Saturday, February 23, 2019

Carluccio's | Richmond Reopening




Carluccios Richmond invited me along to the reopening party on Thursday 21st February 2019.

Joining the Carluccios team and a whole host of foodie guests for an evening of complimentary prosecco and aperitivi, I was able to sample some of the amazing dishes that have made it onto Carluccios new menu.

Roll back to 1999 and Carluccio’s had just opened – everyone was talking about the designer interiors, the all-day Italian menu, great coffee and fantastic shop. Twenty years on, at the Richmond restaurant, every detail has been reimagined. The interiors of the restaurant been revamped to suit a new generation, with plush blue velvet chairs and booths, gold hardware, stylish crockery and an updated deli.



The dramatic changes take inspiration from the late Antonio Carluccio’s first restaurant and deli, the acclaimed Neal Street in Covent Garden, and are inspired by his food heritage and today’s dining trends.

The restaurant feels modern and stylish, the new look features cosy corners, open spaces and vibrant colours. The insta-worthy foliage installation, eye-catching art and colourful ceramics are just the start of its fresh look.

For those lucky enough to get to the terrace on a summer's day can enjoy this suntrap, made for people-watching. The bar is equally the perfect pitstop for an espresso or a
refreshing after-work negroni or cold beer.



The Menu:
Standout interiors deserve standout food that fits the vibe. From appetising antipasto to small plates every new dish is mindful of Antonio Carluccio’s motto of MOF MOF (minimum
of fuss, maximum of flavour).



Must-tries are the heritage dishes, taken from the original Neal Street restaurant – Prawns Marinara (with plum tomatoes in a white wine sauce, chilli and fennel); Pappardelle ai Funghi (mixed mushrooms in a white wine and porcini sauce), and Spaghetti Vongole (cuttlefish ink spaghetti white wine, chilli, garlic and parsley).



Other new dishes include Seafood Linguine with prawns, mussels and squid, topped with a whole langoustine and bottarga, whilst on-trend vegan options come in the form of a warm Kale and Almond salad (with spinach, broccoli, mushrooms and semi-dried tomato pesto), chargrilled Cauliflower Steak (with hazelnuts, semi-dried tomato pesto, chilli and cannellini bean purée) and Veganesca Spaghetti (olives, capers, tomato, chilli, raisins and garlic and herb breadcrumbs, hazelnuts, walnuts and pine nuts). The new menu caters to all palettes and dietary requirements.


The Specials:
Take time out for a leisurely brunch (with or without prosecco) with new dishes like Avocado Benedict, Courgette Fritters, fluffy Ricotta Pancakes, and a ‘full vegan’ with borlotti beans, smashed avocado, courgette, portobello mushrooms and tomatoes sitting alongside all the classic egg choices and healthy choices of granola, fruit, porridge, fresh juices and super smoothies.


The Shop:
Something that hasn’t changed is Carluccio’s range of beautifully packaged artisan products sourced from small, family producers all over Italy. From Calabrian sun-dried tomatoes to hand-filled Piedmonte peppers and the finest olive oils, there’s everything from Italian larder essentials to that perfect foodie gift. 


What is new though is the cheese deli featuring a vast array of regional Italian varieties, including many rarely seen in the UK – creamy Piedmontese Carboncino, Sardinian Moliterno al Tartufo, with generous peels of black truffle and the Venetian Ubriaco. The more familiar Mozzarella di Bufala and Parmigiano still feature and can be enjoyed with an Italian wine match, including a great Lambrusco from the deli.




Desserts include Monte Viso, Carluccio’s take on a Baked Alaska and a sweet Poached Pear in a spiced red wine syrup with vanilla mascarpone.

Click here for the full menu.


Carluccio’s, 31-35 Kew Road, Richmond, TW9 2NQ

T: 020 8940 5037

Opening Hours – Monday – Friday 8am – 11pm

Saturday – 9am – 11pm
Sunday 9am – 10:30pm

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Thursday, February 14, 2019

Valentine's Day Cocktails | Cranes


With Valentine's Day around the corner, Cranes Drinks have the perfect love potion to accompany your favourite flirty cocktails with their Cranberry and Blood Orange liqueur.







During my Galentine's Day event, I served my 'All the Single Ladies' Cranbellini and it went down a treat.


'All the Single Ladies' Cranbellini:
♥ 1 part Cranes Liqueur 
♥ 4 parts Prosecco



Why not try some of the other cocktails you can make with Cranes Drinks.

Galentine's Cosmopolitan:
♥ 1 part Cranes Liqueur
♥ 1 part Cranberry Juice
♥ 1 part Vodka
♥ 1/2 part squeezed Lime Juice

'Bittersweet' Lemon Berry:
♥ 2 parts Cranes Liqueur 
♥ 1/2 part Limoncello
♥ 6 parts Sicilian Lemonade

Hugs & Kisses G&T
♥ 1 part Cranes Liqueur
♥ 1 part Gin
♥ 6 parts Aromatic Tonic Water
♥ 1/2 part squeezed Pink Grapefruit Juice







Disclaimer: This product was gifted. All views and opinions are my own.
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Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Lady in Red | Emma Wallace

British born designer Emma Wallace has firmly established herself as a hot commodity within the Asian market. Having fallen in love with Asia during years of travelling, the Berkshire native settled in Hong Kong where she has become the ‘go to’ for innovative, modern, yet exceedingly elegant formal ready-to-wear pieces.

Drawing on her travels, Wallace’s collection delivers a seamless blend of Western heritage fused with Eastern influence. Her fabric, colour and pattern inspiration are luxurious and are a perfect mix of vintage and cutting edge modernity for the woman who wants to feel unstoppable.


Attending the annual Lady Wimbledon Love Ball this year, I knew I wanted to stick to the traditional red colour palette that was going to be as glamorous as the occasion.




The Lady Wimbledon Love Ball was the perfect excuse to wear the vibrant Tien gown. Pairing it with some vibrant red patent heels, this look adhered to the dress code and wowed other guests.

Drawn to the origami cuts and asymmetric details, Emma Wallace is an inventive yet wearable brand that is consistently experimenting with femininity.
The Emma Wallace Woman craves a collection that seamlessly combines bold statement pieces with whimsical touches. She wants to create impact, whilst maintaining her feminine edge.


She's a modern romantic, she dreams of adventure and covets a collection that will take her anywhere she wishes to wander. Effortlessly chic, the Emma Wallace woman dances to her own beat and showcases her style with a flair that is all her own.
Wallace's designs have been worn by some of Asia’s biggest stars, including G.E.M. The pop star’s love for the brand saw Emma’s design become a permanent exhibition piece at Hong Kong Madame Tussauds, making her the first British contemporary fashion designer to receive this honour.

Emma is now making waves both in the UK and US with supermodel, Coco Rocha and fashion influencers Rosie Fortescue and Bip Ling, all declaring themselves as the #EmmaWallaceWoman.


Shop My Look:

Tien Gown, £585 | Emma Wallace


#EmmaWallaceWoman

You can follow Emma Wallace on Instagram or visit her website here.
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Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Galentine's Day in collaboration with Partica

Every year February 14th rolls around and all my single ladies sigh because we haven't got any date plans. So this year I decided to host my very first Galentine's Day dinner party for my closest friends.


Heart Balloons, £2.49 | Partica

Armed with all the best party pieces from Partica, I was able to create a cute getaway for my best girls.

I was so pleased to find a big range of Valentine's Day themed party products from balloons, to table decorations and wall hangings.




I absolutely loved how the room turned out. I kept to a strict pink and red colour scheme, working with the wall hangings to liven up the doors and walls. I also used a red table cloth and heart confetti to decorate the tables. Fresh roses added to the vibe of the table and made it super girly.


Pack of 5 Latex Balloons, £3.99 | Partica






You can shop all these products and more on the Partica website and in store.
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Sunday, February 10, 2019

Valentine's Day Hair | Lulu Blonde




Looking for a date night look this Valentine's Day that will guarantee to turn heads and make jaws drop?

Coffee and a catch up with my favourite stylists at Lulu Blonde London.


Attending the annual Lady Wimbledon Love Ball this year, I decided to go for a look that was as glamorous as the occasion. This half up half down look was an effortless style to wear and maintain throughout the night. The curls kept really well and the braided top section meant that I could dance the night away without every having to worry about my hair falling out of place.


The look took about just over an hour to complete in the salon and was styled by Chantel.

The final look | Lulu Blonde London 

Lulu Blonde is a boutique salon situated in the heart of Wimbledon Village, one of London’s most exclusive enclaves. The interior is light, spacious and luxurious creating an atmosphere that is welcoming, relaxed and friendly.

Book your Valentine's Day style today!

Call 0208 947 2469

You can follow Lulu Blonde on Instagram 

Lulu Blonde,
20 Ridgway,
Wimbledon Village,
SW19 4QN



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