Tourist in my own Town, London
Strolling the streets of London once again reminded me of how much I love my home city for all its traditions and rich history alongside such a diverse culture of people. Being my Mum’s birthday she chose to take a trip into town with me and my Auntie to have a browse of the shops around Covent Garden and Seven Dials. This part of London brings back fond memories as somewhere I would spend lots of time being a dancer and performer. I would always find myself in the shops and cafes waiting for the next casting or audition on my schedule, so I got to seek out the best spots.
Returning to the area following my time away there was some new places I wanted to visit alongside the old favourites. As a trending place on Instagram, Petersham Nurseries was somewhere I had to see for myself. It didn’t disappoint with it’s quaint exterior and beautiful courtyard of flowers, so we stopped by for a coffee in the deli. They had offerings of delicious baked goods, lovely salad choices and the menu for their restaurant looked fantastic too, perfect for pre-theatre.
Having had our caffeine kick, it was time to shop and explore the streets of my old stomping ground. Towards Seven Dials we went to Dr.Martens, Brandy Melville, Urban Outfitters, Mango and the best vintage store in town, Rockit.
We decided to enjoy a late lunch at Balthazar, a modern French Bistro with exquisite interiors making you feel like you’ve stepped into a restaurant in Paris. Having visited before for brunch, I was excited to try their lunch menu and wasn’t disappointed. I went for the Moules Frites which was paired perfectly with the bottle of white wine we shared for the table. They even brought out a platter of macaroons with candles for my Mum’s Birthday, how sweet!
Following our idyllic afternoon strolling around Covent Garden, we headed to the Tower of London to see the poppies being lit in commemoration of WWI. It was hauntingly beautiful watching the ex-soldiers light 10,000 torches in remembrance of those who lost their lives all that time ago in The Great War.
To complete our day in town, I took my Mum and Auntie to Sky Garden which is at the top of the walkie talkie building in the city. With 360 degree views of the city lit up by night and a glass of wine in hand, it was the perfect setting to finish the day as a visitor back in my home city of London.
Always being one for a cheese board and regular customer of our local wine bar, I had to provide a platter of delicious offerings including lots of fruits, pickles, cured meats and chutneys to accompany the carefully selected array of cheese. Also known for my love of creating and consuming beautiful salads, I made a salad inspired by a recent visit to Cote Brasserie which included apple, currents, walnuts, goats cheese and a honey mustard dressing. A board of fresh french stick with oil, balsamic and basil leaves was the perfect accompaniment to complete the nibbles table.
When originally planning the gathering, I had envisioned using my bar skills and putting together some fancy cocktails. However I was far more concerned with getting the food prepped so opted for pink sparkling and endless bottles of prosecco to quench my guest’s thirst. My mum even kindly lent us her stunning antique prosecco coupes which were the perfect prop for photos too.
Another important component to creating the perfect setting was the music. I linked my spotify to the speakers and put on my go to chilled house music mix from Majestic Casual. Some cute fairy lights and candles made for a cosy setting around the coffee table – the girls said it looked like Christmas in there!
I wore my new knitted jumper which I’d spotted in a little boutique in Farnham along with my favourite ruffle suede mules from Zomp Shoez in Sydney. When the girls arrived at 4pm I couldn’t wait to pop the bubbly, relax and catch up on life with my friends. It couldn’t have been a more perfect setup in which to enjoy each other’s company and soak up the time with my girls.
Of course we had planned on moving the night onto the local club in town and having started in the late afternoon, by the evening we were more than ready to let our hair down on the dance floor. This is where the night got a little more boozy as we ordered in the tequila shots and jaeger bombs! Let’s just say there were definitely some memories made and stories to be told…
Walking through the front door I’m greeted with an overwhelming scent of home and my beautiful room is still just as I left it. I always took such pride in decorating my room with stylish interiors and memorabilia including precious photos from over the years. I’ve continued to make the effort to print those special photos despite everything being digital now so I can look back on cherished memories. It was also a joy to be reunited with my wardrobe of gorgeous clothes and shoes which I have a new appreciation for since I’ve been living out of my suitcase for 10 months!
Now having been back in England for a week, it doesn’t feel like a day has passed since I left. Coming back has reminded me of my humble roots and the fabulous family and friends I have who are always there and support me no matter what – that’s what makes home a home.
Having finished up work here in the Southern Highlands a week prior to my flight, I’ve decided to actually relax and do those things that I enjoy before a long journey and emotional visit back to England. I took a trip to some local cafes and wineries I’ve been meaning to visit and finally found the time to sunbathe in our little garden. Cooking and cleaning has always been my way of switching off – as backwards as that sounds! – so I’ve been making some delicious dinners and my favourite breakfast bowls to enjoy too.
Now it’s time to zip up my suitcase and begin the journey back to Sydney and then home. I can’t quite comprehend the amount of time that has passed but I know not much will have changed in my absence. My visit to England will fly by so I’m eager to see as many of my friends as possible and soak up being reunited with my family. On reflection, this adventure down under has changed the course of my life and I just can’t wait to get back on Australian soil and hit the ground running as I start the next chapter!
Working at one of the wineries myself, I have been keen to visit other popular venues including Centennial Vineyard just out of Bowral and Bendooley Estate in Berrima. I was particularly intrigued by the idea of a bookshop at Bendooley which welcomes guests to enjoy their menu of enticing Australian cuisine whilst perusing the literature.
Arriving at the estate on a drizzly spring Friday afternoon, I was welcomed by the site of a roaring fire to escape the cold. In the main cafe seating area nestled between the shelves of books, it’s hard not to get drawn in and immersed into an interesting read. Stocking everything from original English fiction and old school cooking books to current cult classics and eye catching coffee table hard backs, you could spend hours discovering new reads whilst sipping on your wine and enjoying a slice of pizza fresh from the stone oven.
Starting with white, I was refreshed with a crisp fruity Sauvignon Blanc and found the woody zest of the Semillon a real winner. Of course I had to try the sparkling too and being my personal preference, the NV Cuvee didn’t disappoint with a delicate fruity finish perfect for a summer afternoon.
Moving onto the reds and with a good variety of light, woody and heavier types, there certainly was a taste for every palette. The Cabernet Sauvignon with aromas of dark fruits and a medium body was exquisite and the Sangiovese giving more spice and bite would accompany a cheese board perfectly. Being more partial to a full bodied red, I didn’t expect such depth of flavour in the Pinot Noir which time in French Oak leaves a delicious woody finish.
With staff as friendly and welcoming as its surroundings, Bendooley Estate offers an all round experience of casual fine dining, sociable chatter of wine tasting and book browsing at leisure…a beautiful recipe for the quintessential afternoon in Berrima.
For brekky or a snack anytime of the day, you can’t go wrong with a classic yoghurt bowl. Take a dollop of Greek set yoghurt, frozen berries warmed in a little water, pear slices baked in honey, a crunchy granola laden with nuts and a generous dash of cinnamon – simple, fast and cheap. Baking the pears turns their flesh into golden sweetness and with the crunch of granola on top of the fruit, this combination is like a healthy take on crumble desert!
A night in cooking for myself means taking what odds and ends I have leftover and getting creative with the flavours I can put together. This colourful bowl of goodness was a mix of salad, paprika roasted veggies including cauliflower, carrots, tomatoes, onion and whole garlic cloves, fajita quorn strips, sticky white rice, sprouts, pepitas, a squeeze of lemon and that all important drizzle of hot sauce. The addition of pineapple wedges and touch of paprika on the veggies complimented the Mexican theme and really vamped up this dinner.
Once again oats prove to be the most economical of wholesome ingredients and provide endless possibilities with all the different cooking methods. I most often use rolled oats and choose to cook on the stovetop, however I baked this bowl of oatmeal in the oven to achieve a super creamy consistency. No need for fancy powders or seed mixes, simply take a cup of rolled oats, a cup of soy milk, a cup of water, mix together in a bowl and leave in the oven for 25 minutes or so. I stirred in grated apple half way through and left to stand for 10 minutes before topping with warmed berries and cinnamon. I’ve experimented a lot with methods for cooking oats and lavish toppings to decorate, but this basic recipe was perfect and just as worthy of a photo. I enjoyed my bowl sat in the garden soaking up the first few rays of Australian spring; sometimes its the simple pleasures that warm the soul.
Being a Sunday the spot we had planned on going was busy with people, but luckily we knew of another place a little more off the beaten track. We found a deserted section of the river, set up our hammock and got some chilled tunes going on the speakers. I couldn’t think of a more idyllic scenario than sitting by that stream all afternoon enjoying my flask of coffee and reading my book in the hammock.
Whilst there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, a gentle spring breeze took the edge off the strong Australian sunshine. Soon enough though we’ll be swapping our coats and flasks of tea for swimwear and refreshing cocktails as we make weekly trips to the abundance of stunning rivers and lakes the Southern Highlands has to offer – Spring has sprung!
Owners Chris and Sally Beresford pride themselves on creating the perfect setting in which to enjoy the immaculately kept estate as you graze on a delectable French inspired menu carefully curated by Sally herself. Whilst guzzling a glass of wine and soaking up the sun, you can explore the vineyard and get to know the majestic family of geese making their characterful presence known on the reservoir.
An impeccable taste for French interiors is also reflected in the antique centre next door, in which Sally exhibits her antique tables made using trees imported from France. With a background in the rag trade and regular trips to Europe to scope out original pieces, Sally brings together antique furniture alongside touches of modern elements to formulate her unique style. This compilation of the old and new to accompany exclusively curated tables has drawn the attention of prestigious publications including Vogue and The Financial Times, establishing Beresford’s name in interiors from the highest of crituques.
With such attention drawn to Mount Ashby amongst socialites of the Southern Highlands and beyond, the estate is set to grow with a new event space being built to accommodate increasing demands of weddings taking place on the property. Set amongst the vineyard overlooking the reservoir, you couldn’t ask for a more picturesque, romantic setting to take marriage vows. Meanwhile, the Pallete Cafe with its new summer special menu continues to bustle on the weekends, firmly proving itself as a little taste of France within the sweeping hills of Australian farmland.
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I kept it very simple and the result was so delicious it was like eating desert for breakfast! My new obsession with rice milk really topped the dish off like the whipped cream to accompany a carrot cake. If I had gone to the supermarket and shopped for this recipe I probably would’ve over complicated it, but by just using what I had to hand, I discovered the perfect combination of ingredients – Sometimes less is more!
Method:
Dani Aneka 