Joli Lapin hops all around London town to sift through all the rubbish and find something special. From retro, vintage, designer to highstreet, charity shop chic has never looked (or tasted!) so good.
Joli Lapin has finally moved into its brand spankin' new home over at www.GracieCarroll.com please join me!
... I found him on a backstreet in Chinatown. He seemed happy in his little land of sunshine so I decided to leave him be and take a picture to remember him by. Ain't he cute?
Behold my new favourite recipe & food blog: The Pasta The Meat The Cheese The Sauce. This here blog was very recently created by the youngest member of the incredibly talented Lasagna family. Yes this is a real family who actually hold the last name "Lasagna" - from their name alone you should be able to tell that they are incredible gifted when it comes to making good food. If you don't believe me, you can try out some of these blog recipes OR visit their family restaurant, Terrazza on Harbord Street. All I can say is: Buon Appetito! xo
One of my favouritest couples in the world, Florian & Phillippa, were kind enough to have myself and Lauren over for dinner last weekend before a big night out. Not only that but the next day they had us ALL over the best Sunday BBQ going away party of all time. The stylish couple have an equally stylish flat and I jumped at the chance to take a few snaps of the decor - Joli Lapin approved! Thank you Flo & Pippa xx
And then smashing. We've all been there. I usually have a tantrum, but perhaps next time I will try "snapping" in a different sort of way, a la Rachel Bee Porter. Smart woman. Mmmm food as art, love it.
Top London fashion PR agency, The Communication Store, has got one helluva reception area! I need that thing in my future home. Don't you just heart it?
'Friends and Enemies' address book from Florence, Evil Eye clog key chain from Amsterdam, Licorice mints from Pisa and lighter from a little gelato shop in the Chianti.
Lunch: lasagna, grilled eggplant, spinach and little onion bulbs - packed for me by a lovely Italian man at a cafe near Piazza San Marco, and consumed by me in the Giardino du Boboli. Just perfect!
I could not have dreamed of a better way to spend my Easter weekend this year. I had hoped of a great big feast with family and friends, and it happened! Best friend, brother, new friends, fantastic food - just incredible, with such a beautiful setting to go along with it!
Last Sunday was a very long and very stressful moving day. Poor Nina from Paris had to endure the whole things with us! Its a part of her trip to London she'll probably never forget, but would like to I'm sure!
Well, it was a present form Corsica, really, which might be even better! Nina, a present from Paris herself, came to visit London over the weekend and brought me this beautiful bottle of rose. Mmmm mmm it sure was delicious! When Nina and I get together we consume a lot of wine together. A lot. We LOVE wine. How much? Well, you can probably tell from the pictures above xo
Ronnie's Quails and Chickens
86 Montpelier Gardens, E6 (07516 824 785; ronniesquails.co.uk)
Ronnie's eggs are available for collection or can be ordered via post. Chinese quail eggs, £4.50 for a dozen (plus £2 p&p).
Sipsmith Independent Spirits
The Distillery, 27 Nasmyth Street, W6 (020 8741 2034; sipsmith.com)
Sipsmith's Fairfax Hall and Sam Galsworthy create artisanal spirits including vodka and gin in their Hammersmith distillery, using Prudence, a handmade copper still. Sipsmith barley vodka, £14.84 for 35cl (half bottle).
The Giggly Pig
132 Petersfield Avenue, Harold Hill, Romford, Essex (01708 343 896;
gigglypig.co.uk)
Delicious sausages from ex-con Tracy Mackness's saddleback pigs, £3 for 6 sausages.
Hansen & Lydersen Ltd
3-5 Shelford Place, N16 (07411 693 712; hansen-lydersen.com)
Ole-Martin Hansen's smokehouse in Stoke Newington uses Scottish salmon, which arrives early in the morning and is salted, cured and smoked using a blend of juniper and beech wood. Queen Maud Royal Fillet, £40 for 650g.
Hubbub
(020 7354 5511; hubbub.co.uk)
Set up by former barrister Marisa Leaf, Hubbub delivers fresh food directly from independent local shops, including La Fromagerie and Christchurch Fish Co-operative, to most of North London.
Spence Bakery
161 Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 (020 7249 4927; thespence.co.uk)
This North London bakery supplies locals with delicious homemade scones, bread and sweet delights. Try the barley rye, £2.60, and frangipane fruit tarts, £18.
E5 bakehouse
Arch 402, Mentmore Terrace, E8 (07548 300 244; e5bakehouse.com)
Since opening in July 2009, this bakery has been supplying the East End with freshly baked sourdoughs, £3.20.Michel Roux Jr is a fan.
Pure London Honey
(07956 367 544)
Orlando Clarke uses non-chemical methods to provide delicious honey from both his King's Cross and Peckham hives. Available at Petersham Nurseries and many independent shops across the city, including the East Dulwich Deli.
The Hive Honey Shop
93 Northcote Road, SW11 (020 7924 6233; thehivehoney shop.co.uk)
Established in 1992, this is run by James Hamill who has beehives in Wandsworth. English wildflower honey, £6.95.
The Kernel Brewery
98 Druid Street, SE1 (07757 552 636; thekernelbrewery.com)
Founded by Evin O'Riordain in 2009, this brewery opens every Saturday selling Kernel's homebrew beer, which is also available in Selfridges, Borough Market and restaurants including Hawksmoor. Try the new coffee IPA, £2.50 for 330ml.
Growing Communities
The Old Fire Station, 61 Leswin Road, N16 (020 7502 7588; growingcommunities.org)
Jackson picked up these colourful Ziganov cigarettes when he was last in Amsterdam - not good for you but they look lovely!
Photos from my lunch with Jackson at our favourite Italian restaurant in Germany! Once again I can't remember the name - we plan on going again tomorrow so I'll try and remember to grab a card. Delicious as always, today we split a beet and rocket salad to start, then Jackson had their salmon lasagna and I had the gnocchi - mm mmm mmm! For dessert we shared the panna cotta which came with a black licorice syrup, mint leaves and blue berries along with two espressos - just perfect!
The Coveteur recently teamed up with Teen Vogue to explore talented jewellery designer, Pamela Love's studio - claw rings and fun things, I love! Click HERE for more.
