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Art Deco Dining in London: Brasserie Zédel
As you’re probably already aware, I love French food. So I was delighted when one of my fellow Blister Sisters added a French restaurant to our London visit the week before our rowing tour of the Thames. What I didn’t realize was that Brasserie Zédel is the place for Art Deco dining in London. I would discover this on our first full day in London Town, when we made our way there for lunch. But first, we emerged from Piccadilly Underground station that morning and strolled the grand, curved Georgian architecture of Regent Street. From here, we set out on our walking tour of some of the world’s great luxury…
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Parc Monceau: An English Garden in Paris
Today is the day! The first day of the year where the sun’s strength has warmed enough to remove any residual chill in the air and to release a glorious, earthy scent from the garden. Spring has definitely arrived. And it’s the perfect day to take a stroll through a beautiful landscape. So I thought we would pay a visit to another of Paris’ stunning jardins. And you may be surprised to learn that this one, Parc Monceau, is an English garden. A Royal Commission I first approached Parc Monceau from one of the Art Nouveau metro entrances that I love so much. And from the moment I saw its…
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Liberty London: A Shopper’s Treasure Chest
London is one of my favourite cities, second only in my heart to Paris. I love it’s colourful history, varied architectural styles, grand streets and hidden nooks. But most of all, I love its posh shops. Harrod’s, Fortnum & Mason, the Burlington Arcade to name but a few. Among of all of them though, one stands out. So read on and see why I consider Liberty London a shopper’s treasure chest. Carnaby Street I first discovered the Liberty shop about 20 years ago. A friend of a friend, who was living in London at the time, introduced me to it while I was visiting on a business trip. On my…
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Henley-on-Thames: Rowing Mecca of the World
Outside, the first snowstorm of the new year is blustering, enveloping my world in a blanket of white. So I’ve decided to add a little colour to the day and escape to a realm of blue. And I’m accomplishing this by paying a return visit to Henley-on-Thames: rowing Mecca of the world, as I see it. I visited this picturesque, British town this past summer, during my first post-COVID trip oversees. This sojourn to Henley was one of the highlights of a week-long, women’s rowing tour down the Thames. And the contrast with today’s weather could hardly be greater. Heat Wave For our tour from Oxford to Windsor took place…
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Eggnog Panettone French Toast: A Decadent New Year’s Brunch
By this point in the holiday season, the bountiful feast meals are behind us. And what remains is a varied selection of leftovers, both sweet and savoury. I’ve been inspired to create a new recipe from a couple of these Christmas classics: eggnog and panettone. And so, I introduce to you (drum roll please) Eggnog Panettone French Toast. My first source of inspiration for this recipe is beloved French chef Jacques Pépin, who uses ice cream to make his pain perdue – French toast, due to its high egg content. And that got me thinking that eggnog would also be a good option, especially since it’s already seasoned. I use…
