A dining experience…

It’s that time of the year where we give spontaneous affection on a pre-determined date. And not wanting to break the habit of a lifetime, we will be keeping it low key with a home cooked meal and a quiet night in. Maybe next year we’ll branch out and pay an extortionate amount to have someone else cook us a meal. If so, I want to go somewhere like one of the L’OSTERIA restaurants in Munich. Designed by Caroline Dippold, L’OSTERIA Munich has got that rustic charm that I am so drawn to in restaurant design. The mismatched furniture, gooseneck barn lights, distressed timber finishes and cluttered surfaces all contribute to making it such a warm and welcoming space.

What are you Valentine’s Day plans? Are you going out for dinner? Is it somewhere low key or fancy schmancy?

Let’s have a bite to eat in Sydney…

My Pinterest board of beautiful shops and eateries is growing by the minute. And now that I have started pinning them, I can’t seem to stop! It’s been so long since I was wowed by a restaurant in person that I keep on daydreaming about selecting a few of my favourite beauties from my boards and jetting around the world to experience them in the flesh. How cool would that be? The Old Library Restaurant by Hecker Guthrie in Sydney would certainly be on my list.

Thoughts?

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Thinking outside the box…

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Would you be tempted to fall off your chair if I told you that the restaurant above is actually a small restaurant ancillary to a commissary, serving two street taco trucks? Surprised? I was too! Now I am no expert in Mexican restaurants but this is certainly not what I expected. Designer Omer Arbel has created a space that is laid-back, bright, earthy and dare I say almost beachy? Of course the first thing that catches your eye is the incredible Arbel and Bocci chandelier made of blown glass orbs and planters of cacti suspended amidst a tangle of copper tubing. It’s definitely a conversation starter so I love that they have kept the rest of the room simple with benches made from reclaimed wood and strong clean lines.

I did a little bit of research and lost a good 30 minutes drooling over the scrumptious-looking food!

Tacofino Commissary, 2327 E Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V5L

Here’s where we will eat…

Apologies for not posting yesterday, I could lie and blame it on the pesky time change but I am in an honest mood so I have to fess up and say that I didn’t post yesterday because I was exceptionally lazy, unmotivated and cranky and didn’t quite trust myself in front of the keyboard! So I am crawling out of my funk and have been considerably cheered up by this gorgeous little bakery I found. Ratton, located in Largo Duque do Cadaval, in Lisbon’s historical area, the bakery is the perfect place to hang out and catch a bite to eat before hopping on a train from Rossio Station (right next door). I generally love hanging out in bakeries, there is just something so soothing about the smell of flour and freshly baked bread, and it’s a huge bonus when the bakery looks as inviting as Ratton. It was the mixture of different finishes that really caught my eye – all that natural timber, with the sleek floors and chalkboard noticeboards. Simple beauty at it’s best!

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A restaurant legacy…

I am not really sure how I came across the Chicago Pump Room, all I know is that I saw those incredible glowing resin orbs suspended above restaurant tables and chairs and I stopped dead in my tracks. A little further research revealed that the once legendary Pump Room (frequented by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Lana Turner, Marilyn Monroe and Humphrey Bogart) fell somewhat off the radar until being given a dramatic makeover by hotelier Ian Schrager. Although Ian had extensive help from his in-house architect Anda Andrei, he actually came up with the design ideas himself! Apart from the spectacular light fittings which initially caught my eye, there are so many elements to love – the simple yet beautiful chairs, the small intimate booth areas and the curved gold walls above the bar. 

What a truly special place to sit down and enjoy a meal. 

Photography by Michelle Litvin, article via

Food on the brain…

To say I ate a lot while I was on holiday would be a gross under-exaggeration. What is it about being on holiday that makes you think it’s ok to follow a very large breakfast, lunch and supper with dessert? Let’s just say that I left the Maldives with a little more than a tan! As is always the way with a week followed by good food, it remains on mind every waking moment and with hundreds of new beautiful restaurants opening up all over the country, I am spoilt for choice! Il Pirata is a little further afield in Belfast but I think it might just be worth the trip! You know I am a sucker for distressed hardwood floors, industrial light fittings and subway tiles.

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Champagne Dinner? Uh yes please!

I am not a morning person, I usually grunt and openly despair about being awake until about 10am. I start the day by trawling through my emails, ignoring the important ones in favour of the ‘deal of the day’ alerts. I must admit that even though I live in hope of finding that perfect bargain, I seldom find what I am looking for. That is until yesterday morning when an email advertising a ‘Stupendously Grand’ Champagne Dinner at the Massimo Restaurant & Oyster Bar at the Corinthia Hotel….for £79 (for 2!!!!) hit my inbox. One look at the restaurant had me practically falling off my chair with excitement. Who wouldn’t want to be sitting sipping champagne in this room? I’m already researching where they got those gorgeous light fittings and bar stools!

All images below via Juliet Murphy – The Arbuturian