A quick trip to Brussels...

A London getaway was well over-due, but with a restricted time period and not wanting to travel too far i decided that a couple of hours on the Eurostar and a mini-break to Brussels was the perfect option. Brussels and a lot of Southern Belgium is highly influenced by all things French think crepes, French boutiques and copious amounts of butter, my kind of heaven! 

Here are my top 5 things to do in Brussels:

1. Musee Magritte Museum

I think Magritte may well be the main reason I wanted to visit Brussels as i'm a massive fan of his work. I am particularly fascinated with the Surrealist movement and although the museum isn't too much of a history lesson it does document his associations with the likes of Breton and Dali. Don't expect to see his most famous works like 'The Son of Man' or 'The Treachery of Images' but there is a large and impressive collection of work showing his artistry from poster art to impressionism to (my most favoured) surrealism.  

2. The Original Le Pain Quotidian

As a long time lover of the chain, you can imagine my excitement when i found out that the first ever restaurant was in the heart of Brussels, with giant salads, chia seed puddings and baked goods to die for Le Pain Quotidian never disappoints, we went most mornings for breakfast which always successfully fuelled us for the day ahead!

3. Galleries Royales Saint-Hubert.

A stones throw away from Grand Place is this beautiful gallery. Yes, it's normally bustling with tourists but it is a sight to behold none the less. Filled with chocolate shops, book stores, cinemas and various restaurants, this is a wonderful spot to spend an afternoon/evening. For chocolate i reccomend, Pierre Marcolini which is quite pricey but well worth it if you're after a little luxury or Mary which is equally as luxurious but a little kinder on the purse strings, plus they do the most beautiful packaging. For waffles we were informed the cafe Moka had the best and, they we're incredibly light, fluffy and delicious! As far as my recommended restaurant goes it deserves its own spot on the list...

4. Cafe-Resturant de l'Ogenblik.

I'm someone who is normally pretty healthy so i like to indulge in good quality and delicious food and, my goodness, this meal was worth every heavenly mouthful! The sea bass with saffron risotto was truly dreamy, one of those meals you reminisce about. The duck confit fell off the bone and the scallop and prawn starter was exceptional! The restaurant was quaint, with few tables and pretty lace curtains, the service was extremely attentive and well, need i rave about the food more? Definitely worth a visit if you're in Brussels but either get there early or book in advance, this place fills up fast! 

5. Shopping in the St Catherine and Antoine Dansaert area. 

It's no secret that my favourite past time is shopping. Subsequently, I hunt out the good shopping areas wherever i travel. There are a few shopping destinations in brussels but this long road was hands down my favourite. With fail-safe french brands such as Sandro, Ba&sh and Maje it was right up my street (excuse the pun) but the stand out feature was the independent concept boutiques. Icon which is pictured above is my top rated, i think this is as close as i'm going to get to heaven right now. They stocked designers such as; 3.1 Phillip Lim, Alexander Wang, Isabel Marant and Acne to name a few. With giant cacti and the best changing room area i've ever seen i was just about ready to move in. 

Frenchologie x Monographie. In store now...

Monographie is a brand that focuses on strong tailoring and minimalism with a bold injection of colour. This again taps into the 60’s trend in a modern and youthful way. With a fairly monochromatic palette the brand experiments with proportion, length and texture from a heavy wool calf length cape to a tiny canary yellow shift dress. These pieces can be layered for a multidimensional and interesting look or they can simply update wardrobe essentials.  These stylish pieces will carry you seamlessly through to the new season.

New collection in store now.

French Film Fancy: Les Demoiselles de Rochefort

Immerse yourself in the all-singing, all-dancing world of Late sixties france with "Les Demoiselles de Rochefort". It's colourful, camp and unapologetically feel-good. It follows the story of twin sisters over the course of one weekend. In a nut-shell it is a comedic love-story full of coincidental encounters and happy endings. A stand out feature in the film is undoubtably the costumes which are almost as dramatic as the action! Floppy hats, bold dresses and plenty of sequins lend themselves to a visually exciting watch. "Les Demoiselles de Rochefort" seems all the more relevant again with the recent sixties revival that we have been seeing on and off the catwalks. A/W 14 was littered with bold colours, clean lines and embellishment all of which are strongly featured in this film. It's not only a wonderful throw-back but inspiration for the season ahead. 

Video: Florian Denicourt. The Art of a Beautiful Handbag.

Happy Bank Holiday Monday to you all! Hope you're enjoying the long weekend. Now, we all know that a quality handbag is the ultimate investment in any wardrobe and the creations from Florian Denicourt are not only beautiful but functional. The video below illustrates the care and precision taken to create each bag, offering every customer the highest quality in design and craftsmanship.

A range of Florian Denicourt bags are available in store now. 

Healthy (yes, really) French Toast

Whilst French food is delicious and always packed full of flavour, it's not always the most forgiving on our waistlines. That's where we are here to help. French toast is the ultimate in indulgent brunching and this recipes is not only less than half the calories of normal French toast but it actually has added health benefits! Using almond milk instead of regular milk gives you a good does of fibre, vitamin E and healthy fats, the substitution of the natural sweetness of agave syrup gives a slow release of energy and has immune system boosting properties. And by adding chia seed to the mix, you're getting; fibre, protein, calcium and antioxidants, a true superfood! Top with yoghurt and berries for added sweetness and goodness. So, go on, guilt-free breakfast has never tasted so good!

Ingredients:

• 2 slices of wholemeal bread
• 1/2 tbsp coconut oil
• 2 large egg whites
• 1 tbsp of chia seed (either whole or ground)
• 1/4 cup of almond milk
• 1/4 tspn cinammon 
• 2 tbsp agave syrup 

For the topping:

• Fat-free natural yoghurt
• Mixed berries

Method:

1. In a large bowl mix all the ingrediants except the bread and coconut oil. Leave this on the side for a 5-10 minutes to activate. 
2. Whilst the mixture is activating melt 1/2 tblspn of coconut oil in a heavy set pan.  
3. Soak the bread in the mixture on both sides until thoroughly moist. 
4. Put onto the preheated pan and cook til golden on both sides.
5. Serve with yoghurt and berries sprinkled on top or just add a little more agave.
6. Enjoy! 

Have a wonderful and relaxing Sunday x

Mussel with wine and cream

Hello everyone, how is your weekend? Are you going to dine out with friends tonight as usual? Shall we do a little change for tonight? Let's make a homemade seafood dish in six simple steps and eat in with friends. I am sure it will be a very nice and relaxing evening with delicious food！

Ingredients

1.75kg/4lb mussels

1 garlic clove, finely chopped

2 shallots, finely chopped 

15g/½oz butter

a bouquet garni of parsley, thyme and bay leaves

100ml/3½fl oz dry white wine or cider

120ml/4fl oz double cream

handful of parsley leaves, coarsley chopped

crusty bread, to serve

 

Preparation method

Wash the mussels.

Pull out the tough, fibrous beards protruding from between the tightly closed shells and then knock off any barnacles with a large knife.

Soften the garlic and shallots in the butter with the bouquet garni, in a large pan big enough to take all the mussels - it should only be half full.

Add the mussels and wine or cider, turn up the heat, then cover and steam them open in their own juices for 3-4 minutes.

Remove the bouquet garni, add the cream and chopped parsley and remove from the heat.

Place mussel in serving bowls and serve with lots of crusty bread.

Frenchologie x Carven. In Store Now...

Here at Frenchologie the new season arrivals are something to behold. Carven offers a colourful, fun and elegant collection with ladylike shapes in soft hues of coral, and cream with timeless pieces in black and oxblood to add a luxe winter feel to the collection. Guilliame Henry channels 60’s chic with mini wool dresses, boxy jackets and soft tartans, resulting in a polished yet relaxed look.  The hair and make up were kept simple with just a relaxed middle parting and a strong brow, all that’s required to create that nonchalant Parisian look. It’s French chic with an injection of life and vivacity that Carven never fails to bring to the table.

New collection in store now.