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 ❤
It’s the late May bank holiday here in the UK and I’m winding down following a wonderful weekend soaking up the heatwave sunshine.
Back on Friday evening, we met friends at The Mutton for sundown drinks in the pub garden.
I wore this cute asymmetric dress from ASOS with a pair of nude thong kitten heel mules, my Coach handbag and MiuMiu round sunnies to complete the smart-casual look.
Saturday was another scorching day, so when 5pm came I enjoyed a glass of wine and some olives in our garden, whilst watching Emz and Nick’s latest Greece vlog.
For date night that evening, I booked The Leather Bottle for dinner in their picturesque courtyard area.
Even at 8pm it was still a lovely temperature to be sat outside as the sun went down over the neighbouring fields.
To start we ordered the padron peppers because whenever they’re on a menu, my boyfriend and I simply cannot resist.
For mains my boyfriend opted for the Bavette steak frites, whilst I had the Gilt head bream fillet.
Served with potato terrine, courgette, heritage tomato, feta and a salsa verde, this dish was divine and presented so beautifully too.
As we enjoyed our meal, the stunning sunset skies turned shades of gorgeous deep oranges and pinks, before dusk eventually set in.
Back home we embraced the warm night air and had another drink in our garden, festoon lights glowing and the moon shining brightly up overhead.
Sunday we were off to my boyfriend’s parents’ house for our first BBQ of the summer season.
Temperatures were set to be over 30 degrees, so denim shorts and my new pink contrast vest from Stradivarius and classic Birkenstock sandals, were the perfect cute-casual outfit combo.
I also styled my hair in a French twist to keep it off my neck for the day, not to mention looking super chic and elegant too.
It was the first time using their barbecue and outdoor space in their new house and it was all absolutely perfect.
Every corner of their house is so aesthetic and I was particularly drawn to these stone faces in their garden which give boho-chic Tulum vibes.
On the grill we had chicken skewers, burgers, sausages, corns and asparagus.
Of course a barbecue for us is not complete without my signature Greek Salad, so I was very excited to be making my first one of the summer this weekend.
There was also a Caesar salad, beetroot salad, Jersey Royal potatoes and all the condiments necessary for such a feast.
And not forgetting the footy game which had to be on in the background for the boys!
After lunch, I sat with my boyfriend’s mum out on their cute bistro set with a glass of bubbles; it was like we were sat outside our very own Parisian wine bar, pure bliss.
Meanwhile, the boys were equally chuffed with their setup inside to finish watching the football game.
My boyfriend’s mum even treated us to our favourite dessert she introduced us to of frozen raspberries, melted white chocolate and cream.
Before we knew it the sun was beginning to set and it was time to leave, but on our way home we made a spontaneous detour.
As we passed through Farnham, my boyfriend said we should do the walk at Caesar’s Camp to catch sunset.
So we parked up the truck and made our way across the picturesque countryside.
After about a 25 minute walk, we found this incredible viewpoint from which we watched the sun go down over Caesar’s Camp.
Sunsets never fail to amaze me; I find it mesmerising to see the sun dip below the horizon so rapidly in realtime.
A majestic sunset stroll was the most idyllic ending to our long bank holiday weekend showered in sunshine ❤
With one of my closest girl friends getting married next month, this Easter weekend was the big Hen Do party in Liverpool.
We arrived up north on Good Friday, checking into the coolest little Airbnb tucked right in the centre of the city.
After dropping our bags we headed straight out for a wander around the docks, easing into the weekend with a little sightseeing and, of course, some shopping because it would be rude not to.
What started as a grey, cloudy afternoon slowly transformed into the dreamiest candy floss pink sky sunset.
Back at the flat later that afternoon it was time to crack open the vino, put out some nibbles, and settle into that familiar, comforting rhythm of girly chats and laughter.
Friday night took us to Duke Street Market where we met up with the bride-to-be and the rest of the hens.
The vibe was effortlessly cool, and so was the outfit with a pair of dark wash denim, a grey off the shoulder asymmetric top, leopard print mules, and my trusty Coach handbag.
Dinner was very much ‘girl dinner’ coded; a chicken Caesar salad paired with truffle chips, a simple but elite combo.
A good nights sleep was needed ahead of the official Hen Do on Saturday.
We kicked things off at 11am with a wholesome pottery session complete with Buck’s Fizz to warm up for the day ahead.
We had the most fun and silly hen outfit for the bride; #365partygirl energy.
Proud of our creations, some more artistic than others, we headed to one of the bridesmaid’s houses where Dominos pizzas and more bubbles were waiting.
The bride took centre stage for a hilarious round of Mr & Mrs which had us all crying with laughter.
After a quick recharge, it was time to get ready for the evening celebrations. With the brief of dark colours for the hens, I went for an all black look styled with a vintage Jaeger oversized blazer and my velvet green Sandro bag for a subtle pop of colour.
Dinner was booked at A Tavola Deli in the trendy East Village of Liverpool.
We were treated to an Italian feast with everything from creamy burrata and classic pizza, to succulent lamb shank and spicy pasta.
It was all served family style so we could have a taste of it everything and each dish was absolutely divine.
We stayed for hours not leaving until gone 8pm, completely full and slightly giddy from the wine and the wonderful company.
Thankfully we got a cute group photo altogether outside of the restaurant before the bride tribe descended into fabulous chaos for the rest of the night!
Bars, dancing, more bars, maybe a club or two… the kind of night where nothing really matters except being together, laughing until your cheeks hurt, and celebrating your best friend as she steps into her next chapter.
Sunday morning arrived a little too quickly, heads slightly sore yet spirits still very high. And honestly, it was worth it for the hilarious moments and wonderful memories made.
The most special weekend for our gorgeous bride-to-be; bring on the wedding day ❤
Winter season is here so its time to get cosy and embrace cute winter fashion, indulge in foodie delights and soak up the wonderful family time.
I might be a summer girl at heart, but I can certainly get on board when it comes to snuggling in front of a film on a cold winters night, or perhaps treating myself to a cheeky cheeseboard…or two!
So grab a hot choccie, a warming cuppa or even a glass of red, and enjoy coming along with me for a jam packed social month of November.
Monaco is the epitome of sophistication and class when it comes to wining and dining and we were keen to experience some of the most famous and highly rated hotspots. Here is a brief review of the restaurants and bars we had the pleasure of trying during our long weekend in Monte-Carlo.
*Cafe De Paris
For 150 years, it has been the beating heart of Monaco. Standing proudly on the Place du Casino, the Café De Paris Monte-Carlo is one of the legends of the Principality. An iconic brasserie where celebrities and artists, locals and visitors alike enjoy meeting up at any time of the day, whatever the occasion, to enjoy the art of living, a coffee, something sweet, or a meal to share.
We enjoyed an aperitif at the spectacular feature bar before being seated at our cosy booth table for dinner.
The opulent interiors give art deco vibes and the rich red and gold tones add to the grandeur of the main dining room.
I had a classic Caesar salad with prawns and a side of mixed vegetables; simple yet delicious.
My boyfriend had the roast farmhouse chicken served with vegetables and baby new potatoes.
Everything was exquisite and the service impeccable as you’d expect, a 10/10 fabulous experience at the famous Cafe De Paris Monte-Carlo.
We also went back for a coffee and cake overlooking the Monte-Carlo square on a sunny Sunday afternoon and it was delightful.
*Neptune
Located on Monaco’s Larvotto Beach in a chic and relaxed atmosphere, Neptune offers a creative menu of Mediterranean flavours.
We dined al fresco on the Saturday evening surrounded by palm trees and fairy lights with a live DJ too, making for the perfect date night vibes.
To start we shared the ham and cheese croquettes which were just divine.
For main course I opted for the grilled octopus in a rich marinara sauce served on top of a crisp potato rosti, a deliciously different and tasty dish.
It was an old favourite for my boyfriend, the margarita pizza topped with sun-dried tomatoes, burrata and basil. Service was superb and the chilled al fresco atmosphere made for ideal date night scenes.
*Song Qi
On our final night we were craving a different cuisine, so we found Song Qi Chinese which looked luxurious with it’s beautiful interiors featuring silky green banquettes and flower walls.
Opening in 2014 and born from the gastronomic passion of Riccardo Giraudi, the goal of Song Qi is to provide Monte-Carlo a modern fine dining Chinese restaurant.
For entrées we shared the duck lettuce wraps and a smoked chicken hot and sour soup.
The stir-fried shiitake mushrooms and vegetables in a Piri Piri sauce was my choice for main, whilst my boyfriend had the chicken Kung Po with cashew nut and chillis and we shared a portion of jasmine rice.
Despite the spicy heat of our dishes, it was all exquisite and by far the best Chinese food we’ve had for a long time.
*Amazonica
Moving onto bars, we went to Amazonica upon recommendation from a friend as well as lots of hype about it online.
On a Friday night it was very busy, but we managed to get a table for drinks on the rooftop with a view of the Monte-Carlo skyline.
We ordered three fun cocktails including a smokey mojito, a classic espresso martini and the star of the show, a sweet concoction served in this awesome jaguar head.
Whilst the cocktails were tasty and the vibes on point for a Friday night, unfortunately we had to vacate our table after an hour and just to stand at the bar. I would recommend making a reservation beforehand to avoid this situation, but otherwise it’s a very cool and trendy place with aesthetic interiors.
*Buddah Bar
An exotic and chic venue at the heart of Monte Carlo, Buddha Bar is the trendiest restaurant-bar-lounge in the heart of Monaco. This establishment offers a decor inspired by the Garnier Opera House in Paris, with a subtle mixture of gilded mouldings, ancient sculptures and a colonial Asian setting.
We found ourselves here on the Saturday night following our dinner at Neptune for night cap cocktails. I went super spicy whilst my boyfriend chose a sweet cocktail.
Sat at the main bar area with the giant buddha statue overlooking us, this is another fabulous spot for drinks which echoes that old school money sophistication and glamour of Monaco.
*Le Note Bleue
During our first stroll down to the beach front, we stopped at Le Note Bleue for an afternoon drink in the glorious sunshine. I’d seen online this was a highly rated spot and we got talking to a local couple there with their dog who said it’s their favourite restaurant in the area.
With the French Riviera style white umbrellas and palms decorating the terrace seating, it’s the most picturesque setting for an afternoon lunch or drink on the beach.
So that’s my roundup of the best restaurants and bars we tried whilst in Monaco and there’s no denying the excellent standard of gastronomy; what else would you expect from the land of the rich and wealthy!?
Cheers to a weekend of the chicest wining and dining experiences in Monaco ❤
When looking into where was best to stay in Santorini, we settled on the smaller town of Imerovigli situated between the capital Fira and popular larger town of Oia. This turned out to be the best decision not only because it avoids the busy tourist hotspots, but this area has some of the most stunning, uninterrupted views off the beaten track at sunset.
On night one I booked a table at The Wine Bar in the centre of Imerovigli, to have drinks and dinner as we watched our first sundown over the Caldera.
Whilst this was on the pricier side of places we ate, the wine was divine and we enjoyed our selection of dishes including pitta bread, olives, pulled pork sliders and a Greek feta salad of course.
Just next door to the bar was a white rooftop, simply perfect for those gorgeous golden hour shots.
We spent our afternoons soaking up the scorching Greek sun on our private balcony with plunge pool at Cresanto Luxury Suites, just a 5 minute walk from the town of Imerovigli.
The hotel also had a main infinity pool with loungers where we could order cocktails poolside too.
Now these are the kind of Monday blues I’m talking about!
Our private balcony provided the ultimate spot for handstand practice and I would often do my workout routine in the mornings here, before jumping straight in the pool to cool off.
One of the most incredible locations for sunset away from the crowds was Skaros Rock on the cliffside of Imerovigli.
We hiked over to the other side of the rock where there is a deserted church with the most breathtaking sweeping views of the Caldera at sundown.
Unlike the tourist hotspots in Oia and Fira, we had the place all to ourselves making this a hidden gem for golden hour.
Strolling around the town, we finally found the famous spot overlooking those iconic blue top churches.
Once the sun went down each night, the moon came out to glow over the white wash buildings of Santorini.
One evening we decided to take a sunset stroll to this church on the hill which we could see from our hotel.
Walking along this coastal path on the outskirts of Imerovigli was so peaceful and once again, away from any crowds of tourists.
Along the way we stumbled across the super luxurious CavoTagoo hotel where there is currently a Roka Restaurant popup.
Here we stopped to enjoy sundown cocktails with yet more spectacular views of the Caldera and sun dipping below the horizon.
This was a more popular spot in Imerovigli, but we got a table and soaked up the sunset whilst sipping our delicious cocktails.
That evening we strolled into the centre of Imerovigli and ended up at a local restaurant called Mama Lena.
We had courgette fritters with tzatziki to start, followed by rice stuffed peppers for me and a vegetable tomato linguine for my boyfriend. A much more reasonably priced restaurant serving traditional Greek food.
The local kebab shop called Jimmy’s Souvlaki on the main street of Imerovigli, became my boyfriend’s favourite place to grab a classic Greek lunch of chicken gyros.
On reflection we would choose to stay in the town of Imerovigli again given there’s far less tourists, there’s plenty of 5* luxury hotels and suites to choose from, and there’s no denying the outstanding sweeping views of the iconic Caldera ❤
When I was younger I found it very cringey and embarrassing that my Dad sings in a band, but now that I’m older, I actually think it’s awesome he is such a rockstar even now in his mid sixties!
This weekend we went to support his band playing at Lowde Fest, an old school local music festival which features mostly cover artists.https://lowdefest.com
My Dad’s band The Rollright Stones played a great set and really got the crowd going. My favourite song they did was The Chain by Fleetwood Mac and they ended on a high with their closing number, Sweet Caroline.
I love festival fashion so couldn’t wait to put together my outfit. I wore a pair of black denim high waisted Topshop shorts with a vintage western style leather belt, a khaki tie front top from Nakd, my new boxy cropped denim Zara jacket with stud detail, my Stradivarius cowboy boots and a pair of fun yellow tint aviator ASOS sunnies.
After the festival we decided to make an evening of it and go out for dinner at our favourite local The Mutton. I had a delicious lychee martini aperitif to start our date night right.
I opted for the whole plaice served with lettuce, crispy capers, crushed potatoes and beurre noisette paired with a crisp glass of New Zealand 2021 Sauvugnon Blanc. The fish was exquisite and fell off the bone beautifully, whilst the crispy capers complimented the flavours perfectly.
My boyfriend had his favourite sirloin steak cooked medium rare served with yee-ha butter, fries, pickled shallots, parmesan rocket salad and a green peppercorn sauce. A glass of Argentinian 2020 Malbec was his wine of choice to accompany his steak.
We also shared a side of the mini caesar salad which was divine. In fact, I’d say the entire meal is up there as one of the most delicious I’ve ever had, and that’s saying something as I’ve eaten at lots of amazing restaurants. The Mutton certainly is a must to visit if you’re ever in the Hampshire area and we’re lucky enough to call this our local! ❤
This Saturday afternoon we decided to head to the picturesque town of Farnham to stroll around and do some filming for my boyfriend’s YouTube channel. The town centre was bustling and those weekend vibes were in the air as we soaked up another crisp, cold winter day in Surrey.
After shooting at different locations around the town, we headed to Lost Boy for an early evening cocktail; an Espresso Martini to perk me up and a classic Mojito for my boyfriend.
With some time to kill before our 8pm dinner reservations, we decided to visit The Wine Yard for a pre-dinner cheeseboard and vino.
They got the cheeseboard spot on complete with dried fruit, walnuts, honey, celery sticks and a divine sweet onion chutney, the perfect accompaniment to our red wine.
I’ve been looking for a good local wine bar just like this to visit with my girlfriends, so I’ll definitely be back here again soon to sample more wines from their extensive range on offer and try their full charcuterie board too.
After another drink over at the Bush Hotel, it was finally time for our dinner reservation at YiaYias at The Fox. We love Greek food and so when my friend recommended this Greek restaurant, I couldn’t wait to try it. Despite it being a busy Saturday night, the food was fantastically authentic and the service very friendly.
We shared humous and flatbread to start, followed by a Greek Salad and Falafel for me, and a traditional Cypriot Greek Chicken Pitta with chips for my boyfriend. Everything was absolutely delicious and accompanied with some lovely Greek white wine I ordered on recommendation too.
What a beautiful way to spend a Saturday with my boyfriend exploring the best of Farnham bars and restaurants. We’ll call it an early Valentines treat to ourselves 😉 ❤
Happy Sunday babes! I can’t believe it’s already the final day of July… where is summer going? This Saturday me and my boyfriend took a little day trip into London town to make use of our Buy A Gift vouchers we had for a Thames river cruise and the London Eye.
We started the day with a quick browse on Bond Street before heading to Carnaby Street for lunch at Kingly Court. We had our favourite vegan burritos in town from Club Mexicana, a fully vegan Mexican restaurant chain which even meat eaters will love.
From Westminster Pier we then caught a City Cruise boat for a tour down the river. It was great to see the city from a different perspective on the river and the live tour guide commentary was very interesting and actually quite amusing too.
Despite it being overcast, it was in fact a very warm and pleasant summers day in London. Following our cruise down the Thames, unfortunately we didn’t make it in time for the London Eye which to our surprise, closes at 6pm! So instead we went to Between the Bridges on Southbank for pre-dinner drinks, naughty chippies and some live music.
For dinner I booked us a table at Cote located at Hays Galleria with a terrace over looking London Bridge. It was lovely warm summers evening perfect for an al fresco dinner riverside.
I had my favourite Paillard Salad served with chargrilled chicken breast, French beans, endive, lettuce, hazelnuts, croûtons, tarragon and caper dressing. My boyfriend had the classic minute steak served pink with garlic butter, peppercorn sauce and frites. As usual the food at Cote was divine and service was fantastic, French cuisine at its finest!
I couldn’t resist a cheeky Espresso Martini to finish my meal. We had a long train journey back so this was more than necessary and the perfect way to end our summers day in the city, as those stunning golden hues showered the sky at sundown ❤
The UK sun is here to stay as it’s set to be a scorching few weeks of glorious sunshine ahead. So with the first heatwave this weekend, I booked an al fresco dinner date with my boyfriend at the Bel and the Dragon in Odiham.
Cowboy boots are having a major comeback and I’m here for it! I finally got a pair from Stradivarius and I’m obsessed; they go with everything from jeans and shorts, to cute dresses and skirts.
With it being almost thirty degrees on Saturday, I paired my boots with denim shorts, a white tank and my oversized Jaeger blazer to keep the chill off my shoulders later into the evening.
We sat outside in the quaint courtyard of the pub which was buzzing on this stunning summers day. I enjoyed a crisp glass of white wine as we browsed the menu and soaked up the wonderful atmosphere.
For dinner I chose a delicious linguine of Devon crab served with spring onions and chopped chilli & garlic, whilst my boyfriend had the grilled 9oz Hampshire ribeye steak medium-rare served with triple-cooked chips and peppercorn sauce.
We also shared a side of roasted broccoli with chilli and garlic. The food was exquisite and the service impeccable, definitely a step-up from your average pub and it felt like such a treat. Very satisfied customers indeed.
We enjoyed another drink together there in the final hours of daylight before heading over to another pub for more drinks with friends. A perfect little summer’s date night with my boyfriend.
I just love getting dressed up and experimenting with cute outfits for our date nights. I’ve always loved my fashion and so these fun evenings out are a chance to get creative and feel fabulous in my carefully curated wardrobe of clothes – cheers to expressing yourself! ❤
Dani Aneka 