firststreet denisse

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, ...

I love London on a Sunday morning. It's always so quiet, so calm. Such a pleasant change from the mad hub-bub that can overrun this city at times. Despite the fast-paced Monday - Friday bustle, it seems London's residents still respect the times of old where Sunday was a day of rest, either that or they'll all tucked up in bed nursing a hangover from the night before. Either way I'm more than happy to take advantage of the neighbourhood stillness with a lovely Sunday brunch... We trundled off down the road towards Chelsea. No. 11 Pimlico Road was our destination. With the promise of brunch, cocktails and friends, I certainly needed no convincing. Would you believe it actually got to 12 degrees [in February!] so I thought it was the perfect opportunity to shun my jeans (which you'll find me in every. day.) for this new suede skirt. Paired with my ultimate favourite OTK boots of course. Roll Neck / Coat - sold out (similar here and here ) / Bag ( similar ) Skirt  w...

Sunday morning and we were headed for brunch. But not just any brunch, mind you. A sky-high brunch at Duck & Waffle. I’ve been meaning to visit this well-known establishment since I moved to London 19-months ago. Talk about a long time coming, and now that I’ve had my first taste, I can’t believe it took so long because I tell you, it’s damn good. Tucked away up on the 40th floor of Bishopsgate, Duck & Waffle gives you a true glimpse of London’s sprawl. It’s rare that I’m up this high so it’s an incredible reminder of just how large this city is. We pulled up our chairs by the window and ordered a round of mimosas – a Sunday brunch essential, obviously. Then set about deciding on the menu… Since I hadn’t been before I, of course, had to order the signature dish, or as my waiter called it “their baby” – the duck and waffle. Not usually one to mix sweet with savoury I was a little apprehensive but I needn’t have been. The dish comes with a waffle, an egg, a delightfully crispy ro...

December is a beautiful time to explore London. Mayfair in particular is a favourite of mine because every street is lit up with twinkling lights that wink at you as you go by. It's almost like they're in on a Christmas secret. From bustling Regent St, to some quieter walkways and courtyards; you've really gotta hand it to London - they know how to do festive spirit. I took a stroll yesterday to work up an appetite before heading to Gordon Ramsay's Heddon St Kitchen for lunch. Nestled in one of the little laneways off Regent St (that always seem to be brimming with foodie hotspots!), Heddon St Kitchen has an industrial New York feel with exposed copper pipes and old-world wooden and leather booths. I settled in and eyed off the menu hungrily while waiting for my friend to join me. The table next to me had just ordered chateaubriand so needless to say my mouth was watering already! In the end, as we were hungry, we opted for the set menu which is available between noon a...

Cast your mind back a few weeks... Halloween weekend was a busy little shindig for me. When I wasn't dressed up as either Catwoman or a vampire queen I was out for lunch. Coya was the highlight. But before I tell you all about it, here's a quick snapshot of my costumes. Friday night I broke the cardinal rule and didn't go as anything scary, naughty me. But I think I made up for it with Saturday's costume, there was plenty of fake blood.  This faux fur coat is my new fave, it goes everywhere with me! Now back to Coya. Until I moved to London I wasn’t all that familiar with Peruvian cooking. Then I heard the word go round about some amazing restaurants featuring the cuisine here in the city, one of which is Coya. Now I consider myself a connoisseur. For those who’ve never tasted it I would describe Peruvian food as the love child of Japanese and Spanish cooking. Think raw fish, flavour-filled nibbly dishes, herbs, spices and grilled meat. It’s a delightful combination. S...

The food scene in London really is incredible. I have a dedicated list of places that I want to dine at on my phone and I cross them off as I visit. But would you believe every week my list gets longer, not shorter because I’m forever discovering more and more hotspots and hidden gems that are just waiting for me to sample their menu. Honestly I think I could dine out for three meals a day, every day of the week and still not cover them all. It’s a daunting but delicious task. Last night it was time to try L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon a whispered hotspot whose food has begun to shout from the laneways of Covent Garden. I made a quick stop by my friend’s apartment on the way (gorgeous isn’t it) and then it was time for our reservation so we set off, with my new Kate Spade tote in tow of course. Love this deep berry hue, it’s a nice way to brighten a winter outfit. My design is sold out now but here are two similar choices here and here L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon screams “hotspot” as soon...