Being by the sea gives me a little pep in my step. The air is crisper, the food is fresher, and there's just something really soothing about hearing the constant crashing of waves. With the UK's gloom and grey stigma, beaches aren't exactly the first thing people think of - but if my trip to Brighton in January taught me anything it's that English seaside towns in their dormant state might just be my favourite. Without further ado, here's my St. Ives story time + photo dump...
eats & treats
Snapshots // St. Ives.
Monday, November 9, 2015 • Cornwall, eats & treats, England, St. Ives, travel
Borough Market.
Monday, October 19, 2015 • eats & treats, England, London
When you're with a group of friends or you simply can't make up your mind about what type of cuisine you're craving, snacking your way through food market stalls is hard to beat. Borough Market is one of the biggest and best that London offers to suit just about any craving for breakfast, second breakfast, or lunch, and it's conveniently a hop and a skip away from the London Bridge tube station.
Scents of offerings with local and far away origins float through the air and you can hear people excitedly remarking to their comrades about the duck confit sandwich they just had, shutterbugs squeeze their arm through the crowds to snap the perfect shot of a stack of football sized cookies, and vendors call out to offer you a free sample. You can spot everything from fresh fruit to octopus to cider.
There's something for just about everyone, and I could spend hours weaving my way through the various rows and sampling as much as possible. The highlight of my nibbles from this particular morning was definitely the scotch egg I picked up from the Scotchtails stall.
After you've snacked enough for about 5 meals, you're in the perfect spot to walk across London Bridge north of the river for more mooching around the East London. Spitalfields is only a 30 minute trek away through the City, so you can knock out food, history, and shopping all in one Saturday!
Get the opening time details and latest news here
What's your favourite food market?
@ Londoners: Is the queue at Monmouth Coffee actually worth it?
Belgravia Bakes + Bubbles.
Wednesday, October 14, 2015 • eats & treats, England, London
Remember a few years ago when cupcakes became super trendy and it was impossible to turn the corner without bumping into a new shop or seeing a new recipe on Pinterest? While the proliferation of delicious baked goods is fine with me as I have a major sweet tooth, I definitely feel like the quality of certain treats go down when they suddenly become popular. Enter: plain flavours, grainy icing, and uninspired designs. I had really gone off them the past few years other than the occasional bite at a birthday party.
Recently, a friend from the states I interned with a few years ago with hopped across the pond for a quick weekend visit. Our first order of business was to find a snack to help fight off her jet lag and my exhaustion from catching a ridiculously early train to London, and of course to catch up with each other as over two years had somehow passed since we last saw each other! She led me to a cupcake shop that she had been itching to try after seeing it raved about on a blog or two, and I was in no position to turn down sugar at this point so I put aside my opinions on cupcake shops and cheerfully obliged. We took advantage of the beautifully sunny and crisp October weather and moseyed our way from Sloane Square up into Belgravia.
Also, JD happens to be an extremely talented photographer which is why photos from her trip on here will be stunning and I'll actually be in some of them for a change! Check out her website here if you are in the South Carolina area and in need of beautiful photos and follow her on Instagram here. Her feed is dreamy and I say that in the most un-biased fashion although I'm totally biased towards the human behind them.
Obviously any photos in this post that I am physically in were not taken by me, all credits to JD! It was a fun (and weird) change to be on the other side of the lens, although I was reminded just how awkward I am when the tables are turned.
Still refusing to believe that she had just completed 7+ hours of traveling!
Walking through some of the wealthiest and most picturesque neighbourhoods in London, we were met with a blinding block of pink against the monochrome homes lining the roads.
Peggy Porschen Parlour arrived to Belgravia 5 years ago, although the company was founded in 2003 by Peggy and her husband. Everything inside of the teeny shop was white/pink, impeccably clean, and basically epitomised the word pretty. Teas, packaged treats, and books lined the wall and the girl behind the counter greeted us with a smile. We both picked out our cupcakes - Cookies & Cream for me, Strawberry & Champagne for JD, and opted for a glass of champagne each to celebrate being reunited. The weather made the adorable outside tables irresistible and our treats were brought to us immediately. The glass of champagne ended up actually being a miniature bottle each, which was a most welcome surprise.
I patiently waited for her to photograph our set up before diving in.
...Although I could only wait so long before getting my paws on that champagne after that early morning start and traumatising train journey.
1 out of 2 isn't bad!
Perfect people-watching seats in one of the most beautiful spots in London town aside, we agreed that these were honestly the best cupcakes either of us had ever had. Mine had an actual Oreo baked INSIDE the cake which was just the right consistency of soft and moist without falling apart and most importantly, the icing. I feel like the icing on cupcakes is usually where they lose me. This was by far the softest, tastiest, least-grainy icing I think I've ever had. Lots of "best I've ever had" phrases being thrown left and right here, but I'm not exaggerating! There's a clear reason why her cakes have graced the parties of A-list celebrities and royals, although our afternoon visit by no means broke the bank. If you are a cupcake lover and find yourself in Belgravia, you should definitely pay a visit to Peggy Porschen.
Speaking of delicious baked goods, I'm so sad this year's GBBO is over! Even though I was #TeamTamal from day one, I couldn't be happier for Nadiya. She seems so lovely and her speech after her win had me in tears. Did you watch Bake Off this year?
Pause for Macarons.
Friday, July 10, 2015 • eats & treats, Europe, Paris, travel
It's no secret to my friends and family that I'm a "go-go-go" traveller. As much as I love hitting the snooze button at home, being on vacation leads me to waking up religiously around 7am when my feet begin bouncing, ready to take on the day. While I think this is the best way to carpe diem, it's not without its faults...blisters and sore feet aside, the #1 cause of mood swings when your travel style is can't stop won't stop is when you get surprised with a bout of hanger.
Hanger - "A lethal combination of hunger and anger, the result of waiting so long to eat that your blood sugar drops to dangerously low levels, impairing both your mood and your judgment. Particularly manifests itself when you are with a significant other and trying to make decisions about where to eat now that you're both starving." (Urban Dictionary)
Rach and I devised a plan to keep ourselves from getting moody while travelling together, as we still wanted to be BFFFFFFs after this trip was over and getting snappy with each other is not our style. Our rules included carrying a water bottle with us, always stop at a toilet if we see one, and to pay attention to any rumbling stomachs!
When your sugar levels and energy begin flagging while hopping from place to place, every country has something special on offer to give you a boost...Italy has gelato, England has 99s, America has 72oz cokes, and Paris? Paris has macarons.
Anyone with an Instagram has heard of Ladurée (as you should, they're delicious and I won't hear a word against strawberry candy incroyable) but a pre-trip internet search led me to Margo's from The Overseas Escape rave about Pierre Hermé - all I needed to hear was "top 3 sweets I've ever had" and I was sold. Conveniently a 10 minute's walk from the Luxembourg Gardens, it gave us the perfect opportunity to pick up some treats and give our feet a break while soaking in the sunshine. Even with a line out the door, the staff were friendly and happy to explain each flavour and not roll their eyes at my pointing method for ordering or the fact that I got jittery and asked a question in Spanish.... I let Rach do the talking from then on.
The face of pure, Rose-flavoured satisfaction.
I bought this one because I thought it looked cool and I still have no idea what flavour it was. But it was delicious!
The palace and gardens date back to the early 1600's and are the perfect place to spend a few hours relaxing or hunting for the many sculptures dotted around.
What's your favourite sugary treat to keep your energy up while travelling?
What's your favourite sugary treat to keep your energy up while travelling?
7 Charms of Charleston.
Thursday, June 11, 2015 • Charleston, eats & treats, travel, USA
In the summer of 2013, I packed up my car and moved six states away to a city I had never been to before for an internship. From the second I arrived to the sad day I had to leave, Charleston South Carolina had me falling in love on a daily basis.
Let me count the ways...
1. History
One of the things I've always been a bit jealous of compared to other countries is that while the U.S. has it's own unique and interesting history, it's just not as...old. As silly as that sounds, I always found that the modern looking buildings and suburban neighbourhoods just never held the same magic as a building that had seen centuries. I think the oldest buildings in my hometown date back to the 1920s - practically a newborn in the eyes of Europe! With its East Coast location and especially thanks to the harbour, Charleston is one of the lucky U.S. cities that has been around nearly since the beginning. The building codes are so strict that even if a house is brand new, it will be designed to fit the aesthetics of the classic Charleston-style homes of the 1700s. The city was founded in 1670 by King Charles II of England and boasts plenty of history - the Civil War began here and played an important role throughout American history.
2. The food
"If you don't leave Charleston a few pounds heavier, you did something wrong." Has been my promise to all who have asked me for tips. With a new restaurant every time you blink your eye and a pop up market or food truck around every corner, you will not go hungry here. You'd guess that Charleston is home to great Southern food (and you'd be 100% correct), but what you don't expect is the mind blowing seafood, steaks, crepes, donuts, brunch, sushi, innovative/experimental dishes, the best cocktails you'll ever drink - I could go on and on. The Lowcountry region - the low lying, coastal areas in South Carolina including Charleston - is especially famous for shrimp 'n grits and you can NOT leave without trying it. While my list of favourite restaurants could fill an encyclopaedia, the MVPS have to go to Poogan's Porch for an excellent Southern meal, Hominy Grill or Lowcountry Bistro for the best of the Lowcountry cuisine, Black Tap for coffee, Caviar & Bananas for picnic supplies, and Folly Beach Crab Shack for some seafood and a beer post-beach time. Agh, that was agonising to narrow down.
3. Natural beauty
Charleston is a full-fledged city, but even on the busiest of days downtown, you'll never feel claustrophobic or overwhelmed. With parks every few blocks, flower boxes beneath every windowsill, palm trees, sweeping Spanish moss dotted every few steps, and the ocean a stone's throw away, you feel like you're on constant vacation. A short drive out of the peninsula will land you at a number of beaches, forests, acres of gardens, and hidden gems like the Angel Oak tree.
4. Plantation houses
While they appreciate their grandeur, some people feel uncomfortable about the idea of visiting Plantation homes and I understand why. South Carolina has a deep history intertwined with slavery and the slave trade due to its important harbour, and the thought of prancing around a beautiful building where people were so horribly enslaved can feel odd. I think Charleston and its historians have done a great job of not only preserving the history of these homes and the prominent families that lived there, but pay homage to the nitty gritty of the reality that went alongside them. In particular, Boone Hall has still-standing slave cabins that they have transformed into an educational and very moving memorial space to learn about the humans that lived, worked, and died there. A few of my top plantation houses to visit in addition to Boone Hall are Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Middleton Place, and Drayton Hall.
5. Outta control sunsets
Before you think *groan* "Sunsets - really? Isn't that so Instagram circa 2011?" There are sunsets and then there are sunsets. Come sundown, the Charleston sky turns into a brilliant watercolour painting of oranges, blues, and pink. My pick for watching a sunset over the Chucktown? Head to the South West corner of Sullivan's Island's and snag a spot on the beach. Be sure to stop by Poe's Tavern on your way out for the best burger on the island!
6. Quaint cobbled roads
There's just something about tiny cobbled streets. After living in Texas my whole life, land of the giant asphalt or dirt roads, stumbling upon these adorable roads and alleyways in downtown Charleston during runs or walks was an unexpected joy. The downside of these little streets is what has been fondly coined "The Charleston Shuffle" - enduring the constant tripping, stumbling, and stubbed toes due to the uneven and bumpy roads, particularly on your way home following a night out after a drink or...two.
7. The joy of walking
My #1 bit of advice I tell people who are visiting Charleston is to simply take the time to walk. Strolling around the streets of the Peninsula south of Calhoun Street, or better yet - South of Broad Street in the evenings, with the smell of magnolias floating in the air is hands-down my favourite activity in Charleston. You will see the most beautiful, charming homes full of detail and Southern beauty you will have ever seen in your life. It's hard not to want to jump across the fence and explore the perfectly manicured backyards.
Have you ever visited Charleston?
Let me count the ways...
1. History
One of the things I've always been a bit jealous of compared to other countries is that while the U.S. has it's own unique and interesting history, it's just not as...old. As silly as that sounds, I always found that the modern looking buildings and suburban neighbourhoods just never held the same magic as a building that had seen centuries. I think the oldest buildings in my hometown date back to the 1920s - practically a newborn in the eyes of Europe! With its East Coast location and especially thanks to the harbour, Charleston is one of the lucky U.S. cities that has been around nearly since the beginning. The building codes are so strict that even if a house is brand new, it will be designed to fit the aesthetics of the classic Charleston-style homes of the 1700s. The city was founded in 1670 by King Charles II of England and boasts plenty of history - the Civil War began here and played an important role throughout American history.
2. The food
"If you don't leave Charleston a few pounds heavier, you did something wrong." Has been my promise to all who have asked me for tips. With a new restaurant every time you blink your eye and a pop up market or food truck around every corner, you will not go hungry here. You'd guess that Charleston is home to great Southern food (and you'd be 100% correct), but what you don't expect is the mind blowing seafood, steaks, crepes, donuts, brunch, sushi, innovative/experimental dishes, the best cocktails you'll ever drink - I could go on and on. The Lowcountry region - the low lying, coastal areas in South Carolina including Charleston - is especially famous for shrimp 'n grits and you can NOT leave without trying it. While my list of favourite restaurants could fill an encyclopaedia, the MVPS have to go to Poogan's Porch for an excellent Southern meal, Hominy Grill or Lowcountry Bistro for the best of the Lowcountry cuisine, Black Tap for coffee, Caviar & Bananas for picnic supplies, and Folly Beach Crab Shack for some seafood and a beer post-beach time. Agh, that was agonising to narrow down.
Charleston is a full-fledged city, but even on the busiest of days downtown, you'll never feel claustrophobic or overwhelmed. With parks every few blocks, flower boxes beneath every windowsill, palm trees, sweeping Spanish moss dotted every few steps, and the ocean a stone's throw away, you feel like you're on constant vacation. A short drive out of the peninsula will land you at a number of beaches, forests, acres of gardens, and hidden gems like the Angel Oak tree.
4. Plantation houses
While they appreciate their grandeur, some people feel uncomfortable about the idea of visiting Plantation homes and I understand why. South Carolina has a deep history intertwined with slavery and the slave trade due to its important harbour, and the thought of prancing around a beautiful building where people were so horribly enslaved can feel odd. I think Charleston and its historians have done a great job of not only preserving the history of these homes and the prominent families that lived there, but pay homage to the nitty gritty of the reality that went alongside them. In particular, Boone Hall has still-standing slave cabins that they have transformed into an educational and very moving memorial space to learn about the humans that lived, worked, and died there. A few of my top plantation houses to visit in addition to Boone Hall are Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Middleton Place, and Drayton Hall.
5. Outta control sunsets
Before you think *groan* "Sunsets - really? Isn't that so Instagram circa 2011?" There are sunsets and then there are sunsets. Come sundown, the Charleston sky turns into a brilliant watercolour painting of oranges, blues, and pink. My pick for watching a sunset over the Chucktown? Head to the South West corner of Sullivan's Island's and snag a spot on the beach. Be sure to stop by Poe's Tavern on your way out for the best burger on the island!
There's just something about tiny cobbled streets. After living in Texas my whole life, land of the giant asphalt or dirt roads, stumbling upon these adorable roads and alleyways in downtown Charleston during runs or walks was an unexpected joy. The downside of these little streets is what has been fondly coined "The Charleston Shuffle" - enduring the constant tripping, stumbling, and stubbed toes due to the uneven and bumpy roads, particularly on your way home following a night out after a drink or...two.
7. The joy of walking
My #1 bit of advice I tell people who are visiting Charleston is to simply take the time to walk. Strolling around the streets of the Peninsula south of Calhoun Street, or better yet - South of Broad Street in the evenings, with the smell of magnolias floating in the air is hands-down my favourite activity in Charleston. You will see the most beautiful, charming homes full of detail and Southern beauty you will have ever seen in your life. It's hard not to want to jump across the fence and explore the perfectly manicured backyards.
Have you ever visited Charleston?
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