Sentimental in Berlin Blog: 2015

Friday, 25 December 2015

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you my dear sentimental reader!

I am at home now in Hungary where the tradition is, that we spend Christmas Eve the 24th December together with our immediate family. Usually we have dinner around 5pm and then when the bells ring means that baby Jesus arrived and brought all our presents.

When I was a child I really loved it...and of course just as a Pavlovian response, when I heard the bell I got really excited about the presents...then I really went for the more the merrier when I was a teenager. I wanted more and more presents and got everything I just needed or wanted.

I realised long time ago Christmas is not about presents! As an overused, yet absolutely true expression, Christmas is about love, joy, peace and forgiveness! Open up your heart and let the love enter to warm you up! :)

This year...I actually told to my parents that I didn't need any presents. I was sure I would get something anyway, but at least not exploiting them as before!

There was no hassle, argument or bitterness today! Everything was smooth and we had our Christmas Eve meal eaten from a pretty decorated Christmas table, I created with mostly natural products.

How does/did your Christmas Table look like?

Christmas Table Decoration

How to prepare and what you need for this easy central piece is some pine tree branches, that I placed facing each other and weaving/crossing their twigs into each other.
Get some different cones, fruits - apple, orange, tangerine, mandarine anything Christmassy or winter related - put them in any order you like on top of the branches.
I got the little flower vases that I used for candle holders in a charity shop for some pennies you can use whatever you think would best suit for your design.
You can find the wooden star candle holders and cylindric ones in Butlers or if you want a cheaper option, then in the Danish Tiger shop.
Get some string and spices, (I only had cinnamon sticks but you can also try star anis) dry out an orange or tangerine and create ornaments!
As we have a new baby in our family it was easy to get those baby food bottles, put a tea-light candle in them and some red berry candle rings.

The textiles - napkins and tablecloth - are from Zara Home and the dining set is from Next Home.
Napkin rings are also from Zara Home.
The cake stand is vintage, I inherited.

I hope you liked my table decoration.

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Wednesday, 23 December 2015

Lovely lunch in Budapest's finest Vintage Garden

My dad and me had a lovely lovely lunch in Vintage Garden, Budapest's one of or for me the most gorgeous new restaurant with incredibly good food!

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I have arrived back home and after a fine breakfast on British Airways' business class my dad was waiting for me at the airport, to pick me up with my 2 huge suitcases and other stuff!

I told him before I came that this time I would not want to eat in a 'Csarda' (Typical Hungarian food served in traditional style) but I would like to go in the city centre before we go to my actual home. Apparently it turned out he was stressed where to bring me, as he does not really know the new places in Budapest. So I told him I had an idea and going through Gozsdu and showing him these bars we somehow reached Vintage Garden. I have been there before when I visited Budapest some time ago.

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The interior as usual is seasonal and always up for the latest occasion or holidays, this time it's Christmas time! It was so magical and beautiful that this week when quikcly checked one of the celebrity magazines, I noticed that one of the photoshoot was shot in this christmassy wonderland!

Christmas Tree

Welcome in Vintage Garden

Cosy Christmassy Interior

Even Santa's house can be found here!

Santa's house

My dad and me! This is a very rare moment when he actually has time for me! Real time I mean, usually if we go somewhere it is always because he has some things to do there and I just go with him...but this time it was different and he had time only for me and I took him around Budapest.

Waiting for lunch!

Vintage Garden interior

Hmm yummy! I went for the rose duck breast on gnocchi with beetroot and potato crisps and apple sauce and some other sweet sauce!

Duck Breast at Vintage Garden

My dad had the slow roasted beef with potato with crisps and barbecue kind of sauce and he was very satisfied with it, although he has eaten at so many places, so was a little bit worried if he liked it or not, but even after exiting the place he was still mentioning how tender the meat was!