Last weekend I pretty much had the perfect Saturday. I spent the morning in Petersham Nurseries, one of my favourite London haunts. Petersham is such a beautiful and inspiring place, it’s like stumbling upon a perfect secret world. I dream of getting married in the just perfectly bucolic rustic surroundings. Yes it’s that fabulous.
Anyway back to the sweets. We began with an insightful introduction into Genoa’s long tradition in sugar trading and the Romanengo family who have been conserving fruits and flowers since 1780 and whose confectionery we would be experiencing.
After this we were given a demonstration of icing candied fruits and sweets and making chocolate truffles. Mouth watering. We indulged ourselves with Marron Creams, Marron Glaces, Mostarda di frutta with Formaggio Capretta, Fondant Lingue & Torronetti amongst other delectable Romanengo products and then we had lunch…Yes after all that gorging we had lunch which was heralded with the arrival of Prosecco with Romanego Rose syrup. Made simply from roses, sugar and lemon. Now this is an elixir to have in your life.
Lunch was prepared by the nurseries Head Chef Skye Gyngell, being vegetarian I didn’t have the Quail which looked amazing but had a fabulous Robiola which is an Italian cheese made with Goats, Sheeps and cows milk. The lunch was an education in how these sweet-toothed delicacies can be used in savoury dishes, and to great effect. I have been smearing Rose Petal Preserve on pretty much everything ever since. Divine!
The sweetest Play-doh ever
A freshly made chocolate truffle. The Romanengo chocolate machine dates from 1860. Pretty impressive.
Hands down the best chocolate packaging ever.
The divine Rose Jam
This is a Nectar of the Gods…It tastes like Rose breath. Delicious in champagne for those like me who can’t drink it plain
Lunch for the Carnivores. Much finger licking.
Robiola. I now can’t live without this. Thanks Skye!
Tags: candied flowers, candied fruit, Genoese Confectioners, Petersham Nurseries, Pietro Romanengo, Skye Gyngell, Sugar, sweet making
Posted in Food Design, Inspiration | 1 Comment »
Parties, Parties, Parties. Hands up I admit it, working as I do in events and having attended my fair share of parties when I’m not working……I can and have been a little Party jaded of late.
My faith was restored last night at the Louis Vuitton Bond street store opening party. High Octane on every level. From Donna Summer singing “I feel love” with Marc Jacobs as her very own backing singer (yes he was) to the mesmerizing Punch Drunk experiences in a myriad of hidden rooms. This party was refreshing in that amongst the Luxury goods Event staples of beautiful aesthetics and beautiful people It was a truly unforgettable experience. There was so much thought and Imagination put into the tiniest details it all felt very personal and intimate . We laughed and giggled our way around the rooms in the way one does at a relaxed dinner party. Very much like a journey, we went from walking through a Pine forest (admiring the smell of freshly trodden pine needles underfoot) and ending up in a yurt reading my very own tightly rolled message in a bottle. Ah. The message in a bottle, now that did please me enormously. It’s the little things amongst all the big things that make all the difference.
More messages in bottles please. More parties like this please. We need them in our Universe.
Incredible flowers in individual copper tubes by Absolute Flowers. Adore
Love the filament bulbs suspended from the ceiling and hanging amongst the flowers
One of the experience rooms. Everything was studded. EVERYTHING. Oh my! The giraffe from the window needs to hang out here with his studded hooves
Studded table and books. Stud my world. Please do.
A make believe old fashioned LV shop front
A charming speakeasy that was found hidden away in a room amongst trunks and boxes. The Barman fixed me a “surprise” drink and it was a surprise. It contained my favourite Hix Morello cherries. How could he have known?
Another lovely moment
A room that was a four sided cabinet of curiosities
Curiouser and curiouser
The forest and the yurt. There was a rickshaw too but alas my camera battery died…
Tags: Absolute Flowers, Donna Summer, Event Design, Fashion, Hix Restaurant, Louis Vuitton, Louis Vuitton Bond Street, Louis Vuitton Bond street store opening party, Marc Jacobs, Mark Hix, Punch drunk, style
Posted in Events, Lot's to Love | No Comments »
Today the new windows for the brand spanking Louis Vuitton Bond Street store were unveiled. Designed by the extraordinarily talented Faye McLoud and curated by Katie Grand. There are so many wonderful elements. Nestling in a frame of signature Gold Monogram mesh is the most delightful whimsical installation. Beautiful solemn bell jars containing little animals fashioned out of Louis Vuitton accessories. Adorable! The child in me wants to reach through the window and take the lot home.
Not being greedy I’ll settle for just a few. My Smash and Grab list in order of preference are:
1. The Frog
2. The Owl
3. The Hare.
Any partners in Crime?
Froggy Style
Ginormous giraffe. Looks like taxidermy, it’s not. Cleverer still.
The studded giraffe feet. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all animals had feet like this? Even if just for special occasions…
Tags: Faye McLoud, Katie Grand, Louis Vuitton, Louis Vuitton Bond Street, wonderful windows
Posted in Inspiration, Lot's to Love | 4 Comments »
“In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary.” ~Aaron Rose
Inspired by a chandelier I saw in Paris, with a peacock perched on one of it’s crystal arms (so effortlessly louche) I have had the recent notion of putting taxidermy birds in Chandeliers for a party. I love the idea of an array of birds delicately dotted on the lights as if poised for flight.
Here is a white dove that I placed in my bedroom chandelier, it totally belongs, like an ethereal extension of the light. It was wonderful to wake up to. Parties, bedrooms, do try this at home…
Tags: bedroom decor, chandelier, ethereal, interiors, taxidermy, white dove
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