Brighton Mini Guide

13-04-2017 Local Black BookBrighton, city guide, travel, UK1 Comment

Aaaah, Brighton!

There’s just something about seaside cities that makes my heart sing. And if said city happens to also be home to amazing independent shops, cafes and restaurants, I might just never want to leave.

About 65 minutes from London on the train, it’s the perfect weekend getaway.

And there’s so much to do! You’ll aready know about the Pier and the beach, of course, but if you’re after less obvious things to do in Brighton, listen up!

See

Brighton Pavilion

Now this one is hardly a secret to anyone, but it’s still very much worth seeing! Built as a seaside pleasure palace for King George IV, this exotic palace is an icon of Brighton.

A Western interpretation of Oriental archicture, this spectacular palace combines a romantic, Indian-inspired exteriors and opulent, ‘Chinoiserie’-focused interiors. Unfortunately, it’s not allowed to take pictures inside but if you can save a couple of hours, go! I promise it’ll meet your high expectasians!

Do

The La(i)nes

Don’t confuse The Lanes -a collection of narrow lanes famous for their small shops and narrow alleyways- and North Laine -the former slum area turned bohemian and cultural quarter- but definitely visit both!

The Lanes are home to many a jewellery store, beautiful home stores and chip-as-chip traditional pubs. Oh, and some really excellent ice cream parlours too (more on that later).

North Laine on the other hand is the place to go for anything vintage, the city’s best independant stores and some truly incredible indie food!

Definitely worth waiting in Laine for!

Picnic in the parc/on the beach

When the sun’s shining and there’s sea bream in the air, nothing’s better than a little impromptu picnic. Especially if said picnic includes some of Silo‘s amazing sandwiches…

Eat

Boho Gelato

Another paragraph, another sea side cliché. Expect not quite.

Forget Mr Whippy and its 99 Flake. With 20-something creative flavours in store at any given time (thing carrot cake, popping candy, avocado…), making a choice at Boho Gelato is hard.

But then again, you’d be NUTS not to go for the (vegan) peanut butter and salted caramel because it’s the BEST.

Larder

Now, Brighton must be the best city in the UK for vegetarians and vegans to eat out. And this unassuming little vegan café is amongst the very best in Brighton, which is really saying something.

A mini guide to Brighton ● Cake + Whisky

But then again, they do beautiful buddha bowls and avocado toasties.

AVOCADO TOASTIES GUYS!! Life changing.

Gelato Gusto

Disclaimer -half of what we ate in Brighton was ice cream and I have no regrets whatsoever.

Gelato Gusto is somewhat more traditional that Boho Gelato in terms of flavours, but oh boy, their sorbet selection is dreaaaaamy!

Plateau

When Ophélie & I were making plans for our Brighton city breaks, we had all those crazy plans about having cocktails every evening.

And then we got there and stumbled across Plateau (a small wine bar specialising in natural wines) and the rest is (white wine-fuelled) history.

Shop

Present in the Laine

The most gorgeous homeware, local designer jewellery and the cutest selection of gifts for the little ones – just take all of my money already!

Bluebird Tea

Spreading happiness one cup at a time, Bluebird Tea is a tea store like no other. Forget the usual suspects – here it’s all about creative, out-there blends.

Their range is currently 80-something strong and includes all-year-round favourites such as Birthday Cake, Cherry Bakewell and Earl Grey Cream as well as seasonal limited edition blends. Which currently features a carrot cake tea.

Yes you read that right, yes it’s available online, and YES! you need it in your life.

Photomatic

You know what they say. Time comes and goes, but polaroid pictures are forever!

Ready to go on another adventure?

Mini guide to Dublin

5 top tips to plan a city break

Copenhagen 3-day itinerary

Burghley House, Stamford

12-10-2016 Local Black Bookburghley, Burghley House, Lincolnshire, Stamford, travel, UK1 Comment

Remember that time I tumbled down the rabbit hole and onto a magical garden?

Well, the same thing happened again last weekend when I visited my friend Ophélie in Stamford.

We tried to stay away from Burghley House, busying ourselves with blackberry picking and other autumnal activities, but in the end, we simply couldn’t resist another visit.

This time around though, we extended our visit to include the famous Burghley House as well as its fantastic garden.

Built and mostly designed by William Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I between 1555 and 1587, Burghley House is a Tudor mansion and one of the great Elizabethan stately homes.

The main part of the House has 35 major rooms on the ground and first floors, and there are more than 80 lesser rooms and numerous halls, corridors, bathrooms and service areas, and we took our time exploring every corner.

From the grand kitchen adorned with copper utensils, turtle skulls and every cake tin imaginable (and then some)…

… to the grand, striking paintings of the ‘Hell staircase’, Burghley offers a unique glimpse of the way great houses have been furnished and inhabited from the time of Queen Elizabeth I to the present day.

The many bedrooms, complete with golden furniture, intricately embroidered linnen and impressive murals, will fill you with awe and inspiration.

From the breath-taking, colossal murals up to the tiniest of details, there are many treasures to be discovered within Burghley’s walls.

There are endless corridors, taking you deeper and deeper into the house.

There’s a gorgeous, intimate billard (pool) room…

An intricate, richly decorated chapel…

A bell room worthy of Downtown Abbey…

Dressing rooms bigger than my flat with views on the estate vast gardens…

But no matter how beautiful they are, none is quite as stunning as the incredible dining hall, with its intricate dark wood ceiling, floor to ceiling stained glass windows and rows of leather-bound books.

Though the inner garden comes quite close in my opinion (but it might be somewhat related to the fact that it comes with tea, cakes and all sorts of afternoon treats…)

Just a couple of hours away from London, Stamford is a brilliant destination to un-plug and explore for a day or a weekend. Trust me, it’ll leave a stamp in your memory!

More info about Burghley House here.

A day in Stamford

04-06-2016 Local Black BookBurghley House, garden, Gardens, Lincolnshire, parc, parcs, Stamford, travel, UK6 Comments

Bank holiday weekends are for exploring and total escape. But no need to book overpriced overseas tickets for that. There’s plenty to see closer to home!

Frequently ranked as one of the best UK cities to live in, Stamford is only 90 min away from London, yet it couldn’t be any more different.

We reached the charming little Lincolnshire town late in the morning, dropped off our bags and rushed back out to explore!

Minutes stretched into hours as we walked along the river and across bridges and parks.

We stumbled upon Browne’s Hospital, a medieval almshouse founded in 1485 and couldn’t resist a snoop at the garden.

Before stopping for a quick spot of lunch at The Cosy Club.

Ham hock, fried potatoes, poached egg and gravy in its Aladdin-lamp-esque pot.

Just enough fuel to keep us going all the way up to Burghley House.

A grand sixteenth-century country house, the house itself is a leading example of the Elizabethan prodigy house. But the gardens are even better!

Welcome to Burghley House’s Garden of Surprises.

Stepping through the door will take you to Lincolnshire’s own little whimsical Wonderland.

Complete with mirror maze, giant Easter egg…

… and even a gigantic rabbit bush!

No red roses to be seen, but delicate, fragrant white blooms all around.

Hopefully, the delicate colour palette won’t result in any gardener getting their head chopped!

Turn around the corner, go through a door and you’ll soon find yourself in a different fairy tale.

Deep in the woods lies the realm of Goldilocks and her bear-y friends.

Mamma Bear.

Pappa Bear.

And the adorable, cuttle as a button little Baby Bear!

Many more creatures call Burghley House’ Gardens their home.

Wild animals go about their lives.

Iron giants watch over the plains.

Statues come alive when no-one’s looking.

Burghley House, Stamford | Cake + Whisky

And behind every bush, there are some lilliputian fairies to be discovered.

We followed the yellow wisteria road in the hope of getting to Emerald City (and eventually, home)

And after battling the elements

(and a particular daunting water portal)

We finally found our way back to the real world just in time for tea.

For life-sized, un-beleafable fairytale adventures just hours away from London, Stamford is a brilliant place!

Nice long walks, fresh air, some of the most beautiful gardens I’ve ever seen (and maybe a cheeky lil’ mezze platter at The Mad Turk)… Just what the doctor ordered!

Truffles of Southsea

23-05-2016 Local Black BookBritish, café, Portsmouth, recommendation, Restaurant, review, seasonal, South England, Southsea, travel, Truffles of Southsea, UKLeave a comment

It is rare that I leave anything to chance when it comes to restaurant dining. I’m the kind that does her research, compiles lists and is always ready with (one too many) suggestions no matter where I happen to be.

But thanks to an especially busy week and a lack of collaboration from the internet in general and Portsmouth restaurants in particular, I failed to do so ahead of heading there on Friday morning.

We ignored the city’s glorious landmarks and, with ravenous stomachs, set to explore the city in search of a place to have lunch at.

Passed by rows of thecutest pastel houses…

…and this glorious-looking hair parlour…

… before stumbling upon Truffles of Southsea.

A fresh nautical vibe and a menu full of seasonal delights… Needless to say it was love at first sight.

We dinned of platefuls of the most vibrant, poached egg corwned Spring spelt risotto.

Followed by a super indulgent white chocolate & salted caramel fondant.

With an ever-changing menu highlighting the best local & seasonal produce, simple but delicious food and a fantastic team, Truffles of Southsea is one of Portsmouth’s hidden gem and one you MUST visit when you’re next down South.

Find them here, put on sunscreen, grab your sunglasses and head for a fantastic day by the seaside.

Go by yourself or with your boyfriend/bestie. Even better yet, bring your whole gang. After all, it would be shellfish not to share!

Truffles of Southsea, 67 Castle Road, Southsea, Portsmouth PO5

10 more things to do in London with your parents

23-04-2016 Local Black Bookcity guide, London, parents, things to do in London, travel, UK, what to do in london3 Comments

Being a good host is such a tough job! You have to thing of everything, plan everything, double-check everything, all while keeping everyone’s interests and preferences in mind.

Luckily sometimes, somebody else (me!) does all the hard work for you and makes the whole thinking-and-planning bit far easier!

I already wrote about some ideas of things to do in London with your parents before, but in my experience, more ideas are always welcome when it comes to organising the best London trip ever for the best parents ever (obvs.).

Since my parents re-visited recently, I thought I’d share what they’ve enjoyed doing this time around!

1. Visit the Kew Gardens

Plants, flowers, trees & carrot cake = perfect ingredients for a blooming lovely day in London!

If your family is anything like mine (a.k.a. 100% obsessed with all tings plants & flowers), a visit to the Kew Gardens will easily be the highlight of their trip!

2. Have a Sunday roast

Sunday Roast is one of England’s most glorious culinary traditions and one that is very family-friendly indeed.

The best roasts are to be found in London’s top gastropubs, my personal favourite being The Smokehouse (just look at these roasties!!)

3. Revisit history at the Tower of London

Tower of London | Cake + Whisky

Castle, fortress, prison, military GQ… The Tower of London has always played a predominant role in the history of London and the UK. With just a few steps, you’ll go from long forgotten past to present, and everything inbetween.

4. See the Changing of the Guards

A well-loved classic and one everyone should see once in their life, so if your family hasn’t witnessed the Changing of the Guards at Buckinham Palace, make sure you put it on the list for their next visit!

5. Have Afternoon or Cream Tea

Tea, cake and good company… Is there any better way to spend some quality time with the ones you love? (pictures from a lovely afternoon tea at Le Méridien Piccadilly)

6. Go to a Farmer’s Market

Cake + Whisky | Borough Market

No matter how impressive you want your parents’ trip to London to be, don’t forget to incorporate some of your own favourites things into your plans so they get a chance to take a peak into your actual, everyday life.

… and since I spend most of my free time at farmers’ markets anyway…

7. See a West End show

London’s theatre scene is second only to New York’s and tickets to a West End show are definitely amongst the best ways to spend the evening (especially since tickets are often not as expensive as one would expect!).

8. Go to a surprising restaurant

Be it because of the views, the settings or the food itself (traditional Japanese udon, spicy Sri Lankan curries, vegetarian delights… your call!), London always has a trick up its sleeves when it comes to food!

9. Take a Thames Boat Tour

Sure, that’s a bit of a tourist-y cliché. But then again, boats are the coolest form of public transports EVER!

10. Show them around your workplace

I know it sounds like a strange idea, but the truth is, your parents just want to know everything they can about you and your life and what you do every day and where you go and who you see. So, well, maybe showing them where you work is a nice, easy lil’ step forward, don’t you think?

What’s your favourite thing to do in London with your parents? Anything I need to add to my list for next time?

Kew Gardens

21-04-2016 Local Black BookDay trip, garden, Kew Gardens, London, nature, parc, travel, UK, what to do in london3 Comments

There’s only one way to do Spring in England.

The minute the sun comes out, you have to rush out and make the most of the weather while it lasts.

Tough life, but eh, I’m not the one making the rules!

One of the very best place to enjoy a spot of Spring sunshine is the Kew Gardens.

Founded in 1840 (!!), its living collections include over 30,000 different kinds of plants.

Kew Gardens | Cake + Whisky

Including tulip fields as far as the eyes can see…

…and a stunning tropical glasshouse.

Complete with palm leaves big enough to double as umbrellas!

Take that, unexpected April showers!

Go up the stairways and you’ll find yourself at the top of the floral world.

A view from above is always a good idea before going back down & explore every tiny detail of Kew’s fantastic collections.

Delicate flower bunches…

…leaves in every shade of green…

… some truly bizarre plants…

… and some just plain beautiful!

Take advantage of a ray of sunshine to hop to the Waterlily house.

A small but perfectly formed glasshouse, home to some of Kew Gardens most beautiful specimens.

Including these beauties, and many, many more!

If the weather forecast is fine, take a stroll around the park to see Kew’s gardeners’ incredible flower arrangements.

… or just let your inner dog run wild after the park’s wildlife!

Kew Gardens | Cake + Whisky

The Princess of Wales Conservatory is another must do on a visit to the Kew Gardens.

Kew Gardens | Cake + Whisky

Recreating ten climatic zones under one roof, it’s home to some of Kew’s most vibrant specimens.

Kew Gardens | Cake + Whisky

There are flowers every colour of the rainbow.

Kew Gardens | Cake + Whisky

Delicate tiny blossoms live side by side with gigantic ones (such as this impressive Amorphophallus titanum, who only bloom once every couple of years and is said to smell rather horrible).

Kew Gardens | Cake + Whisky

And then there are the always fascinating carnivorous plants…

Kew Gardens | Cake + Whisky

Newt time you’re nearby, go! I’m sure will find it absolutely succulent!

Just make sure you make a pit stop at The Orangerie on the way.

Kew Gardens | Cake + Whisky

With floor to ceiling windows, white wood, loads of evergreens and the moistest of carrot cake, the place is an Instagramers’ dream come true.

… but then the blossoming magnolia trees aren’t doing half bad at that either!

Kew Gardens | Cake + Whisky

A truly unbe-leaf-able place!

So many beautiful plants I didn’t want to leaf!

Find more info (and book tickets) here

Weekend Getaway Guide | Manchester

13-04-2016 Local Black Book48h, city guide, getaway, Manchester, travel, UK, weekend4 Comments

Oh Manchester! What a city!

So little time, so much to see, do, explore (and most important of all, EAT!!).

So much in fact that it can be a bit overwhelming… But fear not, I went and did all the leg work (quite litterally, see below), so you don’t have to!

Ready for the ultimate weekend getaway guide to Manchester?

How to get there:

From London, you can jump on a train (departing from Euston station) and you’ll be there in just under 2 hours. Easy-Peasy.

Where to stay:

Location, location, location! I can’t quite stress how truly brilliant it is to only be 5 min away from bed when you’re trying to get home with a belly full of burgers and one too many delicious cocktails. And the same obviously goes for excellent coffee / pastries / brunch the next morning. Because priorities.

We stayed in a great room in the Northern Quarter that we rented through Airbnb. Our hosts were lovely, the price was reasonable and the location was absolutely amazing and I highly recommend you give them a shout if you’re heading to Manchester any time soon and are looking for a place to stay!

Transports:

Manchester has a very efficient (and cheap! You can get a weekend tram pass for about £6!) public transport network.

But then again, you can very well walk to all those places (and get one more slice of cake thanks to all the money + calories you’ll be saving! #winwin)

What to see + do / A few highlights:

Explore the reds & blues of Manchester: As for many cities, my favourite thing to do is just to wander the tiny streets and try to get a feel of what it would be like to live there. And Manchester is perfect for meandering!

If you’re a bit of an architecture nerd (or as much in love with red bricks as I am), Manchester will steal your heart within seconds!

Weekend Getaway Guide to Manchester | What to see / do / eat in 48h

The whole city is an absolute architectural gem.

Most major buildings are built in a Gothic style, but there’s also a few interesting contemporary buildings out there…

And then the street art situation isn’t bad either…

Bookworms:

Manchester, home to the oldest public library in the English-speaking world, has many historic libraries and each is more beautiful than the next.

From Chetham’s medieval building, to John Rylands’ Victorian neo-gothic architecture, the Portico Library’s stunning 19th century design and Manchester Central Library’s recent refurbishment, a tour of the Mancunian libraries is a must for book and history aficionado alike!

(very Game of Thrones, don’t you think?)

Football fanatics: Football is somewhat of a religion in Manchester and if you’re into it, you’ll be in heaven!

Weekend Getaway Guide to Manchester | What to see / do / eat in 48h

Whether you’re supporting the Red Devils or the Citizens, there’s nothing quite like watching a live game at home. And if there’s no game when you visit, the Museum of Football makes for a great alternative!

Where to eat + drink:

For brunch: Evelyn’s

Evelyn’s is a small but perfectly formed café in the heart of Manchester’s hipster-dreamland Northern Quarter.

Utterly flooded with light, it’s an Instagrammer’s paradise!

Oh, and they also happen to serve up a near-perfect brunch… AND they take bookings! #miracleshappen Read more

For lunch: Soup Kitchen

Soup Kitchen, Manchester | Cake + Whisky

Serving up freshly prepared, delicious British café food (think soup, sanwiches, jacket potatoes…), Soup Kitchen is a neighbourhood gem and a Mancurian (and now mine!) favourite come lunchtime! Read more

For tea: Proper Tea

Located right opposite the Cathedral, it’s the most adorable little tea house you’ll ever find.

They serve up fantastic tea & fabulous homemade cakes, making them the perfect spot to rest your worn-out feet (and make good use of all those calories you burnt!!) Read more

For a special occasion: Hawksmoor

Mancurian outpost of London’s famous Hawksmoor group, there’s no better place to go for top-knotch steak & along with all other fancy dinner sheninigang.

Really good cocktails too. And the most indulgent of side dishes (looking at you, pulled pork mac’!! ?)

For burgers: Almost Famous

Possibly the best burgers I’ve ever had anywhere in the world. And god knows I’ve had A LOT!! Read more

For drinks: Dusk til Pawn

One of Manchester’s top cocktail bars, Dusk til Pawn’s creative concoctions are the perfect start (or end!) to an epic night out! Read more

For a snack: Lunya

Part deli, part tapas restaurant, Lunya is any foodie’s dream.

If you’re particularly fond of Spanish food (I like you), then you’ll love it as much as I did.

Here you can buy anything you’d find in your local spanish tienda…

Perfect for a light snack or buying provisions for a picnic!

Anyhting I’ve missed? I’m already noting down ideas for my next trip to Manchester, so let me know!

Almost Famous, Manchester

12-04-2016 Local Black BookAlmost Famous, best burgers, Burger, burgers, Manchester, Northern Quarter, recommendation, Restaurant, review, travel, UK2 Comments

The best nights out start with brilliant cocktails and finish with even better burgers.

And there’s only ONE place to go for the most EPIC burgers in Manchester: Almost Famous.

Almost Famous, Manchester | Cake + Whisky

Up a spooky staircase, along a graffiti covered coridor and across a bar area that could have been designed by Willy Wonka himself, you’ll find the ultimate grown-up playground.

Almost Famous, Manchester | Cake + Whisky

Complete with loads of colourful, witty artwork…

Almost Famous, Manchester | Cake + Whisky

A table full of candy (#homegoals right there!!)…

And many a roll of kitchen towel!!

The menu is any child’s dream come true (and any calorie-counter’s worst nightmare).

Now, I’m a bit of a burger connoisseur (a.k.a. I eat burgers far too often for my own good) and I happen to live just across the street from one of London’s best burgers, so I had my doubts…

…but they quickly fadded away!

Johnny Mac.

Double beef patty, Applewood & cheddar cheese, streaky bacon, trailer trash onions, Cool Doritos, Million Island sauce & Winning ketchup.

A true beast with a lil’ mac & cheese ball on top! (def. get your greedy hands on some more of those if you can!!)

Down & Out (in Beverly Hills)

American & cheddar cheese, Wonderdust hotdog melt, trailer trash onions, French’s mustard, Winning ketchup Million Island sauce.

Hot dog melt! It’s a thing, people!! (and a delicious, delicious one at that!!)

Phoenix fries. A.k.a. fries on steroids (and with more cheese on top).

So bad but soooooooo gooooood!

And a tiny lil’ bit of coleslaw for the vitamin intake (LOL!)

And with the whole thing just coming up to £25, going back to reality was quite harsh if perfectly signaled!

My only regret? That I didn’t get to try more things.

Don’t do the same mistake. Grab all your favourite people (or at least the ones that’ll let you try their food!), go early and order it all!

And make sure you tag me (@sndguerin) in all your drool-worthy pics! Or if you’re looking for an extra person and you don’t mind me gobble-ing down all the mac & cheese balls, I’ll be more than happy to help out!

Almost Famous, 100-102 High St, Manchester M4 1HP

Dusk til Pawn, Manchester

11-04-2016 Local Black Bookbar, cocktail, cocktail bar, drinks, Dusk til Pawn, gin, Manchester, recommendation, review, travel, UK, whisky2 Comments

Manchester is a great city by day, but it only comes truly alive at night.

Famous across the country for its buzzy nightlife and eclectic music scene, Mancurian bars & clubs are second to none and a visit to one of the city’s top cocktail bars is an absolute weekend must-do.

Manchester’s hip Northern Quarter is full of great places to spend the night, but top of my list is Dusk til Pawn.

Find the big ‘Pawn Shop’ sign in the window and make a beeline for one of Manchester’s coolest speakeasy bars.

Popular with locals and visitors alike, Dusk til Pawn is famous for both its creative cocktail menu & its great atmosphere.

… not to mention its impressive liquor collection (and that’s not even all of it!)!

Grab a seat at the bar, pick your poison and watch in awe as the bartenders work their magic, stirring, mixing and shaking glass after glass of delicious creations for you to taste.

Favourites included The Sinnerman (Bourbon, cinnamon, cherry juice)

The Bail Bond (House celery gin, elderflower, rosemary, tonic)

The Brass Ball (Whisky, marmelade, ginger, bitters)

Make sure you also order ‘A Million Dollars’.

You might not end up quite as rich as you’d expect, but you certainly are in for a treat…

… And a bit of a show!

Dusk til Pawn, Manchester | Cake + Whisky

Let the oak smoke infuse into the barrel-aged fig old fashioned for as long as you can bare it.

Then delight in the strong smokey notes, balancing perfectly against the sweetness of the fig.

Another highlight was the Diamond Glove (Gin, rhubarb, rosemary, grapefruit).

And even if you’re late to make it for your restaurant reservation (#truestory), you must have a Hustle (oh, the irony!)

Combining house plum gin, bail, lime and pomegranate, it’s one of the most surprising cocktails I’ve ever tasted.

Quite worth the risk of ending up without a table to be honest…

So whether you live there all year round or are just visiting for a couple of days, make sure you include Dusk til Pawn into your Manchester weekend plans.