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Beach, Breakfast, Cherie Soleil, Cornwall, Hotels, Hotels - Design, Hotels - Luxury, Spa

The Scarlet Hotel – Mawgan Porth, Cornwall

August 22, 2012 by cheriecity

The Scarlet Hotel is the ultimate in stylish Cornwall spa hotels. Perched on a hill just above Mawgan Porth beach, it is the place to enjoy absolute tranquility in hip, luxurious surroundings.

We stayed for two nights at the neighbouring sister hotel Bedruthan Steps, whose family-focused philosophy is unrivalled, however, our night at The Scarlet was a more grown-up, seductive affair. The most striking difference between the two hotels is that The Scarlet is a kid-free zone, with all facilities targeted to relaxation-seeking adults.

A unique feature of The Scarlet is that the conventional hotel desk and lobby set up is replaced with a casual clip-board check-in on the stylish Missoni sofas. The benefit to this is that the staff can hear when they are needed by guests but aren’t constantly present watching over the guests, which makes the public areas feel more like home. Adjoining the reception room is a bright and airy guest lounge with glossy magazines and views over the bay.

The Scarlet is a leading eco hotel, however, there are no overbearing ethical impositions on the guests. The hotel quietly implements clever green initiatives such as solar panels, grass-covered roofs and harvested rainwater.

The hotel has 37 bedrooms ranging from the cosy and chic Just Right rooms up to the spectacular Indulgent rooms. We stayed at one of the four Indulgent rooms with a large balcony overlooking the sea. The very spacious open-plan suite included a cool circular lounge with a huge round sofa, two flat screen TVs with DVD players, a long desk, free-standing mosaic bath and no less than three full length light wood fitted wardrobes. The Scarlet also offers free wifi in all rooms, so even though we had no mobile phone reception, we were still able to do a bit of work and plan the rest of our trip on the net.

The king-size bed was very luxurious with crisp white linen, attractive blue striped cushions and handy reading lights, although the bed at Bedruthan Steps had the slight edge on all-round comfort.

The bathroom behind a pretty mosaic partition featured double sinks, a large full-length mirror, plenty of fluffy towels and the most gorgeous natural, ayurvedic bathroom amenities by Tri Dosha. A nice touch was the cotton drawstring bag for taking your soap home – another eco brownie point. On the opposite side of the room was the most spectacular walk-in shower, tucked behind an undulating wall curve.

After an outstanding lunch at Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Cornwall in Watergate Bay, we ambled back along the rugged, hilly coastal path back to the hotel (over an hour’s hike), where a Voya Detox Seaweed outdoor bath on the top of the cliffs was waiting for us. We climbed into the appropriately scarlet log-fired hot tubs (they look like cauldrons) and let the nutrient-infused hot water relax our tired limbs, while sipping on iced water with lime – or champagne, if you wish to retox.

The spa is the highlight of a stay at The Scarlet and facilities include the stunning indoor swimming pool, sauna, hammam, rhassoul, silent treatment zone, meditation room, deep relaxation space with hanging canvas pods and an uplifting relaxation room overlooking the sea. If the weather had been warmer, we would have also tried the outdoor swimming pool filtered naturally by reeds.

The Scarlet also offers complimentary yoga, meditation and dance classes to hotel guests. I was hoping to try the meditation class, but as we soon found out in Cornwall, it takes a while to get from place to place and we didn’t arrive back on time.

For the more active guests, the hotel can arrange an impressive range of outdoor pursuits including surfing lessons, wild swimming, climbing, horse riding, deep sea fishing, kayaking and power boat trips.

Having indulged at lunch, we had a lighter bite outside of the hotel that evening, however, the restaurant at The Scarlet offers a daily-changing three course menu for £42, using seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients. If dining during the day, try the very reasonable two or three course lunch (£18/£22.50) or the decadent three course Sunday Lunch (£25).

The Bar at The Scarlet has a handy 24-hour ‘anytime anywhere’ menu, offering home-made sandwiches, tarts, Welsh Rarebit, Cornish Cream Teas and cakes anytime you feel peckish. We ordered two Indulgent Hot Chocolates which were shortly brought up to our room and drank them on the balcony, watching the waves rolling towards the shore.

While the breakfast at Bedruthan Steps is all about convenience and top quality self-service, The Scarlet breakfast is served to your table over three courses. We enjoyed toast with home-made preserves and a large pain au chocolat, followed by scrumptious Eggs Benedict. The English Breakfast tea and glass bottle of fresh, cloudy Cornish apple juice were the perfect additions, and of course, that perfect floor to ceiling sea view.

The Scarlet Hotel is the perfect weekend break for getting away from it all, whether it’s for an action-packed beach adventure, romantic hideaway or a deeply relaxing spa retreat. With so many excellent facilities, it’s very easy to spend every moment cocooned in The Scarlet… and why not.

Double rooms at The Scarlet start at £190 per room per night, including breakfast and VAT. A Voya Detox Seaweed bath is priced at £35 per bath (for couple or individual) for 45 minutes. For more information and booking, visit: www.scarlethotel.co.uk

Advance single fares from London Paddington to Newquay start at £15 one way. To qualify for the best value tickets and offers buy your ticket in advance. Here’s how you can buy before you board: Online at www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk or telephone 08457 000 125

Chérie City was a guest of The Scarlet Hotel and First Great Western

Photos by Chérie City and The Scarlet Hotel

Accessories, Afternoon tea, Designers, Fashion, Hotels, London, London Fashion Week, News, Paris, Shopping

Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize 2012 Designer Shortlist

August 21, 2012 by cheriecity

The Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize 2012 shortlisted designers have been handpicked by the esteemed judging panel and will now compete for the prestigious prize. The diverse selection of promising designers span womenswear, menswear, fur, demi-couture, ready-to-wear, accessories and lingerie.

The shortlisted designers will showcase their collections on 16 October in a catwalk show at Hôtel Plaza Athénée in front of the judges and audience of fashion influences and press. The final winner will be awarded a prize of €30,000 plus a stay during spring Fashion Week 2013 at a Dorchester Collection property in either Paris or Milan.

With the high quality of shortlisted designers and increasing commercial success of previous winners Anndra Neen (2011) and Thomas Tait (2010), The Dorchester Fashion Prize 2012 is sure to bring forward fashion’s next big name.

Read more about the shortlisted designers…

Calla is the Toronto-born Calla Haynes, who has been living in Paris for the last 8 years. After graduating from Parsons School of Design in New York and Paris, Calla worked with Olivier Theyskens at Rochas and Nina Ricci, where she developed her talent for prints. Calla’s vision of ‘relaxed luxury’ is reflected in her Autumn/Winter 12-13 collection of soft tailoring, statement coats, playful dresses and printed trouser suits. Fans of Erdem, Cacharel, Kenzo and Sandro will adore Calla.

Quentin Veron is the enfant terrible of fur, creating statement pieces that are modern, imaginative and edgy. Quentin moved from his native Clermont-Ferrand to Paris in 2005 and spent a short time in the studio of Thierry Mugler before gaining his diploma from the prestigious Studio Bercot. Then it was off to LA to assist Jeremy Scott and work as a stylist for various fashion magazines, incorporating Quentin’s love of fur. His eponymous brand was formed in 2008 and is dedicated to fur.

Quentin’s Autumn/Winter 12-13 collection, The Middle Ages, looks to the medieval silhouette and armour with contrasting materials such as long goat hair, chain mail, fox fur, leather and iron.

Augustin Teboul is design duo Annelie Augustin and Odély Taboul, who met while studying at ESMOD Paris, graduating in 2006. Annelie then worked for Yohji Yamamoto for Adidas and Odély for Jean Paul Gaultier. In 2009, they founded Augustin Teboul – a shared vision of dark, post-romantic elegance, positioned between ready-to-wear and haute couture. The Autumn/Winter 12-13 collection features elegantly draped suits, sculptural knitwear, veiled head pieces, leather trousers and intricately embellished silk dresses.

Les Garcons Paris captured the attention of the fashion panel with their crisp, minimal re-interpretation of classics. Behind Les Garcons Paris is design duo Louis Gerin and Gregory Lamaud, who met at ESMOD Lyon. Ignoring menswear trends, Louis and Gregory have carved their own niche with beautifully-made ready-to-wear and basics in the finest fabrics and luxury underwear using fine jersey and Calais lace.

IRM Design is the womenswear label by design duo Marion Lalanne and Pierre Alexis Hermet, who met at ESMOD Lyon. Their bold, striking womenswear designs are typically vivid and architectural, with seductive sheer panels and painterly prints inspired by the works of Pollock, Klein, Rothko and Mondrian. In particular, their innovative clutch bags offer new ways of enveloping the hand and are made from unusual materials.

Meanwhile, back in London…

During London Fashion Week, Teatum Jones will showcase their Autumn/Winter 12-13 collection in a catwalk show at The Dorchester’s elegant Promenade, accompanied by a fashion afternoon tea and special Odyssey cocktail created by bar manager Giuliano Morandin. Included in the booking is a goody bag and a Liberty credit for £30 when you spend £150 or more.

Also launching at Liberty on the same day is a limited edition printed silk scarf by Teatum Jones named ‘The Dorchester’, inspired by the luxury hotel (priced at £245).

Afternoon tea sittings for the Teatum Jones Fashion Tea at The Promenade on The Dorchester on Tuesday 18 September take place at 2.15pm and at 4.45pm, and are priced at £52 per adult including an Odyssey cocktail. Prices are inclusive of VAT and exclusive of service charge at 12.5%. For reservations or further information, please telephone The Dorchester on +44 (0)20 7629 8888 or email restaurants.TDL@dorchestercollection.com.

For more information, visit: www.dorchestercollection.com

Beauty

Philips ReAura: Halfway Point

August 19, 2012 by cheriecity

Four weeks have passed since I started the twice-weekly Philips ReAura home laser treatment and I am now halfway through the recommended course. I have now made the leap from the second to the third (highest) setting and the increased intensity has certainly made it difficult to handle.

I’m having trouble treating each face zone with the full dose, which last approximately ten minutes each. I hope it will eventually become easier to master the gliding technique and achieve a full sweep of contact between the laser and my face (which is signified by a long or short beep). I’ve found it difficult to tackle the bridge of my nose and am still wary of getting too close to my eyes, so I am possibly not getting as close to certain fine lines as I should.

However, with each treatment my skin feels revitalised and firmer. It definitely feels drier, but because I have combination skin that can sometimes get oily, this isn’t a big problem for me. I am just mindful of using a good amount of the excellent laser after-care complex cream after using the ReAura, which feels soothing and luxurious.

It’s possible to use the Philips ReAura on the body too, so I tried it on my hands, even though I have no wrinkles there, just to see what happened. The sensation felt exactly the same as on my face, however, I did get lots of tiny red pinprick markets on the top of my hands, which calmed down after an hour or so. Philips ReAura experts advise only to treat one area in one eight week period, when using the device for the first time, so this was really just a test to see how it would feel on a different zone.

Despite the temporary pain, I’m determined to fully carry out my Philips ReAura trial and see what results the device is capable of.

Check back on Chérie City for a final Philips ReAura update. Philips ReAura is available exclusively through Space.NK.

All photos by Chérie City

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London, Restaurants

Tonkotsu Ramen at The Japan Centre London

August 15, 2012 by cheriecity

Japan Centre in Piccadilly is a real haven for Asian food lovers – not only can you grab a delicious donburi or sushi in the Japanese canteen and delicatessen Umai, but you can then pick up all of the ingredients to recreate dishes at home. I always gravitate towards old favourites such as gyoza, karage, koroke, katsu curry and yakisoba, but this time I wanted to try something new.

Nariaki Kanazawa, manager at Japan Centre told me that Tonkotsu ramen noodles are one of the most popular dishes in Japan and now the dish is starting to appear on menus in the UK. There are a few variations of Tonkotsu ramen noodles to choose from and because I love miso soup, I went for the Hakata Miso-Tonkotsu Ramen Noodles.

I had the chance to stand at the other side of the counter and watch as one of the chefs prepared the dish for me. All of the ingredients are super fresh and surprisingly it takes just a few minutes to prepare.

Ramen noodles are added to a rich tonkotsu pork, miso and chicken broth, which is kept piping hot in a large soup kettle, ready to serve. Then the noodle soup is topped with cold slices of bbq pork, kikurage black mushrooms, red ginger, nori seaweed, beansprouts, spring onion and sesame.

Hakata Miso-Tonkotsu Ramen Noodles is real Japanese comfort food – hearty, warming and full of flavour. The soup has a slightly creamy, oily texture, which gives taste to the fresh vegetables and the succulent slices of seasoned pork. I ordered a big bowl (£8.30), however I really struggled to finish it, so a small bowl (£7.10) for lunch is more than sufficient.

The Japan Centre is a great source of inspiration for Japanese home cooking and trying new dishes to see how they should taste before going it alone. The staff are so enthusiastic and passionate about Japanese food and are on hand to help if you need some advice. It’s definitely one of central London’s more interesting spots for a healthy, freshly-cooked lunch.

For more info, visit: www.japancentre.com

Chérie City was a guest of Japan Centre

Cherie Soleil, Cornwall, Restaurants

Fifteen Cornwall – Watergate Bay

August 14, 2012 by cheriecity

Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Cornwall is the South West coast’s best-known restaurant, with foodies flocking from all over the world to eat there, but it’s not just another fine dining restaurant.

Opened in 2006, Fifteen Cornwall is nestled between Newquay and Padstow in North Cornwall’s cool design-led resort, Watergate Bay. Following Fifteen restaurants in Amsterdam and the original London flagship, Fifteen Cornwall is a social enterprise that provides a brighter future for disadvantaged young people in Cornwall.

Every year, Fifteen Cornwall takes on a group of carefully selected 16-24 year-olds to undergo rigorous apprenticeships, equipping them with the training and skills to pursue a career in catering. The apprentices work alongside professional chefs in the open kitchen and many have gone on to work their way up the ranks of top restaurants across the UK and beyond.

To keep the crowds coming through the door, Fifteen Cornwall runs a tight ship and there is nothing amateur or apologetic about the restaurant. Just like Jamie, it’s slick, energetic and a little bit cheeky (some of our dishes were quite rightly described as ‘amazing’ and ‘fantastic’), but the food is taken seriously.

Each day the menu changes, based on the best local produce of the day and seasonal ingredients. Guests can choose between the five course tasting menu at dinner (£60 per person) and a 3 course set lunch menu with three options per course (£28 per person).

It was top of our list for an indulgent lunch, as we were staying nearby in Mawgan Porth at colourful design hotel Bedruthan Steps and then luxury spa resort, The Scarlet.

The restaurant design is rustic and beachy with splashes of urban street art – very Cornwall. It’s bright, breezy, with plenty of natural daylight and gorgeous views of the beach. We had a great table at the front of the restaurant overlooking the sea, where we watched surfers and families having a fun day out at the beach.

Our friendly, laid-back yet attentive waiter (as you can imagine all of Jamie’s staff are) welcomed us and brought a bowl of ciabatta bread from local baker De Barra and poured some extra virgin olive oil from Chianti into a dish at the table. The bread was good, not the best I’ve ever tasted, however it was a nice touch to mention the origin of the bread and oil, as much effort is taken to do this on the main menu.

Drinks are a real strength at Fifteen Cornwall. There is a focus on Italian wines, however handpicked bottles from all over the world also feature. The juices and non-alcoholic cocktails all sounded delicious and we loved the refreshing Watergate Cooler – fresh orange and Cornish apple juice, grenadine and homemade ginger syrup.

I started with a fresh, summery Insalata of char grilled Italian nectarine, mozarella di bufala, rocket and toasted almonds. The cool, creamy mozarella went very well with the heavenly soft and juicy nectarines and they were topped with peppery rocket, delicious toasted almonds and drizzles of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

The portion size was very generous, particularly the mozarella and it was a real joy to eat.

Steven tested Fifteen’s fish credentials and went for the Grilled Cornish mackerel, Fifteen’s amazing potato salad, Amalfi lemon oil. The warm mackerel was succulent, full-bodied and very fresh. The potato salad was incredibly delicious – thick slices of red skin potatoes smothered in a dill, olive oil and fresh herb dressing, served cold.

I’ve always enjoyed Jamie Oliver’s pasta, whether it was an authentic Italian sauce made at home from one of his many cookbooks in my collection, or at Jamie’s Italian in London, so I went for the Tortelini of smashed pea, broad bean and prosciutto in a lemon butter sauce.

It was the most artistic, beautifully constructed pasta I’ve ever seen. The tortellini looked so elegant and handmade, covered with just the right amount of parmesan and greenery. The pasta was perfectly cooked, the filling was flavoursome and not overly dense and the sage butter sauce made the pasta all silky. It was easy to wolf them down in one as they were so delicious, but the portion size was quite small (a sentiment echoed by nearby diners who ordered the same dish), so I cut the tortellini in half to really savour the flavours.

Steven’s main course was the star of the meal – Slow cooked shoulder of Ballardsfield pork with lenticchie di Castelluccio, rainbow chard and crispy sage. The char grilled pork was so tender, lean and succulent and the lentil stew was rich and slow-cooked, with a balsamic zing and aromatic crispy sage.

The portion size and rich flavours dwarfed my tortellini, so I couldn’t help having serious food envy (luckily Steven was in a caring sharing kind of mood). The lentils were very filling and there was a big hunk of mouth-watering meat, so this made for a more satisfying dish.

For dessert, I went with the classic Fifteen’s fantastic treacle tart, vanilla and gooseberry compote and clotted cream. Far from being sickly-sweet or stodgy , this treacle tart was smooth, elegant and topped with a deliciously grainy caramelised crunch. The accompanying gooseberry compote was sharp and fragrant and of course nowhere does clotted cream better than Cornwall.

If I hadn’t already enjoyed nectarines as a starter, I might have ordered Steven’s Puglian apricots, with zabaglione, crushed amaretti and frangipane ice cream. The peaches were sweet and bursting with juiciness and were a perfect match for the subtle frangipane ice cream and authentic Italian zabaglione. The dessert was finished with roughly crumbled amaretti biscuits and crushed pistachio – a perfect taste of the Med in Cornwall.

Fifteen Cornwall is an absolute delight to visit and should be top of the itinerary for a visit to Cornwall. The ambiance is chilled out and family-focused and the food is outstanding yet unpretentious.

If you’re staying in nearby Mawgan Porth like we did, take the coastal path back and walk off lunch. Just be sure to leave over an hour and wear suitable shoes – it’s a real hike with plenty of uphill trekking and steep declines, but the breathtaking views over the bay will reward your efforts.

All food images by Chérie City

Beauty

Estée Lauder Pure Color & Vivid Shine By Tom Pecheux

August 11, 2012 by cheriecity

Estée Lauder looks to the Parisian femme fatale for the new Pure Color Nail Lacquer collection.

Creative Make-Up Director Tom Pecheux took inspiration from landmarks such as the Place de la Concorde and the Pont Neuf, alongside emblems of Paris like the Ladurée violet Religieuse, all under the seductive dark Parisian sky.

“When creating this collection,” said Pecheux, “I wanted to capture the intensity and the naughty side of Paris when it truly comes alive…at night!”

Estée Lauder has expanded its nail collection significantly, so now there are more shades to choose from than ever. I love the dramatic, aristocratic names of the nail polishes – Blue Blood, Bete Noire, Explosif, Nouveau Riche, Smashed, Caviar, Viper, Fiery Hot, Chaos and Black Plum.

The names and colours make me think of Yves Saint Laurent’s iconic night time shots by the Seine, Carine Roitfeld’s dark and sexy Parisian style and Guy Bourdin’s provocative muses.

There are two parts to the Pure Color collection – Beyond Black and Metal Mania. Beyond black includes deep jewel tones, inky dark blues and purples and petrol shade. Metal Mania is all about sophisticated glitter, creating a seductive metallic finish that really does dazzle at night time, just like the Eiffel Tower itself.

Some of the glitter colours work particularly well worn over a deeper base shade. My manicurist at Estée Lauder used the Bete Noire midnight blue shade and added a slick of Explosif sheer gold on the ring fingers – apparently a look that was first created and made popular by Tom Pecheux. The opulent combination of midnight blue and gold is so very Paris and perfect for the AW12 Byzantium trend.

Alongside Pure Color is the catwalk-inspired Vivid Shine collection, featuring strong, vibrant eye and lip colours. The hyper metallic shades can be worn dry to create a soft, shimmering look, or as a wet gel for a bolder, more pigmented effect.

To see the inspiration behind the collection, watch the beautifully-shot promotional video with cool French model, Constance Jablonski…

The new Pure Color nail lacquers are priced at £14.50 and are available online and at Estée Lauder counters nationwide. Tempestuous is a limited-edition shade available exclusively on www.esteelauder.co.uk

* sample

Accessories, Beauty, books, Designers, Fashion, Shopping

Chérie Loves…

August 11, 2012 by cheriecity

This stunning MSGM dress is conveniently trans-seasonal and just the right length with a flattering cut. Wear it on its own right now with sandals and round sunglasses or layer up with a leather biker jacket or blazer for autumn. MSGM Firework-print organza dress, £370, Matches

I adore the fresh scent of wild rose and Provence meadows in the new limited Rose des Champs fragrance. The solid perfume charm is cute with a cool floral design and is ideal for travelling. Rose des Champs Solid Perfume Charm, £7.50, L’Occitane

With Butter London’s new Lips & Tips set, you can match your lippy and nails, or just alternative two gorgeous colours – my favourite is Snog. The lip gloss has a highly-pigmented, glossy, non-sticky creme formula and is very long-lasting. The nail varnish is also a winner, with a shiny opaque finish. Lips & Tips – Snog, £21, Butter London

Roberto Cavalli eau de parfum instantly transports you to balmy, sultry evenings in the Med with warm, luscious notes of orange flower, Mirabelle plum, pink peppercorn, green mandarin, roasted tonka beans and benzoin laos. Roberto Cavalli eau de parfum, £34.50-£61.50, The Perfume Shop

I’m always tempted to add to my collection of Mawi jewellery and this beautiful necklace is typically bold but still quite delicate. The purple and emerald colours are perfect for autumn and I love the sweet ribbon tie. Dynasty Triple Cluster Set Necklace, £405, Mawi

The Handmade Marketplace is an essential guide for talented craftspeople to promote their work and start selling locally, globally and online. The book is well-designed and easy to follow – there’s even a chapter on blogging. The Handmade Marketplace by Kari Chapin, £8.39, Amazon

Parisian gal tweed never goes out of style, so invest in this Isabel Marant classic – no gold hardward or fancy zips, just simple and chic. Isabel Marant Barte Tweed Jacket, £440, Matches

These are the holy grail of sneakers – wedge hi tops, Liberty pepper print and Nike – it doesn’t get much better than that! Dunk Sky High Liberty Print Trainers, £95, Liberty

Market, Philadelphia, USA

Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia

August 7, 2012 by cheriecity

Reading Terminal Market in downtown Philadelphia is absolute heaven for foodies. It should be top of the itinerary when visiting, as you may find yourself gravitating back there each day for a sneaky cannoli or Philly Cheesesteak. Anyone staying at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, like I did, is in luck because it’s directly opposite on North Street.

Housed under the arches of Reading Terminal’s former train shed, the historic farmer’s market first began trading in 1892. It houses over 80 vendors selling fresh local produce, hot dishes, baked goods, ice cream, preserves, books and homeware.

Pennsylvania Dutch merchants come to sell at Reading Terminal Market (usually excluding Sunday to Tuesday), so this is the place to try authentic Amish specialties.

Some Reading Terminal Market favourites include fried chicken at Down Home Diner, gumbo at Beck’s Cajun Cafe, buritos at 12th Street Cantina, Bassett’s ice cream, cupcakes and cannolis at Termini Bros and chocolate-covered pretzels at The Famous 4th Street Cookie Company.

There are a number of places claiming to make the best Philly Cheesesteak, but for first-timers, it’s got to be Carmen’s Famous Italian Hoagies & Cheesesteaks at Reading Terminal Market. But it’s not only the sandwiches that are famous – President Obama stopped by for a Carmen’s cheesesteak, Bassett’s mint choc chip ice cream and some apples during a trip to Philadelphia in 2010.

Carmen’s makes hot sandwiches fresh to order and understandably with the Obama connection, it had the biggest queue. I stood in line diligently for 40 minutes to get my cheesesteak and hoovered it down in a fraction of the time.

There are a few variations on the cheesesteak, but if in doubt, just go ‘Philly style’ with Cheese Whiz (or Provolone if you don’t like processed cheese).

My cheesesteak came in an Italian-style roll and included thinly sliced grilled steak, sauteed onions, peppers and mushrooms and gooey Cheese Whiz. It was real comfort food – satisfying, rich, meaty and messy. I’d definitely order a cheesesteak again, but probably with Provolone or American Cheese.

For more Philly destination ideas, read my guides on Things to do in Philadelphia, Arts and Culture in Philadelphia and Eating Out in Philadelphia.

Accessories, Designers, Fashion, London, Shopping, Stores

A Shopping Trip To Bicester Village

August 6, 2012 by cheriecity

Olympic fever has hit London, so this week, I headed to Bicester Village in the Oxfordshire countryside in pursuit of another sport – shopping.

Bicester Village shopping outlet offers big discounts at over 130 boutiques including designer clothing and accessories, beauty and homeware. I always try to visit at least once a year to pick up some bargains and just have a fun day out away from the city.

Travelling to Bicester Village by train really couldn’t be easier, as there are plenty of trains every hour and the flexible return ticket means you don’t have to rush back. I hopped on a Chiltern Railways train at London Marylebone Station at 11:07 and was at Bicester North in a speedy 44 minutes. Then it was a 5 minute shuttle bus to Bicester Village with fellow bargain hunters, which felt like a rather jolly school trip.

First stop was Fendi, where I lusted after the stylish leather handbags, silk scarves and beautifully-crafted shoes. Then on to Marni for statement jewellery, Bally for classic investment shoes, DVF for wrap dresses and vibrant knitwear at Missoni.

Bicester Village also houses a great selection of British designers and brands. The colourful Matthew Williamson store is perfect for finding something a little bit special such as a neon feather-trimmed cocktail dress, bejeweled clutch or Ibiza-worthy beachwear.

The boudoir-style Temperley London boutique is the place for exquisite bridal wear, evening dresses and home accessories, while Rupert Sanderson is great for finding the ‘shoes that got away’ from previous seasons and classics made specially for the outlet store.

Vivienne Westwood is also worth a look for classic leather orb bags, Anglomania cotton dresses and jewellery.

I always look forward to lunch at Villandry on trips to Bicester Village and I was pleased to enjoy another delicious meal there. I had a scrumptious Grilled Chicken and Pancetta Sandwich with Frites followed by a refreshing Mandarin and Lemon Sorbet – a perfect summer lunch.

If you can tear yourself away from the shops, there are a number of interesting nearby sights to visit. See the Medieval Warwick Castle, the stunning 18th century Blenheim Palace or Shakespeare’s birth place in Stratford-Upon-Avon. You could even make it a weekend break with an overnight stay in nearby Oxford and explore the historic city.

Bicester Village is the perfect summer escape from the city and a great day out, whether you’re replenishing your wardrobe or just looking for one special treat.

For more information, visit: www.bicestervillage.com

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books, Cherie Soleil, Competitions

Win A LUXE City Guides White Linen Box Set

July 30, 2012 by cheriecity

LUXE City Guides are the ‘pocket rocket’ destination guides that give the inside scoop on the most stylish design hotels, the best restaurants in town, cool bars and those hard to find fashion and design concept stores.

The super light guides are packed with tips from local writers who know their cities inside out. They are edited to only include the things you need to know during your visit, the rest you can research yourself.

LUXE City Guide box sets make a perfect gift for intrepid explorers and the box of the moment is the sleek, summery white linen box set. This box has room for five city guides and you can pick and choose whichever destinations you wish.

Chérie City is offering one lucky reader the chance to win a LUXE City Guides white linen box set, worth £34, containing the following city guides:

– Miami
– Singapore
– Stockholm
– Madrid
– Venice

HOW TO ENTER:

Follow Chérie City on Facebook and leave a comment on this page below, sharing your favourite city break destination…

The winner will be selected at random and the competition will close on 13 August at 6pm.

Terms & Conditions:

– Closing date: 13th August 2012 at 6pm.
– Entrants must become (or already be) a follower of Chérie City on Facebook, otherwise entry will be void.
– Entry is limited to one per household.
– The city guides offered may differ from those specified, subject to availability.
– The prize is non-transferable and non-redeemable.
– No cash alternatives will be offered.
– The winner must claim the prize within 48 hours of contact, or a new winner will be selected.

Accessories, Beach, Cherie Soleil, Designers, Fashion, Shopping

Best Summer Beachwear

July 29, 2012 by cheriecity

Be stylish on holiday this summer, whether it’s in a Roksanda Ilincic swimsuit in Santorini, Penelope Chilver espadrilles in St Tropez or a Lucy Folk golden taco bracelet in Ibiza.

Here are a few of Chérie City’s favourite beach buys…

Roksanda Ilincic Black Rafiya Swimsuit, £370, Avenue 32
Navy Mary Jane Espadrilles, £82, Penelope Chilvers
Lucy Folk Gold Taco Bracelet, £78, Matches
Farmer’s Market Tote, £37.95, J.Crew
Pam Bandeau & Hipster, €15 & €10, Monki
America Taormina sunglasses, €150, RETROSUPERFUTURE
Embellished Cover Up, £36, Topshop

For more summer stories, see Chérie Soleil

Cherie Soleil, Gelato, London

Chateaux Gelato – Broadway Market, Hackney

July 29, 2012 by cheriecity

If you live in East London, you might have seen the pastel-coloured Chateaux Gelato ice cream tricycle around town. Chateaux Gelato parks up at Broadway Market and Chatsworth Road on the weekends and sells a selection of fresh artisan gelato.

Set up by Sophie Tsang, Chateaux Gelato is just a few months old, but already has a loyal following and often sells out before the end of the day.

Weekly changing flavours have included Sicilian almond, pistachio with rose, fresh mint and chocolate chip, peanut butter, chocolate and chianti, flat white coffee and peach and prosecco sorbet. For something a bit different, try innovative savoury combinations such as white miso and walnut, celery and parmesan and extra-virgin olive oil.

Today at Broadway Market, I tried a two scoop cup of creamy, fragrant raspberry and lavender ice cream and zingy lemon sorbet. Steven had a scoop of salted caramel, which was subtle, light and not overly sweet.

As the prices of street food seem to be soaring, Chateaux Gelato is very reasonably priced at £2.50 for one scoop and £3.50 for two scoops and the sizes are generous.

Chateaux Gelato were super friendly and forthcoming with tasters when I couldn’t decide between fruity sorbet or a peanut butter-chocolate combination. Filling the void for gourmet gelato in east London, it will be hard to resist trying a new Chateaux Gelato flavour every weekend during the summer.

For more info and this week’s flavours, visit: http://chateauxgelato.blogspot.co.uk