cheriecity | cheriecity.co.uk

WIN A Pair Of Flights To A European Destination With American Express

November 22, 2011 by cheriecity

I have a pair of European flights up for grabs thanks to the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Card.

I recently joined American Express at a special blogger meet-up to celebrate the golden travel rewards linked to their Preferred Rewards Gold Card.

Hosted at St Martins Lane hotel, we sipped glittery lychee cocktails and found out about the amazing travel perks of having a Gold Card. And that’s not all – I won a pair of flights to Europe worth up to £400 to give away to a lucky Chérie City reader!

As you already know, I love exploring new cities and countries, so it’s good to know that the points you earn by using the Card can be redeemed for rewards that can help you see the world, such as flights, hotel stays and much more.

To help you build up points quickly, you’ll receive double the rewards on virtually all travel related spends and practically all purchases while you’re abroad. What’s more, there is no limit on the points you can earn and they never expire.

Right now, American Express is giving away a welcome bonus of 20,000 points just by spending and charging £1,000 in the first three months of Card membership. That’s enough for a pair of return flights to some of Europe’s most exciting cities*.

To find out more, visit amex.co.uk/goldrush

HOW TO ENTER:
To be in with the chance of winning a pair of flights to a European destination of your choice worth £400, follow Chérie City on Facebook or Google Friend Connect and comment below, answering the following question:

Which is the most inspiring European destination you’ve visited?

The winner will be selected at random from all the correct entries received and the competition will close at midnight on 13 December 2011.

* Subject to availability – taxes, fees and surcharges apply.

Terms & Conditions:

· Entrants must be 18 or over and entry is limited to one per household.
· The winner must claim the prize within 48 hours of contact, or a new winner will be selected.
· The prize consists of a pair of economy flights up to the value of £400 including taxes and surcharges.
· Flights must be taken by 1 May 2012 and requested a minimum of 6 weeks prior to departure to ensure reservations.
· Travel insurance is the responsibility of the winner.
· The winner is responsible for ensuring that they and their guest have valid passports & any other visas or other documentation required to make the relevant trip.
· All travel dates are subject to availability. Flights may not be taken during peak periods.
· If a booking is cancelled no alternative tickets will be issued. No compensation and/or refund will be provided.
· The prizes are non-transferable and no cash alternatives will be offered.
· All bookings are subject to the chosen airline’s published Conditions of Carriage and flight schedules are subject to change without notice.
· Flights include all taxes and surcharges, but do not include transfers and/or additional travel, accommodation or other additional charges.
· American Express assumes no responsibility for damages, losses or injuries that result from acceptance of the prize.
· Employees of American Express and those of any associated companies, their immediate family or agents and anyone professionally connected with the competition are not eligible to play.
· The promoter: American Express Services Europe Limited, London SW1W 9TQ. The Preferred Rewards Gold Card is offered by American Express Services Europe Limited. Registered Office: Belgrave House, 76 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9AX. American Express Services Europe Limited is authorised in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority under the Payment Services Regulations 2009 (reference number 415532) for the provision of payment services

Beauty

Reviewed: Instyler Rotating Hot Iron

November 22, 2011 by cheriecity

Having naturally curly hair, I usually leave my hair to dry without heat styling and finish with hydrating products, but when I want my hair to look a bit slicker, I use a ceramic curling wand.

I was invited to try Instyler, a new rotating hot iron that is an all-in-one combination of brush, flat iron and curling iron.

At first, the prospect of a revolving barrel at over 300° was slightly unnerving, but after watching the tutorial DVD and having a quick practice trial, I found that it was actually quite simple.

The ultimate test of Instyler was whether it could straighten my curly hair and keep it straight by the end of the day. I used the highest setting and sectioned my hair with the hairbrush-clip provided. After using Instyler, my hair became straight and shiny and only curled up slightly by the end of the day.

Curling my hair proved slightly more difficult, as I’m used to gripping my hair from the bottom and twisting up into the curler. With Instyler, you have to take hair from the roots and wrap around the barrel manually before closing in the brush and rotating. With a bit of practice, I’m sure this will become easier.

At £99.99, Instyler is worth investing in, as it can create multiple styles, whether you want poker straight, soft waves or revitalised curls. You won’t need to clutter up your bedroom with straighteners, curlers and rollers – Instyler does it all.

For more info and to buy online, visit the Instyler website. For Instyler tips and advice, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Youtube.

Marriott Doha City Center Complex Launch Party

November 20, 2011 by cheriecity

Marriott International in Qatar celebrated the launch of its new multiple-brand Doha City Center complex in the buzzing downtown district with a stylish poolside party.

The two 48-storey towers are connected to the Doha City Center Mall in West Bay and comprise the lifestyle-focused Renaissance, classic contemporary Courtyard by Marriott and the luxurious Marriott Executive Apartments.

The evening started with cocktails created by some of the best mixologists from Dubai, delicious canapés and great music from local DJs.

Therapists from Marriott’s signature Saray Spa offered guests reviving back and shoulder massages. Even though I’d experienced a blissful facial earlier in the day at Saray Spa, I couldn’t resist going back for some more attention!

We were then treated to the soulful sounds of RnB artist Hamdan Al-Abri in an exclusive RLife LIVE performance. Dubai-based Al-Abri is a pioneer of soul music in the Middle East, formerly as the lead singer of the band ABRI, and released his debut solo EP just last month.

For the grand opening, Marriott were joined by owners His Excellency Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim al-Thani and Sheikh Mohamed bin Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani, international journalists, Middle Eastern celebrities and friends.

This was quite possibly the coolest party I’ve ever attended. The balmy weather, amazing music, sparkling company and stunning poolside location made it the perfect end to an extraordinary trip.

Marriott Doha City Center complex is an exciting addition to the downtown Doha skyline and the fabulous launch party marks a successful start for the hotels that manage to get it right on every level. But more about my stay later…

All photos by Chérie City.

Chérie City was a guest of Marriott

Paris, Restaurants

Grazie Pizzeria in the Marais, Paris

November 6, 2011 by cheriecity

When the Northern Marais charitable concept store merci opened Grazie, a New York-style pizzeria and cocktail bar, we just had to give it a try.

Grazie takes its industrial loft-style design from merci with stripped walls and floor, refectory wooden chairs, a corrugated steel bar and dimmed lighting (and randomly a taxidermy peacock behind the bar).

Grazie is the latest outpost of Julien Cohen, the son of Marie-France Cohen and the owner of established Saint-Germain restaurants L’Altro and Pizza Chic.

Londoners will recognise it as being similar to Pizza East, but more intimate and without the Soho House flourishes. As you might expect, Grazie attracts the Northern Marais bobo and art crowd, who come for the delicious wood-fire oven pizzas and Italian-inspired cocktails.

We went to Grazie for a pizza lunch and all ordered the Diva (16€), a tomato and mozzarella pizza topped with cured ham, mushrooms and Taggiasche olives.

The pizzas are absolutely huge and have a generous amount of toppings. The dough was thin, crispy and chewy – authentically Italian and obviously made using 00 flour.

The ham was lean and strongly-flavoured, mozzarella was fresh and creamy and the tomato sauce had a rich yet clean taste. It seemed strange to me that the sliced mushrooms were added raw after cooking, but they softened with the heat of the pizza and avoided being overly watery or soft. The drizzle of olive oil and sprinkling of fresh basil finished it off perfectly.

We didn’t order starters or desserts, as we planned to stop at Popelini for some choux buns, but the desserts seemed a little steep at 10€

This leads on to my one gripe with Grazie, paying 6€ for a bottle of Fentiman’s Curiosity Cola. At 6€ for a drink that is rarely over £2 in the UK, we might as well have had the complimentary water and ordered wine or a cocktail (around 12€).

Apparently the cocktails are exceptionally good and includes Italian classics and Grazie’s own concoctions – Pimms Italiano, Aperol Spritz, Breakfast Martini or a Bloody Mary served in a jar.

Grazie’s location, just a few steps from merci and the boutiques of the Northern Marais, makes it the ideal place for a post-shopping pizza fix. It does get busy at lunch, so you will probably need to make reservations or drop in and be prepared for a wait at the bar.

Grazie may be pricey, but it’s worth it for a giant authentic pizza on one of the coolest blocks in Paris.

Grazie, 91 boulevard Beaumarchais, 75003 Paris.

All photos by Chérie City

For more Paris restaurant ideas, read my review of:

Bars, Paris, Restaurants

Le Floréal: Best Burger In Paris?

November 6, 2011 by cheriecity

Le Floréal may seem like a regular neighbourhood brasserie, but it has been tipped as one of the new places to see and be seen, with possibly the best burgers in Paris (the subject of much debate on Paris blogs).

This former corner tabac-bar has been renovated and reopened by the team behind Chez Justine on nearby rue Oberkampf and the slightly cooler Chez Jeannette in the 10th.

Le Floréal is in the suitably hip location of Goncourt, in between the Canal St Martin and Belleville and close to Inaki Aizpitarte restaurants Le Chateaubriand and Le Dauphin.

The retro interior is a mix of Mondrian and Mad Men via Tom Cruise’s Cocktail at the kitsch, neon-covered bar. The large dining area has an intimate clubhouse feel with lots of wood panelling and leather banquettes while the raised terrace is perfect for an evening apéro, daytime people watching or drinking and smoking the evening away with friends.

We went to Le Floréal for dinner on a slightly chilly evening when most people were still holding court on the terrace, so luckily we got a table.

We had to try the Cheeseburger (12€) and although we tried and liked the burgers at Chez Justine a few years back, we had to see if the Floréal burgers were really were worth the new hype.

The cheeseburger came wrapped in white paper with some crispy, golden hand-cut fries. The medium-cooked meat was juicy and excellent quality, nicely charred on the outside and tender at the centre. The burgers are apparently made using 30% fat, as opposed to the usual 5% in France, and the steak is ground in-house, ensuring a burger with just the right amount of grease.

The burger is simple and typically French, relying on the quality and flavour of the meat rather than adding onion and herbs. The highlight is the delicious toppings and accompaniments – a brioche bun, burger sauce, lashings of melted cheese, an extra bottom layer of garlic and herb cream cheese and fresh burger staples of fresh tomato, lettuce, onion.

The menu at Le Floréal is influenced by American diners – pancakes and Eggs Benedict for the weekend brunch, all-day coffee and cheesecake and lobster on the evening menu.

Le Floréal is an all-rounder bar – good for an intimate dinner or spending all night drinking beer with friends on the terrace. Whether their burgers are the best in Paris remains open to speculation, but they are definitely one of my favourites.

Le Floréal, 73 rue du Faubourg du Temple, 75010 Paris.

Beauty

Cast Yourself Competition By L’Oréal Casting Crème Gloss

November 4, 2011 by cheriecity

A Visit to La Pâtisserie Des Rêves Paris

November 2, 2011 by cheriecity

La Pâtisserie des Rêves was high on my list of ‘sugar highs in Paris’, but it was serendipity, in the form of a chance spotting of Louis Garrel near Les Invalides that made me dizzily lose my bearings and end up on the rue du Bac.

True to its name, Philippe Conticini’s La Pâtisserie des Rêves really is the pastry shop of dreams, offering over-sized pastries in a stylish boutique that feels like a cross between an art gallery and a pastry laboratory.

The interiors are sleek, futuristic and minimal, making it as far from a traditional French pâtisserie as you can imagine. Cakes are presented like works of art, placed under temperature-controlled glass domes for observation.

Many of the cakes come in single or giant sizes (€10 for a giant brioche) and the staple viennoiseries are stacked on shelves across one wall, ready to be snapped up.

We were tempted by the giant madeleines – a steal at just €2.50. They were dense, golden and buttery with a slightly crispy crust and a hint of orange blossom. They also had a delightful crunchiness from the vanilla pod seeds.

Patisserie des Rêves also has a sister boutique on rue de Longchamp with a salon de thé. If you’re after something to prolong the Patisserie des Rêves experience at home, there is a selection of beautifully packaged and surprisingly well-priced teas, hot chocolate, confectionery and biscuits.

For more info and addresses, visit: www.lapatisseriedesreves.com

For more Paris pastry inspiration, read my reviews of:

Beauty

Shu Uemura Wong Kar Wei Collection

October 28, 2011 by cheriecity

Handpicked Media recently hosted a wonderful bloggers evening with Shu Uemura, Kiehls and Biotherm at Vanilla. Ever the magpie, I was instantly drawn to the sparkly corner of the room and fell in love with Shu Uemura’s limited edition holiday collection by Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar Wei.

Wong Kar Wei is best known for his stylised, beautifully-shot films such as 2046, In The Mood For Love and My Blueberry Nights and Quentin Tarantino is particularly influenced by his work.

Wong Kar Wei’s first foray into beauty was directing the film campaign for Dior Midnight Poison, featuring Eva Green.

Wong Kar Wei collaborated with Shu Uemura artistic director Mr. Uchiide on a cosmetics collection called rouge et bleu. The red and blue tones reflect the contrast between hot and cold and are inspired by the breathtaking use of colour in his films.

The luxurious packaging features a cool hologram image that is shot in the typical Wong Kar Wei style.

The collection features two eye and cheek palettes, mascara, a glitter premium false lash, partial false lash, face powder, three lipsticks, two mini nail polish sets, cosmetics pouch, mini brush set and a cleansing oil in limited edition packaging.

For more info, visit: www.shuuemura.co.uk

Ghent, Restaurants

A Great Lunch At Belga Queen Ghent

October 22, 2011 by cheriecity

If you’re looking for an ultra-stylish brasserie for a memorable meal in Ghent, Belga Queen should be top of your list.

Designed by bon viveur Antoine Pinto, Belga Queen is a high-end hot spot, located in a former 13th century grain storehouse on the Graslei canal. Described as a ‘Belgian Wonderfood Place’, Belga Queen serves contemporary Belgian dishes using locally sourced ingredients, many including beer.

Belga Queen is a real dining destination set over three floors with variety of casual and more formal spaces including a brasserie, cafe, restaurant, club bar and terrace.

The imposing stone building with wooden beams and authentic features has been given a modern twist with touches of chrome, plush leather chairs and cool statement lighting. Add to that lashing of black and gold and Belga Queen signature crockery and you have one swish restaurant.

The terrace at Belga Queen occupies a perfect spot right on the buzzing Graslei and is the place to be spotted in Ghent. In the summer, it’s the perfect place to spend a few hours, enjoying good food and wine.

I started with a chilled tomato parfait with a rocket and parmegiano reggiano salad, basil-infused crumbs and a warm basil soup.

The tomato was refreshing and went well with the rocket and the thick creamy soup was an interesting, delicious after-thought.

This was followed by Belgian Charolais tenderloin with an Orval sauce (a kind of béarnaise sauce made with Belgian beer) and a cone of Belga Queen fries.

The steak was tender and juicy, cooked perfectly medium, and came with sautéed mushrooms and hot, crispy slim fries. It was perhaps a little heavy on the mushrooms, but there was also a generous amount of steak, which I struggled to finish.

We finished with a Café Gourmand featuring five mini desserts. I loved the praline cake with chocolate ganache and another highlight was the Cuberdon – a blackcurrant sweet local to Ghent, that’s hard on the outside and gooey in the middle.

Instead of coffee, I had a fresh mint tea, which came in a glass teapot and was the perfect end to the meal.

Belga Queen is all about indulgence and the high glamour dining experience, so you’ll need a hefty travel budget to dine there, but the food won’t disappoint.

For more info and reservations, visit: www.belgaqueen.be

All photos by Chérie City.

Chérie City was a guest of Belga Queen and Ghent Marriott

Beauty

Rodial Life & Style Holiday Collection

October 22, 2011 by cheriecity

Rodial is best-known as a results-driven skincare brand, but for the holiday season, Rodial has gone for pure indulgence with its luxurious Life & Style collection.

The range includes a bathing balm, body soufflé and candle in three delicious scents – Socialite (pink champagne and cassis), Lounge (honeycomb and vanilla) and Rehab (honey milk and toasted almonds).

I tried the Rehab body soufflé and found it light and non-greasy with an intense gourmand fragrance. The body body soufflé is more of an indulgent treat, rather than an every day body essential.

It contains soothing shea butter and is perfect for dry skin or giving skin a bit of extra nourishment for winter.

The candles are a real indulgence and quickly fill the room with a delightful, uplifting scent. Socialite was my favourite from the range, as the pink champagne and cassis scent was subtle, fruity and sparkling, without being too sweet.

For the festive season, Rodial has created stunning gift sets containing the three full-size products. Whoever finds a Rodial Life & Style gift set under their tree on Christmas Day is in for a real treat!

Rodial Life & Style collection, priced from £35 to £70, available at Selfridges and Rodial.co.uk

Beauty, Fashion, Halloween, Shopping

Halloween Treats

October 21, 2011 by cheriecity

Halloween is almost upon us, so dust off your costume, get bobbing for apples and celebrate the darkest time of the year with some spooky treats…

Philosophy Trick or Treat Duo, £18, Selfridges.
Givenchy medium Obsedia Bag, £705, FarFetch.com.
Witch Card, £8, Biscuiteers.
Halloween Cupcakes, £12-£24, Crumbs & Doilies.
Deena & Ozzy Burgundy Velvet Chelsea Boots, £120, Urban Outfitters.
Spiced Pumpkin Bath & Shower Gel, £2, The Body Shop.

London, Restaurants

Dinner At The Rosendale, West Dulwich

October 18, 2011 by cheriecity

West Dulwich is an area I’ve always planned to explore and as usual, the thing that lured me out of my central or east London comfort zone was the prospect of a good, hearty dinner at posh gastro-pub, The Rosendale.

My first experience of West Dulwich got off to a troubled start. I was promised a leafy, picturesque suburb and yet one wrong turn from the station and I was lost in rural blackness on a particularly chilly night, got splashed with swamp water by a sadistic driver and encountered a rather sinister-looking fox. It was like being a reluctant player in a Lars Von Trier film (I’ll be Charlotte Gainsbourg, please)!

This minorly traumatic episode melted from my memory as soon as we reached the warmth haven of The Rosendale. Part of the petite Renaissance pub group, The Rosendale serves traditional pub classics but with an interesting foodie twist.

The Rosendale is very spacious for a pub but has a homely, cosy feel and the owners have made a huge effort with the decor. A butterfly collection takes pride of place above the fireplace, the walls are covered with a vintage photo print and the plush seating lends to making yourself completely at home for hours on end.

The staff at The Rosendale are warm and friendly and really made us feel welcome. To warm up after the treacherous journey, I started with Ham Hock and Chicken Croquettes (£5.50).

They were without a doubt the best croquettes I’ve ever tasted! Usually croquettes are puffed up with lots of potato and cheese, but these ones were purely honey-roasted, juicy meat, coated in light and crispy breadcrumbs, served with a rocket salad and home-made piccalilli.

Steven ordered the Mackerel and Dried Tomato Sourdough Bruschetta (£5.50), which was succulent and delicious.

I followed with the 250g Orkney Sirloin Steak (£16) with hand cut chips, rocket salad and béarnaise sauce, as I’d heard good things about the steak at The Rosendale.

The steak had a lovely chargrilled taste and was tender, well-seasoned and high quality. The hand cut chips were thick, golden and extremely tasty – just like home-cooked chips. The creamy béarnaise sauce with little pieces of shallot topped it all off – just delicious!

Steven ordered the Pork Belly with salsa verde and crushed jersey royals (£13). The pork belly was juicy and succulent and rolled with sage and parsley, covered with fine, crispy crackling.

The crushed jersey royals were buttery and soft and it was all topped off with a rich red wine gravy.

As that evening felt like an abrupt fast-forward to winter, I went into comfort food overdrive and ordered the Sticky Toffee Pudding (£4.50).

The pudding was dense and moist with tiny bits of oats and dates and was swimming in a a thick, buttery toffee sauce and topped with fine vanilla ice cream.

When we arrived, the table next to us ordered the massive Banoffie Pie (£4.50), so we knew it would be epic! It came as a huge wedge packed with cream, sliced banana, thick caramel and a crunchy biscuit base.

Dinner at The Rosendale was one of the best pub meals I’ve ever had and I’m now a little bit jealous that West Dulwich residents can call it their local!

The Rosendale has a huge outdoor terrace at the back of the pub for lazy summer drinks and the Sunday Roasts are apparently incredibly popular and book up weeks in advance (I can see why).

Prices are very reasonable, given the exceptional quality and generous portion sizes, and the staff are so lovely, you feel like you’ve been a local for years.

Now that the Autumn chill is on the way, The Rosendale is the place to get toasty and warm and indulge in some delicious comfort food. Just remember to turn LEFT when you come out the rail station!

All photos by Chérie City.

Chérie City was a guest of The Rosendale.