luke & holly @ the luxe

This is Luke and Holly, managers at my new favourite restaurant, The Luxe at Spitalfields.

It's such an amazing space: started by John Torode, my idol (he's half the duo of the BBC series MasterChef). The ground floor is a huge open brilliant cafe/bar, the basement is a nightclub with various shows, comedy & music & stuff, then you go upstairs to the most gorgeous restaurant, with silk hand embroidered Chinois wallpaper from China.. well don't just take my word for it: go see for yourself.



On the top floor is a space for a kind of members only club, where they have private parties. The staff are the type who work really hard but make it look effortless. Holly was very kind to take a quick minute to pose for my blog: she's nice, pretty, cool, and I love her style and energy.



Flew in from Miami Beach not BOAC.. man we had a lovely flight. Not as eventful as our ride over ('virgin barbie'): didn't win any champagne, and I let them do the washing up this time. And it was really hard to leave Florida, leave my mom & all the friends there, and family, and those rich colours, the blues and turquoises and the water.. but there's something about returning to England. Mr. Dot once said his friend described it like sinking into a warm bath.

And considering how effing freezing it is here, that's exactly what I did. With bubbles, and baby oil. And since I ran out of bath salts, I borrowed some sea salt from the kitchen (tip: it does the trick!).



That's why I'm posting it today: going to the Luxe one of the things I'm looking forward to, now that I'm back in the UK. I've got the Lag, and got it bad, and now I can't get that song out of my head. It's worth clicking here cause whoever posted this, it's some great vintage Beatles footage.



Okay, I've posted. Too pooped to unpack, just going to play with the cat and go take a nap.

a hard day's night

I've seen a few films recently that have had a strong impression on me: Coco before Chanel is one of them, and there have been some great BBC documentaries lately on the Beatles. There was even one show about how the Beatles have been responsible for bringing down the Kremlin (I'm not making this up!).



So you can imagine that first thing Monday morning, when I ran into Julia, from St. Petersburg, channelling Chanel, in BLACK AND WHITE, it was all a bit surreal. Especially since we had both barely woken up, and Julia's jacket, which isn't Chanel after all, but rather, Zara, is also a bit like the Beatles' collarless jackets. All I know is, she's a really nice girl, and it was lovely to meet her (a lot of my family is originally from Russia). And I love those little Chanel-esque nude sequin ballet pumps, and her electric blue woven leather bag.




I know that you guys never click on any of my youtube links (or if you do, no one's telling me) but I promise, if you click here, you'll be in for a real treat, Beatles fan, or not. Actually: does anyone NOT like the Beatles? I have yet to meet anyone who isn't a Beatles fan, except perhaps my husband, Mr. Dot, who always said the Stones were cooler. But he would say that, wouldn't he? Men! ; )

And while we're at it: what the heck, I couldn't resist it: click here, and you'll be humming this all day. And now that I think of it, how could I finish this post without adding this.

golden slumbers

Suggested listening to accompany this post: click here, open it in a new window, turn up the volume, and sing along! And if you want go back in time: try this.





I slept badly last night, and my wonderful man, Mr. Dot, let me sleep while going to the gym @ 6 a.m., coming back, realising the toaster had packed up, going back out and buying a new one, making himself toast, and waking me with a kiss & a cup of tea. All the time I was having dreams of the sea & sand & sky, and picturing a posting of Carry & another guest @ the WEBA awards ('on mothers, daughters, & mermaids')







It wasn't until later that I realised, it's not just Golden Slumbers, it actually segues into Carry that Weight. Nothing like a bit of serendipity to start the day. Carry's gorgeous custom made golden silk dress is from a designer based in Spitalfields, and when I next talk with her, I'll get you his name. If it's Paul, I'm going back to bed, because I'm surely dreaming.

p.s. update: just asked Carry, it's not Paul, it's Amin Phillips, of 'love and be loved'. This is all I can find on him for contact details - a phone number, basically - but watch this space, as that dress is too gorgeous for him not to be hugely successful.