eat | drink – well hello lovie

Champagne Afternoon Tea at sketch London – blush pink and fabulous!

December 20, 2018December 20, 2018 by Well Hello Lovie, posted in eat | drink

well hello lovie!

I’ve been quietly stalking sketch for a couple of years now on Insta and I’ll admit….the blush pink decor and Alice in Wonderland feel sucked me in. Then I started to drill down to the food and the overall concept and sketch quickly rose to the top of my foodie bucket list. Well, today I got to experience a High Tea like no other and one I will never forget!

We start by entering the historic Mayfair building built in 1779 and the sketch team have certainly made use of the space, with 5 different themed food & beverage spaces including a Michelin star restaurant (next on the list). Mum and I glided into the incredible David Shrigley designed room which immediately made you think of fairy floss, champagne and every sweet, delicious treat you’ve ever eaten. It’s a feast for the eyes and the staff “uniforms” are so fun and frivolous your tastebuds are tingling before you even know what’s to come!

So we start with a Pommery Brut Royal bubbles which is quickly followed by an appetiser delivered by The Caviar Man, dressed in a fabulous pink suit. Unfortunately we gobbled it down before I remembered to take a photo but it was basically like an egg and soldiers but the egg was actually a comte cheese mornay topped with French Caviar. Delish!

We were also given an amazing tea menu and told we could try as many as we wanted during the whole experience -a tea degustation of sorts. We navigated our way through 6 teas across several continents and matched perfectly to the food. Speaking of which, the main stand came out and we worked our way from the savoury bites on the bottom to the sweet and refreshing treats on the mid and top levels. The standout for me was the Gougere filled with egg mayonnaise and Black Truffle Mix, the Four Spices & Orange Battenberg slice and the Pear & Ginger Yule Log but seriously, it’s all a line toss!

As you know I’m a fan of design and hand on heart – the toilets here were the most unique, original experience I’ve ever had! You walk up a beautifully lit staircase with candles lining the stairs, up to a series of what could best be described as “loo pods”. Find a pod (looks like a giant egg wrapped in xmas paper) with the door open, pop inside and you’ve got your own private bathroom! Sounds weird, and yes it was, but also kind of fabulous!

So, this brings me to the cost. At roughly $150 Australian dollar per person it’s easily the most expensive afternoon tea I’ve had but it was seriously worth every pound to be in such a beautifully designed space, with exceptional service and innovative food. Mum and I both agreed…….a once in a lifetime opportunity we were grateful to have experienced!

Be Fabulous xx

Dining at La Piola in Alba – a total foodgasm!

April 22, 2017November 28, 2018 by Well Hello Lovie, posted in eat | drink

Well hello lovie!

If you are serious about trying regional foods and you’re in the Piedmont region – do yourself a favour and book at table STAT at La Piola! Let me start by giving you a bit of background into why this bistro is so special.

Firstly, it all starts with the Ceretto Family – 3 generations that have a passion for food, wine and art. I could bang on and on about all they own and have achieved but click here and you’ll get a better idea. So they are the owners of the famous Piazza Duomo based in Alba – the only 3 star Michelin restaurant in the region. To get a booking is incredibly difficult and not only that, you’ll have to sell your kidney to pay for it! Lucky for me, underneath Piazza Duomo is La Piola almost like their baby sister bistro. All coming together now? Great! So I will mention that when you sit down at La Piola you’ll have a beautifully decorated plate in front of you that they use as an underplate. There are 36 in the collection and they’re done by American artists and you can buy them from the winery but one plate is about $200 AUSD. Here’s the two I ate off and I’m inspired to look for something locally for home now!

1st night

I went there on a recommendation from Matteo from Langaround and I didn’t know what to expect. I was greeted warmly by the lovely Simona despite the fact amongst a sea of couples/families I was a solo diner. Simona spoke wonderful English and we discussed the food and wine throughout the evening so I was able to learn about the food/wine as the meal progressed. Here’s what went down:

First course

An Assortment of Cured Salami served with some pickled carrot, cauliflower and capsicum with the obligatory basket of bread! The charcuterie was so incredible, each meat had a distinct flavour however the literal icing on the cake was that there was a drizzle of honey over the dish. I’ve never eaten charcuterie before this way but will always do this moving forward!

I paired this with the Brut Marcalberto (Sansanne) which is like a prosecco (which I normally can’t stand) but this cut through the fat of the meat beautifully.

Second course

Fresh homemade “tajarin” with Salsiccia sauce. The Tajarin is a local specialty and is obviously pasta like tagliatelle but much thinner and lighter. You’d look at this dish and think, “oh it’s like spaghetti bolognese” which it is in some ways however it really is delicate yet full of flavour – i loved it!

I paired this with a wine from the Ceretto winery of course. The Ceretto Barolo 2012 which is one of the more bolder reds in the region that could compliment the meat.

At this point I was completely full as I’d eaten a fair bit that day so I booked a table for the next night intending to arrive on an empty stomach this time!

2nd Night

So this time I was prepared. I was ravenous already and was determined to push my comfort zone and try some regional specialties that I normally wouldn’t even think about trying. As I walked in I was greeted again by Simona with a loud “Ciao Lisa!” – I was home! Here we go!

First course

Mixed hors d’oeuvre of the Piedmont region – the prettiest dish I’ve seen in a long time and my favourite course of the whole experience! it was made up of:

fresh asparagus with parmesan
slices of roasted veal with tuna fish mayonnaise
diced roast vegetables with tuna fish mayonnaise
raw veal tartare with a parmesan shaving

I’m really not a tuna fan so was quite hesitant but it was a really light flavour that completely complimented the meat. I’d had the raw veal tartare in another bistro a few days ago and I’m sold! The meat here is very low in fat so you get the true flavour. The way to eat it is to spread it out on your plate, crush sea salt on top and with every mouthful have a bit of a bread stick!

I paired it with the Extra Brut Contratto (like the prosecco again but more floral). This was incredibly easy drinking and again, worked well with the meat.

Second course

Cod croquettes served with zucchini and salsa verde sauce. What can I say about this, the zucchini was incredibly tender, the salsa verde delicious and the croquettes were like little clouds.

I paired this with the Langhe Bianco Nascetta E. Germano which is extremely unique to this region. Not quite like a riesling but certainly has the floral nose to match. It was light enough to not drown out those little cod clouds.

Third course

Gianduiotto, raspberry sauce and hazelnut biscuit crumble – clearly the hero shot! Gianduiotto originates in the Piedmont region and is shaped like a boat upside down – it was like a thick chocolate mousse and complimented perfectly with the syrupy raspberry sauce and the crunch of the crumble. Mouth watering!

I paired it with the Barolo Chinato which I’ve never heard of or even tasted before. Best way to describe it is that it’s like a dessert wine but has been fermented with a variety of herbs and barks and every mouthful you can taste something different – really unique!

What made this dining experience so special was that I was treated like a family member both nights by the staff and in particular Simona. The atmosphere was lively and the people watching was fun – from the couple in love, to the stylish woman who arrived all in black with the most amazing earrings and her fluffy dog, to the group of rowdy men who turned up at 9.45pm to start their evening. I loved every minute of it and will always endeavour to eat here when I’m in the region.

Be fabulous xx

How to get fat yet be happy in Italy!

April 20, 2017November 28, 2018 by Well Hello Lovie, posted in eat | drink

Well hello lovie!

I’ve ready every kind of article there is over the past 15 years about how to lose weight and had my fair share of wins and losses. Well, I’m about to share with you my version on how to gain weight in 3 easy steps and do it all with a big, fat smile on your face!

Step 1.

Start the day with an espresso and brioche (what the Italians call a croissant). Now these are not just ordinary pastries as they come in all shapes/sizes/flavours & toppings. Check out a few examples of what I’ve consumed over the past few days…….

Step 2.

For lunch or dinner consume carbs. Lots of carbs. When they bring you the free bread – eat it. Order pasta or pizza because you know it’s going to be a-mazing and you probably won’t eat like this again for a very. long. time. Embrace the carbs!

Step 3.

Mid afternoon have gelato – try as many flavours as you can. And if you really want to step it up, you could alternatively partake of another form of pastry – no judgement here!

So this is my daily routine which I’ll be committing to for the better part of a month. I did weigh myself before I left and am placing a bet that I’ll easily hit the 5kg mark upon my return. Who am I kidding, closer to 10kg at this rate!

But you know what? As a wise woman in Milan said to me a few days ago – La Dolce Vita. It’s all about “the sweet life” and you’ve only got one so go ahead and buy new pants instead!

Be fabulous xx

Well hello lovie!

March 14, 2015November 28, 2018 by Well Hello Lovie, posted in design, eat | drink, travel, wellness

Thanks for dropping by!

Let me introduce myself. I’m a lover of beautiful design, rich experiences, unique opportunities and I can’t wait to share them with you.

Join me as we catch up over a coffee where I can tell you about my latest design discoveries, favourite places to go and what has inspired me.

Why am I doing this? Because I am, at heart, a communicator and have always needed a creative outlet in my life. Previously I’ve shared my stories and images with family and friends and I felt there may be kindred spirits out there who would also want to come over for a catch up.

Well hello lovie – great to see you here!

Lisa xx