I never quite understood the allure of Charlize until I saw what is quite frankly the best fashion ad ever, and now this editorial in Elle France makes me weak at the knees. Yes, major girl crush going on here. Polished, strong and totally hot! 

Images

As a certified Afternoon Tea addict, the idea of getting to grips with the real deal in a professional kitchen sounded like a dream. When said professional kitchen happens to be in London’s 5-star Claridge’s Hotel, well, passing up such a chance would be foolish. That said, at a whooping £170 per Master Class, I was a little hesitant but justified the spend as a welcome home treat for myself and as you can see from the images, I was not disappointed. Needless to say, this was pre-detox.

The day started in the stunning Art-Deco Foyer getting to know my fellow scone-lovers over tea before moving down to the kitchen where Executive Chef Martyn Nail introduced us to the delightful Kim Lin-McCartney, sous pastry chef at the hotel. I was rather disappointed to see that we would be making the French classic mille feuille as I have never liked it much. Watching Kim mix the cream and vanilla had me salivating. What is it about vanilla that has such an effect on me? Back in Paris, I received some fresh vanilla pods straight from Madagascar and to this day, I still consider that bunch of soft, fragrant pods one of the best presents ever received but I digress… Did you know that the crunchy bits on the side are from crêpes? You can caramelise the pastry sheets before adding the cream for a nice crunch. Insider tips galore! As for the taste, let’s just say that mille feuille is on my dinner party list. Yes, Kim converted me!

It is no secret that I’m a bona fide macaron aficionado and get this, not only did we make macarons, we made my favourite flavour: rose. Did you know there are three types of meringue? I knew about French and Italian, but there is also a Swiss type. Who knew egg whites could be so complicated!? Kim made macarons filled with rose-scented vanilla cream and raspberries, and to add a touch of romance and drama, a vibrant red rose petal completed the stunning dessert. Almost too good to eat. Almost… I swear, I took around 40 images of this one dessert. The session came to a close with the ultimate tea lover’s treat: scones with Marco Polo jelly!  Mariage Frères lovers eat your heart out! They seem remarkably easy to make, but watch this space. I have a feeling trying to make them at home may have a different outcome…

Kim was so lovely, down-to-earth and as she showed us around the pastry kitchen where her colleagues were perfecting some of the most amazing desserts I’ve ever seen, you can see a serious level of enthusiasm and dedication. This is one of the world’s top hotels; there is no room for error and watching those talented chefs hard at work was really inspirational.

The day ended on a perfect note: a decadent champagne Afternoon Tea in The Foyer all to live music but that’s a different blog post for a different day. Whilst the Afternoon Tea Master Classes aren’t available year-round, Afternoon Tea is. I had such a memorable time and highly recommend it to those who enjoy beautiful surroundings, good food and great service. I’ll certainly be back! The perfect way to get back into my London life. 

Claridge’s Hotel
Brook Street
Mayfair
W1K 4HR
+44 (0)20 7629 8860

Post-France AKA the land of delicious dessert, I really need to get back to my normal figure so those yoga classes have come in handy. After a week of no dairy, I feel lighter having lost just over 3 kilos and my skin was looking good. On Saturday, I enjoyed the most delightful afternoon tea and then my skin erupted after all the cream and butter. On Wednesday, I have an appointment with a specialist to check for allergies and I am so afraid that she’ll confirm what I already know: I have a dairy intolerance. I’d be so sad. A drastic lifestyle change may just be on the cards.  Anyway…

I woke up this morning and decided to cut all processed food from my diet including sugar and dairy. Gillian McKeith, eat your heart out! I started with my favourite breakfast: two bowls of rice, umeboshi (pickled plum), natto (fermented soya beans) and nori and a pot of Gyokuro tea (high-grade Japanese green tea) et voilà, I’m well on my way to detoxing. As the afternoon progressed, I consumed a lot of herbal tea and water with lemon. I had a large salad for lunch: cherry tomatoes, grated carrot, baby spinach, avocado and cucumber with an extra olive oil, one crushed garlic and apple cider vinegar dressing. If there was only one thing I could eat, it would be salad. So fresh, healthy and tasty.

Come early evening, my head was killing me and Jelly Tots, sticky toffee pudding and well, pretty much anything with sugar filled my mind. Instead, I juiced beetroot, carrot, lemon and ginger, which is ridiculously sweet and kills those sugar cravings instantly. Have you ever juiced fresh beetroot? Not only is it nutritionally dense, it is so full of flavour. The perfect dinner/dessert to end detox day #1. I still have a killer headache so a hot shower and bed for this wee detoxer. 

Have you ever detoxed?  What did you experience? Best and worse parts?

British Harper’s Bazaar have done it again. Every month, they offer a sign as to why the magazine is the best fashion mag and this month is no different as Madame Roitfeld is interviewed by Justine Picardie. “If Anna Wintour remains the most dominant editor in fashion today, the Carine Roitfeld is its prevailing muse…” says it all. 

Justine writes about Carine’s career as an editor, stylist, muse and mother. Carine goes on to share the joy of her daughter’s pregnancy, her professional relationships with the likes of Mario Testino and the fashion God himself, Mr Ford and her love of the Upper East Side. Well, we all knew she had impeccable taste. If you’ve ever read an interview with Carine, it is obvious that her childhood was very happy and extremely influential on not only who she is, but how she raised her family. Carine’s sense of humour cracks me up when she says “… I am terrorised by blood…” – she may be the fashion editor, but she’s just like most of us girls: scared stiff of blood!

A very nice interview indeed. Excuse the dodgy images. Life would be much better if someone would scan everything from HB. Yes, that’s my official request.

Dining at Michelin-starred Arbutus was the perfect start to my new life in London. This lovely Soho restaurant dispels the myth that one cannot eat well in London without spending a lot of money. Offering a lunch time three-course special with two choices per course for an amazing £16.95, Arbutus is an absolute must.

Leaving the January detox on the back burner, I opted for the country terrine with fruit relish, which was much more like a pate than terrine. Really nice. This was followed by a flavoursome squash and wild mushroom risotto, which was cooked to perfection but the pièce de résistance was dessert: French toast served with crushed apples and salted caramel ice-cream. It was a dessert of textures. I was particularly impressed with the ice-cream as usually salted caramel is too sweet. The apples had obviously been stewed well and were a deep rustic tone. And there I was thinking I’d have to return to France for a good dessert. Highly recommended.

Arbutus
63 — 64 Frith Street
London
W1D 3JW
+44 (0) 20 7734 4545

I had the pleasure of catching up with lovely Anne here in Paris just after Christmas. We opted for a rather chic afternoon of sharing champagne and a very generous slice of Christophe Michalak’s chestnut & coconut dessert at the eternally fabulous Plaza Athénée. Pas mal ! Desserts are definitely a strong point here and when enjoyed in such a plush setting with great company, one appreciates every bite. An absolute must when in Paris.

PS – Could Anne have chosen a more perfect shade of red lipstick?! Gorgeous!

Hôtel Plaza Athénée
25 Avenue Montaigne
75008 Paris
+33 (0) 1 53 67 66 65

I can’t say I’m a fan of the Hilton Group but I simply couldn’t miss out on this festive bubble situated in the courtyard of the Arc de Triomphe hotel, just minutes from the Champs-Élysées. Despite the cold, sitting inside a bubble sipping champagne as the rain beat down was seriously cool. A fun way to spend an evening!

Open until 15^th January, why not enjoy a glass of bubbly in a bubble?

What a life-changing year!  So much has happened and during certain moments, I honestly never thought I could get through 2011 without a major breakdown mais voilà, here I am and here are the highlights of my 2011:

Best decision:

- Of course, I have no idea what the future will hold but I feel, with every molecule of my being, that leaving Paris is and will always be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.  I have been unhappy for a long time and I have to take charge of what I feel/want, so this decision changes everything. Literally every single thing. I wholeheartedly believe that those changes will be for the better. My favourite quotation of all time has pushed me forward and I just know that everything will be okay: “Every man is his own ancestor, and every man his own heir. He devises his own future, and he inherits his own past”. H.F. Hedge

Favourite experiences:

- Easter Mass at Sacré-Coeur was absolutely amazing particularly since my mother was visiting.  She doesn’t understand French but it is our favourite church and listening to the nuns sing and the children say “Happy Easter” in every language from Mandarin to English to Russian to German was amazing.

- Afternoon Tea with my friends at La Bauhinia at the Shangri-la, also known as the Shangri-wow. Such a diverse group of women and realise how lucky I am to have met each one of them.  Gosh, I’ll miss them so much.  

- Sharing good food, crying, laughing and having a merry old time at Le Meurice with someone I treasure: Madame Boisclair AKA the nicest person I have ever met. 

- Snuggling up with my kitties – love them!  Yes, crazy cat lady!

- Staying at Paris’ Plaza Athénée.  This was a dream come true!

- Watching La Source at Palais Garnier (Opéra National de Paris).  Not only was the production wonderful, to actually be inside one of my favourite buildings in the world, watching an opera was just spectacular.  It was even more memorable as I had just moved out of my apartment and it was a much-needed moment of happiness. If you haven’t been here, you absolutely must!

Best view:

- Sitting in the Jules Verne restaurant (blog post to follow) located on the Eiffel Tower, overlooking the city and enjoying a good meal and a wee bit of bubbly.  This was made even more special because I shared this moment with my dear friend Jessica. If you’ve ever had this view of Paris, you’ll appreciate how breathtaking it is. If you haven’t, get booking!

Best buy:

- When I bought my first pair of Repetto ballerinas, I swear my feet wanted to kiss me.  They’re so comfy and just make walking a pleasure.  In actual fact, my “au revoir Paris” present to myself will be a trip to Repetto next week to stock up on a few pairs.  For a wee fraction of the price of designer ballerinas, these are a must and so much more comfy than Chanel ballerinas… Save those pennies!

Best meal:

- The best meal I had this year was without a doubt lunch at Camélia at the Mandarin Oriental with my lovely friend Stephanie.  I wish I could relive this lunch over and over again.

Favourite blogs:

- LatteLisa is utter perfection.  I actually don’t read this blog very often because it completely consumes me and nothing gets done.  However, when I have two-three hours free, I sit with a pot of tea and a ridiculously large supply of chocolate and catch-up with the limitless beauty of the posts.  Plus Lisa is lovely!

- Maya Beus needs no introduction – she did all the illustrations for my blog, is super talented and strikes me as being a very strong woman.  Yes, I heart Maya!

- STYLE’N is Naina’s blog full of chic personal style, delicious Indian-inspired recipes, design and a wee peek into her fabulous life.  

- Emily from Cupcakes & Cashmere never ceases to amaze me.  I swear, everything from food to style to interiors just looks fabulous.  I don’t follow any of the major bloggers except her, mainly because along with being super creative, she seems nice.  She also has a book coming out, which I preordered from Amazon.

Favourite Tweethearts:  

 - @Ilana is so funny, gorgeous and when she’s not occupied with her crazy cat lady duties, she writes novels and tweets sarcastically, much to my pleasure.  I once went on a date with a guy who informed me that my sarcasm wasn’t very becoming.  I suggest he avoid Ilana.  

 - @3smallapples can usually be found sporting a new cardi, eating a crunchie and desperately trying not to murder her work colleagues, all to amusement of the Twitterverse. Plus she has to most hilarious ‘About‘ page ever.  

Favourite beauty products:

- NARS ‘Mascate’ matt lipstick

- Bioderma créaline solution micellaire

- Sanoflore mattifying moisturiser

Best advice:

“Do what is right for you” – one very simple piece of advice, but it led to me making some major decisions and putting me on the right path.

How about you, what have been the highlights of your year? 

So, I’m ending this year by embracing the positives and looking forward to what is sure to be an amazing 2012!  As Mark Twain said “There is no sadder sight than a young pessimist”. 

Thank you for reading – I so enjoyed reading your comments over the last year.  See you in 2012 and a very Happy New Year to you all! 

For someone who claims to dislike cupcakes, I spend an awful lot of time at Synie’s. Eating cupcakes. Let me explain: I’m absolutely addicted to desserts and as you may have read, I’ve done two sugar detoxes which led to tears, tantrums and a new-found understanding of people who quit rehab. Dramatic, moi?! Never. I digress… The thing with cupcakes is that they usually look better than they taste, with dry two-day old sponge and so much sugar that you cannot taste anything. That was until I came across Synie’s. Hallelujah for Twitter! I’d been there two or three times and then I discovered something I hadn’t had/seen during my two years in Paris: dark chocolate and mint. Imagine your favourite flavour in cute cupcake form. Bliss people. Bliss. I blogged it here.

So, during one of my many visits, I got talking to Synie and discovered that she ran cupcake classes et voilà, I signed up. As someone who bakes often and feels confident in the kitchen, my goal was to learn about the icing and decoration. I always say that my food tastes delicious, but the presentation is a mess. Until I was actually in Synie’s kitchen, I didn’t realise how much I had to learn. I have about 14 cookery books from world-famous chefs, three of which specialise in baking. How is it then that I only just learnt how to mix ingredients together? I finally learnt the secret of those light, fluffy sponge bases, hence why I want a new fancy schmancy mixer.

We were six women divided into three groups plus Synie and her mother, making lemon, chocolate and nut sponge bases which we topped with various types of icing (frosting) from the very British royal (meringue) type I grew up eating to chocolate and of course, buttercream. Since Synie tastes everything prepared in her kitchen to ensure the best quality for her customers, we naturally got to do the same. At one point, I could have easily stepped out of the class with a spoon and the huge bowl of vanilla buttercream icing. Worth every calorie. If I remember correctly, all of the colourings used are natural so no nasty chemicals to worry about. We learnt all the basics from the ideal temperature of the ingredients to how to test if the sponge is properly cooked. I was utterly useless with the icing bag but soon became a pro. Okay, slight exaggeration… Decorating the cupcakes was so much fun with everything from sugar beads to chocolate vermicelli to glittering drops available. Almost as fun as leaving with 7 of them…

The countdown to my move back to London has pushed me to explore Paris a wee bit more and I’m so glad that I was able to take this class. I really like Synie and very much respect what she does. Every time I go there, she’s serving customers, clearing the tables, in the kitchen, taking orders and always approachable and interested in telling you about the new options on offer. So few business owners are as hands on, professional and friendly in equal measure. Add to that the deliciousness on offer and the close proximity to my favourite department store – Le Bon Marché – and you’ll realise why I will miss my trips there. If you don’t have the opportunity to take a class, stop in for a wee treat.  I’d love to know what you think. 

Synie’s Cupcakes
23 Rue de l’Abbé Grégoire 
75006 Paris
+33 (0) 1 45 44 54 23

Emmanuelle and I have run into each other so many times this year, we’re practically BFFs! Madame Alt was gracious enough to pose for me post-fashion show and we shared a few words about the show. She is incredibly soft-spoken and polite.

As if that wasn’t cool enough, a certain someone was sitting opposite to my left though I hadn’t noticed until my eyes followed Karlie Kloss from one end of the catwalk to another. Yes, Madame Roitfeld! Stay tuned…