Weekly Love: Week 180

One of my favourite things about summer is not just the sunshine, longer days and fantastic, bright, vibrant food, but that friends seem to all manage to have time off at the same time as each other. This means we can spend lazy, sun-drenched weekends lazing around each others gardens, go out for big brunches outside of the city, and barbecue all together with our families on Monday evenings after those of us who live outside of the city have finished work for the day. The world always seems so much brighter when you’ve had the opportunity to spend plenty of time with the people you love that you don’t get to see every day.

1. Celebrating National Rum Day with cocktails at The Rum Kitchen on Kingley Court. I wasn’t eating, but the food looked fantastic and my drink was wonderful, so I’ll be sure to head back to do a review sometime soon! | 2. Mastering the art of the perfect pitcher Mojitos to drink over lazy Sundays in the garden. Oh, and I’m now officially in love with this perfectly sized jug from Emma Bridgewater. | 3. Sunday brunching at The Pop-up Cafe in Deal. | 4. Breaking down and barbecuing a rack of lamb, marinated in lemon, olive oil and rosemary. | 5. Mid-afternoon weekend feasting on a side of citrus poached salmon (with Kewpie mayo!), homemade garlic bread, boiled new potatoes, and a garden salad with a homemade honey mustard dressing. | 6. Exploring new gins with classic gin cocktails at The London Gin Club in Soho.

• Rose makes a very good argument for exploring London in the early hours of the morning.
• And, Kristabel has put together a great mini guide to Angel in Islington, including my recent restaurant love Little Viet Kitchen (you can read my review here! 
• Also, Olivia has put together a great 48 hour London guide for out of town visitors.
• Food52 asks if vodka is utterly pointless. 
• What the launch of Instagram Stories means for fashion and beauty brands on Snapchat.
• Jacintha takes us on a tour of the disused Clapham South underground station that Londoners used to shelter in during the Blitz. 
• Bri threw a beautiful, Japanese themed backyard movie night.
• Sylvia schools us on how to successfully preserve vegetables in olive oil. 
• 100% yes to this marble shelving DIY with gold hardware.
• These are some great tips for financial planning at any stage of your life.
• Humshuka. Shakshuka, on top of hummus. Mind blown.
• Refinery 29 has sat down with several Millennials who are still living at home while they get their careers off the ground in a look at how things are changing for our generation.
• Ashlae took the Salkantay trek up to Machu Picchu.
• I’m always after delicious and easy weeknight suppers, and these Almond Crusted Chicken Tenders with Honey Mustard look like they’ll really hit the spot.
• Epicurious goes shopping in a Japanese supermarket and food hall in New Jersey, and it all looks bloody delicious. (via Amy) I did the same last year for Korean food in Los Angeles.

7. Building a tabletop bar on the patio for my Road to Rio South of the Border inspired summer party. | 8. Enjoying drinks at my favourite cocktail bar in London, Reverend J.W. Simpson on Goodge Street. | 9. Early evening walks along the beach at Sandwich Bay. | 10. A speedy supper of wholemeal spaghetti tossed in garlic oil and parmesan, topped with fresh mozzarella, roasted cherry tomatoes and fresh basil. | 11. A plate of everything at my summer party. | 12. Finishing off the meal with Brigadeiros, traditional Brazilian truffles.

• The Kitchn schools us on what it really means when tomatoes are ‘heirloom’. Also, they have put together a great guide to making kimchee – something I need to try at some point!
• Oh, and I’m also pretty into their guide to the 9 different types of mozzarella.
• This is a facinating, real life look behind the scenes interview with a social media executive about paying influencers for online social content. (via Kristabel)
• Here are 12 (frankly fascinating) Filipino desserts, and how to make them.
• Leeds? Amy has found you 5 more awesome looking foodies haunts you need to try.
• Emily has stopped wearing foundation. I agree with her, and I only wear concealer and bronzer most days; the most I ever wear is a bit of CC cream applied with my fingertips! 
• 7 quick travel hacks to help you plan your group holiday with friends.
• Mulia went for a delicious looking Sunday lunch with stunning views at the Sky Garden.
• I need to make a vat of this Basil Vinaigrette to help stretch out the last of the summer. 
• However, one thing that does excite me about early autumn, however, is the excuse to try this recipe for a lighter, fresh tomato heavy Lentil Bolognese.
• Oh, and in other lentil news, this big bowl of Burrata with Lentils (and yet another) Basil Vinaigrette looks like it will be absolutely perfect for right now. 
• Here is a brief history of and guide to wine bottle design, because.
• Also, the life (and death) of the martini glass.
• I will admit to being slightly jealous of Camille’s space in her backyard tour.
• Laurie has me wanting to go and get sushi in Harrods. No, really. 

What have you been enjoying this week, and what do you have planned for the weekend? I’m looking forward to trying out some new recipes and ingredients I have been sent recently, and just generally enjoying one of the last proper weekends of summer at the end of what has actually been a bloody long and hard week. 

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