Daylesford: Organic Farm Gloucestershire

Sometimes there's no need to overplan a day trip outside the chaos of the city, especially if your main goal is to have a lovely lunch at Daylesford Farm, Gloucestershire. What you need to do is to reach Moreton-in-Marsh or Kingham in the beautiful Cotswold area and then head Daylesford Farm! Great location and building in the middle of a breathtaking countryside, amazing interiors and lovely organic products in such a great country chic atmosphere

The restaurant offers a nice choice of really curious courses and do not hesitate, everything will taste delicious anyway! 

And of course, right after, we spent some time in the market where total excitement begins. A great place where to go to buy Christmas presents and unique breads, soups, cheeses, jams, chutneys, chocolates, candles, plants and much more.

Thank you Daylesford staff, you totally made our day!

daylesford.com

 

Butternut, honey and sage soup

Lasagne

Chocolate cake

Momentané - Bouroullec's monographic exhibition at Musée des Arts Decoratifs, Paris

April 25th the Museum of Arts Decoratifs of Paris will host a monographic exhibition about the Bouroullec's brothers. The exhibit will contain the works of the two brothers in the last 15 years in 800 square meters of dedicated space. The main nave of the museum will host a gigantic textile architecture which will contain their famous projects Algues, North Tiles, Twigs and Clouds. About one hundred objects will be displayed on one side of the main nave and on the opposite aisle (the one facing the Tuileries Garden) will be dedicated to the furnitures designed for the University of Copenhagen and office systems such as Joyn and WorkBay. In this exhibit the two brothers will also present research models, about 300 drawings, films and photographs of their work.

A must see for those around Paris in the next month!

Dora Shop

Just across Granola, Vaernedamsvej, Copenhagen, we found a beautiful design store. At Dora Shop you can find a small collection on various danish danish products, illustrations, and home decors. A nice place to visit while venturing around lovely Copenhagen!

www.shopdora.dk

DANSK

DANSK, Istedgade, Copenhagen

1, 2, 3 o’clock, 4 o’clock ROCK, Museum of Copenhagen

www.copenhagen.dk

Cool T-Shirts at SMK, Copenhagen

It is always fascinating to find contemporary details in the past. Well, I was really surprised by the T-Shirts of these two men at SMK, Copenhagen. Love them!

www.smk.dk

Ipsen & Co., Copenhagen

At Ipsen & Co., Copenhagen, not only you can taste a delicious breakfast, but you can also buy some lovely cups and pottery objects!

Breakfast in Copenhagen!

Granola, Vaernedamsvej 5

Ipsen & Co., Frederiksberg 1850

The Coffee Collective, Jaegersborggade 10

www.coffeecollective.dk

Rio Tarcoles' crocodiles

I have so many pictures of my trip to Costa Rica I would love to share, but I don't want to make it become a ''reportage'' month. So, I'll just post some whenever I feel! Time for statements today!
In the picture you can see some of the crocodiles that were sunbathing on the side of Tarcoles River, between Puntarenas and Quepos. Such a cool moment! I already saw crocodiles, but never that many! Such a fantastic Jurassic creature. From a gray and cold Milan, I wish you a sunny, warm and happy day!

Shake things up a bit!

I'm off to Stockholm this weekend and I am so excited!  As I was making a little list of places to discover and things to try I realized how cool this city is and I wonna see it all!  There is so much to do and explore its fantastic... I wasn't able to fit everything on my map but I think I got an idea of the areas to check out! Can't wait to tell you all about it!

check out some of the spots... looking pretty flipping awesome!
Fotografiska gallery here
Papercut shop here 
Aplace Below... danger danger 
PA & Co nom nom nom 
KAKEN drink up buttercup 
Stikki nikki hello, gelato
Story Hotel here
Mellqvist caffee bar coffeeeeee
HAttbaren ... a bar with hats
Urban Deli the packaging
Design House Stockholm hold me back
Cool idea, coffee/office coffice 

TO THE MOON AND BACK

In 20 years lets have New Years on the moon!  Its a bit early to plan the logistics but I think in between now and then it'll be feasible.  You game!?

Image source: shannonmayillustration.blogspot.it

Palazzo Morando - Milano

Palazzo Morando is the Museum of Costumes, Fashion and Image of Milan which is now hosting a design exposition. It is free and it had been an amazing discover. The permanent collection has great examples of dresses of the XIX century, statues and paintings of Milan back in the XVIII and XIX century. Great and suggested.
www.costumemodaimmagine.mi.it

A Rainbow in the sky

I always loved this picture and reminds me of good times in Vancouver. A rainbow always makes my day! 

Lovely domestic garden & blue window

Parisian buildings texture

I had to write a friday night short post about this. If someone had been to Paris might or might not have seen this texture on buildings, this picture in particular was taken on the Seine side of the Louvre Museum. I don't know if it is me, but I just kept seeing this texture everywhere in Paris. If someone asked me which is the typical parisian texture, I would have no doubts. Is this a personal issue of someone can relate to that? Sorry, probably this was not necessary, but I just can't not think of Paris when I see this (which doesn't look really parisian at a first sight...). Ok, you can go back to party now. Have a great weekend!

Officina profumo farmaceutica S.M.Novella: factory and store visit

The perfumes collection

Scents for drawers 

I finally decided to write about my visit to Officina Profumo S.M. Novella in Florece. I first visited the factory and then I went to the store where Francesco was waiting for me for the visit. The pharmacy started back in the 1221 started by the Dominican friars and was opened to the public in May 1612. The friars used to use medical herbs to cure people and some of their mix are still sold in the store. The store used to be in the same place, but the main entrance was built in the XIX century: the old entrance was on the courtyard and it was overhung by Matteo Nigetti's sculture of a seashell. Nobles were welcomed in the pharmacy and they could taste some hot chocolate while choosing their herbs and perfumes. One of the first medicine created by the friar Angiolo Marchissi was the anti-histeria water: an alcoholic calming and refreshing lotion.Till 1869 the friars owned the pharmacy. Today, the production is not anymore where the store is, but they keep using the typical recipes and some ingredients are still top secret. They sell herbs, lotions, candles, creams, soaps, perfumes, licors... the choice is enormous and the temptation is to try everything. Most of their product have fascinating stories: like the vinegar of the 7 robbers, la Marescialla, Angel's of Florence cologne or Nostalgia. This year, for the 400th anniversary, they have presented two scents, Porcelain and Brass. A 360° delving experience. People come from all over the world and while Asiatics are fascinated by creams and colognes, Japaneses love rose's water and client's from Florence are affectioned to this place and keep trusting their quality and experience. 

Perfume process

Essences are mixed with alcohol for about half an hour. The perfume is pushed at 10°C under Nitrogen (in order to eliminate Oxygen) to maturation columns. Oxygen may alterate the perfume and it makes go bad faster the natural essences. Perfumes need to rest for about a month at controlled temperature and after they are ready to be put into bottles. The whole process is air vacuumed. The design of the bottles had been designed in the 30s and they are still handmade by glass factories around Tuscany.

I will stop here, there's so much to say and it would get boring. If anyone is interested in something more about my visit, general informations about SM Novella or Florence don't hesitate to contact me.

www.smnovella.it

Soap maturation tray

Food Design @ Le lieu du design

I was more than a year ago when I visited this exposition about Food Design at Le lieu du design. I found the picture of the chocolate disk and it reminded me of a beautiful opening. The whole courtyard was packed with people and they were serving french cheese, simple or ''contemporary'' interpretations of it. Beautiful place to see in Paris!

http://www.lelieududesign.com/

Taeko: a real japanese restaurant at ''Le marché des enfants rouges''

Hidden in the 3rd arrondissement in Paris, between Temple and Boulevard Beaumarchais, there is a covered market: Le marché des enfants rouges (Red children's market). Built in 1615, it supplied the close Marais. The neighbours decided this name in memory of the orphans who lived in the orphanage of the close square that used to wear red clothes as a sign of charity. In 1982 became an historical monument for Paris.

The market in a meltin' pot of cultures and you can have italian, lebanese, french, moroccan and japanese food. We went for japanese food because some friends told us it is one of the best in town. Such a lovely place where to have lunch, relaxed in the shade of the market and surrounded by smells from all over the world. I would definitely suggest to there, because you can actually taste a unique japanese cuisine: simple, tasty and delicious. 

Lorenzo Villoresi's in-house shop

While visiting Florence, I couldn't not visit Lorenzo Villoresi atelier, which happens to be also his house and there also little shop (which you can see from the picture. For anyone interested you can visit it at Via dei Bardi, 12, and do not hesitate to ring the bell, you'll be welcomed to reach the top floor of the building and delve into this unique experience. I think I have never such breathtaking atelier: evokes stories, passion and travels. Perfume can be smelled from outside the entrance door. I took advantage of this moment to try three different perfumes: Alamut, a floral oriental woody scent, Iperborea, a nice feminine floral composition and Piper Nigrum, a dry and spicy discover that can seduce men and women. 

www.lorenzovilloresi.it

Pitti Fragranze 10

I just got back from Florence where I went to Pitti Fragranze, the perfume fair. That, was such a great experience. I went there as a visitor, so today it was the only day I could have access. 213 brands showing their perfumes, a great lecture 'The art of Jean-Claude Ellena, a Retrospective: 1974-2012' by Chandler Burr, famous perfume journalist for The New York Times, and a really nice exposition called 'Every bottle of perfume contains a world', with technical support from IFF – International Flavours and Fragrances. 

I really appreciated the exposition of essences. I finally had the chance to smell Neroli , Tonka Beans, Vetiver , Patchouli , Tubereuse Clary Sage, Immortelle, Ciste, Orris, Myrrh, Petitgrain... and it was a little dream that came true. I was pushing myself really hard to recognize essences in perfumes, but sometimes I just couldn't understand what Vetiver Essence, or Cardamom would smell like. A nice experience and opportunity for passionate people that want to discover and understand better this amazing world. It was really useful, as an introduction to the fair, I could finally recognize some essences with no hesitations. 

Couldn't ask for better experience.

Pitti Fragranze is a unique experience for passionate people. You can actually take your time smelling and understanding perfumes, you get to know the principales, or even the noses or the brands which are open to explain the concept between their brands, the stories behind each perfumes and to answer all the question that you might have. This was my first time there, and I am sure I will go back next year. I finally took an entire day for myself delving into fascinating stories and great scents. It's an entire world to discover, and the more I discover, the more I fall in love with the mysterious and seductive world of perfumes.

Soon to arrive, some posts about brands that fascinated me.

www.pittimmagine.com

www.iff.com