Chocoralie, Author at London: Tea Time in Wonderland

{The Rum Quest} Appleton Estate 12 Year Old Rare Blend

by Chocoralie September 18, 2017 in Uncategorized 0 comments

My love affair with rum takes me on a wonderful journey, from the comfort of a leather armchair on a rainy day. It erases the greyness, draws sugar canes and palm trees in my living room, brings the temperature up by a few degrees instantly. Rum, you see, is cheerful drink. I had already discovered wonderful notes from the Caribbean (Cuba, Barbados) but today’s adventure would take me to Jamaica: I had just poured myself a glass of Appleton Estate 12 Year Old Rare Blend. It looked darker than expected but swirling it brought beautiful hints of red and copper. Appleton is one of the oldest rum brands on the market, one of the few ones claiming its right to a terroir too: the Cockpit Country in Nassau Valley giving this mysterious spirit its rich complexity. I breathe it in: a little oak and toastiness, caramelized oranges, the memory of traditional almond macarons taken out of the oven. I wish I could reverse the process and make a cake version of this… A sip. The spices hit me first – the Appleton Estate 12 Year Old Rare Blend is aged 12 years in an oak barrel, after all. […]

Ice Kartingin London

by Chocoralie September 02, 2017 in Uncategorized 0 comments

Queens, already famous for its funky bowling lanes / ice rink / classic Arcade Games / Meatliquor combo decided to wow us some more. Twice a week, you can now add a little James Bond to your evening and go ice karting. Given my driving skills, I was the least possible candidate for this but come on – how cool is the idea? You will get all suited up, gloves and helmet included and slide a car on ice… If like me you like to go slow first, you will be amazed at how easy it is to handle and you can control how daring you want to. Soon you are speeding up, trying different approaches of the corners, avoiding other drivers almost with elegance. It is… incredibly liberating and you will find yourself laughing in delight as you go along. The world is yours. Well, the ice rink is, at least. If you are more into competition, go on, bring your friends along. I like to play it relatively safely but the ice brings adds extra challenge you have been waiting for. It puts the fun back into karting – the only thing missing is a live […]

{Shoreditch} Street Art

by Chocoralie August 25, 2017 in Uncategorized 0 comments

I always go back to Shoreditch with mixed feelings. I love the place: it’s raw, authentic, a real melting pot of cultures and style. It doesn’t try to be pretty. But it moves so fast! Shops, cafés, restaurants appear, disappear. Brands step in. You never quite know what to expect which makes it exciting, a little scary too. Amazon is moving in the area soon, luxury hotels are opening… Street art may be the perfect link between these worlds – reclaiming buildings no matter what, adding a rainbow of colours at every corner. A few pieces found today around Brick Lane:

In London this weekend: August 26-27-28-29

by Chocoralie August 24, 2017 in Uncategorized 0 comments

No plans yet? Here are some more cool things to do this weekend in London. If you have tips we haven’t covered, don’t hesitate to leave us a comment below… Taking a Eurostar soon? 23 ideas to have fun around St Pancras this way. ♥ That’s London, baby ♥ 1. Join a free hip-hop dance and parkour workshop at the Southbank Centre on Friday 2. Don’t be a tourist – explore London. Rent a little boat, a canoe or go crazy and get yourself a flotaing tubRent a little boat, a canoe or go crazy and get yourself a floating tub. Yes, that’s a thing. 3. Join One New Change’s Silent Disco on Saturday and party on a rooftop! 4. The star of the weekend? The Notting Hill Carnival of course! 5. Mermaid yoga is a thing. Try it this Sunday on the Queen of Hoxton rooftop – glitter paint included, of course. ♥ Art and culture ♥ 1. Start your weekend with a music concert around a campfire… How perfect is that? 2. Treat yourself to a travel through time with gladiators’ games at the Museum of London. 3. Have a look at the […]

{Camden} Mamasons’ dirty ice-cream

by Chocoralie August 19, 2017 in Uncategorized 1 comments

3 scoops piled high on a black cone. Creamy black buko (coconut with activated charcoal), superb, high quality matcha, lavender-hued, almost floral ube (a purple sweet potato). Forget gelato, this is quite an experience! We’re at Mamasons, a Filipino parlour in Camden serving a gourmet version of dirty ice-cream. Understand – ice cream bought from a street vendor. You’re definitely getting an upgrade: tropical wallpaper and lilac velvety banquette on one side, distressed tiles and round marble topped tables on the other, a statement mural, an open kitchen, plants here and there for a dash of green. Mamasons is trendy, design yet extraordinarily warm and friendly. Maybe because we’re a 5 minutes’ walk from the Stables Market, less of a crowd. Maybe because it has this community vibe that simply is heart-warming: you just want to be part of it. Teenagers stop by for a milkshake, lovers cuddle in a corner with a colourful cup and two spoons, toddler’s face light up when trying ube for the first time, locals come in a for a chat. And of course there are foodies, looking for a new thrill. Or travellers, like me, in search of a culinary journey to […]

In London this weekend: August 18-19-20

by Chocoralie August 17, 2017 in Uncategorized 0 comments

No plans yet? Here are some more cool things to do this weekend in London. If you have tips we haven’t covered, don’t hesitate to leave us a comment below… Taking a Eurostar soon? 23 ideas to have fun around St Pancras this way. ♥ That’s London, baby ♥ 1. Dancing in the streets guaranteed at Seven Dial’s Spotlight festival this Saturday: performances from Disney’s West End musicals The Lion King and Aladdin, British pop singer Whinnie Williams, The House and Garage Orchestra, 2017 Glastonbury performers, Old Dirty Brasstards, Marawa’s Majorettes and many more will step on the stage. Add a glitter station and a photobooth for extra fun. 2. Rich Mix has a pop-up anti-Trump bar! With every drink you buy, 50p will be donated to one of our charities who, in their own way, combat the effects of the Trump administration. 3. Join a Silent Disco at The Shard this Saturday. 4. King’s Cross is treating us to a free pop-up cinema by the canal this weekend. Harry Potter, Brief Encounter, The Triplets of Belleville – click here to see the full programme. 5. Try Ice Karting (yep – karting on an ice rink) at […]

A weekend in Kent (Day 2): Walking along the cliffs

by Chocoralie August 15, 2017 in Uncategorized 0 comments

Waking up to sunshine in Kent… The previous day had been full of adventures: a stroll through the unexpected Samphire Hoe nature reserve, a Banksy mural, a journey through time in the WW2 tunnel of the Dover Castle, seaweed foraging even. Today called for a hike along the white cliffs, not the classic one from Dover to the South Foreland Lighthouse, but from St Margaret’s Bay to Deal, an easy 8 km. A hearty English breakfast later at the White Cliffs Hotel later, I was on my way. The road leads easily to the beach. The Coastguard, there, actually is the British pub the closest to France and indeed my phone automatically switched to the French network at that point. There are graffiti to be found around, if you look closely: dozens and dozens of names signed on pebbles using chalk and piled here and there… An organic kind of art, to be rolled back and forth by the sea, fading away a little more each time. From there you can join the England Coast Path, which stretches over 630 miles throughout the country. Steps in the slope, lead you through a tunnel of greenery towards the top […]

In London this weekend: August 11-12-13

by Chocoralie August 11, 2017 in Uncategorized 0 comments

No plans yet? Here are some more cool things to do this weekend in London. If you have tips we haven’t covered, don’t hesitate to leave us a comment below… Taking a Eurostar soon? 23 ideas to have fun around St Pancras this way. ♥ That’s London, baby ♥ 1. Dare to join the world’s longest, continuous inflatable obstacle course. 2. Top tips to enjoy summery London on a budget this way. 3. Try Ceilidh dancing this Saturday in Kensington Garden – the initiation is free. There also are free dance workshops at the Southbank Centre , should you wish to learn a few moves of Polka, Flamenco, Charleston… 4. Join the Beer Mile on Saturday: half race, half beer festival. 5. Looking for vibrant colours, a hint of nostalgia, a poetic place? Take a look at the most instragrammed places in London for inspiration. We LOVE the pink café at #3… ♥ Art and culture ♥ 1. There is a free jazz festival in Greenwich this weekend. 2. The Leighton House presents stunning, dreamy, magical pieces by Victorian painter Lawrence Alma-Tadema, all inspired by Antiquity. 3. Four outstanding young singers present an operatic grand […]

Museums to visit in 2017

by Chocoralie August 04, 2017 in Uncategorized 0 comments

As you all know, visiting museums throughout my travels is one of my favorite things to do. No matter which museum you go to, you are bound to find yourself lost in a wealth of knowledge on history, culture and art that will help you come to understand humanity through the ages. With so many great museums to visit practically everywhere you go, it’s usually easier to choose which city you want to explore and then decide which museums you want to visit while you are there. But then again, there are some extraordinary museums that are almost worth visiting a particular city just to see. With that in mind, I’ve put together a list of museums that are at the top of my museum to-do list for this year. Some of the entries on this list are museums that are inaugurating this year, while others are museums that are tried and tested gems that are worth visiting if you have a chance. Enjoy! Zeitz MOCAA, Cape Town The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa is primed to be a monumental opening over 15 years in the making. Set to be the biggest museum to open in […]

In London this weekend: August 04-05-06

by Chocoralie August 03, 2017 in Uncategorized 0 comments

No plans yet? Here are some more cool things to do this weekend in London. If you have tips we haven’t covered, don’t hesitate to leave us a comment below… Taking a Eurostar soon? 23 ideas to have fun around St Pancras this way. ♥ That’s London, baby ♥ 1. Did you know Regent’s Parks has a secret garden, complete with a waterfall? You can visit it this weekend. 2. Try Reggaeoke (the Reggae version of karaoke) at the Southbank Centre this Saturday. 3. Get your camera: an 85 metre LED tunnel, made from hoops of light, is coming to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park this weekend. 4. King’s Cross is hosting Festiwell on Sunday, an event fully dedicated to well-being. There will be Zumba, Tai Chi, laughter yoga…. workshops for both adults and kids. 5. Southwark celebrates Latin American culture with a superb canaval on Sunday, complete with music, dances, street food and family activities. ♥ Art and culture ♥ 1. Step into the studio of Henri Matisse at the Royal Academy, a wonderful opportunity to see the artist’s eclectic collections alongside his drawings, paintings and sculptures. 2. Love paintings from the Renaissance? The National […]

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