Amsterdam

When I was in Europe a couple of months ago, I went over to Amsterdam for a few days.

I didn't know what to expect to be honest but after visiting I would describe it as quirky and urban. What i did enjoy is that it's a place where you can walk everywhere. In between the streets you have these beautiful canals running through with lots of boats, which was very pretty.

I was overwhelmed by the amount of people there and all the bikes! Bikes are huge here, which I love as that makes it very individual as a place but crossing roads and trying to be careful not to have a run in with people on bikes was a challenge, but I got there in the end (you can of course avoid this by getting onto a bike yourself!).

In terms of food, you MUST try the famous chips with mayonnaise, you can't miss the shops, they are in every corner.  They also love their nutella, so expect a nutella shop selling waffles everywhere too. Another shop you see in almost every street is cheese shops! I stopped by at Holy Cheese which is an amazing shop that sells so many different types of cheeses (like truffle cheese!) and makes the best cheese sandwiches - make sure you stop by and try one! For a good Italian restaurant you should definitely visit Mazzo.

For a great shopping experience, head over to their main department store de Bijenkorf, it's probably the equivalent to Selfridges in London.

In terms of history you must see the Ann Frank house, the Museum of Bags and Shoes, the Rembrandt House Museum, the Van Gogh Museum and finally the Rijksmuseum (which houses famous paintings such as The Night Watch by Rembrandt). The Rijksmuseum were also showcasing The Miffy Art Parade when I was visiting, which was really cute!

The Royal Palace and the beautiful Vondelpark are also great places to see. Vondelpark also has great shopping and restaurants around there.

If you are looking for a place to stay, then check out the recently opened W Hotel.

One final hidden gem to complete your trip to Amsterdam, is a restaurant called REM Eiland. A bit further out from the center, this old oil rig in the middle of the Amsterdam Harbour has been converted to an impressive restaurant!

Finally, when you do visit make sure you take a pair of comfortable shoes (I would say trainers), there are a lot of cobbled streets!


F & F

xx

Smack Lobster - London

If you've had a long day shopping in central London and want something quick to eat but gourmet at the same time, then you need to check out Smack Lobster.

This brainchild from the creators of Burger & Lobster is the place to go for the best lobster roll, and it's located just off Oxford Street! (not far from Selfridges!)

They have a great selection of different types of lobster rolls which include a Mexican roll (smoked chipotle mayonnaise, peppers, corn, jalapenos, white cabbage) and the California roll (cucumber, avocado mayonnaise with lime, chives, lettuce, tomatoes).  They also serve whole lobster, courgette fries and a lobster chowder! And if your in a hurry you can grab a fresh lobster salad to go from their takeaway section.

We opted for the Seven Samurai lobster roll (Japanese mayonnaise, Japanese cabbage, cucumber, pickled ginger, spring onions, togarashi spice), courgette fries and the lobster chowder. The roll was so delicious and full of flavour and came in a soft but slightly toasted bun! The courgette fries were nice and crispy and of course the lobster chowder was creamy and good enough to be eating at a sit down restaurant!

This place is definitely worth getting your claws into! :)

F & F

xx

Fischers - London

When I think about London I just imagine the days of Mr Selfridge! (it may be because I am obsessed with the series at the moment!)

But I just love the old school glamour, decor, and just everything about it.

So imagine my delight when I stumbled across a place in London where as soon as I walked in I felt I had stepped back in time.

Fischers is actually a Viennese Cafe in the heart of Marylebone high street which is indicative of Vienna in the early 20th Century. Wood paneled walls, vintage pictures, tiled flooring/walls and the huge clock in the middle of the room (which is hard to miss!) creates a beautiful warm ambiance.

We went there for breakfast but they also are open Brunch, Lunch and Dinner.

We ordered the scrambled eggs and the pancakes with maple syrup, along with some Earl Grey tea... a delicious hearty breakfast!

We can't wait to come back to try the menu they offer for the rest of the day!

F & F

xx