lifeofyablon.com

by yablon | March 13, 2014

a game of pre-loved Chic And Seek

pre-loved Jimmy Choo

Holland Park reminds me so much of my grandparents. I find it impossible to drive up Ladbroke Grove without thinking of them and the endless cups of tea I drank while chatting to them in their apartment overlooking the park. Anyway, yesterday I dashed that way west to check out the designer vintage at the opening of Chic & Seek.

Chic & Seek, Portland Rd, W11

Located immediately opposite Julie’s restaurant on Portland Road, the boutique sells pre-loved (a beautiful way of saying 2^nd hand) designer labels.

BARBIE-tastic light fitting at Chic & Seek

The business, founded and run by Tara Nash, has been operating from her home since it first launched 4 years ago. And clearly, the demand has now grown so much that she needs a shop front.

Tara Nash outside her shop

a furry friend models for me

Make no mistake as this is the highest end collection of vintage I’ve seen. From dresses to jackets to shoes, bags, sunglasses and jewellery – Tara’s aim is to create a homely retail experience where you’ll pick up an immaculate designer ‘bargain’.

a caged Chanel

Discounted Diane (Von F)

I HEART these flats

I wonder which fashionista ever wore these?!

So while the well-heeled fashionistas of W11 recycle their Chanels and YSLs, us mere mortals can at least try on their pass-me-downs…

girlie refreshments were served at the launch

food by Pearl Drop London

and some stunning roses too

Chic & Seek 98 Portland Rd W11

Fable Bar: lunch in the City

Lunch in the city could rarely be described as quirky or even fairytale-esque. So The Fable Bar – on Farringdon Road – looked more appealing than most. I don’t get out much (at lunch time) as I’m either chained to my keyboard or eating on the run post meeting/pre school pick-ups.

Fable Bar

The occasion is that Northern friend is in town and I am keen to meet her somewhere Eastwards. You never know how long she’s here or where she’ll be next so I threw lunch bait in her direction and plans were made.

The Fable Bar is enormous and busy when I arrive… Northern friend is running late (some long story – excuse the pun) and so I opt for a sharing table so that I can ask nearby lunchers what they think of the food.

This makes me starving. Still waiting, I order the superfood flatbread (£9.95) and bottle of sparkling.

Superfood flatbread

Finally she arrives. Needing a glass of wine. So much to catch up on. We order mid gossip.

northern friend mid crispy duck & noodle salad £9.45

my delicious butternut squash soup in a flask £5.95

mini pudding shots (chocolate brownie, white chic creme brûlée, knickerbocker glory)

book booth at The Fable Bar

A bit about the bar before I forget. The theme, fables of Aesop and the fantasy world of fairy tales, is a little vague. Of course the typewriter and book props appeal to me but it’s not quite as inventive as their PR material would have you believe. But, saying that, the space is airy and quirky enough to satisfy (this is for the City types after all) and I thought the team coped brilliantly with the stead flow of hungries.

ding dong… typewriter

It seems I’m still on the hunt for a once-upon-a-time fairy tale lunch.

The Fable Bar is part of the Drake & Morgan group. (You might remember back in 2012 I reviewed Drift Bar with the Smalls….)

Restaurant review: Chiltern Firehouse

The audience is in their seats. Squirming and twitching with slight status anxiety, as these seats are priceless and a little inaccessible.

(set design) Chiltern Firehouse on Chiltern St, W1

The stage is set. A stunning 1889 Grade II-listed Victorian-gothic fire brigade building with a discreetly gated garden as the entrance. Handsome tall, flat-capped doormen mark the entrance.

tall, handsome doorman with Juicy Lucy

Enter stage right: André Balazs – a Hungarian-born US citizen with a hotel and restaurant empire (think Chateau Marmont in Hollywood and The Mercer Hotel in NYC).

Enter stage left: head chef Nuno Mendes – ex Viajante and a man who can do no wrong in any kitchen.

the cast of beautiful diners

WHOOSH. Suddenly the curtain has been swept aside to reveal what is, quite frankly, the biggest show in town. It’s Day 17 and Chiltern Firehouse is already smokin’ hot. Full of insanely beautiful (or famous, or both) guests waited on by a team of the best cheekbones I’ve ever seen.

Last week, I begged for a booking at their kitchen counter, even offering my firstborn as a sacrifice … (I had read that the counter is the best place to sit and wasn’t going to settle for any less.)

kitchen view at the counter

Actually, I lie. It was easy to book once I mentioned the word REVIEW. Beautiful people love to be written about.

So, last night, after a quick Bellini at the bar (quick as in 2 seconds before it was placed in front of me), Juicy Lucy and I were escorted to the kitchen counter. Passing David Walliams, Jo Wood and various other ‘famous’ en route.

The buzz is immense. Everyone is there to be spotted and to spot. I’ve never seen a Monday night quite so jubilant.

raw bream, spiced green olive £9

We shared 3 starters, served by at least 4 different members of the handsome Firemen team (who by the way are mostly bearded).

Firehouse Caesar with crispy chicken skin and parmesan £9

roast Lebanese cucumber, seaweed fregola, creme fraiche and dill £9

And then for main, I chose another starter. Steak Tartare with pine nuts and chipotle spice with a portion of French fries.

Steak Tartare at Chiltern Firehouse

Sitting opposite the kitchen was indeed superb. I counted at least 14 chefs silently at work in their lavishly open plan workshop before Dale Osbourne (head chef when Nuno is off) popped over to chat a little to us.

Dale Osborne in the kitchen at Chiltern Firehouse

For dessert we shared the Citrus Tarte £8

I didn’t want to go home. Ever. And not because I’m one of the beautiful people but quite simply because I love the thrill and excitement of the Firehouse. Shiny, happy people. Who cares if they’re twitching a bit.

I insisted on borrowing the doorman’s hat before we left.

Chiltern Firehouse 1 Chiltern Street W1

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Filed under food, friends

by yablon | March 10, 2014

COLOUR me in with Kj’s Laundry

Kj’s Laundry

First, let me introduce you to my new friends. Kate and Jane. If it wasn’t for these VERY real (not horrid, fashion-freaky) girlies, I would struggle to find those wearable wardrobe essentials: tops, shirts, jumpers, coats, skirts that you can pull on without thinking – which mostly, in my case, are in black or navy…

Kate Allden and Jane Ellis – founders of Kj’s Laundry

You see, I regularly drop into the Kj’s Laundry boutique, on Marylebone Lane, W1. The shop itself is low key and inviting with white-washed floor boards, vintage cabinets, an old-school chair and rails of perfectly edited chic-cool clothes.

old school chair, white-washed floor boards

My issue today is that because I play it so dreadfully safe and (absolutely) never purchase something vibrantly technicolour, I need some help.

While I’m talking to Jane I’m already eyeing up this beauty.

Baun und Pferdgarten Edlyn Top
£120

So, for the sake of this post, Kate and Jane have taken on a very real colour challenge, with me as their real-life mannequin! For 4 days I have been instructed to wear one colourful item chosen by the girls. Each piece has been loaned to add some gaiety to my usual sober uniform of black Acne jeans and navy Vince jumper.

This is what I wore on my colour mission:

Day One: Splendid pop stripe cashmere knit.

Day Two: Des Petit Hauts coral top

Day Three: linen T in fusia from Iro

Day Four: electric blue Splendid shirt

I didn’t expect anyone (other than my instagram followers) to even notice my sudden move out of monochrome. But, those who know me well have been pleasantly surprised by my ‘bright side’. The day I put on the coral top, I scowled. The colour not only didn’t feel ‘me’, it made me feel furious. But my 9 year old daughter was delighted, claiming it ‘really suited me’. Then, when I met my client at Harvey Nichols for our meeting, she had hardly said hello before complimenting me on the c-word. Yes, I was sporting COLOUR!

By the end of the 4^th day, I was much less envious of those I spotted in head-to-toe black, as I started to realise that colour is the new grey. And with shop windows littered with splashes of primaries, the penny dropped: my only real apprehension had been how I should wear those Lego pantones.

Pop into Kj’s Laundry and my girls will show you how.

This blog post has been written in partnership with Kj’s Laundry, 74 Marylebone Lane.

lifeofyablon.com

a game of pre-loved Chic And Seek

Fable Bar: lunch in the City

Restaurant review: Chiltern Firehouse

COLOUR me in with Kj’s Laundry

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