Friday 22 July 2016

London Roof Garden Perfection: B.O.B's Lobster, The Gardening Society, John Lewis London

The Gardening Society, John Lewis London
I have been back from Maine for exactly six days. Six days, people, and I'm already eating lobster again! I mention this because the lobster I had today, on the roof terrace of John Lewis, on Oxford Street, tasted as if I was eating it on my back porch in Maine. Yes, the rumours are true. B.O.B's lobster rolls are the best lobster rolls this side of the Atlantic, and this comes from a seasoned professional. What are my qualifications? Well, I've been chomping down on lobster rolls in New England since I was old enough to eat on my own. I'd say 30 plus years in the game gives me a bit of a leg up on what's what when it comes to a good lobster roll.

B.O.B's lobster roll is, first of all, a full quarter pound of lobster prepared perfectly, not over-seasoned so as to drown the taste of actual lobster. This is half the battle won. No names need be mentioned but plenty of establishments in London have got this wrong-  all wrong. Adding random ingredients to spice things up when you are eating one of the finest seafoods out there is just plan sacrilege when it comes to food preparation. Secondly, and perhaps just as important when it comes to preparation, let's talk about the bun. B.O.B's lobster roll comes in a butter grilled brioche bun that melts in your mouth and only adds to the delicious taste that the lobster presents with every mouthful. In short, I couldn't find one fault with this lobster roll or the setting in which I inhaled it.

So about this setting. B.O.B's Lobster is usually a food truck, but it has popped up for the month of July at The Gardening Society at John Lewis Oxford Street in London. What's that you say? What's The Gardening Society? Oh heavens me, sit down and take notes. This is the new hot spot in central London for those looking for a little fun in the sun, whether at midday or after work. The Gardening Society is a rooftop garden that is found in the most unlikely of settings. It's an oasis in a cement jungle. It's a patch of green in an otherwise grey London world. It's also a favorite new place for folks to find peace during a quick lunch hour - whether eating at B.O.B's Lobster or simply enjoying a coffee with a good read. 

While B.O.B's Lobster is only in residence for another week, and reservations are still being taken, there will be further pop-ups throughout the summer. Not to worry. I'll keep you well informed...

John Lewis Oxford Street,
London

The Gardening Society, John Lewis London
The Gardening Society, John Lewis London
The Gardening Society, John Lewis London
The Gardening Society, John Lewis London
The Gardening Society, John Lewis London
The Gardening Society, John Lewis London
The Gardening Society, John Lewis London
The Gardening Society, John Lewis London
The Gardening Society, John Lewis London
The Gardening Society, John Lewis London




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Wednesday 20 July 2016

Outfit du Jour: Weekend Wedding Chic

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Tuesday 19 July 2016

Style Update: The coolest (and best) culottes

The perfect pair of culottes.
Ladies and gents, I've had a sip from the fashion kool-aid, and I like it. I am now a fan of culottes. But it should be said, it isn't just any old pair of culottes that I'm going gaga for. In my estimation, I've tried on about 451 pairs of culottes over the past three years, in search of pair that fits and flatters and I'm proud to say I've swiped right onto the perfect pairing. Thank heavens. I was starting to get leg cramps from all the off-and-ons! 

Wearing:
The perfect pair of culottes.
The perfect pair of culottes.
The perfect pair of culottes.




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Monday 18 July 2016

Rationalising "goodbye"... the good, the bad, the ugly and the selfish

If I could make it fifteen minutes without bursting into tears at the moment, I'd be a happy camper. July 2016 has officially become the month of hard goodbyes. There are the goodbyes that make you happy, happy for new beginnings for some, and the goodbyes that are seemingly the last and final words exchanged between two people. Each is hard in its own way, and none are altogether welcome, but somehow I've managed to pull it all into perspective. 

Today, I tried my damnedest to keep myself together as I said goodbye to someone who has become my best friend over the past seven years. She's no shrinking violet and we've made no effort to disguise our ridiculous sister-wife love for each other over the years, parading ourselves across instagram, the blog and snapchat. Some of my happiest London memories, since moving here 14 years ago, have been spent alongside one Laetitia Wajnapel (known to many as Mademoiselle Robot). And today I had to hug her and try not to smear my mascara over the side of her cheek as tears freely streamed down my face. Lil' Letty is moving to Los Angeles to pursue a dream of living and working in one of her favorite places on earth. After visiting Los Angeles a few times with The Robot, I've seen first hand how she blossoms in such an amazing city. This goodbye, as hard as it was, is most definitely a goodbye that fills my heart with joy. I went home and cried a little more, mostly because I was feeling sorry for myself. I was sad to have my "shoulder to cry on" move so bloody far away. This was a selfish goodbye - as are most. But, it is the goodbye that I consider the "good." She's gone for now, but certainly not forever. So how I do say this goodbye? Well, there isn't an easy way to say it and there never is. But, I go home and think to myself that I'm sad because I'm losing a friend and that truly there is only happiness to be found in a best friend finding happiness elsewhere. And there's always a silver lining - I now have a place to shack up in LA whenever I need one. 

Now onto the bad...

For me, the bad goodbyes are usually the ones that could be the last goodbyes. As I get older, and as I see my parents get older, I start to see that saying "the last goodbye" is something that never gets easier, but does tend to get more regular. Whenever I go home, I see relatives when I can. I see them getting older and more fragile and more often than not, the discussion of "this may be the last time you see them..." becomes routine. I say goodbye and tears come and I try to understand why it is that some people come into our lives and make such a dent in our hearts and then leave. Then I realize I'm once again being selfish. How lucky am I to have had them in my life at all, even for just a moment? How do I say this goodbye? I step back and thank the universe for bringing them into my life at all. I realize that I'm blessed to have an opportunity to say goodbye, or to at least recognize how special this last moment may be for both parties. I say goodbye hoping it's not our last, just the last here in this time and place. 

And so we reach the ugly...

My ugliest goodbyes have always been with my pets. There is a certain cruelty in having to say goodbye to an animal and not being able to explain to that kind heart why it is you are parting. For any human being that has ever had to look into a dog's eyes while putting them to sleep, you will know that nothing can prepare you for this moment. You haven't had a chance to chat about the forthcoming event. You haven't been able to explain that the pain will get worse, the quality of life will dissipate and that you are doing what you have to do because of the love you have for this little being. All you see are two loving eyes looking back at you and the tears that come with this are most definitely described as ugly, harsh and heartbreaking. And you know what? This goodbye is selfish too. You feel bad because you can't really say goodbye, not a goodbye they'll understand anyway. You feel selfish because you have played God and taken a life, because you didn't want your pet to suffer. You feel selfish because you want that animal there with you now and instead it's gone forever.  

In my experience in saying the many goodbyes I have over the past 36 years, I can definitely say that not one has been easy. If something is worthwhile saying goodbye to of course it will be hard and it will tug at the heart strings. But most of the time goodbyes come with a spoonful of perspective, a moment to reflect and to appreciate everything that you have been given in this life and how lucky you are to have something so precious that it can be missed at all. 

As Dr. Suess is famous for saying, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." Goodbyes may be ugly, but the experience is what makes life beautiful. Enough sentiment. Pass me a glass of wine and a tissue. 




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Speccy Four Eyed Big Eared Girl ...and proud






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