London Food: Gaucho Chancery Lane

You may have figured out by now that steak is somewhat of an obsession...I seem to go to a lot of steak restaurants, or just order it wherever I am...in my taco salad, in my pasta, in my pie at work....

Gaucho has got to be one of the finest steak restaurants in London, and the coolest thing about it is the whole experience...It's an Argentinian restaurant with the best Argentinian beef cuts...mmmm

Chandeliers, high ceilings, dimmed lights and big windows...makes you feel like you are in a mini modern manor house

The round booths are great for big parties

AMBIANCE *****
Really love the atmosphere in the Graucho restaurants...a dark place like that isn't for everyone, but there is something about this and having steak that really appeals to me...maybe I feel like I am in another dimension!! STK also have the same sort of ambiance...dark, sexy and alluring...and makes you really focus on your food rather than silly things going on around you.

SERVICE ***
The service was good, but a little slow. This may have been because we were situated on the balcony area and it was really busy downstairs, but we shouldn't struggle to find a waiter when we need one. Some of the best restaurants I have been in always have someone around to tend to all the tables so this would have been great. Our food took a little long to arrive as well, but when it did, boy was it delicious and worth the wait!

After our starter of chorizo sausage, we ordered our steaks and sides...

Yummy soft potatoes

Juicy!

DRINKS**

I had a mojito when we arrived, and some juice as I don't like to drink alcohol with my food. The mojito was great, but a little too strong for me unfortunately. Some people prefer it that way, though! The cocktail menu looks great, but is a little complicated and doesn't have your familiar ingredient mixes on it which kind of intimidated me...so I went with the safest option!

FOOD*****

For the starter, we had the Argentine chorizo sausage served on a grilled Romero pepper. It was much bigger than I expected, but delicious and went really well with the pepper. They also serve the infamous empanadas (rolled pastry with fillings) so would definitely recommend trying them!

For our sides, we ordered the soft, chunky chips and spinach. Both were absolutely delicious.

Then comes the best bit...there are several different cuts of meat, and the waiter brings you all the raw options on a wooden plank, explaining thoroughly what is on offer including what kind of marinade you can choose. I picked the Churrasco de lomo, a spiral cut sirloin steak marinated for 48 hours in garlic, parsley and olive oil (just the sound of that makes you love it before you even try it!). As you can see in my photos, it was devine. Succulent, soft, juicy and not at all chewy. The piece was quite large and so delish that I didn't really need any sides!

Strong cocktails, not for the faint hearted like me!

Gaucho also have private dining rooms, lots of wine, and cookery classes!

A meal for two with drinks, starters, sides and mains costs around £150

125 Chancery Lane, WC2A 1PU (More locations available across London)

www.gauchorestaurants.co.uk

Two interior images from LondonTown and Gaucho's website

Travel: £8 flight to NYC?!

So RyanAir have just announced that they are going to be offering customers £8 flights to the States, insane or what?? Obviously, after the additional charges such as tax you will end up paying more like £150. Things like the credit card fee, a checked 20kg bag, food and seat reservation are all voluntary so you could still pay less than that.

They are hoping to fly from 12-14 European cities and will offer flights to Boston and New York. This will not come into action until in another five years and until the company gets the long-haul aircraft it needs. I certainly would NOT want to be flying long haul in those weird little airplanes!!

With RyanAir recently adding allocated seating, an extra handbag and even more destinations, I'm starting to pay a little more attention and maybe even consider flying with them more often. Well done RyanAir, let's see how you can impress us further...

Style: Sunny London winter

I'm getting a little bored with the current grey, rainy and windy London weather...so I'm going to pretend it's spring and start dressing lighter...with layers to get away with it!

I bought these jeans after seeing them on Vanessa Hudgens as I thought they were really cool...they're so comfy, too...shame All Saints don't have them anymore but they may do in the summer.

I got my Maje heels on sale from Selfridges - bargain! They are very comfortable as well. The faux fur tail is from Japan, and my Balenciaga bag from Covetique.

I topped the whole monochrome look with some classic Ray Bans and the most amazing Nars lip pencil in the shade called 'Damned'. It stays on all day, no matter what I eat or drink...and looks great with most outfits because of the dark colour!

Shirt Zara

Jeans All Saints (similar here)

Faux fox fur tail from Japan (similar here)

Shoes from Maje (similar below)

Photos taken by Miles Blayden-Ryall

New Finds: February

I saw this orange Topshop coat last month and instantly fell in love. It's the perfect transitional piece of clothing from winter to spring, especially if you don't have a lot to spend as you can wear this every day, with everything.

I get a lot of compliments on it already and it definitely makes me smile on a grey, rainy London day! I hear Zara also have some cool colours at the moment...I dare you to be brave and get a yellow, red, green, or white coat! And I guarantee it will brighten up your day :)

Beauty: Agua Spa at The Sanderson

The stunning changing rooms at Aqua Spa

It was one of those weeks at work, when you just want to lay down into a warm bath and stay there forever, or get an amazing massage...Luckily for me I was invited to try out the Sanderson's Aqua Spa and couldn't wait!

The Sanderson is a really cool, interesting and trendy hotel with some very unusual decor. Unusual but with taste, style and elegance. It's also the home of the famous Sanderson Mad Hatters Tea, a must try!

Situated in a street just off Oxford Circus, it's not a place where you might go to relax, but boy was I pleasantly surprised! I entered the hotel and went into the space-style (trippy!!) elevator that took me to the spa floor...everything from here on was an experience on a different level. After a warm reception from the spa ladies, you are led through the entrance of what I would say is an absolute urban sanctuary, a little heaven, a little refuge for all city dwellers.

The building used to be an old carpet factory, and the designers kept the interior the same but used long, crisp white silk curtains all over the spa acting as walls. It looks amazing, and so enchanting that you would easily get lost if there weren't so many friendly staff to show you the way.

As you walk through the calm and quiet surroundings, you are led to their stunningly beautiful changing room...every girls dream! The interiors and decorations are so clean, perfect and gorgeous that I just wanted to spend all day in there...and I hadn't even had my massage yet!

Already award-winning, the spa has been named as 'one of the chief chill out zones in London' and best spa to 'spa on your own' due to the private slumber pods and cozy hidden relaxation areas.

In addition to this, eucalyptus baths, fluffy robes and flowering tea are the extras available for guests. Can you imagine chilling in one of the meditation pods? I would never be able to go back to work!!

On their menu they have several high-end spa brands, and offer everything from facials, full body massages to quick half hour back and arm massages and other beauty treatments (prices start from £35).

I went for the back, neck and shoulder massage from the 'taste of ague  menu and thoroughly enjoyed it. The calm atmosphere really helped, and the masseuse was incredible. I felt amazing, rejuvenated and ready to get back to the office as the 25 minute experience was just enough for that...any longer and I'd have to stay!

Visit their website for more details, and just ring them up for an appointment...you will love it!