Dreaming of a Pink Christmas at The Savoy

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How could I resist an invite to be involved with the Savoy Christmas transformation? This beautiful art deco hotel is one of the most iconic accommodations in the city and this year they teamed up with Boodles to present a pretty in pink Christmas fantasia.

The SavoyThe Savoy

I arrived early in the afternoon for a tour of some of the hotels most special features. We visited the top suites, taking in the gorgeous views, the grand bedrooms and the impressive amenities. I could only imagine the long list of celebrities and royalty who had rested their heads in these luxurious rooms.

The SavoyThe Savoy

Then we headed to the renowned American Bar (consistently voted in the world top ten bars) and enjoyed saccarine sweet pink hot chocolate, topped with creamy and shards of chocolate. Before cocktails and dinner I had time to check out our bedroom which was filled with a stack of festive gifts. Savoy themed Christmas decorations, a Boodles writing set and champagne truffles were some of the treats I discovered wrapped up in my room. But best of all was the beautiful handmade gingerbread house, decorated with cherries, icing and even some candyfloss chimney smoke!

After a round of innovate cocktails in the American bar we headed to Kaspars for dinner. This popular grill restaurant offers premium seafood and steaks in a relaxed and stylish setting. During the Christmas season Kaspar’s is serving special festive menus including Christmas pudding and mulled wine.

The SavoyThe Savoy

As most of the Savoy guests were retiring to bed, we were sitting excitedly in the lobby waiting for the huge tree to arrive. Dressed in pink with a Boodles post office (for Christmas correspondence!) the beautiful tree lights up the entrance to the Savoy. The next morning it was wonderful to watch the expressions on peoples’ faces as they realised the tree had magically appeared overnight.

The Savoy

Our room-service breakfast was as lavish and delicious as it looks. Surely there is nothing better than sitting in a super comfortable Savoy bed, wrapped up in a beautiful duvet, enjoying fresh orange juice and waffles with berries?

Christmas is such a special time in London, and this year the Savoy have exceeded all expectations with their fantastic pink extravaganza, head to this historic hotel to experience the best of the festive season.

More information about Christmas experiences at the Savoy here.

Bombetta, Snaresbrook

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I recently visited Puglia, so I was delighted to hear about Bombetta, who are bringing this Southern Italian cuisine to London.

BombettaBombetta

The restaurant is located in Snaresbrook, just seconds from the tube station. The name, ‘Bombetta’, refers to a traditional Puglian dish of wrapped meatballs. The farm workers would get the meat from the local butchers before returning home to wrap the meat with cheese and cured meat, cook it and share with the community.

Bombetta has a lovely relaxed neighbourhood feel, with colourful pictures on the walls and Italian produce adding to the fun decor. I was visiting for lunch with one of my oldest pals, also a keen foodie, and we arrived ravenous and ready for a feast.

BombettaBombettaBombetta

The menu is split into several categories, and considering the small size of the restaurant, I was impressed with the assortment of dishes. Our first course arrived gradually: plump green olives, salty rich pig’s head on toast, gooey indulgent burrata with sun-dried tomatoes and pesto and tender slices of veal with anchovy sauce. It was a joy to have a table of contrasting dishes to pick at, and I imagine the tapas style of dining would particularly suit a big group of friends eating together. A wine flight of Puglian organic wines matched the flavours and captured the mood of the meal.

BombettaBombetta

Main courses were rather more substantial… The perfectly cooked orecchiette pasta (a classic Puglian variety) with wild mushrooms and truffle butter was moreish and delicious, a comforting and Autumnal recipe which led us to fight over the final mouthfuls.

Make sure you leave space for the Bombette; we tried the Pork with spicy pancetta, scamorza, nduja and basil, flavoursome and spicy meat served with toast and fresh salad.

Bombetta

The pannacotta with basil sorbet and figs was a light and refreshing dessert. A few hours of eating, drinking and gossiping later and we were ready to make the lengthy journey back to central London. For those that live nearby I imagine Bombetta is a real asset to the area, for me it was a pleasant reminder of my blissful few days on the Italian coast.

More information and book a table at Bombetta here.

Skate with Fortnum & Mason, Somerset House

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To mark the start of December I am bringing you a post about my favourite festive ice rink in London. Skate at Somerset House is the most iconic and beautiful place to skate this Christmas. The pristine white ice rink is found in the central courtyard of Somerset House with a towering, glittering Christmas tree and foodie treats from luxury British brand, Fortnum and Mason.

Skate

I went along last week for a bloggers evening of skating, eating and drinking. The holiday tunes were adding cheer as visitors put on their skates and cautiously hobbled onto the ice. The rink was busy but there was still plenty of space to skate, and I was amazed to only see two people fall down. After half an hour of skating I was ready to reward myself with food and drink!

Fortnum’s have once again returned with their  Alpine-themed Lodge, perfect for after-skate dining. There is a new menu this year with some comforting, wintery dishes to satisfy and warm you after dancing on the ice.

The menu is filled with tempting dishes. Favourites include: luxurious fondue with pigs in blankets, delicious salt beef broth with winter vegetables and crab mac’n’cheese. If you fancy a tipple opt for the Bees Knees gin, honey and lemon cocktail or a copper mug of hot chocolate served with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. There is also a range of irresistible desserts like sticky toffee pudding with brazil nut ice-cream if you have a sweet craving.

Skate

There is also a lovely Fortnum’s gift shop, perfect for picking up last minute Christmas presents or for stocking up the fridge before your celebratory meals.

I can’t think of a better way to get into the Christmas spirit than a trip to Skate at Somerset House.

More information and book tickets for Skate here.