Orange glassware vase by Elemento
Fancy feeling instantly uplifted? Just invest in some orange glassware. I can’t get enough of it.
This vase is designed by one of my favourite design shops in Tel Aviv by Elemento at 15 Hazorfim Street, Old Jaffa and made in Poland. Pure visual energy.
This organic amplifier by London based designer Camille Lee is made entirely out of wood and can be used with any iPhones. I love its ability to connect the nostalgic style of the gramophone with modern technology. Works brilliantly with any iPhones, no cables needed. Find her work at Cockpit Arts, Holborn, London.
The organic amplifier is made out of oak and walnut…
…its made and designed by Camille Lee.
So I am a little obsessed in finding the best grilled octopus dishes. Some of the softest, most tender and delicious octopus I ate, is in Portugal, like at The Decadente in Lisbon or the Book in Porto, but short of jetting off to Portugal for a quick food fix, here are my top 3 places in London for grilled tender octopus.
At the Lurra restaurant near Marble Arch
The Lurra restaurant at 9 Seymour Place, London, W1H 5BA is a Spanish restaurant offering Basque dishes. Their soft grilled octopus comes with a piquillo sauce – spicy and divine. Try the courgette flowers too whilst you there.
At the Barbary restaurant in Covent Garden
At the Barbary restaurant at 16 Neal’s Yard, London, WC2H 9DP food is cooked right in front of you in their open kitchen. It’s a great intimate place, sadly like many other London restaurants, it takes no bookings, so be prepared to wait. If you manage to get a seat, the team behind the acclaimed Soho restaurant The Palomar, offer beautiful North African and Mediterranean dishes like grilled monkfish, kohlrabi salad and freshly baked Yemenite Kubaneh bread. Their octopus dish is served with chickpeas on a labneh base – delicious and so tender.
At the Oval Space Terrace in Hackney
Just opened the Summer Terrace at the Oval Space in Hackney, at 29-32 The Oval, London, E2 9DT, is serving Mediterranean food with an Israeli twist. Their Chef-In-Residence, Oded Oren, is serving several of my favourite Israeli dishes, like grilled cauliflower with labneh, smoked aubergine and tahini. If the sun is out, their open air summer terrace is a fantastic chill-out place.
Great summer hang-out, the Oval Space Terrace in Hackney
Looking out at this huge gasometer at the Oval Space Terrace
Melbourne has some amazing clothing and design shops, it’s the perfect shopping destination, below are my favourite three shops for homeware, gifts and other obscure objects of desire.
Make Designed Objects in Carlton
Make Designed Objects located at 194 Elgin St, Carlton, 3053 Victoria, Australia offers a huge selection of stunning homeware, woodwork, stationery and just about everything you need to make your life more beautiful. My favourite pieces are from Australian artist Fink, Japanese paper merchant Midori and woodmaker Stephen Ziguras.
The Collaborate Store at 1/171 Greville Street, Prahran, 3181 Victoria, Australia is a tiny shop that curates and designs jewellery pieces and stocks beautiful ceramics. I couldn’t resist buying some pastel cups made by Milly and Eugene.
Cups by Milly and Eugene in pastel colours
The Collaborate Store in Prahran
Close by the Collaborate Shop is the Lunar Store at 2/127 Greville St, Prahran, 3181 Victoria, Australia stocking locally crafted ceramics, jewellery, leather goods, photography products and inspired objects for your home. I especially loved the jewellery they sold from Australian brand Elk accessories.
Lunar Store in Prahran
Some beautiful ceramics on sale at the Lunar Store