Morocco - House Of Coco Magazine

Costa Rica November 9, 2023

Success Worldwide : Luxury with Lebon

LEBON is a luxury oral care brand founded in 2015 by Stephanie, Art Historian and professional Photographer and Richard, Cosmetic Certified Dermatologist, both lovers of the sea and nature.

Whereas brushing your teeth is the first and last thing we do every day, Richard and Stephanie wanted to make a dent in the industry for an ethical and nature inspired toothpaste created specifically for those who value health and wellbeing. Their story is so inspiring so we spent some time with them to find out more…

Tell us about the journey that lead to the launch of LEBON…

My Husband and I were in holiday in a small village on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. It was a rainy morning, all intense smells where floating in the air. We were at a point of our life where we wanted to create something together (apart from our two amazing children of course).

Richard’s background is cosmetic formulations, mine is art history and photography. Little by little, we found out that there was a huge lack in the oral care, where you could find either toothpastes with impeccable ingredients but not pleasant to use, or mass market toothpastes with formulas full of nasty ingredients. Brushing teeth is the first and last thing you do each day, it should even be 3 times per day after each meal, and despite that, it was lived as an obligation (tell the children to go brushing their teeth, we all know their reaction). With the inspiration of that beautiful, wild and intense nature surrounding us, it quickly became obvious that creating a toothpaste collection with natural flavours and clean formulation that will turn that daily routine into a real pleasure moment was the thing to do.

Looking back since your launch in 2015, is there anything that you would do differently?

That is a question we ask ourselves regularly…

Neither of us come from business or marketing background. We created LEBON with our own criteria, choosing only the very best for all our ingredients and suppliers, with an ethical approach. So, it may not be the best profitability strategy and we learned the hard way that creating a brand and making it viable without business-marketing skills and not overriding its principles and values was difficult. But we question ourselves and listen to our consumers which is, we believe, a very important point and we do not hesitate to evolve when it is necessary. Today LEBON wouldn’t be LEBON without this path covered during these 5 years.

Founded by a husband and wife duo, how do you separate home and work life?

So far, we don’t… This is definitely something we are working on. Our children are not that small (17 and 14) and even them, feel concerned with LEBON. Charline the oldest, is now sometimes coming on trade fairs, she loves it and is the perfect image of “Future is green”. However, we try to not talk about LEBON once we leave the office, but we are not very good at it.

You’re an ethical brand, why is this important to you?.

For us the question would rather be, how couldn’t it be? As I mentioned, we are always evolving and questioning ourselves, because we are totally aware that the way of consuming has to change. World is changing and our planet needs each one to make the difference, small actions made by everyone can make the whole difference. It is everyone’s ethical and ecological conscience that will move the world in the right direction, without waiting for governments or large multinationals reactions.

Talk us through the 9 different flavours of LEBON…

We are very proud to collaborate with one of the most established aroma & perfume suppliers from Grasse, a village in the south of France classified world heritage of UNESCO for its know-how in the production of perfumes. They loved the idea of LEBON toothpaste collection, “whose flavours fits your mood” and we are working with them since the very beginning, creating natural, exclusive and delicate flavours.

Cap Ferrat Moodis the first, the classic one. It awakens your senses and makes you feel strong, fresh and energized with its powerful mix of Mints inspired by the peninsula of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat in the French Riviera. That place used to be a dry roc before being planted and covered with a multitude of trees with fresh and powerful essences such as eucalyptus and pines. People love to go there to find some freshness during the summer heats.

Villa Noacarlina: Our second creation. Brings moment of calm with the fresh fusion of Mint rounded with a subtle hint of Cinnamon. With the well-known stress reducing benefits of Cinnamon and the inspiration of the wild beaches of the Nicoya Peninsula on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, Villa Noacarlina is a great flavor to add to your routine to help you feel grounded and calm. Also known to curb hunger craving, this Cinnamon infused toothpaste is a great post-lunch solution to stop snacking throughout the afternoon.

Une Piscine à Antibes: Much like the feeling of diving into a refreshing swimming pool on a hot summer’s day, Une Piscine à Antibes provides that instant cooling and relaxing feeling. Packed full of minty fresh flavors and a splash of Liquorice, this blend is great on the days you want a refreshing and intense moment.

Tropical Crush: This is one I also name “sun in a tube” for rainy days”. Bursting with juicy Pineapple and Rooibos, it will make you start any day in a positive mindset. It transports yourself somewhere tropical and makes you feel uplifted with the vibrantly sunny natural flavours.

Sweet Extravagance: Certainly, the one of the most sophisticated flavour. It is a real moment of self-kindness. Deliciously sweet and creamy, Sweet Extravagance perfectly blends Mint, Orange Blossom (known for its calming and balancing properties) with a hint of Rose (renowned for being uplifting and comforting) making it the ultimate gift of self-love.

Le White: The first of the natural whitening series. It is a tea inspired. A delicate balance of Green Tea and delicious Sweet Mint from Morocco, it is the perfect remedy to enjoying your cup of tea.

Back to Pampelonne: Mango and Mint mix which brings sunshine and joy to any day with the sweet exotic flavors and instantly transport yourself walking along Mediterranean sandy beaches. The explosive exotic Mango is blended with refreshing Mint to create the ultimate uplifting energy kick needed to start the day. An essential part during seasonal changes for anyone looking for a sunny moment.

Rhythm is Love: The uplifting powers of Ylang Ylang and the touch of Yuzu mix idea came after a trip in Asia. Known for its sensual and euphoric properties, the creamy Ylang Ylang helps to boost your spirits whilst the lightly acidulous touch of Yuzu makes it a well-balanced flavour and the perfect choice before bed to help you let go of your day.

Fearless freedom: We also call it the “Monday morning toothpaste”. A bold blend of juicy Black Currant and Fresh Mint that gives you an instant boost of strength and courage and helps you feel like anything is possible.

Are there any plans to extend your product range, if so, what will you add?

2020 is an important year in LEBON development. We still work on the evolution of the brand and we are very excited and proud of what will be launched in a few months. Be patient …

What quote do you like to read when you are lacking motivation?

“I had to make you uncomfortable, otherwise you never would have moved”. – Universe

For anyone wanting to start their own business, what advice would you offer?

Trust your instincts and never stop to move forward. Never considerate things for granted and be ready to evolve while always maintaining the integrity of your initial idea or product.

What are your plans for the business in 2020?

New products and a new commercial distribution strategy. By going more direct in our distribution, we are now able to decrease the public price of the whole collection without touching the quality of our products. We recognised that our price-point excluded some customers from repeat purchasing our product and this is something that we needed to overcome to benefit all our partners markets and consumers.

Our readers love to travel, what destination is at the top of your bucket list?

Back to the roots… definitely Costa Rica.

Since we launched LEBON, we hadn’t time to go back there, where everything started, and it really misses us. Maybe soon …

Find out more and follow their journey…

www.lebonandlebon.com

Fashion November 9, 2023

Essaouira, Morocco: Le Jardin des Douars

Finding Renewal and Connection at Le Jardin des Douars in Essaouira, Morocco. We have a lot in common you and I. I know this because as a reader of House of Coco you are likely to be the type of person who thrives off being manically busy, even on holiday, creating memories and stories to regale.

But, every action needs an opposite reaction. Please remind yourself that it is vitally important to completely switch off every now and then to recharge your batteries and give your brain a break.

Exploring Le Jardin des Douars in Essaouira, Morocco

I hadn’t sat still for about 5 years before this Morocco trip. The last time I did that would have been a beach holiday with the girls and so my break to Le Jardin des Douars was a refreshing relief that I didn’t even realise I needed.

Arriving at Essaouira airport was a total dream. It’s Moroccan through and through in the design which made the short pitstop trying to describe my job title to customs quite exciting. “creative” “advertising creative” “ad-ver-tise-ing” “marrr-ket-ing” “jou-r-na-list”. Finally through.

Directly upon exit, we found our ride. The private bus just for us organised by the hotel was a glorious start to a beautiful break.

Discovering the Enchantment of Les Jardins de Douars in Essaouira, Morocco

As we travel through the argon tree filled landscape of Essaouira we discover an oasis of domed villas snuggled together within the hotel walls. It feels ever-so bohemian, exuding North African comfort along with a touch of classic French chic.

Les Jardin De Douars feels like a traditional Moroccan hammam retreat, built from that pinky peachy clay that the Maghreb is famous for. Contrasting greenery, palms, botanicals and herbs grow from every available patch of soil around the complex, making for a stunning place to call home for a few days.

One of the great things about this hotel is that, although it was fully booked with families and couples, it felt like it was all ours. Every room is its own little cottage and you feel far away from the other guests in utterly delightful privacy.

Indulging in Leisure and Gastronomy at Les Jardins de Douars, Essaouira

There are two wildly inviting jade-green pools with plenty of distance between them, one for families and one for adults only. The adults-only heated pool is infinity style surrounded by trees and bushes, perfect for a few laps and weightlessness relaxation (… also open late for a moonlight dip).

For dinner and drinks, you can’t go wrong on the terrace. Again you share the space with families and other couples but you don’t feel encroached upon.

The hotel restaurant is 100% responsible for the end of my vegetarianism (sorry to disappoint). Moroccan food is just a total dream. On day one they held a huge BBQ for lunch and the way the chefs had spiced the chicken was insane!

Finding Renewal and Connection at Les Jardins de Douars in Essaouira, Morocco

The highlight of the trip for me was the Hammam. I chose a body scrub and as well as leaving my skin softer than the day I was born I felt a beautiful connection with the female therapist. Maybe it’s because I’m a total hippy and love the female bond but I felt her positive energy and the massage healed me emotionally too.

To say that the botanical gardens gave me life is more than just a wanky Instagram quote. Filled with wildlife, quiet other than the birds and frogs, and all of the world’s vibes radiating from every branch, leaf and petal.

We’ll return. I already want to be there for more relaxing in the sun, pool meditation and exploring. The hotel provides a shuttle to the beach and the medina for some shopping so you can escape for a little while but I’d happily hideaway at Les Jardin De Douars for another long weekend of luxurious solitude.

Book online at www.jardindesdouars.com

Return flights can be around £300. Sadly they’ve just stopped doing direct flights but rumour has it that another airline will pick up the route.

https://youtu.be/VJMugKntIRI

Fashion November 9, 2023

5 Coolest Hotels In The World You Must Visit

Here at House of Coco, we spend a serious amount of time swooning over the coolest hotels in the world. But what exactly is it that takes a hotel from standard to chic? Whether it’s an ultra-hip location or sheer isolation, adventure or high-end architecture, #TeamCoco is always on the lookout for unique hotels with that extra-special edge. From boutique desert boltholes to arctic tree houses, here are five of the coolest hotels in the world…

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Scarabeo Desert Camp, Marrakech

We love authentic experiences, even more so when they’re coupled with a touch of luxury – so when we saw Scarabeo’s Desert Camp, we knew we were in glamping heaven. Just 15 tents stand among the desert dunes outside of Marrakech – each decorated with bedouin-rugs, oriental fabrics and local artwork for an irresistible old-world desert explorer vibe. # TeamCoco ’s top tip – opt to be picked up in a vintage sidecar from the airport to really feel like you’ve stepped back in time.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcG-QtiFCrG/?taken-by=sonevajani_

Soneva Jani, Maldives

Sliding from the roof of your villa right into the waters of the Indian Ocean, you’d be hard-pressed to imagine a cooler hotel room. If your very own water slide isn’t enough (who are we kidding – of course it is) the villas at Soneva Jani also offer retractable roofs for stargazing, direct lagoon access and there’s an alfresco beach cinema. With a barefoot island feel alongside super-luxe touches, we think this might be the Maldives at its most magical.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgrEcUtFEHY/?taken-by=treehotel

Tree Hotel, Sweden

You’re never too old for a treehouse in our book, particularly when that treehouse is one of seven avant-garde design rooms suspended above the forest deep in Swedish Lapland. From the otherworldly ‘UFO’ to the most recent minimalist ‘7th room’, each may be different, but all are designed to immerse guests in this incredible arctic landscape. Husky safaris, zip-lining and northern lights chasing are just some of the activities on offer if you can bear to leave the uber-cool refuge of your treetop den, that is.

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Amangiri, Utah

An oasis of luxury in Utah’s alien desert landscape, Amangiri’s minimalist design, otherworldly surroundings and trademark Aman opulence are what make this hotel truly iconic. Ultra exclusive suites (some with private pools, swoon) open out onto the wind-warped landscape, red-rock cliffs and endless sandstone desert. There are plenty of desert activities on offer, but in a setting, this serene #TeamCoco recommends sitting back and simply soaking up the scenery from the pool or spa.

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The Ace Hotel, Palm Springs

This hipster hangout is housed in a former motel, transformed by Ace into the place to see and be seen in Palm Springs (the ultimate playground for LA weekenders). By day you’ll find the rosé flowing, music playing and the Instagram set by the pool, enjoying the stunning mountain backdrop and preparing to continue the party late into the night. Rooms have a chic, desert-Hollywood aesthetic, while vintage magazines and a retro photo booth complete the old-school cool vibe.

Hotels & Spas November 9, 2023

THREE OF THE BEST RIADS IN MARRAKESH

For those uninitiated in the ways of accommodation in the bustling city centres of Morocco’s cities: riad = traditional Moroccan house/palace with a central courtyard/garden. Luckily for us, many of these have now been converted into sumptuous hotels, replete with colourful tiles, ornate balconies and flower-laden inner courtyards. Traditionally, a riad would house a multi-generational family within its several floors and so is the perfect intimate size for visitors to Morocco looking for a taste of the authentic. Morocco’s magical capital, Marrakesh, has over 1,000 converted riads in the city centre so it can be very difficult to know which one to go for. Rachael Lindsay has been lucky enough to visit Marrakesh several times so she gives us her pick of the top three riads in the city.

For the space : Les Borjs de la Kasbah

Very few riads in the centre have the space for a swimming pool so if you are the kind of person who loves a morning dip (like me) then go for the spacious, but centrally located, Les Borjs de la Kasbah. The entire riad has been constructed by hand, from the decorative archways to the hand-dug swimming pool, with the help of a trusty donkey of course. Each room is uniquely designed with traditional Moroccan furnishings and handcrafted zellige mosaic tilework. In terms of design, burnt ochre and peach feature heavily with brass trellis lanterns, dark wood four-poster beds and natural marble bathrooms. Don’t miss the sumptuous pancake-filled breakfast or the top-notch restaurant of Moroccan classics.

Check out my full review here: https://houseofcoco.net/a-riad-for-all-seasons-les-borjs-de-la-kasbah-marrakesh/.

For the style : Riad Farnatchi

Down a winding alley and behind a heavy, dark door lies this boutique riad, whose design manages to blend modern chic with Arabic heritage. Think plush white armchairs, vaulted ceilings and intricate Berber pillows. Go here for the spa as well as the style – I enjoyed the best hammam experience of my life in the Farnatchi Spa. The restaurant is also exquisite, featuring twists on Moroccan classics as well as international plates like pate de foie gras and Vietnamese spring rolls. A little more pricey than most riads in the city centre but totally worth it for the effortless luxury which I struggled to find elsewhere.

Read my review of the spa and restaurant here: https://houseofcoco.net/in-the-marrakesh-medina-farnatchi-spa-and-le-trou-au-mur/.

For the atmosphere: Le Riad Berbere

This riad is very reasonably priced for its gorgeous minimalist rooms, lush Islamic garden and romantic, candlelit evenings. Restored to reflect and respect its glory days in the 17thcentury, there is something about the atmosphere in this riad which exudes peace and tranquillity. Perhaps it is due to how tiny it is and how personalized the service (with only five rooms). The restaurant serves up the usual Moroccan affair of couscous and crepes, but with everything produced from scratch in the organic kitchen, you know you are getting the very best of authentic Marrakesh cuisine.

For more information, visit leriadberbere.com.

Cover photo credit: aviontourism.com.

Brazil November 9, 2023

Success Worldwide : From Getting Lost in Art to Finding Her Creativity With Lisa Fellerson

Lisa Fellerson discovered her talent for fine art back in 4th grade, clearly being a creative was in her blood and it’s no surprise that she has built a successful career on the back of it.

Here, we chat to Lisa to find out more about her creativity, plans for the future and what she likes to do for fun…

Tell us about the journey that lead you to becoming an artist?
At this point in my life I’m just starting to understand it. As a child I remember that I could get lost in making something. I loved it. But I had an interesting, what I consider a Divine intervention that really led me to painting. After my second year in college at age 19, I decided to road trip to Los Angeles with a friend who was moving there. I ended up staying a year before returning to graduate. During this year in L.A., I really discovered how much I loved art, creative people, and the creative process. I just aligned with it and I knew it was my path. When I returned to college I immediately enrolled in the Fine Art program. I painted 8 hours a day and never wanted to leave the studio. I love everything about paintings, from the feel of a brush hitting a canvas, to buying supplies, to setting up the studio, to waiting for the best natural light to enter my studio. I feel even closer to painting to this day.

What do you do when you’re lacking creativity?.
I love this question, because it happens! I take out my photo album journals I’ve created for all my trips, sit on the floor, make a cup of tea and listen to my favorite music while I page through. Surrounding myself with different mediums can really get the creative juices going. Music can instantly help you channel inward. I couldn’t start a painting without it. Lately my mix has been really eclectic. I love Gianluca Grignani from Italy, Vanessa da Mata from Brazil, Wasis Diop from Senegal/Paris, and Jhene Aiko from Los Angeles. I also listen to a lot of Indian sitar and American jazz when I really need to get in the zone. I think all artists need some kind of ritual before beginning their work. Being alone in my studio is a way of creating my own world, and escaping. Many times in my studio I just hang out and not accomplish much. I don’t let this get to me anymore, because the next session in my studio could change everything and an entire new direction could begin to emerge. I’ve learned over the years downtime is part of the creative process and I believe it is essential.

When did you discover that you had a talent for fine art?
In the 4th grade I won a school wide drawing contest, but the year I lived in Los Angeles at age 19 was my real catalyst into art. I started visiting art museums and galleries and would leave with a feeling that made sense to me. I couldn’t wait to channel my inner world through painting. I also love the physicality of it. Painting feels like “home” to me.

What does 2020 look like for the brand?
I would love to exhibit my work more in Europe. It feels like my future. When I was in Paris this past February, I got so excited about the possibility of an exhibition there I could hardly sleep. I love how the French embrace the color pink, a color I love and use often. It would be a dream come true! I want to keep studying art history. Lately I have been really looking at French Romanticism, in particular the work of Theodore Chasseriau. Completely the opposite of my work, but I love the drama of it.

What advice would you offer for any aspiring artists?
Really know yourself and believe in what you do. Life can give many distractions, but forgive yourself when you are not feeling it. That is actually a time for new ideas to emerge. Success may come all at once, and then for a while it seems nothing is happening. This is all part of the process and is ok. Celebrate what you have accomplished, want to accomplish and keep this foremost in your mind. As an artist, it is important to have a solid body of work together that you truly believe in before you begin to market yourself to the art world. You will feel more confident when you are speaking about it. It will show in your eyes and others will then believe in it as well. Surround yourself with supportive and positive people. Stay flexible with opportunities. Things have come along for me I never expected, but I embrace them!

Looking back, is there anything you would do differently?
Yes, I would be less hard on myself and understand creativity is all over the place and can be messy and sometimes frustrating. This is part of it. Eventually you will produce work you will love. I look back at paintings I did in my 20s and see how they were leading me to where I am now with my work. I can now look back with gratitude and a smile.

Our readers love to travel, what destination is at the top of your bucket list?
Ah! This changes by the hour but I would love to go to Mauritius and Viet Nam! I’ve only scratched the surface of Asia and there is so much more I want to see and experience there. I think everyone should visit Paris and Rome.

You’re very well traveled, what’s your most memorable moment and where?
I love this. There are so many I would not want to leave out, but I have to say meeting two of my best friends during my travels, one in Oaxaca, Mexico and the other in Ubud, Bali. I will never forget watching Buddhist monks at sunrise blessing local people along the roads in Sukhothai, Thailand. It was so beautiful to witness. I loved watching surfing in Essaoura, Morocco. I printed and developed my own black and white 35mm film photography at and art school in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. My photos from that time are my treasures. Every moment in Paris and Rome are magical. Ahhh…. I love the world!

As someone who lives in New York, what three things would you suggest to do in the city for a first time visitor?
Visit the Met Museum of Art and Central Park. Friday nights in the summer are the best at the Met.

Take the ferry from Manhattan to Long Island City, Queens at night. You can see Manhattan skyline, Queens, and the Brooklyn Bridge all in one. The city in lights is gorgeous at night!

Stroll around cozy neighborhoods such as SoHo and the East Village during a weekday morning. You’ll get a much more local feel.

Outside of the business, what do you like to do for fun?
I love to go to bookstores for quiet and inspiration. I love Rizzoli Books in the Flatiron district of Manhattan. I love to cook and discover new music and go to the beach as much as possible, any beach! Being around water always relaxes me. I love a good laugh with my friends. I am always researching and dreaming about my next travel.

What does self care mean to you?
Really checking in with myself each day and paying at attention to how I am feeling. Having downtown and getting a good night sleep. When I start to get overwhelmed, I lay on the floor in Shivasana for ten minutes, meditate, and listen to Indian sitar. Making sure that life is not all work. Play and travel are very important to me, and so is a good facial.

Find out more…

www.lisafellerson.com

Instagram @lisafellerson

Artsy.net

1stdibs.com

lisafellerson@gmail.com

Lifestyle April 18, 2022

Success Worldwide : The One With The Friendly Paper Co

Here at House of Coco we love stationery, so when we stumbled across The Friendly Paper Co, we were instantly obsessed! Founded by Emma during the pandemic, the business is going from strength to strength, despite launching in turbulent times, which is a testament to the type of woman she is.

We spent some time with her to find out more about her plans to expand in the US, what self care means to her and we got some insight in to her travel bucket list. Read on to find out more…

Tell us about the journey that lead you to launching your brand The Friendly Paper Co…

Like a lot of great businesses, launching The Friendly Paper Co was a bit of an accident. I’d spent a few years as a freelance branding designer and to be honest, I had completely lost my passion for it. As a wedding gift to two of my closest friends, I designed their invitations, seeing their reaction and the creativity involved in designing all aspects of wedding stationery, it really triggered my love for design again.

After losing the majority of my client base due to the pandemic and suddenly having a LOT of free time, I decided to use it to my advantage and I spent most days designing products, setting up Etsy and growing my social media presence. A lot of people probably thought launching an events based business during a global pandemic was slightly mad, however I had a hunch that when weddings were allowed again, business would be booming…thankfully I wasn’t wrong!

Currently you do wedding stationery but do you have plans to branch out into other areas?

There are definitely a lot of plans in the pipeline for branching out into other areas. I’ve done a lot of custom work for birthdays, christenings and even office parties so I’m really looking forward to exploring those sectors. Recently, I did a pet party which is a really interesting avenue! So watch this space.

Starting a business during lockdown wasn’t easy for anyone. What was the biggest struggle you faced?

The biggest struggle was definitely the fact that weddings and events just weren’t happening! Pouring time and love into something with not much reward for a year and half was a little bit disheartening, however without having all that free time, I don’t think the business would be as successful as it is today. It was hard to keep motivated at times but you have to continue to work towards your goals and focus on the bigger picture.

Looking back since launching the brand, is there anything you would do differently?

I actually think I should’ve designed even more products at the beginning because now I absolutely don’t have the time! One of my goals for 2022 was to keep uploading fresh designs each week and growing the product catalogue but it is proving difficult with all the projects I have going on.

Talk us through an average day in your life…

My day starts at 5am with making the bed, some exercise, shower and breakfast. I will then set out the tasks for the day and head out for a walk to get some fresh air before beginning the work day.

Throughout the day I listen to podcasts, make sure I am engaging with my audience on social media and at the end of the day sit on my sofa with a turmeric latte and debrief the day in my head.

More recently, I’ve been trying to make sure that I have regular breaks during the day as I feel more productive coming back to the screen with fresh eyes. I always make sure I give myself plenty of time to eat too so that I am well fuelled.

What do you do when you are lacking creativity?

The most important thing for me when lacking creativity is to remove myself from the office for a bit and just clear my mind of all things wedding and design, even if it’s just for 30 minutes. Sometimes you just need to take yourself out of the work environment to recharge and declutter your mind. Even squeezing in a quick 20 minute HIIT workout can help to get those endorphins going! I definitely believe exercising first thing in the morning (even if it is a struggle some days) is how I manage to remain incredibly productive throughout the day.

How much has social media played a role in the success of your brand?

Social media has played a huge role in the development of the brand as it was all I could really rely on initially to build a following as I didn’t have any sales coming in. I spent a lot of time during the pandemic engaging with brides to be, wedding venues and wedding planners and many have become repeat customers which I am so grateful for. The work I do is so visual so Instagram and Pinterest have been invaluable platforms for the business.

Although I don’t have thousands and thousands of followers yet, the ones I do have are high quality and always engage with the brand. The online wedding community is a really lovely place to be!

What is your go-to quote when lacking motivation?

I have a couple of go to quotes actually! The first is “dreams don’t work unless you do”. It keeps me disciplined and focused. At the end of the day the success of The Friendly Paper Co. rests on my shoulders and the amount of effort I put in.

The second is “old ways don’t open new doors”. This one is especially helpful when I feel stuck in a creative rut and it reminds me to innovate, think outside the box and if something isn’t quite working then it inspires me to find a new way!

Our readers love to travel, what destination is on your must visit list?

100% Marrakech. It has always been a dream to stay in a beautiful Riad, spend hours wandering the Medina and eating and learning about all the delicious Moroccan food. For as long as I can remember I have been captivated by the architecture, colours/tones, patterned tiles and cuisine of this beautiful country and I cannot wait to visit!

What does self care mean to you?

To me, self care means nourishment. Cooking and nutrition is a huge passion of mine and I love to spend an hour or so rustling up something healthy and delicious in the kitchen. I am a firm believer that you get out what you put in and I know fuelling my body with the right food provides me with the energy to excel in all areas of my life.

Where do you see the brand in the next 5 years?

I’m at a bit of an exciting stage at the moment as I’m just launching the business into the U.S! I’m opening a base in Los Angeles with my U.S business partner who lives in West Hollywood. She is extremely passionate about the brand so I’m delighted to have her on board. The wedding market in the States is so huge especially in California where they have year long sunshine and stunning diverse scenery. We’ve actually just been invited by @belledejour_floral on a styled shoot in Hawaii at the end of April which will be incredible!

The aim is to provide a full print service in many countries just like I do in the U.K because it really alleviates a lot of the stress for customers when somebody just takes care of everything for you rather than having to spend precious wedding planning time hunting for a print shop.

Where can people find out more?

To find out more about The Friendly Paper Co. visit www.thefriendlypaperco.com or explore our instagram @thefriendlypaperco. To get in touch email us hey@thefriendlypaperco.com.

Interviews September 1, 2021

Restoring the Balance with Michelle Parry of The Rewilding

Tell us about the journey that led you to launch your brand The Rewilding…

The Rewilding is a result of life connecting up the dots from my professional and life experiences, growing up on a farm in rural Lancashire and creating an offering around all the things I love, whilst also creating something that I believe the world needs to mend our relationships with one another and the land around.

In my past life, I’d had a career in the not-for-profit sector, event planning and community management and lived in some of the biggest cities around the world to finally realise this wasn’t working out for me and left me feeling exhausted, and frustrated with the lack of integrity from my last employer.

Yet my energy and fascination for people, communities and experiences hadn’t dissipated. I allowed myself to be called in by the homing beacon and redirected my energy into a much more grounded and conscious way of being on a much smaller and localised scale.

Arriving back in Lancashire with a renewed set of eyes and a brain buzzing full of ideas, was like seeing it all again for the very first time. I came across the term ‘rewilding’ like many others, in the environmental context. Allowing the land to go back to its original, natural state but was so fascinated by applying this same concept to the human. Take away the tech, the distractions, the city and get outside. I’m a big believer that any good change that may or may not be coming starts with us humans, before anything else. This increasing disconnection and dissolution is what is rapidly separating us from the ecosystem we live in and, from one another. Resulting in finger-pointing in every direction apart from ourselves. We must remember we are nature…. not apart from nature.

At The Rewilding we bring people together to share in meaningful experiences, to learn and to relearn and most importantly to connect and ground ourselves in the rural surroundings.

Onlookers may think it’s just events, but everything we offer is intentionally curated to connect people and the outdoors, to deliver activities and traditional practices that our ancestors did so as not to forget these amongst the new social norms designed to addict us.

We continue to build out our offering and welcome people to come and begin their own human rewilding journey with us.

What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced and how did you overcome it?

Starting a business designed around in-person meet-ups right before a world pandemic hasn’t been great, but great things have come out of this. I launched an online shop using local suppliers to create thoughtful, nature-infused gift boxes to bring this feeling of connection and love into people’s homes throughout the lows of the pandemic. Our ‘Socially Distanced Hug in a Box’ was a definite hit. A way to let others know through this utterly rubbish time that, hey, I’m thinking of you whilst you’re in isolation, or experiencing loss. Aside from the quality local products in there, each gift is packaged with bits of nature I’ve foraged for throughout the seasons and every note handwritten. The pandemic goes on but I am seeing the incredible connections people are experiencing when they finally do come together and this magic of togetherness is what life is all about.

If you were to describe your business mantra in three words, what would they be?

Consciously restoring the balance

What advice would you offer anyone interested in venturing into the world of outdoor well-being experiences?

Know the area you’re delivering your experiences in really well. I am very connected to this area because I grew up here, from making dens and finding secret spots to knowing the community and general rhythm of life. I have seen in previous roles how this lack of knowledge can have a negative impact in a community and/or culture and can come across as both inauthentic and/or disrespectful. Collaborate and connect with the locals and get the community involved to create a balanced exchange with both the locals and the land.

What experiences can people enjoy while at The Rewilding?

All sorts… from basketry, bushcraft, foraging, and organic material dyeing to more extended experiences over a few days which are focussed more deeply around nature and human connection, a place for people to come and retreat and rewild. Envisage barefoot walking, outdoor swimming, fire ceremonies, coastal walks and alfresco dining using delicious local produce.

We host regular dining experiences all about coming together to share food and celebrate local and British ingredients. And we hire out our space and accommodation to those looking to bring their own communities together.

Talk us through an average business day in your life…

Wake up with the sun and take my little teckle Chico for a walk down to the woodland with my coffee before getting straight into the day. I have a creative mind and workaholic tendencies which can often result in a chaotic work schedule but I love what I do and my work blends into my lifestyle so I love it this way, as I can take the flexibility to find time for the things I value and enjoy the most.

Business can be an upward struggle at times, what do you do to stay positive?

Collaborations. I love to work with others and bring new energy to ideas. From the new perspective, collaborations shine on my offering and vice versa. This approach to work feels much bigger picture to me and strengthens the community and the impact of The Rewildings offering.

What is your go-to quote when lacking motivation?

Do what you love, love what you do

How much has social media played a role in the success of your brand?

A lot, it’s been a great tool that’s opened up so many new audiences for me and enabled me to tell the story of The Rewilding, visually, which when sharing a location and immersive experiences that I want people to engage with has been a really important and epic tool. I also love to visually document the changes across the seasons that are happening in nature across our site. But, it is a double-edged sword, I often find myself in an existential crisis about social media and the polarization that is happening within it and what it all means for society. I find it overwhelming and too much and I have to constantly remind myself and my brain, to stay in my own lane. It’s a balance.

How do you want people to feel when they first visit The Rewilding?

Connected, grounded and ready for action

What does self-care mean to you?

Striving to create balance, create time to do nice things for myself and recognise where and when I need them. Ideally, for me, self-care is not something that I do when in ‘crisis mode’ but more regular maintenance of myself, checking in on myself, checking alignment to my values and allowing myself to be nourished by the things that make me feel good, like friendships, hugging my dog, taking a bath, walking in the woods…

Our readers love to travel, what destination is at the top of your bucket list and would it be a well-being holiday or an activity-fuelled trip?

An activity trip for sure! I’ve been dreaming of getting back to Morocco. Spending days exploring the antique stalls in the medinas of Marrakech, chatting to locals, finding a rooftop riad to sip tea and watch the sun come down before heading to stargaze in the desert and then onwards to the mountains.

What’s next for you and your brand?

A series of seasonal retreats for people to come and embrace the feeling of connecting with nature throughout seasons. These will typically last for 3-4 days and are designed to offer lots of immersive activities to begin experimenting with your own human rewilding journey.

We’re also about to level up our immersive dining experiences. I’m working with an epic chef called Rob Booth, who is equally passionate about British produce and bringing people together to share food to help better connect people to their plates, the farmers, the land and one another. And, we have plans to begin rewilding part of our farmland which we’re excited to see take on new life. We’re continuously looking to make improvements and additions to our site so our visitors can engage more deeply with nature, but good things take time.

Where can people find out more about The Rewilding?

They can come and visit us at our spot in Lancashire for one of our retreats or events or find out more via our website The Rewilding or Instagram and Facebook if anyone has any specific questions, or wants to chat get in touch directly by emailing hello@the-rewilding.com

Image credit: Mindy Coe Photography

Croatia July 28, 2021

Interview with Jodie Salt of Ladies Life Lounge

Tell us about the journey that led you to launch your brand Ladies Life Lounge with your business partner Roxy…

We were both busy women running our businesses and families (I’m an Assertiveness/Executive Coach for women Roxy is a Mental Health Therapist) and felt we were spinning 27000 plates a day and not really taking care of ourselves. We wanted to be fit & healthy, feel less stressed/more calm, look & feel good, grow our businesses, be more confident, have better relationships etc but there just wasn’t the time or the money to do it all e.g. Get a PT, work with a personal stylist, have therapy, work with a sleep coach, get help with our hormones etc. So we decided to create it all under one roof and accessible to all women from the comfort of their sofa 24//7, 365 days a year!

We’re passionate about women not just being known and judged for what they look like and more for the value and contribution they make. We decided that we wanted to turn the notion of being ‘pretty’ on it’s head. So we have 7 secrets in the Lounge – Pretty Confident; Pretty Healthy (mind & body); Pretty Calm; Pretty Assertive; Pretty Ambitious; Pretty Stylist & Pretty Personal.

What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced and how did you overcome it?

We decided to take LLL out as a LIVE event and hosted the biggest female empowerment & lifestyle show outside of London, in Manchester over the weekend of International Woman’s Day 2020. It was called Womanifest. We brought together over 1000 women to experience an uplifting weekend of workshops, keynote speeches, fun, entertainment and a huge showcase of products & services that help women live a happy, fulfilling & successful life (and lots of prosecco!). Pulling that off was the hardest, and most stressful thing we’ve ever done, especially as it was the last weekend before lockdown hit in England. We delivered this with sheer determination and commitment to reaching more women with an empowering message and by the support we received form the female led businesses that exhibited. It was a true example of collaboration and what great things women can achieve when they pull together.

If you to were to describe your business mantra in three words, what would they be?

Empowering, Educational, Liberating

What advice would you offer anyone interested in venturing into the world of coaching?

Whilst it’s highly rewarding, it can take a lot out of you so being able to keep your own cup topped up is important. Being a coach doesn’t make you perfect either so don’t put it off if you’re being held back by thinking you having coaching needs yourself. Every coach should have a coach (or a few!). I’d also recommend doing some formal training and qualifications. The coaching industry is currently unregulated meaning there’s a lot of people out there marketing themselves as a coach without really having the skills – these people are really mentors as they’re sharing their experiences and learning to support others that are about to embark on a similar journey – that’s ok but it’s important to distinguish the difference.

Talk us through an average business day in your life…

I’m a relatively late riser at around 8am (Roxy is the opposite at 5am). A cup of tea is always first on my list, followed by walking the dog and then drop the kids at school. I start work at 9.30 ish. My day will involve a coaching client or two on zoom, maybe some LIVE’s on social media, creating some content for our members, a spot of lunch with a fellow business woman perhaps, a podcast interview in the afternoon then I stop and sort he family out between 3.30 and 6.30pm. I then might host a masterclass online in the evening. I love my sleep, a good 10 hours to for so I’m usually off to bed by 10pm with a bit of meditation to wind down. I never work on a Friday, that’s a commitment I made to myself when I became an entrepreneur. Friday mornings all about yoga.

Business can be an upward struggle at times, what do you do to stay positive?

Having a busines partner is everything to me. I would never want to do this alone. What keeps me motivated is having someone else to bounce off when the going gets tough. We have it down to a fine art in sensing when each other are ‘off’ and being able to support each other or take the load if we need a bit of space. We even synced menstrual cycles! And we live a 2-hour drive apart!

What is your go to quote when lacking motivation?

My fave quote of all time is “If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun”.
I tend to lack motivation when I take things too seriously or the pressure is a bit intense. That’s my signal to lighten up and take some time out for a bit of fun. We have laughing as one of our KPI’s!

How much has social media played a role in the success of your brand?

It’s been EVERYTHING! Our business revolves around social media. It’s made it so easy for us to connect with the women who need us most, especially through a pandemic and numerous lockdowns.

How do you want people to feel when they first become a member of Ladies Life Lounge?

We want them to feel important, noticed, that they matter and they’re worth it!

Our readers love to travel, what destination is at the top of your bucket list?

I love to travel too. Top of my list is Hawaii. We get to make work out of travelling by running retreats twice a year. We’ve recently taken groups of women to Croatia; we’re off to Marrakech this October and in June 2022 we’re going to Santorini. I’d love for our next one following that to be in Hawaii.

What’s next for you and your brand?

Next for us, is to grow the membership so that we can positively impact more women like us. I’m also a mum to three daughters so it’s super important to me to create the right culture for the next generation and so I’d love to take what we do into secondary schools so they have the skills for life to set them up for success, not just be tested on knowledge to gain a qualification.

We’ve heard on the grapevine that you’ve got a book coming out soon; can you tell us more about it?

Yes! It’s called Woman Up. Its predominantly about helping women to be more assertive in life and work. It aims to liberate women to own their space, decide what they deeply desire, shamelessly declare it to the world and go out and get it. It’s out on 2nd September 2021.

Where can people find out more about Ladies Life Lounge and your forthcoming book launch?

If you want to be added to the waitlist for the book launch and be the first to hear of its release with exclusive access to goodies and freebies follow this link to Subscribe, alternatively check out any of the below options to find out more.

Web – Ladies Life Lounge
Book – Woman Up
Facebook: Jodie
Facebook – Ladies Life Lounge
Instagram – Jodie
Instagram – Ladies Life Lounge

Costa Rica July 12, 2021

An Interview with Alicia Ray Talking All Things Wellbeing

We recently had a great insight about wellbeing and what it entails with Alicia Ray of Alicia Ray Wellbeing in an interview titled “Interview with Alicia Ray”. The interview covers all the important questions about life challenges, what well-being means to Alicia herself, what her business day looks like, and where her ideal retreat location would be.

The journey that led you to launch your brand Alicia Ray Wellbeing

Unknowingly I think I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Working for the NHS for 17 years I have needed to find ways of infusing wellbeing practices into my daily lifestyle to balance out the intensity of my work. A few years into my career as a psychologist I started teaching fitness classes part-time, inspired to motivate others towards good physical health. I launched Alicia Ray Wellbeing without knowing it was going to develop into a holistic health and wellbeing platform.

Experiencing some periods of high stress in my personal life led me to find my own method of self-care. I have always been drawn to travel and so, seeking dedicated time away to focus on my health and wellbeing, I found myself booking solo surf & yoga retreats in Portugal, Morocco, Sri Lanka and Costa Rica. The appeal was the combination of immersing myself in a beautiful location and being guided through an itinerary of daily activities to nourish my body, mind and soul. I wasn’t sure about yoga back then, and I much preferred high-impact cardio exercise where I felt in my comfort zone and felt good knowing that I had achieved a workout. I loved learning to surf, though found the challenge tested my ego! Yoga enabled me to find a different type of space for myself. Learning to slow down, tune in, and face my inner critic was one of the toughest aspects, but I soon recognised the value of having this dedicated space. I began trusting the process of looking inward as well as focusing on physical heath which was truly eye-opening for me. Booking a surf & yoga retreat became my annual self-care ritual and inspired the future direction of Alicia Ray Wellbeing.

In 2018 I spent 6 weeks in Costa Rica training as a yoga teacher and extending my knowledge of the application of Eastern approaches to health and healing. During this time, I found a deep connection with the environment and through this gained an appreciation of something more powerful than the small things that had led to me becoming stressed. Being so deeply immersed in nature I felt more connected to myself than ever. I wanted to bring this experience back home and share it, which led me to start up twice-weekly beach yoga classes as soon as I returned to Cornwall. The intention was to create a discipline that enhanced my own lifestyle and to share the benefits of yoga in nature with others. Over the last 4 years, beach yoga has become an important part of my lifestyle in Cornwall. Witnessing the value others gain from practising yoga on the beach has been so rewarding for me!

Yoga has extended into my work as a psychologist in so many ways. I recognise the transferable skills I gained from yoga teacher training in terms of discipline, overcoming ego, bringing the attitudes of the Yamas and Niyamas, and infusing compassion into my entire approach. In my therapeutic work, I acknowledge that individuals benefit from different approaches to facilitate their own unique journey to improving health and wellbeing. I blend the knowledge and practices from Eastern philosophies intuitively in my clinical work, advocating an integrative approach that includes a combination of talking therapies, yoga, mindfulness and yoga therapy. I have moved away from the linear Western medicine model of health which likes to categorise health conditions into discrete areas and treat them in isolation. I see the value of blending Eastern and Western approaches more intuitively, approaching health treatments holistically.

Developing my wellbeing platform has been guided by my practice and training and continues to evolve in different directions. It has of course been influenced by my own experience of the health benefits of spending time in the outdoors and on retreats. The practices I offer incorporate elements of the benefits gained from retreats; such as connecting people to nature and helping create dedicated space to tune into body and mind. Being fortunate to live in Cornwall I deliver bespoke surf and yoga wellbeing retreats, yoga and mindfulness on the beach and psychology-informed wellbeing days from waterside studios and hotels by the sea. I continue to work for the NHS as well as run an independent psychology practice one day a week. My heart is in every aspect of my work, and I feel blessed that I have built a business from doing the things that resonate with my core values and enable me to facilitate others on their journey towards positive health and well-being.

What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced and how did you overcome it?

In honesty, the biggest challenge I often face can be myself. By that, I mean the traps and snags of the human mind that create powerful obstacles to seeing things clearly. We really can be our own worst enemy and our own worst critic! Stress plays a significant part and can make me see things in a skewed way, whether that be in the form of self doubt, an inner critic, or a sense of imposter syndrome. I find it hilarious that even with the insight I have from being a psychologist I am still just as suspectable to these distorted thinking patterns as everyone else! The key to overcoming this challenge for me is to recognise the impact stress and tiredness have on my perspective; set boundaries with my time and say no to things when I feel the balance tipping. Not always easy. I remind myself to continually check whether the expectations I place on myself are helpful or realistic. One of the most empowering ways I have come to deal with these challenges is to accept it is all within me. I am responsible for whatever voice shows up and whatever energy I feel and give out, so I practice directing my energy towards self-compassion, and practice being my own best friend!

If you to were to describe your business mantra in three words, what would they be?

Drive
Compassion
Consistency

What advice would you offer anyone interested in venturing into the realms of wellbeing and yoga?

Be kind towards yourself and others always and be prepared to work incredibly hard. If your drive does not come from your heart then do not even waste your energy.

Be willing to lean into uncertainty and with this, bring so much compassion towards yourself; you will need to be your own best friend!

Be authentic and find your niche. Try not to feel intimated by anyone else doing similar things and be supportive towards others. There is plenty of room out there for all!

Focus on the wins, acknowledge the positive steps (each and every small step) and give yourself a high five every now and then!

Find what gives you your glow. By this I mean that feeling; the warming glow you get when you sense you are channeling energy from the heart. This can be different things at different times. It can be love and compassion for yourself, gratitude for life at that present moment, kindness and compassion for others and the drive you get from knowing you are following your true values.

Talk us through an average business day in your life…

Typical Monday to Thursday schedule:
5am coffee in bed
5.45am set up livestream studio in my attic room
6am-6.45am RISE livestream yoga practice
7am-8am breakfast and social media posts
8am-6pm NHS role (currently lead psychologist for pain management service)
6pm time outside; maybe a walk, paddle board, bike ride or beach yoga class followed by sunset BBQ
9pm-10pm Unwind, read, sleep

Fridays take a slower pace; I run my independent psychology practice, catch up with business admin, and try to have an early night.

Weekends are a balance of beach time, yoga, mindfulness, and general downtime relaxing as well as spending time with my partner, family, and friends. I love packing in as many outdoor activities as possible which means my house is always untidy (a sacrifice I am willing to make!)

Business can be an upward struggle at times, what do you do to stay positive?

It certainly can! I am fortunate to love my work as it takes a lot of energy. I am careful to replenish lost energy with activities and practices that make me feel uplifted and restored. I remind myself ‘you can’t pour from an empty cup!’ and prioritise self care always. My go to uplifting practices are yoga outside, taking time to find peace and stillness through meditation and mindfulness, nature walks and being by water.

To stay positive, it is so important to have fun! For me this is spending time outdoors and enjoying nature. At weekends we love going on mini adventures in our campervan, exploring Cornwall’s epic coastline, surfing, paddle boarding and having BBQ’s on the beach. Living in Cornwall I am lucky that I can create my own mini wellbeing retreat each weekend!

What is your go to quote when lacking motivation?

Hussle harder! This is something my partner said to me recently when a Monday morning felt overwhelming and I was lacking in energy. I aim to keep my motivational inspiration lighthearted so that I don’t end up giving myself a hard time, however, I think it is also important to acknowledge the drive and the discipline it takes to keep moving forward. I remind myself of this regularly and visualise the end goal. Visualising owning a retreat space with an infinity pool in Costa Rica gives me the motivation I need to keep driving forward!

What do you do for yourself when it comes to self care?

For me self care is crucial, and I try and find small ways to infuse this into my daily lifestyle. Time to rest is as important as time moving and driving things forward. I aim to practice what I preach in terms of the things I share with others. Early morning yoga has been an amazing habit to kick start positive energy for the day, keeping a healthy routine (lessons I have taken from Ayurveda) and remember the simple things that often get overlooked during times of stress, such as keeping hydrated and nourishing my body with good whole food.

Often self-care gets neglected when life gets busy and so it can be about pausing for enough time to recognise when and what I need to do in order to build my inner glow. This might be taking three deep breaths, yoga, time outside, being by the water, or spending time with people who radiate light back to me. It might simply be having a good cup of coffee!

How much has social media played a role in the success of your brand?

Facebook and Instagram have been great tools for reaching out to my local beach yoga community in Cornwall. As I continue to develop the brand in new directions these platforms have been helpful for reaching people from other areas and countries. I am learning to develop more confidence in my voice and what messages I put out there on social media. I also recognise the importance of maintaining boundaries around the amount of time I invest in this work.

How do you want people to feel when they first experience an Alicia Ray Wellbeing class or retreat?

I want people to feel empowered and flowing with positive energy! Importantly I want people to gain whatever it is they need from the practice, whether that be peace, calm, or an uplifted sense of energy and strength. Finding that connection with yourself is what my classes and retreats are about, and this can take many forms and lead to different feelings.

It is wonderful feedback when after a class people tell me they have experienced that moment of realisation when they just know intuitively what it is they need. I feel it is an amazing privilege to teach practices that can facilitate this for people.

Our readers love to travel, what destination is at the top of your bucket list, and would you practice any of your wellbeing rituals while travelling?

Sri Lanka will always be a special place close to my heart. I’ve been lucky to visit this beautiful country five times and have hosted two yoga and wellbeing retreats there. Costa Rica is my top yoga and wellbeing retreat destination. I dream of buying land there and owning a retreat space one day!

Yes I absolutely practice my wellbeing rituals while travelling, as this is how I came to experience their value! I think travelling provides a fantastic opportunity to focus on self care, and practice routines and rituals that keep the body in flow and healthy. Finding new locations to practice yoga at sunrise and sunset is one of my favorite wellbeing rituals while travelling.

What’s next for you and your brand?

I’m continuing the fourth season of Gwithian beach yoga, near Hayle in Cornwall and this summer I have some fun plans including bringing silent disco yoga, mindfulness and fitness classes to the beach. I will be delivering surf and yoga retreat days and have some psychology-informed yoga therapy workshops planned in Cornwall.

I am continuing my livestream yoga classes and am currently building a subscription-based on-demand platform.

I am excited to be planning a yoga and well-being retreat in Costa Rica next year. On the horizon, I am working on creating a Mindfulness in Cornwall journal to give people knowledge about practising mindfulness outdoors and share local tips on where best to practice mindfulness in my beautiful home county.

Where can people find out more about Alicia Ray Wellbeing?

People can get in touch directly via my email address hello@aliciaray.uk or via my website or social media channels.

Website: Alicia Ray
Facebook: Alicia Ray Wellbeing
Instagram: Alicia Ray Wellbeing
YouTube: Alicia Ray Wellbeing

Food & Drink June 29, 2021

All You Need to Know About Burrata Cheese

Food represents the culture of a country – most food lovers won’t disagree with this statement. If we talk about different cuisines of the world, Italy will undoubtedly top the list. Italy is a country where foods beautifully tie them nationally and regionally. Burrata Cheese, a creamy delicacy originating from the Puglia region of southern Italy, exemplifies this culinary richness. From pasta to pizza, what are they not best at? Every region of Italy has their signature types of delicious foods to offer. That’s the beauty of Italy, and this is what distinguishes them from others.

Talking about Italian food and we will avoid cheese, it can’t happen. Cheese is already a thing that everyone loves. There is no substitute for the cheese to bring a flavourful twist to your food. Even the most boring meal can be delicious with the touch of cheese. In Italy, you will get a variety of cheese from different regions. Mozzarella, Gorgonzola, Pecorino, Ricotta, Bel paese, asiago etc., are the most popular cheeses you will get in Italian cuisine. Among all, burrata cheese is getting very popular for its delightful fresh and smooth taste.

What Exactly is Burrata?

Burrata is an Italian stretch curd cheese that consists of mozzarella and fresh, rich cream. Buratta means buttery, which is a symbol of its delicious melt and soft texture. Its smooth white outer shell will give you the best experience of a soft and creamy interior. Burrata cheese is mainly produced in the southern region of Italy. It’s been almost a hundred years now since the artisans started to make it in the area of Murgia, in the southern region of Apulia.

How to Make Burrata?

The local artisan combines their experience and skills to make the best version of burrata each new day. You can try to make this traditional sensation at home too by following some easy steps. Firstly, collect full-cream cow milk and leave it to curdle. When the curd is ready, weave it to get the perfect texture. Finally, blend it to get the smoothness and give it the shape of a creamy round ball. Here your Italian burrata cheese is perfectly ready.

Mozzarella vs Burrata

It’s okay to mistake burrata for mozzarella, but there are some significant differences between them. Let’s have a look at some of the ways the two cheeses are two unique types.

Mozzarella

Mozzarella consists of cow milk

It has denser and tangier texture

People all over Italy produce it

Mozzarella is comparatively rigid and can be cut into slices

Contains low calories

Burrata

Burrata is stretched curd cheese wrapped with the outer shell of mozzarella

It comes with a very smooth and soft texture

It is primarily a regional food of Italy and produced locally in Murgia

Burrata contains comparatively high calories due to its creamy nature

Some substitute for Burrata

A lot of cheese struggles to match the texture of burrata. Therefore, it isn’t easy to find a replacement for burrata. So, we advise you to taste the real thing instead. If you have high cholesterol, then maybe you can make do with something similar.

For replacement, mozzarella can be the best fit. It resembles burrata best because of its flavour and ingredients. It also works well with pasta, pizza and tomatoes. Low-key bocconcini can also be suitable as the replacement for burrata. It is also called mini mozzarella and made of cow milk with water. It, however, goes best with dried meats.

If burrata is out of your stock and you want a creamy taste in your food. Then cream cheese can be best. It contains a rich amount of cream, which can be riskier for health, though.

What to Serve with Burrata?

This delicate creamy cheese is best to serve with pasta, meat and fresh raw vegetables.

It can also go best with hot bread toast paired with red wine.

Pairing it with a salad of fresh tomato, prosciutto Crudo, and extra virgin olive oil is perhaps the best way to enjoy it.

Burrata cheese is always best to eat fresh. If you want to preserve it, then keep it in the fridge and bring it back to room temperature before eating. One small reminder, storing it for a long time decreases the taste and freshness.

Experience the authentic flavors of Italy brought to your doorstep with Carluccio’s Dine-at-Home kits. Read more about it here on House of Coco.