Dinner at Chai Wu Harrods

Chai Wu is the newest eatery to open in London’s glamourous Harrod’s department store. Serving Asian-Fusion food, it’s probably not going to become a destination restaurant but it’ll keep Harrod’s shoppers happy. The décor is quite masculine, with a lot of dark wood, but being brand new it’s all very clean and welcoming.

To start I shared the dim sum platter with my friend Amy which had a selection of dim sum; Sea bass with gold leaf, lobster dumpling topped with caviar , truffled prawn, scallop and vegetarian dumplings. I have to say this was delicious – especially the scallop ones and the gold leaf was a lovely, if extravagant, touch. The caviar (which we had on the side) was really good stuff too. I’d definitely recommend getting the platter to get to try all the different dumplings.

For main I had the Wagyu beef skewers, Scottish lobster with truffle, Gai lan with oyster sauce, Tempura soft shell crab and the salt & pepper squid with chilli and Szechuan peppercorns. Everything was perfectly done, the beef melted in my mouth like butter – it was crazy. The lobster was also really good quality and tender. We had a good red wine to accompany the meal and the service was excellent.

Overall, I would say if money’s no object and you’re not interested in trendy restaurants, then go to Chai Wu. You won’t be disappointed with the food but the atmosphere and clientele might be a bit lacking if you’re a real foodie or fashionista.

Ave. cost per head: £120

Best for: A Happn date with a City boy

Chai Wu Harrods 87–135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge London, 

The 4 Biggest Wellness Trends Right Now

*Article reproduced from Warehouse's Tales of The City 

Fitness and wellness are the new currency with Style.com devoting a whole week to the phenomenon, Missguided, Boohoo and Stellasport all launching new activewear ranges within days of each other and the Skinny Bitch Collective taking over our Instagram feeds. 

Being #fit and healthy can only be a good thing so here are the four wellness trends you need to know about!

THE URBAN TRIATHALON

If the word ‘triathalon’ terrifies you, then you’re probably of sane mind, they’re incredibly hard – but there’s a slightly more fun and less arduous version of the hardcore sport gaining popularity. The Urban-Tri, there’s no set formula for what this could be but typically it involves a hot yoga class, 5k run and a spin class, but can include circuits or other classes. Check your local gym for one, or get some friends together and create your own.

Urban-Tri at Frame Shoreditch 

GET SOME BONE BROTH DOWN YA

Last year’s juicing trend is well and truly over, to be replaced by the much more palatable and nutritious souping. Health aficionados from Hemsley + Hemsley to Natasha Corrett are championing this ancient food (the earliest recipes date back centuries). It’s easy to make at home simply boil down meat bones in a soup pot and when boiled long enough, they’ll start to disintegrate and release nutrients and proteins (including collagen) which lead to great skin, shiny hair and general healthiness. Say hello to your next superfood.

HULA HOOPING DIVAS

Who wants abs? All of us then. Well, the best way to achieve abdominals like Britney circa 2001 is with a hula hoop. There are classes springing up all over the UK and, as well as toning your tum and burning up to 600 calories an hour, it’s also a lot of fun. Buy yourself a hoop from any good sports shop (a tip to get the correct size for you is to make sure the hoop reaches just above your hip when stood on its side) and get practising! Once you have your hula hoop it’s free and you can do it anywhere you have space.

Hoop with The Majorettes

THE FERMENTED FOOD TREND

Another food fad that has actually been around for thousands of years; fermenting food. Fermented foods are the product of ‘lacto fermentation’ where natural bacteria feed on sugar in the food, preserving it and creating beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, enzymes and vitamins plus a shedload of probiotics. This makes fermented eats great for gut health and aiding digestion. Restaurants such as the Rawduck in East London serves a menu full of these foods already or try some Kimchi from your local Korean restaurant – it’s the original fermented meal.

The Raw Duck Hackney

SHOP ACTIVEWEAR

This Week's Beauty Picks

Sure Max Protection Deodorant Review

I wouldn't normally review a deodorant buy 'hey' we all sweat so it's as relevant if not more-so than any other product, right?

This Maximum Protection cream anti-perspirant by Sure is literally incredible. It smells lovely and fresh but unlike spray doesn't get up your nose and it stops you sweating completely. Even in a woolly jumper and a coat on a packed rush hour tube.

Plus it's great for sensitive underarms and there's no post shave sting - if anything it moisturises your underarms. It's excellent - I'd say even better than Mitchum 48 Hour.

However, it does retail at £5... and I'm reluctant to spend more than a quid on deodorant but I could be swayed with this one.

Sure Maximum Protection £4.99

#REVIEW & Other Stories Hand Creams

You may now be aware that I'm a huge fan of Swedish high street store & Other Stories, not just their excellent clothing, but their cosmetics range too.

The packaging of their hand creams is lovely, minimal design, made of metal with an industrial-style cap and they're the perfect size for a small handbag.

My favourite scent is the Moroccan Tea which has citrus tomes and a hint of mint, the fig fiction is richer and more wintery with fig fruit and a bit of a muskier fragrance.

Overall the quality is good but they're not ideal for super-dry hands - probably a summer product rather than winter. The price is very purse friendly though so they're worth trying.

Hand creams, & Other Stories £4

Spice Market London

A few weeks ago myself and my housemate Amy went to restaurant Spice Market in London's cool W Hotel for a well-deserved treat. Having never been to this eatery, sister to Spice Market New York, I thought I'd share and review my experience.

The decor is pretty cool, it's kind of what it says on the tin, evoking a sense you are in a spice market, albeit an upmarket one - there are spices and sauces available to buy and plenty of lanterns and Asian-inspired details everywhere. 

The food is probably best descried as pan-Asian, it's not a particular style, some dishes were recognisably Indian, others Thai or Chinese-influenced. 

I almost tried everything on the menu, oops, but my highlights were the salmon tartare, which was refreshing and light, and the Spicy Thai Slaw was honestly delicious, I couldn't put the bowl down - and for someone who doesn't like coleslaw, that was weird. It was more of a crunchy salad though, delicious. 

The chicken samosas were spicy and tasty with a thin pastry crust and rich filling, I highly recommend them, and their cod is also a treat. The good thing about their menu is, because of the spices and way things are seasoned with lime or mint, the food doesn't sit heavy on the stomach.

I washed everything down with prosecco and sweet lychee bellinis. 

Ave. cost per head: £45

Best for: Early dinner with the girls

Spice Market at W Hotel, Leicester Square, 10 Wardour Street, London W1D 6QF

Eucerin Even Brighter Day Cream and Pigment Spot Corrector Review

I used both these products until they were empty by the way, and I can honestly say, they made a difference... not a big one, but overall my skin tone does look more even.

The day cream is a lovely light texture but still feels nourishing to the skin, it doesn't leave any residue so it's ideal for morning use. The pen is best to use at night - just dot on to areas that have high areas of pigmentation. 

I had a few dark dots on my cheek from picking spots (sorry) and used the corrector pen on those, and they have faded, but they do tend to fade over time anyway - but I'd hasten to say this speeded up the process slightly.

I think the main thing when battling pigment spots is to massage your face and keep it really well hydrated, this ensures they're a good flow of oxygen to your skin to help it regenerate... oh, and don't pick your spots!

Would I buy again? Yes, but don't expect miracles. 

Brand Focus: Byredo

Stockholm-based fragrance house Byredo are best known for their cult black wax candles and chic, minimal packaging but they also do the most divine perfumes and skincare with names so magical you'll want to display them pride of place on your dressing table. 

I'm planning a Gypsy Water purchase soon, so stay tuned for a review. 

SHOP BYREDO

Black Bean Brownies Recipe

These 'BB Brownies' are taken from the Hemsley + Hemsley cookbook, they're a super-healthy alternative to brownies, being made mostly of the protein-rich black beans.

 I found them really easy to make but they're not very sweet so I've tweaked the recipe to include more maple syrup but maybe it would benefit from a dash of agave or even some organic chocolate chunks. 

They're filling, guilt-fee and hit the spot, though, so well worth a try. 

ingredients

2 x 400g tins cooked black beans, drained 

4 medium eggs 

230g unsalted butter 

85g unsweetened cocoa powder 

175ml maple syrup 

2 tbsp vanilla extract 

130g chopped walnuts, soaked and dried

Preheat the oven to 170°C. Makes nine to 16

method

First soak your walnuts for 10 mins, drain and then put in preheated oven for about 5 mins to dry out. Then rinse and drain your beans.

In a blender mix together the eggs, beans, cocoa, maple syrup and vanilla. Then melt your butter, leave to cool and mix into the bean mixture very slowly. Add the walnuts, leaving some to sprinkle on top.

Bake for 40-45mins until the surface cracks.

Serve with a nice cuppa.

Super Green Smoothie Recipe by Hemsley + Hemsley

I first tried this amazing smoothie recipe at a talk by the gorgeous Hemsley + Hemsley sisters and have since found it’s a go-to for a quick, filling nutrient boost.  So I thought I’d share it with you, I've tweaked theirs slightly to make it a bit simpler to make.

The benefits of this recipe are its alkalising, hydrating, cleansing, antioxidant-rich and easy to digest – the raw foods contains loads of vitamins, minerals and enzymes, undamaged by heat. Plus the leafy greens in it are among the most nutrient-dense foods in the world.

Also a tip I got from the Hemsley girls is to chew it well, yes, even chew smoothies, it aids digestion and makes you feel fuller.

Ingredients
1 apple
2 sticks of celery
Half a cucumber
70g spinach or kale
Half an avocado
1 inch ginger root
Handful Parsley
Squeeze of lemon
Water – add for desired consistency
1 teaspoon of super green powder (chlorella, spirulina etc)

You'll need a strong blender 

January Beauty Favourites

1/ Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream
Around this time of year I get extremely chapped lips... and hands and nose, and sometimes my hairline. It's a mixture of cycling, harsh central heating and fierce winds. Very annoying but this miracle balm works wonders, you can use it for anything and everything (even on your hair) but it's forte is soothing dry and chapped delicate skin. Some people don't like the distinctive scent (I do) but you can now get it fragrance free. Anyway, this product is cult for a reason - get some in your makeup bag.


2/ Molton Brown Pink Pepperpot Bodywash
I've recently taken a liking to baths when a few years ago I probably didn't have a bath from one year to the next - maybe it's getting older but I need something to soothe these old bones and a luxurious soak always hits the spot. Molton Brown, hands down, do the best bath products, they're really gentle on skin and smell fab. This Pink Pepperpot fragrance is just the best - a mix between spicy and fresh - plus you can use it as a showergel too.


3/ Diptyque Epice Candle 
Diptyque candles have become essentials rather than luxuries to me in the last few years - I stress out if I have less than two on the go (ironic really as the purpose of scented candles is to destress, no?). They make any room feel like a palace and are crucial to my afore-mentioned relaxing baths. This limited edition Epice scent is a delight - I get warm, spicy cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and amber - basically all the good stuff you want on a winter's night.