Nobu Nights

You just can't beat a girl's night out.

Myself and three of my girlfriends are all extremely similar, in that we love nothing more than dressing up and going out for a fabulous dinner and drinks. Old before our time? Maybe. But give me delicious, life-changing food washed down with mind-blowing cocktails over a stuffy, overcrowded nightclub any day. 

This weeks restaurant of choice was the world-renowned Japanese spot, Nobu. If you know anything about Nobu, you'll know that it's fabulous, it's fancy, and it's pricey. But boy, is it worth it.

Obligatory kitchen outfit photos.

I'm wearing my favourite leather pencil skirt from River Island, black body from Missguided, and nude sandals from ASOS.

The beautiful Amelia is wearing head-to-toe Zara (current season).

After a good couple of hours of chatting and getting ready, we were chauffeured (by Amelia's boyfriend) to Nobu - the one on Berkeley St in London.

Terrible quality, I know, but it was the best I could do.

We started with edamame. Warm, salty and the best I've ever tried.

We decided to save the alcohol for the post-dinner cocktails we had planned, so ordered from their non-alcoholic drinks menu. Amelia and I both opted for the oh-so-refreshing Iced Green Teas. Daisy and Tayla went for yummy, fruity virgin mojitos.

We all shared sushi to start. Salmon and avocado roll and, our personal favourite, spicy tuna maki.

Tempura Shrimp. So good we ordered two lots.

And then our main 'hot dishes' arrived. We opted for the spicy version of asparagus kushiyaki which ended up being a great decision.

Black cod den Miso. Totally dreamy, melt-in-your-mouth goodness. I would never tire of this.

Two of the girls also shared spicy miso pork belly. I'm not a pork fan, but they assured me it was a winner.

For pudding we ordered their famous chocolate tart. An indulgent dark chocolate bomb that melts as your waiter pours dark chocolate sauce over it, to reveal a yummy ice-creamy, malty, hazlenutty delight. 

We may or may not have drank the remaining chocolate sauce by pouring it straight onto our spoons.

After dinner, four very satisfied customers made their way across the road (literally) to the Mayfair Hotel bar. 

We ended the night with a round of cocktails (tropical caipirinha for me). 

Which, if you ask me, is how all great girl's nights should end.

Girl's Night

Good evening, long lost followers.

Almost a year has passed since I last visited and I'm delighted to say that life has been treating me ever so well and I'm currently a very happy bunny. Long may it last!

To kick off a new and (hopefully) more consistently updated chapter of my blog, I'd like to share with you a lovely dinner I shared with friends a couple of weeks ago. My best friend, who also lives in London, suggested that we try out a restaurant in Mayfair called Novikov. Never one to turn down an excuse to dress up and enjoy great food with friends, I was totally up for it.

Excuse the generic bathroom selfie and terrible iPhone quality, but it was the best I could do, I'm afraid. The decor, however, was beautiful. I've always loved places with lovely bathrooms. I think it really shows the measure of a place, plus provides a fabulous backdrop for outfit pics of course...

I'm wearing a tuxedo-style playsuit from Topshop, which you can't see particularly well, but I adore. I absolutely love the gentlewoman trend which is so big at the moment. Classic tailoring in chic silhouettes is right up my street. I threw on this silk waterfall blazer - also Topshop - and my fail-safe black sling-backs from River Island.

Novikov has multiple rooms with multiple menus. The main two are either Asian or Italian. We opted for the Italian, which we concluded was a excellent decision.

FYI, that was the best pistachio and salted caramel ice cream I have ever tasted!

All in all, a lovely night with great food and even better company.

Until next time,
Jessica

Chic for Summer

Since Summer is finally here and the sun is starting to grace us with it's glorious presence more and more often, I can't help but get excited over Summer style.

There's just something so effortlessly chic about throwing on a pair of shorts and a lightweight jumper for a balmy evening or a pretty summer dress and sandals for daytime, and yet, it feels so perfectly comfortable and easy to wear that you could almost say that it resembles pyjama-like dressing. 

And who doesn't want to wear pyjamas all day? I do, I do!

I feel as though, far too often, women tend to, dare I say it, over-do-it when it comes to Summer - or especially holiday - clothes. The neon colours, matching printed outfits and masses of brightly coloured jewellery seem to come out in full force. There isn't anything necessarily wrong with this, but I personally feel as though there is a time and a place for this sort of see-me-from-space style, and that is on a girly holiday or hen weekend in somewhere like Ibiza or Marbella.

 I for one much prefer this simple, effortless, Parisian inspired style. 

Simple colours. Simple shapes. Simple elegance. 

And if all else fails, remember… Less is always more!

Jessica

Desperately Seeking Summer

Is anyone else absolutely desperate for summer by now?

I am seriously ready for some sun and to just escape for a while. It may have something to do with the fact that I missed out on my usual family holiday in October since I was tied down at uni, or that I would normally be away this week, since it's half term, as well.

But hey ho! It's all part of uni life, I suppose.

Anyway, I've been totally lusting over pictures on Instagram, blogs, Pinterest etc. recently. Here are a few I've found which make me seriously  long for summer!

May… please hurry up!!!

Picture courtesy of The Londoner. If you don't follow this blog - you should!

She's currently in Phuket, Thailand. I'm insanely jealous, and not afraid to admit it!

And now just a few I've found from different social media sites...

My next holiday is booked for late July! \

However will I cope until then?!

Life Update!! Where I've been hiding.

I know, I know. I've gone and done it again. It's been three whole months and I haven't blogged a single thing. Damn it!!

But fear not! I'm back again and have conjured up a new strategy to ensure much more frequent and consistent posts. I promise.

So, without dwelling any longer on the past, where exactly have I been, you ask? Slaving away at uni of course! Not to mention travelling up and down the country visiting E, my boyfriend, which is gobbling up my money faster than you can say 'overdraft', but is completely worth it. Anyway, here's a little mini foodie post from way back on New Years Eve. Feels like a lifetime away now, doesn't it!

Luckily for us, mine and E's families have been friends for years so it was a tradition for us to spend New Year with them at their divine coastal apartment for years, long before E and I got together. One of the best things about going to stay in Scarborough  is the incredible restaurants which are often hidden away down little side streets, away from all the great british touristy stuff. This particular night, we headed to the teeny weeny yet totally amazing Jeremy's.

This is what New Years dinner looked like…

Sadly, I was so hungry at the time that I forgot to picture the starter before I devoured it, which was basically posh pate on toast, if you were wondering. But this little gem was the fish course. 

Roast Halibut with spiced brown shrimp butter, spinach puree and sauce Jacqueline. Very delicate in flavour and texture; totally melted in the mouth. My kind of dish!

This was followed by a gorgeous looking Rib-Eye Flank dish. However, I'm not a great lover of red meat so the chefs kindly whipped up a chicken adaptation for me…

The menu read: Roast chicken with horseradish mash, star anise and honey carrots and koffman cabbage. Absolutely delicious.

The sweetness of the carrots mixed with the richness of the gravy and the subtle kick of the mash created a totally amazing, dressed-up roast.

And finally, the pudding…

Chocolate and chestnut pudding with salted caramel and homemade eggnog ice cream. Need I say more? After this came a unique sort of cheese and biscuits followed by coffee and homemade petit fours. 

I was completely in love with this place and it's gorgeous food! If you're ever in the Scarborough area I would most definitely recommend Jeremy's for an occasion or just a really lovely meal. 

I had a fabulous New Year with love ones. Nothing crazy, no wild nights out. Just good food, wine and champagne flowing and lots of laughter. My favourite kind of evening.

I promise to update you all again soon. I have planned for a London Fashion Week post to be put up in a couple of days so stay tuned for that! 

Jess

Burberry With Love

Burberry’s With Love winter campaign celebrates everything that Burberry have been totally infatuated with this year. Love, romance and trench kisses. 

From Sienna Miller and Tom Sturridge sharing a kiss in the somewhat flirty Autumn/Winter campaign, to an interactive service by which you can send a loved one a kiss digitally, there’s no denying that 2013 has been a year for romance at Burberry. 

And it doesn’t stop there. 

On Wednesday, the British label unveiled their dreamy festive video which encompasses everything about christmas in one glorious gold, perfectly wrapped gift box. 

Cue snow falling, checked scarves, the obligatory trench coats and many a luxuriously wrapped present. The advert, which is based around ‘the art of giving and the idea of shared festive love’ depicts a couple running around a very snowy and romantic looking London, on the hunt for presents to gift their adorable Burberry-clad children. Adding to the already-romantic scene, Tom Odell’s ‘Hold Me’ plays as the backing track to the video.

If this still hasn’t quite encouraged us to get in the Christmas spirit, Burberry are continuing on with their festivities, which will include events at both their Regent Street and Covent Garden stores, to celebrate their Christmas lights switch on. 

With many of the brand’s Autumn/Winter 2013 pieces centering around the heart motif, it is evident the theme of love and romance is not going away any time soon as far as Burberry’s concerned.

And why should it? It is Christmas after all.

P.S. Santa, if you're reading this, I'd like the heart-print scarf, please.

True Love

My grandparents have got to be one of the most amazing couples in the world.

And i'm not exaggerating.

Recently they hit the extraordinary mile stone of 60 years of marriage. Yep, 60 whole years.

Being the true, abnormally large, Irish family that we are, we immediately began planning a party.

Last weekend I ventured back home so that I could reunite with my entire family at the local golf club, a place which has housed some of our family's most memorable and fabulous soirees!

On Saturday night we all got dressed up to the nines and headed out to what was expected to be a night to remember.

The couple of the hour, looking as adorable as ever.

   

Outfit wise, everyone made a real effort and looked suitably glamorous for this charming little evening.

As you can see.

This beautiful lady is in fact my mum. Yes, I know she's stunning.

I got pretty into the dancing at the table once the live singer came out as a surprise for my nan and grandad.

As you can tell from the picture, my mum and dad were rather enjoying themselves too. 

Such a beautiful picture of such a beautiful couple.

I can't begin to explain how much I admire these two. I can only hope and dream that I have a relationship which lasts as long as theirs has and is as strong as theirs is. 

Eight children, eighteen grandchildren and four great grandchildren is quite an achievement. 

Wouldn't you agree?

And to round things off in a far less professional and visually attractive way, here's a quick selfie I took of my outfit before I headed out. 

My black shift dress is from Urban Outfitters, my shoes were a bargain from New Look and my amazing sequinned jacket is vintage.

Apart from the obvious exception above, all photo credit goes to my amazingly talented cousin, Jack Gormley.

I hope you enjoyed this little peak into my family life. I certainly enjoyed the evening!

Speak soon.

Jess