restaurant: cay tre

If you've run the gamut of Vietnamese restaurants on Kingsland Road, you might have missed Cay Tre - successfully located off the main drag on Old Street, it pulls action from Hoxton Sq and has built its reputation based on the super stellar food.


Surprisingly, they have recently opened a brand new restaurant in uber snazzy Soho and after my meal last week, I'm sure it will be just as successful as it's East London sibling.


Vietnamese food is about fresh flavours and exciting combinations and Cay Tre delivers on both. I went with a group of hungry girls so therefore able to try a vast amount of food. Highlights included the gỏi cuốn  - spring rolls bursting with mint, prawns and coriander and cà tím nướng - delicious grilled aubergine topped with ground pork and a tangy sweet and sour sauce. Anyone who visits has to try the Mekong catfish - made to order table-side, it's full of dill, peanuts and noodles and a surprise favourite was the curried soft shell crab, an unctuous dish that oozed flavour with every bite of crunchy crab.


The service was good, the wine list reasonable and I've been told they will soon be serving cocktails. Definitely not a place to miss.


Cay Tre Soho, 42 Dean Street, London, W1D 4PZ

a trip up north

Hello friends and happy Tuesday! What did you do this weekend? On Friday, a group of friends saw the world premiere of Third Star - epic film, stunning photography, amazing soundtrack and a shocking but riveting ending, definitely worth checking out.

On Saturday morning, the husband and I traveled by train to Yorkshire to spend a few days with my new in-laws. We went for a lovely long hike through the country, ate amazing food, and discovering Fountain's Abbey - beautiful ruins from an Abbey first built in 1132. I am loving the National Trust properties and have plans to visit many more over the summer.

More pictures after the jump.

toms

Have you seen the new summer collection from Toms? Fluro green and lace! Amazing with cut off denim shorts and a loose white tee. Lazy brown and white strips! Ideal with a little white dress. Comfortable, stylish, and just so darn cute. Am totally coveting these perfect summer shoes.

third star

Are you going to see Third Star? It's out on Friday in London and I can't wait! Adam Robertson, who both starred in and Associate Produced the film, is a good friend of ours and it's been amazing to watch the amount of work he has put in to getting this film made over the last (many) years. And now we get to see it on the big screen! Amazing.

I was lucky enough to read the script years ago and am still struck by the power and emotion Vaughan, who write and produced the film, managed to capture in the story he told. I know things change from script to finished product so I'm curious to see how the movie compares to what played out in my imagination!

Third Star opens on May 20th in London at the Empire Cinemas in Leicester Square and opens in New York in June. Spread the word and tell your friends as the success of this low budget film is dependent on everyone going to see it!

More information about the film, cast, crew and where the move is playing can be found here.

vintage delight

Aren't these amazing? Taken by renowned photographer Melvin Sokolsky in Paris 1963 for Harper's Bazaar 'Bubble' spring collection.

something to sit on

Stools?

Or chairs...

In our effort to finish decorating our kitchen I may or may not of become a bit over eager and pushed my lovely husband into posting our kitchen table and chairs up for sale online. And surprisingly - they have sold! While in theory this is great news, in practice it means we need to quickly make some final decisions about what is going to replace them. These are my favourites so far, what do you think?

Haus, 39 Morpeth Road, Victoria Park, London E9 7LD

Fragile Design, 14/15 The Custard Factory, Digbeth, Birmingham, B9 4AA

Metro Retro, Seabrooks Farm, Church Lane, Little Leighs, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 1PG

restaurant: riding house cafe

When you're shopping in town, are fed up with the crowds and just want to sit down to a nice glass of wine and light snack, where do you go? If like me, you've struggled to find the perfect spot, you'll love the Riding House Cafe.

The decor is spot on; a big warehouse like space that is dominated by a huge bar and a long communal table on the right whilst on the left is a smaller space full of cozy, bright orange banquettes. The menu is interesting - they have small, medium and large tasting plates, the normal selection of classic mains you'd expect to find and as an added plus, they do brunch! There is a more than decent selection of wines by the glass and the cocktail list is full of interesting sounding concoctions. 

I've been lucky enough to try out their food on three separate occasions over the last few weeks and let me tell you, it's worth checking out.

cured sea trout, jalapeno, creme fraiche

chicory, pear, radish, gorgonzola

And for brunch...

chorizo hash browns, mushrooms, poached egg

eggs hussard - ox heart tomato, ham, spinach, hollandaise sauce

Riding House Cafe, 43-41 Great Titchfield St, London W1W 7PQ