The Rum Kitchen

Shanika Says: I think I may have found a new regular haunt...
Last week, after attending a particularly testosterone heavy event with the boy we were driving home and thinking of places to go and get some food. Cottons in Camden was brought up but we were in West London and didn't fancy making the trek over there, when I remembered The Rum Kitchen over on All Saints Road in Notting Hill, which I'd seen a bit of fuss about when it opened earlier this year.

We pulled up and there was a bouncer outside who told us we probably wouldn't get a table as there is a 2-3 week wait for tables on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights....damn....but we went in anyway to see what we could do. Luckily the lovely ladies told us to hang tight and they would see what they could do...and they managed to squeeze us in, seating us at a table in the little corner between the bar and the window, which is away from the rest of the diners and a bit more intimate. The Rum Kitchen is a beach shack inspired restaurant and if only there had been some sand I really could've thought I was in the Caribbean! The music was so on point, all the hip hop stuff I'd listen to anyway mixed with some bashment and reggae. There were dancing bar-tenders and sayings on the wood panelled walls (my favourite was 'Walk Good' a Caribbean expression for 'Take Care' that was over the door as you left) and the tables were repurposed wooden benches that I'm convinced came from local schools...mainly due to the fact that the we found the boy and his high school girlfriend's name on our one!

The lights are low and candles are in little red glass holders so its dim and warm in there a bit like this...

The menu looks so good, and there was so much for a no-meat-but-yes-please-to-fish-eater like myself. I have starters and mains planned for my next five visits already but this time round I went for escovitch red mullet with sweet potato mash and spinach and the boy had oxtail and rice. I also HAD to have some rum at The Rum Kitchen...obviously...I like my cocktails sweet so was recommended the Strange Fruit, which is a light Cuban rum with fresh lime, pineapple and Canadian maple syrup. Yum! I had two. Wish I'd got more photos before my battery died.

I'm pretty sure I'll be back.

Hello Kitty Noir

   

                           How cool is this changing room? Looks like I'm stepping into heaven!   

     

                                                                    

Dress: £6.49 H&M sale bargain

Shoes: £24.99 H&M

Over the knee socks: Primark (I think!)

Bag: Zara

This week I met up with my friend and 'Victim' co-star Natasha Sparkes for a catch up at Brixton Village. We had a bit of a look around some of the cool vintage shops and checked out a few of the restaurants to decide where we wanted to eat. Seven had a lovely candle lit, rough and ready ambience but was very busy so we settled on an adorable Mexican place, Casa Morita. The Margarita's were strong and sweet and only a fiver (happy days) and while we weren't overly impressed with the presentation of the tacos and quesadillas they actually tasted fine and were a good price. All in all very cheap and cheerful.

Brixton Village boasts a number of little deli's, cafe's and restaurants offering cuisine from all over the world, I saw Mexican, Thai, Latin, Italian and good old Honest burger. Casa Morita is so little that diners have to pop across the way to Bukowski's to use their toilet, and I was charmed by the toilets covered in poems by the poet Charles Bukowski.

Shanika Says: have a look here to see some of the other places to eat in Brixton Village.

The Hunter S

Top, Skirt and Boots: all H&M

Bag: £19.99 Zara

Turban: £2.99 Ebay

Varsity Jacket: Vintage store in Brighton

Nails: Nails Inc. Hampstead Heath

Lipstick: Revlon Black Cherry

 

 

Well summer seems to well and truly have left us and so quickly too! Cold and rain have descended upon us which requires warmer clothes and warmer colours. I love this dark red colour, it's so autumnal and this varsity jacket is very American cheerleader haha.

 

My friend Louise wanted to try out this little pub called The Hunter S in Hackney's De Beauvoir so we headed down for a mid week dinner. The pub is named after eccentric American journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson who wrote Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and the décor is a nod to his love of excess - taxidermy hanging on the walls, saucy pictures in the toilets and a huge chandelier hanging from a copper ceiling! It was very cosy and got busy later in the evening with groups of friends celebrating birthdays and their pretty cool lives (that's what it looked like anyway) so booking a table is advisable is you want to eat. We had pumpkin, sage and goats cheese risotto, olives and the most amazing sweet potato wedges followed by an alcohol soaked almond tart with ice cream (we shared ;-0).

 



 

 

                           



I Got It From My Mama

 Top: Forever 21 Lingerie

c/o my stylist buddie Ayishat Akanbi 

Shorts: Calvin Klein c/o my mum!

 

 

When I was younger I wished my mum would wear frumpy, elasticated skirts like the other mums at the school gates instead of short shorts, leopard print dresses and fringed crop tops.

Fast forward a few years and I am SO grateful for my mums old wardrobe and the fact that I inherited her figure. White Calvin Klein denim shorts with a slightly high waist? Amazeballs! Thanks Mum.

 

 

Photos byJay Stewart

 

 

Bloglovin!

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Fire Escape

 

Mens Shirt: €2 from a flea market in Munich

Shorts dungarees: Primark

Studded boots: c/o Dr. Martens (similar here )

When I bought this shirt while on holiday in Munich, I just knew I would wear it with my DM's. It feels very This Is England. 

Photos by Jay Stewart 

I Heart New York

T-shirt: Souvenir shop in NYC (customised)

Shorts: Levis 

(jeans that my mum hacked up for me!)

Earrings: Aldo

Chain: Ebay bargain (from here )

The day I shot with Jay Stewart was the last really hot day here in London so I turned up to the shoot in this. We weren't planning to take any pictures in this outfit, but we did just to warm up and some of them came out pretty good! This outfit is all about taking something old or basic and making it better. This t-shirt was a gift, you know the t-shirt everyone brings back from every city, everywhere. I cut off the sleeves, chopped some off the bottom and messed with the neckline and was left with this...the shorts were a pair of jeans my childhood sweetheart got me back when I was about 17. I never wore them anymore because I didn't like the fit...but when chopped up into a pair of shorts, they look great! My summer staple.

Jay wanted a natural look for the shoot, hence the DIY hair and make up haha

Lakers

LAKERS Jersey: Vintage store on Melrose Avenue, LA

Boots: Dr. Martens

 (I think these all black ones are limited edition but you can find similar ones here )

Beanie: Primark

Nail polish: MAC Salad Dressed

I finally got to do a shoot with a very talented photographer I've wanted to work with for ages, the lovely Jay Stewart (@jaystewartphotography) He has a thing for funny faces so we played about and had loads of fun..there are some shocking ones but also some funny ones!

Will be putting some more shots up from this shoot soon, so look out for them.