Category

Culture

Category
Paris is yours this summer, and quite literally – with many Parisiens flocking from the centre to other parts of France during the warmer months. We jetted to the City of Light for the perfect weekend and swapped dreary London for shimmery Seine boat rides, brasseries and long lunches in the sun.

We touched down with British Airways Holidays right in beating heart of Paris in Saint-Germain-des-Prés in the 6th Arrondissement. We were transported from the UK and arrived right in the centre of Paris in a few easy hours. With everything from anique stores, museums, boutique shopping, cosy bars and buzzy restaurants on our doorsteps and having been to Paris countless times previously, we decided to keep it local and uncover everything that was on our doorstep.

First things first was to check into our centrally located hotel, K+K Hotel Cayré, just a stone’s throw from the Latin Quarter and then head for coffee. The chic and comfortable hotel was typically Parisien and the Eiffel Tower, Musée d’Orsay, and Louvre Museum were all within walking distance. For an afternoon pick-me-up we chose the historic Les Deux Magots, just a short stroll away. The cafe was first established in 1812 at Rue de Buci and moved to the current address in the 1870s, in the period when the elegant and wide Paris boulevards were being built. Famous amongst the literary set back in the day, we feasted on buttery croissants and steaming black coffee whilst watching the world go by all around us.

Saint-Germain’s major Metro route, Line 4, stops at Saint Michel, Odeon, St-Germain-des-Prés, and Saint-Placide. Line 4 is the link between the north and south of Paris stopping at three of the major Paris train stations — Gare de Nord, Gare de l’Est, and Gare Montparnasse, making it easy to travel just under an hour to the nearby wine regions, the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon in the summer. We headed to Reims in the Champagne region (45 minutes from Paris) from Gare de l’Est and then onto three Champagne houses for a taste of the good stuff and an introduction to winemaking by lesser-known vineyards and wineries. After a few tipples of the freshest bubbles we have ever tasted it was straight back to the city to put our new-found knowledge to the test at the bars and restaurants by our hotel.

WHERE TO EAT & DRINK IN SAINT-GERMAIN

  • LATE NIGHT DRINKS & PEOPLE WATCHING: Atlas, Saint Germain
  • FLORAL BRUNCHES: Maison Sauvage, Saint Germain
  • WHITE TABLE CLOTH FAMPOUS BRASSERIE: Les Deux Magots, Saint Germain

HOW TO GET THERE

British Airways Holidays offers two nights, at the 4* K+K Hotel Cayré, from £319pp, travelling on selected dates between 1 August – 31 August 2022 inclusive. Includes economy return flights from London Gatwick Airport, 25kg luggage allowance and accommodation. Book by 30 July 2022 at www.britishairways.com/france. Further information on British Airways Holidays can be found here.

WHY CHOOSE BRITISH AIRWAYS HOLIDAYS

  • Package deal: customers can save time and money when they book their flight + hotel or flight + car together
  • Product range: British Airways Holidays offers customers an extensive flight network and over 10,000 carefully selected hotels and villas. It also supplies straight-forward car hire and a range of experiences, transfers and insurance
  • Flexibility: travellers can create a personalised multi-centre holiday with ease. They can book and combine flights in and out of different airports, choose multiple hotels and select car hire for any part of their holiday
  • Low deposit: travellers can secure their holiday with a low deposit (starting from £60pp) and can pay the balance in as many instalments as they want
  • Booking security: for extra peace of mind British Airways Holidays offer a 24-hour helpline and ATOL protection
  • Earn: travellers can collect Avios on flight, hotel and car bookings

DJ, songwriter, musician and one of the most stylish people in the music industry, Amazonica AKA Victoria ‘Harry’ Harrison is THE DJ of the moment and has performed for some of the world’s biggest celebrities and has spun tunes some of the most exciting parties.

Not only is she a highly regarded DJ, she’s also a fantastic singer-songwriter and musician too. Music Editor Emma Harrison caught up with her to talk about DJ’ing at the Cannes film festival, her forthcoming support slot with indie rockers The Libertines, her dream collaborations and what makes a great playlist.

A huge welcome to House of Coco, as one of the sought after DJ’s in the world who has DJ’d at some of the hugest events like official premiere afterparties – please can you tell us a little bit more about how you got started in music? I understand that you were signed at the tender age of just 15?

Yes, I loved alternative music so I answered an ad in the Melody Maker when I was 15 to work with Jon Klein from Siouxie and The Banshees and some other notable goth heroes who taught me the way around the studio. I would come up to London on the train after school and record and learn my craft which led to me getting signed at 15. After that I ended up recording my first album with Youth from Killing Joke after he did The Verve’s incredible album. That was my start in music. Unfortunately, Telstar Records went bust and left me in limbo for a while with my recorded music, but during the pandemic I got the rights back to my first 2 albums, so now they’re available to stream and I set up my little indie record label for it.

What kind of music were you listening to and what or who was influencing you as you started out?

Nirvana changed my life. I loved grunge, goth, rock and metal but I also really really loved Hip Hop. I saw Lauryn Hill at Brixton Academy when I was 18 and I really loved the Miseducation album. I also loved going to clubs and dancing all night to industrial music. Growing up half the time in England we had some incredible dance music happening like The Prodigy, Chemical Brothers etc.

Your album ‘Songs from the Edge’ is out now. Sonically, this is different from your previous work. How did this record come about and what inspired you to make it?

Honestly, it was an absolute nightmare. I mean this album really helped me because I was newly sober recording it so it helped save my life, but everything to do with the business aspect of it was nightmare upon nightmare upon soul crushing nightmare. But that’s over now and I own it and it’s out finally everywhere.

Do you have a favourite track from the album? If so what is it and why is it your favourite?

I think ‘Get High’ is beautiful and really hypnotic. It reminds me of Janes Addiction. But as whole I’m proud of that entire album, it was the first album I wrote entirely on guitar myself.

When it comes to creating music, what comes first – the lyrics or the music?

I usually strum some chords or play on the keyboards and then usually the words and melody come out sort of simultaneously.

You released ‘The Trouble with… Harry remastered ‘The history’ at the back end of last year. It sounds as fresh as ever! How was it revisiting this particular body of work and how do you feel that you have changed since it’s initial release?

Wow, definitely. I was literally a child when I wrote and recorded it and was still heavily into using drugs and alcohol to escape. I was so messed up inside and had so much to deal with. Now when I listen back I have so much compassion for myself and am so bowled over by how much strength and balls I had to do all of that at such a young age. I am so proud of who she was and who I am now – we are two totally different people but I had to be her to be me now.

The albums I’ve done have been the anchors in my life. I haven’t seen the success or audience I would have liked for them due to all the bad luck I had within the music business, but they both really helped me become the person I am today – I literally owe my life to music.

How do you think the music scene has changed since you got started?

The gate keepers have become less important. Before if so-and-so from the magazine or radio station didn’t support you then you were done. Now it’s all about your reach on social media and that’s all to do with how much money you are putting into advertising and marketing or your reach with the algorithms and the support of music playlists.

You have DJ’d at some pretty epic events such as at the BAFTAs, the Oscars and the Golden Globes and more recently the Elvis after party at Cannes film festival – what’s been your favourite event to DJ at and why?

ELVIS was pretty epic. It was a big full circle moment for me because I went to see Diplo DJ about 15 years ago at the Miami music conference before Major Lazer blew up – it was that night that everything clicked for me and I was like I AM A DJ! Then to be at the Cannes Film Festival DJing this incredible event on the croisette facing the Mediterranean Sea knowing that Diplo was playing at the same event. I was like wow, dreams actually come true.

Do you have any standout moments from your career so far?

Probably Wembley when Johnny Depp came up on stage with a rock star I was opening for who shall remain nameless. DJing to 10,000 people is just the biggest rush.

You are set to open up for The Libertines next month – how are you feeling about that? You guys have known each other since they were recording their debut album twenty years ago.

I’m so excited! I love those guys and I am so happy to be back at Wembley with them. It’s just incredible that 20 years later we are all here, alive and that I’m getting to do such an iconic venue with my old mates. It doesn’t get better than that.

You have worked with some pretty stellar names from collaborating with Tommy Lee to touring with Machine Gun Kelly. What would your dream collaboration be and why?

Depeche Mode or Nine Inch Nails would be my ultimate collaboration because their music means so much to me.

What would your advice be to any budding DJ wanting to emulate your success?

Don’t even try it mate! I’m already filling the spot so get in your own lane!

If you could give your younger self who is just starting out in the business some advice based on what you know now, what would it be?

Trust your gut – it’s right about everything.

What makes a good playlist?

An eclectic mix of music. Don’t make it samey. A good playlist should take people on a journey.

You have a super cool dress sense – where do you find your clothes from and how important is it to you to have such a distinctive look?

Thank you! I don’t really think about it too much, I’ve dressed like this my whole life. As I don’t have a stylist it takes some time to find different pieces that work for different events, but it’s worth spending time on.

What’s next on the horizon for you? Do you have any other music projects in the pipeline?

I have a new album waiting to come out. We are just figuring that all out right now so watch this space.

Amazonica’s album ‘Songs from the Edge’ is out now. Head over to her website to follow her on social media and to see where her next shows are.

Since dining at Colonel Saab last October I have been struggling to think of a better place to eat in London – the best food, the best service, the best decor, so when I was invited back to sample their new art and food pairing I jumped at the chance and this is your notification that you should too.

Guests can expect a feast for the eyes and stomach, as Holborn’s unique, luxury Indian dining concept Colonel Saab launches its Art and Food Pairing Experience on 24 May.

Colonel Saab’s founder, Roop Partap Choudhary will personally take diners on a culinary journey across India, with a nine-course tasting menu of dishes and carefully paired and curated art collected by the award-winning entrepreneur and his family across the continent and lovingly brought to London.

Roop’s father, Colonel Manbeer was given the honorific name Colonel Saab – shared by the restaurant – and the extensive menu is inspired by places he was stationed in the army, from local lunches in the tents of Rajasthan to British-inspired Indian breakfasts in the Officer’s Mess and stunning banquets hosted by Indian nobility and Maharajas.

The art-festooned restaurant was meticulously crafted as a love letter to Roop’s family and India, with a treasure trove of eclectic and museum-worthy Indian art and artefacts collected by his family on their travels.

Roop spent a year retracing his father’s footsteps across India by train, bus and car with Indian food royalty, Karen Anand (Dishoom) to curate contemporary twists on dishes passed down through the generations of people they met, with many regional specialities appearing for the first time on a London menu.

And for this event, Roop and his team pair extraordinary art including 17th and 19th Century Tanjore paintings, the Maharaja of Patiala’s Asprey drinks bar, pure silver Gujarat temple doors and a canopy of ornate chandeliers from Firozabad with dishes which tell the stories of those regions and people.

The multi-sensory experience of India will also incorporate drinks. A Masala Dabba – or spice box – of artisanal gins, whiskies and rums based on Indian botanicals has been created with the Diageo mixology team, along with innovative cocktails by celebrated mixologist Antony Bertin, designed to complement the food and named after Choudhary’s family members.

Roop said: “We are passionate about food, art and India so this event combines all three and brings them to life, in a multi- sensory experience which will take you across the vast continent and its diverse and beautiful sights, tastes and fragrances, showing the powerful roles food and art plays in India.”

The nine-course menu costs £150 per person and includes progressive and exciting dishes, from Pulled Charcoal Lamb with Jeera Aloo and Biryani to Chicken Chettinad with Malabar Paratha and Chocolate Silk Cake, Thandai Crumble, Candy Floss and fresh berries. The vegetarian menu includes Gutti Vankaya, Andhra-style Eggplant Curry and Cauliflower 65, South Indian curd rice with fruit sorbet.

Each mouthful will bring the continent and its rich history to life, with fascinating stories and insight about the carefully paired art and artefacts, from a stunning, carved temple door from South India, to handwoven Persian carpets and precious decanters and crockery from the palace of the Maharaja of Faridkot.

The modern Indian restaurant has made its home in the elegant, former Holborn Town Hall, continuing his family’s proud legacy of hospitality that spans more than three decades, celebrating the vibrant and diverse culture of India’s food and history with humility, elegance and originality.

You can find out more and book your tickets here.

Just a short walk from Battersea Power Station, perched on the edge of the river Thames is Embassy Gardens, an impressive residential and business development which is home to the iconic Sky Pool.

The iconic Sky Pool

House of Coco was invited to stay in one of the prestigious apartments overnight and access all the facilities which included the extraordinary floating pool. Suspended between two skyscrapers, 200 metres from the ground, this glass bottom pool floats in the air allowing residents to swim from one building to the next. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the London skyline you can take in views of the Houses of Parliament, London Eye and new US Embassy which is located next door.

The spa and cinema room at Embassy Gardens

The development has a five star resort come private members club vibe which is reflected in the outstanding facilities, the Eg:le Club, allows you access to the Sky Deck (that’s where the Sky Pool is), this includes an indoor pool, state of the art gym, private cinema, concierge service and the Orangery rooftop bar. All the facilities are extremely plush and on the sunny morning we visited, we couldn’t believe our luck when the pool was empty. Similar to swimming in a giant aquarium, it is entirely transparent and structure free, 25m long, 5m wide and 3m high with a water depth of 1.2m. It was an upgrade on the usual gym swim and imagine that on a Saturday afternoon in the summer it feels more LA pool party than South London.

The apartments here start at £650,000.00. Our stylish apartment was spacious with an open plan kitchen, dining, and living area, two bedrooms, and two bathrooms, one with a bathtub and one with a shower. The balcony on the lounge offers views of the Thames and is the perfect spot to chill with a drink in the evening. The interiors are contemporary, and the overall spec is high with lots of marble, state of the art appliances and products.

Embassy Gardens is fast becoming a lifestyle and commercial hub for London, benefitting from a huge influx of shops, cafes, bars and restaurants This ultra-chic neighbourhood, has its own green space, spin studios and beauty bars. There’s plenty of places to socialise too. We visited Darby’s, an oyster bar, bakery and grill restaurant. Inspired by the legacy of internationally acclaimed Irish chef Robin Gill’s jazz musician father, Darby’s signature dishes include arancini, Exmoor caviar and truffled brie. The night we went there was an event with author, Dolly Alderton. Penguin Random House are also located here so there’s often co-curated evenings held in one of the bars or restaurants.

From its architecture to its luxury amenities and community vibe – Embassy Gardens is an entire neighbourhood designed for vibrant, urban living. London living never looked better.

Find out more about Embassy Gardens by visiting www.embassygardens.com (T) 020 3930 2554 or follow @embassygardens on Instagram.

Beyond the gorgeous coast and the quintessentially Tuscan towns of Pisa and Florence, there is plenty to do in the much-loved region of Tuscany. Travellers can find so much more in store to explore, travelling beyond the gateways with ease to quaint and quiet corners to the lesser-known hidden gems of Lucca and Barga.

LUCCA

Time travel to the Renaissance era

Near Pisa and Florence, lies Lucca, the city of a hundred churches. Visitors can enjoy walking along the historic city walls and explore the gorgeous gardens and squares. Travellers will fall in love with the city for its sights but also for its flavours when visiting local markets and wineries. To experience the city just like the old times, Grand Universe Lucca offers a tour by horse and carriage with an aperitif (from £41 per person) or ‘bike & bites’ for a walk on the walls that surround the city with a typical (and delicious) local snack.

Book the ‘Summer In Lucca’ package directly through Marriott (www.marriott.co.uk) for a four-night stay for two at the Grand Universe Lucca. The package includes accommodation in a king-sized room on a bed and breakfast basis and a wine tasting experience for two from £1,542. Based on June travel dates.

Live concerts in the square: Lucca Summer Festival in Piazza Napoleone

The most anticipated musical event in the Italian summer is back this year in Lucca, a Tuscan city with a long musical tradition. The month-long Lucca Summer Festival from (25 June – 24 July 2022) features legendary artists from all over the world, performing across the city in historical venues and public squares. The 2022 line-up already features Justin Bieber, John Legend, Liam Gallagher, Zucchero. The Sommita’ Martin Orsyn Champagne rooftop at the Grand Universe Lucca is the best-hidden spot to soak up the atmosphere with a glass of champagne.

Expedia (www.expedia.co.uk) offers a 3-night stay at Grand Universe Lucca during the Lucca Music Festival in a king-sized room with city views priced from £960 for two people over the weekend that John Legend is performing. Based on travel from 8 – 11 June, for two adults sharing.

BARGA

Discover Barga, Italy’s most Scottish town!

Head to Barga for an escape that feels like a home away from home. Largely still under the radar, Barga proudly prides itself on being ‘the most Scottish place in Italy’. Whilst the destination looks like a classic medieval Italian town with its Duomo, red-roofed houses and cobbled streets, surprisingly it has very strong Scottish connections going back to the turn of the last century. Guests can discover the beautiful historic centre, the vineyards and olive groves and join traditional folklore events.

Marriott (www.marriott.co.uk) offers ‘the Summer In Tuscany’ for weekend stays Friday to Sunday for two people at the Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort & Spa. A two-night stay including daily breakfast, dinner and one bottle of wine per day for two is priced from £555 based on June departures. Excluding flights.

Explore Il Ciocco, a biker’s heaven

Nature lovers will fall in love will Il Ciocco, an off-the-beaten-track destination in the heart of the Serchio Valley. This is a fascinating part of Tuscany, nestled in the Apennine Mountains straddling the regions of Tuscany and Emilia. Locals consider Il Ciocco a mountain bike haven for its evolving network of bike routes with kilometres of itineraries in the woods for every riding style. Not a bike fan? Trekking is also high on the agenda here and visitors can look for wild herbs and seek out breathtaking views.

Thomas Cook (www.thomascook.com) offers a three-night stay at Reinassance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort & Spa in a double room priced from £956.75 for two adults sharing, including flights from London Stansted with Ryanair. Based on a 1 July departure.

Detox on a spa resort with an Italian touch

Travellers looking to break free from the stress of daily life should look no further than the Tuscan countryside. Surrounded by 1,700 acres of gorgeously landscaped grounds is the Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort & Spa with luxury rooms and suites with spectacular valley views. Guests can refresh in the sparkling waters of two pools, or rejuvenate at the resort spa. Some of the spa’s highlight treatments involve local products such as the wine ritual with Tuscan grapes and the cabernet scrub with a grape marmalade.

Expedia (www.expedia.co.uk) offers a three-night stay at the Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort & Spa in a king-sized room priced from £582 for two people over the weekend. Based on travel from 10 – 13 June for two adults sharing.

Spring is very much on the horizon, we can feel it. With countless new restaurants, cocktail menus and new foodie collaborations popping up all over the capital, now is the perfect time to make the most of the better weather as winter fades into the background. Whether that is a pisco sour or a picnic, we have rounded up some fun foodie things to do this month in the big smoke…

Le Magritte

The beautiful Le Magritte Bar & Terrace nestled into Mayfair’s The Beaumontbelongs to the great tradition of American bars that became legendary in London and Paris during the roaring twenties. Guests feel like Ella Fitzgerald as they are taken to their elegant tables with plush leather seats and handed a menu filled with inventive cocktails. Although just a stone’s throw from one of the most famous streets in London, the five-star hotel and cosy bar feel like an oasis of 1920s glamour and sophistication. Turn left into the hotel and enter the new space for the intimate bar, run by Antonino Lo Iacono. The original location of Le Magritte is now Gatsby’s Room and serves a world-class afternoon tea experience. The drinks list is inspired by René Magritte, the surrealist artist and her works of art. With that in mind, order the Pilgrim 1966 filled with aba pisco and delicious yellow chartreuse or the Oasis 1925 with champagne syrup, gin and pick me up bitters. As well as sensational cocktails, Le Magritte has a long list of bourbons and American whiskies to pick from.

thebeaumont.com

Marugame Udon

Japanese favourite Marugame Udon has opened two new sites in London – St Christopher’s Place and Canary Wharf. Marugame Udon has chosen the heart of London’s vibrant urban quarter – St Christopher’s Place and London’s central business district – Canary Wharf to give Londoners a taste of Japan’s favourite hand-made udon. Food fanatics and noodle lovers can taste authentic udon with menu favourites the Beef Nikutama (£8.45), udon with beef and caramelised onions in a dashi broth with a poached Onsen egg, or for a more traditional route the Kama Age (£3.45), the purest way to eat udon. Marugame Udon has exciting plans to roll out further sites across London with Argyll Street and Waterloo Station due to open later in 2022. A top tip is to join the Marugame Club; to collect ‘Bowl Stamps’ on each visit to earn treats and rewards.

www.marugame.co.uk/jointheclub

Haché #CookForUkraine

Haché, has reunited with British-Ukrainian chef and food writer, Olia Hercules, to bring back the Mamushka burger. Originally featured as part of Haché’s lineup of female chef collaborations, the limited-edition Mamushka by Olia Hercules burger will be available again from 7 March until 4 April and will raise funds for #CookForUkraine to support those most in need during the conflict. Meaning mother, and named after Olia’s first and award-winning debut cookbook, the Mamushka burger features a perfectly cooked 6oz prime hachéd burger, topped with crispy streaky bacon, dill mayo and ginger and turmeric-infused beet kraut, all served in a toasted brioche bun. Priced at £14, £5 from every order will be donated directed to UNICEF UK’s Ukraine appeal.

www.hacheburgers.com

VINADA no-alcohol sparkling wines

The days are set to be warmer at the end of March and with spring on the horizon, it is the perfect time to make the most of the beautiful parks in London. For non-alcohol alternatives to a boozy daytime drinking session, try VINADA. VINADA is a range of yummy no-alcohol sparkling wines produced using a process that retains most of the wine’s original aroma and taste. There are three wines in the range Crispy Chardonnay, Tinteling Tempranillo Rosé and Amazing Airén Gold. Founded in The Netherlands in 2018 by Jessica Van Spaendonk, who was fed up with other no/low alcohol wines and set out to create a quality wine with a superior taste and balanced flavour. The wine is now available in 29 countries and has just launched in the UK and currently available online. Cheers!

www.amazon.co.uk/vinada

They say that good shoes take you to good places, but for Daissy Ornelas, the glamorous architecturally influenced shoes of her eponymous brand are certainly taking her to some pretty awe-inspiring places as a Girl Boss on a league of her own.

Daissy combines architectural inspirations with Italian craftsmanship to create her vibrant line of footwear. More akin to sculptures than shoes, all of Daissy’s pieces are handmade in Italy and evoke the spirit of the Art Deco movement.

Team Coco caught up with Daissy in Los Angeles, in between balancing being a mum, designer, entrepreneur and creative to talk about her joint love for footwear and architecture, her latest collection, and her advice for women looking to take the leap and start their own businesses.

“First and foremost, it’s not for everyone,” she says. “Keep your eye on the bigger picture and always remember why you’re in it in the first place helps when things go awry.”

Like the towering skyscrapers that inspire her collections, Daissy is reaching for the skies – and we can’t wait to see what heights this Girl Boss will reach.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background. What made you fall in love with shoes?

I grew up in Los Angeles. I studied Business Administration and most of my background is in Management and Administration. I worked in industries such as Consulting, Architecture and Fashion. I’m currently splitting my time between LA and the UK.

My love for shoes started around at the same time as my love of Art Deco. When I was young, my mom and I would go to downtown LA on Saturday mornings to go shoe shopping and then we would have lunch at the iconic Clifton’s cafeteria, it was our weekend ritual. It was there when I first paid attention to the many Art Deco exteriors and interiors that live in Downtown LA. The impeccable attention to detail always stood out to me, even at such a young age.

How is Daisy Ornelas combining architectural influences with Italian craftsmanship?

Growing up in Los Angeles, I got to see buildings with unique details and luxurious materials, and the more I started traveling, the more I fell in love with architecture and its evolutionary traits.

Once I knew I wanted to launch my own line of shoes, I knew Italy was the place to make it happen. Italian craftsmanship is something the country takes a great deal of pride in, and for good reason. I have met people who come from generations of shoe artisans, who love to work with their hands and really put love and effort in what they do. It’s something I will always admire and appreciate. I’m combining architectural influences by using architectural techniques like CAD and engineering processes to create patent-pending heels that showcase structural lines and facades you see in architecture.

Tell us more about your latest collection. Do you have a favourite piece?

The latest collection is influenced by modern architecture and its detailed shapes. I have seen different techniques and materials used around the world to create exceptional buildings and I just felt inspired by the fluidity in shapes and textures.

The Wavelet heel sandal is my absolute favorite. It was inspired by the spiral Architecture of the F&F tower in Panama, the Evolution Tower in Moscow, and the Al Tijaria Tower in Kuwait. There’s something about the Wavelet heel that screams architecture but not in an overstated way.

Walk us through an average day in the Daissy Ornelas atelier

I am a mom to an eight-month-old and a 14 year old. I get to work from wherever I may be at the time. From reading to research and from inspiration to design, I do everything on my laptop or phone.

So, my day consists of jumping back and forth between looking after my eight-month-old to responding to emails, getting on a call with my counterpart in Milan to making sure I pick up my son from school and grab a bite to eat in-between all of that (if possible).

Who is the Daissy Ornelas woman? Can you describe her in three words?

The Daissy Ornelas woman is a maximalist. She is someone who has a career in creative industries (i.e. Fashion architecture, interior design, graphic design), isn’t afraid of statement pieces and can appreciate unconventional designs versus picking things that are more every day wear. She loves to travel and always picks the shoe first before she picks out the dress when going out. She is daring, confident and creative.

What has been the biggest challenge you‘ve faced as an entrepreneur so far?

There have been many challenges along the way. Financially speaking, when you create a startup, finding financial resources can be difficult, especially for a brand that is positioning itself in the luxury market. Until the brand is scalable, it’s hard to find investors who will back up the brand and take it where you want it to go.

What’s next for you and Daissy Ornelas? Any new exciting projects in the pipeline

Daissy Ornelas is coming out with a casual collection. The whole collection is made of sustainable materials including vegan leathers. We also put our own spin on 1930’s classic Oxfords and Loafers.

What advice do you have for those looking to take the leap and start their own businesses too?

First and foremost, it’s not for everyone. It’s extremely hard work. You also have to be consistent because everything falls on you. Keep your eye on the bigger picture and always remember why you’re in it in the first place helps when things go awry. Because things will go awry at some point. Do your research well on what product or service you want to offer and go for it!

WWW.DAISSYORNELAS.COM

Paris knows that you are going to fall in love with her no matter how hard you try to resist and I’ve always thought this rather presumptuous …

The city of light was calling to me after I had been miserable in dark and gloomy England for too long and so I booked myself a hotel, agreed to a date, and set off to see if I could be a Paris convert once and for all. With the pandemic finally over, I was willing to put my penchant for cynicism to one side for one weekend and willingly allow the city to seduce me. I needed to see if it was truly worth the hype.

To up the ante, I stayed right on the Champs-Élysées with the dramatic Arc de Triomphe in full view. The beautiful hotel was called Fraser Suites Le Claridge Champs-Elysées and was the perfect base in the city and within walking distance of the romantic Tuileries Garden and Place de la Concorde. I was greeted with sensational views of the Champs-Elysées from my private apartment as well as rose petals and chocolates – tick, tick! I took a moment to calm my nerves before my date in the typically French patio right in the centre of the aparthotel which felt like a complete oasis as the sun was going down, just moments from one of the busiest and most famous streets in the world.

With my chicest outfit I could bundle together on, I was ready to go. First up on the date was coffee (the key to my heart) and sharing a chocolate mousse (amen) at Les Deux Magots, truly an exceptional start. Watching rather aloof Parisians ping straight back to life at five o’clock after rushes of caffeine and chocolate was something I didn’t know I needed.

I know now that what I had been missing in previous trips to France was being shown around by a local. I received no eye rolls from waiters as a result of my terrible pronunciation, no sniff for obviously wearing a beret facetiously. I kept uncharacteristically quiet as my French language skills are très awful and was elated by how differently everyone at the restaurants and bars treated us when they thought I was Parisien. Maybe my outfit was chic?

First glass of wine down and people think I am French? Suddenly the standoffish demeanour of fellow diners, taxi drivers and Seine walkers was incredibly endearing and sincere. These are my people. Next up was Le Relais de l’Entrecôte for delicious steak and bottomless frites where we sat cheek by jowl with hungry chattering Parisiens. So far the date was going well but I couldn’t help but think how much my girlfriends would laugh at now hard I was trying to blend in and I had to physically restrain myself from calling them in fits of laughter from the bathroom, looking in the mirror and sternly saying ‘no mademoiselle’ to myself in a French accent. The dessert course consisted of me pretending to be purely focused on the profiteroles but in fact I was mapping out my next trip to the city with my flatmate back home in a month’s time, little did she or indeed he (my date) know. I had fallen in love with suddenly possessing this insider knowledge and having at least two good spots to take people, all thanks to the handsome Parisien man sitting opposite me and generously leaving me all the chocolate sauce.

After dinner, I wasn’t head over heels with Paris just yet and slightly craved the buzziness and eclectic vibe of London on a Saturday night but after we walked off our feast the stars were twinkling and I knew that the lights of the Eiffel Tower would definitely break me. My date told me to wait until it was right on the hour for the lights to beginng to sparkle (another great insider tip). I grabbed my phone, ready for the insta moment and a notification from my best friend transferring me £20 popped up with the message ‘I love your plan this weekend, you go girl, get yourself some pink Champagne’. I was sold, I ran to the nearest shop, bought some bubbles and popped them underneath the Eiffel Tower like the embarrassing tourist I am. Have you ever been kissed thinking you were in a movie with flashing lights all around wearing a beret at midnight? I would highly recommend it. Cheesey? Yes. But maybe we all need a little fromage after the last two years, the stronger the better.

Fraser Suites Le Claridge Champs-Elysées, Paris

Fraser Suites Le Claridge Champs-Elysées, Paris features fully-furnished luxury serviced residences, complimentary Wi-Fi access, with rooms ranging from deluxe and premier suites to one and two-bedroom apartments. Rates start from €320 per night for a Deluxe Suite with a patio view. Facilities include a fitness room, lounge with TV, café, 24/7 business corner with multimedia, printer and Wi-Fi facilities and meeting facilities. There is room and laundry services available as well as airport transfers and it’s pet friendly. In addition to a fully-furnished living space with separate dining, kitchen and bedroom areas, the serviced apartments offer a welcome kit and amenities for children.

www.frasershospitality.com/en/france/paris/fraser-suites-le-claridge-champs-elysees-paris/

As Spain has eased entry requirements for UK children and teenagers aged between 12 and 17, travel experts HolidayPirates are excited to share five reasons to visit beautiful Valencia this spring.

Valencia, Spain’s third-largest city, is on the beach, is a design-forward hub and is beautifully melded to its Mediterranean roots, making it perfect for a short city break or as a base for exploring the coastal plains and striking mountainous areas of the Valencian region. It is also blessed with a good year-round climate and is the birthplace of paella.

1. World Design Capital of 2022

Valencia is the eighth city to have been designated World Design Capital and proudly holds the accolade in 2022, which brings with it a full year of cultural events and exhibitions. The city has spent several decades building its reputation as a creative hub and visitors can enjoy the work of architects, interior designers, illustrators and graphic design across the city.

Impressive urban infrastructures coexist harmoniously with the natural and built environment and the city has become a leading example of design in public policy to effect social change. Visit the Turia Gardens, the Central Market, the City of Arts and Sciences to see some of the most striking examples of Valencia’s unique take on its Mediterranean heritage.

The city has also been chosen by the EU to be 2022’s co-capital of smart tourism for its work on sustainability, inclusivity and its respect for its citizens and cultural heritage.

2. Voted the best city to live in

According to Expat City Ranking 2020, Valencia has been named the best city to live in the entire world by expatriates of more than five different nationalities. With 320 sunny days a year, many beautiful beaches to choose from and plenty of leisure options, it truly deserves this nomination. The city is bike-friendly and provides the option to tour around on bikes, which helps with fitness. In addition, the city has amazing and diverse gastronomy offering that will please even the pickiest tastebuds.

3. Do not miss Las Fallas which returns in March

Valencia’s highly anticipated Las Fallas festival will be back in the streets this March. The festival, which always takes place in March, due to the pandemic last year, was shortened and celebrated in September, however it is coming back bigger and louder. The festival, which dates to the 18th century was inscribed in the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016 and takes place in March. Each year residents make hundreds of colourful puppet-like sculptures from wooden, cardboard, or papier-mâché known as ninots, which are burned in a massive bonfire while the city’s sky is filled with fireworks. The festival which combines Valencia’s tradition, satire and art is a must-see once in a lifetime event.

4. Sustainable, high-end gastronomy and the birthplace of paella

As the birthplace of paella, and a centre of excellence when it comes to showcasing local produce, visitors need to sample the city’s most famous and international dish. Valencian chefs banded together a few years ago to create Wikipaella, to police paella around the world. Valencian-made paella will either be made with rice and vegetables and animalprotein such as chickenor rabbit, OR, the seafood version is made with fresh produce from the Mediterranean. Visitors will not be short of high-end dining options either. Locally-sourced produce, served locally with flair makes Valencia a foodie paradise. The Michelin Guide for 2022 gave three new stars to restaurants in the city, which join four others.

5. The year of Berlanga – the great chronicler of Spanish society

Valencia is in the midst of celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Luis García Berlanga, in the city. Heralded as Spain’s greatest ever film director – Berlanga was an irritant to fascist dictator Francisco Franco and his regime – when many others in the artistic community fled the country.

His legacy includes the films The Executioner (1963), a comedy of manners satirising capital punishment; Plácido (1962), a black comedy mocking false piety, based on real events where a small town’s grandee’s each adopt a poor person for Christmas eve and Welcome, Mister Marshall! (1953), which lampooned Spanish hopes for a slice of US money to rebuild Europe after WW2. They are films which are useful insights into Spain’s tumultuous 20th century. Visitors can join a guided tour which outlines how Valencia influenced his filmmaking, and takes in locations from Berlanga’s childhood, the historic district and his personal relationship with the world of the Fallas Festival.

Ah, Paris. A city positively fizzing with culture. And also a city where you could happily while away many hours drinking red wine, eating cheese, and bopping to jazz in an underground cave by Notre Dame – all of which we did in excess while there during a festive December stay at Silencio des Prés in Paris. Before we indulged in the mode de vie Parisien, however, we dined at a restaurant that, quite frankly, I’ll never forget… for all the best reasons!

Silencio des Prés in Paris

A Culinary and Cinematic Oasis: Silencio des Prés

Silencio des Pres is both a restaurant and a cinema and walking through the revolving doors off the crisp Christmas-y streets at 22 rue Guillaume Apollinaire in Saint-German-des-Pres, we found ourselves immersed in what felt like a bygone era. Silencio is magical. It soothes with its low lighting, cosy banquettes and subtle contemporary spirit. It’s cosy, with a vintage cinema feel reflected in the restaurant, but the large bar, piled high with spirits and purpose, gives it a buzzy and fun vibe too. Globular mushroom lights span the bar with high stools so you can prop up for a cocktail, and indoor plants give a boom of colour amongst the golden hues of the space.

The arrondissement in Paris that Silencio can be found in has been frequented by the likes of Brigitte Bardot and Karl Lagerfeld, looking for a slice of vibrancy. As such, it’s no surprise this chic and spirited eatery with an awesome cinema aspect has cropped up in an area so renowned for its culture.

The restaurant was opened up in Paris by founder Arnaud Frisch in a celebration of its 10th anniversary, with two further locations found in Montmartre and Ibiza. Seated on a raised area, we had a view over the restaurant and watched as the intimate space welcomed families ready to feast, diners on dates and businesspeople making decisions over chef Guillaume Sanchez’s experimental dishes. Cocktails whet our appetite ahead of the food – a Floradora for me, with ginger, lime, gin, soda and framboise syrup. Utterly refreshing, but with a kick. And for my guest, a very seasonally-apt Armagnac negroni made with Punt e Mes. There are many to choose from, including a Calvados pornstar which I would hurriedly return for.

Delightful Dining Delights at Silencio des Prés

Next, for food! And wow, we had one dish unlike any we’d ever tried before. My partner and I like to consider ourselves as well-travelled when it comes to tipples and fare, but Silencio stopped us in our tracks. The black pollack with mashed potatoes, black pudding and black radish needs a paragraph on its own – not one for the faint-hearted! This dish was presented beautifully, with a sea of dark red sauce surrounding the island-like presentation of the mash and fish. Lapping up the sauce, we both found the taste to be mysterious. We later discovered it to be duck blood. This didn’t really phase my dining partner, but for me, as someone who tends to stick loosely to a pescatarian lifestyle, I was a little taken aback! Duck blood to one side, I opted for the fish du jour which was accompanied by gorgeously fresh seasonal vegetables. Along with my organic wine it’s safe to say I was a very happy chappy. Other plats include a tartare de boeuf, cheese burger and an iconic croque monsieur.

Due to my excitement to discuss the duck blood main, I have laid this review out in a rather unconventional way, and shall now discuss the starters! You can play it safe with ciabatta, but we opted for something a little more intriguing – scallop carpaccio! I adore scallops, but I’d never had them presented in a carpaccio form and I truly enjoyed it. Presented beautifully, with edible flowers sprinkled atop, I’d describe it best as refreshing and certainly not a heavy entree. We also tried the Wagyu cecina. Meat that is the royalty of excellence and intense flavour, and boy did it deliver. Other dishes include a red tuna tartare, or cold langoustine ravioli.

Our waitress expertly partnered a wine with our food, and after a few tasters, I was convinced that the Ya Plukah white was the one for me. It’s an organic wine, which is something I don’t usually opt for, so it was nice to try something against the grain. However, our waitress, Marie, who was simply wonderful and so knowledgable throughout, did suggest not paying too much attention to the smell. It was pretty pungent, and not the smell you’d expect, but its crisp and delicious character made it almost impossible not to drink, especially alongside my fish dish.

Indulging in Sweet Confections and Espresso Martinis at Silencio des Prés

A full indulgence was on the cards for our Parisian dinner, and we danced it off afterwards anyway until the early hours of the morning. So espresso martinis were the bookmark to our meal, as well as a selection of desserts. St Honoré caramel is a total treat and definitely satisfies the sweet-toothed community. However, my favourite was the Tarte chaude aux pommes et glace vanille. There’s nothing I love more than a hot dessert offset by ice cream, and the apples were tres bon indeed! You can also grab a spoon and enjoy the tempting Mousse chocolat et fleur de sel… I’d be lying if I said we didn’t!

I’d return to the restaurant in a hurry and it almost feels poignant that, what with living in London, I can’t take every single friend and family member to experience the magic of Silencio des Pres.

www.silenciodespres.com