DRINKS

July 31, 2018 by: Sunny London

Savage Garden Rooftop Bar- Views of London

Sunny friends, I think I am still recovering from our night at London’s Savage Garden Rooftop Bar. Ok, so maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration because it’s been a few weeks since I attended their launch party. But, this venue billed as ‘London’s Wildest Rooftop Bar’ sure made an impression on Mr Sunny and me.

So, let’s get started with the savage details.

Savage Garden Rooftop Bar: Location

I would have never guessed that the 12th floor of the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel London would have such an amazing rooftop bar. It really caught Mr Sunny and I off guard.

We arrived a few minutes prior to the start time of the launch party and immediately figured out that we missed the memo on the cool factor of this event. It’s actually embarrassing because the invitation from the PR contact was pretty clear:

We really hope you can join us for a night of cocktails, canapes, live music and stunning city views… Take a walk on the wildside with us and prepare to expect the unexpected.

I mean really, how much more obvious could it have been???

As we entered, I quickly felt under dressed and way to casual. Then, I was swept away by the numerous rooms that featured one breathtaking view after another of London.

The air was filled with warm golden sun and bass thumping music. It was clear that Mr Sunny and I arrived about 20 years late to this party!

Savage Garden Rooftop Bar: The Crowd

When we first met, Mr Sunny and I were definitely classified as ‘Club Kids.’ We loved raves and clubs and lounges with an electronic ambiance. I lived around the corner from Limelight and spent a lot of time dancing there.

After I got over my initial shock of being included on the ‘cool list’ for a swanky new rooftop bar in London and realised that I should have seen this elite atmosphere coming based on the invitation, I did what any normal person would do to calm her anxiety. I hit the bar. I hit them all.

Savage Garden Rooftop Bar: Cocktails

Don’t start judging me. I am only adding a bit of drama to give some flair to this rooftop bar review. Ok, truth be told, it was Mr Sunny that did the bar hopping. I hid in a corner after I got some cityscape shots on my new camera and just did some crowd watching.

Mr Sunny quickly sussed that each bar station was offering a different cocktail. Of course, he wanted to try them all, as ‘it would be rude not to.’ Don’t you just love the logic of the English when it comes to drinking?

Since he went through the trouble of queuing for every round of them, I graciously agreed to sip a taste of everything he brought to our table. Perhaps a few sips in some cases.

As with any rooftop bar trying to compete in a cosmopolitan town, the drinks offered were tasty and uniquely presented.

Savage Garden Rooftop Bar: Final Thoughts

Yes it might be a bit cliché to call Savage Garden Rooftop Bar a ‘hotspot’ but seriously, it is. As the night went on and the sun began to fade, it became even more evident that the people there wanted to impress and be impressed. This is the place for which you take hours to get ready, and plan on staying until the early hours of the morning.

We were safely on the underground heading home by 9pm. While my head was on my pillow by 11pm, my thoughts were creatively imagining all the savage activities I was missing – but probably had experienced a decade before.

For your viewing enjoyment, I suggest you catch the club on Instagram if you aren’t brave enough to venture there yourself. 😉

Let me know what you think, Sunny friends!

December 9, 2015 by: Sunny London

Nutribullet vs Ninja Bullet- The Blender Battle

Having trouble deciding between the Nutribullet vs Ninja Bullet for yourself or someone else as a gift? Then check out sites like Product Playoffs to help you make a decision. For me, there is a clear winner in this food extractor contest. And, yes, I do have both of them.

I didn’t intend to purchase both superfood machines. After doing a bit of research last year, I chose the Nutribullet and was really happy with the decision. A few weeks later, a PR company contacted me to do a food review and part of the promotion involved giving me a Ninja Bullet.

While I didn’t have space in my London flat for two versions of the same type of kitchen appliance, I did want to have a contest between the Nutribullet vs Ninja Bullet blenders to see if there really is a difference.

Nutribullet vs Ninja Bullet Blender: Fill Line

One fault for the Nutribullet against the Ninja involves the fill line. It’s not as high, so it can’t fit as much food. However, the smoothies and shakes I make in the Nutribullet are just fine.

Let’s face it, no one is going in to food coma from a healthy smoothie. So, even though I am not ‘super full’ when I finish my drink, it’s certainly a big enough portion size when I make it in the Nutribullet, despite the lower capacity.

Brain freeze happens with both, regardless of the drink content amount. 😉 Please note that I don’t fill the container as high in the picture above when I actually make smoothies. That was just for a nice shot.

Nutribullet vs Ninja Bullet Blender: Travel

Both of these models come with travel containers. The Nutribullet model I have has one container that has an attached handle. The Ninja does not have a handle. However, it does have a flip top in which you can put a straw or take sips without worry of the drink spilling easily.

Living in London as an American expat, I don’t drive. Therefore, I don’t have to think much about putting my smoothies in a car’s drink holder. In America, you may wish to consider this. Although, all the cars I drove in the US didn’t have cup holders big enough to fit either of these blenders’ containers. I was lucky to get a Skinny Venti Latte from Starbucks in my vehicles, much less a wide shake holder.

Nutribullet vs Ninja Bullet Blender: Recipe Pictures

Both food extractors come with tons of recipes. There are also an abundance of healthy smoothie recipes on Pinterest. The Nutribullet has a flat blade and an emulsifying blade. I haven’t used the emulsifying one yet.

While both blenders have an apparatus with four blades, the Nutri Ninja’s are higher in to the container. Because of this deeper reach, it processes recipes featuring ice with a much smoother, creamier consistency. Against the Nutribullet, it produces a better texture.

Nutribullet vs Ninja Bullet Blender: Cleanup

Both of the blenders are dishwasher safe. However, I always clean each by hand with dish washing liquid in my kitchen sink. This is because they will last longer.

Cleaning each of them this way is a giant pain. Even if I fill them with water and soak them for a while, I still have to use a scrub brush quite a bit on the containers. The grooves where the lids screw on also take additional time because super fine food grit gets stuck there easily. Obviously the blades need considerable care when washing by hand.

This is a reason why I prefer the Nutribullet. Since I clean my manually, the higher blades on the Nurti Ninja Bullet make me more receptive to injury in comparison.

Nutribullet vs Ninja Bullet Blender: Motors

It is best to use the pulse method for both of the food extractors when making healthy smoothies or other drinks. It’s shocking how in just a few pulses you can see and really feel the difference between these two machines.

This brings me to my ultimate deciding factor- fear.

I’m not kidding. The Nutri Ninja is hands down my least preferred of the two food extractors. Every time I use it, I am afraid for my life. The motor seems too powerful. It’s difficult for me to manage because I feel like I am really not in good control of it when it’s processing food. Whereas, the Nutribullet is simple and smooth to use.

Nutribullet vs Ninja Bullet Blender: Price

The biggest reason I choose the Nutribullet over the Ninja is because of how nervous the Ninja’s motor makes me I hold the container to pulse contents. That being said, there actually is an even better reason why you should like it too- the price!

The Amazon UK NutriBullet vs Ninja Bullet price comparison is below. You get more accessories with the Nutribullet in the UK for a little bit more money.

However, for US shoppers, Amazon.com features the 12-Piece Magic Bullet NutriBullet and the Nutri Ninja Pro (BL450)for these prices:

Please note, even though the above products are referred to as ‘blenders’ they are not. Nor are they juicers. They are technically called a Food Extractor.

I’d love to know your thoughts if you have one of the above mentioned products. What success have you had?

December 2, 2015 by: Sunny London

Winter Wonderland Cocktails at One Aldwych Lobby Bar

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire and Winter Wonderland cocktails under your nose!

Ok, ok, that’s not how the song goes. But, when you’ve had a few festive drinks at One Aldwych Lobby Bar this holiday season, you’ll probably start making up your own Christmas lyrics too to suit you.

It’s no secret that Mr. Sunny and I frequent this luxury Covent Garden hotel as much as possible. So, when we were invited to enjoy their Winter Wonderland cocktails, we ran right over.

In fact, we kicked off our two year-anniversary celebration with these drinks before dinner that evening.

One Aldwych hotel looks stunning this holiday season.

As you enter Lobby Bar, you see a magical snowy white Christmas tree. The hotel’s resident florist, Mark Siredzuk, designed it. The Christmas tree is 25 feet and has 130 shimmering birdhouses which have white sparkling dogwood branches, frosty asparagus fern and hundreds of red-breasted robins.

The Winter Wonderland cocktails all feature Four Roses Bourbon. They reflect the rich, spicy notes of sweet oak, caramel and ripened red berries.

First, Mr. Sunny had the Almond Warmer which is served in a brandy glass and has Amaretto, Antica Formula, Angostura Bitters, pomegranate syrup, sugar syrup and fresh lemon juice.

I sipped on the Winter Wonderland. It’s topped with cinnamon foam and served in a martini glass. The drink has Dom de Canton, Cherry Heering, Chuncho Bitters, wild berry syrup, cinnamon, sugar syrup and fresh lemon juice.

Next, we tried the Rockin’ Robin and the Bourbon Goose.

Even though I usually don’t prefer the taste of Ginger, I did enjoy this drink which has ginger and lemongrass cordial, Calvados, Green Chartreuse, Angostura Bitters, sugar syrup and fresh lemon juice.

Mr. Sunny was a bit silly with his Bourbon Goose. As a guy who feels most comfortable with a Stein in one hand (or actually one in each hand!), this dainty drink was a little to tiny for him. At one point he joked, ‘I had better not sneeze or my glass will tip over.’

I enjoyed looking at his drink because it had the magical mist similar to what One Aldwych hotel serves for their epic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory inspired Afternoon Tea.

Besides the Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon, this drink has Grey Goose Orange, Benedictine, orange blossom, grenadine and sugar syrup.

The drinks share the warm sensations of Christmas feelings with their unique blends. When we finished, we took a short stroll on The Strand to see the new holiday lights and headed off to dinner.

If you’re in the Covent Garden area, perhaps after ice skating at Somerset House, the Winter Wonderland cocktails at One Aldwych are ideal. I also learned while I was visiting that they are offering gift vouchers for over twenty experiences at the hotel, including their spa treatments.

In July I had an Oskia Signature Glow Facial at their spa and was so relaxed after it, I didn’t care about going on camera sans make up for a vlog about my stay at One Aldwych.

Other gift vouchers include a ‘One Great Weekend’ hotel experience and their dinner and movie nights for the ‘Film and Fizz‘ events. This year they’re showing holiday classics such as It’s a Wonderful Life, White Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street and The Holiday.

Finally, Indigo restaurant, which is where I had the best piece of lamb I’ve ever eaten in London is offering a tantalising festive lunch and dinner menu in December too.

We’d really like to thank One Aldwych Lobby Bar for kicking off our two-year wedding anniversary with the luxurious Winter Wonderland cocktails and a special sweet treat too. We can’t wait to visit again soon and wish the whole staff a happy Christmas and New Year!

To read more about everyone’s five-star experience at the luxurious One Aldwych, you can see their TripAdvisor reviews.

August 26, 2015 by: Sunny London

Indian Summer Cocktails at One Aldwych Hotel

What should you do when you just aren’t ready for summer to end? Treat yourself to some luxurious Indian Summer Cocktails at One Aldwych hotel!

After returning from a one month holiday in my home state Florida, I wanted to do something really fun with Mr. Sunny. Our first date night upon my return to London kicked off at the hotel’s award-winning Lobby Bar, which we have been to many times.

We were invited to try the Indian Summer Cocktails made with Brecon Botanicals Gin. Once again, we were thrilled with another One Aldwych experience.

Why?

If you could capture all the beautiful sun and heat which melts your bones on a gorgeous summer night, it’s in these glasses.

An Indian Summer is a period of unseasonably warm weather that occurs in the Autumn. These sexy cocktails make the liquid translation perfectly- even if there may have been a bit of rain the day we enjoyed them 😉

First, Mr. Sunny and I sipped on the Uncle Pepper and Summer Splash. Because he’s not a pepper fan, he claimed the Summer Splash as his cocktail for this round. But, I was able to sneak a little sip of the Summer Splash.

Aside from Brecon Botanicals Gin, his drink has Aperol, Cherry Heering and olive infusion, rhubard and ginger syrup, fresh lemon juice, Angostura bitters and a splash of Pedrino. It’s served in a chilled coupette glass.

Next, we had the Bugs Bunny and Bittersweet Flakes.

I grabbed the chocolate treat. It has Brecon Botanicals Gin, Averna liquer, rosemary and bergamot syrup, bergamot juice and a splash of Pedrino. It’s served in a chilled old-fashioned glass.

I’m going to tease you a bit here and not tell you what’s in the Bugs Bunny. You’ll just have to pop in to the Lobby Bar yourself for a round of Indian Summer Cocktails. But here is a picture…

One Aldwych asked which one we preferred, as they’re always keen to receive feedback. We both voted the Summer Splash. Between the ultra sleek glass and the silky smooth texture, it is the winner this time to us.

When I explained that it was the Lavender Cloud which caught my attention most in their recent Bloom Gin Flight, I learned that they were both created by the same mixologist at the Lobby Bar.

Sounds like I have found my liquor making mate, eh?

One Aldwych hotel’s current flight of gin showcases Brecon Botanicals Gin.

I love that the hotel keeps their Drinks menu seasonally fresh and invites me to share them with you. My first visit to One Aldwych was to review the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory inspired afternoon tea back in February of this year.

I noticed while Mr. Sunny and I were enjoying our cocktails that several Lobby Bar tables were filled with this afternoon tea selection. So, I made sure to inquire about its status.

If this is something on your London List of Things to Do, you had better book now! They are nearly full for weekend reservations for the next few months. Please don’t put this on your Autumn agenda without calling first to book.

To read and see more about this five-star Covent Garden hotel, you can click on the reviews and videos I created below:

– Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea
– Bloom Gin Cocktails: Sippin’ Gin and Juice at One Aldwych Hotel
– 7 Secrets of One Aldwych Hotel
– One Aldwych Hotel Stay (YouTube video)
– Dinner at Indigo Restaurant
– The Coolest Pool in London (YouTube video)

The fact that our cocktails were complimentary has not influenced my review of One Aldwych hotel, except to reconfirm that every experience I have had there is five-star. In fact, during my holiday in Florida I saw a doctor to whom I was a patient when I lived in the state. During our conversation about living in London, he said the past two times he visited, he stayed at One Aldwych, and it was remarkable! I wasn’t surprised. However, I was thrilled to hear this, especially since I recommend the hotel so much for the NFL in London Games to Americans.

If you visit their reviews on TripAdvisor, you will see that all of my reviews linked above match those of other travellers and Londoners who have been hotel guests for a holiday, dinner or drinks.

What’s your end of summer drink? Do you change with the season or have a standard sipper no matter what the time or occasion?

August 13, 2015 by: Sunny London

Drink Maple Water- Fad, Fab or Faux?

Discovering Drink Maple Water during my holiday in America is certainly one of my trip highlights.

Have you heard of this hot new drink?

I actually had not, so when I received an email about trying it, I wasn’t sure what to do. Luckily, the email arrived while I was visiting my sister in Michigan (a state known for its ‘Pure Michigan’ slogan) so she immediately informed me about what I had been missing.

When I told her that I was asked to try Drink Maple water for its upcoming launch at Ocado in the UK, she was genuinely surprised I wasn’t in the loop already about this growing health trend. My sister indicated she’d read about it in quite a few fitness magazines, and I should absolutely give it a go.

Within a week, a package including several samples of Drink Maple Water arrived, and my fun testing it began.

At this time, I was on the second leg of my trip, which included spending several weeks in Florida. I couldn’t wait to take this new drink to the beach with me. This is its Daytona Beach debut with me via a picture I snapped before a morning walk.

THIS is HOT in America and hitting the UK! Can’t wait to share the details with you… stay tuned for details on the blog. @drinkmaple @drinkmapleeu
A photo posted by Sunny In London☀️🇬🇧 (@sunny_in_london) on Aug 6, 2015 at 9:32am PDT

When I tasted it, I fell in love. Truly.

Drink Maple Water has been compared to the coconut water trend. I tried drinking coconut water a few years ago but never really bonded with it. However, my Drink Maple water experience is very different.

What does it taste like? Candy flavoured water. A huge reason why I like it better than coconut water is despite its fun taste, it has half the sugar of coconut water. Hence, it doesn’t taste nearly as sweet.

The silky smooth texture even further enhances its appeal for me. Quite honestly, I think it’s fantastic just on its own. This is the result of one of the recipes they sent me…

I tossed in sunny straws and a rose around it to make the shake look prettier for its photo shoot. Let’s face it, kale doesn’t really win any ‘Most Photogenic Food’ contests.

This is what I put in a nutrient extractor (minus the lucuma powder because I didn’t have any)…

Drink Maple Water Kale, Banana Walnut Shake Ingredients:

2 handfuls baby kale
1 banana
1/2 cup strawberries
1/4 cup walnuts
1/4 cup rolled oats
1 tbsp lucuma powder
1 cup DRINKmaple
1 cup ice cubes

I can’t say that the Drink Maple Water gave this shake an amazing taste difference compared to the other kale shakes I make, but the electrolyte jolt and manganese it adds are powerful. And, really, what could you possibly add to the flavour of kale that would have you doing cartwheels anyway? 😉

Next, I experimented with a smoothie recipe I found on the carton they sent.

Drink Maple Water Get Buzzed Smoothie:

1/4 cup cold brew coffee concentrate
1 cup DRINKmaple
1 tsp maca powder
2 tablespoons chia seeds
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup cashews
1 cup ice

Again, I left out one ingredient (maca powder) because I didn’t have any.

I picked this smoothie because if you’ve ever been to Florida during August, you know it’s simply sweltering. Between the ridiculous humidity during hurricane season and the 90º Fahrenheit temperatures, my one French Press a day morning caffeine ritual is tough to manage. A cold coffee drink instead sounded so delicious.

This one totally rocks! To my American friends, I will say it reminded me of pancakes with a very light coffee taste. While I had anticipated a very sugary sip, I was pleasantly surprised.

Drink Maple Water Highlights:

– The water comes straight from organic maple trees in North America
– It’s 100% natural and has nothing added
– It’s low in calories
– It has 46 nutrients

In the UK, it’s available at Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Harrods, Partridges, Wholefoods & Planet Organic, and Ocado.

So, regarding the headline for this drink… I will say it’s fab! We’re smart enough now to know that no drink is an elixir to life on its own. However, if you want a water that’s silky smooth with a lot less sugar than other drinks on the market, I fully endorse Drink Maple Water as an excellent choice. Let me know your thoughts when you try it!

June 2, 2015 by: Sunny London

Sippin’ Gin and Juice- One Aldwych in Covent Garden

What happens when you combine gin, flowers and a swanky hotel in Covent Garden? You end up with flight of cocktails at the Lobby Bar at One Aldwych just off of the Strand.

This is exactly how I spent an afternoon last week on a glorious sunny day in London.

You may remember last summer when I tried gin for the first time. I learned about why gin is such an important part of English culture and found the perfect mixture for a gin and tonic. This time of year is perfect to push aside my standard staple of red wine, as vino is a bit heavy in the heat, and hit the gin. Lightly, of course.

In fact, this is the caution I received from my father’s friend last year when I conveyed my new fondness for gin:

‘You better be careful with gin. It’s nice. But, it’s known for sneaking up on you and kicking you in the face like an elephant.’

Does this pretty drink look like it could do that to you?

When I was invited to test the One Aldwych Hotel BLOOM Gin Flight that is exclusive to their Lobby Bar, I was eager but cautious.

I already knew I loved this hotel. First it’s in Covent Garden, which is my favourite neighborhood in London. Second, I had a blast at their Charlie and the Chocolate Factory inspired afternoon tea.

The hotel is simply gorgeous. You can read my One Aldwych Hotel afternoon tea review to see fantastic pictures of the interior. What I love most is how beautifully the sun hits the Lobby Bar from every angle. The space is open, airy and colourful.

The building was constructed in 1907 and was first the home of The Morning Post newspaper. After twenty years, the paper moved elsewhere, and the building was occupied by several other companies. In 1998 its current resident, One Aldwych Hotel, debuted.

The mixologists at the Lobby Bar really know how to shake things up. I had my first taste of their talents when my bubbling cocktail arrived for the adult themed afternoon tea I attended previously.

Their current drinks menu indicates that BLOOM gin ‘has a slightly sweet taste which is created by a blend of honeysuckle, chamomile and pomelo’. Assume each cocktail below has this as its first ingredient.

One Aldwych Hotel Lobby Bar- The Lavender Cloud

Out of the four gin drinks, I la la la loved this one the most. It’s a swirl of rhubarb liqueur, black raspberry liqueur, honey infused with lavender and fresh lime juice. The drink is topped with bergamot foam and served in a chilled martini glass.

Surprisingly, lavender was the only item I was looking forward to in the drink. Not one of the other ingredients appeal to me. Yet, even after four cocktails, it made a lasting impression for taste with me.

One Aldwych Hotel Lobby Bar- The Blooming Tea

This ‘tea’ tosses around apricot brandy, ginger and lemongrass cordial, Kamm & Sons, camomile tea and fresh lemon juice. You’ll find it in a chilled coupette glass.

While I do love lemon and camomile, the inclusion of ginger didn’t get me too excited. However, it is a smooth drink with a little citrus kick.

One Aldwych Hotel Lobby Bar- The Smoked Flower

Mixed with Mezcal, grapefruit liqueur, elderflower cordial, agave nectar and fresh lemon juice. This Mexican infused gin drink comes in a chilled Martini glass.

One Aldwych Hotel Lobby Bar- The Almond Bouquet

Not only does this drink have a sexy summer name, but also it has almond! With a mostly Italian heritage (and a British grandfather), I thought this would be a clear winner with my taste buds.

A chilled coupette glass captures the mix of Amaretto liqueur, fresh pineapple juice, syrup, fresh rocket and fresh lemon juice.

These cocktails are £13.50 each and are available until July 14th. While they all scream summer fun, there seems to be one that’s standing out as top for the gin crowd. Sunny friends, I would love to know which one sings the most to you.

The Sunday Telegraph named the One Aldwych Hotel Lobby Bar as one of the top five hotel bars in the world. You can read their fantastic reviews on TripAdvisor here.

Testing the BLOOM Gin Flight or the Chocolate Factory inspired afternoon tea is something to put on your list of things to do in London if you’re a visitor or a Londoner. The themed afternoon tea is available at least until the end of 2015.

Make sure if you’re heading to London for a first visit or the NFL in London games that you subscribe to the Sunny in London weekly newsletter and read the First Time Visitors to London Guide on the blog too!

Oh, and I assure you that after sampling all four cocktails cautiously, I left One Aldwych Hotel with this view and not of the ceiling. Drink gin responsibly, so you don’t get a sneaky kick in the face from an elephant!

UPDATE: (July 17, 2015) For more about One Aldwych Hotel, you can see other Sunny reviews:

– 7 Secrets of One Aldwych hotel (A Review)
– One Aldwych Hotel Covent Garden (YouTube review)
– Coolest Pool in London (YouTube video of the hotel’s pool)
– Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea

December 8, 2014 by: Sunny London

Can a Photo Booth Face and Johnnie Walker make you a star?

Sunny friends, just when you thought my £150 afternoon tea giveaway was a golden opportunity for you, another one has hit the blog for December! It’s a chance so golden it could make you a superstar…

Ok, ok, before everybody gets too drunk on possibilities, let’s drop the hype and get to the facts.

Here’s the real scoop- I’m not personally offering any chances for stardom. In fact, I’m just the messenger. Last week I had the chance to screen test a golden opportunity that you can have and definitely take to a higher level than me.

From now until January 2nd, you can enter the Rising Star Competition via Johnnie Walker by popping in to the photo booth in the ground floor of M Restaurants.

If you haven’t heard of this new hot spot for food in London, the pictures above probably caught your attention. The venue actually houses two gorgeous restaurants, M Raw and M Grill. It’s a quick walk from Bank station and is located at 2 & 3 Threadneedle Walk, 60 Threadneedle Street, London EC2R 8HP.

Both menus look fantastic, so perhaps you might want to give one a try when you also make your Johnnie Walker photo debut that could catapult you to fame.

If you’re a photo booth pro, the contest is quite simple. My guess is there’s quite a few Sunny readers that meet that criteria.

Johnnie Walker Rising Star Competition details:

– Pose for a round of four pictures in the photo booth at M Restaurants.
– Upload them to Instagram with the #GoldCelebration hashtag.
– Wait for a link to enter from Johnnie Walker as you share the picture with your friends.
– Hope you have one of the five most liked entries by the closing date in February. These five will be shortlisted as a Rising Star.

One thing is clear, Sunny friends, you won’t have to worry about me being any competition. My night at M Restuarants was in fact my first photo booth experience.

While sipping a stiff, and I mean STIFF, Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve Christmas cocktail, I watched my blogger buddies Laura, the star of Heroine in Heels, and Helen the stylish doll of HelenHaben.com plan their pretty face snapshots. And, then with some coaching from ‘Catherine Lux-Life– I am the Master GIF Collector’ and Katie ‘the country girl gone London’, I gave it a shot.

Would you believe I had practised my super model face for hours that day?

Blue Steel, all the way!!!

Despite wanting to win a photoshoot with Rankin and a starring role in the online Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve campaign for March 2015, I don’t think I’ll be the person they pick. Really, I’m just glad I didn’t break the camera in the photo booth.

Let’s face it, my distorted ‘duck face’ would even have Derek Zoolander running the other direction!

However, I’m guessing if you aren’t heading to the photo booth to be a contender, then one of the glam starlets I hit the town with that night could be.

For more on our scandalous night of ‘what happens in the photobooth stays on Instagram’, check out the fabulous blogger beauties I mentioned above. We’ll just have to see if Rankin selects one of them or you as a lucky duck! For now.. I’m just the messenger.

For more on the Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve Rising Star competition, read here. Best of luck, Sunny superstars! I have a feeling there’s going to be a whole lot of girls’ nights happening at M Restaurants over the holidays… May the best ‘duck face’ win 😉

November 5, 2014 by: Sunny London

How to Catch Champagne at London’s Andaz Hotel

Andaz Hotel’s Catch Champagne Bar makes sipping luxury super easy. Mr. Sunny and I gave it a go recently and had a really lovely time.

I can just hear you saying righ now, ‘Sunny, did you ever meet a glass of champagne you didn’t like?’

Well, no, actually I haven’t. I love them all. The big and the small. 😉

And, I really love when a restaurant or bar makes the whole experience fantastic. Don’t you?

So, what’s the catch, literally, at the Andaz Hotel Catch Champagne Bar and Lounge?

Ambiance and service.

Starting with the location, I loved the convenience. Inches from the Liverpool Street station, the Andaz Hotel is super easy to find, especially if you’re looking for their champagne bar. Further, the inside had a gorgeous, ‘bring a little funk’ kind of vibe.

Mr. Sunny and I were keen to call ahead and get a survey of the crowd. We were told to wait about an hour to avoid a packed champagne bar. So, we arrived around 7:30pm on a Tuesday.

If you’re an avid Sunny in London reader, you’re probably curious why the restaurants and bars I visit are always empty. I wonder the same thing when I watch Made in Chelsea. Unlike the scripted reality show that stages everything, I intentionally visit restaurants when they’re empty as much as possible.

Why?

I don’t like bothering other people, especially if my meal is complimentary for a review. It’s not nice to distract other people with all the camera flashin’ silliness that is required to write a blog. Plus, I don’t know how to blur people’s faces in Photoshop. Spot healing reduction talent that gives a faux Botox facial finish, however, is my speciality.

So, Mr. Sunny and I asked our server for his drink suggestions. I need to give a big high five to Mr. Sunny for taking one for the blog team and forgoing a beer. Hey paisan, when in a champagne bar…

That’s right. He let the server make a whiskey cocktail for him.

I decided to jiggle it up a bit with some not-so-nice pre-Christmas juice. My cocktail was the Naughty Nuisance. It featured a mixture of Crème de framboise, raspberry puree and Prosecco.

Both drinks were yummy.

Next, Mr. Sunny picked out the Charcuterie, olives, freshly baked bread, balsamic and olive oil for us.

I love a good ‘antipasto’ tray. The meats were unbelievable. The quality, texture and temperature were spot on.

My favourite part of Catch Champagne Bar and Lounge at the Andaz Hotel was the atmosphere. I think it gets quite swanky after work hours.

The music was exactly what I prefer in a lounge. Electronic and full of funky beats. We had a voucher for £50, so we were careful to stay close to it. Living in London (especially while job searching) isn’t easy.

The voucher covered three drinks and the antipasto tray. Mr. Sunny did sneak in one beer after our bubbly beverages.

The rest of the menu is limited, but I really wouldn’t expect too much more from a champagne bar. What mattered to us was the fun drinks, swanky vibe and stellar service.

If you’re in the Liverpool Street area, don’t let the Andaz Hotel’s Catch Champagne Bar and Lounge get away from you!

July 21, 2014 by: Sunny London

Guess Who’s a London Beefeater Now?!

London has really been on fire this summer. Don’t you agree? The sun has been so intense here. We’re all searching for ways to beat the heat. Feels like Flor-i-da, y’all!

If you’ve been keeping up with me, you saw I started the weekend by making some healthy smoothies. By Sunday, my chill out tactics became more adult, and British.

How?

I drank my first ‘G&T.’ Yep, never had one. Further, I didn’t know they were a classic British drink.

You see, when you grow up in Daytona Beach, Florida, if your juice isn’t orange, it’s either in the form of a piña colada, a daiquiri or a margherita. If you’re in Miami, you’re all about a mojito, muchacha.

Frequently, I talk about red wine and champagne on Sunny in London. The taste for vino developed from my Italian heritage, and, well.. who doesn’t enjoy a bit of bubbly?

So, when Mr. Sunny said we were having a ‘Beef Eatin’ Sunday’ I planned on taking my first sips of some damn good gin and juice!

It turns out he really meant beef and had a big barbecue feast planned for the in-laws and me. Ooops!

I tried to explain to Mr. Sunny that raw meat doesn’t show well. I didn’t want to include that picture above. But, he insisted that any real man would feel that tray was a work of art.

Anyhow, I brought my big bad box of London Beefeater supplies to the barbecue too.

Mr. Sunny managed his meat over the grill.

Harry waited by his side for any chance he had at joining the Beefeater party.

Meanwhile, my sunny-mummy-in-law taught me how to make this classic British cocktail.

How to make a London Beefeater 24 Triple Citrus Gin and Tonic:

– Fill a beautiful glass with chunks of ice.
– Pour in 2 ounces of gorgeous gin.
– Top off the glass with quality tonic water (about 1 ounce).
– Add a slice of lemon, lime and orange.
– Garnish with a fresh spring of mint.

When I took my first sip, it was one of those ‘You had me at helloooo moments.’

What a refreshing cocktail!

As I waited for Mr. Sunny’s beef to be ready, I sipped my G&T and was educated on a bit more British history.

My in-laws explained the drink was introduced as a method to prevent malaria in the early 19th century. It was found that quinine could prevent and treat the disease. But the taste of it was so bitter and disgusting that the army started mixing water, sugar, lemon and gin with it so it was easier to drink.

I must say… ‘Tis brilliant. Isn’t it, Sunny mates?

By the time I finished my history lesson, the flaming food was ready.

I poured myself another delicious Beefeater G&T and channeled my inner cave woman.

We devoured Mr. Sunny’s selection of baby back ribs, lamb shish kabab, lamb kofta, and Greek sausage.

Also, his mum made potato salad.

And she made one of my favourite foods…

You guessed it, Caprese Salad! (and, yeah this Florida girl loves her shrimp too! Ok, ok, prawns. Whatevah!)

So, Sunny friends, that’s the story on how I became a different kind of Beefeater. Or, should I say,

That’s Amore!

* Sunny friends, this was my 100th post on the blog. Thank you for all your support since I launched Sunny in London! Have a Beefeater gin and tonic somewhere nice, on me. HA!

July 19, 2014 by: Sunny London

Healthy Smoothie Recipes to Beat the British Heat!

Whoa! Last night was a real hot one for us in London! So, you can imagine how excited I was to make healthy smoothie recipes when this bag of goodies arrived at my flat early evening…
About a week ago, I was asked to tackle the Summer Smoothie Challenge with Lactofree. Saying ‘Yes’ was the best decision I’ve made this hot summer!

I have an intense week of restaurant visits and events ahead of me, so I decided to get some rest Friday night and stay home. Also, I want to eat healthy when I can in an effort to balance out these upcoming activities of indulgence. The timing of this challenge could not have been better. Here’s how I kicked off my Friday night at home in the sweltering heat…
I used .2 litres (a little less than half a cup for my American friends) of the Lactofree semi skimmed milk that was also included in the colourful tote bag. Then, I grabbed about two hands full of fresh blueberries.
For the next step, I added the same amount of fresh raspberries and a small, cut up banana.
Because I like my smoothies super chill, I tossed 4 large ice cubes on the top. After about a minute of running it through the compact multi-chopper, I had this summer treat to beat the British heat…
The amount of antioxidants in this fruity beverage simply rocks! It is one of many berry simple healthy smoothie recipes you can try, Sunny friends.

And you’re certainly not limited to the ingredients I played with in my kitchen.
Oh, come on! You didn’t think Sunny was going to just throw some healthy smoothie recipes on the blog without playing with her food a bit too, now did you? 😉

Of course not!

Other Healthy Smoothie Recipes:

You can also add strawberries to the ingredients I listed above. Or, something I’ve done in the past is toss in fresh peaches. If you can get ground flax seed, throw a tablespoon of that in too. It changes the texture just a bit, and you can barely taste it. It’s proven to help fight heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes.

Lactofree sent this fun recipe to try as well:
– 1/2 banana
– 100g strawberries
– 80g tofu or Lactofree cream cheese
– 200ml Lactofree dairy drink
– 10g almonds
– Handful of blueberries

The dietary benefits to healthy smoothie recipes are obvious. But, what I also love is I don’t constantly have to fetch fresh fruit at the grocery store. By simply keeping my preferred fruit in my freezer, I can just grab some Lactofree milk, eliminate the ice cubes, and toss in the frozen fruit. Walaaaaah!

So, Sunny friends, also included in the package I received was kiwi and mint. Aside from what I did below, how would you include these ingredients in one of your healthy smoothie recipes?

The cutting board featured in this post is from Passing Through Life. They are an engraving business in which you can also custom order items which feature your own active lifestyle apparel and gifts.