firststreet denisse

I take great pleasure from visiting destinations that are a little more under the radar. Sure big capitals like Paris and Barcelona have their drawcards, but there's something majestic and quaint about visiting a smaller town for a few days. Living a local way of life.    Tegernsee is a storybook little town in the Bavarian region of Germany. It's somewhere I've long wanted to visit - my mum was here in the '80s and has often spoken of its magic and charm. Last week, I arrived. I checked into my jaw-dropping home for the next few days - Das Tegernsee and set up camp in my beautiful suite overlooking the lake; complete with balcony, shower large enough to host a party and bath tub with lookout. Whilst spring had arrived there was certainly still plenty of evidence of winter with bare trees, brisk air and snow-covered ground. I stood in wonder on the balcony of my chic alpine chalet, marvelling at the lake and giggling as a trickle of falling snowflakes landed on my nose...

I'm a huge fan of Masterchef. Particularly the Aussie version. It's a total guilty pleasure of mine to wile away a few hours watching regular people battle it out in the kitchen to create delicious dishes, with the addition of plenty of drama of course. Being the foodie that I am, I was especially chuffed when Qatar Airways invited me to a cooking event with celebrity chef Theo Randall. I was ready. I donned my apron feeling just like a Masterchef contestant myself. In honour of Qatar's authentic cuisine, we were to prepare a national dish with a modern twist. Qashid sea bream and rice. Theo led the way, then it was our turn to recreate it, filleting a fish and everything! (I'll admit I needed a little help with this bit. Ok a lot.) It's a delightfully fragrant dish, packed full of flavour that is sure to have your taste buds tingling! What you'll need  - (serves 1, increase as required) 1 fillet sea bream 1 cup basmatic rice 1 onion, sliced 1 green chilli, cho...

Notting Hill. A true favourite of mine when it comes to neighbourhoods in London. How could you not love an area that's dotted with pastel tones and lined with colours? Last Sunday it was with a grumbling stomach that I found myself in this neck of the woods. Farm Girl was my destination. When I heard this brunch cafe was run by Aussies, I had to visit for a little taste of home. After all, no one does eggs and avo like we do. No bookings so you'll likely have to wait but it's worth it I promise. The heated courtyard is great for people watching and you might even make a new friend or two. Once inside, the rainbow of fresh produce certainly kicked my hunger levels up a notch. From fresh baked goods to healthy smoothies, something is sure to tickle your fancy. The scrambled eggs with guacamole and the berry pancakes tickled mine. I tell you, these eggs are damn good, possibly the best I've had. Made even better with the avo. And not usually one to be a fan of pancakes, ...

Having grown up living on a lake, I guess you could say I'm very used to all manner of wildlife. A bit of a bird watcher if you will. As a child I fed the ducks and watched swans hatch eggs in my backyard with wonder; amazed at how a fluffy, squeaky little grey thing could transform into a great majestic bird. London's not short of wildlife either and when I took some crumbs to Hyde Park the other week, they all came a flocking. Literally. I could hear David Attenborough's iconic voice narrating the whole thing. We were blessed with some magical clear skies that day; shooting in the sunshine is always a treat. If you find yourself with some spare time this weekend, then get yourself down to the park. After all, now that spring's here, it's officially picnic season. The best time of year. Gilet / Jeans / Boots And if you missed it, take a look at the video we shot the same day. Share your comments with me on  Instagram ,  Facebook  or  Twitter . Photos by  Jes...

You all know how much I love to travel. But with my international explorations comes a lot of wait time. Airports. Planes. Trains. Stations. That's why when an opportunity to getaway at home came up I jumped at the chance. Jumped right over to the Hilton London Syon Park , just a hop and a skip away from Fulham. How's that for travel with no wait time? Coat (similar) / Gilet / Boots Tucked away in a corner of London you wouldn't think to explore, the Hilton Syon Park is a true hidden gem. The rooms are so chic, furnished with modern Victorian designs, and their plush chairs just lure you in where you could easily lose an afternoon with the paper. Our balcony overlooked the grounds so after a quick change of clothes we set off to explore Syon Park itself before the light faded. The grounds here are truly magical. I felt like I had stepped into an Enid Blyton book, expecting to spot the Magic Faraway Tree at any moment. The park isn't all neat and manicured but its over...