Search Results for: london pass

June 17, 2014 by: Sunny London

Blogger Blast at Bumpkin Notting Hill

When I was invited to be one of the first guests in London to try the Summer Menu at Bumpkin Notting Hill, I was ecstatic! Wouldn’t you be?

With 4 locations in London, it’s tough not to know about these restaurants focused on seasonal, authentic British food. Well, if you haven’t heard of them, it’s a good thing we bumped in to each other! I can fill you in on their hot summer selections!

I arrived with 5 other fabulous London bloggers. Selena the Places, Kings Road Rocks, Love and London, Adventures of a London Kiwi and Urban Pixxels. Through the past few months I’ve developed personal friendships with them, so I knew the night would be a blast!

We started with a tour of the restaurant. I had no idea they had so many different rooms upstairs from the main dining area!
Doesn’t this look like a super fun place to relax and enjoy British cuisine and great company?

We actually didn’t even get to see all the rooms because they were already in use for private parties. This one was my favourite…
And, yes, it seats a party of twelve.

Can you say, ‘Time for dinner!’ or ‘Hey, does anyone know what time we’re eating?’ or ‘Should we pass food clockwise?’ hee hee. I’ll stop with the silliness now. 😉

A place card greeted each of us at our seat. Check it out…
I think the Manager had a sneaky read of my post 5 Strategies for How to Host a Bloggers’ Event. Needless to say, it was exactly what us bloggers needed to share the social media love with our followers that night.

Then the drinks started flowing.
And flowing…
What can I say, I’m a sucker for name tags. And shameless promotion. Here’s my Twitter handle in case you missed it in all those pics… @sunny_in_london

Now back to the drinks. We had fresh mixed berry lemonade. The second was a cocktail that blended Blackberry Lynchburg lemonade, muddled blackberries, Jack Daniels, lemon crushed ice and soda. With my Starter and Dinner, I had a glass of Gnarly Head Vintage 2011Old Vine Zin and an Australian Circa Shiraz Viognier. They beautifully complimented the food.

For my Starter, I selected the Pan Seared Scottish King Scallops, Chilled Pea Soup and Crispy Bacon.

The scallops were definitely fit for royalty! They were cooked perfectly and flavoured beautifully.

Next, I chose the Roast Southdowns Lamb Rump, Baked Heritage Carrots and Spinach.
If you’re thinking ‘That’s the juiciest looking lamb I’ve ever seen.’ Well, it certainly tasted like it!

I followed these two courses with a dessert.
It was a Bitter Chocolate Tart, Honeycomb and Salted Caramel Mousse. The separate flavours and textures came together for a stunning swirl of sugar heaven. Cosmic I tell ya.

Other Summery desserts on their new menu are: Strawberries and Cream, Madeleine’s and a Pot of Chocolate or Baked Vanilla Custard, Poached Rhubarb and Hazelnut Crumble.

For our three and a half hour food affair there was tons of other food floating around the table. Here’s a peak at what some of the other bloggers consumed:

I truly fell in love with the Bumpkin Notting Hill experience. Well done, Executive Chef Raymond Fulton-Corrie!

They also have Bumpkin Healthy Options included, as well as guilt free dishes, vegan and gluten-free, and hydraulic cold-pressed juices.

Finally, Bumpkin has a World Cup Menu at Notting Hill, Chelsea, and South Kensington. It includes Sticky BBQ Ribs, Classic Fish and Chips or an Angus Beef Burger and Triple Cooked chips, washed down with 2 Pints of house lager for only £20. It’s available from 11am – 8pm weekdays, 12th June- 13th July in both the restaurant and private dining rooms.

Bumpkin Notting Hill is located at 209 Westbourne Park Road, W11 1EA. You can also check out Bumpkin on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

And just in case you missed it…A special thanks to Selena the Places, Kelly-Sue Budde and Bumpkin for having me as a guest at this fantastic dinner.

June 13, 2014 by: Sunny London

5 Strategies for How to Get PR Companies to Notice Your Blog

How to get PR companies to notice your blog is probably a question you’ve had at some point, if you’re a blogger.

There are numerous advantages to working with PR agencies for bloggers. Foremost, you’ll have an edge on great content. Why? Because you’ll be in the first round of invitations to the hottest happenings.

Also, it’s pretty difficult, if not impossible, to pay for all the opportunities you want to offer readers.

Sunny friends, today I’m sharing some strategies that have worked very well for me.

#1- Be the Sunshine

Make sure your blog’s name and content is positive. Being the ‘Girl Who Complains about Everything Dot Com’ could earn you loads of loyal readers. However, it also won’t produce outreach from quality PR’s.

When developing my brand, I wanted to be unique. Also, I wanted to convey a fun spirit and love for London. Since there aren’t too many Florida girls crossing the pond to live, ‘Sunny in London’ was formed. You have to admit, being the person who promotes constant sun in London screams positivity. It says I’m always sharing sunshine, no matter what the forecast.

I make sure every feature/post focusses on ‘sun’ and fun. So, there’s no negativity. I don’t rain on anyone’s parade. 😉

When you constantly review restaurants and events, you’re bound to have a not so great experience somewhere. I don’t feature the bad ones. I don’t tweet about them. I don’t publicize them anywhere. If an experience is particularly bad, I approach the company and give my feedback. Offline.

I’ll write more about how to do this in a later ‘Advice’ post.

For example, these pictures are from a review that I won’t publish.

Mr. Sunny and I waited over an hour and a half to receive those Main Courses above. We weren’t really impressed with the Starters. The long wait made things even worse. Further, when the food arrived, the meat was extremely dry. Do I even need to comment on the creamed corn?

The restaurant handled everything regarding our disappointment very well. I haven’t written the review.

#2 Tweet for Attention!

You’ve probably already read my post How to Create a Blog that ROCKS! One of the highlights is the value of Twitter lists. I have a private Twitter list titled ‘PR Contacts.’ I did some research on PR companies who matched the Sunny in London brand and put them on the list. Nearly all of them follow me back.
A few times a day I scroll that feed to see what they’re buzzing about. I favorite, retweet and respond to their tweets.

Building a relationship with a PR company shows them that you have interest in working with them. And, it definitely catches their attention!

#3- Have a Media Kit

There are countless tutorials and samples of Media Kits available. You can spend hours getting lost in them on Pinterest alone. I’ve done it.

The bottom line is- have one!

Make sure it’s always accessible. You’ll find some bloggers post it right on their blog in the ‘About’ or ‘Contact’ page. I have people request mine through a Contact form on my blog. It’s in my Dropbox so I can email it immediately. That’s if I like the pitch sent to me.

Sometimes, I send it first, without a request. It depends on the company and opportunity. I’ll be sure to write another post on the specific techniques I use to directly contact PR companies, if you’re interested.

#4- Plan Ahead

No matter how the communication starts, be clear on what you can produce. I always tell a PR company when they can expect to see the post on Sunny in London. And I stick to the schedule. It’s never more than a week after the visit or event occurs. If you’re on WordPress, there are numerous Calendar plugins to choose from which can manage your posts. Pick one. Use it. It might be worth to note that 52 percent of WordPress security vulnerabilities are caused by plugins, so pick and use your plugins wisely!

#5 Share the Love

Every once in a while I have Mr. Sunny as my guest to a review. He puts up with a lot being married to a blogger. For more on that, read Confessions of a Lifestyle Blogger.

However, usually I ask another blogger to be my ‘Plus One’. I pick bloggers who have great blogs, are a good match for the product/event, and who will post their review fairly quickly.

I feel another blogger with me gives the PR company a ‘2 for 1.’ This works out well for everyone.

Final Thoughts on How to Get PR Companies to Notice Your Blog:

There’s a bit of advice on how to get PR companies to notice your blog. You can’t expect them to just find you. It takes a good amount of work and time. As with any success plan, if you do your homework, produce a good product and present yourself with passion and motivation, you’ll be a winner!

For other Blog Advice from Sunny in London, don’t miss these posts:
– How to Create a Blog that ROCKS!
– How to Create a Blog that ROCKS!- Part Two
– 5 Strategies for How to Host a Bloggers’ Event

What tips can you add? What software do you use for your Media Kit? Would you like to join me at an event? I’d love to attend one with you! 😉

June 8, 2014 by: Sunny London

The Bloomsbury Hotel- Where Smart People Stay

My evening at The Bloomsbury Hotel was a fantastic trip literally down memory lane. When I received the invite to attend the Poet in the City event, I did a double take at the address, 16-22 Great Russell Street.

It is my old address.

Well…. nearly.

If you read my About page, you learn that I lived on Great Russell Street when I did an internship with NBC News in Central London through Florida State University. So, how could I have passed this hotel several times a day and never have seen it?

Easy. It wasn’t there.

The Bloomsbury Hotel- The History

The building was designed in 1928 by Sir Edwin Lutyens and was originally commissioned as a YWCA Central Club.

Now that I remember!

No, silly, not 1928. I remember the ‘Y’ across the street from my flat, way back when I lived there in 1995.

The YWCA was started because there was no provision for club life in London. It was to ‘serve as a meeting ground for women of different nationalities and occupations’. Since the Royal Family was fond of the Central Club, several rooms were named after royalty.

It was also used extensively from 1939-1945 for War efforts. The YWCA housed service men and women. Its cafeteria produced thousands of meals. There’s still evidence of bombings in some of the Hall windows.

While it was once a flourishing location in London, the YWCA was deeply hit by the recession in the 90’s. It’s final years were during the time I arrived in London to intern.

In June 1998 the entire building sold to the Jury Doyle Hotel Group. Jurys Doyle retained and restored the entrance area, Queen Mary Hall, the Chapel and the Library.

Seamus Heaney Library

After the Jurys Doyle Hotel Group split in 2007, the hotel was relaunched and refurbished. That’s when it became known as The Bloomsbury Hotel.

The Bloomsbury Hotel- Take a Tour

When you enter the gorgeous lobby, you’re greeted with the aroma of orange and sandalwood.

If you close your eyes, you might mistake yourself for being in Florida. 😉

The lobby features replicas of the ‘Lutyens’ furniture, including Spiderback chairs and console tables.

There are 153 fabulous bedrooms and several larger studio suites.

Both the George V Hall and Queen Mary Hall feature hand blown Waterford crystal chandeliers.

And, of course, there’s an outside terrace for you to enjoy on a sunny in London day.

The Bloomsbury Hotel- The Literary Tradition

But it’s really the hotel’s deep appreciation for its literary roots that make it such a worthy place to stay. Bloomsbury is known for its community of authors and poets. It’s an area of London where Charles Dickens, Virginia Woolf and T.S. Eliot lived for many years.

Therefore, The Bloomsbury Hotel has established its unique identity by developing a strong relationship with Poet in the City.

The Bloomsbury Hotel- Library and Events

The Library is dedicated to Irish poet, playwright, lecturer and former resident of the hotel, Seamus Heaney. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1995. And Sunny friends, that’s the year I completed my internship in London. 😉

On May 1, an event was held to celebrate The Bloomsbury Hotel’s latest contribution to its literary community. It was a collaborative project between Poet in the City and fine art studios, Lavender Hill.

Poet in the City selected 10 leading poets. Artists from Lavender Hill painted portraits of the poets.
The portraits on display are Wendy Cope by Scott Pohlschmidt, Gwyneth Lewis by Ann Witheridge, Jo Shapcott by Jill Hooper, David Harsent by Nick Bashall, Patience Agbabi by Rosalie Watkins, Leontia Flynn by Phoebe Dickinson, Gerdur Kristny by India Amos, David Constantine by Joni Duarte, Imtiaz Darkhar by Archie Wardlaw, Andrew Motion by Scott Pohlschmidt and Seamus Heaney by Ann Witheridge.

They are anticipated to sell at a high profile auction in 2015.

The evening featured a special poetry reading from Leontia Flynn. She’s a Northern Irish poet and is the new Seamus Heaney Poet-in-Residence.

If you’re looking for a smart hotel to make your stay in London extraordinary, I highly suggest The Bloomsbury Hotel. It’s inches away from the British Museum. Also, you can easily walk to the Charles Dickens Museum and take a tour. And, hey, if you stick your head out the window, you get a peak of my ol’ university flat. For reviews and rates, read more here about The Bloomsbury Hotel.

Special thanks to:
Relish Content
Michael Neve, The Bloomsbury Hotel General Manager
Daniel Healey, The Bloomsbury Hotel Deputy General Manager

Facts regarding the hotel and its history were obtained from A History of The Bloomsbury Hotel, Volume 1

So, Sunny friends, what interesting hotels can you recommend for a visitor’s stay in London?

June 2, 2014 by: Sunny London

Blog Giveaway! WIN a Phone Cover with YOUR BLOG LOGO!

It’s time for the first blog giveaway, Sunny friends! And what better way to kickoff this new adventure than to throw love and sunshine to my blogger buddies!

My first giveaway is all about promoting YOUR blog. So, let’s get to it…

Sunny in London Blog Giveway- What’s the Item?

If you’re the lucky recipient of the prize, you’ll receive a custom made mobile phone cover with your blog design. Here’s what mine looks like…

Now picture your blog logo as your phone cover… Think of just how many people see that phone cover each day. That’s some serious marketing for ya!

Sunny in London Blog Giveaway- Criteria

If you’re the WINNER, you’ll need to provide your blog logo to the sponsoring company. It will need to be in either a Jpeg, AI, Corel, BMP, PNG format.

Mobile phone covers can be designed to fit an iPhone 4/4s, 5/5s, 5C, 5 (3D), or Samsung Galaxy S5, S4, S3, S2.

You will also need to guarantee the logo is not trademarked by any other individual or company. You will not be able to sell your phone cover.

Production runs 1-2 weeks based on approval of proof and shipping. Delivery will range anywhere from 2-10 days, based on where the WINNER is located.

Sunny in London Blog Giveaway- Sponsor Information

Passing Through Life will be responsible for the printing and shipping of the winner’s mobile phone cover. Although this company is based in the United States, shipping is available anywhere in the world. How do I know this company? My sister is one of its founders.

PassingThroughLife.com is ‘a husband and wife team, who want to share our designs and love of the outdoors through our products. We race motorcycles, run Tough Mudders, run half marathons, bowhunt, dive and love to explore new places. Most importantly, we want to help you PROMOTE YOUR PASSIONS’

Sunny in London Blog Giveaway- What if You Don’t Win?

Let’s face it, this is one fantastic marketing idea. So, if you just want don’t want to take the chance of missing out, you can order your own mobile phone cover for your blog, NOW!

It’s not offered yet on their website, because this is an exclusive opportunity for Sunny in London readers. You’ll have to email the company directly at: info@passingthroughlife.com

Other products you might wish to purchase for engraving include these below:

Marathon Runner Luggage Tag

‘London Bound’ Luggage Tag

‘I Think I’m a Rock Star’ Shirt

‘I Love My Dive Buddy’ Shirt

Or, you can even create your own custom design! This is the ‘Will Blog for Food’ shirt that she created for me to wear to the #RegentTweet event:

And other product samples:

And as another added bonus, Passing Through Life is giving all my Sunny friends a discount on any order. Just enter this promotional code:

Web Code: SunnyInLondon-Web

Etsy Code: SunnyinLondon

It will save you 10% off your total purchase. Shipping not included.

Best of luck in the Blog Giveaway! Feel free to share this link on your social networks!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

May 19, 2014 by: Sunny London

How to Write a Blog that ROCKS- PART TWO!

Since I received great feedback from my first post on How to Write a Blog that Rocks, today I’m sharing even more!

When I attend blogger events, I’m regularly asked how my blog gained attention so quickly in London. This is what I can say…

How to Write a Blog that ROCKS- Be Social

Many articles suggest connecting with other bloggers. One of the first bloggers I ‘met’ is the American Londoner. His material is phenomenal. I commented on a few of his posts many months ago. Soon after, a marketing company who had worked with him got in touch with me about collaborating with them on a guest post. This led to several opportunities for me to attend other events with the agency.

I also have attended every tea, brunch or other blogger meet up that I see in my social network news feeds. Two bloggers who coordinate these via Twitter invites are Selena from Oh The Places We’ll Go! and Catherine from Lux Life. Follow them!

Prior to the event, I research bloggers who will be there. I go to the event prepared with questions and conversation relevant to their work. Some blogging friends have told me that they refreshed how they approach writing blogs by deciding to look at buy essay services to give them a new creative reference for their articles. It is amazing what you can learn from college essays.

How to Write a Blog that ROCKS- Have a Business Card

Make sure you have stacks of business cards ready to distribute at these events, or anywhere for that matter. You might think paper is a thing of the past. Surprisingly, in the bloggers’ world it’s a hot commodity. There’s tons of us. If you’re lucky, people might google you the next day, possibly. Give them everything they could want in one small card. If you can get them to follow you on Twitter immediately, even better. I recently got some new business cards from somewhere like Metal Kards and I hand them out when I attend blogger meet-ups and trade shows. People love receiving business cards so make sure you give plenty out when you get a chance!

How to Write a Blog that ROCKS- Check Your Stats Regularly

I don’t mean be obsessed with your stats 24/7. Just make sure you’re connection to Google Analytics and Webmaster Tools is working. Sadly, in one of my best weeks for page views, I didn’t know the hits weren’t registering over a 4 day period.

After a damn near heart attack when I saw my numbers had flatlined, I spent several hours researching the problem. Apparently when I had discontinued one of my WordPress plug-ins, I also cut the registration of my Google ID with my blog.

If you plan to monetize your blog at any point, all these numbers matter. Check them every few days. Make sure you definitely do it after any major changes to your blog.

How to Write a Blog that ROCKS- Use Photo Apps on Your Mobile

Having the ability to immediately create a collage from images on location saves me tons of time once I start working on the actual post. I use PicFrame.
I do lose big parts of the first image, so I’ve learned to include large borders of material I don’t need when I initially take a shot.

When I needed help with this on a laptop, I asked the Twitterverse.

Anyone have suggestions for how to create picture collages on a laptop? On iPhone I use PicFrame
— Sunny in London☀️ (@Sunny_in_London) April 22, 2014

I learned about pixlr.com from Pack Your Passport.

@Sunny_in_London You can use Pixlr for collages http://t.co/YEHHxaKLmY
— Beverley Reinemann (@PckYourPassport) April 22, 2014

She was absolutely right! This site is great when you’re editing pictures in to collages on a laptop.

How to Write a Blog that ROCKS- Ladies, Don’t Invest in an Expensive Handbag

Whatever you use to drag around your camera, business cards, iPhone charge cord and other blogging paraphernalia is going to get seriously abused. And besides, once you start meeting with PR’s on a regular basis, you’re gonna be totes overwhelmed. See…

So, Sunny friends, does any of this sound familiar? Any additional ideas you can share with us?

May 12, 2014 by: Sunny London

21 Covent Garden and Captain Jack Sparrow

I was on a fast mission to get to 21 Covent Garden when Ashleigh raved about it during our afternoon tea.

Sunny friends, you know that Covent Garden owns my heart. However, did you know that I have Italian blood running through my veins? When I learned 21 Covent Garden features ‘three floors of modern Italian drinking and dining in the heart of Covent Garden’, I had to go.

Mr. Sunny and I arrived an hour before our reservation. Yep. Reading the menu online the previous night made us super excited!

It’s located right in the Piazza. Surprisingly, for such a touristy location, 21 Covent Garden offers a very intimate experience.

As soon as we were seated, I commandeered our drink order. My Florida girl background and fetish with bubbly took over. I immediately chose a Mango Bellini.

Mr. Sunny wanted a Peroni. But when I saw the ‘Jack Sparrow’ on the drink menu, I told him he had no choice. Pirates of the Caribbean is my favourite movie. The drink is based on the classic New Orleans Sazerac. It has Martell VS, Sailor Jerry rum, Kamm & Son ginseng bitters & Pernod Absinthe.

We loved our cocktails! Mr. Sunny agreed with the menu description, ‘…a perfect after-dinner tipple. Definitely not for the faint of heart!’ Well, neither is Captain Jack Sparrow.

We really didn’t care that our drinks didn’t match our Starters, Risotto and Calamari.

Wild Mushroom and Truffle Risotto with marscapone and parsley £8.95

Black Pepper Calamari with saffron aioli £7.25

We both agreed the calamari is on our ‘best ever’ list. My risotto was silky smooth and beautifully flavoured. A jewel of a dish.

To accompany our main course, I had a glass of the Vina Marro Rioja. Mr. Sunny had an Italian beer, Moretti. We ate linguine and eggplant.

Cornish Crab Linguine with garlic, lime, chilli, and coriander £14.25

Aubergine Parmesan Shutter features baked eggplant, tomato, sweet basil and mozzarella £10.50

Mr. Sunny loved his entrée. I was a bit nervous when I saw how thickly cut the eggplant pieces were. However, I’ve never had eggplant cooked so perfectly. Blimey it was good!

Because everything was so fantastic, we couldn’t sail by dessert…

That’s the Affogato. We giggled a bit when it landed on the table because weren’t sure what to do with the separate glasses. Our server said to pour the espresso and Frangelico over the vanilla ice cream. BOOM!

Delicious!

Just when we thought our evening was over, Paul, the General Manager, encouraged us to check out the Print Room upstairs for post-dinner drinks.

Since he (and all of the staff) had been so exquisite throughout the evening, we couldn’t turn down the opportunity.

The views in this Covent Garden crow’s nest are spectacular. I’d encourage anyone to reserve it for a private party or Christmas ‘Do’.

There’s also a balcony area you can reserve for an even smaller party.

Photo courtesy of 21 Covent Garden

Mr. Sunny, my loyal drink matey, gave the San Sebastian a shot.

Flavour of Havana 3y rum, Carton banana liqueur, passion fruit and cinnamon syrup

Again, another hit.

Just as we were leaving, I stopped for a photo of the bar. Our drink server indicated it would be best as an action shot and started making us two drinks to close our evening.

The way this swashbuckler moved with stealth and passion behind the bar held me prisoner. Had I just met a real life Captain Jack Sparrow?

For a motherload of a fun cocktail list that will give you sea legs on dry land, head up to the Print Room, schooner rather than later!

21 Covent Garden and the Print Room feature a ‘La Dolce Vita’ happy hour every day from 5-7pm. You can also follow Print Room on Twitter to learn about other promotions. And, 21 Covent Garden is also on Facebook and Twitter.

Ashleigh said she’d been to 21 Covent Garden three times since writing her review. I know that this lass will be too. It’s an absolute treasure of Covent Garden. Arrrrrr!

Our experience at 21 Covent Garden was complimentary for the purpose of a review. This did not influence our opinion of the food, drinks or service.

March 17, 2014 by: Sunny London

The Wagamama Menu and Why You Should Change Your Number!

Recently I attended an event at Wagamama that will change my eating and dining out habits forever. Prior to the event, I had to submit my favourite selections from the Wagamama menu so they could be analaysed by two fantastic foodies.

My favourite Wagamama menu items were:

#60 Mandarin and Sesame Chicken Salad (marinated chicken with mixed leaves, mandarin, coriander, red and spring onions, mangetout and cashew nuts with a sesame, thai basil and mint dressing, garnished with sesame seeds)

#48 Wagamama Pad-Thai (teppan-fried rice noodles in a sweet tamarind sauce with chicken and prawns or fried tofu, egg, beansprouts, leek, red and spring onions, chinese chives, garlic, ginger and chillies, garnished with coriander cress, fresh shallots, peanuts, mint and lime)

I arrived with 9 other bloggers for a unique experience involving a collaborative effort between their Executive Chef Steve Mangleshot and Channel 4 Taste Expert, Dr. Christy Fergusson.

After hearing a short introduction from each of them, we were each treated to an alternative dish from the Wagamama menu. The purpose was to learn about the science behind our favourite ingredients and to analyse our taste buds.

I received #37 Chicken Itame.

(Rice noodles in a spicy green coconut and lemongrass soup topped with stir-fried chicken, prawns or fried tofu, beansprouts, red and spring onions, bok choi, peppers, mushrooms and chillies, garnished with coriander and lime)

Chef Mangleshot & Dr. Fergusson picked up on my citrus preference from my original selection and picked this new dish to create a stronger sensory experience for me. It worked!

Dr. Fergusson, who is a Doctor of Psychology, Chartered Psychologist AND Nutritional Therapist, explained to us that only 10% of taste is determined by taste buds, and the other 90% is by smell. She also said that those who prefer chilli tend to be thrill seekers because endorphin levels are raised when eating them. We also learned that certain ingredients can trigger special emotions, memories and moods. This means our food preferences convey insight to our personalities. Whoa!!

Perhaps growing up in Florida triggers my citrusy selections on menus now?

I was a bit puzzled why Chef Mangleshot guided me to chilli, considering I’m not a big risk taker. However, I did take a pretty big gamble with naming a blog Sunny in London, when let’s face it, the town isn’t known for its tropical climate 😉

That’s my second entrée, #44 2^nd entrée- Ginger Chicken Udon.

(Teppan-fried udon noodles with chicken, egg, beansprouts, red and spring ionions, mengetout and chilli, garnished with pickled ginger and coriander)

It was delish! I always stick with Pad Thai because I not only love the flavours, but also I try to eat gluten free. Through talking with Chef Mangleshot, I learned that it’s easy to substitute rice and noodles on the Wagamama menu for gluten free meals. I always thought they didn’t have flexibility because everything is so keenly defined by numbers on their menu.

Aside from the amazing food, a highlight of my night was talking to these two food stars.

It would be tough to find a chef who loves his profession more than Chef Mangleshot. In our conversation, he said, “For me, it’s about how well we do at Wagamama.” He truly wants people to converse with wait staff to learn alternatives to their favourite entrees, based on the key ingredients in them, and to explore the 60+ other Wagamama menu options.

The bloggers who favoured soy sauce, which forms the basis of dishes such as Yaki Soba, tried dishes such as Cha Han. This is Yaki Soba, but with rice. Dr. Fergusson suggested Donburi, because she says people who like saltier soy sauce flavours don’t like bitter dishes.

Dr. Fergusson also was a canon of information regarding the science of food. I highly suggest you explore her website to learn more.

After my second course, I was really starting to feel like I was part of a Man vs. Food episode, but somehow I found room for the dessert tray!

Passion Fruit Cheesecake, White Chocolate and Ginger Cheesecake, Chocolate Fudge Cake

So, I have to ask, Sunny friends…. When you go to Wagamama, do you order their Chicken Katsu Curry? Chef Mangleshot says it’s their most popular selection. If so, maybe you’d consider conversing with them to discover an alternative that might become your new favourite?

What do you think?

At the very least, you can follow:

Wagamama on Twitter

Dr. Christy Fergusson on Twitter

* My meal at Wagamama was complimentary. Opinions and pictures are entirely my own.

February 17, 2014 by: Sunny London

Royal Horseguards Hotel Afternoon Tea with 20 English Roses

Finally! For weeks I have been anticipating the arrival of February 16th… the day I was going to meet 19 other London bloggers at the Royal Horseguards Hotel Afternoon Tea.

I decided to venture in to town a few hours early to explore, since it was a truly glorious sunny in London day (Yep not a cloud in the sky!) It’s a good thing too, because I wasn’t aware my tube line (Northern, booooo!) was partially closed for repairs.

One rail replacement bus and two hours later, I finally arrived at the Royal Horseguards Hotel, a truly beautiful, cozy location. I wish you could smell the captivating scent of roses which filled the lobby.

The hotel is located steps from Trafalgar Square and overlooks the Thames, with a spectacular view of the London Eye from the terrace.

I made it to the luxurious private room, which had been arranged by Selena, and began to introduce myself to a group of bloggers I have admired through my screen but never had met face to face.

The room buzzed with conversations about our blogs, our lives and what brought us to London, as nearly all of us are expats. I grabbed my seat and tried my best to enjoy all the conversations around the table while also eating the tasty treats.

Chef Ben Purton, (Follow him on Twitter. He’s FAB! @Chefben1975) made an extra special effort not only to prepare a wonderful menu for us, but also to accommodate our gluten and dairy free requests. He met with us to discuss the menu AND we all received a complimentary glass of CHAMPAGNE! (You know that’s my favorite, Sunny friends!) Oh… and if that wasn’t already heavenly enough, we each received gift boxes filled with TRUFFLES!

The room buzzed with our excited conversations as we connected over the sandwiches, sweets and tea.

The menu featured:

Homemade Plain and Raisin Scones with Cornish Clotted Cream and Homemade Strawberry Jam
“After Eight” Shot Glasses- A Dark Chocolate, Cacao Barry Inaya Chocolate, Cremeux with Novus Egyptian Mint Tea Pannacotta and Crème de Menth Gel
Pink Peppercorn and Strawberry Ganache Stripy Macaroons
Banana Roulade
Passion Fruit and Raspberry Swirly Meringue Lollipops
Mango Curd Tarts with Coconut Marshmellow and Mango Glaze
Lemon Meringue Cupcakes
Selection of Homemade Sandwiches: Coronation Chicken, Cream Cheese and Smoke Salmon, Hummus and Cucumber and Roast Beef and Horseradish

I made so many new friends and want to thank Selena for creating such a fantastic opportunity. This is my new buddy Jess from New Yawk, who blogs at Love and London. Because I lived in the Empire State for several years, we bonded instantly!

After such a terrific afternoon, I was far too exhausted to fight the two hour journey via replacement busses, so I called in a favor to Mr. Sunny. He graciously agreed to pick me up in his car, so I treated him to one nice cold Stella at a pub on our way home. I sipped on my standard… Rioja.

So, Sunny friends, have you been to the Royal Horseguards Hotel Afternoon Tea? What wonderful locations would you recommend? For rates and reviews of the Royal Horseguards Hotel, you can read more here.

December 27, 2013 by: Sunny London

What American items aren’t available in the UK?

Greetings from the US, my Sunny in London friends! As I spend a little time visiting with my family, I’m also stocking up on the American items that aren’t available in the UK. I’ll have “fingers crossed” as I go through Customs, hoping that these items crammed in my luggage don’t cause them to pass too much judgment on me.

NEON TRAINERS

During my first gym experience at an LA Fitness in London, I really struggled with the different machines and free weight sizes. At one point, a personal trainer introduced himself and asked if he could help.

“Yikes! Is it that obvious I’m not from here? I’m so confused about out how many kilograms equal a pound,” I replied.

Through our conversation, I learned that I hadn’t done anything wrong or odd during my workout, but my bright turquoise sneakers were a flashy sign that I was from America.

Prior to moving across the pond, I was advised to stock up on Adidas (pronounced “Ahhhhhh-dee-dahhhs”, not “A-dee-diss”) because they’re so expensive in London, but I didn’t realize the colours I would buy in America wouldn’t be available in the UK.

COMET

Yes, I said Comet. On my first trip to Sainsbury’s to purchase basic necessities for my flat, I was not prepared for the lack of product options in the cleaning aisle. NOT ONE was familiar to me. I faced names like “Cillit Bang” and “Fairy Washing Up Liquid.” No Soft Scrub, Lysol or Pledge.

So, if I could bring just one item that is cheap, serves many functions and will transport fairly easily, I choose a can of Comet.

And by the way, I really enjoy that “Fairy” liquid for doing dishes, but can’t seem to get the actual fairy to arrive and do them for me. Londoners, any ideas?

VELVEETA

There’s quite a list of food ingredients we eat in the US that are banned in the UK.

You probably don’t have to do any research to guess why Velveeta “cheese” ranks high as a forbidden commodity. For my Sunny in London British friends, I can explain it as an imitation cheese that ranks somewhere between an oil and a solid substance, hence the reason it doesn’t need to be refrigerated until opened. HA! Appetising innit? Should I bring some for you?

Even though it pales in comparison to the delicious fresh cheese selections in Europe, I still miss it sometimes.

A BIG COFFEE TO GO

Perhaps the item I miss every day is a large coffee. Like Big Gulp size, if you know what I mean!

I’ve tried Costa, Pret and Caffé Nero, plus dozens of independent coffee shops. Still, I come up empty handed. Well, one of them is empty. Londoners, where I can buy a single serving of coffee that needs two hands to carry and is big enough to have its own post code?

That’s my list of items for this trip. (Be assured I’ll drink the coffee, not pack it!)

I didn’t include the scented candles which aren’t available in London because I already have a whole post devoted to that and made my pilgrimage to Bath and Body Works for their post-holiday sale yesterday. Now, it’s just a matter of figuring out how to fit these items in to my luggage.

Expats, what items did I miss that you bring from your home country?

If you’re an Expat or interested in the Expat experience, you can join in a live stream show with me on Blab called ‘Expat Chat.’ If you’d like to learn more about the show, here is an introductory blog post about it.

My Blab account will show you all Expat Chat shows currently scheduled. If you subscribe, you can receive notification of the show’s start either through the Blab app or on your desktop depending on your notification settings. See you there!

December 15, 2013 by: Sunny London

5 Reasons to Visit Daytona, the “World’s Most Famous Beach”

It’s no secret I LOVE LIVING IN LONDON. However, this Florida girl is also proud to call the “World’s Most Famous Beach” her home town.

Aside from the amazing people that live and work in the Daytona Beach area, there are 5 top reasons why you should visit the “World’s Most Famous Beach.”

#5- It’s VERY Affordable

Unlike the glitzy prices of Miami Beach, Daytona hotels are very reasonable. You’ll sacrifice the fast-paced vibe and wild night life of South Florida, but if you’re looking for sun and low-key fun, Daytona is for you.

I rented a two bedroom condominium this past April, and this was my view every morning.

Hellooooooo Sunshine!

#4- It’s an Oasis from Orlando

If you’re a Sunny in London reader, you know I’m passionate about Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure (see my post on the Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter).

It’s a personal bias really. Just after graduating from Florida State University, I worked at Universal when they started building their “new” sister theme park. I commuted from Daytona to “O-Town” every day. It’s about a 50 mile drive on a motorway called I-4.

I’d suggest flying roundtrip through Orlando, spending a few days at the theme parks, and renting/driving a car to Daytona to soak in the beach for the second part of your trip.

#3- It has Amazing Mexican Restaurants and Beach Bars

London’s international cuisine selection is tough to beat, in my opinion. However, when it comes to authentic Mexican food, Daytona Beach wins. Here’s my favorite place…

Of course, freshly caught seafood like shrimp, blue crab, grouper, sea trout, king mackerel and flounder are commonplace (and again, pretty cheap!) on restaurant menus. Some of my favorite places located on the Atlantic Ocean or Intracoastal Waterway that Daytona locals frequent are:

Ocean Deck Restaurant and Beach Club

Our Deck Down Under

Racing’s North Turn (All service is great here. However, if I can make a special recommendation, ask for Gaspar. He’s knowledgeable, fun and goes well out of his way to assist you.)

#2- It has a Super Flat, Smooth Beach

If you enjoy running on the beach, Daytona offers the best long distance opportunity and sturdy surface in comparison to any other beach that I’ve visited. Take a look…

If you’ve been to Waikiki beach, you know you can’t beat its eye candy and scenery, but let’s face it- that’s no beach for serious exercisers. Thick sand, shallow area, and segmented distance.

Siesta Key on the Gulf Coast of Florida is also gorgeous, but I’ve always found its pillowy, white sand difficult to maneuver for a fast pace, long distance. Here’s a peek…

Therefore, the tightly-packed sand and 23 miles of straight beach in Daytona make it a runner’s paradise. This brings me to the absolutely best reason why Daytona ROCKS…

#1- The Town KNOWS how to RUMBLE

In the 1920’s people started organizing an official car race on the beach because of its unique surface. The Racing’s North Turn restaurant and beach bar mentioned above received its name because its location was the north turn of the race.

A man named Bill France began organizing these races in to bigger and bigger events, thus launching NASCAR. The rest is any car lover’s history. The annual Daytona 500 race is of epic status, and you can still park and drive on most sections of the beach.

Daytona also features an annual Bike Week that is a highlight for locals and bikers across America.

During the 10-day event, nearly 500,000 people roll through the city with their motorcycles.

Photo courtesy of Erin Mulkeran at www.PassingThroughLife.com

The entire town shakes to the rhythm of Harley Davidson throughout the days and nights. It’s an adrenaline rush that makes you feel thunder down to the core of your soul.

Photo courtesy of Erin Mulkeran at www.PassingThroughLife.com

So, there you have it, Sunny friends. If any of these images or events appeal to you, it might be worth investigating this great beach town a little further.

Dates for Daytona’s major events in 2014 are:

Daytona 500, February 23

Bike Week, March 7-16

Coke Zero 400, July 5

Biketoberfest, October 16-19

I’m always available to answer any questions (like the best times of year to visit, weather concerns, how to book great accommodations, etc). And, of course, if you have been to or are from my home town, share your ideas and suggestions for others to see here as well.

Daytona Beach might not be where I live, but it will ALWAYS be where I’m from.