I experienced my first tasting menu last Sunday at the Michelin-starred Viajante, situated in East London. My brother was supposed to go but pulled out due to other plans and generously paid for me be his stand-in. Before I went I looked up the website and read some reviews and honestly thought that I wouldn't enjoy Nuno Mendes' food (he interned ( Read more... )

A couple of weeks ago, the Barbican was showing an exhibition called Watch Me Move: The Animation Show that featured the history of animation since the dawn of moving pictures. It was wonderful - I got to watch cartoons all day! I was reminded of the awesomeness of such features like Creature Comforts, Toy Story, Who Framed Roger Rabbit (incredibly ( Read more... )

She's only 17 years old. D:

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Two of my all time favourite illustrators/artists in the same fortnight! Not only that, I met Oliver Jeffers twice because I forgot to ask him to draw me a rhinocorn the first time round. And he remembered my face! :D Both times he was giving a presentation about his creative process. He's best known for his picture books like Lost and Found and ( Read more... )

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Shaun Tan has been one of my artistic heroes since I read The Red Tree when I was about 15. I've seen him at events before but yesterday was the first time I got to meet him, at a book signing in Foyles. I was approaching the front entrance of the bookstore when I saw a small man in front of me entering first and before my brain had registered who ( Read more... )

I detest pretentious food at exorbitant prices... which is why I used to roll my eyes at everyone who's raved on about their experience at The Fat Duck in Bray with its wanky sounding menu at £180 per head. But as I watched more of Heston Blumenthal's various shows (there's a plethora out there), I couldn't help but be totally fascinated by his ( Read more... )

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When I'm not feeling morose about my underachieving life, I stop to think about how thankful I am to the people around me who make sure I don't have to worry so much about things like money and security... and other privileges that I can't afford. I sometimes cry out of gratefulness/guilt because I feel so undeserving. Anyway, sometimes it occurs ( Read more... )

I finally got around to looking up a tutorial on how to stitch a panorama together. Turns out it's dead easy. I've shot a handful of locations in the past couple of years with panos in mind but now I wish I had been more diligent with the technique - all those wasted opportunities! Oh well, better late than never, right ( Read more... )