My top 5 favourite places to eat in London

Dishoom
Having tried both their brunch and their main dinner menu, Dishoom is up there as one of my favourite places to eat in London. The varied menu is exciting and pushes the boundaries of what we expect to have from an Indian restaurant in the UK. The sharing menu encourages everyone to dig in and try a little bit of everything. The service is always great and the food never disappoints. There's a branch in quite a few areas of London with my favourite one being the Kings Cross restaurant. Personal favourite dishes include the black dal, bacon naan, okra fries and gunpowder potatoes. It's so easy to over order which is part of the fun!

Honest Burger
I've tried a hell of a lot of burger joints in London but I still keep coming back to Honest. Brixton has to be my favourite branch but I'll go anywhere. Still need to try their brunch though! The burgers are juicy and flavoursome paired with the most addictive rosemary fries. It's such good value for money and you never have a dud. Definitely the first place I recommend in the city if anyone needs to have a burger fix.

Shackfuyu
If I could only eat one thing for the rest of my life it would have to be those Korean fried chicken wings above. I just can't get enough of that spicy sauce. I would go time and time again just for those. It's not the cheapest of places to eat but they do a cracking brunch deal that is a great introduction to the menu. And it's unlimited Prosecco. Need I say more?

Duck & Waffle
For our anniversary we headed up to the top of the Heron tower to have an unforgettable brunch. Sadly it was raining but that didn't take away from the incredible views of the city from the 40th floor. Open 24/7, we decided to opt for brunch. I had the signature duck and waffle and it was a dream to eat! It's definitely not a cheap eats option but somewhere I think everyone should visit at least once.

The Barbary
A recent find, this Covent Garden gem is the sister restaurant of the Palamor. Inspired by the north African coast, it's an electric mix of small sharing plates. The signature dish of Pata Negra Neck (pork neck) came drizzled with honey and a sprinkling of sea salt. So tender and juicy - a real star of the meal. It's set around an open kitchen so the atmosphere is great - a great place for a lazy lunch.

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A Chanel lipstick collection

I'm a sucker for a Chanel lipstick. There's something about the gold and black sleek, luxe packaging that makes me go all googly-eyed. I prefer the creamy formula of the Rouge Allure range and am slowly building up my collection. The staying power is fantastic and the pigmentation is so intense. I usually save all my boots points before splashing out once I gain enough. An unexpected treat is the best kind of treat! Take a look at my mini collection.

104 Passion
This bright red is extremely versatile with a blue undertone. It looks great in the depths of winter when you're lacking vitamin C and in the summer when you're boasting a tan. It's very much a classic fire engine red, making it perfect for the upcoming festive season. Two coats and it will last pretty much the whole night. Put some lipcote on top too and it will still be standing strong after a three course meal!

97 Incandescente

Nine times out of ten, if I'm wearing a red lip then it will be this one. This orangey red just makes me feel so polished and put together - the perfect pick-me-up! It packs such a punch and the lipstick glides on effortfully. The silky formula helps to stop the lipstick from being to drying. Once again, it has great staying power and you only really need to reapply once or twice from day to evening.

102 Palpitante
This is my newest purchase from a couple of weeks ago that I have yet to wear. Can you tell I have a special affection for red lipsticks? This raspberry colour leans towards a pink hue but still has a slightly red tinge.

99 Pirate
This one is the deepest red of the four, this is such an intense colour. It can be prone to bleeding so a careful hand is needed. But it glides on so easily and its staying power is great. I love this with a really simple outfit to create a statement.

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Restaurant review: Bluebird, Chelsea, west London

Chelsea is a part of town I very rarely venture too. In fact, I can count on one hand how many times I have been there. But since I started working in west London, I'm determined to explore more of the area. Which is why I jumped at the chance to try out the new menu at Bluebird when they got in touch. My mum came to meet me after work and we had the most wonderful girlie evening full of gossiping, cocktails and good food.

Set in the heart of the Kings Road, the new a la carte menu in the first floor restaurant has been given a new lease of life by executive head chef Liam Smith-Laing. To start, we were recommend two cocktails as we scanned the menu. I pumped for The Botanist. Using one of my favourite gins as a base - The Botanist - the cocktail was refreshing but with a slight sour kick thanks to the campari. My mum opted for The Chelsea Flower served in a twee vintage milk jug. Once again a gin based cocktail, this also boasted fresh raspberries, apple juice and pomegranate liquor.

After lots of discussion we decided to share two starters. Huge crispy tiger prawns with an addictive aioli sauce and flavoursome queen scallops with spicy chorizo and apple crumble. We fought over those delicious prawns! The batter was light and crisp and the aioli was so creamy. After scoffing the starters we were excited to taste the mains!

I heard lots of good things about their seafood so for the mains I opted for the charred mackerel fillet, salty pancetta and borlotti beans in a tomato sauce. A really good sized portion, the fish was cooked to perfection. My mum decided to try the Norfolk lamb rump on a bed of merguez and bulgar. My mum loved the Middle Eastern inspired favours. Despite feeling pretty full, we still decided we have a little room to try their desserts!

I went for salted caramel profiteroles with a decedent warm chocolate sauce. Oh they were delicious. So light and fluffy with a great crunchy outer. I could have eaten double the amount! My mum's dessert wasn't very photogenic and I struggled to get a decent picture but, take it from me and her that it was incredible too. Topped with creamy ice cream the winter crumble was the ultimate comfort food. And the perfect end to such a great meal!

Bluebird was such a lovely evening out. Despite being fancy we never once felt out of place. We were blessed with knowledgable and friendly waiting staff, delicious food and a fantastic atmosphere. It's not cheap but if you're looking for somewhere to celebrate a special occasion then it should be top of your list.

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