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I've come to realize I have expensive taste (actually came to terms with this ages ago) and that also extends to footwear and more speci... -
'An almost spiritual experience...unassuming level of intimacy' - BANCONE: A review Bancone's Instagram feed I find myself ...
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'An almost spiritual experience...unassuming level of intimacy' - BANCONE: A review
Bancone's Instagram feed
I find myself sharing this restaurant with you rather selflessly and not so begrudgingly (maybe) as the word is already out about how fantastic it is. Discovering Bancone on a TikTok video could not be any more millennial of me but it was quickly added it to my ever-growing list of places to eat, and in no time at all, I completed the rather courageous task of ticking it off my foodie bucket list. You’re welcome.
Contemporary but with a no-frills approach is what rings true of the ambiance of the Covent Garden branch, the small booths and unpretentious setting provide that unassuming level of intimacy at only a fraction of the cost of its competitors.
For £12.50 I was able to have an almost spiritual experience, indulging in Pappardelle handsomely coated in brandy and sage butter and sautéed chicken livers. Absolute decadence. A dish that your taste buds didn’t know they so desperately needed.
Pappardelle with brandy, sage butter & sautéed chicken livers
Although the pasta dishes have that main character energy, the antipasti do deserve their own moment of praiseworthy recognition.
Burrata with garden peas & marinated cucumber
Their creamy burrata was perfectly paired with crisp garden peas and marinated cucumber. Served with a few delightful pieces of tomato focaccia, and I do believe I died and went to what can only be described as Italian heaven. Dramatic? Maybe. But try it first and then judge me.
Spicy pork, n'duja & fennel ragù with mafalde
I’m not sure who said that we were allowed to be spoiled this way, but don’t question it; everyone deserves this kind of experience. Head over to Bancone now.
BANCONE: A review
'An almost spiritual experience...unassuming level of intimacy' - BANCONE: A review
Bancone's Instagram feed
I find myself sharing this restaurant with you rather selflessly and not so begrudgingly (maybe) as the word is already out about how fantastic it is. Discovering Bancone on a TikTok video could not be any more millennial of me but it was quickly added it to my ever-growing list of places to eat, and in no time at all, I completed the rather courageous task of ticking it off my foodie bucket list. You’re welcome.
Contemporary but with a no-frills approach is what rings true of the ambiance of the Covent Garden branch, the small booths and unpretentious setting provide that unassuming level of intimacy at only a fraction of the cost of its competitors.
For £12.50 I was able to have an almost spiritual experience, indulging in Pappardelle handsomely coated in brandy and sage butter and sautéed chicken livers. Absolute decadence. A dish that your taste buds didn’t know they so desperately needed.
Pappardelle with brandy, sage butter & sautéed chicken livers
Although the pasta dishes have that main character energy, the antipasti do deserve their own moment of praiseworthy recognition.
Burrata with garden peas & marinated cucumber
Their creamy burrata was perfectly paired with crisp garden peas and marinated cucumber. Served with a few delightful pieces of tomato focaccia, and I do believe I died and went to what can only be described as Italian heaven. Dramatic? Maybe. But try it first and then judge me.
Spicy pork, n'duja & fennel ragù with mafalde
I’m not sure who said that we were allowed to be spoiled this way, but don’t question it; everyone deserves this kind of experience. Head over to Bancone now.
I always say there's so much to do in London but then have a hard time deciding what to actually do. Spoilt for choice I guess.
I love discovering bits of London that I'm unfamiliar with, parts that I see on bus rides but never have time to stop off and explore because I'm too preoccupied with something else.
So this weekend, I decided to go explore somewhere I've been before but never really got to know.
Hampstead.
I love discovering bits of London that I'm unfamiliar with, parts that I see on bus rides but never have time to stop off and explore because I'm too preoccupied with something else.
So this weekend, I decided to go explore somewhere I've been before but never really got to know.
Hampstead.
Still so dreamy on such a gloomy day.
Maybe it's the contrast between old and new, or the continuous presence of greenery, with Hampstead Heath nearby. I don't know, but it's perfect and I'd like to announce that I will live here one day.
I feel like there is always something so stunning around each corner - a pub with a great facade, a fantastic property, a colorful door or even the ivy covered walls.
It was a happy accident to come across a book shop that I can only describe as heaven. Neatly laid out to just about satiate my OCD appetite but not overwhelmingly so.
Hampstead is honestly just so picturesque and really embodies a charming village vibe without feeling too far removed from all the excitement London has to offer.
Exploring Hampstead: A Photo Diary
I always say there's so much to do in London but then have a hard time deciding what to actually do. Spoilt for choice I guess.
I love discovering bits of London that I'm unfamiliar with, parts that I see on bus rides but never have time to stop off and explore because I'm too preoccupied with something else.
So this weekend, I decided to go explore somewhere I've been before but never really got to know.
Hampstead.
I love discovering bits of London that I'm unfamiliar with, parts that I see on bus rides but never have time to stop off and explore because I'm too preoccupied with something else.
So this weekend, I decided to go explore somewhere I've been before but never really got to know.
Hampstead.
Still so dreamy on such a gloomy day.
Maybe it's the contrast between old and new, or the continuous presence of greenery, with Hampstead Heath nearby. I don't know, but it's perfect and I'd like to announce that I will live here one day.
I feel like there is always something so stunning around each corner - a pub with a great facade, a fantastic property, a colorful door or even the ivy covered walls.
It was a happy accident to come across a book shop that I can only describe as heaven. Neatly laid out to just about satiate my OCD appetite but not overwhelmingly so.
Hampstead is honestly just so picturesque and really embodies a charming village vibe without feeling too far removed from all the excitement London has to offer.
Hello Hello!
Today I have a skincare post for you guys!
This is a topic I love to talk about as I'm deeply passionate about taking super good care of my skin. Grab a cuppa, it's a thorough one! I really hope you enjoy this post as much as I have enjoyed creating it.
So, coming from Trinidad where the water isn't hard, humidity is the norm and beach life (permanent, glowy, healthy, tanned complexion) is a thing, my skin was in a pretty healthy state. Until I moved to London.
Cue dry, dehydrated skin. *rolls eyes*
I have combination skin - oily in my T-zone and relatively normal to dry on the cheeks and in Trinidad I had a fairly decent skincare regimen that worked for my skin type and that was that.
I don't know if it's the shock of the different weather in conjunction with the hard water over here in London but I found that my skin felt terribly dry so much so that I was no longer oily in my T-zone and my skin was just left feeling dry and tight throughout. Before I had a full blown panic attack, I decided to try my hand at some products to see if maybe changing up formulas and altering my regimen would help with my skin's tantrum.
Below are the products that I have carefully curated to combat my dry skin.
Cleansing:
I have 3 different things that I strictly use for the morning and evening. Glossier's Milk Jelly Cleanser is my go to in the morning. On days where I feel like I need an extra boost to wake up, I use a tiny amount of Neutrogena's visibly clear spot proofing smoothing scrub, mostly because of the smell, but I limit my use of this, which I will explain why later on. At night, I use L'Occitane's cleansing milk as it is gentle and does a great job at taking off my makeup without being too harsh. It also smells like a spa and I honestly can't find a fault in that.
If I feel like I need a deep clean, like if I wear a full face, then I go in with my Clinique take the day off cleansing balm, which is pretty much a miracle in a jar. I remove it with a hot flannel.
Toning:
I can't remember a time I used anything else besides micellar water or rose water to tone my skin. I stick with drugstore brands because I find that they work well for me. When I'm out of Bioderma/rose water (my preferred babies) I use Garnier's Micellar Cleansing Water. I know it's not a toner per se but I do love to do this after cleansing just to make sure there's no muck left and one of the main ingredients is glycerin which is great for keeping the skin supple and hydrated.
Thanks for reading!
Today I have a skincare post for you guys!
This is a topic I love to talk about as I'm deeply passionate about taking super good care of my skin. Grab a cuppa, it's a thorough one! I really hope you enjoy this post as much as I have enjoyed creating it.
So, coming from Trinidad where the water isn't hard, humidity is the norm and beach life (permanent, glowy, healthy, tanned complexion) is a thing, my skin was in a pretty healthy state. Until I moved to London.
Cue dry, dehydrated skin. *rolls eyes*
I have combination skin - oily in my T-zone and relatively normal to dry on the cheeks and in Trinidad I had a fairly decent skincare regimen that worked for my skin type and that was that.
I don't know if it's the shock of the different weather in conjunction with the hard water over here in London but I found that my skin felt terribly dry so much so that I was no longer oily in my T-zone and my skin was just left feeling dry and tight throughout. Before I had a full blown panic attack, I decided to try my hand at some products to see if maybe changing up formulas and altering my regimen would help with my skin's tantrum.
Below are the products that I have carefully curated to combat my dry skin.
Cleansing:
I have 3 different things that I strictly use for the morning and evening. Glossier's Milk Jelly Cleanser is my go to in the morning. On days where I feel like I need an extra boost to wake up, I use a tiny amount of Neutrogena's visibly clear spot proofing smoothing scrub, mostly because of the smell, but I limit my use of this, which I will explain why later on. At night, I use L'Occitane's cleansing milk as it is gentle and does a great job at taking off my makeup without being too harsh. It also smells like a spa and I honestly can't find a fault in that.
If I feel like I need a deep clean, like if I wear a full face, then I go in with my Clinique take the day off cleansing balm, which is pretty much a miracle in a jar. I remove it with a hot flannel.
I can't remember a time I used anything else besides micellar water or rose water to tone my skin. I stick with drugstore brands because I find that they work well for me. When I'm out of Bioderma/rose water (my preferred babies) I use Garnier's Micellar Cleansing Water. I know it's not a toner per se but I do love to do this after cleansing just to make sure there's no muck left and one of the main ingredients is glycerin which is great for keeping the skin supple and hydrated.
Exfoliating:
Since reading about how bad physical exfoliants could be for your skin, I've been trying to swap those out (the Neutrogena scrub mentioned above) for a chemical exfoliant which only sounds harsh but actually isn't if used correctly. Just to clarify, physical exfoliants are those with micro-beads or tiny pieces of fruit seeds that are meant to scrub all impurities out of the skin. Chemical exfoliants do just that but without the microscopic abrasions that seeds leave on the skin, which can allow for the harboring of bacteria under the skins' surface which will eventually surface as pimples or black heads. (EW!) The only downfall with chemical exfoliants is that it can leave the skin susceptible to sun damage which is why I only use this exfoliant, The Ordinary Glycolic Toning Solution, at night. I do this max 3 times a week because it is quite a strong solution. FYI, it tingles.
Moisturizing:
So before I did a complete skincare regimen transformation, I religiously used Neutrogena's combination daily skin moisturizer, but as my skin got worse, it stopped working and I would put it on and my skin would still be dry. I decided to give Lush's Vanishing Cream a go. After about a month's use, I noticed that my skin feels so hydrated and supple every time I use it. It's quite thick but for this weather in London, it works just fine as a day time moisturizer and my makeup applies so well on top of it. For my night time skin moisturizer, I decided to stick with my tried and true Nivea Rich Regenerating night cream, which up to this day, despite my skin's tantrum, has not failed me.
Pampering:
The face mask that I have been using is Lush's FOMO Jelly Mask which is gentle enough to use everyday but I do not have the time for that so I usually leave that for my pamper sesh on Sunday. It leaves my skin feeling soft and clean which is always a plus. When I feel like I need a more heavy duty, deep cleaning mask, I use Lush's Mask of Magnaminty, which is equally as refreshing as it is effective.
For my body, I use & Other Stories Body Scrubs, Body Soufflé's and Body Lotions. I'm obsessed. My current favorite scent is Perle de Coco however if you do not like sickeningly sweet scents, avoid this like the plague. I interchange this one with a few others. I use the body lotion in the day and the body soufflé at night simply because of the difference in consistency. I like to feel quite pampered before I get into bed and the body soufflé is so luxurious. Their scrubs are my favorite as they do not leave an oily residue as most scrubs do but instead give off a really nice lather (like a proper body wash) so you feel like you're getting rid of all the dead skin AND cleansing your body properly. Win!
Lastly, I love the Trinidadian brand Immortelle Beauty's Sheer Moisture Spray oil for my feet, knees and elbows to keep unwanted ashiness at bay. I use it in and out of the shower. My favorite scene is Pomelo + Coco Crème.
These products are my personal favourites. They work for my skin and have really kept dryness and breakouts at bay, especially during this past week when we had the snowstorm in London. However, as a self-diagnosed skincare product junkie, I am always looking for amazing products, so if you guys have any recommendations or must haves that you'd like to share, please do!
Thanks for reading!
The Products That Saved My Skin: Winter Edition
Hello Hello!
Today I have a skincare post for you guys!
This is a topic I love to talk about as I'm deeply passionate about taking super good care of my skin. Grab a cuppa, it's a thorough one! I really hope you enjoy this post as much as I have enjoyed creating it.
So, coming from Trinidad where the water isn't hard, humidity is the norm and beach life (permanent, glowy, healthy, tanned complexion) is a thing, my skin was in a pretty healthy state. Until I moved to London.
Cue dry, dehydrated skin. *rolls eyes*
I have combination skin - oily in my T-zone and relatively normal to dry on the cheeks and in Trinidad I had a fairly decent skincare regimen that worked for my skin type and that was that.
I don't know if it's the shock of the different weather in conjunction with the hard water over here in London but I found that my skin felt terribly dry so much so that I was no longer oily in my T-zone and my skin was just left feeling dry and tight throughout. Before I had a full blown panic attack, I decided to try my hand at some products to see if maybe changing up formulas and altering my regimen would help with my skin's tantrum.
Below are the products that I have carefully curated to combat my dry skin.
Cleansing:
I have 3 different things that I strictly use for the morning and evening. Glossier's Milk Jelly Cleanser is my go to in the morning. On days where I feel like I need an extra boost to wake up, I use a tiny amount of Neutrogena's visibly clear spot proofing smoothing scrub, mostly because of the smell, but I limit my use of this, which I will explain why later on. At night, I use L'Occitane's cleansing milk as it is gentle and does a great job at taking off my makeup without being too harsh. It also smells like a spa and I honestly can't find a fault in that.
If I feel like I need a deep clean, like if I wear a full face, then I go in with my Clinique take the day off cleansing balm, which is pretty much a miracle in a jar. I remove it with a hot flannel.
Toning:
I can't remember a time I used anything else besides micellar water or rose water to tone my skin. I stick with drugstore brands because I find that they work well for me. When I'm out of Bioderma/rose water (my preferred babies) I use Garnier's Micellar Cleansing Water. I know it's not a toner per se but I do love to do this after cleansing just to make sure there's no muck left and one of the main ingredients is glycerin which is great for keeping the skin supple and hydrated.
Thanks for reading!
Today I have a skincare post for you guys!
This is a topic I love to talk about as I'm deeply passionate about taking super good care of my skin. Grab a cuppa, it's a thorough one! I really hope you enjoy this post as much as I have enjoyed creating it.
So, coming from Trinidad where the water isn't hard, humidity is the norm and beach life (permanent, glowy, healthy, tanned complexion) is a thing, my skin was in a pretty healthy state. Until I moved to London.
Cue dry, dehydrated skin. *rolls eyes*
I have combination skin - oily in my T-zone and relatively normal to dry on the cheeks and in Trinidad I had a fairly decent skincare regimen that worked for my skin type and that was that.
I don't know if it's the shock of the different weather in conjunction with the hard water over here in London but I found that my skin felt terribly dry so much so that I was no longer oily in my T-zone and my skin was just left feeling dry and tight throughout. Before I had a full blown panic attack, I decided to try my hand at some products to see if maybe changing up formulas and altering my regimen would help with my skin's tantrum.
Below are the products that I have carefully curated to combat my dry skin.
Cleansing:
I have 3 different things that I strictly use for the morning and evening. Glossier's Milk Jelly Cleanser is my go to in the morning. On days where I feel like I need an extra boost to wake up, I use a tiny amount of Neutrogena's visibly clear spot proofing smoothing scrub, mostly because of the smell, but I limit my use of this, which I will explain why later on. At night, I use L'Occitane's cleansing milk as it is gentle and does a great job at taking off my makeup without being too harsh. It also smells like a spa and I honestly can't find a fault in that.
If I feel like I need a deep clean, like if I wear a full face, then I go in with my Clinique take the day off cleansing balm, which is pretty much a miracle in a jar. I remove it with a hot flannel.
I can't remember a time I used anything else besides micellar water or rose water to tone my skin. I stick with drugstore brands because I find that they work well for me. When I'm out of Bioderma/rose water (my preferred babies) I use Garnier's Micellar Cleansing Water. I know it's not a toner per se but I do love to do this after cleansing just to make sure there's no muck left and one of the main ingredients is glycerin which is great for keeping the skin supple and hydrated.
Exfoliating:
Since reading about how bad physical exfoliants could be for your skin, I've been trying to swap those out (the Neutrogena scrub mentioned above) for a chemical exfoliant which only sounds harsh but actually isn't if used correctly. Just to clarify, physical exfoliants are those with micro-beads or tiny pieces of fruit seeds that are meant to scrub all impurities out of the skin. Chemical exfoliants do just that but without the microscopic abrasions that seeds leave on the skin, which can allow for the harboring of bacteria under the skins' surface which will eventually surface as pimples or black heads. (EW!) The only downfall with chemical exfoliants is that it can leave the skin susceptible to sun damage which is why I only use this exfoliant, The Ordinary Glycolic Toning Solution, at night. I do this max 3 times a week because it is quite a strong solution. FYI, it tingles.
Moisturizing:
So before I did a complete skincare regimen transformation, I religiously used Neutrogena's combination daily skin moisturizer, but as my skin got worse, it stopped working and I would put it on and my skin would still be dry. I decided to give Lush's Vanishing Cream a go. After about a month's use, I noticed that my skin feels so hydrated and supple every time I use it. It's quite thick but for this weather in London, it works just fine as a day time moisturizer and my makeup applies so well on top of it. For my night time skin moisturizer, I decided to stick with my tried and true Nivea Rich Regenerating night cream, which up to this day, despite my skin's tantrum, has not failed me.
Pampering:
The face mask that I have been using is Lush's FOMO Jelly Mask which is gentle enough to use everyday but I do not have the time for that so I usually leave that for my pamper sesh on Sunday. It leaves my skin feeling soft and clean which is always a plus. When I feel like I need a more heavy duty, deep cleaning mask, I use Lush's Mask of Magnaminty, which is equally as refreshing as it is effective.
For my body, I use & Other Stories Body Scrubs, Body Soufflé's and Body Lotions. I'm obsessed. My current favorite scent is Perle de Coco however if you do not like sickeningly sweet scents, avoid this like the plague. I interchange this one with a few others. I use the body lotion in the day and the body soufflé at night simply because of the difference in consistency. I like to feel quite pampered before I get into bed and the body soufflé is so luxurious. Their scrubs are my favorite as they do not leave an oily residue as most scrubs do but instead give off a really nice lather (like a proper body wash) so you feel like you're getting rid of all the dead skin AND cleansing your body properly. Win!
Lastly, I love the Trinidadian brand Immortelle Beauty's Sheer Moisture Spray oil for my feet, knees and elbows to keep unwanted ashiness at bay. I use it in and out of the shower. My favorite scene is Pomelo + Coco Crème.
These products are my personal favourites. They work for my skin and have really kept dryness and breakouts at bay, especially during this past week when we had the snowstorm in London. However, as a self-diagnosed skincare product junkie, I am always looking for amazing products, so if you guys have any recommendations or must haves that you'd like to share, please do!
Thanks for reading!
I don't even remember when this trip was but I found these pics on my camera today and they thoroughly depressed me as I'm snuggled up in my toasty room on this chilly autumn day.
Thought I'd share them with you all. Forgive me...
Kinda missing the heat I always complained about..
Gonna soak up all that sunshine vicariously through these pics. Will let you all know how that goes :)
Tobago Photo Diary
I don't even remember when this trip was but I found these pics on my camera today and they thoroughly depressed me as I'm snuggled up in my toasty room on this chilly autumn day.
Thought I'd share them with you all. Forgive me...
Kinda missing the heat I always complained about..
Gonna soak up all that sunshine vicariously through these pics. Will let you all know how that goes :)
I've come to realize I have expensive taste (actually came to terms with this ages ago) and that also extends to footwear and more specifically, mules.
There's something about mules.
Something classy, snazzy and a little grown up.
They can be timeless yet fun and trendy. You can dress them up and down. Make them the casual or dramatic focal piece of your ensemble.
VERSATILE, in a way that they're a fun piece to style and because of that, they can pretty much be worn with anything provided they're styled correctly.
I've noticed how varied my style is just by the difference in styles that I love based on the pics below.
There's something about mules.
Something classy, snazzy and a little grown up.
They can be timeless yet fun and trendy. You can dress them up and down. Make them the casual or dramatic focal piece of your ensemble.
VERSATILE, in a way that they're a fun piece to style and because of that, they can pretty much be worn with anything provided they're styled correctly.
I've noticed how varied my style is just by the difference in styles that I love based on the pics below.
Currently dying over these:
1. Sergio Rossi stiletto mules
2. Aquazurra Black Powder Puff Mules
3. N°21 twisted bow design mules
4. Darmaki black suede Ren mules
5. Giuseppe Zanotti Design Letizia embellished mules
6. Alberta Ferretti floral embroidered heeled mules
7. Alberta Ferretti embellished mules
8. Gucci double G mules
9. Rochas bow detailed mules
And these:
1. Loeffler Randall top knot mules
2. Chiara Ferragni logomania heeled mules
3. Mansur Gavriel crisscross strap mules
4. Delpozo bow mules
5. Dolce & Gabbana Jackie hydrangea print mules
6. Saint Laurent crossover mules
7. Gucci double G mules
8. Jimmy Choo embellished Myla mules
I really thought I was seeing a pattern in my style preferences when I was browsing because I just kept clicking the black mules but then I saw some of the colourful, bejeweled ones and that was it, I couldn't get enough, hence I have two collages :)
These mules are perfection in every way imaginable. Do you have any favourites?
What are your top picks for the season and how would you style them?
MULES: A WISHLIST
I've come to realize I have expensive taste (actually came to terms with this ages ago) and that also extends to footwear and more specifically, mules.
There's something about mules.
Something classy, snazzy and a little grown up.
They can be timeless yet fun and trendy. You can dress them up and down. Make them the casual or dramatic focal piece of your ensemble.
VERSATILE, in a way that they're a fun piece to style and because of that, they can pretty much be worn with anything provided they're styled correctly.
I've noticed how varied my style is just by the difference in styles that I love based on the pics below.
There's something about mules.
Something classy, snazzy and a little grown up.
They can be timeless yet fun and trendy. You can dress them up and down. Make them the casual or dramatic focal piece of your ensemble.
VERSATILE, in a way that they're a fun piece to style and because of that, they can pretty much be worn with anything provided they're styled correctly.
I've noticed how varied my style is just by the difference in styles that I love based on the pics below.
Currently dying over these:
1. Sergio Rossi stiletto mules
2. Aquazurra Black Powder Puff Mules
3. N°21 twisted bow design mules
4. Darmaki black suede Ren mules
5. Giuseppe Zanotti Design Letizia embellished mules
6. Alberta Ferretti floral embroidered heeled mules
7. Alberta Ferretti embellished mules
8. Gucci double G mules
9. Rochas bow detailed mules
And these:
1. Loeffler Randall top knot mules
2. Chiara Ferragni logomania heeled mules
3. Mansur Gavriel crisscross strap mules
4. Delpozo bow mules
5. Dolce & Gabbana Jackie hydrangea print mules
6. Saint Laurent crossover mules
7. Gucci double G mules
8. Jimmy Choo embellished Myla mules
I really thought I was seeing a pattern in my style preferences when I was browsing because I just kept clicking the black mules but then I saw some of the colourful, bejeweled ones and that was it, I couldn't get enough, hence I have two collages :)
These mules are perfection in every way imaginable. Do you have any favourites?
What are your top picks for the season and how would you style them?
Nestled conveniently in St. Lawrence Gap is a really cute little restaurant called Cocktail Kitchen. We went there for my mom's birthday dinner and the food and cocktails were all excellent to say the least. On top of that, the service was superb and we were greeted by the friendliest waiter ever who brought all of our food and drinks out at the perfect times.
So whenever I go out to eat, I almost always get calamari as my appetizer if they have it on the menu, and this one was perfection. Perfectly crispy on the outside and the squid was not rubbery on the inside, which sometimes is the case when it isn't fresh or has been overcooked. The garlic aioli was the perfect compliment.
So whenever I go out to eat, I almost always get calamari as my appetizer if they have it on the menu, and this one was perfection. Perfectly crispy on the outside and the squid was not rubbery on the inside, which sometimes is the case when it isn't fresh or has been overcooked. The garlic aioli was the perfect compliment.
We also got the Garlic and Ginger popcorn shrimp which was equally as good. Good flavor, perfectly crispy and the ginger flavor was in no way overpowering. However, as with most seafood dishes, they tend to be very stingy with the portions and for the price we could've gotten more shrimp and calamari.
My mom and sister both went with burgers for their mains which they loved and I went for a fish dish which was amazing. There were quite a few different flavors on the dish but they all worked so seamlessly together.
 |
| Catch of the moment: Blackened fish w/coconut & coriander sweet potato purée, charred spicy pineapple salsa & coriander emulsion.
By the caption, you can tell that there was a lot going on but it worked. If you don't like a lot of sweet flavors in your meals then you may not like this because the only thing on the dish that had a savory flavor was the fish and it was more of a smoky flavor than anything. The sweet potato purée went so well with the coriander emulsion and the pineapple salsa.
I ate what I could and took the rest back to the hotel and polished it off for breakfast the next morning :)
The CK Burger: homemade beef burger with mozzarella, bacon, balsamic onion compote & tomato salsa. Served with fries.
I think the next highlight for me was the drink that I ordered. I'm going to recreate it at home one of these days because it was that good.
Mango Chow: scotch bonnet infused vodka, mango purée, fresh lime wedges, sugar & coriander.
If you're from Trinidad then maybe you can understand why I chose this drink, especially if you're a chow lover like myself. It didn't taste exactly like chow because of the sugar (chow is usually acidic and tarte) but it was close enough and it was delicious.
Definitely get one (or 2 or 3) if you visit Cocktail Kitchen.
*chow - fruits like sour cherries, mango, pineapple, pickled in a spicy vinegar juice often seasoned with hot pepper sauce made from scotch bonnets or scorpion peppers, salt and shadon beni (culantro - cousin to cilantro). The longer it soaks the more flavorsome and spicy it becomes.
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REVIEW: Cocktail Kitchen, Barbados
Nestled conveniently in St. Lawrence Gap is a really cute little restaurant called Cocktail Kitchen. We went there for my mom's birthday dinner and the food and cocktails were all excellent to say the least. On top of that, the service was superb and we were greeted by the friendliest waiter ever who brought all of our food and drinks out at the perfect times.
So whenever I go out to eat, I almost always get calamari as my appetizer if they have it on the menu, and this one was perfection. Perfectly crispy on the outside and the squid was not rubbery on the inside, which sometimes is the case when it isn't fresh or has been overcooked. The garlic aioli was the perfect compliment.
So whenever I go out to eat, I almost always get calamari as my appetizer if they have it on the menu, and this one was perfection. Perfectly crispy on the outside and the squid was not rubbery on the inside, which sometimes is the case when it isn't fresh or has been overcooked. The garlic aioli was the perfect compliment.
We also got the Garlic and Ginger popcorn shrimp which was equally as good. Good flavor, perfectly crispy and the ginger flavor was in no way overpowering. However, as with most seafood dishes, they tend to be very stingy with the portions and for the price we could've gotten more shrimp and calamari.
My mom and sister both went with burgers for their mains which they loved and I went for a fish dish which was amazing. There were quite a few different flavors on the dish but they all worked so seamlessly together.
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| Catch of the moment: Blackened fish w/coconut & coriander sweet potato purée, charred spicy pineapple salsa & coriander emulsion.
By the caption, you can tell that there was a lot going on but it worked. If you don't like a lot of sweet flavors in your meals then you may not like this because the only thing on the dish that had a savory flavor was the fish and it was more of a smoky flavor than anything. The sweet potato purée went so well with the coriander emulsion and the pineapple salsa.
I ate what I could and took the rest back to the hotel and polished it off for breakfast the next morning :)
The CK Burger: homemade beef burger with mozzarella, bacon, balsamic onion compote & tomato salsa. Served with fries.
I think the next highlight for me was the drink that I ordered. I'm going to recreate it at home one of these days because it was that good.
Mango Chow: scotch bonnet infused vodka, mango purée, fresh lime wedges, sugar & coriander.
If you're from Trinidad then maybe you can understand why I chose this drink, especially if you're a chow lover like myself. It didn't taste exactly like chow because of the sugar (chow is usually acidic and tarte) but it was close enough and it was delicious.
Definitely get one (or 2 or 3) if you visit Cocktail Kitchen.
*chow - fruits like sour cherries, mango, pineapple, pickled in a spicy vinegar juice often seasoned with hot pepper sauce made from scotch bonnets or scorpion peppers, salt and shadon beni (culantro - cousin to cilantro). The longer it soaks the more flavorsome and spicy it becomes.
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House of Jaipur is the perfect embodiment of the beauty of the fusion of Eastern and Western culture. Eastern in its colors, fabrics, foods and trinkets, Western in its adoption and adaptation of these cultural intricacies.
I knew about the one in Trinidad having gone to tea and lunch with family and friends but was so happy to discover that there was one in Barbados when we went to explore Limegrove shopping mall.
If you're a magpie like myself and are fascinated by such intricately designed ornaments, then do visit. You'll find cute carvings like the ones above, jewelry boxes, garments made out of the most gorgeous, colour rich fabrics, home décor bits and the most gorgeous chutneys you will ever taste, not to mention they offer a menu of fabulous lunches and teas.
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| These can actually be found in Sainsbury's in England :) |
In a way it reminds me of some of the stores in Portobello market for the mere fact that the things you get here are so exclusive; treasures unlike anything else you'd find in a generic home décor store. They're original and so reflective of the beauty of Jaipur which I'm sure is what the owner Dhisha intended.
For the home décor enthusiast, this store provides such inspiration and a bevy of ideas as each corner is filled with something beautiful and unique.
I'm still lusting after these lamps and this clutch!
Can we just take a moment for the vibrancy of these colours?! I'm obsessed!
And can we talk about these cushions?
Little vibrant pops of colour and texture here and there can add such life to a space and this is honestly such a good place to start when trying to add character to your home. It's also just a good place to get inspiration, both figuratively and literally.
As a blogger, I felt so inspired when I left, with a newfound purpose for my blog in terms of content creation and artistic direction.
Have any of you been to House of Jaipur? What did you think?
House of Jaipur Barbados
House of Jaipur is the perfect embodiment of the beauty of the fusion of Eastern and Western culture. Eastern in its colors, fabrics, foods and trinkets, Western in its adoption and adaptation of these cultural intricacies.
I knew about the one in Trinidad having gone to tea and lunch with family and friends but was so happy to discover that there was one in Barbados when we went to explore Limegrove shopping mall.
If you're a magpie like myself and are fascinated by such intricately designed ornaments, then do visit. You'll find cute carvings like the ones above, jewelry boxes, garments made out of the most gorgeous, colour rich fabrics, home décor bits and the most gorgeous chutneys you will ever taste, not to mention they offer a menu of fabulous lunches and teas.
|
| These can actually be found in Sainsbury's in England :) |
In a way it reminds me of some of the stores in Portobello market for the mere fact that the things you get here are so exclusive; treasures unlike anything else you'd find in a generic home décor store. They're original and so reflective of the beauty of Jaipur which I'm sure is what the owner Dhisha intended.
For the home décor enthusiast, this store provides such inspiration and a bevy of ideas as each corner is filled with something beautiful and unique.
I'm still lusting after these lamps and this clutch!
Can we just take a moment for the vibrancy of these colours?! I'm obsessed!
And can we talk about these cushions?
Little vibrant pops of colour and texture here and there can add such life to a space and this is honestly such a good place to start when trying to add character to your home. It's also just a good place to get inspiration, both figuratively and literally.
As a blogger, I felt so inspired when I left, with a newfound purpose for my blog in terms of content creation and artistic direction.
Have any of you been to House of Jaipur? What did you think?
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