::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
(top image from the Pier cookbook)

the old lady that I am had to give up at work today after feeling so drowsy I could not even move. I could, however, think. about what makes me super happy right now.

in random order.

basil seeds. I’ve seen them everywhere over the span of a couple of days. in popsicles. on salmon carpaccio. and in my new favourite cookbook (picture above is the amazing honeydew melon soup with coconut sorbet and tapioca. love at the first sight).

books. while I’m at it, I must mention my recent favourite reads. I think I stated it pretty clearly above, but one of them is Pier by Greg Doyle. the second is Made in England by Aiden Byrne.

polaroid. and especially the fact that my polaroid spectra has the loveliest bokeh ever.

matcha bubble tea. before I even tasted one, I knew I was going to love it. and I do. so much that I just got one kg of big rainbow tapioca pearls in china town.

sweet purple yam. I still don’t know what I’m going to make out of it. but I’m pretty excited.

it seems my thoughts have geared towards food lately. I’ve been feeling overly inspired by exotic ingredients. I’m so grateful to be living my dream. being a pastry chef is beyond what I could have imagined. some call it bliss. I simply see it as evident.

what makes you happy right now? or perhaps, what are your latest culinary discoveries?

ps. in case you’re wondering, the food diary is on a break, but everything is going just fine. I think I’ll just post an update weekly so not to bore you with unexciting details about my food consumption.

tags: books, bubble tea, china town, fruit, illustration, list, london, pier, polaroid, vegetable.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

despite feeling like an old lady due to the flu, today has been the best day ever; and also the coldest.

one. I bought everything to recreate my favourite bagel in london. the beef will start its brining tomorrow. and next week, it will be time for some bagel-making action.

two. I took the loveliest polaroid of my rainy window. blurry and all. I’m in love.

three. I finally made that one dessert I had in mind. photographed it. and talked (too much) about it.

since today is my very own sunday I treated myself with some delicious ricotta and spinach ravioli. hmmmm. good night. x

tags: bread, film, food diary, foodbeam, list, london, pentax me super, polaroid, rain, window.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

sixteen days. a little over a hundred pictures taken. my canon has become my friend again. I just miss my pentax slightly too much.

as for today’s picture. well, an after-work drink with a friend who’s leaving for dubai. the fairy lights have stolen my heart.

tags: canon 400D, lights, london, night.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

a day was skipped. an ice-cream van was spotted just outside from work. a delicious white chocolate sponge with apricots and pistachio ice-cream was made.

tags: canon 400D, london, summer.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

egerton gardens are my very own desert island. somewhere where I could live for the rest of my life. with very little.

some books, and a large kitchen to make delicious patisseries.

where is your favourite corner of the world?

tags: canon 400D, london, toycamera analogcolor.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

today was a long (and fun) day at work. and the crisp air felt so good against my skin as I biked back home.

as usual, I can’t refrain my smile as I arrive on top of the bridge to discover the beautiful lights london has to offer.

and in case you’re wondering, here is what I saw on the opposite side of the bridge.

tags: light, london, night.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

I’ve just had the best bloody mary ever. the (charming) bartender tells me it’s the passion fruit pulp he added. my friend tells me it’s the couple of beers we had beforehands.

have a good night.

tags: canon 400D, drink, london, toycamera analogcolor.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

to me, a ladybug landing on you means that you have to make a wish. so when I spotted this one on my bike – minutes after I got it – I knew everything was going to be fine.

do you believe in signs?

tags: animals, bike, film, london, pentax me super.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

three new things that make me happy.

one. the fantastic polaroid spectra, or more accurately, a minolta instant pro. this is my (only and) very first shot. I’m in love, already.

two. some illustrations I made for foodbeam. drawing feels like kissing, for hours.

three. the bridge that I cross every night. the view from my bike is just breath-taking. I love riding back and forth to work. such a lovely moment.

any happy list to share?

tags: bike, film, fruit, happiness, illustration, list, london, minolta instant pro, night, pentax me super, polaroid.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

three summer essentials for the couple of hours I get to spend at the park during my break.

one. the perfect ballerines. after years spent looking for a replica of the simplest repetto I had back in 2003, topshop made those. same pastel pink. same thin sole. same leather. I am in love.

two. the notebook. and as usual, the papermate felt-tip pen. to work on my little big project.

three. the coffee. a grande skinny iced latte. just enough caffeine to keep me going and make pastries until late at night.

ps. I’m currently listening to a lovely playlist, which I quite fittingly called calm down. here is one of the tracks. the words. the words.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

what are your three summer essentials?

tags: coffee, film, hyde park, london, moleskine, music, pentax me super, shoes, snow patrol, summer.