QuickBliss Spa, Debenhams, Oxford Street

I was delighted with the results of my facial at the big Bliss Spa in South Kensington and so was excited to be visiting the younger QuickBliss area in Debenhams. This new addition to the Bliss family is pampering shoppers in need of a quick pick me up. The treatments are done in two reclining chairs on the shop floor, just behind the counter.

After you get accustomed to the blaring Christmas soundtrack and chatter of frantic shoppers around you these Quickbliss mini services are really relaxing and nourishing. Sometimes the faff of getting changed and ready for a beauty treatment can be frustrating and as a busy girl I like to get straight to it – Quickbliss is the perfect solution for impatient clients like me. My therapist for the treatment was Shen, a lovely and experienced beautician who is passionate and informative about the service they provide.

Taking inspiration from the extensive full spa menu, Quickbliss in Debenhams has compiled a shorter more precise list of facials, eye treatments, foot treatments, and special services all lasting less than an hour and costing £18 upwards. Here they are about efficiency – getting the best results in as little time as possible. I tried the Oxygen Blast, a shorter version of the spa’s most famous and popular complexion reviver facial. It lasts fifty minutes, and includes an intensive cleansing, exfoliating fruit acid wash, hydrating enzyme pack and vitaminized oxygen spray. It really is a breath of fresh air for your face.

I am wary of loading my face with product after product, but at Bliss you can feel the different lotions working on your skin… the exfoliator tingles, the oxygen spray tickles, they feel like active working products. I loved the machines Shen used during my facial, the porefecter gadget that finely vibrates to deep cleanse the skin and elimate blackheads, and a strangely surreal oxygen machine that blows cold fresh oxygen into your skin and leaves you feeling bright and beautiful. The best thing is – all the pampering products are available to buy.

As a parting gift Shen gave me a little pouch of goodies: Clog dissolving cleansing milk, lid & lash wash makeup remover and triple oxygen+c energizing cream, all to help me on my way with a more effective beauty routine.

Next time you’re having a stressful time shopping on Oxford Street pop into Debenhams for a blast of beautification - it is heavenly.

Bliss Spa, South Kensington

Many girls have recommended Bliss Spa to me… and when I mentioned I was visiting this Luxury London spa to the girls at work a variety of oohs and ahhs followed, “what are you getting?” they cried.

Working in a new office in South Kensington, Bliss Spa is just a 5 minute walk from the tube station, sitting amongst the gorgeously smart shops like Paul Smith. I was glad to go inside away from the dark cold streets, and into the glowing winter wonderland inside, smiling faces greeted me at the door. I was accompanied downstairs to the lavish changing area where I wrapped up in the softest white gown. Through another series of doors and I found myself in a room with fruit and chocolate brownie treats, a quick complimentary snack before the pampering begins.

I tried the Post-Party Perk Up (30 mins £60.00) intended as a revitalizing quick facial to perk up tired, party pooped skin. The treatment includes a hydrating, skin-reviving facial and eye treatment. After a brief consultation with my informative beautician, she began rubbing various different lotions and potions into my appreciative face. Everything smelt and felt delicious with the addition of feeling beneficial to my weary skin and eyes. The mask was the most exciting: gel pads were placed underneath my eyes, and a thick gloopy mud mask slathered all over my face, neck and even my eyes, I felt like I was being mummified. When the mask was gently peeled away my skin felt like it had a new lease of life, and has remained silky soft even days later. I pleaded in my head for the facial not to end, but after a heavenly 30 minutes I had to face the world, luckily with a glossy new face.

Oprah Winfrey called Bliss the best facial she’s ever had, and now I know why. Your skin will thank you for a blissful treatment from this spa. I left debating how I could raise the money to go back and treat myself to the full blown Bliss facial, perhaps a Christmas present to myself?

Visit the Bliss website here, or call 0207 590 6146 to book an appointment.

SUDA, Thai Restaurant, Covent Garden

Suda restaurant arrived in London five months ago, located in the romantically lit St Martin’s Courtyard in Covent Garden. The eatery is casual and comfortable and perfect for a light lunch in between shopping stints. Turning down Slingsby Place I was amazed by this sparkling oasis, lovely independent shops and flower stalls make it a gorgeous area to hang out.

Inside the staff are unassuming and sweet, offering help with the menu when I struggled to choose a Thai inspired cocktail. My dad chose the aromatic Lemongrass Bellini – fresh lemongrass with Thai ginger, a lemon twist, charged with prosecco and I had an eccentric but very pretty Thai Sunrise, a martini cocktail made with Gold tequila shaken with Cointreau, passion fruit puree, lime, sugar and finished with a drop of grenadine. Not a mix of flavours I would usually choose but the drink was surprisingly well balanced.

We decided on a selection of starters to share… an unbelievably yummy portion of chicken satay sticks, perfectly marinated and cooked served with a spicy peanutty sauce. Salty sweet potato crisps & tom yum flavoured rice crackers arrived presented in two glasses. A bowl of light crispy calamari looked so fresh and delectable that even I, a serial non-fish eater tried it, and though I found the texture a little rubbery, can’t deny that they tasted good. The signature SUDA fresh rice wrap with braised duck and Thai herbs was an interesting cold dish that I found surprisingly enjoyable. The only starter we didn’t approve of was the Thai eggplant salad with grilled scallops and chilli, it was an odd combination of ingredients, not very easy on the palate.

The fragrant mains created a wonderfully colourful table, Green Chicken Curry for me, and Red Roast Duck Curry for my dad, and a large bowl of Prawn Pad Thai to share. The curries were delicious with ample ginger and flavoursome vegetables, though still quite spicy considering we asked for milder versions of the menu options. The meat was thinly sliced, beautifully cooked and seasoned appropriately. The Pad Thai noodles were sweet and comforting, the ideal dish for a winter’s lunch.

To satisfy our sugary urges we tried a couple of the Thai desserts, notorious for being odd. Tropical fruit sorbets were a nice palate cleanser though a little boring, the banana fritters were much more exciting, arriving on the plate still hot and served with a dollop of creamy vanilla glace.

Suda offers fresh and tasty Thai food, inspired by a balance of the key five flavours – sweet, sour, salty, bitter and spicy. We had a lovely meal that reminded me, once again why Thai food is my favourite cuisine.

Visit the Suda website here.

Mastercard Priceless Events: Winter Wonderland at The Natural History Museum

It was just like the film 'Night at the Museum' when we turned up at the magically illuminated Natural History Museum for one of Mastercard's Priceless nights, I was invited along to their most recent event at London’s most famous Museum to learn, explore and eat.

The hall inside was wondrous, soothing string music, lights flickering and glasses of champagne cocktail clinking, a true Winter Wonderland. After some delicious canapes (so good, you want to follow the waitresses around), there was a brief talk where the evening was explained... we were split into groups and taken round with guides - experts in different areas: Dinosaurs (Paul Barrett), Fossils (Adrian Lister), Plants (Mark Spencer), Rocks and Meteorites (Natasha Stephen) and Mammals (Louise Tomsett).

We were off to see the dinosaur man first... torches were handed out for our atmospheric tour in darkness. It was exciting to understand these fascinating creatures and to see the proof of their existence. Although I have visited the Museum before, never have I been so intrigued and amazed by the stories behind the specimens. The mammals are intriguing and adorable, we learnt about snow foxes and reindeers (the scientists were keen to put a topical Christmas spin on their talks). Next we walked through the spectacular vault to reach Natasha Stephen, who specialises in meteorites from Mars! We all got to hold and examine various ancient meteorites, including rocks that had compounds older than the earth itself, it was amazing.

Before the final two sessions, we were treated to more music and bowls of food in the main hall: Thai beef curry, sausages and mash and vegetarian risotto was on offer, warming and comforting food that replenished our energy. We met a lovely group of people who mentioned that they attend all the Mastercard Priceless events, and couldn’t praise the programme highly enough.

Mark Spencer, plant man, was engaging and friendly, better still he was very passionate about his speciality and this rubbed off on us… the talk about holly and ivy and other Christmas plants was very memorable. Finally we went down to the fossils to see specimens from the last Ice Age, apparently relatively new fossils compared to others in the vast National History Museum collection. It was hilarious to hear how these mammoth tusks and lion imprints had been found in Ealing and Isleworth, the very ground we walk on every day.

Exhausted from our exciting educational evening, (I did regret wearing heels for such a museum trek), we ate our chocolate mousses and left before the crowd. Thank you Mastercard for a truly imaginative and informative experience, it was one of the most unique nights I have ever had the pleasure of blogging.

Visit the Mastercard website here.

Anokha, Indian Restaurant, Acton

To find a decent restaurant in Acton is quite a revelation. As soon as Pizza Express hits the chavvy acton highstreet I'm sure things will start looking up... But currently we have very few places to experience fine dining. A rare occasion of my whole family being reunited called for a special celebration, which came in the form of a trip down the new local Indian restaurant, Anokha.

Anokha strives to offer guests authentic Indian cuisine and it certainly seems to deliver as the place was completely full on this Friday night. As fireworks were blazing entertaining passers by outside we were having our own drama inside Anokha where the particularly excitable fire alarm was ringing loudly every few minutes in the kitchen, initial growing pains. In a small airtight restaurant I would usually find this kind of imperfection infuriating however the sweet natured waiters made the whole exxperience so lovely you couldn't help but smile and laugh at the noise!

After crisp poppadums our main courses arrived, not so promptly, but I guess we were a large table of six. The curries were delicious with soft and subtle flavours, exceptionally fresh ingredients, and impressive attention to detail. I ordered the particularly showy Chicken Shashlik Bhuna: diced marinated chicken cooked with herbs, tomatoes, onions and green peppers in a rich sauce and served on a sizzler! It was fragrant and filling and wonderfully unique served on the hot portable stove, quite a show piece. The rest of the table was filled with interesting selections from the menu, a creamy and sweet Chicken Korma, Tandoori Chicken, Tikka Biryani and an assortment of vegetable dishes. Miraculously we managed to clear the table. For six the meal cost £70, incredibly reasonable considering the quality and taste.

I give Acton a hard time but hopefully the arrival of Anokha marks the start of a revamp of Churchill road, a part of Acton that has a lot of potential.

Visit the Anokha website here.

Three5 World Tapas, Restaurant, South Kensington

Three5 World Tapas is based in MyHotel Chelsea, a restaurant for overnight guests but also open to the public wishing to dine. Firstly I must mention the name is, in my opinion, dreadful... It is impossible to remember or understand. After investigation, I am guessing that is corresponds to the street number of the hotel, which is 35.

The restaurant space is small and cosy and has an informal vibe. We started with cocktails - I had the refreshing watermelon martini, my friend chose the classic mojito. Food is split into: ‘smaller bites’, ‘larger bites’ and ‘the classics’. We ordered an assortment of smaller and larger bites acting as starter and main. Our waitress recommended a total of about ten plates; we took her advice, and a banquet arrived. I was relieved to see other tables tackling similar quantities of food… for once I didn’t look like the greediest diner!

The food was comforting though the majority was quite oily and heavy. We picked at the various canape-like dishes. My favourite was the zucchini frittata: thin and crispy courgette slivers coated in light salty batter - devilishly delicious. The bruschetta was good, with a thick slice of creamy mozzarella and flavoursome basil. Arancini were a bit of a let down, served with fragrant saffron sauce, these rice balls were tasteless with an unpleasant gritty texture.

For second course we were brought a selection of larger sharing plates, slightly more substantial dishes less easy to eat with your fingers. The house salad was beautifully presented - a mass of fresh peppery rocket with yummy sun dried tomatoes, soft parmesan and a splash of sweet balsamic vinegar… I appreciated having some greenery in contrast to the rich meat choices. Melanzane a la Parmigiana was disappointing especially as this Italian aubergine and tomato recipe is usually a winner with me. It was again too heavy with too much bread, ruining the other flavours and making it soggy. Fish cakes and celeriac salad went down well with my guest, fresh well seasoned fish, soft inside with a crispy outside. The herb marinated lamb cutlets were a little tough and arrived on an unnecessary lump of mashed potato.

Puddings however exceeded all expectations, dense creme brulee cheesecake and light and divine lemon posset with passion fruit thick whipped cream. Both were delicious, but the citrusy posset really was a lovely combination of flavours and textures. Chatting away, with our fresh mint teas, it was nice to pick at these desserts at our leisure, no rush, no pressure.

Three5 offers world cuisine inspired tapas: a fusion of flavours in small portions ideal for sharing. The food isn’t spectacular but for a relaxed, affordable meal Three5 is a pleasant place to dine.

Visit THREE5 WORLD TAPAS website here.

Ducksoup, Soho

At a bloggers lunch a few weeks ago, the other foodies at the table discussed the newest, hottest eateries on the London streets. Ducksoup was mentioned- a cute and atmospheric restaurant in Soho, serving up good quality, interesting food.

Wandering round Soho with two friends the other night for a catch up dinner, we were amazed by the amount of restaurants and quirky cafes to choose from. Initially we were intent on trying Polpo or Polpetto, two restaurants I have been meaning to write about for ages, but with long waiting lists at both we moved on to try and satisfy our hunger elsewhere. Ducksoup appeared and remembering the foodies' advice, we went in crossing our fingers that a table for three might be available. They were extremely accommodating, and worked hard and fast to clear a suitable space for us.

Ducksoup is the brainwave of chef Julian Biggs, helped by Clare Lattin and Rory McCoy, who at times have all worked with Mark Hix. The food is stylish but understated - they don't need to make it obvious through showy cooking... Ducksoup is cool, thoughtful and completely unpretentious. The decoration, or lack of it, may suggest carelessness... but this artfully unbothered look mimics the hip eateries in New York.

Sitting round the bar directly behind the lively musicians playing that night, it was very loud and felt just like dining in a buzzing Parisian bistro. The wine list is scrawled across the wall and menus are individually written out each day for the constantly evolving list of dishes available. Bar snacks, small plates and larger main meals are featured, we chose to order smaller dishes to share tapas style. I was just disappointed to see no duck soup on the menu!

Our waitress was very efficient and informative and, though the restaurant was completely full, brought out all our food promptly. She discussed the wine list with expertise, and advised us what we might prefer. We ordered a bottle of the very individual house white that has a very cloudy appearance and has a taste a little akin to cider, it was surprisingly delicious.

Some of the food was exceptional: the whole grilled quail with burnt lemon and tahini yoghurt was wonderfully crisp and caramelised with tender meat and a contrasting salty yoghurt dip. We loved the quail so much we dismantled it and devoured it, not leaving a scrap of meat remaining. The roast shallots with ricotta were delicious and comforting and the Fleurette cheese with fresh crusty bread was to die for, very creamy soft cheese with a mild but distinctive flavour. My friends seemed to love the braised cuttlefish with chorizo, that arrived black as night in a white bowl.

I was disappointed with the artichokes that arrived very dry, rather bland and under-seasoned; but aside from this the food was unusual and delicious, prepared and presented with care and attention. We paid £65 for a filling meal with wine for three and left wholly satisfied with everything about the dining experience at Ducksoup.

Visit the Ducksoup website here.

Hot on the Highstreet Week 81 - Hermes in Harrods Pop-up

I began collecting Hermes twilly scarves a few years ago when I spotted a second hand yellow one glinting in the Notting Hill vintage shop window… I gathered up a bag of my old clothes to take in and swap for the beautiful scarf I had fallen in love with. Two years later and my growing collection includes a beautiful black twilly from my trip to New York, a sophisticated white twilly from the Hermes shop at Nice airport and a few others - each acts as a memento of a particular place or time. I love them all, and wear them regularly: in my hair, on my wrist or round my bag.

When I heard that Hermes were holding a pop-up shop in Harrods over the Christmas period, I was there in a flash. The pop-up honours twenty years of Hermes at Harrods and celebrates the brand’s most iconic accessory – the silk scarf. In one corner of the busy shop a colourful demonstration is set up. A beautiful display shows many of this seasons designs, including the new, exclusive to Harrods, ‘H’ scarf. Stylists are on hand to demonstrate the multiple uses of these versatile scarves, illustrating the endless styling possibilities. Women and men swarmed to the pop-up when I visited last Friday each decorated in gloriously coloured silk, turbans on their heads, scarves round their necks - it was a sight to behold.

After receiving an exotic scarf makeover myself (see the photo above), I had my photo taken by the photographer for the Hermes website and was given an orange bag with a few goodies to take away. This included a pack of the knotting cards explaining how to get the most out of your Hermes scarf with all the different ways of knotting, plaiting, twisting and tying to create numerous fabulous styles and looks.

I’ve already tried a few of the new styles and love the results. While I am still coming to terms with my new tangerine blonde hair, my twilly scarves are the perfect hair distraction.

Hermès Pop Up Scarf Boutique at Harrods

Harrods Room of Luxury II,

Ground Floor


Dec 5 2011 – Jan 2 2012


Stylists on hand every Wednesday and Friday afternoon

De la Panza, Islington

De la Panza is tricky to find, and you will certainly work up an appetite if you choose to walk from one of the not-so-close tube stations, which we did. This is a good thing, because steaks here are epic and require a degree of hunger.

“De La Panza” means all about the belly, and is based on the bodegons that you can find in Buenos Aires. It has a friendly atmosphere inside with delicious aromas from the kitchen tickling your senses. We ordered a bottle of the house white which was deliciously light and fresh though in retrospect a red wine probably would have suited the predominantly meat meal better.

Knowing too well that hearty steaks were to follow we ordered light starters. My companion tried the Ensalada de la Casa - a conventional salad with balanced ingredients: lovely ripe avocado slices, and spiced marinated chicken. The portion size was huge and more appropriate as a main. I chose the Crema De Calabaza: a thick butternut squash, onion and sesame soup. The flavour was a little heavy on the sesame oil for my taste.

For the main event we both chose steaks, the fillet and the sirloin. The fillet steak was an incredible hunk of flesh, so vast I couldn’t quite believe it when my friend finished it, smiling with satisfaction. I ordered the sirloin and asked for it butterfly cooked, where the steak is sliced down the centre making it thinner. It was absolutely delicious especially accompanied with the unique chimichura herby sauce. We had chips and salad on the side.

Never one to shy away from a challenge, my friend decided he could fit in a dessert and was delighted with his exceptionally sweet Panqueques (pancakes with cream and dulce de leche) though I found it too sugary. I had a small portion of strawberry ice-cream to finish my meal.

If you are after an impressively good steak and lovely glass of wine, De La Panza is the place for you. Tapas is also served daily and, having scanned the menu briefly, definitely looks worth a try.

Visit De La Panza website here.

Postmodernism: Style and Subversion, V&A

Postmodernism is among the most controversial of 20th Century art movements, many would argue that we are still experiencing it, mixing up the rules to say something new. This provocative movement kicked off in the 1980s with architecture acting as a rebuttal to the rigid Modernist movement and its conventions. Whereas in Modernism 'less is more', in Postmodernism 'less is a bore'. This much misunderstood 'style' is illustrated and explored in the current expansive exhibition at the V&A.

I studied Postmodernism for my History of Art A-level syllabus, but walking round the V&A I felt like I was learning it all for the first time, it is a tricky concept to grasp. It is hard to sum up this phenomenon in an exhibition with clarity, and some of this show feels muddled.

First we are introduced to sculptures, photographs and experiments that demonstrate postmodernist tendencies. Works such as Hans Hollein's facade from Strada Novissima, the Presence of the Past. Household appliances and furniture are futuristic and kitsch, bright colours, stylised and bold - image is everything. These I found a little tacky and uninteresting.

The latter half of the exhibition appealed to me more - the New Wave: vivid colour, theatricality and exaggeration... all my favourite things! These features are illustrated predominantly through magazines and music. American performance artist, Laurie Anderson's elusive tracks use voice encoder fragments to create disorientating music. Punky magazines like i-d, bomb and fetish all stand out with fun bright colours and thrilling cutting edge graphics. Andy Warhol's signature silkscreen prints, and in particular the 'Dollar Sign' show the preoccupation with money and the extravagant 'designer decade'.

Postmodernism is fabulous in fashion - the androgynous look became popular - artists like Annie Lennox rebelled against convention by wearing straight masculine suits on stage. And in 1982 when Lagerfeld took over Chanel, the classic and prim black suits underwent a 'postmodernisation' with colours like acid yellow being introduced and radical new tailoring.

The show ends with New Order's music video "Why can't we be ourselves like we were yesterday?" Postmodernism is an ever changing set of ideals, and seeing this exhibition I could certainly feel the attraction and allure. But will Postmodernism always remain current and cool? Is it scary to imagine what could possibly come after this explosive movement? Only time will tell.

Ps. The shop has some rather wacky and nice stocking fillers.

Postmodernism: Style and Subversion continues until Sunday 15 January 2012, visit website here.