My weekend in food
Everything I ate over the bank holiday weekend, plus planking, poetry and my favourite house in the whole wide world.
I didn’t do much over this bank holiday weekend other than eat, but I’ve eaten well! Sharing my highlights here and perhaps they’ll come in handy for you. Bon appétit!
Friday brunch
I had a meeting in central London on Friday, which felt like a treat, despite the sweaty train ride, because I’m usually working solo from home. The journalist I met suggested WatchHouse. It’s right next to Tower Bridge, which makes it sound like it must be a tourist-packed horror show, but it’s really, really not. Such a cool little spot with excellent coffee, loads of space and unusually good service.
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Friday dinner
Popped over to my friend’s in Crystal Palace for a catch up and she made this most amazing salmon rice thing that I loved despite not really having an appetite (the Easter egg cupboard is still going strong). I forgot to take a photo, so here’s a screenshot of the recipe that she sent on WhatsApp after I badgered her for it.
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Saturday lunch
Went for a sleepover at my friend Helen’s house in Winchmore Hill. She had freshly-baked baguettes ready so she could make me my favourite sandwich (mustard mayo, brie, olives, tomatoes, lettuce) – she made it for me once ages ago and I have never stopped talking about it so she is doomed to make it for me forevermore. Here she is in her amazing new kitchen, finally finished after months of having to wash her dishes in the bath. Check out that marble! You can’t really tell on the pic (she’s a professional photographer and will be most unimpressed with my attempt to capture it) but it is the most beautiful, rose-tinted marble I ever did see! It’s Rosa Antico, by Porter if you’re wondering.
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Sunday night
After homemade pancakes for breakfast in Helen’s kitchen of dreams, I drove home and put the kids down for what turned out to be a miracle mammoth nap (maybe it was the pancakes?) which meant that I could have a little sofa siesta. God, it was amazing. In the afternoon, we were at a 4th birthday party so the kids were already fed/sugared by the time we got home and I made myself a speedy nasi goreng, which I’ve loved since my days of living in Asia (smug voice).
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Monday night
Bank holiday Monday involved Pizza Express which always makes me happy (Fiorentina with extra mushrooms, Westfields White City, thank you for asking). Did you know they do dips for your crusts? I always forget this. A VE Day street party in the late afternoon meant I was slightly cold and damp (and full of shame about my dreadful street party small talk) when we got home, so I made this courgette and potato soup with the very little I had left in the fridge. It did help with the cold and the damp, but my small talk is still horrible.
And that was about it, minus all the Easter eggs, a few Candy Kittens and too many glasses of wine. I am SO nosy so please do share your recent foodie highlights in the comments – and if you liked this post, please don’t forget to hit the heart button at the bottom as it’ll help it get seen by more people.
HOME COMFORTS WITH…. KATIE LYONS
I cannot believe I haven’t interviewed my friend Katie for Nesting before now. She lives in my favourite house in the whole world. I kind of have a crush on both her and her husband Oli’s entire life and come away from every visit wondering how I can be more like them. They’ve got it all so right. Katie is a talented interior designer who has renovated two beautiful homes in the South of France, available to rent out. One of them was voted ‘best Airbnb in the South of France’ by Condé Nast Traveller.
Where do you live and how long have you lived there for?
I live in the South of France in the beautiful city of Nice, I’ve been here for 10 years now!
How did you find your home?
I came across this gem of a house when I was pregnant with my first daughter; we needed more space and dreamt of a garden to enjoy the beautiful weather we get here.
Who is at home with you?
I live here with my husband Oli, my two little girls, Lila and Coco and our new addition Biscotta, a gorgeous golden Cocker Spaniel!
Your favourite thing about the house and your biggest niggle about it.
We live in the center of Nice at the top of hill (thank god for electric bikes) which allows us incredible views over the city and sea beyond. Our garden is a little paradise; it’s a very secluded and established garden with lots of mature trees including two very old olive trees, a fig free, a mulberry tree, lemon and orange trees – you get the idea. The only down side of all that vegetation is the pesky mosquitos!
Where did you grow up? Did anything about your childhood home inspire your current home?
I grew up in Hertfordshire, in a hamlet outside of Watford. I was lucky enough to be there for my entire childhood and watched as my parents transformed a small lodge house into a idyllic family home over the years. My mum had a keen eye for design and my Dad was a developer so together they made a great team. The outside space was really important for my mum – thanks to her love of animals and nature, she created a woodland with a magical pathway, a lake where she re-homed swans, and a chicken pen for rescued battery farm chickens. She even planted a lavender field! All a huge inspiration for me growing up.
How do you feel about household chores… are you a domestic goddess or a leave-it-to-the-morning kind of person?
I really like things to be clean, tidy and in place, but with two small girls and now a dog that’s an everyday challenge.
What’s your current TV obsession?
I’m not a big watcher, particularly as the evenings get lighter, but if I do I love foodie shows; I’ve recently been rewatching Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations, I love to travel with him through food.
Best home comfort meal?
Anything cooked by my husband Oli, he’s a brillant and very passionate amateur chef!
My garden is….
A sanctuary. Particularly with the new addition of a sauna and cold outside shower which is now a daily luxury!
Have you ever lived elsewhere in the world - what was the most memorable thing about your home there?
I lived in Singapore for almost three years, the smells and sounds of the tropics are the most memorable thing for me. Even though Singapore is very built-up; there are pockets of the city which feel very jungle-like.
Your favourite home from home?
Port Issac, a beautiful fishing village on the north coast of Cornwall where my family have a small house, which is very special for us all.
Check out Katie’s latest projects here.
EXERCISE STUFF
What a shocking headline to anyone that knows me. I don’t exercise, I lounge. But I do feel that I should do something. So this piece in the Guardian about the life-changing benefits of doing a 40-second plank every day really struck a chord. Surely I can manage 40 seconds of exercise a day? I’ll get back to you.
BOOK STUFF
I discovered Donna Ashworth’s poetry last year and I love the way she writes, despite it feeling quite ‘un-me’ – by which I think I mean it’s ‘totes emosh.’ She has a children’s poetry book, Words Can Fly coming out in June and available to pre-order now. It covers family, friendships, school and other tricky topics that can be hard to talk about with kids. I’ll definitely be buying a copy.
On that note, I better fly myself. Places to go, people to see (my sofa, the cast of Married at First Sight). See you next week!
Dx
P.S
🪞I made it through another episode of Black Mirror and omg it’s brilliant. Imagine being able to dial your emotions up and down using an app. That’s episode one – Common People.
🎤 Date for your diary - Eurovision on May 17th! Hurrah!
👚Thanks to the reader who recognised my M&S obsession and sent me a link to this top - I love it!
Who is Dominique Afacan?
A very good question. Dominique (that’s me) is a writer and solo mum of two, based in London. The idea for the Nesting newsletter came about because after ten years of flitting around the world as a travel journalist, I wanted to share my new-found excitement about hanging out at home. I am also the author of Bolder – Life lessons from people older and wiser than you – a great birthday present, if I don’t say so myself – and available to buy here.
I’m impressed with your cooking and loving all the recipes. Keep them coming 🙏