#29. Yoga Rooftop + Sicily + Farm Retreat + Italian Pastries + Scottish Tartan Exhibition
your july 2023 edition.
medicine kitchen + slow travel + the best bakery in cambridge heath + the non-white lotus holiday + the slow-paced side of the Netherlands + Dave Grohl new book + V&A in Scotland + brunch in mare street + regenerative farm stay in Somerset
“It’s only when the ‘unknown’ factor enters the picture that things get magical and turn into an adventure.” - Jan Spiller
Slow Travel
Starting the summer in the ocean waters of Sicily and in the warmth and tulip colours of the Netherlands inspired me to a slow farm-to-table start to the sunniest season of the year.
I didn’t follow any itinerary of White Lotus, I promise - unless you consider spending an afternoon having an aperitivo and good charcuterie in Taormina something to show off - as I’ve been to this Italian island almost 10 times, and each turn, it becomes more of a local experience.
After one week of holidaying in London - when my friends are here, I reconnect to my own city with different eyes - reconsidering my relationship with Hackney Wick, we spent almost 10 days between Capo d’Orlando, a peaceful seaside town with Sicilian originality in a calm villa serving breakfast under the sun, hectic Palermo and Salina, one of the prettiest and more exclusive parts of the Aeolian Islands, where beaches have a maximum of 30 other individuals to share the pleasure of a hidden gem.
Highlights include the turquoise beach at Cefalù, considered one of the most beautiful villages in the whole of Italy (you can imagine, in a country with overwhelming beauty, being on this list is not for beginners) and the great taste of sicilianità, with a refined accent, at Triscele, probably the best meal of the trip.
This time, we also could explore Holland beyond Amsterdam in the cuteness of Utrecht, where I found out about the Dutch Marie-Stella-Maris, a new favourite shower gel brand, and the wildness of Rotterdam, a mix of New York, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Berlin, London and Amsterdam in one place and where the culture of cycling blend with the one of a cafe.
Back to English territory, have you heard of regenerative farm stays? With the idea of reconnection with nature, the self and others, 42 Acres is a well-being retreat place located in Frome, one of the cities I like the most in the country, in the heart of Somerset.
It’s a place committed to serving as a peaceful sanctuary and the perfect landscape for energy exchange, new moon ceremony, eco-fluency and medicine kitchen, with accommodations ranging from cottages, campsites, and barns to a typical farmhouse.
The estate is like no other, prioritising the four elements in the spirit of slow travel: fire cooking, exploring meadows, having tea by the fire, indulging in a warm bath, forest dining, starring the night sky etc. Who doesn’t need a place like this?
Slow Fashion
This Englishness inspired me to share other British brands on my mind right now. I’ve been closely observing the work of Tori Murphy, a textile brand dedicated to creating thoughtful, timeless and sustainable products for the modern family home. You can find beautiful fabrics honouring British heritage and manufacture. Up From a Dream is also high-rated on my list, designing exclusive slow-made dresses in Yorkshire.
See
I’m also considering booking a trip to Scotland to pay a visit to the new “Tartan” exhibition in the Victoria & Albert Dundee, which recently opened and goes until January 2024. The instantly recognisable symbol of Scotland, a global textile of tradition, rebellion, oppression and fashion, is exposed in objects from the high fashion of Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen to Jackie Stewart's racing helmet.
Read
On one of my recent visits to Waterstones, I was intrigued to read some pages of the new The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music written by Dave Grohl. Probably not coincidentally, I opened the book on the page where he shared his personal side of the story of when he heard what happened to Kurt. As a Nirvana fan since a young age, I can’t wait to start it!
Eat
When visiting Cambridge Heath to try the honourable Italian pastries of the new pastificio in town Forno, I desperately fell in love with their maritozzi, characterised by a soft and sweet dough made with whipped cream, typical of Italy's capital city tradition. They are a MUST, perfectly accompanied by a well-prepared cappuccino. They are the same owners of Ombra, a 1-minute walk, which is my next dining destination this month.
Visiting this side of East London is always a blessing for my adventurous and Sagittarius moon. In the narrow and industrial streets of the E8 postcode, I found a new shop selling rare and original Italian products that are difficult to find even in a multicultural place like London, 4 Cose. They deliver in the whole UK.
As good eateries are never enough, I was glad to find out that Franzè & Evans opened a new café at Mare Street Studios, offering the best of brunch menus and coffee for a fair, decent price. Their original branch is in an easy-going and lazy corner of Shoreditch.
Be
If you fancy a wellness experience to balance your summer indulgences, try the rooftop yoga and brunch offered by Third Space at Ham Yard Hotel in central London, a series of energising Vinyasa classes, followed by a healthy brunch in the hotel’s light-filled Orangery. As a member myself of this London luxury health club, I highly recommend you book your spot. Thank me later.
Happy beginning of summer. This moment is more precious than you think! x, NB
Que delícia que esse verão está por aí. Amei!