I love it when taking a wrong turn turns out to be the best thing.
We did start out with a plan, but that was thrown out the window when over an hour later and with tummies rumbling, we realised we were in completely the wrong area. Yep, we turned the "other" left.
But then there in the distance (well, across the road) was a glimpse of warmth, cosiness and most importantly....food. Watty and Meg. The perfect little bistro for these two hungry little ladies.
Read MoreNecessities you need during Winter in New York:
So with beanies, gloves and camera's in hand, Prospect Park (like a little miniature Central Park located in the middle of Park Slope, Brooklyn) was our "studio" for the day.
Read MoreCafe Regular du Nord. Mere moments away from our Brooklyn home.
It's cosy. It's buzzing. It has croissants. It makes a mean latte.
It's our local.
Read MoreNew York.
It's been 4 long years since I last set eyes on this magnificent skyline.
This may be a whirlwind trip (planned just a short time ago over a glass of red one evening - yes, I guess I am that easy) , but with the right travel buddy and being mindfully in the moment every waking second, it's a holiday that feels like it's lasting forever!
The very best kind of holiday.
Read MoreChristmas + the countryside = one very happy girl!
It really is pretty simple. A house surrounded by bushland (no neighbours please!), Bing Crosby, twinkling Christmas lights and a big bowl of fresh prawns. That's all it takes to make me forget about the working year that's been, allowing my shoulders to drop and the biggest smile to appear permanently on my face.
This is my perfect Christmas, all wrapped up with a big red bow.
Read MoreFar far away in a little town called Paris lives a pretty, yet unassuming restaurant called Yard.
This little Parisian gem is not interested in being amongst the hustle and bustle, but can be discovered hiding down a little back cobbled lane, away from prying tourist eyes. An hours walk from our apartment brings us inside this oasis where you'll find me...hungrily and impatiently waiting for the seasonal (albeit limited) menu to be placed in front of me.
And each year I walk away having indulged in and subsequently voted for "the dish of the trip"
Read MoreMerci.
A 3 story loft-style store located in the trendy 3rd Arrondissement in Paris. However, this is more than just a simple store - it is a charity store run by the founders of the luxury brand Bonpoint.
This is not your traditional charity store either, but more of a large and stylish concept boutique where you can shop for both vintage and new clothes, home-wares, perfume and a hell of a lot more.
Our favourtie part - the Used Book Café where we relaxed over bowls of delicious taboule aux legumes du marche and glasses of rose, whilst flicking through their secondhand books (see here). The best thing....profits are donated to a charity for disadvantaged children.
Read MoreIt's no secret that I love my food, and that I especially love to eat.
Put me in France surrounded by all that food and I swoon.
However, some days I like something quick and light. Only some days!
This is where Folks and Sparrows was perfect. A home-made quiche or a freshly whipped up baguette is what you'll find here. You'll also find gorgeous smiles, a relaxed vibe and an environment you'll want to take lots and lots photos of.
Read MoreSome ladies buy shoes while on holidays.
Me, I buy vintage crockery (well, I do buy shoes too!).
My obsession makes it a little hard to move my suitcase by the end of each holiday, and in fact, my wheels gave out on this last trip. There is also always that fear hanging over my head that my suitcase will be filled with shards of china when I next open it.
Luckily, these little gems made it all the way home as I love the way this delicious chicken and red lentil soup pops inside the bowl.
Read MoreHello everyone...
I'm Leigh and I'm an introvert!
I'm not talking about being shy or a loner. What I am talking about is the need to recharge my batteries by turning inwards - having time on my own to relax, think and dream. No talking. No phones. No plans. Just me. My social threshold is far lower than those bubbly extroverts out in the world, and even though I enjoy socialising, and I'm definitely not shy, I'm usually one of the first to say au revoir.
Today, I put my introverted self on hold.
Today I sapped up inspiration, knowledge and just utter loveliness in abundance by being surround by wonderfully talented and like-minded women.
Read MoreThe Marais. The area of Paris we love the most. The area we stay every time we visit, and the area where we’ve slowly gotten to know some of the locals. We like to think they love us and miss us when we’re gone…yes, we also like to dream a lot.
Rachel’s is a funny place.
I’m not quite sure if I know (or even if it knows) where it fits into the whole Parisian culinary scheme of things, but what I did love were the smiles we received when we entered.
Read MoreI have a crush. A big fat one. I have a crush on the most beautiful apartment in all of Paris. A crush on the delicious food we created in that beautiful apartment. And a big big crush on the gorgeous Benedicte who runs the lovely cooking school (which is the reason why I cooked the delicious food in the beautiful apartment) known as The Parisian Kitchen . I even love the name.
Read MoreWe are what we eat. So I keep getting told. So what am I if I’m addicted to yoghurt?
I even have my own yoghurt lady here in Paris.
I nearly wet my pants when she said she remembered us when we shuffled through her fromagerie door, tired and in need of a hit of dairy. She didn’t know that of course, as I like to think I played the aloof, professional and worldly traveller.
I love the white stuff so much, I have the tiny little glass jars it comes in at home to prove it. Some people collect stamps or teaspoons.....
Is it sad to admit that they filled a whole box when I recently moved house?
Read MoreThere are moments in life when you have to throw away all of your rules. Suck up the suffering and pain for later and simply jump head first into the unknown.
This was what I did today.
I don't have an overly sweet tooth. I tend to avoid refined sugars (in fact all sugars) where I possibly can, and you'll rarely see me order dessert (unless it's a latte or cheese platter).
But today.....
Today I took part in a taste bud journey.
Today I ate 5 desserts....in a row!
Read MoreWith the Marais street market bustling away just outside its door, The Broken Arm is a little refuge away from the noise, elbow pushing and cigarette smoke.
I've got my vintage teaspoons and the most gorgeous old ceramic coiffure jar tucked safely away in my bag.
Ella Fitzgerald is playing. Slabs of lemon poppy seed cake on the bench. The coffee is REALLY good.
REALLY good!
Read MoreWith 7 hours of solid walking under our belt, a big degustation lunch (which was pushing out said belt), and a few chosen treasures, purchased by moi, safely ensconced in my bag from the big street market which happened to be going on in the Marais, we decided that we deserved it to be wine o'clock time. Right now.
La Manger du Marais was our wine bar of choice (well, truthfully we just happened to be walking past it when wine o'clock hit).
With its welcoming cushioned seats, big smiling (kinda cute) waiter, delicious rose and jazzy tunes it was the perfect choice for these two weary chickadees.
Ah Paris. Part II is definitely off to a good start.
Read MoreHave you ever walked out the door of a restaurant and had to use all of your willpower not to curl up in the fetal position and rock like a little baby because your belly was so full and your eyes were so heavy?
This was me five minutes after the last photo was taken below.
I was ready to let my body free fall and smack the pavement head first, falling into a deep food coma for the rest of the afternoon.
Crap, I still had to act like a lady and get home before that was to happen!
Read More
