Whether you’re looking to detox or retox this week, our hotlist has you covered.
Scroll on to discover what’s on our radar right now.
BOOK THIS Jazz at Louie
An amalgam of four cities, ‘invoking the soul of New Orleans, the sophistication of Paris, and the sass of a New Yorker, all set on London’s stage’, Louie is considered one of Covent Garden’s hottest spots. The 75-cover restaurant is led by Executive Head Chef, Slade Rushing, who’s menu embraces ‘classic French gastronomy, New Orleans revisited Creole dishes, and New York culinary heritage’. Music is at the core of Louie – a point highlighted by their newly introduced live jazz brunches, which take place every Saturday from 12PM-2.30PM. Gather the gang and feast on a variety of brunch plates – think artisan eggs Benedict (served with cured Canadian bacon), super fresh Carlingford oysters, and a couple of rounds of warm New Orleans beignets – accompanied by some seriously smooth jazz. Alternatively, for those looking for somewhere to venture post-work on a Tuesday evening, consider Louie’s jazz nights – their next jazz session takes place on Tuesday 17 May at 9PM. Make a note in your diaries, Londoners.
WEAR THIS VCH Style X If Only If
British brand If Only If have teamed up with VCH Style – founded by Ginnie Chadwyck-Healey – to create the sweetest capsule collection of nightdresses. The edit comprises of three styles, all of which are designed to be size-inclusive (ranging from UK size 6-24). Perfect for dozing off to sleep in warmer weather (or used as a cover up when holidaying by the pool), we’re particularly fond of the Nancy nightdress, which is crafted from certified organic poplin and cambric cotton with wave straps and button-down front providing elegant embellishment.
DRINK THIS Gin d’Azur
Transport yourself to the South of France with Gin d’Azur. From Monaco in the east, to Marseille in the west, the Côte d’Azur – the epicentre of style and joie de vivre – has long captured the imagination of luminaries and trendsetters. This essence has been bottled, combining juniper, lavender, thyme, marjoram, star anise, and rosemary from the fields of Provence; Sel de Camargue from the mouth of the Rhône; and Menton lemon peel. Ingredients are distilled separately in copper pot stills over an open flame and then magnified by a hint of Camargue salt. A great addition to your home bar (*adds to summer shopping list), craft your own classic stirs – from martinis to negronis – at home; it’s the perfect summer aperitif.
BOOK THIS The Theory of Colour, Fitz's Bar
Fitz’s, the glamorous drinking den located in the Grade-II listed Kimpton Fitzroy London, has launched a new cocktail experience, The Theory of Colour. Presenting a menu of 14 cocktails (which are all matched to a different treatment of the 1660 piece of art by Dutch artist, Jan Davidsz de Heem’s, Vase of Flowers), Fitz’s General Manager, Scott Gavin invites guests to learn more about de Heem’s works, whilst revealing a personality trait of theirs, reflected by their choice of artwork. Further inspiration for the menu comes from Gavin’s interest in colour psychology and the impact it has on food and drink choices. “An interactive experience for guests from start to finish, where they will be able to explore how their choices are impacted by colour and how this relates to qualities or personality traits within them,” says Scott.
TRY THIS Lumen
This return to normality, summer jet setting, and social planning may be knocking your wellness routine out of sync. If wellness (and indeed tech) is your thing, this nifty gadget makes meal planning easy to understand and maintain, that is, as long as you’re willing to make it a part of your daily routine. In a single breath, take the guesswork out of your nutrition with Lumen, the world’s first hand-held, portable device to measure and help improve metabolism.
Historically, if you wanted to get a reading on your metabolic flexibility, you’d need to be tested at a clinic. The founders of Lumen wanted to make this as accessible as counting your daily steps. Setting up the Lumen is as easy as scanning the QR Code on the operating instructions and turning on the Bluetooth pairing. Download the app, which instructs you to inhale through the device until a coloured ring pictured on the screen expands to meet the outer circle. A “1” or “2” figure indicates that you’re burning fat, while a “3” is a balanced mixture of the two. The name of the game isn’t to always hang out in zones “1” or “2” and burn fat, but to be filtering between various zones and eat accordingly. For instance, when you wake up, you want to be in fat burn mode. Pre-workout, you’d ideally want to be in “3” or “4”. Based on your score, Lumen provides you with personalised nutrition plan on when and what to eat to fuel your day. As far as optimising your nutrition goes, with Lumen, it really is a piece of cake.
Any Questions or Tips to add?