Clos Maggiore

 
Clos Maggiore on King Street, Covent Garden, is one of my favourite restaurants in London. It has won numerous awards and is often named London's most romantic restaurant. It is one of the most romantic restaurants I have dined at in the world! (along with The River Cafe in New York - just under the Brooklyn Bridge...but that is for another time, another post!) The ceiling is covered in cherry blossom branches, which are laced with tiny fairy lights - beauuutiful!!


The conservatory (pictured...courtesy of Clos Maggiore's website as it is far too intimate a restaurant to get one's camera out and start snapping for you, my lovely readers!!) is the best place to eat for a date. The smaller room upstairs is darker but cosy, with its fireplace and traditional decor. 


The Head Chef, Marcellin Marc (previously at Michelin 2 star Le Clos de la Violette in Aix-en-Provence) has a delicate yet flavour-enriched, Mediterranean style of cooking that is quite spectacular. There is also an excellent wine list and the restaurant's Sommelier is always happy to assist you in your choice!


Starters are around £7-13, mains about £18+ and desserts are £7. The Prix Fixe menu is £22.50 for three courses or £27.50 with a half bottle of wine.


I cannot fault Clos Maggiore (a rare occurrence for me!). For the perfect evening date or anniversary, go for the Prix Fixe menu before ballet at the Royal Opera House (just around the corner). Your man won't mind because of all the brownie points he'll earn for treating you to such a romantic evening!!


Love, 


 AB x

Naughty vs Nice

NAUGHTY:

 Red crepe structured shoulder jacket, Vanessa Bruno (£350 from Net A Porter)

NICE:

Red jacket, £29.99 from H&M

 

 

Love, AB x

Bob Bob Ricard

If you're wondering where the name came from....Bob (co-founder) owns 2/3 and Ricard owns 1/3! The quirkiness doesn't end there.....each booth has a "press for Champagne" button for those surprise revelations that require a prompt celebratory toast. Isn't that fabulous?

I love the decor at BBR...from the logo to the Prussian Blue leather booths, complete with curtains to completely cut yourself off from neighbouring diners. The bar downstairs is similar in style but with burgundy red leather booths. The attention to detail at this establishment is impeccable - from the logo to the pink & cream place mats.

The Perfect Base: Chanel VitaLumière Aqua Foundation

Recently, I had noticed a lot of praise in magazines for Chanel's Vitalumière collection of foundations. My mother had also purchased the original Vitalumière foundation and said it was excellent. So, after being given a sample, I decided to try it for myself.


Usually, I use Chantecaille's Just Skin tinted moisturizer, which is a fantastic product. I always get complimented on my flawless skin when I use it. This can be purchased from HQHair, SpaceNK and the usual luxury department stores (you won't find it in Boots). It's pricey at over £50 a pop but, I think, worth it. Strangely, a bottle I bought in New York lasted me much longer than one I recently received as a present in the UK (I love it when someone takes note of what is running low in your bathroom and stocks you up as a present).

Travalo Travel Perfume Bottles

Here's another great beauty buy for you all! If you would like to take your favourite perfume out with you in your handbag then a Travalo travel perfume bottle is a great investment. Whilst some fragrance brands make great travel perfume bottles (Chanel have a great twist bottle design and Prada have a key-chain attachment on their military style bottles), if you've just splashed out on an expensive bottle for your dressing table, spending even more money on miniature versions for the office/ gym/ your handbag is not ideal.

This is where Travalo comes in! These genius little gadgets can be filled in seconds and hold approximately 50 sprays of perfume. I bought one in silver (for my Prada perfume - the original, amber eau de parfum, since you ask) and one in pink (for my new favourite day perfume, Naughty Alice by Vivienne Westwood - I have a bit of an obsession with violets).

The Perfect Shoe

If you thought Carrie Bradshaw was a shoeaholic, you should see my collection! I am a true shoe queen and was ecstatic when Miu Miu produced these delightfully girly Cinderella heels:

I was even MORE delighted when my mother - officially The Best Mother In The World - bought me them for my birthday back in 2009. These shoes were in every magazine that season (A/W 2009) and every time I wore them women either gasped in excitement or simply stared in jealousy. I loved them!! In fact, I was even stopped by a man on the streets of New York who said simply, "nice shoes"...haha!