Author: Sarah Kemp

Hair at Daniel Galvin

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Hair salons. I love them. From the moment I enter until the moment I leave, I feel utterly content. It never fails to amaze me how a small change to the hair on your head can make you feel so different. A couple of weeks ago I visited Daniel Galvin, one of the world’s leading colour salons in London’s West End, for a semi permanent colour treatment. I have had red hair for over two years now and I haven’t even slightly tired of it. By the time I visited Daniel Galvin, the colour had really started to fade. So much so that not everyone could tell that I had roots – and they were over an inch! Before: From blog I was greeted by hair colourist Sam who brought over a couple of colour charts to choose from. I decided that I wanted to go a little darker so we settled on an auburn colour a little darker than what it was. She went away to mix up the colour and I was asked …

Michelin starred chef Héléne Darozze stars in “Just Like You” philanthropic film series

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A couple of weeks ago I was invited to a VERY posh lunch at The Connaught, hosted by American denim brand, Citizens of Humanity. But this wasn’t any old lunch at The Connaught, this one would be hosted by Héléne Darozze herself. The Connaught is very close to my office but I knew this lunch would take up a bit more than my lunch hour so I took the day off in preparation. From blog The eager beaver that I am, I was first to arrive to a Laurent Perrier Champagne reception and sat chatting to the team while the room filled up with guests for the lunch. I thought I wasn’t going to know anyone because it was mostly a fashion crowd, then a familiar face casually walked through the door, that of Mr. Douglas Blyde. I don’t think he saw me at first and I caught a look of surprise and nervousness on his face when he saw a room full of girls from the fashion industry. I said hello and sensed relief. …

Beijing Duck at Min Jiang

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When I first started this blog around three and a half years ago I never could have imagined what opportunities would come my way. I started Food for Think with a view to sharing and documenting home cooked recipes. I then started to review good restaurants and cafes that I came across and ventured out into hotel reviews when I went travelling. Soon enough I was being invited to a range of events and experiences. A few weeks ago an invite popped into my inbox entitled ‘Invitation: wood-fired Beijing duck, dim sum and Chinese etiquette at Min Jiang‘. I was intrigued, partly because I love Beijing duck, but also because it would give me a chance to introduce Jack to good (I hoped) Chinese food. Jack has been a lifelong hater of Chinese cuisine – no doubt because the only kind he has been introduced to is from the local gloop ridden local takeaway. I ordered lemon chicken from our local about four years ago and ever since he has vowed never to eat Chinese …

Blanc – Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona

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As a child, my family holidays were mostly spent in Spanish speaking countries. I will always thank my dad for introducing me to the beautiful island of Ibiza where we enjoyed two weeks in the sunshine every summer for years. So it is no surprise that I have always had a fondness for Spain. I am not sure how Barcelona has evaded my travel path up to now but a few weeks ago I set off with Jack and thoroughly I enjoyed my first visit. We arrived on one of the busiest weekends – the Sunday evening played host to arguably one of the most important football matches of the season, Barcelona vs Madrid. The city was buzzing and as a result finding a hotel was a little difficult. The Mandarin Oriental was on my hit list but there was no room at the inn. But despite not being able to experience the rooms this time, we were still able to enjoy dinner on Friday evening at Blanc, the restaurant’s brasserie and gastrobar. The entrance …

I released the Kraken

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UPDATE – This is how clueless I am about rum – I was told shortly after I posted this that Jack Daniels is whiskey, not rum. Well, I don’t like whiskey either! Enjoy the read. Laugh if you want.. 😉 I’ve never been a fan of rum. I was first introduced to it with a strong Jack Daniels and Coke in my early party days, perhaps at a cheap bar we used to frequent as school kids in my hometown of Nottingham, and after one sip vowed I would never touch it again. It got to the point that even smelling it from someone elses glass or on their breath was enough to make me wretch. As I have grown older and have been able to afford to visit better quality bars, I have come to realise that not all rum drinks should taste like Jack Daniels and Coke. Perhaps the Coke was a problem – I can’t touch Vodka and Coke, but one of my favourite drinks is Vodka and Soda. But then again, …