A blog by journalist Hannah Brandler
Walks have become a precious activity in lockdown, the one government-authorised respite from total isolation. Fresh air has that ability to detach you from a wired brain and distract you from a newfound ever-twitching eyelid - an indication, no doubt, of excessive screen time. Being glued to your phone is a risky act in the…
What happens when a travel writer can't travel? I’ve turned to narrating adventures chez moi – home-trotting, if you will.
These are strange and difficult times for the hospitality industry, with restaurants and cafés heeding government advice to close their doors during the Covid-19 pandemic. While this means that our dining lives are currently confined to messy home kitchens, this hasn't stopped me from reliving my (formerly taken for granted) restaurant experiences – quite the…
While the NHS and other key workers selflessly dedicate themselves to the fight against Covid-19, we're doing our best to support them by staying at home. It's uncertain how long this period will last, but thankfully society is pulling together to get everyone through the pandemic – from hotels offering their rooms to key workers…
By now, most people will be familiar with Big Mamma, an Italian restaurant group which has grown from a start-up into an empire thanks to its affordable menu, extravagant presentation of dishes (designed no doubt for Instagram), and gorgeous interior design. Its imprint on the Paris food scene has flourished since the first outpost East…
This review was written before the onset of coronavirus – some dishes may no longer appear on the menu. The restaurant remains open and has launched a new service Maison Patron, delivering handmade freshly prepared dishes to your door. The owners are also opening a sister restaurant in Highbury on August 14. If you haven't…
Strolling along Rue de Turenne, a street filled with concept stores and chic boutiques (not to mention the mouth-watering Jacques Genin chocolatiers), you'll be hit by an irresistible wave of sweet cinnamon, courtesy of Fringe Coffee's home-baked buns. The conspicuous café suits its name, situated on the fringes of both the labyrinthine Marais and its…
Keen to unlock the treasure troves of the Red City, I exchanged grey English weather for Marrakech’s warm light and century-old sights. In little over three hours, the plane descended to reveal a terracotta city overlooked by the snow-capped peaks of the Atlas mountains. Enchanting accommodation Upon arrival, we made our way to our home…
Shepherds Bush is home to many treasures, preserving its love of independents regardless of the commercial spell of the forever-expanding Westfield Shopping Centre in White City. Adjoining the two main hubs of Goldhawk Road and Uxbridge Road lies the charming Askew Road, a discreet high-street with a village feel and friendly locals to match. Granted,…
With my parents having lived in Bergen in their twenties, it has always been a point of reference in their stories and anecdotes, making me feel immediately closer to a city that I had not yet visited. This summer marked the perfect time to explore the places spoken about so fondly during my youth. While…
Spill the Beans 