Not Just Another Milla

Ageing over tea

Not Just Another Milla — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:13:02 +0000

“We start to age when we finish learning”

A friend in Paris sent this postcard to me following a discussion about our lives as ageing students and I cannot help but hope it’s true. My ever-increasing wrinkles disagree but I appreciate the sentiment (and her kind words on the reverse). Emails are so convenient but I’m a big believer in ‘proper’ post – pretty, handwritten cards with meaningful words from those dear to me.

A day of rest (almost)

Not Just Another Milla — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 03:33:46 +0000

Up until two months ago, my weekly rule was that Friday was my day of rest. A day to go to the cinema, for a manicure, to catch up with my reading, to find a new café to photograph and to generally relax without being surrounded by academic literature. With exams to study for, essays to submit, playing tour guide for visiting friends and trying to research postgraduate programmes, there has been very little down time for me. My nails are a mess, I have eighteen back issues of The Economist stacked up waiting to be read and I’ve completely lost touch with what’s happening around. I’ve even committed the cardinal sin of making plans and not following through, which is pretty rubbish.

Yesterday afternoon I decided enough was enough. Laptop and Kanji guides away, some alone time with this week’s The Economist, the FT weekend edition, New Scientist (my inner geek broke free) and adding a little glamour, July’s British Harper’s Bazaar was needed. Sunday afternoon bliss before I gave in to that niggling feeling that my time with Simon Kuper‘s articles needed to come to a rapid end and headed back to the library to prepare for my Japanese presentation on Wednesday. Wish me luck as another set of weeklies head to the ‘to read’ pile.

Something about Smythson

Not Just Another Milla — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 04:06:02 +0000

Every time I walk passed the Smythson of Bond Street shop on Sloane street I have to fight the urge to shout “Want. Need. Must have.” at the top of my voice and try to carry on about my daily business. This is no simple task.

With the Grosvenor collection being my current favourite, I’m sad to discover that this handbag (above) does not come in black. Though having seen a preview of the AW13 collection, I highly suspect a little patience will be worthwhile.

L’aperitivo at Brunello, London

Not Just Another Milla — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 04:12:46 +0000

Unbeknownst to me, Italians have been engaging in a delicious pre-supper tradition – l’aperitivo – since time began. Fortunately, I was recently invited along to Kensington’s 5-star Baglioni Hotel to join in and experience the Italian way of eating.

Rather trivially, I choose my drinks based on the glasses they come in. I like champagne and martini glasses so I usually opt for one of those. On this occasion, I opted for a smooth, delicate rose martini – pretty, tasty and far too easy to drink… Complimenting my cocktail, small plates of deep-fried olives, smoked salmon and a cheese and ham platter – all of which were devoured slowly over conversation and laughs. And don’t even get me started on the bread basket. I ate so much of the focaccia, I think they had to start baking again! One thing that baffles me is how do Italians eat dinner after this? Do any Italian readers want to share the secret? For me, this alone is enough for a meal.

I’m still a little surprised that all of this is only costs £15. A Kensington location, terrace for those warm summer evenings, view of Kensington Gardens, cocktail and snacks plus the welcoming Italian hospitality we hear so much about. This touch of affordable culinary treat is available every night from 18h00 during the summer which, as every Londoner knows, isn’t very long!

Brunello
The Baglioni Hotel
60 Hyde Park Gate
SW7 5BB
+44 (0)20 7368 5700

Not Just Another Milla was a guest of the Baglioni Hotel, London.

Pink Words

Not Just Another Milla — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 10:35:28 +0000

I have a secret to share. I don’t often tell people this but… I detest the colour pink. Unless we’re talking make-up, I don’t want to see it or hear about it. It’s too girly for me to consider wearing or perhaps I’m just too old! Give me a little black dress any day and I’m good to go. So, imagine my surprise when the June issue of British Harper’s Bazaar landed on my doormat. A black and white image of the starlet of the moment – British actress Carey Mulligan – with a smile and a pastel pink header had me giddy with anticipation. A friend recently called Harper’s Bazaar “the thinking woman’s magazine” and I couldn’t agree more. Of course there is fashion, beauty and even a little blah celebrity coverage but the magazine, particularly the ‘Talking Points’ section, gets the brain ticking. I want my Prada with a little history, my Céline with a little culture and most of all, I want to open a magazine which stimulates both my mind and eyes. I used to collect Vogue Paris but now, particularly with the unique subscribers covers, I think I have a new collectable.

Summer without Kate Moss on the cover of British Vogue simply isn’t summer. Isn’t this gorgeous? I decided after seeing some images on that very naughty Pinterest to buy a copy. The cover is quite busy which is a shame but the pink works, Kate captivates me and suddenly all I want to do is cavort around town, or at least my living room given that it’s been raining here in London, in a summer dress. Kate has so many critics but I won’t hear a word against this Patrick Demarchelier editorial. Not a word. British Vogue has me wanting a yacht in the Caribbean sea and I suddenly have an urge to spend £2457 on a swimsuit! I love the way they write ‘Model = Kate Moss’ in the credits section like she needs an introduction. It makes me giggle every time. This issue is very ‘now’ but that’s what Vogue is about. There’s an article about Jemima Kirke from ‘Girls’, photographs of what the so-called “IT girls” are wearing, the Richard Branson & Vivenne Westwood collaboration and some beautiful pieces in the Vogue Spy section. If you’re a fashion lover, this has everything you need.

Oh Julianne Moore. Could the woman be more divine? Well, Madame Figaro sets about finding out. Though it kills me to pay £3.30 for a magazine which costs 1.50€, my French professor constantly tells me to read more French literature so voilà ! It’s an easy read: a lot of French goings-on, never-ending (and utterly wonderful) beauty features and Julianne frolicking around in Lanvin. Good times!

These days I spend so much time reading academic literature that my magazine moments tend to involve flicking through the pages whilst enjoying a cup of tea and then storing the magazine for years to come. I never realised just how different these magazines are and, more importantly, what my literature choices say about me. Alas, no more time to reflect – back to reading about the Tokugawa shogunate for me.

ERES Sunwear 2013

Not Just Another Milla — Mon, 20 May 2013 04:08:40 +0000

The luxury French lingerie ERES and swimwear brand has enlisted the talents of Karl Lagerfeld to make the campaign launch of its new online Sunwear. Staring Berenice Marlohe, who featured as a Bond Girl in Skyfall, the collection is ideal for the woman who enjoys lounging on a yacht and dressing up for a private beach party. That sounds like my type of summer, though I will have to work very hard to acquire a yacht! That said, I will probably have the yacht before I have her figure! She looks phenomenal and gives such a strong presence.

Artistic director Valerie Delafosse said the collection is “to accompany the ERES woman from morning to night”. ‘Sunwear’ is for those who love to start the day swimming in the warm Caribbean sea and enjoying cocktails at dusk in the South of France. The collection includes a printed silk kaftan with embroidered finishes, a braided silk bathrobe and embroidered with sequins copper umbrella skirt. A day by the beach without an ERES swimsuit simply won’t do!

Images courtesy of ERES.

The Modern Pantry and Lalani & Co Curated Afternoon Tea

Not Just Another Milla — Mon, 13 May 2013 04:25:42 +0000

I have been meaning to write about my near monthly brunches at The Modern Pantry since early 2012 but I’m trying to work through the menu so I can give a detailed review. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it! Anyway, Lalani & Co – the boutique tea company I’m always raving about – paired up with Anna Hansen’s The Modern Pantry for what can only be described as a rewriting of the afternoon tea rules. Gone were the cucumber sandwiches and out came the poussin and, rather bravely, there were no scones but an abundance of matcha marshmallows. That’s right, no scones. But when you have black garlic caramel truffles, do you really need scones? I took it upon myself to find out.

Each of the six courses were excellently paired with a different tea. The full menu:

1. Umeboshi custard tart, cauliflower, fennel & almond ‘pastry’ paired with Mannong Village Ancient White Buds 2010 from Yunnan, China.

2. Perroche, Ragstone & roast tomato sandwiches, sencha mayonnaise paired with Okumidori Cultivar 1st Flush Sencha 2012 from Kyoto, Japan. If you like green tea, you need to taste this.

3. Grilled Persian spiced poussin leg with Makaibari 2nd Flush Grand Reserve 2012 from the Darjeeling region.

4. Tonka bean, caraway and hazelnut frangipane tart also served with Makaibari 2nd Flush.

5. White chocolate, Urfa chilli & black garlic caramel truffle paired with LaKyrsiew Spring Reserve 2011 from Meghalaya.

6. Matcha marshmallows.

Have you ever seen such a menu? I don’t know what goes on inside Anna’s head but I like it! I eat umeboshi pretty much every day in the traditional Japanese style: with rice, natto and nori. It’s a very unique taste and paired with cauliflower and fennel, all quite strong flavours, I didn’t see it working. However, it was creamy with just enough saltiness from the umeboshi. Hmmn, I could have eaten four of those little things. My favourite course? The poussin was a work of art: succulent meat, crunchy pumpkin seeds, a warm spiciness with a touch of sweetness. I got all that of from a tiny plate. Whoever said cooking is a science has clearly been eating at The Modern Pantry. The balance of flavours is one thing but pairing them with tea, served at the appropriate temperature, to enhance the flavour is nothing short of genius, and something Lalani & Co do with such passion. The gooey sweetness of the white chocolate, urfa chilli and black garlic caramel truffle had me confused. I wanted to hate it. I mean, garlic in a dessert? Yes readers, yes! I don’t have the words, you just have to taste it to understand.

In terms of tea, the Okumidori was always going to be my favourite. It’s by far the best sencha I’ve had outside of Japan and I now have some in my kitchen cupboard so all is right with the world. I also really liked the Makaibari from the Darjeeling region. It has a refreshing taste and worked well with both the savoury and sweet courses, though I preferred it with the latter as it balanced out the sweetness.

For a woman who doesn’t care much for change, I really enjoyed this unique afternoon tea experience. This was a one-off event (though The Modern Pantry do offer afternoon tea) so I doubt that I will get to experience such unusual combinations of food during afternoon tea again, and I really ought to get back to my scone eating. However, I’m really hoping that other venues will see the merit in serving tea properly (no teabags and at the right temperature for the individual teas) to not only match the quality of food but also in respect of the history of tea drinking and, of course, and the tea lover.

This afternoon cost me £38 and included a pot of the Lalani & Co’s LaKyrsiew tea.

Lalani & Co / info@lalaniandco.com

The Modern Pantry
48 St John’s Square
London
EC1V 4JJ
+44 (0)20 7553 9210

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Afternoon tea at the Royal Horseguards Hotel, London

Not Just Another Milla — Mon, 06 May 2013 04:37:55 +0000

Discovering my own city is such a treat. I constantly feel as though I know everything about London and then I discover something new. Enter the Royal Horseguards Hotel, former home of the British Secret Service. To celebrate a friend’s birthday birthday and arrival in London, we headed for an afternoon of indulgence at this hotel, which is located in London’s Whitehall. Unfortunately, I didn’t take many photographs of the hotel interiors. The lobby and tea room felt inviting, contemporary and luxurious without trying too hard.

Whether you’re talking about food, style or interior design, simplicity is always the way to go. The sandwiches here (served at room temperature as they should be) fit that mantra perfectly: coronation chicken, smoked salmon, roast beef and cucumber. The bread was soft and the fillings perfectly seasoned. The scones were delicious; the type of scones this woman dreams about, and apparently what I could do with right now! Served warm with a seemingly never-ending supply of clotted cream and strawberry jam. No complaints from me.

As part of my one-woman protest I’ve stopped ordering Japanese green tea when out. Most venues use boiling water which scolds the tea and therefore ruins the taste. I opted for Earl Grey with warm milk, which worked very well with the scones.

The desserts, however, were a serious disappointment; when a sugar addict finds dessert too sweet, you know something is wrong. The macarons – an artificial, almost fluorescent yellow colour – were basically circular baked sugar balls with one taste and one texture. This does not a good macaron make. One should be able to distinguish between the filling and the shell. Food is not naturally that colour so even if it had been nice, I wouldn’t have had more than a taste. The mini-cupcakes were forgettable but the biggest disappointment were the éclairs. Going by the colour of the interior, I think they were supposed to be coffee or caramel. Either way, I couldn’t taste anything except dry pastry and sugar. Having only had a nibble of each dessert, which says it all, I soon returned to the far superior scones. Fortunately, the staff were happy to provide an additional serving.

With its central location, comfortable interiors, affordable afternoon tea service and the soothing sounds of their harpist, the Royal Horseguards seemingly has it all. I can see myself taking a break from it all, stopping here for cream tea (which consists of scones served with clotted cream, jam and a pot of tea) but I really need to be wowed by the desserts to have a full afternoon tea again.

The afternoon tea with Laurent Perrier champagne cost £45 per person.

The Royal Horseguards Hotel
2 Whitehall Court
London
SW1A 2EJ
+44 (0) 871 376 9033

You can read more of my afternoon tea reviews here.

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Patiently waiting for summer time…

Not Just Another Milla — Sun, 05 May 2013 04:37:38 +0000

London is cloudy and cold and am I starting to wonder what happened to spring. Fortunately, this gorgeous summer editorial has me thinking about wearing pretty summer dresses, printed swimsuits and generally frolicking in the sun without 6 layers. With pieces from my two favourite brands – Bottega Veneta and Hermès – and complimented by Prada, Roland Mouret and Kenzo, what’s not to love!?

Images via Madame Figaro

The Spring Accessory: Le carré Hermès

Not Just Another Milla — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 04:17:59 +0000

If there is only one accessory a woman should own, it’s an Hermès scarf, so you can image how envious I am of model Karlie Kloss being wrapped in dozen of them. With the simple styling by Beat Bolliger and photography by David Sims, the scarves take centre stage as the American model moves gracefully to show the fluidity of the legendary silk scarves from the spring/summer 2013 collection.

Images courtesy of Fashion Gone Rogue.

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