Though I rather enjoy the Library Bar at The Lanesborough, one of London’s 5-star hotels, this was my first experience at Apsleys, where one takes Afternoon Tea at the hotel. As it turns out, there were to be quite a few firsts that day.

I’m all about the details so seeing a menu which clearly states ‘Afternoon Tea’ pleases me greatly. I don’t quite understand why so many high-end hotels list this delightful tradition as “High Tea” because it’s a different meal. Slight digression… We both opted for the ‘Belgravia tea’ which includes a selection of finger sandwiches, delicious cakes and pastries and scones, but the real draw was the strawberries and cream. Enjoyed with a glass of Laurent Perrier rosé champagne, an afternoon of perfection commenced…

Warm mini-tarts of Stilton and red onion welcomed us to the savoury part of the menu. The finger sandwiches included cucumber and cream cheese, an unusual but delicious combination of ham and celeriac on cranberry bread and good ole smoked salmon. Moving on to the sweets, we feasted on blueberry cake covered in white chocolate, dark chocolate sponge and red velvet cake with a cream cheese icing. The cakes were so light! This was the first time I was served tea cakes, one of my favourite treats, with afternoon tea. It’s all in the name, right? They were served warm along with fluffy home-made scones. I try to eat dairy-free most of the time but when it comes to clotted cream, it’s simply not going to happen. Complimenting the cream was strawberry jam and my personal favourite – lemon curd. Yet another first with Afternoon Tea. The tartness of the lemon curd paired with the luscious clotted cream is something everybody needs to try. If you’ve never tried lemon curd before, please don’t buy it. Make it at home – it’s so simple, quick and tastes nothing like the ready-made version.

Now, it’s no secret that I’m a major tea snob enthusiast so imagine my excitement at meeting Karl Kessab, the tea sommelier at The Lanesborough. That’s right people, they have a tea sommelier! The first ever one in the UK to be exact. Sticking with my own traditions, I ordered green tea but Karl was having none of this! He asked me what type of taste I like and suggested I live on the edge by trying The Lanesborough’s signature Afternoon Tea Blend, Silver Needle and Rose Congou. One type of tea to go with each course. Now that’s a lot of tea, right? Just enough if you ask me and yes, they were all delightful. The very idea of floral-scented tea makes me shudder but the Rose Congou worked wonderfully with the chocolate French-style desserts.

There are no words for the service.  No words at all!  Okay, maybe one: perfection!  It seems so simple but those little unique touches – starting with strawberries and cream, proper lemon curd and Karl the tea sommelier (I can’t get over this!) – add to the appeal of Afternoon Tea at The Lanesborough. What’s the point of following the crowd when you can carve your own path, right? You shouldn’t mess with tradition and this for me was a very British Afternoon Tea.

Not Just Another Milla was a guest of The Laneborough.

Apsleys at The Lanesborough
Hyde Park Corner
London SW1X 7TA
+44 (0) 20 7333 7524

Back from an afternoon of shopping amongst the crowds and the idea of cooking doesn’t really appeal to me, so a quiet moment at home with a quick and easy salad and favourite comedy series – The Big Bang Theory. I may just have a crush on Dr Sheldon Cooper…  

1. Chop an avocado, some strawberries and toss through some wild rocket.
2. Mix balsamic vinegar, a pinch of sugar and a touch of extra virgin olive oil.
3. Add the dressing to the salad and enjoy!

Simple, healthy and delicious – the bittersweet rocket with the sweet strawberries and creamy avocado work so well together.

Have a great Sunday!!

Back from a wee blogging hiatus with Hermès, one of the most luxurious brands known to man. To celebrate its 175^th glorious year, Hermès brings French chic to London by teaming up with the Royal Acadamy of Arts to celebrate its relationship with leather. Unless you’ve been living in a bubble, you’ll know about the beauty of the Birkin and Kelly bags but this exhibition offers a peek into the less known bags like the Jypsière and the Évelyne.

Divided into nine section, The exhibition serves to highlight the ethos behind master craftmanship of the brand as we delve into the history of Monseiur Thierry Hermès from the founding of the house in 1837 up until today. I only have two of those gorgeous orange boxes and I really need more in my life! Sharing the personal touch Hermès is well-known for, there are a few ‘Artisans’ from the France-based workshop giving demonstrations. They have such pride in their work and having the opportunity to see them at work was a real honour.

Further supporting the arts, Hermès has created four one-of-a-kind versions of its Passe-Guide handbag as a tribute to the UK and Ireland (one bag for each country), and these can be viewed towards the end of the exhibition. Not only do you get to see four new originals but you get the chance to buy them as Christie’s will conduct an online auction with all proceeds going to the Royal Academy of Arts. We have to support art and culture, and in a city like London where all public galleries and museums are free to the public, I love this concept even more.

There was a little part of me which felt uncomfortable: as you enter the exhibition, the first thing to great you in a variety of leather. I wear leather shoes and have leather wallets and bags, however seeing the skins draped around somehow connected the beauty of fashion with the environmental impact. I’m not saying Hermès is alone here and I have no immediate plans to start wearing plastic shoes (shudder) or stop coveting a Birkin, but seeing a multitude of crocodile, cow, snake and lamb skin made me a wee bit more conscious of the process from field to clutch bag. It’s not for me to dictate to other people what they wear but I do believe we need to, at the very least, be aware of the origins.

Unfortunately, photography is forbidden and you know me, I don’t like breaking the rules so just the entrance I’m afraid. Loving the statue with her white Kelly bag.  

The exhibition runs until 27^th May 2012 and is entry is free to all. 

Hermès Leather Forever
Royal Academy Of Arts 
6 Burlington Gardens
London, W1S 3ES
+44 (0)20 7300 8000

I decided to treat my make-up bag to a few new additions this weekend, and NARS blusher was a must. Since warmer weather is upon us, I thought a nice pink shade would work well. I use NARS ‘Orgasm’ which is lovely but has a wee bit too much shimmer for the day. The ‘Deep Throat’ shade is sheer and pretty pink, though these names are enough to make a Catholic girl blush! 

Being a big fan of Chanel beauty products and keeping summer tones in mind, I opted for Chanel lèvres scintillantes glossimer in ‘Giggle’ (46). Lip gloss is a tricky one – all too often there’s barely any colour intensity and the gloss completely transfers after a mere two sips of champagne, which as I’m sure you know is the official way to check the quality a lip gloss. Loving this colour! 

I’ve never been a big fan of MAC due to an allergic reaction I had to one of their primers. I find it quite difficult to find foundation for my skin tone as most of the colour matches have red undertones whereas my skin has yellow. Throw in oily, problem-prone and über sensitive skin and you’ve got a make-up mission on your hands. However, given MAC’s ridiculously amazing colour range, I thought I’d give them a try so I faced one of my biggest fears: the beauty counter assistant/make-up artist… My worries were unfounded as the lovely make-up artist drew my attention to the Studio Fix Fluid. She tried out a couple of shades and once we found one I was happy with – NC 43.5 – she asked if I wanted to continue my shopping, see how it worked on my skin and come back and buy later. Very appreciative of her consideration, that’s exactly what I did et voilà, new foundation!

I first discovered Myla many years ago whilst strolling around Harrods‘ lingerie department which, for the record, is a world of its own. You could pretty much live there – lace heaven! Every lingerie lover appreciates the beauty of Myla and what’s not to love? All too often, women’s lingerie targets the opposite sex with little emphasis on the sensuality of the female form.  This is where the allure of Myla, with its grown-up femininity combined with luxurious fabrics and deep jewel tones, come in.  I’m particularly keen on the ‘Carrie’ basque but it’s the ‘Elsa’ kimono which tops my wish list. Let’s just say that my birthday cannot arrive soon enough.

Have you shopped at Myla before? Perhaps you have a prized lingerie brand? Do share!

ホテル・プラザ・アテネ（Hotel Plaza Athénée）：シャンペンとケーキでパリにお別れするくらいいい方法ってないでしょう。私は友人とお気に入りのホテル、ホテル・プラザ・アテネ（Hotel Plaza Athénée）でその味を楽しみました。ラ・ギャラリー・デ・ゴブラン（La Galerie des Gobelins）でデザートを楽しんでると、ハーブ奏者がそのバックで演奏し、子供達が中庭のスケートリンクでスケートをしていました。まるで夢の様！

原作: Girl Chat and Dessert at Hôtel Plaza Athénée

アービュタス（Arbutus）：ロンドンっ子としての私の生活はロンドンのソーホーにあるミシュランの星を獲得したレストラン、アービュタス（Arbutus）での素晴らしいランチから始まりました。田舎風テリーヌとフルーツの前菜のトースト添えでおいしいお料理。季節柄、かぼちゃと野生のマッシュルームの風味のリゾットがメインに出されました。ダイエットしたいって思っているなら、もう諦めて！林檎のクラッシュと塩キャラメルのアイスクリームが添えられたフレンチトーストはもう我慢できない一品。とても言葉には表せないほどのおいしいデザートでした。もう最高！

原作: Lunch at Arbutus

カリーヌ・ロワイトフェルド (Carine Roitfeld)：ヴォーグパリの元編集長でイギリスで一番のファッション雑誌ハーパーズ・バザー誌に特集されています。彼女のヴォーグ後の人生や、さらに面白いことに野心的なキャリアウーマンと母親（ジュリア。レストワン－ロワイトフェルトとヴラディミル・レストワン－ロワイトフェルトの母）の間の完璧なバランスを見つけたことなどを披露しています。

原作: Carine Roitfeld for British Harper’s Bazaar February 2012

クラリッジズ・ホテル（Claridge’s Hotel）ロンドンでもっとも良質のホテルの一つクラリッジスに今月のハイライト、アフタヌーンティーのマスタークラスのために向かいます。百年以上の間、メイフェアの真ん中に位置するこの五つ星ホテルは、アールデコスタイルが行き渡って本当に豪華です。私はマカロン、ミルフィーユ、そしてイギリスの伝統のスコーンの作り方を習いました。これより素敵なことってあるかしら？クラスはいつでも受講可能ではないけれど、休憩室でアフタヌーンティを楽しむことはできます。予約が望ましいです。

原作: Claridge’s Hotel Afternoon Tea Master Class

日本料理：たっぷり美食を楽しんだ後、新鮮な野菜ジュースと日本料理のベースであるお米でデトックスをすることに決めました。梅干、のりと納豆でを添えて。そう、イギリス女性が納豆好きなのよ。(^o^)　東中野に住む日本の家族と一緒に生活したことを思い出すわ。本当に日本が恋しい！

原作: January detox

Regardless of the hour, The Wolseley has always been one of my favourite places to dine. Not only is it in my favourite neighbourhood – Mayfair – it is one of the few places to get all-day dining spot on. No, it’s not one of those hip, too-cool-for-school places everybody raves about until the next hip place comes along, but that’s not really my thing. The old-world charm add a much-appreciated dose of glamour and comfort making the dining experience about more than food.

The Wolseley is a London institution so where better to meet friends old and new, who had travelled from Paris and New York, for a spot of brunch. There’s something about that combination of good company, champagne and a good ole plate of American pancakes with maple syrup that makes me smile. Unfortunately, The Wolseley does not permit photography but the idea of not being able to photograph my pancakes simply wasn’t acceptable to me hence the ‘illegal’ images. Forgive me!

The Wolseley
160 Piccadilly
London
W1J 9EB
020 7499 6996

日本の読者の皆さん、こんにちは！Not Just Another Millaのサイトのエキサイティングな変更をお知らせしますね。毎月すべての記事のまとめを日本語でお送りすることになりました。皆さんにこのことをシェアすることができるのをとてもワクワクしています！あなたたちのお友達にも教えてあげて、コメントをくださいね。Not Just Another Millaのツイッター (Twitter) とFacebookのフォローもよろしくお願いします。

I discovered Spice Ways tea company when I went to the Berkeley Hotel for afternoon tea, where I tried their ‘Gorgeous Ginger’ fruit infusion. I didn’t think I’d like it much as I’m somewhat of a tea purist, but completely hooked, I was happy to receive ‘Posh Pomelo’ a mix of pomelo, melon, pineapple, papaya and ‘Amazing Apple’ comprising of tasty apples, cranberries, papaya, pineapple, cinnamon and other spices. The latter smells like Christmas – full of comfort and happiness. The best part, you can eat the little pieces of fruit. Tea and fruit? Yes please!

I’m trying to think more about the effects of my consumption on others and the environment, so the idea of buying from a local British brand appeals to me. I love that Spice Ways is owned by two friends who source all the ingredients themselves. There’s something pure about that, and I’m happy to support what they do.

When news that former rédactrice en chef of Vogue Paris would be coming out with her magazine broke, let’s just say there was a wee bit of rejoicing going on! Called “CR”, the magazine will debut in September and will be approximately 290 pages. Subscription alert!