Victoria Sandwich Cake

INGREDIENTS For the Sponge 225g caster sugar 225g self-raising flour 225g unsalted butter at room temperature, plus a little extra to grease the tins 2 tsp baking powder 4 medium free-range eggs, at room temperature For the Filling 200g fresh raspberries or if you prefer good quality raspberry/strawberry jam 150g full-fat cream cheese 75g mascarpone…

Lockdown 2020 – 8 Weeks in Pictures

One thing is for sure…we are not going anywhere anytime soon! Cancelling all holidays for 2020, working from home or being in furlough since mid-March, not being able to go outside and not seeing our family & friends for over 8 weeks has become our new norm! How you all doing? Are you surviving? There…

Discovering Puglia: Brindisi

Let me tell you a little something about where I grew up! Puglia is a vast area in the south of Italy. It’s known as the heel of Italy’s “boot” and in my opinion (but maybe I am a little biased) it’s the most charming region in Italy. Its land is touched by both the…

Discovering Puglia: Monopoli

The mission this summer was to visit has much as possible of Puglia, the place where I lived for the first 14 years of my life. I had a plan of action typed up on an A4 sheet of paper and delivered to my dad a week before our departure! He laughed of course, knowing…

Discovering Puglia: Polignano a Mare

When travelling to Puglia one of the destinations on everyone’s lips is Polignano a Mare. Since I was heading to Puglia this summer, I was looking forward to spend some time discovering this place and see what the fuss is all about! Without a doubt the main attraction and what probably makes this place famous…

Lido di Jesolo: An Unexpected Journey

For those of you that know me, you know that I love travelling to Italy. Part of my summer trip this year was to a new place called Lido di Jesolo. A place that I have heard so much about thanks to the Wilson’s sisters who have been holidaying there for the last 10 years….

What else to do in Venice: Murano & Burano

While in Venice, make sure to visit the islands of Murano and Burano. We took the vaporetto line 4.1 from San Zaccaria just off Piazza San Marco which takes approx. 40min to get to Murano. Don’t forget to be camera ready when leaving the dock as the journey offers charming views of the piazza from…

Il Carnevale di Venezia: history, culture and beautiful masks

Carnival A lot of people have asked me why for two years running I have travelled to Venice during the carnival season which every year brings approximately 3 million visitors to the city…and I say why not!! Yes it’s busy, yes if you don’t do your research and book in advance prices might be pretty…

Venice: where to stay, eat & drink

Where to Stay Venice is divided into six sestieri/districts. San Marco the tourist hot-spot; Cannaregio mostly residential, home to Venice’s Jewish Ghetto; Castello the largest of the districts, stretches from the tourist centre to the east; Dorsoduro to the west, home to students and artists and the most famous art gallery the Accademia; Santa Croce…

La Serenissima: my love affair with Venice

Edit There is no other place in the world like Venice. She is the most charming and unique of Italian cities. With over 400 bridges, a series of twisting canals, incredible architecture & the history of one of the richest trading powers in the world one thing is for sure, you will fall in love…