Japan - House Of Coco Magazine

Japan November 9, 2023

Balboa Park: Where Culture and Nature Meet

Here at House of Coco, we are clock-watching, ticking down the days and eagerly awaiting our upcoming trip to San Diego. We are already planning our cool outfits, thinking about the food we’re going to devour and of course, pondering how to overcome all the hangovers that we will inevitably endure. There is so much to explore whilst we are there but one place we can’t wait to be seen at is Balboa Park.

Balboa Park is the nation’s largest urban cultural park, with 1,200 beautiful and lushly planted acres to explore. Located in the centre of downtown San Diego, the park is home to an array of museums, performing arts venues, gardens, and many other cultural and recreational attractions, including the San Diego Zoo and Japanese Friendship Garden.

This year, San Diego is celebrating the founding of the land that the park was built on. Its richly vibrant and authentic concentrations of art include a sweeping architecture that spans Spanish Colonial Revival to mid-century modern, meaning that is it now designated as one of California’s 14 Cultural Districts and showcases some of the unique artistic identities that drive California’s culture. The districts help promote authentic grassroots arts and cultural opportunities, increasing the visibility of local artists and community participation in local arts and culture.

Did you know?

Here are some fun facts about Bilboa Park…

Bigger than New York’s Central Park – fun fact!

19 unique and diverse gardens including;

The 1935 Old Cactus Garden contains some of the largest cactus and specimens in the park.

The Botanical Building and Lily Pond is one of the most photographed scenes in Balboa Park. The historic building houses plantings including orchid displays, cycads and palms and a scratch-and-sniff garden.

The Zoro Garden is a sunken stone grotto now home to many species of butterfly. Containing both the larvae and nectar plants needed for to complete the life cycle of the butterflies, the garden also includes miniature indentations built into rocks that collect small pools of water for monarch, sulfur, and swallowtail butterflies that can all be spotted.

The Japanese Friendship Garden is an expression of the relationship between San Diego and its sister city, Yokohama. The garden illustrates two cultures and creates an immersive experience of Japanese culture across a 12-acre plot. Educational programs, exhibits and festivals are often held here.

17 museums including;

San Diego Museum of Man is home to a number of interactive diverse exhibits that cover a vast range of human history and culture. Guided tours of the iconic Californian tower are offered daily, with sunset tours offering a picturesque view of the park and beyond.

Centro Cultural de la Raza is a fascinating cultural arts centre dedicated to creating, promoting, preserving and educating visitors about Chicano, Mexican, Indigenous and Latino art and culture. Housed in a former water tower, the museum is exquisitely painted with colourful murals and features rotating exhibits and performances including theatre, dance, music, and film.

San Diego’s Air and Space Museum Science holds exhibitions and historic artefacts spanning space and aviation history from all over the world. A working flying replica of Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis and the actual Apollo 9 Command Module spacecraft are on display including artefacts from the Wright Brothers, Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.

14 diverse restaurants including;

The Flying Squirrel located at The San Diego Natural History Museum, is a new café that serves brewed-to-order espresso drinks, fresh juices, wine, craft beer, and California casual fare in the comfort in the Museum’s four-story, sky-lit atrium.

The Prado is an award-winning, full-service restaurant located in the House of Hospitality. The unique décor blends the historical aspects of the House of Hospitality and whimsical accessories inspired by the Park Museum collections.

The Tea Pavilion at the Japanese Friendship Garden serves traditional Japanese green tea, herbal and speciality teas as well as sushi, Japanese noodles, rice bowls, miso soup, salads and snacks. Visitors can enjoy the magnificent views from the outdoor courtyard and deck.

9 performing arts centres;

Spreckels Organ Pavilion holds free concerts for an hour, every Sunday from 2 pm. The unique organ contains more than 5,000 pipes ranging in length from the size of a pencil to 32 feet and is the largest outdoor pipe organ in the world.

Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theatre, founded in 1948, is the longest continuous-running puppet theatre in the United States. Puppet performances are presented throughout the year by a variety of troupes, with approximately 45 shows a year and different shows each week.

Balboa Park also offers 6 diverse walking tours exploring history, the gardens, architecture and one golf course. Balboa Park Golf Course is a challenging par 72, however, offers amazing views of San Diego, Balboa Park, Point Loma and the Pacific Ocean.

Explore the vibrant drinking scene of San Diego with our curated guide! From craft breweries to trendy cocktail bars, sip your way through the city’s best libations. Check out our article “Drink Your Way Around San Diego” for insider tips and recommendations.

Be sure to follow our Instagram for the #TeamCoco adventures in San Diego.

www.sandiego.org

Food & Drink November 9, 2023

Dine Out: Akira Back, Dubai

No matter how advanced tourism becomes, The Palm in Dubai will always be one of the world’s most daring developments, thrusting out into the Arabian Gulf with its branches lined with some of the most jaw droppingly luxurious hotels and villas you’ll ever get within touching distance of. One of these is W Dubai – The Palm.

The hotel is a palace, but not the kind where laws are written and rules are obeyed. It’s a place for partying. The hotel glitters from every angle under the Arabian sun, and the building itself seems to rise up from the ground in a curvy, elegant sort of way. Here, you know you’re in good hands. At the very top of the hotel sits Akira Back, a panoramic restaurant with views over the iconic Marina skyline.

W hotels worldwide pride themselves on a pedigree of culinary offerings, and Dubai is no different. Akira Back is a professional snowboarder, turned adrenaline-fuelled culinary master. His restaurant blends modern tastes of Japanese cuisine with Korean flavours to create a fusion never seen in this part of the world before.

Akira Back, if you’re not familiar with the name, is someone who is familiar with a lot of names. From having restaurants and pop-ups across the world, including the infamous Yellowtail at the Bellagio in Vegas, he’s become a chef to the stars, with A-Listers on his list of regular diners.

His menus takes on a sharing culture to multiply the opportunities, where interesting ingredients are mixed with unexpected flavours.

In any ordinary setting, a tuna pizza would be a controversial choice to say the least, but anyone will agree that the Palm, or even Dubai, is anything but ordinary. Tuna pizza here is actually one of the most famous dishes.

Granted, it’s not the kind of pizza you wake up in bed with after a heavy night – it’s actually a tortilla with thinly sliced tuna sashimi, ponzu mayo and white truffle oil, with micro shiso scattered on the top. Forget what you know about pizza, because this is the future.

Ask any friend who’s dined with Akira Back and they’ll tell you not to leave without eating two things – the tuna pizza, and the AB Tacos. If you’re familiar with the magic that is Korean cooking, you’ll already be sold. These crispy tacos are stuffed with beef wagyu galbi and topped with ponzu sauce, which packs so much flavour you’ll be telling your friends about it too.

Akira Back. W Dubai – The Palm. West Crescent, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai. www.akirabackdubai.com www.wdubaithepalm.com.

Afternoon Tea November 9, 2023

Information About Japanese Desserts And Pancakes

When you think about Japanese food you probably think about sushi, but have you ever thought about Japanese desserts? Believe it or not, Japanese sweets have been famous since ancient times. They are not only attractive to the eye but their sweet flavor is one of the best flavors you will get when it comes to desserts. No matter the season of the year, you will always find a different Japanese dessert that represents each season.

Japanese desserts are always creatively and deliciously made. There are many types of desserts you should know about and here we can give you an idea of which would be the best desserts to try.

Momiji Manju is a dessert original from Miyajima. This dessert is a mix of dough, flour, water, sugar starch and filling that is boiled together and it gives us a result of one of the best desserts you can ever try in Japan. They are always served cold and most of the time they have a maple leaf shape. They can be filled up with different things depending on the customer´s tastes. The feelings can include cream cheese, red bean paste, chocolate or custard cream. Children love this dessert not only for its taste but also for its texture, they are soft to the touch which makes them easy to digest.

Another famous Japanese dessert is called Honey Toast. This is a curious and unique Japanese dessert made with the top end of a Japanese milk bread loaf. The process is fairly simple, which includes removing the soft part of the bread and then cut it up into small cubes which are later either fried or toasted in the oven. The shell that you have aside is toasted separately. When the cubes are ready, they are put back into the shell. Once the shell is filled with the cubes, condensed milk and honey are added on top of it. People usually put the topping they want but the most common toppings are whipped cream, fruit ice cream or candy. This is a big dessert that it’s too much just for one person. It is a tradition in Japan to share this desert between friends or family.

A dessert that you can find anywhere you go is the Mitarashi Dango. This is a delicious dessert with an unusual flavor. A Dango is a round shape dumpling made of rice flour. These dumplings are later put on a stick usually in trees, fours or fives. They can have different colors such as green, white, pink, and, orange but no matter which color they have, they will always taste the same. What makes a Mitarashi Dango different from others is that it has a soy sauce glaze coating on the outside providing a perfect balance of sweet and savory in every bite.

If you like eating bread for dessert, you will love The Melon Pan. This is a sweet bun that is original from Japan. It is called like this because it’s outer part looks like a cantaloupe. The top of the bread is crispy and it has a soft inside. Of course, it doesn’t have the flavor of melon and you can find it either with chocolate chips or nuts depending on the place where you buy it. You can also get it with flavored cream fillings.

A good dessert for kids is that Taiyaki. This is a fish-shaped cake that is usually made of pancake or waffle batter. It is made on two different molds because the filling has to be inserted in between. Once the filling is ready the two parts are closed and put to bake until it gets its golden color.

If you love eating strange desserts the Anmitsu would be the desert you have always been looking for. This dessert is usually eaten for summer and it is made of small cubes of agar jelly. This is a transparent jelly that is made from red algae. This dessert is served in a bowl and it comes with black syrup that you are supposed to pour over it. Before you eat it, can add all kinds of fruit to it such as Peaches, cherries, pineapples, or Kiwi. Most of the time, it also includes boiled peas or bean paste.

We all love ice cream and Japanese desserts have it. Kakigori is a type of shaved ice that is sweetened with artificial flavors. You can get it in strawberry, melon, grape, Lemon, Cherry or vanilla and it can be made with milk or with water. If you are the kind of person that avoids dairy, this is the perfect dessert for you. You can top this delicious dessert with different kinds of fruits such as berries, cherries, strawberries and even with sweet red beans.

At last but not least you should try the Japanese pancakes. This type of Pancakes is so soft that whenever you eat them it will be like eating a fluffy cloud. We all love pancakes. We have eatenthem for many years at Dessert restaurant in Toronto. We always keep on looking for the best pancakes now as adults. Japanese pancakes are not like the western pancakes that we know. They are not flattened and instead they are pillowing and soft. These delicious pancakes can we filled with cream cheese, chocolate or anything you want. You just have to be creative whenever you’re making a Japanese dessert.

Arts November 9, 2023

Getting ship shape at Camp Bestival

At #TeamCoco, we love a good festival and Camp Bestival is no exception. Set in the majestic grounds of Lulworth Castle, on Dorset’s dramatic Jurassic coastline, Camp Bestival is ideal for all ages thanks to their diverse mix of entertainment; from fabulous music acts and comedy to cultural delights and intriguing sideshow attractions.

Camp Bestival was awarded Best New Festival in 2008 at the UK Festival Awards in its first year of operation. Deemed as the ‘little sister’ of the more dance-orientated ‘Bestival’, Camp Bestival is known for being very family focused and has the most relaxed and friendly vibe.

We arrived on the Friday lunchtime (despite many arriving the night before) to the festivities. Every year Camp Bestival’s founder Rob Da Bank and his team pick a different theme and this year it was a nautical theme which was reflected in the fancy dress costumes and the many HMS Camp Bestival hats worn by various festival goers.

With the sun beating down on, we took the opportunity to explore the expansive festival site. Camp Bestival divides their entertainment into different areas which includes the Castle Stage (the primary stage for entertainment) The Big Top, Bollywood, The Greatest Tent on Earth, Caravanserai, the Literary Institute and HMS Bestival – a new highlight for 2018 which is essentially, a big old boat which features a wide range of entertainment including BBC Radio presenter Fearne Cotton DJ’ing!

Also new for 2018 is the ‘Gin Festival’ where you can try more than 50 gins from around the world. As a gin aficionado, I did take the opportunity to try some new gins and to reacquaint myself with some old favourites such as the delicious Mermaid Gin.

Strictly Come Dancing fans were in luck, as they were able to learn how to foxtrot with Karen Hardy’s Dance Studio. It was lovely seeing people of all ages learning how to dance. There were also various crafting, literary and foodie activities to enjoy throughout the day.

Friday’s music line-up included Camp Bestival regulars – The Cuban Brothers, who entertained the crowd with their energetic set. The group have played for the likes of Robbie Williams, Elton John and more have played Camp Bestival 12 times now.

Other acts on The Castle Stage included 80’s band Pop Will Eat Itself, Dodie, Lauren Hibberd, The Skatalaties and with a further nod to the 80’s, BBC Radio 2 presenter Sara Cox took to the decks for a DJ set featuring some nostalgic tunes from the decade.

One of my festival highlights has to be seeing Huey Morgan (from the Fun Lovin’ Criminals) DJ’ing with his renowned ‘NYC Block Party’ set.

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Rae Morris took to the stage on Friday evening, her latest album ‘Someone out there’ is certainly more ‘poppy’ than her 2015 debut ‘Unguarded’, thanks to the experimental drum patterns and electro-pop synths. It was my first time seeing Rae live and she is a truly captivating performer and I will definitely be downloading her new album.

Headlining Friday night was Rick Astley who has been enjoying a second wave of success over the last two years since the release of his number one album 50 and his recent top ten album Beautiful Life. Last year, Rick jammed on stage at the Summer Sonic Festival in Japan with the Foo Fighters, which quickly went viral (but not as much as the Rickrolling phenomenon!)

When Rick announced that he was going to bring on a guest drummer, we all held our breath thinking it might be a member of the Foo Fighters, so imagine our surprise to see Mary Berry on stage. Yes, you read that right – Mary Berry was on a drumkit, keeping a tidy beat to Rick’s song – Beautiful Life. As you can imagine, the crowd went wild as this was completely unexpected. Rick’s set was a fantastic way to round off our first day and night at Camp Bestival.

We spent a lot of time on the Saturday checking out the amazing selection of traders – you can buy all manner of things, from a vintage style dress to a gluten free pizza (I admit, I may have brought both!) There is always an excellent selection of food choices at Camp Bestival. Gone are the days when all you can buy is a soggy burger, here you can choose from everything from a pulled pork hog roast to Ghanaian food.

Saturday’s festivities saw fantastic sets from indie band Jesus Jones and hip hop-electronic dance group the Stereo MC’s who really brought the energy. Sadly, Tokio Myers (last year’s winner of Britain’s Got Talent) was ill, so his replacement was pop duo Max and Harvey.

We trundled off to see singer-songwriter Adam French play in The Big Top which we were really pleased that we went to see. Adam was not an artist I was familiar with and this is why I love festivals, as it’s an ideal opportunity to get to know bands and singers that you hadn’t previously been familiar with.

The headline act for Saturday was electropop sensations Clean Bandit who performed a selection of their hits including ‘Rather Be’, ‘Symphony’ and ‘Rockabye’. Whilst the likes of Jess Glynne and Anne-Marie weren’t there, they were supported by two singers who really made the songs their own.

One of the best things about Camp Bestival is the sideshow attractions such as the Caravanserai where we saw fire dancers, trapeze artists and more whilst festival goers relaxed in vintage caravans.

Sadly, due to adverse weather conditions, Sunday’s Camp Bestival was called off. A difficult decision to make for the organisers, but absolutely the right one. Acts that were scheduled to perform were Simple Minds, Shed Seven, The Undertones and Jade Bird.

In summary, if you are looking for a chilled-out festival where you can see some of the best musicians, comedians, DJ’s around in one of the most beautiful locations in the UK, head to the Dorset coast of Lulworth and check out Camp Bestival. There is fun for all the family and even if you don’t have little ones, there is still plenty of grown-up shenanigans to enjoy. Camp Bestival’s (slightly crazy) older sister Bestival takes place this weekend coming – 2nd-5th August featuring London Grammar, M.I.A, Rudimental, Diplo & Mark Ronson and many more. Tickets are still available, so head over to the Bestival website for more information. Plus, we think the weather will be much better this coming weekend.

Thank you so much Camp Bestival – we will see you next year!

Afternoon Tea November 9, 2023

What to Eat in London This Month

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, autumn is most definitely here and with it comes a slew of new dishes to whet the appetites of London. From the latest openings to our favourite must-book menus, here’s our pick of what to eat in November that will really tickle those tastebuds.

1. Sample the dark side of Mexican dining

Esteemed Mexican chef, Martha Ortiz, is celebrating Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) through the Painted Black menu at her authentically modern Mexican restaurant, Ella Canta. The Park Lane dining room encourages guests to discover the flavours of Mexico with a touch of the colour of death, in honour of the famous Mexican holiday.

Available until 16th November, the dramatic menu of six courses includes a series of traditional Mexican meat and fish dishes, including Octopus with Black Sesame and Lime and Seabass with Onion Ash powder and Potato Puree. Guests will end their experience on a sweet note, with a refreshing Hibiscus sorbet, with beet and orange candy and for the grand finale, they will discover María la Catrina, a creation which represents immortality, an ornate creation inspired by La Calavera Catrina, the elegantly-dressed skeleton figure and symbol of the Day of the Dead celebrations. Don’t forget to accompany your deadly feast with one of their new cocktails; The Lady in Black is a citrus focused margarita made with Amarillo Chile infused Patrón silver tequila, Cointreau, Rinomato Bianco aperitivo, lime juice, angostura bitters and Serrano Chile. Spine-chilling.

Available until 16th November at £70 per person, inclusive of a cocktail.
www.ellacanta.com

2. Dine the deep sea without leaving Covent Garden

The clue is in the name, but FishWorks’ arrival to theatre land brings with it the very best fresh fish and seafood, responsibly sourced from Devon and Cornwall’s fish markets and day boats. With its beautiful marble oyster bar, in-house fishmonger and an opulent private dining room, the new FishWorks Covent Garden – sister restaurant to the existing Marylebone site – the purse- and time-friendly theatre menu offers two courses for £16.50 and three for £20.50.

With lavish lobster dishes, towering fruits de mer platters, classic fish and chips, bottomless brunches and a seafood bouillabaisse with £1 from each bowl to the Fishermen’s Mission charity, it’s a pescatarian’s dream. For those who fancy themselves a bit of a home chef, the Marylebone restaurant is hosting a Christmas cookery masterclass on Saturday 23rd November with a crash course in how to fillet your fish, shuck your oysters and cure your salmon, followed by a lunch with individual wine pairings and a selection of seasonal sides. The masterclass runs from 10am -12.30pm and is priced at £200pp.

FishWorks 2-4 Catherine Street, London WC2B 5JY
www.fishworks.co.uk

3. Swap Spain for California with Victor Garvey’s latest launch

Fans of Victor Garvey rejoice, for his award-winning Catalan restaurant Rambla is relaunching as SOLA. The Soho space will be serving food from and inspired by California, after undergoing a total refurb and reopening with its new look next week.

The chef’s followers will know he always has an eye on the next project and, with the successes of Encant, Sibarita and Rambla behind him, the latest adventure – a portmanteau of ‘Soho/Los Angeles’ – sees a shift away from the Spanish food of Rambla to the modern cuisine of his father’s native California. Expect a menu featuring high class American comfort food like Lobster Pot Pie, Kingfish Crudo with gazpacho vinaigrette, white miso ice-cream, watermelon, tomato raisins and Mussels & Clams with pistachio, lime & chilli butter, dipping soldiers.

SOLA 64 Dean Street, London W1D 4QQ
www.solasoho.com

4. Get your Alpine fondue fix ahead of ski season

Switzerland comes to Mayfair this season as the Swiss ski resort of LAAX has unveiled their LAAX baby! bar at Mews of Mayfair. The ski bar transports drinkers to the snowy slopes of LAAX, where laid back living, meets nostalgic party vibes, serving a wide range of alpine cocktails, in collaboration with One Gin and the UK’s most celebrated sparkling wine, Ridgeview.

The cocktail list includes the Galaaxy Shots – a shot of frozen apple and One Sage Gin to really get the après-ski party started – the kirsch and moscato tinged White Haze and a Rocks Negroni, but it’s the food menu that will get your stomach growling. Traditional delicacies on the menu include a Bündner Teller, a charcuterie board of air dried meats, wagyu bresaola, fennel & garlic salami, coppa and Swiss Comte cheese, as well as a traditional Swiss cheese fondue, made from a blend Le Gruyere AOP, Schlossberger and Reblochon Cheese, melted down with white wine and a splash of kirsch. It’s as delicious as it sounds.

LAA baby! at Mews of Mayfair, 10-11 Lancashire Ct, Mayfair, London W1S 1EY
www.mewsofmayfair.com

5. Start feeling festive with a winter afternoon tea

Now Halloween is over we’re allowed to start getting excited about Christmas… right? Festive dining is my kryptonite, and the new winter afternoon tea from Scoff & Banter is going straight to the top of the nibble list. A contemporary British tea with a wintry twist, the new treats will be available in their Tea Rooms at Oxford Circus and in their Kensington location, which has also partnered with the iconic Natural History Museum Ice Rink for a unique ‘Dine & Skate’ experience, with packages from £28.50 including a two or three-course meal or afternoon tea along with tickets to the ice rink. New sweet treats on the menu include lemon & white chocolate meringue, a raspberry & vanilla choux crumble and coconut glazed sponge cake.

Over at the Scoff & Banter Tea Room on Oxford Circus, guests can choose from winter comforts includingmini Yorkshire puddings with roast beef, horseradish creamed potato and red wine sauce and pancetta-wrapped wild boar and apple sausages with roast potatoes.

www.scoffandbanter.com

6. Get your Freak (Scene) on at lunchtimes

Soho pan-Asian restaurant Freak Scene has launched a new street food concept for its lunch offering alongside a brand new autumn menu. The brainchild of chef Scott Hallsworth, since opening last March it’s continued to showcase inventive and creative Asian cooking. Eight new dishes will pack a serious punch for the colder months and will include Phar’s Thai mackerel tacos with kaffir lime mayo, whole butter roasted lemon sole with spicy shiso ponzu and Takikomi gohan – Japanese rice hotpot with roasted pumpkin, fried tofu and wasabi.

With a new lunch menu inspired by Scott’s travels in Thailand earlier this year, The Freak Scene Kanteen (situated in the restaurant) is open Monday – Friday 11am – 3pm and customers can choose from a base of jasmine rice or thin egg noodles and a top of crispy frame fried chicken, spicy Thai pork sausage, miso grilled aubergine with a chilli, lime & tomato relish and walnuts and slow cooked sweet soy and ginger short rib, customised with homemade sauces and all from just £6.50.

54 Frith St, Soho, London W1D 4SL
www.freakscene.london

7. Get a festive food fix at Taste of London

Fans of the Regent’s Park summer event will revel in four days of festive delights at Tobacco Dock, where you can celebrate best food and drink from London’s internationally renowned culinary scene.

New additions include Soho favourite Berenjak, Thai barbecue masters Smoking Goat, Lewis Hamilton-backed Neat Burger with its plant-based burgers, and the hotly anticipated Bubala, which opened in September and features vegetarian Middle Eastern food from ex Berber & Q and Barbary chefs. Also joining the line-up are Taiwanese legends BAO and XU and finally Master Wei, bringing a taste of Shanxi cuisine with its legendary noodles, as more than 120 artisan producers will line the Grade 1 listed former warehouse, transforming it into a winter wonderland with dozens of foodie workshops on offer, including alcoholic jam making and interactive paella-cooking tutorials. Fans of a festive tipple can also enjoy pop up bars and masterclasses from the likes of Tanqueray No. TEN, Ketel One and Johnnie Walker Whisky.

Open from 21st – 24th November
www.london.tastefestivals.com

Brunch November 9, 2023

What to Eat in London This Month

The mornings are getting that little bit lighter, the mercury edging up just enough to switch your Big Coat for something a little less hefty and with spring on the horizon our palates are turning from indulgent winter comfort food to something altogether lighter as the days lengthen and we hurtle towards a new season.

London is, as ever, a harbinger of new menus and with a host of delicious dishes springing up this month, it’s the perfect opportunity to leave winter behind and awaken your tastebuds.

Discover the Taste of Istanbul with Yeni’s Pre-Theatre Menu

Located in the heart of Soho, Chef Civan Er of Yeni has just announced a new seasonal set menu for lunchtimes and the pre-theatre slot. The Istanbul-inspired eatery has split the menu into three sections – Vegetables, Meat & Seafood and Desserts – featuring some favourites from their a la carte menu along with new dishes.

Sample classics such as the delicately handmade Manti dumplings served in a bed of double fermented yoghurt, the Samsa savoury meat pastry made from hand rolled beef phyllo and yoghurt or the delicious Octopus rings a la plancha, served with bulghur, aioli, sumac and parsley.

The menu is priced at £16 per person for three dishes and is available for lunch Monday to Friday and from 5-6pm Monday to Saturday. Additional dishes can also be added for £6 each.

www.yeni.london

2. Celebrate Holi at Saffron Circle

New on the London restaurant scene last month, Swiss Cottage’s Saffron Circle is the first international opening from esteemed restaurateur Lavanya Mahate, founder of five successful outposts in Salt Lake City, Utah. Specialising in the most popular dishes from the North, South, East and West of India, Saffron Circle takes guests on a journey, highlighting the subcontinent’s immense culinary diversity.

This month, from 9th – 15th March, celebrate the Indian Holi festival as Executive Chef Santosh Shahhas introduced an eclectic array of dishes to the Festival of Colour Menu, at just £29.95 per person. To start, choose from either the succulent lamb chops marinated with fresh ginger, dried fenugreek, herbs and spices or the tender chicken tikka marinated in ginger garlic, spices, yoghurt and lime juice. Mains are served up in the traditional Indian Thali style, where guests will sample Saffron Circle’s signature dishes including Kerala Prawn Curry, Saffron Paneer and Chettinad Chicken Curry.

www.saffroncircle.co.uk

3. Indulge in Every Kids Dream Dinner at Waffle Week

Yes, you read it right. Prayers have been answered; Waffle Week is a thing. We of course have city hotshots Duck & Waffle to thank for it, instigators of the forthcoming 24/7 celebration featuring a menu of new and signature homemade waffle dishes running from sunset to sunrise to sunset again. From Monday 23rd March to Sunday 29th March, the inaugural Waffle Week will feature everything from the namesake signature dish to new offerings inspired by traditional British desserts, created by Executive Chef Elliott Grover.

Breakfast fans can kick off their day with a Duck Benedict, while for those with a sweet tooth, the signature Full Elvis, with PBJ, caramelised banana, Chantilly cream and all the trimmings will satisfy all the cravings. If those weren’t indulgent enough, late night visitors can indulge in the Caramelised Banana Waffle of housemade hazelnut & chocolate spread, vanilla ice cream, and peanut crunch or the new Lemon Meringue Waffle with lemon curd, Italian meringue, lemon sherbet ice cream, and dill.

www.duckandwaffle.com

4. Get an Injection of Latin Flavour at Cha Cha x Sister Jane

This spring Notting Hill will be getting an injection of Latino flavour with the opening of Cha Cha x Sister Jane, a restaurant and bar that will be big on taste and on music to match. Due to open at the end of March, the multi-story restaurant and roof terrace on Golborne Road will feature a menu developed by Head Chef Kai Rykowski (ex Chiltern Firehouse), featuring Mediterranean cuisine with a Latino twist.

Due to open its doors at the end of the month at 36 Golborne Road, breakfasters can look forward to daily specials of cheese and truffle toasties, French toast with vanilla custard and rhubarb pistachio, and acai bowls topped with pumpkin, sunflower and chia seeds and coconut powder. From 11am until midnight, an all-day menu will showcase moreish sharing plates of sea bass ceviche, tempura squid with wasabi mayo and lime, and oysters with green tomatillo and jalapeño mint gazpacho; bountiful salads such as grilled baby gam with maple butter, queso fresco and lemon brioche crumble, and showstopper mains hot from the robata grill including a half lobster tail, duck breast and octopus.

5. Embrace Cherry Blossom Season at May Fair Bar

This spring the May Fair Bar has partnered with the House of Suntory’s Roku Gin to celebrate the arrival of Japan’s iconic cherry blossom season, and centuries-old practise of Hanami; the traditional Japanese custom of enjoying the transient beauty of flowers, as the bar is transformed into a blush-hued cherry blossom-filled escape.

Guests can enjoy bespoke cocktails alongside a selection of exquisite contemporary pan-Asian small plates including tuna, salmon, Yellowtail and sea bass served with wasabi and soy, Wagyu beef sliders with creamy spiced shichimi mayo, chicken truffle teryaki robot skewers and crispy wasabi prawns. A weekend brunch will also include the likes of a decadent toasted lobster bagel and Bao buns filed with Wagyu beef fillet, with crispymelting gorgonzola cheese and chilli habanero sauce. Delicious.

www.themayfairhotel.co.uk

Beauty November 9, 2023

GIRL BOSSES OF GREAT BRITAIN: A CATCH UP WITH THE QUEEN OF BLOW DRIES

How do you stop your business from drying up? According to Duck & Dry’s Yulia Rorstrom, you make sure it can be duplicated time and time again. We spoke to the founder and entrepreneur about making her business work all over the captial.

“I am always nervous. It is really hard to predict success.” Duck & Dry founder, Yulia Rorstrom, opens up about finding each and every one of her launches just that little bit nail-biting. You’d think her reaction to new projects would be the opposite with four years’ worth of glistening business decisions under her belt, but her modesty just leads me to admire her more. This is not the first time I have met her, and every time I do I am taken aback by her bundles of knowledge and passion. She is remarkable, really.

Soon after Yulia’s first blow-dry bar opened on the much sought after Kings Road, London, it became clear she was destined for big things. We dubbed her the Queen of the Blow Dry, not for effect (at least not only for that), but because she just is. She knows all there is to know about blow dries and up-dos, plus how to make good money from them, and all of that comes despite a background in a completely unrelated field.

Yulia started her career when she graduated from the London School of Economics. She began as a management consultant (and a very successful one at that), advising commercial banks and insurance companies. It wasn’t until a business trip to Japan, a country that had totally nailed the then-unheard-of concept of the blow dry bar, that she realised there was a gap in the UK beauty market.

“It really inspired me there”, she said. “They have a really high concentration of salons per square meter, and I hadn’t seen anything like that before.” Each of the salons had bags of character and personality, Yulia remembers, whether that was due to the interior design, the stylists’ uniforms or the music they played.

Yulia’s journey continued in the USA, where she noticed that similar bars had a real buzz about them. She continued: “When I went, the girls were really excitable and happy to hang out and chat. It was their weekly spot before going out and that kind of buzz and energy was lacking in London. I decided I wanted to combine the two with a strong distinctive brand and a great experience. I thought, I’m just going to go for it and try it out.”

Having seen the wonderful salons Yulia has created over the past four years, we are lucky she bought the concept to the UK, but she is the first to admit it was a scary career jump over to the world of beauty.

She said: “When you’re setting up a business, especially in an industry that you’re not familiar with, you might spend a lot of time thinking about the big picture – the brand, the experience you want the client to have, interiors and look books. What you don’t spend as much time on is the day to day operational grind.”

She continued: “That’s tough at first because you’re not prepared for what it’s going to bring you. Everything from suppliers and staff to clients and landlords. All of that stuff is not particularly sexy or glamorous, but it’s what makes up the business and takes up 90% of your time”.

It was that operational grind, and creating a business model which was actually going to work (whilst holding down a full time job, may we add) which took the entrepreneur by surprise. The business model Yulia created is about expanding the brand and making it work time and time again. She said: “My business model needs a lot of people coming through the doors: visitors, tourists and businesses. We need to capture both regulars and one-offs.”

With stores in Chelsea, Soho, Spitalfields and Oxford Circus, Duck & Dry is now spreading like wildfire; it is interesting to note how Yulia and her team have ensured these people are constantly going out of their way to visit.

Perhaps it has a lot to do with her love for, and knowledge of, the capital which has informed many of her business decisions along the way. “I’ve lived in London for 15 years and I have a very good feel for the city. The places I pick are very iconic. Carnaby, for example – the ‘Welcome to Carnaby’ sign. I saw it when I was at school and now I have a shop there!”

Yulia and her team adapt their concept to suit the demographic of each one of these iconic areas, and to suit the character of the commercial units they fall in love with. The Chelsea store has a town house feel, and Carnaby Street branch is part of a concept lead store in collaboration with Sweaty Betty and Farm Girl Cafe. The Oxford Circus store plays on the fact that you’re surrounded by Fitzrovia and the West End (there are many galleries in the area, so it has a fitting New York loft feel), and the Spitalfields store has a bit more edge thanks to its central market location.

This Spitalfields store is Yulia’s latest venture: a gem hidden within the famous market which opened its’ doors in September. The original brick work has all been retained, but brand colours have been used alongside lots of wood and lots of marble. It has been a huge success so far, but since each pocket of London is very diverse, it was very difficult to predict whether it would be. “I’m not a pessimist but I’m pragmatic”, Yulia explains. “I set expectations lower and I don’t just assume people will find out about my new ventures. I do lots of social and campaigns to give everything a push.”

She continued: “We do a bit of everything, from cocktail nights to gallery takeovers.” To date, Yulia has enjoyed collaborations with the likes of Adidas, Barbie, Boden and Batiste (to name a few), and it is one of her dreams that the list will never stop growing.

The recipe seems to be working a treat: choose your locations wisely, don’t just expect your ventures to work and push them on social ’til you’re blue in the face. Do you have a favourite store, we asked? “Chelsea was my first, so I have a certain attachment to it. But it’s not my favourite. That’s like choosing a favourite child!” Spoken like a true businesswoman.

Head to the new Duck & Dry Spitalfields store now, or stop by Duck & Dry Oxford Circus on 16th October for a free Elan Cafe hot chocolate with every blow dry.

Fashion November 9, 2023

#WomenWorldwide : Hisui The Brainchild behind From Brooklyn With Love

Hisui is the creative behind her own brand, From Brooklyn With Love, and she creates pieces that are enough to stack and layer, or bold enough to make a statement. With a back story that is inspiring, we spent some time chatting with her to find out more about her brand, plans for the future and we got totally inspired by her favourite quote…

What inspired the creation of your brand, From Brooklyn with Love?

I’ve always been creative as a child. Some of my first memories of being creative are baking brownies with my grandmother, admiring her multi-birthstone family ring, and gold necklaces. I was in extracurriculars like “after-school crafts” from around the age of 5, and I truly learned the basics there. The first piece of jewelry I made was a necklace of tiny seed beads of all different shades and finishes. Even before high school summer and weekend jobs, I’d do odd jobs for my parents and neighbors in order to buy all sorts of gemstones, beads, wire, and stringing materials. I would replicate jewelry that I saw and loved. By college, I was creating original designs, and selling them to friends, family, and anyone who showed interest on campus. When I moved back home to Brooklyn, I started my Etsy shop, FromBrooklynWLove. I’ve always loved jewelry, and although I excelled in academia, being a creative always felt more genuine. Jewelry has always been a part of my life.

Tell us about any times that you have overcome failure.

I wanted to get into PMC, precious metal clay. At first, I was inexperienced, had none of the right tools, and spent a lot of money and time sourcing it from Japan. While it led to wasted product, and no recoup on the value invested, I ended up learning a lot about the medium, and plan on reintroducing it in the future.

What setbacks have you faced since launching your biz?

In 2017, we moved from Brooklyn, NYC to Portland, OR. It was a bit difficult at first, being in a city where we had no local ties, but slowly, we amended that. Maintaining a good relationship with our local NYC clients was somewhat difficult at first, but things have come around, and we’re the strongest we’ve been in the seven years we’ve been around.

Is there anything you would do differently?

Did I mention how expensive PMC is? Haha, but seriously, I don’t think I would change a thing because I wouldn’t be the jeweler that I am today. There’s so much that you learn through failure, and if the directions were pre-written, I wouldn’t be learning as much as I do on a regular basis. I worry about streaks that lack failures, because then there’s nothing to learn, and what fun is not learning?

What did you want to be when you were a kid?

I loved science, math, and surgery documentaries, so naturally, my parents and I thought that I wanted to be a surgeon. I think I’ve always wanted to work with my hands in a ‘tiny architecture’ type of way. It wasn’t until nearing the end of my undergrad, that I tried bringing the idea of me being a jeweler into reality. To me, a jeweler is the tiny surgeon of the fashion world, and the fact that I was able to marry the two, and make people happy, I find it fulfilling.

Tell us your favourite quote…

“Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson

Who is your ideal customer?

Someone who appreciates the perfectionist level detail, and amount of care that goes into creating handmade jewelry from ethically sourced materials. The kind of person who notices the texture of the sparkly gold strip of ribbon across our minimal, stark black boxes.

What has been your biggest Girlboss moment since launching the business?

Managing 3 advertising campaigns in a single fiscal quarter. Going from bloggers and influencers, to Tatler, Vanity Fair, and Glamour, internationally renowned magazines.

What do you think are the challenges of running a business in 2019 are?

In 2019 you need to be and do everything. It is also the age of the informed consumer, so you must understand SEO and digital trends. Customers have so many options and platforms where they make their purchasing decisions. Retail is not dead, just evolving – so I have to constantly evolve with it!

What advice would you give to our readers who want to launch their own business?

If you know what you’re passionate about, do it. I think too many people place far too much significance on the failure part of business, rather than focusing on the fulfillment and joy that is the entrepreneurial journey. Will you make mistakes? Yes! Will you lose money? Absolutely! Will you have long, stressful weeks? You bet – but the joy that comes from chasing your dreams will be worth it!

In 5 years time, where do you see yourself?

I see myself managing a few combined brick and mortar / jewelry studios in my favorite cities. As a true New Yorker, I’m excited for our brand to express itself in one of the greatest cities on Earth!

Accessories November 9, 2023

Designer Spotlight: Patcharavipa & Nature-inspired Jewellery

Founded in 2014, Patcharavipa Bodiratnangkura has transformed her passion for jewellery into one of the industry’s most exciting up-and-coming brands. Featuring stunning handmade geometric pieces with unique materials like coconut shells and stones, Patcharavipa’s pieces celebrate the legendary craftsmanship of Thai expertise and combine contemporary design with natural textures.

Patcharavipa started her journey into entrepreneurship at the tender age of thirteen, with a small costume jewellery store “crystallising” phones in Bangkok; and what a journey she has been on since then. With a degree from the Central St.Martins and collaboration with Swiss Fine-Jewellery brand Adler on her belt – Patcharavipa celebrates two years of her label with a prestigious launch on Matchesfashion.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background, what made you fall in love with jewellery design?

I was born and raised in Bangkok and found myself fascinated with gems from a very young age. I think it was when I used to play around with my great-grandmother’s jewellery and also my mother’s hand-me-downs. Both women are strong characters with a passion for collecting. The history of gems, diamonds, metals from ancient times, and everything that jewellery symbolises in human history has always fascinated me. So, when I started playing around with crafting, I enjoyed the process of making the jewellery itself and retracing the journeys of how every material is sourced.

I started with a tiny shop in Bangkok when I was thirteen years old called ‘All That Glitters’, selling costume jewellery to my friends. I also offered services where I crystallised phones (at the time it was Sidekicks and Blackberrys) One month we had around 500 phones to do and I remember thinking wow I could make this a proper business! It was such a fun experience to have the opportunity to dabble into the jewellery world at such a young age. Luckily my ideas have developed a lot further from then.

I came to the UK for most of my secondary school years then decided to enrol into Central Saint Martins for jewellery design. It was certainly the experience at CSM that made me want to turn my passion into a career; so after graduating, I launched Patcharavipa in 2014.

How has this experience influenced your brand?

This collaboration was very inspiring. I think when you are a twenty-year-old walking in to a prestigious jewellery house — it’s easy to get overwhelmed. I approached them because I admired their work and wanted them to host a pop-up in Bangkok for Adler. Working on that partnership was priceless. The opportunity to learn from such a great house was an amazing experience. It’s something I will never forget.

Tell us about your Gingko Metrics collection.

A lot of our work in Patcharavipa focuses on three important factors; materials, texture, and the sculptural aspect. I like toying with contrasting notions, whether this be in using different materials, or contrasting design concepts.

For Ginkgo Metrics, the collection stemmed from a pressed ginkgo leaf that I picked up in Hippo-en Garden in Tokyo. I found it months after my trip and was then inspired to look into further forms of art in Japan. I became fascinated with Oshibana which is the art of flower pressing. Oshibana inspired this new technique where we take the direct texture of the leaf and hand press it into our gold. The results are these beautiful imperfect linear lines that capture the moment. It’s also the first time I’ve worked with more restrained silhouettes and geometric shapes. I am excited about this collection. There’s a beauty in the subtleness, slight imperfections, and restriction of it. If I had to choose, my favourite would be the hoops. I just think that hoops represent today’s modern women.

Congratulations on your recent launch with Matchesfashion! What was it like reaching this milestone in your career?

It’s been an amazing two years since I launched Patcharavipa in 2016 to international markets. Almost everything is a milestone for us right now. The opportunity to have my designs reach a wider group of people is amazing, and I’m learning new things along the way.

Since launching Patcharavipa in 2014 – what was the biggest challenge you’ve had to face as a businesswoman so far?

I think everything in the first year was a challenge because it was so new. I think the long-term commitment to your ideas and designs, and also your sheer determination and willpower is what you need to get you through. It’s hugely competitive out there and nothing ever turns out the way you would expect. You just have to ride the wave, learn, address and then be flexible.

What is next for you? Any new & exciting projects or collaborations in the pipeline

We launched our flagship store in Bangkok back in January which was an amazing experience. For a small brand to have that platform to express our ‘universe’ has been great. We put a lot of effort into all the details within that space and I can say it represents us in every way.

The next project for us is to launch our e-commerce platform and build that side of the business. We want to be closer to customers in our way.

Check out Patcharavipa’s latest collection now on matchesfashion.com

Australia November 9, 2023

Things to Know Before Visiting the United States

Traveling to the United States for the first time can feel intimidating. The American culture and the people can frighten a first-time traveler. But, this country hosts countless treasures and attractions that draw people from different parts of the world. The United States has diverse landscapes and amazing picturesque. Its concrete jungles and iconic attractions make it the place to go on an unforgettable trip. Nevertheless, there are things you should know before you travel to the United States for the first time. Here are some of them.

The United States is Diverse and Big

You will need around five and a half hours to fly from California to New York or three hours to fly from Boston to Miami. And, because most tourist sights and major cities are located along the coasts, you have to choose the place to see. Ideally, you can’t take two weeks or two months to travel the entire United States.

Places like Seattle and Dallas are located miles away from each other. Similarly, their personalities are different. People know the Pacific Northwest for happy vibes. Texas and the South are known for being fairly Christian and conservative. Northeasterners are considered pushy and mostly in a hurry. Most people see Los Angeles as being laid back. This is the place where people are always running late.

The climate is also diverse. Therefore, asking about the United States weather is useless. For instance, Phoenix can have 90 degrees Fahrenheit while it’s snowing at the same time in Detroit.

You Will Be Expected To Tip

Tipping is voluntary. However, the minimum wages of the wait staff in America is lower than what you may consider normal. It’s generally expected that the wait staff will always make up this difference in the tips they get from visitors. As such, tipping is an unofficial rule in the United States. When you eat out, you are expected to tip 15 to 20% of the price of your food.

Before you give a tip, check the bill to ensure that it was not already included. This is particularly important when dining with a minimum of six people. It’s also crucial to note that you don’t tip the restaurant wait staff only. You are expected to tip bartenders, hotel housekeepers, and taxi drivers too. Therefore, add tips to your budget when traveling to the United States.

Be Ready To Pay More than What Is Displayed

When buying goods or hiring services in the United States, know that the price is not always what is displayed. That’s because the majority of the displayed prices do not include sales tax. Therefore, when you go to pay at the counter, the cashier will require you to pay a higher price. And, because tax varies from one state to another, expect to pay a minimum of 10% more than the displayed price. This is also the case for accommodation because the resort fees are added to what is advertised.

You Need a U.S VISA

It’s important to know the requirements for foreign travelers to enter the U.S. If you apply for the wrong tourists’ visa or even show up without the right documents, you will be denied entry into the U.S.

Some travelers qualify for Electronic System for Travel Authorization. This is a travel authorization that is processed via a Visa Waiver Program permitting people to travel to the United States without a visa. It’s important to know the requirements for ESTA application before you travel to the U.S. Citizens of member countries like Japan, Australia, and most European countries can qualify for ESTA. The application process is easy because filling out an online form takes about 20 minutes. ESTA is valid for two years upon approval and it allows you to travel to the U.S severally.

Travel Insurance is Important

Travel insurance is very important, especially when traveling overseas. Health services in the United States are extremely expensive for most people. Every year, many citizens of the U.S file for bankruptcy because of medical debt. Using an ambulance in the U.S can cost you more than $2,700. An emergency room visit can cost you between $200 and $3,000 depending on the condition. To save money and enjoy your trip, invest in good travel insurance.

The United States is a unique travel destination. It has iconic cities and diverse landscapes that make people want to extend their vacations. But, before you travel to the U.S, there are things you should know to make your trip enjoyable and memorable. Conducting extensive research, finding an ESTA questions list, applying for ESTA, planning, and budgeting your trip are all important aspects of planning a trip to the U.S. Also know what to expect when you travel to the U.S to avoid culture shock. Once in the United States, focus on enjoying every minute you spend in this country to maximize your overall travel experience.