notting Hill or Brixton.

You can follow Shelley on Instagram here

You can follow Michelle on Twitter  here

Shelley & Michelle xx

Lifestyle

Afternoon Tea At Grande Royale Hotel London

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There is nothing quite like spending a lazy Sunday afternoon, over a glass of prosecco, warm tasty scones and a good cup of English Tea!

So that’s exactly what we did when we visited The Grande Royale Hotel in Hyde Park, London. The Edwardian style hotel has an Old English vibe and is the perfect place to spend a chilled weekend. Just a 3 minute walk from Queensway tube station, the hotel is perfectly situated by Hyde Park.

We both love an afternoon tea experience so you could certainly call us a pair of afternoon tea enthusiasts!

The decor is stunning with a vintage yet modern edge. It felt like we were stepping back in time.

Once seated at our table we were provided with a bottle of prosecco which is always a great way to start an afternoon tea date. After a couple of sips, we couldn’t wait to tuck into those sweet and savoury treats.

We can’t recommend this experience enough. There were so many different options from macaroons, scones and clotted cream, chocolate cake and a variety of fresh tasty sandwiches which was washed down nicely with a good cup of English Tea. 

The staff were incredibly friendly and always made sure we had everything we needed. So if you fancy a lazy Sunday eating, drinking tea and fizz then afternoon tea at The Grande Royale Hotel in Hyde Park is the place to be.

You can follow Shelley on Instagram here

You can follow Michelle on Twitter  here

Shelley & Michelle xx

Lifestyle

Cottons – Camden

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If you haven’t already guessed it, we are both fans of West Indian food. Whether it’s travelling to the Caribbean or even just finding that perfect restaurant on your door step. We came across a hidden gem on Camden high street called ‘Cottons’ which is an eight minute walk from Camden Town tube station and a four minute walk from Chalk Farm tube station. Perfect!

Cottons Restaurant and Rhum Shack have been serving Caribbean food in London for over 30 years and have three other restaurants in Shoreditch, Notting Hill and Vauxhall.

The vibe of the restaurant is just amazing and has a real party feel, with reggae playing in the background and people enjoying themselves. Whilst they prepared our table we were seated at a small table by the bar…Obvs! We both fancied rum punch and decided on the ‘Reggae Rum Punch’ which consists of Wray & Nephew 63% overproof rum, orange, pineapple and lime juice with grenadine, which warmed us up in no time.

When we were seated we enjoyed the tastiest and and fulfilling three course meal. We started with the Ebony Wings which was cooked to perfection. The wings came with three jumbo chicken wings which was glazed over with finger-licking BBQ sauce.

Cotton’s menu is so versatile you can choose from Jerk Salmon to the Vegetable Pepper Pot (for vegetarians) and even the Mixed Jerk Grill Platter and many more. Shelley went for the Curried Mutton that came with rice ‘n’ peas, plantain and coleslaw. Michelle chose the King Prawn, Red Snapper, Sweet Potato and Lime Curry with basmati rice and cucumber raita. Both dishes tasted absolutely delicious! We were so stuffed and couldn’t bare letting the food go to waste, so we asked for a goody bag lol!

Curried Mutton
King Prawn, Red Snapper & Basmati rice

For dessert we chose the White and dark chocolate Mousse which ended the meal nicely. The Mousse was so delicious and tasted so creamy.

Shelley stuck to the Reggae Rum Punch during the evening and Michelle also tried the Cottons Pina Colada. Cottons has a daily Happy Hour on cocktails, wine and beer from 5pm-7pm. If you like music, dancing and just enjoying life we recommend you visit Cottons past 9pm. The DJ arrives and plays a mixture of bashment, reggae and soca music to get you up on the dance floor. Literally when you’ve finished your meal everyone makes there way to the DJ and you just dance the night away.

You can follow Shelley on Instagram here

You can follow Michelle on Twitter  here

Shelley & Michelle xx

Lifestyle

Ping Pong, Bow Bells House

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We have enjoyed the food at Ping Pong for a few years now, but haven’t been for some time and decided to spend an evening dining at the trendy Chinese Dim Sum restaurant. There are a few Ping Pong restaurants in London, we chose the Bow Bells House location which is a five minute walk from Cannon Street Station.

The dim lit restaurant has a great atmosphere with delicious foods, amazing wine and cocktails. We ordered small dishes to share and started with the vegetable puff, soy chicken skewers, prawn and scallop sticky rice and black prawn dumpling.

The food was so delicious and came with a variety of different sauces which complimented the dishes. The vegetable puff was full of different flavours and the glazed honey melted onto the puff pastry perfected the dish. The soy chicken was cooked just right, it tasted as though it had been on the bbq and was served with a zesty orange sauce. You have to try the prawn and scallop sticky rice which tastes so good!

The rice was wrapped in a leaf which you have to unwrap, the prawn and scallop tastes great together so we definitely recommend this dish. All we have to say is mmmmmmm!! The black prawn dumpling just melts in your mouth and gets your taste buds going!

If you’re going to an event or meeting your significant other maybe choose something else on the menu as this dish is full of garlic but tastes amazing.

It’s not a night out without wine and cocktails involved! The cocktails were so tasty, Shelley had the lychee and roses martini which contained bombay sapphire gin, rose petals, fresh lemon and lychee juice. Michelle had the straight up daiquiri made with bacardi carta blanca rum, sugar, shaken with fresh lime juice.

We booked our table in advance, which we tend to do before eating out at restaurants. So we would say book a reservation to avoid disappointment. As there are other Ping Pong restaurants in London, when in the area why not try Ping Pong Southbank, Covent Garden or Soho.

You can follow Shelley on Instagram here

You can follow Michelle on Twitter  here

                       Shelley & Michelle xx

Lifestyle

Thai Square Spa London

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Tucked away along the busy streets of London lies the perfect spa getaway everyone needs in their lives to chill and have some time out. Thai Square Spa is about a five minute walk form Charing Cross station which is perfect!

When you enter the spa peace and tranquillity hits you straight away, your shoulder automatically lower and you feel at peace as you’re greeted by soft music and the most amazing scents. The staff are so friendly and make you feel welcome, when shown to the changing rooms we were provided with white comfy dressing gowns, Thai Square Spa’s own flip flops and throw away knickers which are supposed to be used before treatments (but don’t forget your bikinis). We were guided down spiral stairs and entered a different world… literally. The dim lit lighting, soft spotlights and candles were sprinkled around the spa area that was exquisitely decorated with a mix of Roman, Thai and Turkish interior. In a row stood the masseuses and masseurs who stepped forward calling our name and introducing themselves to us, they then guided us to our treatment room.

Thai Square Spa has five Thai massage treatment rooms including six ritual massage rooms and one VIP suite treatment room. We both chose the same treatment which was the Thai Herbal Healer this particular massage is known for its traditional Thai herbal therapy to soothe, tense, stiff muscles. They massaged us with a warm herbal poultice which contained a variety of therapeutic herbs and spices. The technique was followed by a full body ritual massage with Jasmine massage and body oil. The treatment was for an hour and we were so relaxed we could have stayed on that massage table for at least another hour!

After our treatment we were taken to the relaxation/chill out area and was offered water or tea. We chilled there for about ten minutes before entering the spa area. Everything about this spa is top notch and just kept getting better and better. The spa boasts an incredible Jacuzzi which is very warm and toasty. It’s quite a deep Jacuzzi with stairs leading into it and the bubbles are so powerful which soothes your aches and pains. You can choose between the Sauna and steam room but being Shelley and Michelle we obviously tried out both! We began in the Sauna then finished in the steam room which is surprisingly large. Luckily for us the spa was empty so we had the facilities to ourselves. Next to the Jacuzzi there is an ice fountain that’s there to cool you down, stimulate circulation and eliminate toxins.

When we were finished chillin’ and taking full advantage of the spa we showered and made our way to the chill out area again and was greeted by a friendly member of staff who offered us more tea which is the most tastiest herbal Chinese tea. We relaxed on the comfiest white chaise and just chatted and took in the scenery and peaceful environment.

If you’re in need of some rest and relaxation why not try Thai Square Spa (here) it’s in a great location and was voted World Luxury Spa UK Awards Winner 2017.

You can follow Shelley on Instagram here

You can follow Michelle on Twitter  here

Shelley & Michelle xx