Give Truly: Brunch at L'Etranger

The other day, me and Guy kicked off our Festive break by going for brunch at L'Etranger in South Kensington, courtesy of Give Truly. As you can imagine, we were very excited.

L'Etranger is situated about a 5 minute walk from Gloucester Road tube station, which is one of my top five fave tube stations. What, you mean you don't have a top five fave tube stations? Hmmm...

Anyway, let's talk about brunch, baby. L'Etranger is a tasteful and chic little place that feels like a secret once you're inside. The lighting is stupendously flattering and the decor is fab.

The Give Truly gift entitles you to a glass of Champagne on arrival, with a three-course meal from the set lunch menu. From working in catering for a long time, I often shy away from set menus, as the ones in the hotel where I worked were always rubbish. Not so at L'Etranger: the set menu is an absolute delight.

To start, I chose the beef tartare and Guy had the eggs benedict. Both were absolutely lush and, inkeeping with the French/Japanese theme of the restaurant, had brilliant balance between the luxury of French cooking and the simplicity of Japanese. Since learning how to make sushi, I am obsessed with Japanese cuisine, so I loved my bento-box-stylee tartare with some creamy, sharp wasabi on the side.

We both went for confit lamb shoulder to follow, as we're such awful carnivores we never turn down a red meat. This was by far some of the most delicious lamb I have ever had, and Guy says it is "the best main I have ever had," which is high praise indeed from him. I absolutely 100% recommend the lamb. Seriously, it is almost life changingly good.

For dessert, I would have loved to try the chocolate parfait, but I was soooooo stuffed I had to opt for ice cream, while Guy went for sorbet. I had chocolate caramel sorbet and Guy had a range of citrus sorbets. It was all utterly delicious, and a great way to finish a brilliant meal.

As far as experience gifts go, I know a lot of people think they're naff or that you don't get what you pay for, but I can put my hand on my heart and say that you absolutely get what you pay for with Give Truly. This brunch is one of the best meals I have had (and I have eaten in Michelin-starred establishments!) and everything was pretty much perfect. If you want to treat someone, Give Truly is a brilliant option.

L'Etranger is a lovely place and, after experiencing the excellent food, top-notch service and a rather tasty Champagne, I will certainly be returning. Totally fantastic. Oh, and they were piping an e-book of a very nice French man reading something or other into the loos. He may well have been reading a shopping list or a Dan Brown novel, but it sounded great and was, I thought, a witty touch.

*This experience was gifted to my by Give Truly but this is a 100% honest review. This place is excellent.

* The photos are taken from L'Etranger's website. I abhor people who take photos in nice restaurants, and I wouldn't dream of including photos of the food, as I am of the opinion that with food, first impressions count, and I'd hate to spoil the surprise of just how pretty these plates look.

Christmas fave: L'Occitane Delightful Almond gift set

Unwrapping a L'Occitane box is like unwrapping a bit of heaven, especially when it's something as luxurious as this Delightful Almond gift set.

Containing a tub of Delicious Paste (a kick-ass exfoliator), Almond Milk Concentrate (a firming, smoothing, soothing moisturiser), Almond Smooth Hands (a hand cream you know I'm obsessed with), two Almond soaps and last but by no means least a 500ml pump bottle of Almond Shower Oil, by far the most luxurious shower product L'Occitane make.

The best thing in this box is the shower oil. When I first heard of it I thought nothing sounded more dangerous than a shower oil (I am very clumsy in the shower at the best of times, without adding oil to the mix) but I couldn't have been more wrong: it's a lovely, rich, thick gel that suds up nicely and leaves skin incredibly soft, without making the tub all slippery. I have heard it makes a luxurious bath oil, so I shall certainly be putting that to the test soon.

I am also head over heels with the Almond Milk Concentrate. It's a thick, almost jelly-like moisturiser which smoothes on very nicely and is the absolute best thing for just-shaved legs as it soothes as you put it on. 

The Smooth Hands hand cream is an absolute dream, with a consistency that is less thick and creamy than the other hand creams from L'Occitane, which makes it a lot quicker to absorb. It's been a definite part of my arsenal against the cold, biting weather.

The scent of this range is very almond-y, but not in a marzipan-y way. It's a fresh, almost green, scent, but with a lovely luxurious richness. Perfect for winter, but also a good all-rounder as that kind of green freshness is great in Spring. 

All in all, this is one of the best gift sets I have ever come across, and at a sticker price of £48 for over £70 worth of stuff, a bargain. Yes, it's a luxurious, expensive bargain, but a bargain nonetheless. Speaking of bargains, L'Occitane have a brilliant sale on at the moment, including a set very similar to this, so you'd do well to treat yourself, I reckon!

Are you a L'Occitane fiend like me? 

*PR sample

**I meant to post this a week ago but Blogger's schedule feature didn't work!!! Anyone got any tips?!

OOTD: Warm me up

Jumper - Topshop // Skirt - ASOS // Boots *- Graceland at Deichmann // Headband - thrift // Necklace - Primark

This isn't the first time I've blogged an outfit including this jumper, a heavy cotton fisherman's rib number from Topshop. I'm going to admit, I have worn it about a bajillion times since it started getting cold: it's an absolutely brilliant, snuggly dream.

The skirt I'm wearing it with is actually the skirt of a dress I got a lonnng time ago from ASOS, but the bodice became too tight when my boobs jumped up a few sizes, so I professionally adapted it by... Oh, OK, I hacked the bodice off with kitchen scissors and now I wear the skirt held together with a safety pin. 

The boots have also been featured before. They're a fave of mine at the moment: uber comfy boots that keep my legs and feet toasty warm in this awful weather. They're also an absolute steal at Deichmann for £29.99. I do love a bargain, especially one that feels and looks pricier than it is.

*PR gift

Wednesday Want: Sperry Angelfish

Ladies and gents, meet the Sperry Angelfish in black, tweed and gold. 

Me, I'm a big fan of the ugly-pretty shoe, and I think this little boating loafer really is the epitome of ugly pretty.

I'd rock this bad boy with tights and a wool skirt during the winter, then get a bit of secret sock action in the hotter months with skinny jeans or a summer dress. I think the best thing about an ugly-pretty shoe is that you never look too put-together. Loafers, brogues, boat shoes, they lend a pretty dress a kind of bookish appeal that I like to push further with big cardigans and offbeat accessories.

These Sperry shoes are currently stocked in Office, and are causing quite a splash in America. 

Winter Warmers II

OK, so this was supposed to be a Wednesday thing, but last night I was at a Christmas-themed pub quiz, so I didn't have time. Sorry!

Anyway, today it's all about the home comforts. As soon as winter rocks round, I take it as carte blanche to wear my dressing gown as much as is humanly possible, and drink many many mugs of hot chocolate. Baileys hot chocolate is my absolute fave winter drink (apart from mulled wine, obvvvs) and over the years I have rather perfected it...

Baileys Hot Chocolate

50ml Baileys (or more if you're a naughty drunkard...)

2 tsp cocoa powder

A mug of milk

1 tsp vanilla ice cream

0.) Fill a mug with milk, then pour it into a small pan over a medium heat.

1.) Pour the Baileys into the mug, and mix in the cocoa powder to form a paste

2.) Once the milk is hot enough (not boiling) pour slowly into the mug, stirring with a teaspoon to combine

3.) Plop the vanilla ice cream in

4.) Glug glug glug

Simple enough, yes, but you'd be surprised how many people don't know the 'make a paste' trick, and I've never met anyone else who pops ice cream in their hot chocolate. 

The dressing gown, you can just about see in the above (very fetching) gif, but the fact that it is old and rarely washed means there won't be any full-length pics of it appearing on this here blog! Instead, here's a cardigan that I have come to rely on as a sort of...daytime dressing gown. As in, I can wear it to work because it's daywear, but it's so snuggly and warm and oversized that it's almost as good as wearing a dressing gown...

It's super warm AND it's only £19 at the moment AND it comes in burgundy and black (which I might just be ordering, too...) Seriously, for a budget piece of knitwear it is stupendous. Big massive huge thumbs up from me, for this true Winter Warmer.

Drink responsibly *hic*

Give Truly

As much as I like lasting, permanent presents you can hold, I also really love being treated out to a delicious meal as a present. If you have a memory like an elephant, you'll remember that my boyfriend took me to L'Enclume in the Lakes for a Michelin-starred birthday dinner. I think the idea of giving someone a delicious meal as a gift is brilliant, especially if you've already, over the years, bought them loads of actual, physical presents, or you share a love of food (both of these apply to me and Guy).

So when I saw the gift range at Give Truly, I was instantly drawn to the indulgent dining gifts. From a cocktail afternoon tea (priced very reasonably at £40) to a £20,000 private dining experience at the Tower of London (hey bigshot!) Give Truly has a very good, er, spread of dining gifts. 

The main thing I like about the Give Truly service, is that the lucky recipient gets a swish black box, tied with a ribbon, with the details of the gift experience inside. It's a great way to make it seem that bit more special, I think.

I went for the Japanese Fusion Brunch at L'Etranger, and I am very very very excitedly looking forward to my meal. I will, of course, let you know just how scrumptious it was.

As well as tasty dining gifts, Give Truly offer a range of city breaks and spa trips, again ranging in price. Being a 'concierge service' they sort out the bookings and all the awkward bits, leaving the customer to merely wallow in excellence. It's basically like living like Bruce Wayne for a day (minus the Batmanning...)

Give Truly guarantee delivery by Christmas Day if you order by 20th December, so what are you waiting for?!?

PR gift.

Stocking Filler Gift Guide II

It's Tuesday, which means it's time for another Stocking Filler Gift Guide! Nice, thoughtful gifts that don't break the bank...

Hang Over Essentials - Anatomicals

Look, guys, I like to spend Christmas marinating in two or three different boozes, OK? There's morning mimosas, followed by a couple of Baileys at lunch, plenty of wine at dinner, then at least one G&T. Oh and maybe a Mojito Royale. And more Baileys. So, anyway, yeah, I occasionally need a perk-me-up and I doubt I'm the only one. These Anatomicals bits and bobs (99p-£3.99) will soothe your throbbing temples and aching, puffy eyes, and when you feel a bit better you can slap on the mud mask to make sure all those Baileys don't take their toll on your skin. After spending most of Boxing Day morning rolled up in a duvet, throwing ibuprofen gobwards, these Anatomicals weapons will have you back on your feet for another pop at the mulled wine. Merry Christmas!

I like to keep my Puffy The Eyebag Slayer in the fridge, next to my emergency peanut butter Kit Kats.

Anatomicals is available at ASOS, New Look and HQ Hair.

Letter Press Magnets - Wild & Wolf

OK, so basically I love fridge magnets. Not in a weird collector way, or anything. It's just that in our ld flat, where we lived for two years, we had a fridge that had a wooden door over it, so we could never have magnets on it. Nowadays, WELL, the fridge is JUST COVERED with the buggers.

I feel like these letter press magnets would be a perfect way to class up my frankly juvenile fridge...

OK. I just realised that makes two pics of my fridge in this gift guide. 

Moving swiftly on...

Art Deco Socks - Monki

Sorry, but how amazing are these socks? And, no gratuitous shots of my fridge! I love these glittery buggers, and they are an absolute bargain for £5. I'd wear these bad boys ruched down with a pair of ankle boots and leggings with a very, very big jumper. Heaven.

Now, if you don't mind me, I'm off to take more photos of my fridge, like the deranged fridge obsessive that I clearly am...