Saturday 20 June 2015

Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival

This year, Kopparberg teamed up again with some great DJs and musicians, hired a hidden Hackney Wick backyard and set up their main stages and Swedish Midsummer style ambience.

Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival
Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival


Yes I like Kopparberg and I like Scandinavia so we had to go there on the opening day. As usual with everything, people need to be fast and quick because the place is so intimate that some might not get in going there after the normal 9-5 jobs finishes. I don’t know if it is similar every day or was it just because it was the opening day with Katy B?

Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival
Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival

Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival
Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival

Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival
Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival


We had really great fun and the weather turned out to be superb as well! J Kopparbergs to sip, friends around, sunshine, chill and good music. What else do we need? J

Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival
Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival

Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival
Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival

Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival
Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival

Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival
Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival

Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival
Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival

Some extra info: There are around 3 small bars where you can get drinks, they all take credit cards too.
Of course you can get Kopparbergs in many different flavours: the original Pear, Naked Apple, my favourite Strawberry and Lime, Mixed fruits, Elderflower and Lime and lastly my new favourite: Nordic Berry! J Since I was in Svalbard I love these Nordic cloud berries J

Foodies: Hamburger, Jerk chicken, vegetarian something, normal and sweet potato fries.

Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival
Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival

The place is open every day between Wednesday to Sunday until the 12th July.
Weekdays from 4pm and weekends’ fun can already start at 12pm. Let’s hope the weather will be sunshiny good again J

Lastly the line up is very good. Check it out Here.

Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival
Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival

Monday 8 June 2015

Seafood for the whole day

After buying the other essential bits, we got home around 8am. It was time to have breakfast!
Well what else should we have other than seafood today.

Razorclams and mussels
Razorclams and mussels

So breakfast was scallops on chorizo and blackpudding with prawns. Everything needed only 2-3 minutes frying so very soon we were already feasting this yummy homemade brekkie!

Prawn, scallops and blackpudding
Prawn, scallops and blackpudding

Then Paul taught us how to fillet a fish, and how to debeard the blackmussels, which was interesting for me, as I have never done it before.

Then we started preparing the 2nd dish of the day. Razorclams! Easy-peasy with some butter, white wine, garlic and parsley…

Razorclams
Razorclams


Later with the same method Paul started the normal clams. Yum!

Clams
Clams


For late lunch Nigella started to cook a paella-based seafood spaghetti. Originally we wanted linguini but we forgot to buy the pasta itself. Oh yum with all the bits it was delicious.

Seafood linguini
Seafood linguini


Lastly for dinner Paul made Moroccan style mussels a’laJamie Oliver with harissa sauce. It was absolutely fantastic as well!

Mussels-Moroccan-style-Jamie-Oliver
Mussels Moroccan style - Jamie Oliver

Mussels-Moroccan-style-Jamie-Oliver
Mussels Moroccan style - Jamie Oliver

So this day of feast could easily be described by the song……eat sleep rave repeat etc, only that we would change the words to: eat, drink, cook, repeat.

Sunday 7 June 2015

Billingsgate fishmarket

Saturday morning…4am…and I was already awake and getting ready by the time my friend was coming to pick me up going to BillingsgateFishMarket.

It was surrealistic driving through London when the sun was already up, but there were no tourists or actually there were no people at all on the streets, not counting those on their way to Billingsgate too.

When we arrived we hardly could find any parking space, but after around 10 minutes waiting time finally we got a good spot close to the entrance!

Billingsgate Market
Billingsgate Market

All of us were a bit afraid of what we have read about Billingsgate on the internet. Plus Nigella and Paul strongly advised Andreas and me to wear ugly clothes that we wouldn’t mind if it gets dirty. Well our answer was that we did not have ugly clothes :)
On the contrary, there was no strong fish-smell and we did not need a wellie or a mackintosh either. :)

The market itself is industrial, crowded and not comparable to for example Hamburg’s fishmarket. In the 3-4 lanes of sellers we could find so many things for so cheap! Again internet said some stuff were still expensive, but I don’t think it was.

Billingsgate Market inside
Billingsgate Market inside

Billingsgate Market inside
Billingsgate Market inside

Billingsgate Market inside
Billingsgate Market inside

Billingsgate Market inside
Billingsgate Market inside


Billingsgate Market crab
Billingsgate Market crab

Billingsgate Market crab
Billingsgate Market crab

Billingsgate Market
Billingsgate Market

Billingsgate Market sharks
Billingsgate Market sharks


Billingsgate Market tune and salmon
Billingsgate Market tune and salmon

Billingsgate Market
Billingsgate Market


There were many different types and sizes of prawns, crabs, lobsters, cute little sharks, parrotfish, swordfish, tuna, salmon, langoustine, caviar, squid, babysquid, octopus and many many different mussels and clams.

In the end we bought some:

                              -       black mussels for £3.5 a kilo
                              -       giant razorclams for £10 a kilo
                              -       scallops pieces for £10 a kilo
                              -       clams for £6.5 a kilo
                              -       9 mackerels for £8
                              -       prawns for £8 a kilo

We did not buy any, but lobsters were sold for £20 a kilo. Salmon fillets for around £8-10 a kilo, and they asked £15-£25 for a massive whole fish.

Finally the 5 things you need to know before going to Billingsgate Market!

1. The earlier the better. Although the market is open from 4am-9:30am, wake up early and go there at least before 6am! Some sellers will sell all their goods by 7am and they start packing up, so you might miss out if you arrive late.

2. Parking: the parking lot is getting smaller towards the end, and some lots are even closed there, so you have better chances getting a place if you try to stay towards the entrance or at least half way through!

3. Don’t forget to pay for parking. It’s £2 for a maximum of 2 hours. The machine accepts most of the coins.

4. There is no need to go there in willies or in crap clothes, you can still be stylish J you won’t get dirty. Sellers are aware of the people and they shout ‘Mind your legs’ all the time when they are approaching with their trollies.

5. At most sellers you are not able to buy just one piece of fish, you need to buy the whole box. This usually is put in a big thick black bin bag, but you are better off if you take a big IKEA or Tesco etc bag with you as well.

+1 But for a nice smile and some haggling you might get away buying only 1 or 2 fish instead of the bulk buy


And stay tuned because we got so excited about these that once we got home, we were cooking, eating, drinking, cooking, eating and drinking all day :)
Tomorrow I will show you our feast!

Saturday 6 June 2015

Tom Dixon Pop-Up Sale

Friday review - Tom Dixon is having a summer clearout where everything is 70% from the original price! They might need new space for future designs, hence the pop up sale!

Tom-Dixon-Pop-Up-Sale-2015
Tom Dixon Pop Up Sale 2015

Tom Dixon Pop Up sale
70% Off Of everything!
When: 5th-7th June - technically this weekend
Where: Islington, Old Pipe Factory, N1 2BG on Cross street

I asked Berry, a friend of mine if he knew the Mondrian Hotel. He had an idea about it...so I told him to come with me if he wants the same design and accessories for his home?

Mondrian's interior designed by Tom Dixon
Mondrian's interior designed by Tom Dixon (Image)

Straight after work we headed to Islington, where Tom Dixon decided to sell his ex-displays, samples and discontinued products. :)
After hearing the morning was crazy, I was a bit afraid, but we just had the best timing arriving there at around 5:45pm. There were still stock left and there was no queue at all ! People queued up for 2,5+ hours before the opening time to grab the piece what they really wanted, like this lady on the picture who just bought the last Tom Dixon copper lamp: on Friday.

Tom Dixon bargain Copper Ball lamp shade
Tom Dixon bargain Copper Ball lamp shade RRP £390

When we entered I knew what I wanted and I was purposefully searching for the accessories, especially for the tea-light candle holders. Once I put my hands on those, my friend started queuing up...well for that you need patience!

Tom Dixon Pop Up Sale 2015
Even this little fella came to shop Tom Dixon :)


Tom Dixon Pop Up Sale 2015
Tom Dixon Vase


Tom Dixon Pop Up Sale 2015
Stock left Tom Dixon

We stood there for minimum one hour, but occasionally I stepped out to check again everything or check boxes because some had something else in them, so you could easily find gems if you check everything!

Once I was back in the queue as promised in the papers we got our champagne! We queued in style with nothing else than a glass of Veuve-Clicqout. Actually the atmosphere and vibe was quite nice and at least for us, we had fun with our neighbouring fellow customers, joking, talking and drinking a bit.

Veuve Clicquot at Tom Dixon's Pop Up Sale
Veuve Clicquot at Tom Dixon's Pop Up Sale


When we left they had lots and lots of tea-light holders - Cell or Etch - left, and many fragrances, some of the Cell Wall Light, plenty of the Fin Round Blue, and around 4-5 other types of lamp that I could not find on the website anymore. You will also find plenty of walletstablet cases and other things. Some vases and candles.
On Friday, unfortunately all sizes of the Void family lamps and Copper balls were gone, but I heard that they would restock again for Saturday! My advice is to be an early bird in order to avoid disappointment.

And this is what I bought - since this is not my own flat and am thinking of moving anyway, I did not want to buy anything big.

Tom Dixon Pop Up Sale 2015
My filled bag at Tom Dixon


Etch Copper Tom Dixon Tea Light Holder
Etch Copper Tom Dixon Tea Light Holder RRP £50

Etch Brass Tom Dixon Tea Light Holder
Etch Brass Tom Dixon Tea Light Holder RRP £50

Cell Brass Tom Dixon Tea Light Holder
Cell Brass Tom Dixon Tea Light Holder RRP £35




Tuesday 2 June 2015

River Island Fringed Cape

This is the last post from the Broadway Market weekend, but I really wanted to show you all, my new River Island fringed cape as well.
These photos were taken in the vibrant crowd of Broadway Market after finishing our brunch at El Ganso.

* If you are interested in ordering the coat from Mango's online store, I think take into account that the sizing is not generous at all.

Daily outfit
I am wearing my gorgeous Mango coat - £149.99 at Mango
Booties: Topshop - £72 probably you can find similar blocked heeled ones on Ebay
Jeans: River Island Lana - £30 I think these high waisted jeans are perfect for people like me, not being skinny
Pale pink silk top: Topshop - ~ £30
Golden seedbead necklace - £5 similar here
Bag: Russell & Bromley - £249 not in season anymore
Headpiece: H&M necklace - £3.99 similar here
And finally here it comes! My new River Island fringed cape in black! They also sell it in brown, but because I just bought the tan suede coat, I decided that I needed the black one.
And black goes with more thing, right!? :)

River Island fringed cape
Wearing same as above photo plus:
Black Fringed Cape: River Island - £40 similar here



River Island fringed Cape
Wearing same as above photo plus:
Black Fringed Cape: River Island - £40 similar here in brown
Bag: Topshop - £41 


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