Review: Nopi, Soho, London

I'd been eyeing up Nopi after hearing rave reviews about the cookbook. As tempted as I was to take the plunge, I wanted to try out the restaurant first. Luckily Hannah suggested it for brunch so off we went one Sunday morning.

We opted for a spot at the communal table downstairs in front of the hustle and bustle of the open kitchen - right in the heart of the action. The clattering of plates and chopping of knives wasn't a distraction in the slightly. Simply adding to the atmosphere. Coming hungry we decided to opt for three dishes to share. Gotta try as much as possible right?! Shaksuka (baked eggs) with chunky sourdough, beef brisket hash and corn and polenta cakes were the meals of choice.

The beef brisket hash just melted in your mouth and had a great flavour. The crispy potatoes may have been slightly overdone but it didn't take anything away from the dish. Just a matter of personal preference. The corn and polenta cakes were the stand out star for me. Perched on top of smashed avocado and smothered in a mixture of green leaves and fried egg, these fluffy parcels were delicious. The dish felt light, filling and the runny yolk was the perfect finishing touch. Finally the baked eggs were packed with peppers, tomatoes and smoked cream. The dish had a great kick to it and the sourdough was the perfect partner to mop up all the juices.

Nopi was brilliant and the brunch has made me desperate to try even more of the menu. There's so much I wanted to order. I'd also love to go along for dinner but I've heard it can get quite pricey. I think it's about time I invested in the cookbook to recreate the dishes at home!

These pictures were taken using a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. As a iPhone nerd I'd always wondered about the other side. And when I crossed over to the other side I was delighted. The camera on the phone is absolutely great and hands down is one of the best phone cameras I've ever used. An Instagrammers dream. Thanks for letting me try it out Three mobile! Keep an eye out for some more reviews showing off the camera over the next week.

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Timex A/W collection

A few weeks ago I was invited along to have a sneak peak at the new Timex a/w collection at Shoreditch House - a venue that has been on my wish list to visit for ages! A brand I have a soft spot for and a venue that promises to offer fantastic views of the city? Win win situation! The American heritage brand certainly had a lot of fancy watches to show off.

I found that brightly coloured material straps were very popular. These statement watches had a great nautical theme to them. In fact, I was lucky enough to take home the yellow and blue number and my boyfriend is already trying to steal it from me - the little rascal. The straps on the Weekender Fairfield are reversible making them perfect for those who change their mind like the weather!

If leather straps are more your jam, the earthy neutral watches come with matching face. This heritage collection offers a more subtle watch but still makes a style statement.

What I loved most about the different collection was that they were all unisex and timeless. I got the impression that wouldn't date and would look just as good now as they would in ten years time. Perfect for an investment piece. Can you believe the brand is over 160 years old?

Do you have a favourite design? Thanks so much for a lovely evening Timex - my wish list is now as long as my arm!

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Review: Origin's Of pop up, Blessings, Spitalfields

After sampling my first Lebanese meal in Cologne last month, I was eager to try more Middle Eastern inspired dishes. So when an invite to the launch of Origin Of landed in my inbox, it seemed like fate. I hotfooted it down to Spitalfields with Lily to see what the new Middle Eastern inspired pop up had to offer.

Situated in the instagram friendly venue of Blessings - see picture below for reference - we were taken upstairs where the food didn't stop coming. First up for the absolutely tantalising spice infused buttermilk chicken topped with crunchy radishes, cucumber ribbons and a slither of scotch bonnet mayo on a flatbread. to give it a satisfying kick. This was by far my favourite dish and I could have eaten it all night. Next was the veggie version. Buttermilk fried cauliflower poppers. Just as addictive.

The pace was changed with the introduction of beetroot falafel and a selection of mouth-watering dips such as sumac yogurt, tahini hype and fresh sweet chilli. The falafel were perfectly cooked with a delicious soft middle topped with sesame seeds to give them a crunch. Finally we rounded off the evening with a bowl of creamy hummus and soft flatbread. The olive oil was the perfect finishing touch.

The kitchen is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 4pm till 11pm. Get yourself down to Spitalfields and make sure you don't miss out!

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