Category Archives: General

Things to do in St.Ives

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While my friends jetted off in the school holidays to exciting international destinations my family drove to Cornwall, it seemed like an unfair substitution. Now, years later, I can truly appreciate this amazing county, and particularly take advantage of its close proximity to London. Serene sunny beaches, stunning sights, charming pubs, long countryside walks and a carefree lifestyle, Cornwall is a blissful destination for a refreshing minibreak. A few weeks ago I visited the coastal town of Penzance to see family and took a day trip to St Ives. This idyllic seaside town offers unspoilt beaches, a thriving art scene, quaint cafes and craft shops, here is an insight into my favourite things to do in this charming Cornish destination.

Porthgwidden Beach – the number one attraction in St Ives, this lovely small beach is a sheltered stretch of land with crystal clear sea and the occasional seal sighting in the bay.

Cream tea at Olive’s – Tucked away in the backstreets of St Ives this tiny neighbourhood café is often named the best cream tea in St Ives. For less than £5 you can indulge in a huge fresh crumbly scone with a generous helping of homemade strawberry jam and Cornish clotted cream and a pot of tea.

Burger from Blas Burgerworks – these gourmet burgers are made from fresh local ingredients and are addictively tasty. The naturally reared, free range meat are cooked to perfection on the charcoal grill and are accompanied with toppings of your choice. Definitely the best burger I’ve ever tasted in Cornwall.

Tate St Ives for art – An architecturally spectacular modern gallery with sea views and local and international artworks. Located nearby to Porthmeor Beach.

Pasty at Pasty Presto – we couldn’t resist trying the World’s best Cornish pasty. This bakery was recently awarded the highest accolade for its traditional beef and vegetable pasty, flaky rich pastry filled with a tender delicious seasoned filling.

Little Jems Jewellery for vintage jewels – this small shop stocks beautiful one-off antique pieces of jewellery at reasonable prices.

Ice-cream at Moomaid – At the end of a day in St Ives nothing is better than a luxury Cornish Ice Cream from Moomaid. This creamy rich ice-cream made on the Farm at Tremedda Zennor and comes in a variety of indulgent flavours.

More information on St Ives here.

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

Hot on the Highstreet Week 216

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I love cookbooks, even if they are most commonly used as eye candy on my coffee table. Here are a few of my current favourites, all available to buy on Amazon.

The Art of Eating Well is a revolutionary cookbook that will help anyone who wishes to feel better, lose weight or have more energy. London-based sisters Jasmine and Melissa Hemsley teach their principles of life-long healthy eating with exciting and inventive recipes that are so delicious you forget the purpose is good health and nourishment. Buy here.

Stevie Parle burst onto the London scene in 2009 with the launch of a new restaurant, Dock Kitchen, whose food AA Gill described as ‘faultless’, earning him the Observer Food Monthly Young Chef of the Year award 2010. The opposite of the usual ‘chefy’ restaurant fare, Stevie serves an eclectic mix of dishes that in their countries of origin would all be described as home cooking. Ranging from Mexico to Morocco, from Catalonia to Kerala, taking in the Mediterranean and the Middle East, here are simple, wholesome and perfectly balanced recipes for dishes that will warm the heart in winter and cool the palate in summer. Buy here.

‘Winner of two “Gourmand Cookbook Awards 2014: ” Best in the World, Historical Recipes and Best” “Local Cuisine, For Italy’Food and glass: a combination offering an authentically Venetian experience. Venetian cooking is fundamentally a simple cuisine because of the basic ingredients and methods of preparation and the time required for cooking is short, but it is also complex, giving rise to striking and unusual combinations. This gastronomic tradition is the product of a highly distinctive territory, one in which water and land closely exist. There are fish and shellfish from the lagoon and the nearby Adriatic, vegetables and fruit from the islands in the estuary, and meat and game from the mainland and spices from the distant Orient. Buy here.

The king of beautiful pub food has collected all of his best ideas into this proper cookbook, ready to warm the world on a grey day and restore the nation’s good mood. Tom Kerridge’s idea of food heaven isn’t fussy gastronomy; it’s proper ‘man food’ with Michelin star magic, including breakfasts that keep you smiling for the whole day, indulgent long lunches, teatime temptations, seasonal snacks and heart-warming suppers. In this cookbook Tom proves that everyone can make proper pub food, and the only place he wants to see a foam is on the head of a pint of beer! Over 100 recipes reveal his secrets for making real food truly amazing, including perfected dishes from his childhood and special treats he serves at his own one-of-a-kind pub. These recipes are simply the best version you’ll ever have of the dishes everyone loves the most. Buy here.

More than 100 recipes make up this stunning yet eminently approachable collection of suppers from Jason Atherton: perfect meals to share with friends and family. It is not only a showcase of Jason’s favourite things to cook, both savoury and sweet, but also a celebration of the flavours and techniques that have inspired him from all around the world. Every dish bears the hallmark of excellence on which he has built his reputation as one of the world’s truly great and most innovative chefs. Beautiful, inspiring photography by John Carey completes this collection of stunningly good suppers. Buy here.

Hot on the Highstreet Week 210 – A Day in Marais

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Everyone is talking about the super cool Parisian neighbourhood, Haut-Marais. Last weekend I hunted out the best boutiques, cafes and bars for the perfect day in Marais.

Marche des Enfants Rouges – I stumbled across this atmospheric food market accidentally. The crowds and delicious smells encouraged me to look a little further. After a campaign by locals, this historic area reopened as a deluxe food market in 2000, taking its name from the 16th-century orphanage that used to occupy the site. With a range of Italian, Lebanese, African, Japanese food and a variety of great artisan and organic food stalls you are sure to be distracted for a few hours.

Edited Black, Comme des Garcons – an attractive monochrome edit of clothes and accessories from the Japanese fashion label Comme des Garcons.

Sonia by Sonia Rykiel – Renowned for her revolutionary, inside-out stitching technique and statement knitwear, Parisian designer Sonia Rykiel’s chic garments are the best thing to spend your pennies on in Paris.

Merci – this concept store is unmissable, a mix of industrial style homeware and simple stylish clothes, I could spend hours in this treasure trove. Be sure to also visit Bonton the kids version of Merci, complete with photobooth and nail studio.

Les Prairies de Paris – This designer shop is more like an art installation with beautifully curated clothes hanging delicately on the rails. The wonderfully unique detailing makes the prices almost seem reasonable.

L’art du Basic – This Parisian brand makes perfectly tailored basics for every occasion. I particularly loved the silk dresses and shirts.

Repetto – rainbow display of perfect ballerina shoes, I’d love one of each colour if I could.

Jean Marie Poinot – This artisan jewellery designer makes wacky jewellery from acrylic. It reminded me of Butler & Wilson in London.

Stephane Verdino – irresistably shiny and stylish bags. Wearable and wonderful.

Rose Bakery – Perfect for a weekend brunch or a shopping coffee break, Rose Bakery offers delicious homemade cakes and savoury dishes. Spot the hoards of fashionistas heading in here.

Pink Flamingo – I can’t recommend this pizzeria enough… Started by a young couple they now have several outlets around the city. They make delicious pizzas with inventive toppings.

Pozzetto – best gelato in Paris, the strawberry is absolutely divine.

Fragments – Previously known, in a different location, as Black Market Cafe this little venue is renowned for its faultless coffee.

La Perle – this Marais institution is cheap and cheerful… grab a seat in the sunshine and enjoy a glass of Provencal Rose, the perfect end to a day shopping on the Marais streets.