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Favourite Places: The Wolseley

Filed under British Food, Brunch, Favourite Places, London, Must Try by Chelsea Girl on April 26, 2012 at 1:22 pm {no comments}

I’m continuing with my favourite places posts with my latest visit to The Wolseley, which is easily my favourite restaurant in London.

Not just for the food and fabulous décor but also for the staff. I popped in on Saturday for brunch and recognised one of the staff members who treated me to a gorgeous cake when I was once in there having afternoon tea for my birthday.

If I’m at The Wolseley for lunch or supper, I can’t resist the oysters:

Fine de Claire, to be precise.

To be honest, the oysters are really just an excuse to sip the best Black Velvet in London. J. Sheekey fans may feel the itch to disagree with me on the merits of who serves the best Champagne and Guinness cocktail in London but each to their fave.

This silver tankard was chilled. Just imagine. The perfect way to serve one of my favourite tipples!

For main, I ordered Kedgeree, which was faultless.

I normally opt for a meaty dish when I’m here but this time round I felt like having something fishy and wholesome and I was not disappointed. Goodness knows, I’ve made up for the meat intake these last few nights (have you seen my meatballs and burger tweets recently?)

For drinks, I decided to compliment the fish with a touch of zest, so I ordered a Vodka Martini with a Lemon Twist.

And yes, after a yummy lunch I decided to skip dessert. Sorry, no photos of the dessert table but trust me, the cakes here are great!

Whether you’re dining in the main room because you’ve been organised enough to book ahead or in the front part of the restaurant, which is left alone for walk-ins, the interior of The Wolseley is easily one of the best in London – if not the best.

The whole place oozes style yet it is so down to earth and friendly. That is why any time of the day or night, this restaurant is a win/win situation for me. And a real treat!

Mappin & Webb Encapture Ring Collection

Filed under Jewellery, Shopping by Chelsea Girl on April 25, 2012 at 8:33 am {no comments}

Every girl needs a bit of sparkle and colour in their life, especially on a day like this. So, let me introduce you to the Mappin & Webb Encapture ring collection which I think are so pretty!

The new spring/summer colours of orange sapphire, soft pink sapphire and hot pink sapphire can be worn alone or stacked together. And only available for a limited period of time (until March next year), you can buy them for £1,500 each.

Who else likes to wear pink when the day is this grey? Think Pink, I say! Or as one of my favourite Audrey Hepburn films goes …

If you’re thinking ahead to the Jubilee, Mappin & Webb will also have a stackable collection of Eternity rings to suit the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee four day celebrations – available from the end of May.

Don’t they like Royal?

The Little Black Gallery’s launch at The Imperial Arms with Eat Street

Filed under Must Try, Photography, Pubs, Street Food by Chelsea Girl on April 24, 2012 at 2:35 pm {no comments}

I’m so thrilled to be writing this post right now because I’m very excited about The Little Black Gallery‘s second home at The Imperial Arms.

Tamara Beckwith and Ghislain Pascal have teamed up with Iain and Amelia Heggie to bring us some of the best photography in London as well as the best street food in association with Eat Street. Yes, that’s right, the street food scene has moved West!

Last night was the launch party to celebrate this fantastic collaboration and all I can say is hats off to The Little Black Gallery for spearheading this venture. Why?

Well, I’ve always thought The Imperial Arms was a missed opportunity. I’ve tried many times to give it a chance but it’s never won me over until now. What’s changed my mind?

I love the attention to detail …

And of course, that means the photography which adorns the walls …

This pub now oozes style whilst at the same time, it is very inviting …

And as for the food? A big win!

The Bowler, which specialises in meatball dishes, will be serving up on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings whilst other members of the Street Food conglomerate will be setting the menu on Friday and Saturday nights.

I tried a couple of The Bowler’s dishes and I could instantly see myself coming back for more. The meat was both succulent and very tasty: real melt in the mouth experience that tingled the tastebuds.

I also crept upstairs to watch The Bowler in action as each meatball burger was handcrafted with plenty of care and attention. Very impressive.

And the result?

Very, very, good!

And who would have thought that a meatball could be made up in so many different ways?

What’s so exciting about The Little Black Gallery and Eat Street working together is that I’ve been looking for something with a bit of edge for a while on the King’s Road. You know, that element of sexiness and deliciousness under the same roof?

Well, I’ve found it at The Imperial Arms and if you follow me on Twitter, just don’t be surprised if you see quite a few photos coming from here! This pub is so on my radar now.

St. George’s Day Celebrations at Trafalgar Square

Filed under Events, London by Chelsea Girl on April 23, 2012 at 12:30 pm {no comments}

On Saturday afternoon, I happened upon the St. George’s Day celebrations in Trafalgar Square as I made my way from The Wolseley to the Tate Modern on foot. It was such a gorgeous afternoon and given the dreadful rainy week we’d just had, I wanted to be outside as much as possible.

There was a great atmosphere so I took a few photos. You can check them out here.

Vintage Fashion: The Sunday Scene

Filed under Fashion, King's Road, Vintage by Chelsea Girl on April 23, 2012 at 12:00 pm {no comments}

The fabulous team behind Chelsea Rocks and Live @ The Cellar which are both held at The World’s End are now bringing fashion to the streets.

The Vintage fashion fair which will be held on Sunday 29th April (2012) is an all day affair with half-price cocktails and live music. It starts at 2pm and goes on until 6pm.

If you want to keep updated on The Sunday Scene’s events, here is their Facebook group page. And here is their Facebook events page for more information.

I’m definitely popping down. Maybe see you there?

The Royal Portraits Exhibition at The Ritz

Filed under Art by Chelsea Girl on April 22, 2012 at 10:55 am {no comments}

I visited the Marie Antoinette suite at The Ritz yesterday to have a look at The Royal Portraits exhibition.

I also met its artist: the leading miniature portraitist Alexei Maximov who is the first Russian artist in history to have been given permission to portray the royal family members in their official residences.

There I discovered beautiful sketches of members of the royal family from all over Europe. The portraits were so delicately drawn and some of them were achieved in a single sitting. My favourite sketch, of the Queen’s Mother, took only an hour and a half to complete. Her features looked so soft and her image so approachable, it was a wonder to imagine how Maximov managed to capture her spirit in such a short space of time.

The centrepiece of the exhibition are the miniatures which stand in the in their glass cases in the middle of the room. These miniatures were commissioned by the Moscow Kremlin in the 1990s and have a collective worth of an estimated £10 million.

The sketches were preparation for these artistic enamels which involved a painstaking process to create. Each colour application was considered either cold, medium or hot in relation to its time and temperature in the oven: cold being 600 degrees celsius and hot being 1000 degrees celsius – and each colour layer had to be put in and taken out of the oven at least twenty times. Can you imagine how fragile this whole process is? Quite amazing really.

I discussed the individual sketches and enamels with the artist. I pointed out my favourite ones as he told me stories about some of his pieces. It was a real pleasure to hear them.

The public view is running until 1st May and it is open by appointment only. You can call 0207 739 90 96 to arrange.

This is the first time the entire collection has been shown. And afterwards, the Queen will be presented with an original portrait in celebration of her Diamond Jubilee. The gift will then become part of the Royal Collection and will be looked after by the Queen on behalf of the nation. So don’t miss out on this opportunity to view what will become a national treasure whilst you can. It’s a real treat!

For more information on The Royal Portraits exhibition, here is the website.

My Social Network

Filed under Chelsea Girl, King's Road by Chelsea Girl on April 20, 2012 at 8:39 am {no comments}

Since returning from my hols in the Philippines, I’ve been relatively quiet on the blogging front. That’s because I’ve been working hard on stuff behind the scenes. It’ll all make sense in time but boy, there’s a lot of paperwork! All will be back to norm after this weekend, when I’ll be doing more tidying up on my blog.

For now, I just wanted to let you know that I’ll also be stepping it up with my other social media platforms. I’m here on Facebook and Pinterest. And on Instagram, I’m @kingsroadrocks just as I am on Twitter.

I also have a couple of Tumblr accounts: Watching Trends and King’s Road Rocks. The latter is great for vintage pics of the King’s Road.

At this stage, I’m not going to put my G+ account out there because I’ve just looked at it and I’ve been beyond slack with it.

In the meantime if you’re using any of these and I’m not following you, can you flag it up so that I can?

And just one last word to the PRs and businesses: if you’re going to tweet me expecting me to RT your client/business promos, please say hello first. I’m only human after all and not an RT bot. I don’t RT everything that’s sent my way but if I like your product, the likelihood is that I will. And if I do, a thank you wouldn’t go amiss either. I mean, I did just do you a favour didn’t I?

I’d also like to build my social network with likeminded peeps rather than be treated like a hoe – you catch my drift? If not, I wrote more about it on my blog for The Huffington Post, which you can read here.

I think that’s it. And now that the weather is looking peachy, here’s to a fabulous end of the week! *here’s clinking to Friday!*

Holiday Pics: The Philippines

Filed under Hotels, Travel by Chelsea Girl on April 18, 2012 at 8:35 am {no comments}

I can’t believe it’s been over a week since I returned from my holiday in The Philippines. And as per usual, I had such a fabulous time!

Arriving into Manila, we stayed at the Marriott for a night. We also stayed there for a night before flying out of the country at the end of our holiday.

It was difficult to find somewhere good to stay in this bustling city. Security is a huge issue and judging from online reviews, the 5 star global hotel chains who have set up shop in Manila, seem to have let their standards slip upon arriving here.

Marriott is the newest luxury hotel by many years and so everything sparkles.

The rooms are clean …

The cocktails are fantastic!

And the food, fabulous!

As for security, there are automated barriers, sniffer dogs and metal detectors. True, I was somewhat shocked when I saw the level of security surrounding this hotel but once inside and after hearing a few stories, I felt very safe.

One night in Manila was all we needed before taking a domestic flight to an island called Bohol.

This is Alona Beach on Panglao Island, which is just a drive over the bridge from Bohol. If you’ve been to Borocay, consider Panglao as its pretty little (though it is much bigger) sister island. Absolutely gorgeous!

There is plenty of diving and snorkelling that goes on here …

The guys who made this cocktail also have a bar on Borocay. The perfect sundowner!

We also did some island hopping …

And visited The Chocolate Hills in Bohol …

We also had lunch on Loboc River …

But we mostly lounged around and swam …

Ate very healthily …

And enjoyed the beautiful surroundings …

And of course I brought a little bit of the King’s Road with me …

Needless to say, it was absolute bliss!

And I can’t wait to go back!

Discovering Film Locations in Kensington & Chelsea

Filed under Cinema, Cycling, Events, King's Road by Chelsea Girl on April 17, 2012 at 12:01 pm {no comments}

On Saturday, I joined Bikeminded‘s first Cycle Film Tour which has been launched as part of a series of themed cycle rides around The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.

I’d been on a couple of Bikeminded’s rides before, which have involved cupcakes, ghost stories and the history of the local area. And they keep getting better!

We started along the Chelsea Embankment, which is easily one of my favourite places to cycle and before setting off we were offered one of these popcorn cupcakes, which were made by one of the cyclists who had meant to come along on the tour.

The tour took us through the back streets of Chelsea and into Kensington via Notting Hill and towards Ladbroke Grove. During the ride, we discovered landmarks which were used as locations for films such as A Clockwork Orange, Blow Out and Performance amongst classic cult hits. And we also discovered where films such as Golden Eye, Sherlock Holmes and Eyes Wide Shut were also filmed.

Here is a house which was featured in Withnail & I:

To sum up what I loved about this tour (especially as I am such a film geek): having grown up in Chelsea and still living here, it’s so fabulous to discover the significance of the buildings around me.

I also enjoyed discovering new cycle routes. Now I know how to get from the King’s Road to Portobello Market without having to take the busy main roads!

So if you want to have a try, the film tours will be taking place on Saturdays through April and May. The tickets are £7 each and you can book here.

Bikeminded are also organising a Music Tour (which I can’t wait for) and an Alice In Wonderland Tour, which sounds like it is going to be uh-mazing! To find out why I’m excited about both of these and/or to book your tickets, click here.

And if you are a bit of a film fan like myself, Bikeminded are also running a short film competition. The deadline for entries is 15th June and you can read more about it, here.

*Finally, to add a small disclaimer: Whilst I do freelance as a social media strategist for Bikeminded, they have not paid me to write this post. I wrote about Saturday because I had a really lovely time. In fact I would go as far as to say it was quite inspired and I just wanted my readers to know about my latest cycle ride.*

Fashion: ‘The Enchanted Forest’ at Fitriani

Filed under Fashion, Shopping by Chelsea Girl on April 13, 2012 at 8:41 am {no comments}

Yesterday, I popped into Fitriani on Beauchamp Place to have a peek at their Autumn/Winter 2012 collection entitled ‘The Enchanted Forest’.

With the impending release of Snow White and The Huntsman and news of Angelina Jolie’s next starring role as Maleficent, the evil Queen in Sleeping Beauty, I couldn’t help but think this collection was perfectly relevant.

The magical realism of fairytales continues in our everyday. And Fitriani’s luxury ladies label provides such offerings in the vein of ready-to-wear, made to measure as well as couture.

Yesterday I met Sairah Hicks, Fitriani’s Head of Design, and complimented her on her latest collection. What I love most about her work is the intricate, handcrafted techniques she employs with Fitriani’s signature folding, embroidery and tears of beaded lace.

Fitriani’s sequin pieces were also eye-catching and Hicks’s versatility with texture and mood had completely won me over. She has provided something for every special occasion, from attending a wedding to standing on the red carpet.

Fitriani’s made-to-measure and couture services are available by appointment only, while the ready-to-wear collection can be viewed in Fitriani’s showroom at 32 Beauchamp Place. For more information, here is their website.

Breakfast at Aubaine

Filed under Breakfast, Brunch, French Food, Must Try by Chelsea Girl on April 13, 2012 at 8:01 am {no comments}

It’s been a while since I last popped into Aubaine on Brompton Road but yesterday I was there for a breakfast meeting.

Usually on the weekends, this place is filled up and there is a buzzy atmosphere. Yesterday, it was tranquil as Chelsea locals popped in for breakfast on their own or with friends.

For breakfast, I had the Duck egg omelette with Ugie smoke salmon and horseradish crème fraîche.

It was light yet full-bodied and the horseradish crème fraîche had a delicate flavour. It was the perfect start to the day!

King’s Road Fashion: Ad Hoc

Filed under Accessories, Boutiques, Fashion, King's Road, Must Try, Shopping by Chelsea Girl on April 12, 2012 at 7:42 am {no comments}

Goodness knows, I’ve been meaning to write about post about Ad Hoc for as long as I can remember. It is easily one of my favourite shops along the King’s Road and it’s a real mecca for Chelsea Girls.

Yesterday, Ad Hoc released this fab video starring Kitty Candy. If you haven’t seen it, check it out. I love it!

Interview: Claudia Sebire, Owner of Chelsea Fashion Boutique

Filed under Boutiques, Fashion, Must Try, Shopping by Chelsea Girl on April 10, 2012 at 7:52 am {no comments}

Chelsea fashion boutique, Claudia Sebire, is celebrating 25 years on the Fulham Road with a recently launched e-commerce site which includes collections by Strenesse, Talbot Runhof and Trixi Schober.

Renowned for her attentive and personalised in-store customer service, Claudia Sebire is also keen to provide a similar experience for her online clients, as she explains:

“What I provide is a tightly edited collection of key pieces from tried and tested labels which our customers know and trust. Each season I choose colour stories and directional pieces that are pulled together with beautiful accessories for my clients. I am excited by the concept of bringing this highly personalised approach to e tail and broadening the scope of the store. ”

Located along one of my favourite Chelsea strips – at the end of the Chelsea Beach within the vicinity of Beaufort Street, the local cinema and a number of favourite bars and restaurants, the Claudia Sebire store has always been on my radar from the days when I would walk past it on my way to school.

So it was a great pleasure to meet with the store’s namesake owner before I went on holiday and to ask Claudia herself, about the new direction she is taking her business in.

Upon arriving at the store, I was made instantly welcome and as we descended to the lower ground floor for a seat on one of the comfy armchairs and a cup of herbal tea, I was secretly thrilled to be getting to know the woman behind one of Chelsea’s favourite fashion boutiques.

CG: Congratulations on 25 years!

CS: Thank you.

CG: Your new e-commerce site also sounds very exciting. What is the biggest challenge you’re facing with it?

CS: I am keen to evoke a similar personal-style shopping experience which my clients receive in-store. We enjoy good client relationships here and we make sure that we cater for each client’s individual taste.

CG: Who comes to shop at Claudia Sebire?

CS: I’ve had clients who have been coming to me for the last 25 years; lifelong clients. They have been the backbone of my business since day one. I have clients who are also time poor, so the personalised service which I offer them is very helpful.

CG: What drew you to set up your store in Chelsea?

CS: I moved to the area when I was 18 years old and had started working for Blakes Hotel. And at the time I couldn’t understand why there wasn’t a boutique in Chelsea which I could go to. There was only Knightsbridge. So after my time at Blakes, I decided to start my own business on the Fulham Road and I have been here ever since.

CG: What are your favourite shops in Chelsea?

CS: The Conran Shop never lets me down. It used to be housed where Joseph is now and over the years, I have relied on it for presents, furniture, you name it. The Conran Shop has always stayed true.

I also like what they have done with the space in Anthropologie. It’s beautiful. There’s something inspiring about this shop. It’s individual.

CG: I love eating and drinking and would love to know, what is your favourite cocktail?

CS: I would say a Mojito.

CG: And your favourite London restaurant?

CS: I like Moro very much.

CG: And what about your favourite landmarks in Chelsea or beyond?

CS: The V&A memorial is wonderful and so is The Houses of Parliament. The architecture of the City’s back streets is spectacular.

Whilst talking to Claudia, a customer came downstairs for a browse and it was easy to see how relaxed the shopping atmosphere was here. Claudia knows her clients by name and they also feel comfortable with her.

In an age where chains and property development on a large scale seem to be invading Chelsea, it is very refreshing to witness the personal touch in Claudia’s approach to her clients. And looking at the Claudia Sebire e-commerce site, I have no doubt that Claudia’s ambition for a personalised online service will also succeed. Here, take a look.

En Vacances

Filed under Cocktails, Travel by Chelsea Girl on March 23, 2012 at 8:46 pm {one comment}

This is just a short post to say I’ll be taking a short break from my regular updates – just a couple of weeks whilst I hop on a plane for a little holiday.

When I return, I have plenty of Chelsea posts lined up and undoubtedly I’ll be uploading a few of my holiday snaps. In the meantime, I’d like to wish all my readers a fabulous Easter and happy clinking! See you soon! xox

Sharpham Park: Spelt Delights

Filed under Health Food, Shopping by Chelsea Girl on March 22, 2012 at 7:56 am {no comments}

I have mentioned my food intolerances a few times and the latest discovery to help me maintain that non-bloated feeling, which I have been introduced to is Sharpham Park.

For those who don’t know, Sharpham Park is the brainchild of Mulberry founder Roger Saul – that’s right, the luxury brand. So it’s pretty obvious that the creator of Sharpham Park knows all about good taste.

I had discovered spelt in Austria whilst I was staying at the Park Hotel Igls, a Mayr health retreat. You can read more about it here. Spelt is an alternative to wheat flour. It isn’t gluten free but it is much tastier and is considered the healthier option. Spelt is easier to digest and it involves simple as well as complex carbs. It also has many other nutritional values.

I did my research because since I have taken care with what I generally eat, I don’t have that bloated feeling anymore and it feels so good. There’s no going back now and it means that I can also enjoy the odd burger – with bun – guilt free.

In Austria, I was consuming spelt in the form of crackers, which were tasty but I never thought they could be made any more exciting than well – crackers. But I was wrong.

Sharpham Park has introduced me to their cereals.

My favourite is the dates and walnuts bran flakes but admittedly I have yet to try the berries option. There is also the spelt flakes with rice flakes to mix it up a bit.

The Courgette, Garlic & Thyme Speltotto is for when you’re in a hurry and you want to grab something quick, tasty and preferably something that isn’t going to make you feel like crap. This risotto dish which has been named by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall takes 20-minutes and all you have to really do is add water and stir every now and again. Easy and tasty.

I have also tried the pasta. I really thought I wasn’t going to be able to eat pasta again but big whoop! I can. Same with Sharpham Park’s Shortbread. Delicious! And their oat cakes and granola bars are great too.

If you’re looking for spelt recipes, you can find them on Sharpham Park’s website, here. You can also buy Sharpham Park’s products online or else you can find them in your local Waitrose.