Easy like Sunday morning | The Locals Cafe

Sunday's are a thing of beauty. Whether you spend them in your pyjamas or heading out for a spot of weekend brunch I am such a fan. For me, nothing beats a bit of a lay in then heading out with friends to grab some fantastic brunch. There is nothing better than having your breakfast made for you, well in my opinion there isn't anyway.

I always aim to try a different place when I eat out. Living in central London means you are never short of choices. I recently found 'The Locals Cafe' on Instagram and I was so eager to give it a try. Everything from your classic avocado toast with pomegranate seeds to buckwheat pancakes and everything in-between. They also have a rather appealing lunch menu.

It is a stones throw away from Victoria station, which is a stunning part of London near Sloane Square.

I am a massive advocate for nice interiors. For me, where you eat your food is just as important as what you are actually consuming. The Locals Cafe have this down to a T! You are welcomed with a huge open space, with tonnes of natural light flooding in from the floor to ceiling windows. There are plants adorning the centre shelving unit offering free magazines and newspapers to read while you enjoy your breakfast.

The team there are so friendly and couldn't have been more attentive. I opted to go for a classic. Eggs Benedict only with a twist of Parma ham. Truly a match made in heaven, glossy hollandaise, rich soft brioche, golden poached eggs and salted parma ham. I was drooling. The locals cafe also places a huge importance on presentation, allowing for a killer Instagram.

Freya chose the truffled scrambled eggs with mushrooms and sourdough. It was rich, creamy and just the right amount of seasoning. We both love a good portion of beans, and when they arrived we were most intrigued. They were spicy, yet had a smokiness to them, a fantastic side dish.

We ALSO chose some pancakes to share in the middle. There were two options, however we are both big fans of coconut so we opted for the buckwheat pancakes with a blueberry compote and caramelised bananas. 

The coffee was sublime. Offering diary alternative milks along with your classic choices of cakes and treats to go.

I couldn't recommend 'The Locals Cafe' enough. Cleverly named as it sits well in a residential part of Victoria/Chelsea, I can see this being a HUGE hit! Even if you aren't in the area, it is worth the travel.

Click the link HERE to be taken to their Facebook page. They also have a drool worthy Instagram that I would recommend you follow HERE. 

Thank you so much for reading. 

Luke. 

Lets break the ICE

Hey guys...Okay that feels strange to type.

I have been rather absent from the blogging world, I always seem to start posts this way. Apologies aside I have a reasonable explanation. I created a YouTube channel and well there are only 24 hours in a day. I got a new job, dedicated my days off to create YouTube videos and well I guess I got distracted.

I would love to sit here and stay that blog posts are going to be a more regular thing however I don't want to make promises I can't keep.

However, what better way to come back with a bang than an outfit post. Recently I paired up with Ice Watch, to create an outfit incorporating their new range. Ever the watch lover I saw this as a perfect opportunity.

The weather has been CRAZY in London recently. Completely unpredictable to say the least, one minute it's thirty degrees, the next it's raining. Go figure.

I decided to opt for the 'Ice Dune' watch which is one of their newer watches. The watch itself is of fantastic quality with a silicone band and mineral glass face. Ice watches are instantly recognisable from their faces and this is no different. I absolutely love the watch, it matches perfectly with a monochrome outfit or as a solid piece of wrist wear with a bit of colour. Fashionable yet masculine with a sporty start edge.

I decided to keep it simple with my outfit, opting for an oversized blue BoohooMAN shirt and some skinny fit shorts from Topman. For footwear I decided to go for some classic Vans to finish off the casual outfit.

Here is a link for you guys to check out the Ice Watch Dune Collection: https://www.ice-watch.com/uk-en/collection-ice-watch/watch-ice-dune-black-big-014216.htm

March Favourites

It's nearly April and that scares me. I know everyone says it but seriously, where is this year going? I feel like you blink and skip a month. Madness. Anyway, aside from my anxiety over time I am back again for another monthly favourites. I really love these posts as it's a little insight into what people have been loving recently. So lets get straight into it.

Starting off with some cosmetic favourites. Recently I was sent some products by Charlotte Kidd to try out and share my thoughts on them. I received a full size tube of  'AP24 Whitening Fluoride Toothpaste' and a tester pot of a clay face mask. I have never been a believer in whitening toothpastes as I have never really seen results. However, trust me when I say this after two days I immediately saw a difference. My not only looked whiter but felt so much cleaner. I took a photo from the first time I used this and it is crazy to see the results.

The mask is also fantastic. As you have probably seen all over the internet there is this new craze with peel off blackhead masks. Now they may be effective but I wouldn't like to think what damage they do to your skin. This mask is a mud mask, so it dries really quick and completely pulls out all the dirt in your pores. I got about two uses out of the pot and it worked miracles! You need very little product and just focus on your oily areas. I couldn't get over how clean my skin felt after. Thank you to Charlotte for sending me these products to try out! 

Here are Charlottes links if you want to know more about the products:

Instagram: @charlotterebeccakidd

Email: nuskinck@hotmail.com

Now onto food or rather drink. Admittedly this category was tough as I have been eating out a lot recently with going home for the easter break. However, I recently bought this pot of hot chocolate by Green & Black's and honestly it is amazing. With most hot chocolate powders you are left with a artificial taste but this one is pure, rich chocolate. I absolutely love it!

 

For literature, I unintentionally chose something food related. I got this cookbook given to my for Christmas and have never really gotten round to using it. However, I took it back home with me to try and get some use out of it. It is essentially all classic, authentic, New York recipes. The photography is absolutely amazing too. I made the 'Eggs Benedict' and the classic 'NYC burger' which both were amazing! 

For footwear I have chosen to go for a pair of trainers that I have gotten so much wear out of recently. These are the Adidas Superstars and nearly every person owns a pair but they are just so easy to pull off. You can pair them with jeans for a casual vibe or smart trousers to add a little relaxed vibe to a smart outfit. I wore them religiously throughout March and probably will for the coming months.

Click here to shop.

Now, this candle had to be featured in my favourites. It is by a brand called 'Earl of East' and they are a London based candle company that produce the highest quality natural candles. I got the chance to make my own candle at an event I attended at the start of the month with Arcadia. I named mine 'Oxford Fresh' (terrible name I know) but we made it just off Oxford Street and it smells really fresh to me. I probably wont get a job in candle names however it smells amazing nonetheless.

Click here to be taken to their page.

And finally, a TV favourite. 'Toast' was aired on the BBC about seven ago. I remember when I first watched it, I was amazed from start to finish. Netflix have recently added it and I am very pleased to say the least. It is all about a young Nigel Slater, who now is a TV cook and author and his battle with his love of food and parents who are stuck in their ways. It has some fantastic actors in it too. You will laugh, cry and have serious food cravings after watching it. I can't recommend it enough.

So there we have it, a round up of everything I have been loving throughout the month of March. I hope you have enjoyed reading my favourites and getting to see everything I have been loving throughout March.

Thank you so much for reading,

Luke. 

Spring smart!

It came as quite a surprise when I was looking through my wardrobe, that I didn't own one pair of trousers. I have always been a jeans type of guy. I mean, I haven't really had any need to own any trousers. However, recently I have found myself branching into smarter clothing choices.

Spring trends are showing pairing a tucked in t-shirt/shirt with some fitted trousers to be super popular. I have been loving this look, it is something completely different for me. I chose to keep this outfit fairly neutral, opting for whites, blacks and greys. Not the most adventurous but it works.

The full outfit again is by boohooMAN, apart from the shoes. If you read my post about boohooMAN's new spring collection then you'll know all about this jacket. It's amazing. Super lightweight, amazing colour and it practically goes with every outfit. I paired it with a tucked in white t-shirt and some fitted black trousers that taper to your ankle.

For shoes I opted for some loafers. These are by Aldo and I absolutely love them. Really comfy and perfect for a warm day.

Again for accessories I kept it super simple with my Redherring watch from Debenhams, and some Topman wayfara sunglasses.

You can copy the codes into boohooMAN and shop the look here
Longline cap sleeve t-shirt: MZZ73493
Button through suedette trucker jacket: MZZ74513
Skinny stretch chino trouser: MZZ73989