Somerset House Ice Rink

The most glamorous and picturesque ice rink in town where celebrities ice skate among children is back! With club nights featuring Joey Negro and The Ministry of Sound to ice dance lunch time workouts, a skate school for small and bigger kids and a Tiffany and Co "Tuck Shop" this is one festive activity not to be missed. After all, it's the most wonderful time of the year and we all need to embrace it!

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Lily Vanilli

Having temporarily relocated to the hip East End, I decided that my mission should be to explore and discover as much as I could about this constantly evolving part of London. My latest obsession is Columbia Road on a Sunday! Especially during this festive season, when everything is so nicely decorated and the street smells of mulled wine and Christmas trees being sold at the flower market. Among the cutest little shops, I came across a courtyard with even more cute shops and an incredible bakery: Lily Vanilli. The place was packed with people enjoying hot drinks and marvellous cakes indoors as well as outdoors. Obviously I gave into the temptation and left with a selection of cupcakes, the most AMAZING triple choc brownie ever and a decadent chocolate and sour cherry cake. I also set my eyes on the fresh mince pies that had just come out of the oven but "luckily" enough I had no more cash on me. The only downside about this place is that it only opens on Sundays, as most of the shops on the street. However, you can pre order anything you want, customise your own cake and also have them cater your tea party.

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Salt and Chocolate

Having an obsession with my nails, for many years I had been looking for a decent nail salon in London but, surprisingly enough, it was very hard to find. Then, right across my restaurant on Walton Street, Salt and Chocolate finally opened. Not only this is "decent", it is nail treatment in heaven. The girls are so friendly and kind and their skills and professionalism spot on. Moreover, Salt and Chocolate always hosts photography exhibitions on its walls including the works of Terry O'neill, Bob Carlos Clarke, Joseph Ford, Shlomi Nissim and Quin Murray. Also, Salt and Chocolate now stocks a fine selection of jewellery including Felder&Felder, Belle Sauvage, Jayce Wong, Susan Shi and Yuki Mitsuyasu. So chose one of the hottest new season OPI colours, seat back on the massaging armchair, one sip of champagne and enjoy that pedicure. That's what I call a treat! Art, jewellery, nail treatments-Love Salt and Chocolate!

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Baity Kitchen

I know I haven't updated my blog for a while but I had a very good reason..The opening of my first eatery, along business partner and friend, chef Joudie Kalla. Baity Kitchen is our cosy deli restaurant situated on Walton Street, Chelsea. The concept behind it  was to serve high quality food inspired by our Greek and Palestinian backgrounds without any of your typical Chelsea frills. The atmosphere is always relaxed, our staff extra friendly and the food reminds you of mum's kitchen (Baity also means "home" in Arabic).Open seven days a week, our menu changes on a daily basis according to seasonal ingredients and the chefs' inspiration. Among favourites, you will find Sayadieh (yummy marinated cod with cumin rice and a yogurt-tahini dressing), Pastitsio (Greeks' answer to Lasagna), White truffle macaroni and cheese, Gemista (peppers, tomatoes and aubergines stuffed with rice in a rich tomato sauce), Mjadarra (puy lentil with basmati rice, caramelised onions, pomegranate and rocket) and the list goes on...Not to mention the signature choc chip scones, the brownies, the choc cookies and the lemon meringue tarts. I look forward to seeing you all there!

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