Jackson + Rye | A Little Piece of the Upper East Side

“Food feeds the mind, body and soul. Therefore, gather all loved ones and converse over the greatest meal” – Daniel S. 

Anyone who knows me or reads my blog is aware of my inherent love for New York City. It’s my favourite place in the world, I just feel an affinity to it like no other. Don’t get me wrong, London will always have a place in my heart as my hometown, but NYC is where I’d ultimately like to end up. One of the many things I love about the city is the social institution of brunch, all over the five boroughs. Therefore, I decided to check out Jackson+Rye in Soho, London, for a belated birthday meal. 

Jackson+Rye is styled on old school, Uptown Americana, with dark wood panelling, leather booths, and service with a smile. It wouldn’t be out of place on the Upper East Side or in Williamsberg, Brooklyn. 

We decided to eat from the Weekend Brunch Menu, and boy, were we in for a treat. There was so much variety and choice that I was a little overwhelmed to begin with. Highlights include: a toasted Reuben Sandwich with slow cooked salt beef, swiss cheese and sauerkraut; Avocado Benedict with poached eggs, maple slab bacon, country style potatoes and watercress; Buttermilk Pancakes with bananas and maple syrup cream. Have I sold it to you yet?

To start, we had the Truffled Mac and Cheese, with a crispy kale topping. The garlicky, earthy flavour of the truffles complemented the strong parmesan cheese wonderfully, and the sauce was ‘liquid’ enough to stop the pasta becoming stodgy, which is often the case with even the most carefully prepared Mac.  The kale was a little sparse, but for a starter, it was the perfect sized dish overall. 

We also had the Atlantic smoked salmon, a beautiful, large slice of salmon which was much more appealing than pre-cut slivers,  accompanied by sour cream, watercress and soda bread. Again it was the perfect amount – any more bread and it would be too filling for a starter.  The salmon was served on a beautiful, art deco style glass plate, which wouldn’t look out of place in a Fitzgerald novel. 

For mains, we all decided to go for the Buttermilk Fried Chicken, with Cajun spiced sweet potato fries and homemade slaw. The chicken escalope was delicious, so tender and moist due to being soaked in the buttermilk. The batter had a spiced kick, infinitely better than any KFC or generic London chicken shop. It was crispy, crunchy and generous. The sweet potato fries were light and tasty, but the slaw just didn’t do it for me. There was a funny aftertaste that I couldn’t put my finger on. 

In my humble opinion, I feel like the specials on offer were out of sync with the rest of the menu. There was a choice of seabass in a creamy caper sauce for £17, and a rack of lamb for £21. Considering the chicken was £11, then if you decide to go along, I recommend ordering from the usual menu in order to get better value for money, and better flavours!

To drink, I did the classic move of ordering something ‘healthy’ to counteract the calories. Think of it as ordering a Diet Coke with your Bic Mac and French Fries, guilty as charged. Anyway, I chose the Green Juice, containing avocado, spinach, cucumber, watercress and mint. It was also meant to have chia seeds but I’m not a fan (sorry not sorry) so I swapped those for apples, adding some much needed sweetness. 

Overall, the atmosphere was relaxed, and we nearly forgot we were moments away from the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street. Jackson+Rye have just about nailed it, and I’ll certainly be going back again. 

Yaasica Lucia XXX

Boozy, Bottomless, Brunch

"How do you like your eggs in the morning?" - Dean Martin

Long, lengthy and alcohol-fuelled brunches have long been the favourite pastime of the residents of the Upper East Side in NYC. Blair Waldorf is the epitome of a perfect brunch hostess, and leaves me gasping for a Mimosa. However, the trend is spreading across the world. For example, in Qatar and Dubai, traditionally dry/non-alcoholic states, ex-pats can often be seen eating opulent, five course brunches whilst sipping on Champagne. Us Brits on the other hand, have traditionally always been more likely to wake up to porridge or a bacon sandwich, and are far more likely to want a huge cup of tea, milk and two sugars, with our all-day breakfast. 

So imagine my joy when I discovered that FORGE & CO on Shoreditch High Street have started doing a bottomless brunch, i.e free refills on Prosecco throughout your meal! Hells yeah! My BFF came to stay this weekend, so we strolled down there on Saturday lunchtime. I would definitely advise booking a table as it was pretty busy, but with bottomless Prosecco for £10, its easy to see why. 

The menu was of a good standard, with sweeter dishes such a Eggy Bread with Mixed Berries & Mascarpone, and an Elderflower Fruit Salad, to dishes such as an Oxheart Burger and a Full English Breakfast (which came as a vegetarian option too). I really really wanted to have the Smoked Mackerel, Poached Egg and Potato Salad, so I was disappointed to find out it was sold out! Sacre Bleu! So I did the classic menu panic and went for the old faithful Eggs Benedict. 

I feel like they could definitely have improved the appearance of this, as it was a little underwhelming for £8, considering how good the Hoxton Bar and Grill is, just round the corner. It felt a bit unfinished. However, it did taste great and probably one of the best Hollandaise sauces I've tried in a while. The free Prosecco refills deal only works when you have food, so clearly we ate slowly and ordered a dessert to get our moneys worth! 

To be honest, I think I actually preferred the dessert to the main, it was sooo gooey and chocolatey and yummy (maybe that was due to being on my 8th glass of Prosecco...) My advice? Order the Full English Breakfast, I had major food envy of the girls next to us.

On the Sunday, we stayed local and headed to BLIGHTY COFFEE, on Blackstock Road, round the corner from my flat in Finsbury Park. We were feeling slightly jaded due to the 12 hours of drinking the day before... 

This is a super cute cafe, serving proper coffee and proper breakfasts in the heart of North London. There are various levels to sit at, from stools and tables in the entrance room, upstairs with vintage style sitting room and sofas, and a surprisingly large garden with a decked seating area and a ping pong table. 

I started with an Orancino - a latte with orange zest and chocolate. It was ridiculously tasty, and had a tartness that stopped it from being too sickly. I've been thinking about it ever since tbh. 

My friend chose the Bacon Butty and I chose the Sausage Sanga. We were just expecting a basic sandwich, so you can imagine our delight when we were faced with these bad boys... 

Fresh bread rolls, perfectly cooked herby sausage, crispy bacon, lettuce and tomatoes made this a very satisfying breakfast. They were served on individual wooden boards which was a nice touch. So yum...

I thought I'd share a couple of my recent eggy recipes, as you know I just can't get enough of those delicious ovals of joy... Anyway, something I rustled up in 5 minutes after a long day at work was guacamole, bacon, and a poached egg, on wholemeal toast. It sounds simple but it was so effective, and the guac gave it another dimension as opposed to using plain avocado. Definitely try this at home. 

My second eggventure (sorry) of the week was carb free, in order to pretend that I'm going to be beach body ready (hate that phrase) by August.

So, I had a poached egg, fried mushrooms, bacon lardons, and spring greens sauteed in garlic. I wanted to use mushrooms as my friend suggested it, and I had never really thought about using them. It was ever so quick and easy, perfect after another long day at work...

That's all from me this week, have an eggcellent weekend!

Don't forget to check out my Instagram for more frequent posts: @yaasica_lucia :) 

Lots of Love, 

Yaasica Lucia XXX

Smooth(ie) Operator

"Blue days, all of them gone,

Nothing but blue skies from now on" - Ella Fitzgerald

Haven't the past few days been glorious?! Spring has sprung, the evenings are getting lighter and I'm even able to walk home from work through Highbury Fields. Heaven. However, over the Easter weekend I went a little overboard on chocolate. I also revisited my old favourite of smoked crispy bacon in a toasted hot cross bun - amazing but pretty unhealthy.... 

Therefore I've decided to have a metaphorical spring clean of my daily routine. I've been trying to go to bed earlier (which is tricky as I suffer from insomnia when busy and stressed, often still awake at 2am) and trying to wake up earlier, making time for breakfast. I've also tried to give up coffee, as I normally drink at least 4 or 5 cups a day at work. I've been clean and coffee free for 6 days now, let's hope I can keep it up!

I've been starting the day with a fresh fruit smoothie and bowl of porridge with berries and a squiggle of honey. 

The first contained: 1 banana, 1 pear, 5 strawberries, a handful of blueberries and a glug of skimmed milk. Is a glug a measurement? Enough for 2 cups of tea. This actually served two, so I shared it with my housemate Katie, who constantly inspires me to eat healthier and move around a bit more. I had to steal her insta-snap... 

The nail varnish is a Barry M Gel Shine in Blueberry for all you nail varnish lovers. 

My next smoothie was delicious and even better than the first. 

It contained: 1 banana, 5 strawberries, a handful of blueberries, some cucumber slices, and a splash of apple juice. The cucumber adds such a lovely freshness and really woke me up. 

Katie also bought a huge bunch of tulips for the living and dining area which really brightened things up. Flowers always give me a warm fuzzy smiley feeling, you know? 

I just la la love bright colours. Although conversely, I love wearing black, and as VBH said, I'll stop wearing black when they make a darker colour. At the moment my favourite colour for accessories is yellow. I went shopping with a friend and literally wouldn't shut up talking to him about finding a yellow bag (still looking).  However, I did manage to pick up some gorgeous items in Primark last week, both with a perfect, lemony, juicy Mediterranean print. 

The first is a toiletries bag for £3 that I'm using for my every day makeup (the rest is kept in a wicker picnic hamper, no joke). 

The second item is one I'm still unsure about. It's a clear Perspex bag with a gold chain strap, and there's a lemon print pouch inside, for £6. I'm not sure whether it's wonderful or hideous, and if it is indeed wonderful, I'm not sure I'm cool enough to pull it off. I think I'll be pairing it with a white cotton sundress and blue denim jacket, with gold accessories, once the weather gets warmer. The photo doesn't really do it justice... 

Where there is light, there must be dark. I am loving all the snakeskin (fake, obvs) popping up this season, and Topshop have smashed it for me. These slip on sneakers have nailed the sports luxe and monochrome trends as well as snakeskin.  I can't wait to wear these with the Topshop Joni jeans now, and then with black or white dresses and colourful accessories in the summer. 

Thats it from me today, but I'll be back soon with more of my everyday ramblings. 

Love, 

Yaasica Lucia Xxx 

Are You Ready For Your Close Up?

“I woke up like this… flawless” – Beyoncé

I would say that I’m not alone in thinking that it is pretty impossible to wake up flawless. That does not mean to say that people cannot look flawless, after having a personal trainer, make up artists, facials, spa treatments, expensive hair extensions, a private chef and millions of dollars. However for me, the way I look when I wake up is pretty different to how I look when I leave the house for work, and immensely different to how I’d look on a night out. Further, as a self confessed selfie taker, I know that good angles, good lighting and good filters can transform a girls face, sometimes beyond recognition. Therefore I’m always on the lookout for products that at least try to give the illusion that I’m edging towards flawless, in real life as well as on Instagram.

One thing I am happy with beauty wise is my skin. However, it is not merely Luck or Nature, and there are various lotions and potions that I use in order to create a smooth canvas. 

I start by exfoliating my face in the shower (but using a sink of warm water can work too). One of the best exfoliators on the market is St Ives Apricot Facial Scrub, costing around £3.

There are a few varieties but my favourite is the Naturally Clear version, and although it may sound obvious, there is a LOT of ‘scrub’ in there – my pet hate is using an exfoliator that feels like a face cream with a few bits of sand and stone mixed in (I’m looking at you Superdrug Vitamin E Scrub). It always leaves my skin feeling smooth, soft and fresh.  If you want something a bit more gentle for everyday use, I recommend Flake Away  by Soap & Glory which I reviewed HERE. Having dry/combination skin means having to use a thicker than average moisturiser before applying foundation. Otherwise, the foundation can emphasise dry patches and can even make them worse. I personally swear by Nivea Visage Rich Moisturising Day Cream. 

Choosing the right make up brushes is also key to achieving a flawless look. I love using the Real Techniques brushes. They are quite expensive to buy individually so I suggest buying a set for value for money. I chose 'Sam's Picks'. 

L-R - multitask face brush, contouring brush, buffing brush, pointed foundation brush, eyeshadow brush, liner brush.

The buffing brush is fantastic for putting on foundation, using light, circular motions. I recommend putting blobs of foundation onto your skin and then buffing it in, rather than picking it up with the brush.

The buffing brush works so well with one of my favourite foundations, Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24hr. It's well worth the money and lasts for ages. I normally save this foundation for going out in the evenings.

Maybelline has always been my go-to drugstore brand for daily wear foundation. Their newest product, Dream Flawless Nude, has had mixed reviews.

Some people love the light matte finish whereas others have slated it, especially those with dry skin. However, I really like it. Its super fine, and you are meant to apply it by letting drops fall off the applicator onto your finger. Clearly I have no time for that, so I normally just blob the applicator onto my forehead, nose, cheeks and chin. As long as you exfoliate and moisturise properly, and apply it to the drier areas first (with fingers, nothing else will work) then you can get a great finish. This will be a great summer foundation.

Another great Maybelline foundation with fuller coverage is their Superstay 24hr Better Skin foundation. 

This one works well when applied with the Real Techniques buffing brush. It does take a while to 'settle' into your skin and can look streaky at first. I applied a layer of Maybelline 'Fit Me' face powder with the Real Techniques multitask brush and it did give great coverage. It can feel slightly heavy for everyday use, but it depends on what you're used to.

Not entirely sure of what my face is doing here, but #nofilter

I went shopping with my friends on Friday and was amazed to discover that Primark have been doing some fairly decent makeup. While I would never wear their foundation, the eye palette and swirled bronzer (worn above) are gorgeous, and at £3 each are way cheaper than any other brand.

Talking of inexpensive brands, Make Up Academy London(MUA), available in Superdrug, is quickly becoming one of my favourites. Their eyebrow pencil is amazingly waxy and lasts forever. Most recently I picked up their Velvet Lip Lacquer, an amazing lip product that goes on like a gloss and dries matte, with intense pigmentation and long lasting staying power, even after food and drink.

The colours I chose were Reckless (the bright red worn above) and Dare, a deep pinky purply burgundy. 

I really would recommend all of the products I have written about in order to achieve a flawless, insta-ready look.

Lots of love,

Yaasica Lucia Xxx

“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” – Marilyn Monroe

New Home, New Beginnings

"There are always flowers for those that want to see them" - Henri Matisse 

Hello everyone! As promised, I've got another article for you today, to cement the fact that I am making an earnest return to the blog. I thought I’d give you a little update on some of what I’ve been up to since I’ve been away. As you may know, I used to live in East London, in the hipster paradise of Victoria Park Village.  As much as I loved living there, I’m thrilled to have moved to a fantastic area of North London, with a flat directly opposite Finsbury Park (the Highbury and Islington side). 

Our flat is just off of a busy, slightly dodgy main road, and looks a bit rough around the edges. However, walk to the other end of the street (Wilberforce Road) and we have one of the best café/deli/wine bars in north London, which I had to try out as soon as we moved in. 

Fink's Salt and Sweet is an absolute gem. The décor and furniture is minimalist and Scandinavian inspired. 

The menu is great, from Hansen & Lydersen salmon, to house granola with berries and yogurt, to flavoursome crunchy chicken salad sandwiches on sourdough. We chose the chicken sandwich, along a toasted English muffin topped with bacon jam and Sharpam Rustic Cheese, accompanied by a well presented latte. 

I love the peppermint green crockery they use, which contrasts nicely with the grey furniture.  The portions are a little small, so I would order a few things and share them between you.

There will be many more North London themed blog posts coming soon, especially as I live amazingly close to Upper Street in Angel, which is famous for having the most restaurants, shops and bars on one street in the whole of London.  Boris Johnson lives there too, although I’m yet to bump into him as I leave the office. 

We have gradually put our stamp on the new flat and it's turned from a house into a home, however cliché that may sound. These days in London, its hard for the average graduate to afford to live in a super modern, high tech flat, so there has to be some compromise. By filling the place with ornaments and plants, it makes it so much nicer to live in. Here are a few things that have made a difference... 

Pictures and cookbooks 

Real life chilis!

Paperchase have been doing the loveliest postcards recently, which cost 60p each. I bought a few and stuck them in £1 frames from Tiger, to make a cheap yet effective wall display. Similar things from Urban Outfitters can cost 10 times the price. Disclaimer: I am not, and never will be, an interiors expert. I just like pretty things. 

An effective and inexpensive way to make any room nicer is to fill it with flowers and candles. One of the best places in London for those is of course, Columbia Road Flower Market, which is the cutest little street between Hoxton and Bethnal Green. It is always, always packed out with people from all walks of life, on Sundays, both browsing and buying. I recommend turning up either at 8am, or alternatively around 1.30pm or 2pm, when you can get some bargains. We managed to get a bunch of roses and a bunch of lilies for £5 all in – so much cheaper than ordering from Interflora. 

 Mary Berry Jug, £8 in the sales

Tesco also do a cracking bunch of brightly coloured flowers for £3, which last around 2 weeks and smell beautiful. 

How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are, available HERE

I’m quite into the whole Parisian chic thing at the moment, as you can see from my reading materials etc. I know I'll never be a true Parisienne, but one can dream, right?

Coco Mademoiselle perfume, Chanel

Milkshake tumbler (used to hold makeup brushes/pens), Ikea £1.50

Lantern, Ikea, £2

I have a few little nooks in my room which I don’t like leaving bare, so I used an Italian Chianti wine bottle as a mini vase (I just liked the label), and added some candles and a lantern. 

Star Lantern, Ikea, £2

Monogram Candle, Oliver Bonas, £4, similar HERE

These are all simple ways of cheering up a flat without breaking the bank. 

That's all from me for today. Up next: I'll be reviewing a new, 'secret' cocktail bar in the heart of Soho, west London. I drank a cocktail from a ceramic wellington boot... but more on that next time! I'll also be doing a beauty based post soon too, I promise!

Love, 

Yaasica Lucia XXX