Real Food Festival - Sherston Tea Company

Another boutique purveyor of fine products, the Sherston Tea Company is owned and operated by Clare Mitchell. I knew that someone with a creative flair had their hand in the packaging of these products, because it is nothing less than theatrical. Sadly, my photos don't really do it justice, but each little air tight pot was wrapped in decorative, vintage paper reminiscent of a Liberty pattern.

Further investigation revealed that my suspicions were indeed true, for Clare is set designer stage productions. How well this was all fitting together. Not only had I met another friend of the theatre, but woman of divine aesthetic. On the table in front of me was a tray populated by small glass jars. Each jar contained a different variety of tea.

The first I reached for was the Earl Grey, decorated by beautiful blue cornflowers. My heart sang because the telltale fragrance of bergamot was sublime.

The website has some gorgeous glass tea pots, that will inspire even the most adamant coffee aficionado.

The Food Festival - Baruzzo Chocolate

This is Raffaella Baruzzo, Chocolotisa Extraordinaire. Italian by birth and certainly in heart, hers was the first booth that I came across at the Real Food Festival. Still not sure why I stopped at this small stand, but I am positive it had something to do with the impeccably dressed woman with a generous smile. I learned that Raffaella worked in the UK's chocolate industry for twelve years before branching out with her own aptly named brand, Baruzzo. These days she spreads her time between Italy (where the chocolate is produced) and the United Kingdom (where it is distributed) - but manages to find time in between to source beans in Ecuador.

The first thing I sampled were the chocolate pralines and by far my favourite was the Pink Heart which is "70% Ecuadorian ganache - perfect for the chocolate purist". I love dark chcolate and can be quite particular about it, but this was superb. Richly, deeply flavoured, without the bittness of some darks. Baruzzo also infuses their premium chocolates with exotic flavours which include:

- White ganache flavoured with pure Tuscan rose oil

- Northern Italian honey, marigold flower extract and dark chocolate ganache

- Oolong tea with Jasmine and milk chocolate

- Fine Almond paste from Sicily and milk chocolate praline

Sadly, Baruzzo doesn't have an online shop yet - but I imagine it will be coming soon. Keep your eyes on www.Baruzzo.co.uk

The Real Food Festival - Introduction

This was my first trip to the Real Food Festival and I hope that it won't be my last. Thursday afternoons, from 4-8pm tickets were discounted by half, the place was pretty much empty and I was able to wander with out the interference from pesky crowds. I talked to a cow, fed a sheep and cooed to a little lamb. Not to mention pick at cheese, wine, salami, you name it. I am creating a list of some of the vendors I met - and the delightful samples tried. Inspired by these people's stories, the quality of their produce and palpable passion for what they do - I needed to scurry back to my blog I and share.

1. Baruzzo Chocolate

2. Sherston Tea Company

3. Serious Pig

4. P.E. Mead & Sons, Chiltern Rapeseed Oil

5. Big Barn Market

Winter Weekend

I really hit 2011 hard thinking about resolutions. I know, I know...I come across you all the time "I don't do resolutions" I don't really do them either, but it's nice to have a fresh start to think about the great blank space of 12 months, 52 weeks and 365 days that can be painted any colour I like! So I came up with a few.

1. Choose happiness

This one sound deceptively easy. It's not. At all. For example, I leave work jazzed up for the weekend to be confronted by a number of challenges. Tube's delayed, man next to me keep bumping into the book I am trying to read, loud teenagers (I know I was NEVER that obnoxious at 15) Suddenly, happiness has transformed to crabbiness and I want to slip my shoe off my foot and throw it at someone's head. It's this little fantasy that brings a smile back to my face...Let it go. Tube, teenagers, man with no spacial perception - whisper a small blessing to each of them and BOSH - happiness is back.

2. Live BIG

I love the quote, "Who are you to hide your greatness" Not sure exactly who said it, but I will attribute it to Oprah - it's a fairly safe bet. But yeah!! I am passionate, excitable, emotional -- why do I try to contain this all into one little box of self contained politeness. I challenge myself to 'out with it' Release the light, laughter, anger in a gorgeous spectrum of living. I will dance, sing, paint, give and receive love and invite those in my life to do the same.

3. Feed my Friendships with Women

I have a tendency to retreat into myself. My moon is in my 12th house (and in scorpio-but we won't get into that part of it) So, it's a natural place for me to be to regroup and rejuvenate. I love my alone time, but there are also many moments that I want to fill with shared experiences with the women that I love. My mom has always found great strength in her female friends - and on this I take her cue one and give more to nourish my relationships.

Okay, here, I just have to say that. In thinking of all these things for 2011, I realised, I can make resolutions anytime! What a discovery! For the weekend, for the afternoon, for a meeting - I can set my intention and congratulate myself for every small milestone along the way. For example - yes - I really did this. Before I left the office on Friday, I left a note on my desk that said, "Happy Monday - this week you have the opportunity to do great things. This is your task list, complete every one of these items to the best of your ability." I will have to see how I feel on Monday - I might want to pick up that note and chuck it out the window. Or I might just laugh at myself. I hope it's the later.

x.

A.

iphone

I know, I know, I know. I am so behind the times--just now jumping on the iPhone bandwagon. There is nothing that I can say that hasn't been said before about Apple's magic little device. However, Phoebe the Phone has seamlessly integrated into my daily life-making it that much easier.

The only downside about this upgrade, is that I am slightly nostalgic for my Nokia--purchased in India an and lacking in everything technologically advanced. This slight detail seemed to pale in comparison the the abundance of personality. With a ringtone straight out of bollywood and hindi letters on the keypad, it was a true original.

Little Nokia is, as I like to say, an antique. A relic representing the ingenuity of generations passed. It is also one of those items, where people can be heard to say, "they don't make them like that anymore" The sturdy little Nokia has given way to the flashy, sleek iPhone. But one day, the iPhone too will be demoted and the Nokia will just snicker at her fall from grace. I can't help but feel a little cheap for the trade in, so this is my homage to Nokia, to be retired to the comfort of my bedside drawer.

Living a champagne lifestyle on a beer budget—when even beer seems expensive can be beyond frustrating for a lady about town like myself. London in particular seems to position itself firmly against my efforts—being one of the world’s most notoriously costly cities. I try to liken my financial situation to a bohemian chic – eating organic raspberries, two days old and on offer at the grocery while sipping bottles of flat bubbly water…

But alas, my keen eye for deals and superior taste (self awarded of co

urse) has brought me to find some of the best deals in and around this urban metropolis. With a little lipstick and a pair of heels, I blissfully play the role of someone with far more cash to spend and write off my no-name faux designer bag as being too posh for labels (atleast, I hope that is what they think)

It also helps that I have some friends from designmynight.com that keep me in the loop for hot events and drinks specials at places I can usually only dream of being able to afford (or only ordering tap water). They got a tip about the D&D group and decided to give one of their venues a try--thankfully inviting me along.

Our evening started at Meza, in soho and we were excited to try some of the swish cocktails. Although the drinks looked devine, they started at about £8—eh, a little pricey. Never fear, tips from designmynight.com friends pointed to a £5 offer http://www.danddlondon.com/offers/offers. So.this enabled us to sip on a delightful Bombay cooler topped with a blackberry (which, for the record as not two days old) and cast an eye over the crowd. The atmosphere didn’t boast anything, well, special—what it did do was have a number of comfortable sofas and a delightful cocktail waitress who was equally as appalled as us by the tonsil hockey that as taking place on the adjacent sofa (well before anyone was drunk enough to find this behavior acceptable). The other cool thing about this bar was, in addition to the online offer, they have a classic cocktail list for all all drinks <£5 before 9 o'clock. Defiantly drinkonomical!

The night continued downstairs to Floridita, which picks up where Meza missed out-beautiful Cuban atmosphere, décor and stylish crowd. Although the vouchers weren’t valid at this night hot spot, we had lubricated ourselves enough on the five pounders upstairs to justify a splurge on an amazing French 75 for the lady and a Dark n’ Stormy for the gentleman. My second drink was a reasonably priced sparkling rose—delicious. By this point, we were blissfully drunk enough to march ourselves back in time to make the last tube. This is where I justify taking mass transport as being eco-friendly and not having anything to do with the fact that cabs are way out of the budget. For now atleast.

For more tips on fab nights out in London, visit my friends at www.designmynight.com

Lion from the Garden