A Dinner Party with La Belle Assiette - Fine Dining At Home.

Numbering 4 nationalities (5 if you count yearning) amongst 6 diners, we gathered on a snowy evening gathering from all corners of London to make merry in a pre-Christmas celebration. We covered the globe ranging from Antipodeans (New Zealand and Australian) to Americans with a token English Rose, we knew by the tone of the late excuses from "sorry I’m going to be 5 minutes late" all the way through to "I got held up at carrot point by snowmen - they wanted to know where I was hiding the penguins but I refused to tell them. Trying to uber a reindeer now..." it was going to be fun night.

Disclaimer: Our meal was provided courtesy of La Belle Assiette, but I would absolutely use them again - and with the 3-course meals averaging out from a pub dinner to a luxury restaurant pricing, without having to put up with other noisy diners, I will definitely be using them again. 

Sorry for the long disclaimer. Which I've just made longer.

On the table we spread out Eucalyptus fronds in a beautifully haphazard array, crowned with a bronze ornament placed just so and star tea-lights sprinkled amidst the table centre, twinkling merrily away. Gathering in our good friend’s lounge, we hugged and told tales of our recent adventures.

Aqua Kyoto - Reviewing The Go Zen Lunch Boxes

What a difference a year makes. Roughly 365.25 days ago I was sat in Aqua Kyoto, surrounded by my workmates in a job that wasn't challenging enough, hiding my blogging obsession and being teased about having a raging travel addiction. Funnily enough, our big group were seated at the very table that I took the below photo on. So many things have changed, though the raging travel obsession (obviously) hasn't subsided.

Disclaimer: We were invited guests of Aqua Kyoto but my (very many) thoughts are only ever mine and my repeat visits, I mean victory feasts attest to simply how much I enjoy their cuisine.

This time around, I'm becoming an established freelancer with clients who seem fairly happy, I've written articles for all kinds of places and I've been to New Zealand and back, but I still love to schedule in lunchtimes of indulgence and zen because goodness knows I'm only a human-bean. But, that's more than enough rambling about me.

A Restaurant Review of Celeste at the Lanesborough.

This was a meal both of angelic delicacy and more earthly disappointment. Not the company, obviously, just read on.

After much to-ing and fro-ing, Aftab, Angie, Binny, Zoe and I managed to find a date that could all gather for my birthday (#bloggerproblems) we chose Celeste at the Lanesborough, excited to check off a restaurant that had been languishing on our spreadsheets (I wish I was kidding - but behind many hungry bloggers is an electronic hit list of tasty locations) for much too long. Chef Eric Frechon and Executive Chef Florian Favario hold five Michelin stars between them, so to say we were excited would be an understatement.

Spurred on by friends who had visited many times and loved the fare, we also managed to hook ourselves one of the London Restaurant Festival menus (allowing for less bank manager outrage and more champagne - my old maths teacher would be so proud). Unfortunately, it was a dark and rainy evening. We arrived shaking the rain from our coats and giggling at the rather late 21st birthday mug that arrived from Australian (thanks to my Aunty, who gave it to my Uncle who stored it between house moves.)

9 Places To Explore In Greenwich

Greenwich. It is the home of time, possesses a myriad of historic royal ties and panoramic views of London. What more could you ask for in a borough?

I keep meaning to do these area round-ups as a series, but always seem to be distracted. So far I've managed to sneak in an ode to Marylebone, a gastronomic guide to Kings Cross and a literal meander through the mossy pathways of Richmond Park.

Immersive Theatre & Escape Rooms

On weekends, we keep finding ourselves in a locked room with no windows, a scattering of strange objects, dimly lit furniture and random artwork scattered along the walls. Fortunately, it isn’t the result of too many drinks the night before and accidentally breaking into other peoples homes, but a fascination for the recent proliferation of immersive theatre and escape rooms.

I swear.

'We Love Saturday Brunch' at the InterContinental Hotel, Doha

I can't tell you how many times I've opened Polly's instastories and looked on in envy as she and her friends settle down to beautiful Middle Eastern brunch feasts on the weekends. Seemingly endless selections of international cuisines, icy glasses of bubbly and the chatter of much loved friends.

Friday brunch (the first day of the weekend there) has become an art form in the Middle East, and sadly we missed out on our trip to Dubai due to our night sleeping in the desert running over, so I was more than excited when the Intercontinental Doha invited us to try their 'We Love Saturday Brunch' whilst I holidayed in Qatar.

Disclaimer: We were invited guests of the Intercontinental Doha, 

but my (very many) opines on champagne and sushi are only ever my own.

It was all kinds of deliciousness.

Relaxing on the doorstep of Richmond Park: A staycation hotel review

To say this was the laziest most relaxed adventure yet would be an understatement. 

At the beginning of this year, my one and only Mr Kiwi put me on a travel ban. After a 6 week period that included a surprise birthday trip to Gothenburg, a myriad of business travel, a weekend staycation and two awesome weeks roadtripping around Texas and Louisiana at the end of last year, he felt like he had had enough.

So in order to assuage the flame of wanderlust that has my soul (one day it may waver so I'm making the most of it whilst I can) I had to get crafty. I mean, compromise. Yes, compromise. *shifty eyes*

10 of the best unique UK daytrips (when you've done all the usual ones)

We've all been there. The chat around the office water cooler is of exotic European jaunts, talk in the tea point is of tropical destinations and patter in the pub is all glamourous stays in luxurious hotels and spa pamper sessions. And there is nothing in your diary.

It's bank holiday season again.

Harewood House, West Yorkshire - March Travel Linkup

Many moons ago, I tripped Up North to spend a weekend with my favourite purple-hued American and her sweet boy (look, not all my friends are bloggers but the best ones definitely are or were, there's something about scribing on the internet that makes for interesting people) and feeding our dual-obsession for all things English history, we packed the car for a road trip to one of her favorite spots.

Before you roll your eyes and click off yet another post about a gorgeous stately home that features heavily in dream home pinterest boards, let me just say: Humbolt penguins, a man carrying a lion on his shoulder, flamingos and pygmy goats.

(Psssst scroll to the bottom of the post for the travel linkup widget!)

There we go. That got your attention didn't it?

A Louisiana bayou swamp tour - our incredible experience.

"C'Mon Gators! COME AND EAT US" screams our captain as he lobs chunks of meat over the side of the boat.

Mr Kiwi and I swap uneasy looks with each other, both wondering if going on a swamp tour was such a brilliant idea after all. Miles from New Orleans we were floating on a glorified tin can, surrounded by rusting steel structures wrapped in mangroves and very little else as far as the eye could see.

We wait a just a little bit longer in apprehensive silence*. The smooth surface ripples, two prehistoric eyes appear before an elongated snout rises out of the murky waters. His** jagged back sways through the water as he gets closer and closer to eating us, sorry, start nibbling on the scraps of treats our captain threw in the water.

A Texan brunch at The Big Easy, Canary Wharf

Reliving our roadtrip through a couple of American Gulf Coast States lately had me Hank Marvin for a taste of the Southern hospitality that we enjoyed in each leg of our holiday. Scheduling in a touch of more refined culture afterwards (learning about Lady Emma Hamilton at the National Maritime Museum) the one and only Claire and I tee'd up a post-New Year catchup over cocktails and and a helping of Bar-B-Q.

Life is all about balance after all.

Kazan, a Turkish Restaurant near Victoria Station

It began with a simple Tweet, and ended in prosecco studded with pomegranate seeds and a platter of Baklava. Life doesn't really get much better sometimes.

  Disclaimer: We were invited guests of Kazan but all of my wandering musings and admiration for beautifully slow-cooked lamb are only ever my own...

A couple of months ago searching out a few personal Turkish restaurant recommendations from the coterie of food bloggers that gather around London's tables, there was one restaurant that came up again and again - Kazan in Victoria.

Chai Wu, Luxury Chinese Restaurant Review in Harrods

Quite rightly, Harrods is often described as pure melodrama. 4.5 acres of retail space, seven floors and 330 departments, each offering up its own kind of lavish loopiness. Rising above the bejewelled occupants of Knightsbridge, as luxury sports cars (try to) zoom along the Brompton Road,I found myself making my way through those infamous green awnings once again to enjoy the fine Chinese cuisine at Chai Wu.

Disclaimer: We were invited guests of Chai Wu but all thoughts (and #firstworldproblems) are definitely my own...

As you ascend the floors of Harrods, the shopping gets more and more decadent. On the fifth floor in amongst the designer squash rackets and sneakers, a haven of sushi, Wagyu beef and champagne sits just waiting to ensnare flagging shoppers.

Halloween Cocktails (in conjunction with thebar.com)

In the wilds of Northern England lives a purple-haired, upstate New Yorker. She is ensconced in a beautiful home that came with two chicanerous cats and the boy who stole her heart before taking her wanderlusting around the world.

We met over the interwebs, thanks to a series of blog posts she wrote about their year in New Zealand, and after an initial IRL dinner with our 3rd musketeer Amanda, we keep finding ourselves sat around a table with ribs sore from laughing over the same expat woes.

So, it was only natural when thebar.com contacted me to try and make a few of their Halloween cocktails that I began perusing Dannielle’s glass collection and we arranged a weekend tete a tete, States-style, in her Doncaster home found in the middle of Yorkshire.

Friday Figments and Photos: The end of a decade

“Note to Self: None of us are getting out of here alive, so please stop treating yourself like an after thought. Eat the delicious food. Walk in the sunshine. Jump in the ocean. Say the truth that you’re carrying in your heart like hidden treasure. Be silly. Be kind. Be weird. There’s no time for anything else.” -Nanea Hoffman

YES!!

Cast aside trying to be someone, and BE SOMEONE.

Peninsula Restaurant at the Intercontinental Hotel: A girl's night

They say that people come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Friendship as an adult expat is a weird thing. You find yourself in a strange land having abandoned a lifetime of connections to dive deep in a culture that is strange yet wonderfully familiar all at the same time, and having a good friend can simply make all of the difference in the world.

Miss Runaway Kiwi and I met at some blog event years ago and became fast friends with a speed that only expats armed with a healthy serving of gin can facilitate. Since then we've navigated North African spa hotels (by golf buggy mostly), gained entry to Hogwarts, sampled a plethora of brunches, sashayed down Downton Abbey staircases, swooned over cat gifs, laughed over ridiculousnesses (it's a legit word I swear) and try to catch up whenever she's actually in London and not swanning off somewhere else in the world.

We both come from the same city in New Zealand and seem to have settled in the bright lights of London - mostly with aplomb but certainly with a serious amount of headscratching as we navigate our way through the cobbled pathways both metaphorical and literal.

Friday Figments and photos: October half-point

Nearly 10 years I've lived in this city and still there are moments where London catches my breath.

10 years.

As my black cab crossed Waterloo Bridge recently it struck my expat brain that on one side the modern ash-coloured City rises and the other the gothic magnificence of the Houses of Parliament seems to pierce the sunset. Timeless icons that never seem to fade.

Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Review - London Steakhouse Co

We should all dine out on Monday evenings more often. Instead of falling fretfully asleep on a Sunday night, we should take the first night after the weekend of freedom by the horns and ride the gourmet train into the sunset. Make sure there is something delicious in the diary to get you through that set of Monday blues. Something simple, something steak-y even.

 Disclaimer: We were invited guests of the Marco Pierre White Steakhouse - London Steakhouse Co but all of my very, very many thoughts and memory musings are only ever my own...

I've always quite firmly believed in the ethos of regular luxury moments - occasionally taking a less bombastic approach to simply enjoying yourself more often - and a good steak dinner on a Monday is one of those life luxuries.

Friday figments and photos: Tables and smiles

It's Friday. The penultimate day of the week.

The one where everybody lets their hair down, looks forward to the weekend and hopes for a bit of sunshine along the way.

Friday figments and photos: Cozy September days

I've been thinking a lot lately. Now I know this isn't good for your health, but sometimes errant thoughts just stroll through your mind like birds swooping. Sometimes they look beautful, gliding through the invisible currents and at other times they aren't quite so ethereal if you know what I mean.



Often it's about this little space here. Adventures of a London Kiwi. Is it good enough? Am I too obsessed (probably, yes). Should I stop putting random rambles that don't really mean anything but looks like I'm trying to be deep and meaningful? Is there character? (Lord know's there isn't a niche.) Is there too much character? Are there too many posts that look needy and should really be about something momentous or glamourous?