Julien Plumart Boutique Salon du The

After 7 days at work with a few late evenings and several days working through my lunch break I was shattered but now had 6 days off to recuperate and catch up with friends that had been neglected over the previous week. 

Wednesday disappeared to house work, food shopping, laundry… you get the idea. So on waking Thursday morning to find my housemate had the day off as well we had a leisurely breakfast and wandered into town, as neither of us can stand staying indoors all day. 
On catching up with work, family and life over breakfast he dropped into conversation that there was a new Cafe on Dukes Street in the lanes that apparently looked ‘amazing’ and was full of ‘pretty cake things’ that I would apparently love. My housemate Ryan enjoys his tea and cakes just as much as me, so what was worth losing by checking his place out. 

Its amazing…. Julien Plumart Boutique Salon du The 

A French tea lounge serving traditional French cakes and pastries as well Macaroon’s (the pretty little cake things as Ryan describes them) and 24 different flavors from the traditional Pistachio and Rose to Mojito and Mulled Wine. 

For a second I thought I had died and fallen into heaven… but was shortly brought back to earth and reality on hearing that my house mate didn't know what they were and had never tried one, can you believe it. 

With it only opening on the previous Friday things are still coming together and the tea rooms upstairs weren't quite ready so we did as the French do and settled ourselves down out front on the street and watched the world go by. Luckily it was dry and the winters sun was trying to peep through the towering chimney tops and down the side streets. 

Wrapped in fur with the sunglasses on and the wind rustling up my hair, Ryan ordered a latte and a selection of Macaroons and  I a peppermint tea (as I was still on January detox) and a Rose and Pistachio Macaroon (I have found every way around having no tea, coffee and chocolate).

Tea was served in individual glass tea pots and cups along with a flask of boiling water to top it up with. You cant eat macaroons with a fork or spoon so its fingers only and then to lick each one of the clean savoring every last bit possible. Along with crystal cut effect cups of water, pink for the lady's and green for the gents… of course. 

I've already fallen in love with this place, the elegant décor, outstanding service, friendly staff and the most mouth watering cakes and macaroons. I will be visiting regularly whether it’s a catch up with the girls or to take away a box to devour in front of a good film after a long day at work. 

I've already slipped back once at the weekend taking my beautiful friend Amanda to show her the beauty of this café and to check out the lounge upstairs which open to the pubic on Friday. She also has fallen in love and went just as snap happy as I did with full of giggling excitement.

I am now just waiting for the savory menu to be served (which looks amazing, you wont believe that your still sat in Brighton on seeing it) however I’m returning to work to work tomorrow so this visit is going to have a wait a few weeks till I have a free space in the diary. 

Julian Plumart Boutique Salon du The

27 Duke Street 

Brighton 

07881207006

www.julienplumart.com

or follow them on twitter:

Julienplumart- Twitter

Happy Pancake Day.

So what better day to let slip to you my favourite breakfast recipe for the most healthiest pancakes I know than on pancake day itself. 

There's no need for milk, flour, sugar and the rest, just one egg and that one other secret ingredient..... A banana. 

Now you must be thinking how will that work and how will they stay together but trust me. If you've seen my numerous Instagram posts of variations of the recipe then you'll know it works and they come in at just 170 Calories a batch. 

So here you go... get the kettle on as they wont take you long (2 minuets prepping and 5 minuets cooking if that).

Step one:
Peel, dice and then mash the banana into a cereal bowl.
Doesn't matter what consistency you mash your banana too. It can be lumpy where you can tell its still banana or complete mush and look more like baby food.

Step two:
Crack the egg into the banana and mix together so the yoke is broken.

Step three: 
Heat a small amount of oil or margarine into a frying pan. Keep the heat on low as you don't want the to cook too quickly so they blacken on the outside before being cooked in the middle.

Step four: 
Here you have the choice as to whether you want mini pancakes or giant ones.
For mini use a large serving spoon and spoon the mixture into the pan or if you want giant ones pour half the mixture into the pan.

Step five: 
As the they cook and the edges lift slightly so the mixture isn't stuck to the bottom of the pan flip it over and lightly cook the other side. The first side will take longer than the second so be careful not to let them over cook.

Step six: 
Plate them up and garnish with what ever you fancy.
I always top mine with soya yogurt as its so light and keeps the Calories down and then with what ever else you fancy.

Here's some ideas:
- Forest fruits.
- Apple and cinnamon.
- Banana and honey.
- Layer them with jam.
- Grapes and coconut.

Or if you fancy being a little bit naughty or want them served as pudding:
- Peanut butter and banana.
- Raspberry and chocolate chips.

 Soya Yogurt with winter berries and honey.

(above and below)

Soya yogurt, sliced banana and peanut butter. 

Blueberries and banana. 

Blueberries, Grapes and coconut and vanilla Greek yogurt.

Melon, Strawberries, Blueberries, soya yogurt and cinnamon. 

Steamed apples, cinnamon and winter berries. 

What a better way to start the day.

Happy Breakfast

Chanel Has Delivered Spring To My Nails.

What better way to write a post on the beautiful new Chanel 2013 Le Vernis spring colours than snuggled up with two hot water bottles, peppermint tea, BBC Africa on and waiting patiently for my nails to dry.

First things first you'll never see my nails in anything other than Chanel.

With the winter starting to become too much for me and the need for summer to hurry up and get here the lovely girls at my local Chanel counter brightened up my winter depression by telling me the spring colours were soon to be out on 18th of January.

I had a couple of weeks still to get through so on getting home I instantly set out online to find out what these colours were. Unfortunately my excitement that carried me home quickly left me. Emprise and Fracas looked like last years Frisson and Distraction an Accessorise the same as the signature Rouge Noir.

From working within the fashion industry and knowing the upcoming trends it was not what I expected and thought they had played it far too safe with the choice of colours. I wasn't going to let it get to me and went with the thought that my bank card could do with the little saving. However that thought did not last long.

I was lucky to preview the new colours the night before they officially launched and left that evening with the colour Fracas at the top of my thoughts. A vibrant pink that was actually the exact tone I was after, not at all similar to last summers Distraction which has a coral tone to it an sines from pink to coral depending not he light. This was hot, vibrant, gorgeous pink.

The following day I gave in to myself (it doesn't take much) and found myself walking home from work clutching the small silk rope handles of a Chanel bag.

Nothing is more exciting than throwing your work bag down, cooking something yummy to eat knowing that upstairs there's a small white bow waiting to be undone that's holding together your latest purchase.

I snuggled down with the latest glossy magazines and set about manicuring my nails. On prepping my nails I realised I had painted one nail with Emprise while the girls wrapped up my purchase at the counter and now the more attention I gave the colour the more I feel in love with it and actually it wasn't at all like Frisson in the slightest. It didn't have that glitter shine going through it and it had more orangey tones to it than pink. It was pretty and girly so subtle and soft.
My nails were going to need this spring colour as well.


A girlie weekend approached and with my girlie Amanda we left the counter together both clutching a bag each (I am the worst person to go any where near a Chanel counter with, you will walk away with a small purchase or two).


Thank you Chanel for another beautiful collection of nail colours as well as some beautiful make-up pieces that will be making there way into my make-up bag before I know it.

One easy way to my heart is a small pot costing £18 in a pretty colour tied up in small white bag with black writing with black silk rope handles tied with a ribbon bow and you've won me over.

The trio of colours are available now at Chanel counters at £18 each, be sure to snap yours up soon though as they are selling out quickly.

shhhh!
But Fracas and Emprise are limited edition.

Havana Spoon - Afternoon Tea for Two.

Havana Spoon is one off my favourite places to sneak into whether it's for a lunch date or a catch up with the girls.

Tucked away in the heart of Hove on the West Sussex coast line is Hove's most glamours restaurant, bar and late night lounge, enclosed outside by a small white wooden fence lined with bright green shrubs and exotic looking trees.

I always find my self saying ''shall we go to Havana Spoon for a drink'' as adore the place. The decor, the service, the atmosphere. In mid June when my Facebook news feed loaded with the words ‘New afternoon tea for two menu’I instantly started trying to free up an afternoon in my diary.

I have a huge love for afternoon tea, you get to sit and gossip for hours while tucking into sandwiches followed by scones and an array of cakes. And the best part, your tea pot or champagne flute is topped up at the raise of a hand.

After several weeks of trying to squeeze the girls into my diary so we could experience the new menu and failing too, I woke on a quiet Sunday morning with my beautiful friend Amanda hung over and in need for a bite to eat. After looking at the clock and realising we had missed breakfast and brunch and  not fancying a Sunday lunch, I dropped in the "we could just go for afternoon tea" line. Knowing Amanda’s love for afternoon tea as well as Havana Spoon we found ourselves being presented with this…..

A Tower of soft fresh bagels filled with smoked salmon & cream cheese and Mediterranean vegetables & pesto.

Warm fruit scones accompanied by two small white pots one with cream and one with jam.
Miniature carrot cake.

Small meringue nests topped with freshly whipped cream, strawberries, blackberries and a single leaf of mint.

And my favourite and by no means last to mention, a miniature Chocolate Moelleux still warm and gooey in the middle, showered with icing sugar.

We ate all that we could, gossiped and giggled over the antics of the night before and with our eyes bigger than our tummy's we kindly asked the waitress if we could take home the remaining cakes.

The food was fresh and beautifully presented. The bagels instead of the usual sandwiches were a lovely change and having not only a cold selection of cakes topped the experience.

I highly recommend slipping into see what Havana Spoon have to offer, even if your not an afternoon tea person slip into the lavish bar for a cocktail or sit outside on the lawnned terrace for spot of lunch and don not be put off by the weather as the outdoor heaters means you can dine alfresco come rain or shine.

70-72 Church Road
Hove
BN3 2FP

www.havanaspoon.com