South Korea - House Of Coco Magazine

India November 9, 2023

Hospital Playlist: The K-Drama of Goodness

The magnifying presence of mass media continues to demonstrate its power in today’s digital age. From marketing the latest e-commerce products to broadcasting updates on Covid-19, mass media plays a vital role in people’s lives. It even helps shape major decisions, such as an individual’s career selection.

In a 2016 study, results revealed that mass media usage “had a great impact in career selection” among undergraduate veterinary students of Andhra Pradesh, India. That is one of the many academic studies proving that individuals can gain inspiration from television characters they like. The portrayal of a successful, proficient character may contribute to the individual’s decision.

Who wouldn’t be motivated to get into law school when a television character is a successful lawyer fighting for human rights? Or try their hands at becoming an artist complete with watercolor pencils and StazOn ink as art materials? This example has the same effect on aspiring physicians from the concluded Korean drama series,Hospital Playlist.

The feel-good series everyone is looking for

Thediverse genres found in the K-drama series is one of the reasons that it’s well-received internationally. It appeals to the mood of viewers because, for every emotion, there is a K-drama that resonates with it. Due to the overwhelming distress caused by the pandemic, it’s only natural for people to search for feel-good entertainment to distract them from the reality the world is currently enduring.Hospital Playlisthappens to qualify under this search.

The plot follows the friendship of five surgeons who have known each other since medical school. The series provides an accurate depiction of the lives of health professionals, featuring the surgeons’ relationship with each other, their own families, patients, and other colleagues in Yulje Medical Center.

In a YouTube review by DoctorFriends, who are real-life doctors, they validated how it “seemed like a real story.” Because of the dynamics of the storyline, the ending is unforeseeable, making the series more exciting.This feel-good series doesn’t filter the hardships and struggles of characters and even sheds light on the human connection among strangers and loved ones.

Capturing the hearts and souls beyond physicians-to-be

It’s safe to say that the series does not merely touch the hearts and souls of aspiring physicians but anyone who needs to be reminded that the world will always be filled with good people and intentions. It was best manifested in the characters’ wholesome treatment of each other. It was also seen on how they handled problems inside and outside of work.

TV drama critic Yun Suk-jin claimed that the drama “focused on the doctors’ sincerity in their work and their relationship with the patients.” That comes from the observation that medical dramas tend to highlight the power conflict found in the hospital or the love-hate relationship between two lead doctors. Hospital Playlist broke the mold by telling the story of friendship between colleagues and how they managed hardship by supporting one other.

Hospital Playlist leaves a promising impact on viewers in different ways. It can heighten one’s dream to become part of the medical field or simply inspire them to remain a good person despite the prevalence of chaos. Either way, the series shows that life is worth celebrating.

Beauty November 9, 2023

#WomenWorldwide : The Creative Nature of Travel with Gloria, Melon & Starfish

We love hearing stories about how travel sparks new ideas and passions. For Gloria, founder of Melon & Starfish , a ‘brave decision’ to head to Korea to sharpen her languages skills left her with a burning desire to bring the K-Beauty market to the UK…

HOC: Hey, Gloria! Tell us about your journey to being an entrepreneur?

Gloria: I guess, when people talk about their entrepreneur stories, most of the time, it starts with a passion, a dream, or an idea. For me, it’s more of a journey of discovery.

I started my career as a management consultant at McKinsey & Co. in London and Singapore. During my time there, I had a real privilege to work with many people who were actually entrepreneurs. The thought of setting up my own business never occurred to me at the time but this probably planted the seed.

On weekends, I enjoyed watching Korean dramas. Initially, it was just for fun, and relaxation. Then, I thought it might be a good idea to pick up a new language skill so I began taking evening classes to learn Korean.

One thing led to another. After spending two years in Singapore, before returning to the UK, I made a ‘brave’ decision to go to Korea to sharpen my language skill and experience the Korean culture.I enrolled into a university language programme and spent 8 months in Seoul where I discovered, in addition to K-pop and K-dramas, there is this huge K-beauty industry.

After returning back to London, I started my research of K-beauty in the European market. After six-month preparation, we set up our online store with the hope to bring the Korean skin care philosophy to the UK and spark some joy in people’s skincare journeys.

HOC: Such an exciting journey! When did Melon & Starfish come into being? And what’s the meaning behind the name?

Gloria: We started preparing our online store around September 2017 and it went live in January 2018.

Our name, Melon & Starfish, symbolises our mission – to bring you high quality skincare products because we want you to have the best skin possible.

Melons are smooth, supple and resilient; Starfish are one of the only animals that can regenerate itself. We always have this imagery in mind when we select our products.

HOC: And how do you go about selecting your products, there must be tonnes of great ones out there!

Gloria: We purposefully seek out products that are natural, plant-based and packed with unique ingredients that are difficult to find anywhere else. We personally test all the products and learn what we love about these products before bringing them to our website.

HOC: I have to admit, I’m new to Korean beauty products! Where should I start?

Gloria: When I told my friends that I am now running an online K-beauty store, the first thing they reply: ah, I’ve heard of the 10-step routine! True, K-beauty made its name with the ’10-step’ routine. But the truth is, it’s much simpler than it sounds. If you ask me how many steps it should really be. I would say it’s really up you and how your skin feels. It should be adjusted to your own skin type, the climate you’re in or how busy your life is.

The essence of Korean Beauty is “skincare always comes first”. Start with taking care of your skin beforeeverything else. A classic Korean skin care routine includes: double-cleansing (both oil-based and water-based cleansers), toner, essence, moisturiser, and SPF.

The most essential steps out of all? Double-cleansing for the night and SFP for the day (and, yes! You need to wear SPF even on the rainy days).

After all, skincare should be fun; not a burden or a chore. It’s all about experimenting and finding out what’s best for you.

HOC: So interesting. As an expert, what is your favourite ingredient / product?

Gloria: My favourite product is Lan’s Tamanu Cream from the newest curation LANBELLE. It’s like a miracle cream that work for all skin types and it has the softest texture that I’ve ever encountered for a cream. The smell is quite unique, probably not for everyone’s taste but it grows on you.

The key ingredient of Lan’s Tamanu Cream is Tamanu oil (Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil). The precious Tamanu oil is extracted from the kernel of Tamanu fruit. Approximately only 5L of oil can be extracted from one tree of Tamanu.

Tamanu tree also has unique nickname: God’s tree, and Tamanu fruit is known as miraculously omnipotent fruit among natives who live in Pacific Islands area such as India, Vietnam, Southern Pacific Area, and it is known to promote wound healing and skin cell regeneration.

HOC: For our entrepreneurial readers, what advice do you have for them to start their own thing?

Gloria: I would say, just be brave and go ahead!

Many say you need to have a well-laid plan before you start. However, the reality is things always change, so does your plan. One of the most important things I learnt so far is to start with a small step, and then one step at the time. Many things can be learnt along the way.

Sometimes, the longer you wait, the less willing you become to take that first step.

HOC: What product you’ve brought to the UK means the most to you and why?

Gloria: The brand Olivarrier means the most to us. The name Olivarrier is the combination of ‘Oliva (latin for Olive)’ + ‘Skin Barrier’.

It is the very first brand we curated for our ‘clean beauty’ collection. The brand’s philosophy 100% matches with what we believe and look for in a skincare brand – i.e. with natural, plant-based ingredients, hypoallergenic, dermatologist-tested, vegan-certified, free of toxins, EWG-verified and cruelty-free. What more to ask?

Their star ingredients are the plant-based triple hyaluronic acid and 100% pure olive squalene. The ‘dual moist’ line is named with these two ingredients in mind.

HOC: How do you keep yourself motivated and on track?

Gloria: The Korean beauty industry is relatively fast moving – there are always new brands, new technology and innovationscoming out each year – so it never gets boring.We all love shopping.

Researching brands and products is like you get to go window shopping every day!

It is also quite fun to learn about those new, unique ingredients. For example, you probably heard of snail mucin which is great for moisturising; also, pearls for brightening, centella for soothing and calming, etc.Plus, we regularly travel to Korea to see what’s hot in their local market and, you get to eat amazing food there too!

HOC: Finally, if you ever have a creative block / funk; how do you get yourself out of it?

Gloria: Probably hit the gym or grab a coffee with my friends.

HOC:What does 2019 look like for Melon & Starfish? What plans do you have for the brand?

Gloria: In 2019 we have seen that consumers are becoming more considered when making their purchasing choices. People become more aware of topics such as climate change, food waste, etc.The once-a-niche concept of ‘clean beauty’ also has moved to the mainstream – we often hear that our customers are actively searching for skin care products that are vegan, natural, organic…

As people, we also care about this ‘one strange rock’ that we are living on. As a business, we will continue focusing on our ‘organic and natural’ collection this year – we are not only hunting for the brands/products with ‘clean’ ingredients but also ‘clean’ in packaging and manufacturing processes.

What an honourable mission!

To find out more about Melon & Starfish head over to MelonAndStarfish.com

Follow the brand on instagram @MelonAndStarfish

Australia November 9, 2023

Top five destinations for a hair transplant

If you’ve ever thought about getting a hair transplant, it’s likely you’ve looked at getting the procedure done in the UK. However, like most people, you’ve probably found that British hair transplant clinics are incredibly expensive. But there’s no need to panic as the work could still be affordable. This is because it’s far cheaper to get a hair transplant abroad, and there’s no need to worry about sacrificing quality or safety, either. With this in mind, here are the five top global destinations you can visit for a hair transplant.

#1 Turkey

Turkey is an incredibly popular destination with Brits who decide to head abroad for a hair transplant. In fact, figures from Turkey’s Foreign Economic Relations Board suggest that the country’s hair transplant industry was worth more than US$1 billion last year.

Brits love heading to Turkey for their hair transplants because the procedure is significantly cheaper. In fact, the latest figures from GetHair claim that it’s around 80% cheaper to get a hair transplant in Turkey than in the UK. Due to this, it’s unsurprising that 68% of the world’s hair transplant procedures are performed in the country. Actually, the procedures are so popular that the country is informally known as the ‘headquarters of hair transplants in the world’.

#2 South Korea

If you don’t mind venturing a little further afield, South Korea is also a great destination to visit for your procedure.

The country is actually known as ‘the world’s plastic-surgery capital’ because Seoul alone has more than 600 clinics – and more than 50,000 foreign patients received plastic surgery in the country in 2017 alone, according to The Korea Herald.

Although figures suggest that getting a hair transplant in South Korea is slightly more expensive than in Turkey, the procedure still costs less than half of what it would cost in the UK.

However, it’s important to know that most surgeons in South Korea don’t speak English. As a result, you may need to pay to have an interpreter accompany you for your procedure.

#3 Thailand

Thailand’s a destination that’s particularly popular with Australian, American and Canadian visitors because it’s significantly cheaper to get a hair transplant here than it is in these countries. However, it’s not much cheaper to get a transplant in Thailand than it is in the UK.

But, one of the main advantages of visiting Thailand for a hair transplant is that the country is a hub of innovation and technology. As a result, it’s a location where the surgeons are highly experienced and practice new techniques regularly.

As an added bonus, it’s also a fantastic place for a holiday, so you can stay for a few days after your surgery and enjoy the stunning views.

#4 Poland

If you’d rather stay in Europe than travel all the way to Asia, Poland is a great location for a hair transplant. Plus, its close proximity to the UK means it’s really easy to get cheap flights, which also brings the overall cost of the procedure down. In fact, due to the cheap flights and the general price policy in the country, it’s actually cheaper to get a hair transplant in Poland than it is in Turkey.

Like Thailand, Poland is also a country that’s renowned for its innovative techniques. In fact, many clinics in the country use the innovative ARTAS robot to complete FUE hair transplants. These machines are so advanced that they’re even more accurate than skilled surgeons. The machines have precision-focused technology that helps them select only the highest-quality hair follicles to replenish thinning scalps. By helping the surgeon, they also make the procedure quicker and less painful.

#5 Lithuania

Finally, Lithuania takes fifth position on our list. As a real up-and-coming destination, Lithuania flies a little under the radar with potential hair transplant patients. However, its facilities are well worth investigating because they achieve excellent results and employ many of the latest technologies.

In addition to this, hair transplant prices in Lithuania are among the lowest in Europe. Plus, the cost of living over in Lithuania is also low, meaning it’s cheap to enjoy your break while you’re out there, too. Similar to this, like with Poland, the country’s close proximity to the UK also means it’s easy to get cheap flights. This brings down the cost of the operation even further.

If you choose one of these five destinations for your hair transplant, you’re likely to receive a quality service at an affordable price. However, before you commit to a clinic in another country, you should do your research – sadly, black-market operators do try to lure in customers. So, before you book your appointment, make sure you inspect the qualifications of the surgeons they use and check their independent reviews. This way, you can rest assured you’ve chosen a provider you can trust.

Empire of Japan November 9, 2023

South Korea’s Sports Broadcast in Online Platforms

Sports is one of the many things that South Korea excels in. South Korean citizens love sports so much that their country has been the perfect example of having sports nationalism. Sports nationalism is a complex social phenomenon where citizens are brought in harmony and have developed collective solidarity towards the country due to sports. Some of the most popular and loved sports in Korea include football, baseball, basketball, volleyball, and archery. These are also the sports wherein South Koreans are known to perform well.

Thanks to media and sports broadcasting, people had access through their televisions and radios to follow their favourite sports and teams through the years. They have become one of the foundations of sports nationalism in the country. It has become part of their culture. Watching through televisions in homes or tea rooms is a communal experience in South Korea. When people travel to the country, the conversation on sports will often, if not always, come up. With the advancement of technology, sports broadcasting has also innovated, grown, and reached online platforms.

Over-the-Top Media

Over-the-top pertains to any streaming service that people can access through the Internet. Without installing cables or purchasing satellite TVs, you get to watch sporting events with just your mobile device and Internet connection. The progress that the media has had over the years can also be linked to smartphones’ innovation. From communication to entertainment, smartphones have been the most useful and now the most necessary all-in-one device.

South Korean Sports Broadcasting in Over-the-Top Media

Through the years, South Koreans have followed and devotedly watched games, sporting events, and their favourite teams and players through sports broadcasting channels and giants such as Mt-Police, KBC, MBC, and more. Now online platforms such as OTTs, viewership from traditional media has declined.

Some of the reasons why people have opted to watch streams on OTT Platforms are:

There are no ads.
You don’t have to depend on cables; just your mobile device and internet connection.
Data transparency in OTT platforms is better.
The audience is more engaged.
OTT content can be enjoyed wherever and whenever.

With the steady decline of viewership in channels such as MBC, KBS, SBS, and more, some are gradually entering into a merger or partnership with OTT Platforms. This can be considered a strategic move as these broadcasting giants have already been incurring losses to OTT platforms. Not only do OTTs stream sports, but they have also gotten into news, Kdramas, and movies. This is why broadcasting channels are on a lookout for OTTs with some, as mentioned, merging with them.

There are various online platforms other than OTTs. Some websites also live stream sporting events. However, online websites and OTTs are not highly regulated by the government. These platforms can be avenues of illegal gamblings. Although South Korea has an established Sports Toto where people can bet, there are illicit and fraudulent websites run by mafias. To help you avoid these risky and dangerous platforms, websites and services like 사설토토 슈어맨 can help you identify and verify which are safe Sports Toto playgrounds. They also provide you with the latest sports information and have sports analysis experts to guide you through betting and winning.

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.

South Korea November 9, 2023

Your Secret to Vacation Ready Skin

The weather is finally warming up and it’s time to start planning those summer vacations. Whether you’re planning a beach vacation or a sightseeing tour of New Orleans, there’s one thing you can count… There will be lots and lots of photos. It seems like cameras are everywhere when you’re on vacation. Thankfully, there’s still time to get your skin selfie-ready so that you can look and feel beautiful when those cameras come out. So, what’s the secret to vacation ready skin? A Korean skincare routine!

Korean women have become famous all around the world for their glowing, smooth skin. Their skin just radiates with youth and vitality. Korean women are serious about their skincare, and their routines often involve 10 steps or more. The good news is, the routine can be customized to suit your skin and lifestyle. You don’t have to do all 10 steps every day. If you want to put your best face forward on your summer vacation, K-Beauty products are the best way to get there!

10 Steps to Vacation Ready Skin

Steps One and Two: Double Cleansing

A Korean skin care routine starts with a double cleanse. Two cleansers are used, and they each have a different purpose. The first cleanser is usually an oil-based cleanser or cleansing balm that completely breaks down makeup, oil, dirt, and sunscreen without unnecessary tugging or scrubbing that can cause fine lines. The second cleanser should be a water-based cleanser that removes any remaining residue that was left behind after oil cleansing.

Step Three: Toner

If you’ve been hesitant to use a toner because you think they’re too harsh and drying, you will be pleasantly surprised by Korean toners. Korean toners are made from gentle, botanical ingredients meant to hydrate the skin and balance its pH after cleansing. To select the best toner for your skin, look for one that is formulated for your skin type. Toners can provide a great opportunity to for customizing your skincare routine because there’s a formulation out there for just about any skin care goal.

Step Four: Essence

If you’re new to Korean skincare, you may not have heard of essences before. Essences are unique products that are meant to hydrate and plump the skin so that other treatments can be absorbed more easily. They also contain active ingredients that will leave your skin looking more youthful and dewy, and that’s the look we’re all going for!

Step Five: Serums

Serums are a crucial part of any Korean skincare routine, and there are formulas made to address any skin care concern, so they provide another opportunity for customization. Using a serum after your essence provides an opportunity to target skin concerns like hyperpigmentation, loss of elasticity, and wrinkles with ultra-concentrated, active ingredients. The right serum can be life-changing for dry, dehydrated skin. In fact, many Korean women layer more than one serum to target specific issues. If you decide to layer your serums, start with the thinnest product and work your way up to the thickest. Don’t be afraid to add or take away treatments according to how your skin looks and feels that day.

Step Six: Moisturizers

Moisturizers are applied next. Start with a moisturizer that’s formulated especially for the eye area. This delicate area shows signs of aging first, so K-Beauty brands have created products that target issues like dryness, dark circles, and fine lines. Eye treatments that contain Vitamin E, licorice, rosehip seed oil, and argon oil can produce dramatic results in this are when used regularly.

An all over face moisturizer is the next step. Its job is to lock in moisture and keep all the active ingredients in your treatments from evaporating away instead of being absorbed into the skin. Look for a formula that’s meant for your skin type and choose a light-weight formula for daytime and a heavier formula for nighttime. There’s a product out there for every skin type, whether you’re acne prone, oily, dry, sensitive, or aging.

Step Seven: Sunscreen

Korean women are all about preventing issues before they start, so sunscreen is a crucial part of their skin care regimens. It should be the last step of your skincare routine each morning because it prevents sun damage and skin cancer. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends applying an SPF 15 or higher sunscreen to all exposed skin before you head outside. If you have limited time in the morning, you can use a moisturizer or foundation that has SPF built in.

Step Eight: Exfoliating

Korean skincare brands use botanical and fruit extract for exfoliating the skin gently, without scrubbing or harsh abrasives. This is a crucial step because it removes dead surface skin so that your other treatments can be absorbed better and young, fresh skin can be exposed. For best results, exfoliate your skin two or three times each week.

Step Nine: Sheet Masks

Sheet masks can have a huge impact on how your skin looks and feels. You can use a sheet mask every day, or just once a week, depending on how much time you have to devote to skin care. Be sure to keep a variety of sheet masks on hand so that you can choose one based on your skin’s needs that day. Sheet masks contain concentrated, active ingredients, like serums, but they’re more targeted for maximum impact.

Step Ten: Sleep Masks

And, finally, the last step you won’t want to miss out on is a sleep mask. These genius products are applied right before bed, so they can work their magic while you sleep. If you want to brighten or tighten your skin or provide intense hydration, you need a sleep mask. They can be used at night as often as you like, in place of your nighttime moisturizer.

If you’re planning a getaway this summer, now’s the time to kick your skincare routine into high gear. That way, you have glowing, gorgeous skin in all your vacation photos!

Australia November 9, 2023

#GirlBossesofGreatBritain : Changing career paths & falling in love with whisky with Alwynne Gwilt, Brand Ambassador for Balvenie

One of the greatest joys that #TeamCoco get out of interviewing great business women is the motivation that you don’t have to have it all planned out and that following your interests and getting your hustle on can get you to amazing – and unexpected – places.

Today’s interviewee Alwynne Gwilt started out listening in to police scanners for scoops at a national newspaper in Toronto and is currently a brand ambassador for Balvenie whisky based in London. Along the way she shifted her aversion to whisky from the spirit that gave her terrible hangovers from drinking on the beach at uni (!) to a love of the beautiful, nuanced and exciting spirit she knows it is today….

HOC: Hey Alwynne! We especially love speaking with businesswomen with interesting and varied backgrounds and yours certainly is – what brought you to the UK from Canada?

Alwynne: So my background is very different to what I do today… I started working in broadcast journalism in my home country of Canada when I was 16 and then went off to study broadcast journalist. I had the full intention to sticking around the journalism industry for the rest of my career and started working for national newspapers in Toronto and then moved to the UK in 2007 with the intention of staying for just a year. I’d moved over on a freelance contract and, at that time, being paid in Canadian dollars but living in London wasn’t the smartest way to do business!

I promptly got a job in financial journalism which is not my background at all. I ended up at an Insurance Magazine just before the crash and it was crazy and lavish – it was like ‘let’s go to Paris for lunch!’ very strange and such a different journalism world to Canada where that’s DEFINITELY not allowed…

HOC: Sounds pretty crazy! And where does the whisky come in?

Alwynne: Long story short, in this insurance company, I ended up going along to a whisky tasting in Soho as so many people in the financial world drink whisky. I was very anti-whisky and thought it was this horrible, disgusting liquid and I really didn’t want anything to do with it.

At this event I was totally blown away! It’s so great to look back and remember that moment when I was really taken aback – it doesn’t happen that often in life! I left the tasting and decided I wanted to get a bottle and it kind of went from there with friends buying me interesting whiskies for my birthday, I really got into it.

A couple of years later, I decided I’d had it with the investment world and decided to go freelance. I remember going to a food blogging workshop, and this was back in 2011 when nobody really had a clue what a blog was. I didn’t want to become a blogger – I was a journalist! – but when I got chatting to a food editor at The Guardian he recommended that that I needed to start a blog, so that I could start pitching articles about whisky. So I started a test blog called ‘Gwilty Pleasures’ – a riff on my surname – all about food, drink and travel just to try it out. I took a break from work and headed to Costa Rica for a few months and while I was there I formalised this idea I’d had in my head to blog specifically about whisky. When I came back, I started Miss Whisky (MissWhisky.com) and that’s really where it all kicked off!

HOC: Is the whisky industry the boys club I’d imagine that it is?

Alwynne: Not really! When I started my blog there weren’t any females writing specifically about whisky in the UK market but there have always been females involved in the creation of whisky. Industry people always ask me if it was intimidating getting involved as a younger female and do you know what, I always found the industry so welcoming. The only reason I ended up learning so much, so quickly was because I’d meet people at a show and when I followed up with them they said ‘yeh, sure why don’t you come and visit?’ . I never felt that I wasn’t part of the club and no-one wanted to talk to me. I think, from my journalism work, I have a brain that’s interested in so many things and I love to ask questions, I think that was appreciated!

HOC: Before we go any further – I have to admit – while I enjoy a whisky cocktail from time to time – I have no idea what is the difference between a whiskey with an ‘e’ – and one without!

Alwynne: I help you with that! With an E is generally Irish and American and pretty much everybody else doesn’t use an E and there’s various debates about why that came about. One story is that, back when Dublin used to produce more whisky than Scotland, they decided to put their stamp on the spirit and add an E – clearly marking which whiskey was the spirit of Dublin.

HOC: Ah that wasn’t as complicated as I thought! What’s happening in the whisky / whiskey industry at the moment and what should we look out for?

Alwynne: We’re seeing a proliferation of start ups, like we’ve seen in gin. Now when you go to a bar you see the gin list and have no idea where to begin – I don’t even bother trying to keep up with it! But the reality is that whisky takes a lot longer than gin so it’ll take a few years for things to really change.

There’s more and more whisky companies coming through which is interesting and we’re seeing lots more family owned businesses. There’s also some great things happening in world whiskies. Like a few years ago when people got really excited about Japanese whiskies, there are loads of places to look out for. Tasmania and Tawain and India and Africa…. it could easily get a bit overwhelming!

HOC: What a dream – combining travel and interesting whiskies! Where’s the most amazing place you’ve visited in the search for great whisky?

Alwynne: It’s funny but one of the first distilleries I visited was Balvenie in Speyside when the then brand ambassador brought some bloggers to see it! It was such a memorable visit, in the heartland of the Scottish whisky industry – there’s around 50 distilleries in that area. I really fell in love with Scotland through my blog when I’d pootle around the west coast to visit distilleries. I never got to drink anything on site though, as I was driving but I’d be taking my little bottles to get samples to drink in my hotel! Scotland reminds me of Canada, it’s very open and people are super friendly – really welcoming and the landscape is incredible.

The Mackmyra distillery in Sweden is so fascinating. It’s in the woods and is gravity fed which means that no energy is used. The whisky is matured in war time bunkers underground! You drive into the distillery and there’s all these signs almost warning you about a nuclear disaster. It a former bomb creating space and now they use it to store their whisky?! They’ve also got a female master distiller – Angela D’Orazio. They are really cool.

I’m dying to go to Tasmania, there are 8 distilleries there which you wouldn’t expect and it’s like a mini Scotland in the way the land sits – lots of mountains and water… There are so many beautiful stories. For the people who work at these places, this is their way of life and they don’t always realise the impact that their work has down the line, often on a far flung country. It’s fascinating when you think about all this spirit that has been maturing in warehouses goes all around the world and all the time and history and knowledge that goes into it. It’s really quite beautiful.

HOC: I always remember that Parks & Recreation episode where Ron gets to visit the remote Lagavulin distillery on the isle of Islay and gets super emotional…

Alwynne: YES! I was so excited when I saw that episode. I’m a big fan, I bought my other half a t-shirt that said ‘This is LITERALLY the best t-shirt’! Haha!

HOC: If someone fancied themselves a Ron Swanson (!) and wanted to try getting into whisky, what advice would you have for them? I’ve found it’s too often passed off as a ‘man’s drink’, whatever that means and it can seem intimidating for women?

Alwynne: So strange, I mean why is a certain flavour thought of as ‘manly’, whatever that means?! In fact, flavours are the key to finding a whisky you like. I got two of my best friends into whisky and I had it in my head that they’d only like the lighter ones as they’d never really tried whisky before. But, after some experimenting, it was the peaty, punchy ones they loved. They’d always prefer savoury food over sweet and loved smokey flavours – why wouldn’t that be the drinks they’d prefer as well? There’s so many ways to enjoy whisky – some great cocktails out there and some great options to try at home, which is becoming more popular.

HOC: Whisky can be seen as an expensive thing to get into, do you have any tips for House of Coco readers?

Alwynne: That can be true but there’s a lot of time and work that goes into whisky as opposed to other spirits and you’re not likely to get through a bottle too quickly! Generally, independent bottlers like That Boutique-y Whisky Company will be great value and really high quality – they release great bottles with really funky cartoony artwork. In all, there’s a growing trend to drink less but drink better and people are spending a bit more on spirits.

It’s always worth keeping an eye out at Christmas on places like Aldi! Every year, they bring out old whiskies insanely cheaply. Last year, for the first time, they’d bottled an old Irish whisky… I’m usually so late to the party on new releases but, for the first time ever, I read the article on the day this whisky became available. I discovered it was available online so snapped up two bottles I was dubious as it was so reasonable priced and it was so good. Two days later I came back home, after few cocktails, and bought two more bottles online before it sold out!

HOC: It must be so strange for you, looking back on your career and where you’ve got to…?

Alwynne: Definitely! I mean, I’ve now been a full-time employee of Balvenie for a year and a half and before that spent time working across the William Grant brands. I still have my blog, Miss Whisky, which is so important to me as it’s my roots!

It’s been a very different career path than I expected. My dad has been very happy, he’s got a lot of whisky over the years! One of the best things was when I did the opening tasting at the Victoria Whisky Festival in Canadawhich is right by where my Dad lives so he got to come along. It was one of those moments of thinking – ‘this is the most random thing!’ When I left home at 17 for journalism school, this is not where I thought I was going but it was so nice to almost bring it home….see, it all makes sense now! I totally knew what I was doing the whole time!

With that inspirational thought, we went off on a tangent about in-the-know bars in Seoul in South Korea and how Netflix could commission a series like ‘Nailed It’ based on making cocktails. But it would likely be a bit too messy!

To find out more about Alwynne’s work head to her blog MissWhisky.com

Australia June 5, 2022

Eight new London restaurants we’re checking out this summer

Summer is the season for al fresco – but it’s also when the London restaurant scene comes to life. While there seems to be an endless, ever-changing roster of cool restaurants in London town, we’ve rounded the top five most new London restaurants openings so you can get your reservations in order this summer.

Laurel’s On The Roof: Shoreditch

With its doors officially opened on Thursday 5th May, Laurel’s On The Roof is London’s newest and most laid-back rooftop restaurant, bar and pool. Located at the Mondrian Shoreditch, Laurel’s is inspired by 1970s Hollywood and the legacy of Laurel Canyon in Los Angeles. Who/What is Laurel’s you say? – Laurel’s is an all-dining and drinking hotspot infused with glamour and offering London’s most sought-after tables. This effortless rooftop spot is the epitome of laidback California cool and takes diners on an exploration of Los Angeles. Laurel’s offers an evolving all-day, highly seasonal menu, the perfect spot to while away long summer evenings whilst overlooking the bustling Shoreditch neighbourhood. A London restaurant to hit up this summer.

Riding House: Bloomsbury

On 8 June, Notting Hill will welcome its new neighbourhood spot. Riding House Bloomsbury is the long-awaited second iteration of Fitzrovia’s Riding House Café from restaurateur Adam White. This casual bistro-style restaurant had a successful soft launch on 25th May and is set to be a lively modern brasserie with a members’ club-like atmosphere. We’re sure Riding House will add to Bloomsbury’s burgeoning reputation as the latest dining hotspot.

Riding House Bloomsbury’s all-day dining style menus will be cooked up by Chef Partner Henry Omereye. The menu is international, contemporary and unfussy, with Afro-Caribbean and Asian influences throughout. Riding House Bloomsbury is located in Bloomsbury’s The Brunswick Centre, a listed, Brutalist piece of architecture with interiors contrasting the stark exterior with an inviting interior. Surely this will become one of your new favourite London restaurants.

Mr. Fogg’s Apothecary Mayfair

Mr Fogg’s Apothecary is opening a much-awaited new location in Mayfair. Located on Brook Street directly opposite Claridge’s, the elegant new venue will transport you into Phileas Fogg’s wonderfully eccentric world. The bar will be stocked to the rafters with an extensive apothecary collection, with precise weighing scales on hand to measure out the perfect cocktail serves, perfect for cocktail connoisseurs.

The main drawing room was inspired by an elegant Mayfair townhouse with grandfather clocks, large armchairs and sofas to create a comfortable space to encourage visitors to settle in for the evening. With its separate entrance is the Elixir Room which houses 24 Hennessy cabinets, each with its unique key locks which will be gifted to lucky regulars to house their bottles of spirits within. This cosy backroom has three large wallpapered booths which offer a perfect place to hide away and sample Fogg’s most restorative tipple – what a fantastical place for after-work drinks.

Walmer Castle: Notting Hill

After being reimagined as a contemporary Scottish restaurant and dedicated whisky bar, Notting Hill dining and drinking institution the Walmer Castle has officially opened its doors. Walmer Castle was relaunched in collaboration with Scotland’s oldest whisky hotel, the Craigellachie Hotel. The Walmer Castle is inspired by the uniquely restorative, mineral-rich waters of the River Spey twinned with the eclectic nature of London’s Westbourne Grove. Entrepreneur and hotelier extraordinaire Piers Adam is at the helm of Walmer Castle which serves as a local’s local and captures the essence of Scotland within the neighbourhood. Walmer Castle spans two floors with a ground floor dining room and bar serving exceptional modern highland cuisine and the first floor Spey Bar with over 400 of the world’s finest whiskies.

Cellar: Hammersmith

Located on the ground floor of the private member’s club Kindred, Cellar recently opened its doors the heart of Hammersmith. Cellar boasts a fabulous menu crafted by acclaimed chef Andrew Clarke, whose signature style is instantly recognisable in an ingredient-led and micro-seasonal all-day menu. Cellar showcases an eclectic range of dishes that celebrate the arrival of Spring produce, using the highest quality local meat, fish and seasonal vegetables.

Open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner and with a gorgeous summer terrace, guests can while away the hours whilst feasting on dish highlights such as Fried cod cheeks with harissa mayo and lemon, Celeriac schnitzel with cavolo nero and wild mushrooms and Korean spiced tartare of Dexter beef served with straw chips. Expert mixologist Julian de Feral has created the cocktail menu which offers crowd favourites like the Kindred Spritz, blending Everleaf Forest aperitif, Bonanto cherry aperitif, peach, jasmine soda and sparkling wine and the West 6 Buttered Up.

The Act: Notting Hill

The Act is now open, serving up an all-singing, all-dancing programme of live entertainment and cocktails – seven nights a week. Located in the heart of Notting Hill Gate’s vibrant neighbourhood, you’re guaranteed an unforgettable night out, with performances from The Act’s talented team, as well as appearances from stars of the West End stage. The Act team will spontaneously serenade you with 80’s – 00’s crowd pleasers. Expect nightly flash-mob-style performances of musical favourites such as: Grease, ABBA and The Greatest Showman. Who said show tunes were limited to the West End.

The Umbrella Workshop: Shoreditch

The team behind our favourite East London bars The Sun Tavern and Discount Suit Company recently opened the doors to their third venue, The Umbrella Workshop. Located on a cobbled lane just off Boundary Street and housed in a C19th atelier, the Umbrella Workshop team have carefully restored the space to offer an interactive cocktail experience. The bar is set against an impressive, floor-to-ceiling display of spirits which include locally made and independent brands, as well as bartender favourites and rare whiskies.

Umbrella Workshop also hosts tastings and workshops, with everything on the menu available to buy and take home. With just 12 seats inside and the same outside, this intimate drinking spot is a hidden gem amongst bustling Shoreditch and perfectly located for pre-dinner cocktails before heading off to local favourites, Brat, St John and Rochelle Canteen.

Alice’s Oyster Bar and Gallery: Bishopgate

City institution Boisdale of Bishopsgate recently opened its new art exhibition and oyster concept, ‘Alice’s Oyster Bar and Gallery’. Blending a stunning marble-topped bar with a characterful gallery of contemporary art, Alice’s features work from some of the most talented up-and-coming artists living and working in London. Alice’s Oyster Bar and Gallery also offers some of London’s finest oysters, a generous array of bar snacks and dishes charged with a taste of Boisdale’s Scotland sitting alongside a creative cocktail menu and a range of outstanding artisan beers from Hawkshead Brewery. Art and oysters? What’s not to love?

Austria May 2, 2022

#SuccessWorldwide : The pioneers of Nordic tea culture with PLŪKT

As avid travellers here at House of Coco magazine, when we stumbled across PLŪKT tea and their tea sachets that are perfect for travel, we were hooked. Their tea is popular amongst our team which lead to intrigue, just who IS behind this brand?

The brand has introduced the world to herbal teas from the meadows and forests of Northern Europe and PLŪKT proudly call themselves the pioneers of Nordic tea culture.

We spent some time with the founder Mara Lieplapa to find out more…

Tell us about the journey that lead you to launching PLŪKT…

My family always encouraged to follow my own path, try as many things as possible and use my talents. So this entrepreneurial mindset was encouraged from early days, also in school we received lots of support to starting our own student businesses. So my first one was when I was 14 years old – I made grain pillows (all organic and from natural materials) which could be warmed up and later on used to relief joint pains and headaches. Also then the motivation and mission was quite similar to that of PLŪKT – bring joy, comfort and build something meaningful and beneficial. When I started university I was actively looking for my own business idea – attending all the conferences I could possibly attend, taking part in student competitions, trade shows, events, gatherings. All the places where I could meet entrepreneurs, have inspiration and contacts. I also used every opportunity to do exchange studies (in Sweden, Austria), so I gathered quite some international network, too. I had a chance to attend exchange trip to China where I visited their local “Silicon valley” in Beijing. I was amazed by all the startup ecosystem and innovations they are building. However, a few blocks away there was this very traditional tea market there. And suddenly all the dots and questions connected – what if I could create a Nordic tea culture by building brand which acts in a startup-like manner? It would allow me to connect my love for nature and purpose with fast-growing, innovative startup ecosystem. In fact, my mother has a wide knowledge of Northern European herbs and I thoughts that this is a resource that we already have in order to start a science-based company. After coming back, we started to create branding and design for PLŪKT. I was then 21 year old.

Also, I have always been passionate about international environment so it was my mission to build export-oriented brand. Today, PLŪKT exports 70% of products.

Being a sustainable brand is at the forefront of what you do, why was this important to you?

I grew up in a family where both parents are related to environmental sciences and nature preservation. Since we were kids, my sibling and I were always taught to take care of nature, find our peace and passion there. We spent incredible amount of time in nature. It seemed such a common sense back then, but in reality it was a privilege knowing how many people in the world have never seen such natural wilderness that we experienced from early age. Of course, this respect for nature has been within me since then and while I was looking for my business idea I had this ultimatum – I want to build something that benefits people and nature. Not to build just another thing in the world which will end up somewhere. I wanted to show the love for wilderness and nature through PLŪKT, at the same time raising awareness of biodiversity in Northern Europe and why it matters to preserve it. PLŪKT branding and design reflects exactly that. People fancy it and they are loving the message. I believe people don’t want to hurt something that they love or fancy, therefore there is a hope that they won’t harm nature either.

How do you want people to feel when they drink your tea?

First of all, joy, pure joy. I want them to feel connected with their authentic self, take it as a moment for themselves or for something that has high meaning in their lives. We are all so busy being busy that oftentimes do not prioritize enough the beautiful authenticity that lies within each and every one of us. We hope that PLŪKT tea time encourages to open up to ourselves for exploration. We love to see people taking PLŪKT with them to their favourite activities – be that a hiking trip, a travel, an on-the-go morning while living “big city life moment”, yoga class, meetup with friends and most importantly when surprising someone with this nourishing gift. Just like in nature, no two flowers or leaves are the same, so aren’t people. Wildlife inspired us to build authentic brand, therefore we hope that people feel this connection with nature while having a cuppa.

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

I would be louder (as in, less shy). Being rather an introverted person, I would oftentimes be seen as “the quite one” while in reality I had so much to say! Ultimately, it turned out into PLŪKT. As a young entrepreneur, it was always a challenge to gain recognition, gain respect and oftentimes society labeled “the loud ones” as those who are most impactful and have achieved something in their lives. Meanwhile, I was building PLŪKT in solitude and up to date am still cherishing the fact that my actions speak louder than words.

Also, I wish I have learned to ask for help and advice much more earlier. It would have saved me lots of time and some money, too.

Who’s involved in the business and what are their roles?

Co-founder Līga is responsible for all the science behind herbs and tea. She is our tea Master and holds the knowledge of benefits of herbal teas and comes up with new tea blends. She is also my mother and we make a good team, however we are not the typical family business. We encourage and are constantly looking for new talents to join our team. We have superpeople for social media, hard-working and accurate ladies working in manufacturing. And let’s not forget those over 30 family-owned farms who are supplying certified-organic herbs from wild meadows and forests.

Talk us through an average day in your life…

I wake up at 6-6:30am. I do a quick workout and stretching for about 20 minutes to get my body going. On Sunday nights I make a schedule for the upcoming week, however I am leaving Mondays as very flexible. I notice that on Mondays there are so many events suddenly coming up that can change the whole plans in instant. First part of the day is very productive for me so I work on the long-term plans at this time of the day. I have relatively late lunch, around 2pm, but I always eat wholesome and rich breakfast. Perhaps my favourite meal of the day. In the afternoon I love to change my working environment and choose to work from home, from a café or coworking space. Since I started my MBA studies in Finland, I have been traveling between Finland and Latvia quite often. And honestly, the more I am on the go, the more I get done because there is no time to overthink or expand too much in your texts. In office, it might feel otherwise. Afternoons are for meetings and lighter tasks. I would do some project visualisations, mood boards and creative activities. I end my work day around 4pm. Then I go for some hobbies – hiking, climbing, running, dancing or going for a cake with friends. Give a call or face time my family. Have a dinner and some me time, which could include reading, journaling, visualization and just thinking. I leave some room for spontaneity and if I notice a nice concert or event happening right now, chances are that I will go for it. Often I have late evening Zoom calls with business partners in US or likewise very early ones with partners located in Asia. I love this dynamics.

Do you plan on expanding the range in the future to offer more than tea?

We are already experimenting with different cold drinks where PLŪKT tea is used as a basis. Also we work on tea ware collection and development of other accessories relevant to tea.

What do you do when you are lacking creativity?

I get very active and sporty. I have always had so much energy and when I don’t feel creative I just know that my energy has been piled up for a while and just asks for release. I love climbing, hiking, running. Part of my love will always belong to dancing which was the second option of mine when I was thinking of career path. Oftentimes if I really need to come with something, but nothing amazing is coming up I go with “done is better than perfect”. The thing is, through these 3-4 years with PLŪKT I have learned to trust myself a lot and I am sure that creativity will come as soon as I start working on the task. I love what I am doing so naturally I want it to work out as good as possible. One thing I can tell for sure, tasks regarding administration, bureaucracy etc. definitely are decreasing my levels of creativity and therefore I schedule days just for these ones, so they would not interrupt creative parts of the business too much.

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

A lot, most of the media has deepened their connection with our story through social media.

What is your go-to quote when lacking motivation?

“If you sell the excitement, you sell the jet.” I remember hearing this in one of the conferences about 5-6 years ago. I was thinking to myself – yeah, resource-wise, I really don’t have much to offer at the moment as a student. But I do have a time, enthusiasm and energy! Sometimes that is all it takes to go from 0 to 10, especially when lacking motivation. Getting excited for how much you have done already and enthusiastic for the upcoming journey. It is charming and this kind of energy attracts.

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

Since I can remember, Nepal and hiking Everest basecamp has been on my bucket list. And fortunately this is another dream that will come true later this year! Now my next dream destinations are Cancun in Mexico, New Zealand, South Korea and Chile.

What does self care mean to you?

It means saying “no” to things that are not of use AND are not bringing me joy. These days it is easy to get lost in all the requests and needs of others. Self care is remembering to prioritizing your values and your time.

Self care is taking time off without waiting for breakdown. It is about scheduling your hobbies, quality time with friends and family just the way you schedule your daily work tasks.

One of my personal favourite self care activity is baking cakes and making pastries in combination with a hike later in day.

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

Still ad the pioneers of Nordic tea culture and hosting international tea mastercups in our tea house in Madona region, Latvia. We are a recognized player in tea world. By then, Nordic Black tea – caffeine free alternative to black tea made from wild Fireweed herb – has become the thing and becoming the standard in tea world. I see that there are over 300 certified organic farms joining our supplier network in order to protect biodiversity of Northern Europe.

Where can people find out more?

Website www.plukttea.com

Our Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, TikTok @plukttea

We have retailers and distributors in 18 countries so feel free to reach out and learn where is the closest place to have a cup of PLŪKT tea.

Afternoon Tea February 19, 2022

A stylish Afternoon Tea with Balmain at Sofitel London St James

Sofitel London St James has teamed up with Balmain and Z2 Comics to celebrate the new Balmain Dreams OR book with a Fashion Afternoon Tea. Team Coco Fashion Editor Hannah Tan-Gillies attended the exclusive media preview to check out the US$50,000 Balmain Dreams 10: OR edition, which celebrates Olivier Rousteing’s most iconic runway creations in the last decade.

The Afternoon Tea is served in the hotel’s stylish Rose Lounge from and is available from 3 February to 3 March. To celebrate the occasion, the Rose Lounge has been decked out in striking illustrations from the Balmain Book, which is currently on a world tour with Z2 Comics and Sofitel. Balmain Dreams OR is available via digital tablets at the lounge, but we got to see the striking US$50,000 Balmain suitcase and some of the iconic Balmain pieces that were featured, in vibrant colour, on the pages of the book.

Crafted by Head Pastry Chef Jamie Warley, the Fashion Afternoon Tea connects guests with the traditional French flavours in homage to the heritage of Balmain Creative Director Olivier Rousteing. Much like Olivier moves away from classic runway tropes, so does Sofitel’s Fashion Afternoon Tea move away from classic finger sandwiches.

Pastries inspired by Olivier’s bold and colourful runway creations

Instead, it offers delicious savoury dishes like leek and potato soup, pulled pork gyoza with soya and ginger and truffle Gougères. The sweet courses, of which the Citrus Choux Bun, Praline and Caramel Delice and Cappuccino Macaron were all highlights, were inspired thematically by Rousteing’s sketches in the book.

Sofitel St James is the first hotel to host the Fashion Afternoon Tea which will be moving to other Sofitel locations in Dubai, Singapore and Seoul.

The Fashion Afternoon Tea will be served from Thursday to Monday in the Rose Lounge, 12pm to 4pm, from 3rd Feb to 3rd Mar at £55 per person or £65 per person including a glass of Champagne. To book, please visit The Rose Lounge at Sofitel London St James.