Author Archives: Milly

The Shore Restaurant, Penzance

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The food scene in Penzance is progressing at speed and many predict this town will soon rival more touristy Cornish destinations thanks to its innovative chefs and fine produce.

Bruce Rennie is leading the movement in Penzance with his new restaurant, The Shore. After gaining experience at prestigious restaurants such as two star Martin Wishart in Edinburgh, he moved to Cornwall to head up the kitchen at The Gurnard’s Head before opening his own eatery in September 2015.

The Shore quickly came to the attention of local and visiting foodies, who recognised Bruce’s keen eye for detail and loved his creative but simple plates of food. I was amazed to learn that Bruce preps, plates, bakes and cooks it all himself, and then does the washing up before he is done for the day. The table waiting is handled by his only member of staff.

The restaurant, which occupies The Old Buttery, is decorated in muted shades with seaside motifs. The space is small and cosy and has a fresh contemporary feel. Unfortunately there are no sea views but Bruce more than compensates with the flavoursome plates of food.

The Shore is particularly reasonable at lunch time when two courses cost £14.95 and three are £19.50. In the evening the menu is more pricey with a main course setting you back £18, but the dinner menu offers more choice and variety.

A group of us went along on a bright Saturday, and between us managed to sample most of the brief lunch menu. To start the Celeriac & saffron soup with croutons was a fragrant and comforting dish, perfectly seasoned with a lovely thick consistency. Primrose Herd pork belly with braised white cabbage and pak choi was a more luxurious choice, a generous portion of delicious pork with a vibrant tomato based sauce, with slightly limp green leaves adding colour to the dish.

For my main I opted for the Potato gnocchi with cauliflower, hazelnuts, parmesan, a textually exciting recipe that was beautifully presented. Gnocchi is often cumbersome and heavy but these little pasta dumplings were delightful with a hint of parmesan. Hake with brandade and sprouting broccoli was a suitably Cornish dish and Braised Ox cheek with mashed potatoes, hispi cabbage and horseradish felt very rich and special for a family lunch out, a superior piece of meat coated in a brilliantly balanced sauce and accompanied by creamy smooth mashed potato.

Of the two desserts the Lemon posset with raspberries was the obvious winner, an indulgently thick and creamy zingy citrus posset topped with plump fresh raspberries and a professionally made sorbet. Rhubarb & vanilla cheesecake with ginger ice cream was nice but not dissimilar to the plates of cake you would enjoy in an art gallery cafe… Satisfying the sweet tooth without leaving a lasting impression.

In a town that craves inspirational restaurants The Shore has answered many prayers offering food that is exciting and delicious. Most importantly Bruce Rennie champions the ingredients that this coastal area of the country produces in abundance, showcasing the best of Cornwall in his imaginative cooking.

More information about The Shore Restaurant here.

Advance single fares between Paddington and Penzance are available from £29 each way. For the best tickets and offers buy before you board at www.gwr.com or telephone 03457 000125.

***My new travel book, CORNWALL by Weekend Journals is available to order here. Use the code TMM10 to get 10% off.***

Beauty Travel Essentials

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Travelling continuously, through extreme weather conditions and numerous flights, left my skin craving attention. Suddenly my standard London skin routine wasn’t enough to keep my face moisturised and healthy. So while I visited new countries I discovered new international brands and wondrous products that helped me look and feel fresh and glowing even after a 12 hour overnight coach journey!

Glossier is a cult American beauty brand from skincare guru Emily Weiss. English girls celebrated across the country when netaporter.co.uk started stocking the trio pack of ‘balm dotcom’. The balm can be used for anything and anywhere… I love the natural glow it gives my lips but also use it on my cuticles when my hands get dry in cold weather. Now I’m just praying they will start stocking the rest of the range over here, I want to try it all! Buy here.

Aesop makes one of my favourite skincare ranges so I was excited to visit the brand’s hometown, Melbourne in Australia. Here the products are half the price they are in England and the variety is even greater. I found the Boston kit to be the perfect travel companion. A compact case filled with unisex goodies including the classic skincare and hair formulations, mouthwash and body balm. The travel sizes are perfect for a long weekend away and the stylish black case can be used even after the products are finished. My favourites were the Fabulous Face Cleanser, which smells divine, and the B & Tea Balancing Toner that refreshed and smoothed my face. Buy here.

I have always loved the Parisian perfumer, Maison Francis Kurkdjian. The APOM scent – which stands for ‘A Part Of Me’ – is inspired by the perfumer’s travels to Lebanon. It is a romantic fragrance infused with the sweetness of Orange Blossom, the warmth of Ylang Ylang and the strength and intensity of Cedarwood. This travel set contains three handy portable bottles which are perfectly sized for carrying in your handbag or for taking away on holiday. Buy here.

The Leela Palace, New Delhi

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Delhi can be a daunting destination for travellers, a chaotic and dusty introduction to India. The Leela Palace New Delhi will alleviate all possible stress, ensuring your time in the capital is luxurious and exotic from the moment you step off the plane. We were picked up by one of the hotel’s smart white BMW’s and whisked away to the palatial property.

The Leela Palace New Delhi opened in April 2011 following the success of the brand’s other venues across India. The hotel is located in the prestigious diplomatic area of town and the magnificent building fits in perfectly amongst its grand surroundings. Though designed to feel and look like a traditional Indian palace, there are unique and thoughtful touches throughout the hotel, all specially commissioned and inspired by local arts.

I was staying in room 615, a standard room that was small but carefully arranged to give the impression of more space. There are 254 guestrooms in total making the hotel popular with business groups, however the wonderful facilities also make it a good choice for leisure guests. Our room was sumptuous and decadent, with a plush king-size bed and a beautiful marble bathroom complete with bath and power shower.


Whilst staying at The Leela Palace we enjoyed a lavish dinner at Jamavar, the hotel’s signature Indian restaurant. The menu includes secret recipes of the Maharaja as well as classic regional Indian dishes. It was a feast for all the senses, beautiful plates of food that smelt and tasted divine. Particularly memorable was the Bharwan tandoori broccoli stuffed with corn, cheese and fresh pomegranate and the gloriously creamy Paneer spring onion masala curry.

I highly recommend trying the Indian fare at Leela Palace but for those who desire something more international there is plenty on offer. The Qube is open for global all-day dining, and is used every morning for the breakfast buffet. Legendary American restaurant Le Cirque has an outpost on the 10th floor of the hotel offering innovative French-Italian cuisine. Or for a fresh and healthy meal guests can enjoy modern Japanese food at Megu restaurant.

I was amazed by the art collection and flower presentations at The Leela Palace. There are 14,000 fresh flowers displayed around the property everyday, which are then recycled, dried and used as natural dye. The hotel are very proud of their Indian art that is displayed around the property, this showcases upcoming artists work as well as creations by famous artists and historic artefacts. I loved the giant sculpture amalgamating three goddesses in the garden, and the fine intricate paintings in the spa.

The Leela Palace has the only Espa spa in Delhi, which is also open to non-guests. Spread over two floors, the sophisticated spa houses eight treatment rooms, an award-winning healthy café, and a relaxation room and fitness suite. On the rooftop a spectacular temperature-controlled swimming pool overlooks the city and offers a blissful haven for sunbathing and swimming.

I was sad to only be spending one day at the lovely Leela Palace New Delhi, but even in this short period of time I got a taste of the hotel’s refined Indian offering.

More information and book a room at Leela Palace New Delhi here.