.: A coffee week :.

Since I have been on holidays, waiting for baby to be born, I have been staying more often on my area (and that means Chiswich / Kew / Richmond), as I couldn’t risk to go that far (in case baby would decide to get out). But in a way that meant I could visit some of the places I had on my wishlist for a while, or revisit some places I really like.

One of the things I’ve been trying to do over the last few weeks is to finally catch up with my photos – you probably noticed the posts from Japan popping up recently when I went there in April. Also I’ve been writing and reading a lot more often. When home, I’ve been baking and cooking a lot more often than I ever did, being the carrot cake the winner of the week.

Apart from my daily meditation, I’ve also been doing a couple of hours detox, and by that I mean just not touching either my phone or my computer and spend more time in old-fashion pleasures such as a reading. A good way of doing that is to visit a cafe, order something nice and enjoy a book or if I feel inspired, just write – you can read some of those texts here and here.

Here’s some of the places I’ve been visiting recently:

Angie’s Little Food Shop, Chiswick 

This is a small food shop with a really good bakery selection. They are quite known for the brunch and the delicious salad options, but since I went after lunch was not that hungry. Having read the reviews though, I already knew what I wanted: the toasted banana bread with espresso butter. Such a good option I can tell you! Really tasty banana bread! Coffee was quite good as well

They also sell their own ceramics, which are quite adorable (you can check the whole range here)

Outsider tart, Chiswick

This is not my first time here. It’s actually one of my favourite places to enjoy a good brownie/ cheesecake and write. On the weekends it’s really busy, as they have really good brunch options, but during the week it feels so quiet (my last review here). I’ve already tried the pancakes and they are absolutely delicious.

Photo from google

I can’t be bored of this place. Love it every single time I go there.

You can also buy some really interesting groceries there

Photo from google

Including their own American Bakery book

(Also available on amazon)

Muriels Kitchen, Richmond

I actually went to Muriel’s Kitchen the first time for their afternoon tea (you can read all about it here), and because I loved the scones so much I knew it was just a matter of time before I would be back again for more.

Again, was positively impressed by the friendly staff. They really make you feel welcome! Just for that alone (and because they still have a lot of cakes for me to try) I’m sure I’ll be back.

Nikki’s Bakery, Chiswick

This was also one place on my wishlist for a while. Located in Chiswick High Road, it always felt like a lovely place to get a good cake and coffee. As I can’t have that much coffee, I ended up going for a tea instead. Having read the reviews in advance, I was planning for a Carrot Cake, but as they didn’t had it that day went for the lemon cake instead.

The cake was really fresh and delicious, although I have to say the icing was a bit too sweet for me (note that I’m the type of person that always reduces the amount of sugar in any bakery recipes I do at home)

It was a really good place to enjoy a bit of reading in a summer day. Love the china as well. Before going back home, I’ve bought one of their breads which was quite fresh and tasty.

What is your favourite place to go for a coffee and something sweet?

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.: Afternoon Week :.

I really love a good afternoon tea, so couldn’t miss having one on the Afternoon Tea Week. If I needed any further reason there was also our 9th Anniversary (of living together). Probably I could have done something a bit more fancy to celebrate the occasion, but sometimes I believe you need to keep it simple 🙂

And no, I didn’t went to any fancy tea either, I’ve decided to go pretty much next door, have a walk in Richmond and enjoy a good delicious relaxing tea.

Richmond is one of my favourite places in the world. I never get tired of having a walk along the river here, it always makes me feel really calm and relaxed.

For the tea, the choice was Muriel’s Kitchen. I had seen this place lots of times and it was on my wishlist for a long time. (You can see the afternoon menu here)

Loved the space immediately. Really lovely soft decor and friendly staff. As soon as you walk in you are made to feel really welcome.

I’ve ordered a chamomile tea whereas he went for the classic Earl Grey. Both were really tasty (the teas were from teapigs). The smoothie was also pretty fresh

The tea is served in a little picnic bench (which I found to be really cute)

All of the sandwiches were pretty good, ranging from smoked salmon, to chicken and egg. Then moving to the scones.

As soon as I’ve started to cut it in half I’ve noticed the texture, perfect. Not breaking apart and feeling really soft in my hands.

After the first bite, yap, really good! One of the best I had in a long time! Finally the mini bakery, all the cakes were delicious and makes me want to try the big ones. All really fresh

Might not seem a lot by the pictures, but I was really full. He couldn’t even finish all the cakes. So overall I’ve really enjoy my experience and honestly think this was a good choice! Will be back to try their other cakes and for more scones 🙂

.: Walking in Putney and Richmond :.

I know, I know, I do go to Richmond quite often. If the sun is shining outside I love to walk around the Thames and Putney and Richmond fit in perfectly for that.

Putney

Richmond

I’ve photographed this gentlemen a few times already, love his paintings

Have a lovely week 🙂

.: Sunset walk in Richmond :.

One of my favourite walks has to be a walk along the Thames from Kew to Richmond. As it was a Friday and I was keen on taking some sunset photos we’ve ended up parking in Richmond and walking just around Richmond.

As we were  both starving, we’ve ended up going to one of our favourite places in Richmond: Pig’s Ears. If you are a fan of beer, please do visit this place! It’s heaven!

I had a delicious risotto, but also recommend the burgers and the meat in general. This time forgot to take some pictures.

Kwak – Ginger belgium beer

I had a stout, which tasted really like coffee 😀 The ginger was admittedly the night’s favourite and recommended by the staff. So good!

Service was excellent as usual. This is really such a perfect place to go in Richmond 🙂

After dinner he wanted to do some long exposures. I have to admit this is not my sweet spot in terms of photography and mostly I don’t like them. But it was such an amazing night I could only join!

If you had to select one place for a walk on a Friday night where would you go? Looking forward to your suggestions 🙂

.: It’s all about food – Urban Diner – Richmond :.

It was a rainy Saturday and in the middle of our house viewing (yes, after almost 4 years we are back to house hunting!) we had to make a stop for some food. I wasn’t very hungry as I’ve been feeling a bit sick, but he was in mood for a burger.

Urban Diner was one of those places that I kept on saying “One day we have to go there”, so why not today

.: Location :.

Location wise, it’s quite in the centre of Richmond in the shopping area, so you can’t really ask for more. It looks a very small place from the outside, but it’s not that small, there’s a good availability of tables.

.: Decor :.

My first impression was that I loved the tiles – I know, I know, only someone like me to be looking at the flooring, but it’s really lovely

Beautiful flooring, you agree right?

You can clearly see the American inspiration at the bar

Bar

I like the t-shirt!

.: The Food :.

Right, let’s talk about the food. They have a very good selection of drinks available, from nice beers (they had a very good stout which I couldn’t drink 😥 ), wine, juices, cocktails and the regular tea and coffee. As I can’t really drink anything else at the moment, I went for a Mint tea, which was really good

This mug makes me feel at home, having tea with my grandma 🙂

They also have a good brunch selection. Most of the options will contain egg (which I love!) but to my delightful surprise, they had Granola with Yogurt. Hi5! I’m so happy they’ve included on the menu, as it’s a very good brunch option which I’m sure many people will appreciate.

You also have a very good selection of grills, salads and burgers. Yes, obviously he went for the burger, but I’ll let him make his own review on that.

I went for the Granola, which was really delicious and all I wanted to eat really.

Granola with honey, greek yoghurt and banana

It was really really tasty and filling as well. He was glad to have a dessert in the end (as I couldn’t finish it all) 🙂

.: The Service :.

We were quickly welcomed to our table and all the ladies were really friendly and engaging.

.: Summary :.

Well, the conclusion is that I’ll be back for a proper meal soon. It’s worth the visit. I still have to try the cocktails. Price wise as really good as well.

• Location: 5/5
• Service: 4/5
• Food: 4/5 – Really happy with the granola
• Ambience: 4/5

What’s your favourite place for a Brunch?

.: Valentine’s Richmond :.

We don’t really celebrate Valentine’s at home, but we’ve decided to go for a walk in Richmond together for some photos has he just bough a new camera (Sony A6000).

Lesson learnt for me, check the aperture! The photos looked nice on the screen but lacked sharpness and focus pfff. Next time I will be more careful

Jungle speed – This game is awesome!!!

The knot

The photographer

‘U looking at me?

Red & knot

How many couples do you see in this picture?

Swirl

Together

Love has no age

There was a lady…

We ended up our walk in Paul for a capuccino & sweets

Happy Valentine’s for those of you that celebrate it 🙂

.: Experiments & Pizza :.

For the last few days we’ve been taking photos together as for the first time, I have a tripod. Most of the places are just next door, like Kew Bridge or Richmond. Trouble is it’s been too cold! (Which means I will start 2015 with my cold from before Christmas). Oh well.

And our last meal of 2014 ended up being a Stone baked Pizza @ Revolution Richmond. Not as good as Franco Manca, but I love this place 😀

What was your last meal in 2014? Anything delicious?

Wish you all a happy new year (with or without resolutions – I’ve just done mine). Very simply for 2015 I want to explore more, take more photos, discover new places and enjoy the journey 🙂

.: Another walk in Richmond :.

Even though I’m feeling a bit sick (with a cold thanks to the air conditioning of the hotel), I wanted to enjoy a bit of sunshine, so I headed up again to Richmond.

First stop recharge batteries with a Cappuccino and a nice mozzarella panini

And read a little bit. Nothing better than a Cappuccino and a nice book right? Currently reading Productivity Ninja

I love the boats along the river in Richmond, I have to say I missed this walk, on my own pace, enjoying the sun on my face:

This is the perfect walk for pure relaxation! I always feel inspired by these walks, seriously. There’s always a sense of quietness that I really enjoy.

Do you have any place where you really feel at home? If you wanted to relax a little bit where would you go?

.: Burgers and boats :.

Burgers and boats? Such an unusual title, and I say why not?

Today was the first autumn day in London, it was rainy and a bit cold most of the day – so far we had quite good weather (amazing I know!!) so we ended up going for lunch at Westfield. Because I hadn’t been in Byron for a while so this is precisely where we went:

They had a special in the menu,

but I ended up going for my preferred choice: classic burger + portobello mushroom – medium rare

Hum… never disappoints! Really tasty

Obviously after burger and fries – and since the rain finally stopped and it was all blue skies (yap, almost out of nothing we jumped from cloudy and rainy to sunny as the rain had never happened!) it was time for a walk. And what’s my favourite place for walks? Richmond. I love Richmond, such a lovely small village and good environment. All we need is there and then the river and Richmond Park. (If only I could afford to live there)

Then not happy enough with the burger and since the calories where gone, I decided to refill with happy calories @ The Farmery, a delicious waffle with frozen yoghurt and strawberries. Calories never tasted any better, so good!

I won’t be having any dinner. In fact it’s 22h now and that was 18h, still not hungry, but it was worth it!

So I guess this time was a journey near home, and those can be really good too 🙂

P.s If you want to check my reviews, please visit my Zomato account.