Saturday Night Scenes; A Slice of Sicily in Surrey

This weekend called for a wholesome dinner date with my mum, dad and boyfriend, centred around great food, good wine and even better company.

We started the evening with a pre-dinner drink at The Wine Yard in Farnham.

It’s one of those places that instantly sets the tone for the night ahead; relaxed, welcoming and perfect for easing into the weekend with a glass of something delicious in hand.

From there, we headed 5 minutes down the road to Daniele Sicilian Restaurant in Lower Hale for our 8:30pm reservation.

The restaurant has such a warm, authentic atmosphere from the moment you step inside.

Naturally, we began by sharing a selection of starters for the table. The stracciatella, anchovy, cherry tomato, basil, pesto bruschetta was bursting with fresh Mediterranean flavours and was my favourite dish of the night.

While the meatball, rocket and parmesan bruschetta was rich, comforting and incredibly tasty.

A portion of the zucchini frites were the perfect accompaniment to complete our spread of entrees.

For my main course, I chose the Spaghetti Isola Bella, a beautiful dish made with king prawns, fresh clams, cherry tomatoes, olive oil and chilli.

It was everything I love about Italian cooking: simple ingredients cooked to perfection and full of flavour.

My boyfriend was particularly excited to try one of Daniele’s pizzas for the first time, and it absolutely lived up to expectations with a lovely crisp base and plenty of yummy toppings.

Meanwhile my parents were equally impressed with their meals, both commenting on how authentic and delicious everything was.

Sometimes the best evenings aren’t the grand occasions but the ones spent laughing, chatting and making memories together with the people who matter most ❤

Aesthetic Date Night Scenes; The Ivy Asia Guildford

For ultimate date night vibes complete with aesthetic interiors, delicious food and top service, we are never disappointed with an evening at The Ivy.

With 8:30pm reservations at The Ivy Asia located in Guildford, we popped next door first for an aperitif at The Ivy Castle View.

I had envisioned a picturesque sundown drink on their terrace overlooking the castle, but the rainy English weather had other plans, so instead we sat at their brilliant feature bar where the bartender made our cocktails in front of us.

My look for the evening was built around my new Stradivarius white flared jeans paired with this gorgeous denim corset from White Fox Boutique.

I’ve been loving the French twist up-do I’ve been seeing all over my Instagram explore page, so I had a go at recreating the style myself.

Thankfully my hair was cooperating and I was obsessed with the final result which felt so elegant and classy.

To complete the elevated date night fit, I wore my By Alona pearl necklace, statement round gold earrings, my Abbott Lyon gold bangle, Sandro green velvet handbag and my favourite vintage oversized green Jaegar blazer.

The touches of green in my fit were the perfect little nod to the green accents at The Ivy.

Pre-dinner cocktails of choice were a Strawberry Mojito for my boyfriend.

And a Tommy’s Margarita for me with that perfectly sweet but spicy hit I’m looking for in my Marg.

Sitting at the central bar amongst fellow dinners as the busy Saturday night service unfolds, makes for a fun atmosphere to kick off date night right.

Soon it was time to hop back next door for our dinner booking at The Ivy Asia.

The vibe here is made for evenings out as the place comes into its own by night.

With a live DJ and the amazing green lighted floor, it always brings a fun and buzzing atmosphere for those Saturday night vibes.

We were seated at the bar whilst our table was being relaid, so we started by ordering some drinks.

A glass white in hand and ready for an Asian feast, we were taken to our booth table.

I requested the booth seating as it feels more plush and is often that bit more comfortable.

We even had the beautiful blossom tree overhead, perfect for those Instagram shots.

To start we had the edamame beans served with a spicy sauce for added flavour and a fiery kick.

For mains we ordered lots of the smaller plates to share between us and it turned out to be quite the spread.

Of course I had to have a plate of sushi so I opted for the salmon avocado roll and it was divine.

My boyfriend had his favourite glazed chicken karaage dish as well as the satay chicken skewers.

The cucumber peanut salad side dish is another must whenever we visit.

We also had the steamed rice, chilli noodles and wok fried greens for the table.

As ever the food was beautifully presented and tasted delightful, we were certainly very full and satisfied following our mini feast.

With its brilliant service, outstanding food and opulent interiors, complete with a buzzing atmosphere that makes you feel more like you’re in a trendy Manhattan hotspot, The Ivy is always a good idea for date night ❤

English Country Pub Fine Dining; The Mutton

Since opening a few years ago, The Mutton at Hazeley Heath has been a firm favourite local pub for Friday drinks as well as their award winning menu of traditional pub dishes done to a five star standard.

So this Saturday we decided to book a table in the restaurant for date night and as always enjoyed a delectable meal complete with top service.

Now we are well into September, it felt like the last weekend I could get away with white jeans and mules, so I wore my Topshop white slim fit jeans paired with a ruched detail backless top, my gorgeous Senso pink satin mules and a Cult Gia dupe mini box bag.

Blush pink hues for date night is a timeless classic and I would’ve worn my pearls to complete the look, but with a nigh neck top on I opted for statement gold drop earrings which I recently got from Na-kd.

With 8:15pm reservations, we arrived at The Mutton for 8pm to have an aperitif. I sipped a classic Dirty Martini which was delightful; I felt very Carrie Bradshaw from Sex & The City

The interiors at The Mutton are very classic countryside chic with a subtle modern twist, and the low lighting in the restaurant makes for the perfect sophisticated evening atmosphere.

To start we shared the sourdough bread with charcoal butter and homemade spicy pickles which were divine.

For main course I ordered the chargrilled sea bream, crushed potatoes, seasonal vegetables and white wine sauce with a side salad, whilst my boyfriend had the sirloin steak with nduja butter, fries, pickled shallot, parmesan and rocket salad.

I had a glass of the Gyotaku, Christophe Mittnacht Alsace, French white wine upon recommendation from the waitress as a pairing to my fish dish.

As always it was a 10/10 meal presented beautifully, cooked to perfection and full of incredible flavour.

We savoured every last bite and with clean plates all round, we left very satisfied indeed.

The bill came to just under £150 so its certainly on the pricier side for a meal out, but definitely worth it for a special occasion or a treat for date night.

The Mutton at Hazeley Heath remains our top spot for fine dining in Hampshire, so be sure to try it for yourself if you’re in the area – https://themuttonathazeleyheath.co.uk

Fall Fashion; Boots & Shorts Season

Whilst I’m never ready to say goodbye to Summer, I do love the transitional period for fashion as we can re-introduce layers and start tapping into the autumnal trends like suede jackets and rich chocolate brown tones.

But as we find ourselves in this sort of limbo between summer and fall, it’s a great opportunity to style cute shorts, skirts and dresses with boots.

I’ve been waiting for the right moment to style my Stradivarius Cowboy boots with my Tommy Hilfiger boyfriend jean shorts, so this Saturday’s date night was the perfect opportunity with the weather still mild enough to have my legs out in the evening.

I paired the shorts with a new babydoll style top I got from Zara recently. The feminine shape of the top with backless bow detail balanced out the boyish silhouette of the bottom half to create that countryside chic aesthetic.

To complete the outfit I took out my new US Polo Assn saddle style handbag in rich chocolate brown; another nod to autumn and the cute countryside look.

We went for post dinner cocktails at the Bel & The Dragon in Odiham where the interiors were also giving classic countryside chic.

I had a refreshing Hugo Spritz which was delightful. I can’t believe I hadn’t tried one before, it’s definitely a new fave cocktail for me.

I’m now on the lookout for a pair of long suede block heel boots in either a light sand colour or rich chocolate brown.

A killer pair of boots styled with shorts or a skirt and an oversized knit or jacket is such a vibe and looks so effortless yet chic.

I’m thinking for New York this kind of look for daytime will tick all the boxes , I just need to find the perfect pair of boots now!

New Opening; The Third Monkey Farnham

Having opened earlier this year, The Third Monkey is a new independently owned gastropub and cocktail bar located in the heart of Farnham. So on Saturday we went for a pre-dinner aperitif on their picturesque terrace to welcome in the long back holiday weekend.

Despite the clouds coming over for sunset, the setting was still lovely with views of Farnham church and a buzzing atmosphere as the bar and restaurant filled up on a weekend evening.

I wore my low back leopard print body from Zara with a pair of flared white Mango jeans, my Sol Concept ruffle mules from Bali and the cutest square hard shell evening bag from Amazon.

This bag is giving Cult Gia vibes and one of the waitresses even complimented me on it; what a winner bargain purchase!

With an extensive wine list I couldn’t resist a glass of vino, so I chose a Vermentino white from Puglia Italy which was deliciously crisp, mineral and refreshing.

My boyfriend went for an unusual tropical style cocktail made of coconut tequila, lychee, pisco and pandan. It was nice but not quite up to standard for its £16 price tag.

I was making dinner at home but my boyfriend was peckish, so he ordered the buttermilk chicken, house hot sauce and chive crème fraiche. A tasty dish and beautifully presented, but at £9 it was a very small portion and could’ve been served with some sort of garnish or small salad.

There were lots of couples on date night and girlfriends out for drinks which made for a perfectly chill yet buzzing atmosphere.

The decor inside was very aesthetic too with the glamorous upstairs cocktail bar complete with an opulent chandelier feature over the stairs.

We enjoyed our experience at The Third Monkey but it would seem they are still finding their feet with their standard of service and the quality of the food and cocktails.

We would be keen to go again in the winter season to experience their downstairs restaurant which was giving cool London or New York cosmopolitan vibes.

If you live in the area The Third Monkey is one to add to the list for a special date night or glam cocktails with the girls – https://thirdmonkeyfarnham.com/#menus



Date Night; The Guildford Townhouse & The Ivy Asia

If you’ve been here for a while, you know that I love getting dressed up in a cute outfit and going on a fancy little date night with my boyfriend. So this Saturday night we booked one of our favourite spots for a romantic dinner complete with all the vibes and also tried a new bar for pre-dinner cocktails.

For the occasion I wore my white Zara miniskirt, asymmetric gold ring detail taupe coloured top, Next square toe nude mule heels, my By Alona pearl necklace and an ASOS khaki oversized clutch bag to complete the look.

It was another warm summers evening so I wore my Miu Miu statement sunglasses for the short walk to the bar and didn’t need a jacket all evening.

First stop was The Guilford Townhouse which has recently been taken over and renovated by the Coppa Club chain. We headed up to their rooftop where you’ll find The Burton Bar, a cocktail bar with style, substance and lively evening energy.

My cocktail of choice was a classic Margarita and we enjoyed our drinks in front of the glamorous feature bar in the super comfy, plush sofa seating.

It wasn’t too busy at 7pm, but I imagine it’s the kind of place that’s more popular later in the evening when the DJ sets start at about 9pm. With its elegant interiors inspired by the 1920s art deco style, this was the perfect setting to enjoy a cocktail and set the vibes for night ahead.

Our reservation at The Ivy Asia was at 8:15pm, so we made the short walk up Guildford Highstreet to Castle Street where the Ivy is located. My heels might have been quite high, but I swear by the Next forever comfort range which are always the comfiest and easiest to walk in heels.

Every inch of The Ivy Asia decor is exquisite and so beautifully aesthetic, even the bathrooms are a must visit when you’re there.

The restaurant was buzzing on a Saturday night with a live DJ and even a live electric violinist walking around the restaurant floor to entertain guests, how brilliant!

Whilst the gorgeous emerald green luminous flooring might grab your attention first, never forget to look up at the wonderful ceiling murals and pretty cherry blossom flowers overhead.

Having been quite a few times to The Ivy Asia now, we had a good idea of what we wanted and one thing that was top of our list, was the golden aromatic half duck traditionally served with the pancakes and all the condiments including hoisin sauce.

I had to have a plate of their fresh house-made sushi so I opted for the spicy tuna sesame roll.

The cucumber peanut chilli coriander lime salad was also a must for me and it didn’t disappoint. The creamy nutty sauce combines so well with the fresh crunch of the cucumber, whilst the chilli adds a subtle hint of spice.

My boyfriend also ordered the chilli noodles, wok fried greens and Gochujang glazed chicken which he really rated and remembered as another highlight from our last visit.

We ordered well and savoured every bite of our delectable Asian spread.

Needless to say we didn’t hold back and definitely over ordered, so we took our leftovers home in the fanciest doggy bag I’ve ever seen, how adorable!

The Ivy Asia is always such a brilliant option for all occasions from date nights and girly dinners, to birthday parties and celebrations, vibes are on point and the food is divine.

To find your closest Ivy Asia and experience all the fun and glamour for yourself, checkout their website here.

Girl’s Weekend; A Fun Trip To Brighton

In celebration of my friend moving to Brighton and her turning 30 earlier this month, me and my girlfriends went down to visit her new home and spend the weekend together.

On Saturday afternoon we soaked up the sun for hours on the beach with a picnic and drinks, before taking a very chilly dip in the sea!

That evening we went into town for Mexican and Margaritas at a popular spot called Bar Holisco, then ended the night dancing away to live music at Molly Malones.

For the occasion I wore my new striped brown maxi skirt with a white cropped tie front top, gold detail low heeled mules and my trusty butter yellow handbag. Perhaps a little dressed up for Brighton, but I love any excuse to get on my glam and wear a cute outfit.

We enjoyed a slow Sunday strolling around The Lanes of Brighton and shopping the many awesome vintage and independent shops. I bought an fabulous pair of vintage Tommy Hilfigure shorts from To Be Worn Again in a slightly longer cut and looser fit, tapping into the more oversized jorts trend which everyone’s loving right now.

Needless to say, we had heaps of fun and a lot of laughs; I’m so grateful to still have such strong friendships with my besties from childhood ❤

Checkout my Youtube channel here to see my vlog from the weekend too, it’s a good one!

It’s Date Night Darling

Following a month full of busy weekends hosting guests and attending other social events, this Saturday we could finally enjoy a romantic date night just us two. Me and my boyfriend love a nice dinner out so I booked Megan’s On West Street in Farnham, a cute spot for a romantic evening together.

It was the perfect opportunity to debut my new Zara black halter neck top with gold detail, paired with Stradivarius straight leg jeans and my Next khaki mule heels.

To complete the look I wore my oversized vintage Jaegar blazer and this gorgeous East-West style baguette handbag, another new piece in my wardrobe from H&M.

Farnham is such a picturesque town with pretty corners perfect for street style photos; cue my boyfriend being the best Instagram hubby getting all my good angles!

I love the aesthetic interiors at Megan’s giving Mediterranean chic vibes and there’s always a wonderfully buzzing atmosphere in the restaurant on a weekend.

For food I opted for the chicken avocado salad whilst my boyfriend had the chicken thigh kebab plate. We shared some charred broccoli, blistered padron peppers of course and ordered a side of their date bbq dip which is a delicious twist on the traditional recipe.

We finished the night with cocktails at The Luxe, a newer cocktail bar and restaurant in Farnham tucked away in the Lion and Lamb Yard. With ornate interiors and plush seating, they offer a very different dining experience with fun themed events such as MaMa Mia nights and bottomless brunches with live music.

I had a classic Tommy’s Margarita and my boyfriend chose the Lychee Martini. Well made cocktails, lovely service and lavish interiors for that elevated experience, a fabulous spot for a night cap or two.

Nothing makes me happier than a charming old school date night with my love ❤

Italian Dinner Party; Mama’s Bolognese Recipe

Happy bank holiday weekend! Its coming to the end of a gorgeous long weekend here in the UK which started back on Friday, with stunning sundowners at our favourite local pub The Mutton.

On Saturday evening we were then hosting a dinner party for mine and my boyfriend’s parents. I just love hostessing and welcoming guests into our home, so I was in my element prepping for an intimate dinner party for six.

Following welcome drinks and nibbles, it was Italian on the menu for dinner with my bolognese being the star of the show. Taking tips from my mum’s signature bolognese recipe, I cooked the sauce earlier that day so all I had to do later was boil the pasta and heat the garlic bread.

The key to a flavourful bolognese is to add half a bottle or so of red wine after frying off the mince and veg, then letting that reduce down before adding the tomatoes, stock and other seasonings including plenty of basil and oregano. I also added my own twist towards the end with a generous splash of Worcester sauce and a whole bulb of garlic roasted in the oven.

The outcome was a deliciously hearty bolognese served with linguine pasta and an aesthetic garnish of basil leaves. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the main course and I was super proud to have pulled it off for a tough audience… our parents!

To accompany the dish I made two salads; one simple green rocket salad and the other a tomato, mozzarella, basil and balsamic glaze salad beautifully presented on a platter. Classic garlic bread and a tasty caramelised onion flatbread on the side also went down a treat.

Dessert was a red velvet cake which our parents brought along with some vanilla ice cream, a simple sweet finish to round off a perfect dinner party meal.

Cheers to the bank holiday weekend ❤

December Date Night; Jack & Alice Farnham

Another weekend has come and gone and now the countdown to Christmas is on. We kicked off the festive season by putting our Christmas tree up on the 1st of the month and enjoyed a cute and cosy date night this first full weekend in December.

We braved the stormy conditions and ventured over to Farnham for Saturday evening reservations at Jack & Alice.

The town was bustling despite such adverse weather and the twinkling Christmas lights made it feel very festive indeed.

My fit for the evening was my favourite dark wash flared Stradivarius jeans, this long sleeve backless mushroom colour top from Bershka, Stradivarius cowboy boots, vintage inspired oversized gold ASOS earrings, a cute chocolate brown knitted beret from Urban Outfitters and my velvet green Sandro handbag.

To complete the fit I stayed warm in my new caramel brown faux fur which I brought a few sizes up to get that chic, oversized look.

As a family run business that prides itself on working with the best local suppliers to deliver high quality fresh food and drinks, I have been keen to try this place since it opened and we weren’t disappointed.

Greeted with a warm welcome from our lovely waitress, we were seated at a table for two by the window amongst many other diners on a busy Saturday night, making for a fabulous atmosphere.

I started with an Espresso Martini as I haven’t had one for a while and with it being date night, how could I not. Needless to say, that look of love in my eyes tells you this martini hit the spot.

Being our first time, the waitress explained the extensive menu offering lots of options including fish, meat, vegetarian and vegan dishes too. They recommend about three plates each, so we ordered two plates each plus two sides as well.

I chose the roasted butternut squash with Dorstone goats cheese, caramelised onion and hazelnuts, the padron peppers (of course) and a side salad, whilst my boyfriend had the buttermilk chicken tenders with kastu dip, the duck tacos with cucumber salsa and hoisin sauce, and a side of fries.

Everything came together and you could tell it was freshly prepared as it was all perfectly hot and beautifully presented. We agreed our favourite dish had to be the duck tacos which were a delicious mexican take on the classic duck pancakes.

We decided to order an additional plate as we had room for more and we wanted to try the wild boar tortellini with a rich red wine mushroom sauce. The pasta tasted homemade and the parmesan crisp garnish was the perfect cheesy pairing to complete this exquisite dish.

We were delighted with our experience at Jack & Alice from the friendly and attentive staff, to the tasty selection of light bites which you could tell were made from the freshest ingredients. A great date night spot for something a bit different with a varied menu to suit all tastes. Checkout their website here – https://jackandalice.co.uk/farnham/

Our cosy December evening continued back home as we lit the fire, opened a bottle of red and watched my favourite Christmas movie The Holiday; the festive season is in full swing! ❤