You Have Got To Be Kidding Me!

EEW!

At first I didn’t even believe it!  But sadly, it’s true.

The FDA-approved azodicarbonamide (I’m so  glad of their high standards, aren’t you?), the same chemical that is used in yoga mats and rubber soles, is also an ingredient found in ‘freshly baked’ Subway sandwich bread in North America (banned in the UK, EU and Australia)!  Who says ‘plastic’ doesn’t taste good when fresh and hot out of the oven?  Chew on that.  And don’t forget to swallow!

This shocking revelation first got national attention thanks to food blogger Vani Hari of foodbabe.com with her petition to Subway for the removal of this sci-fi-like ingredient.  The petition earned over 50,000 signatures (and counting) and subsequently, Subway decided to remove it from their breads.

Whatever the reason, whether virtuous or PR related, at least it’s on its way out.  But question.  WHY was it there in the first place?  I’ll let you ponder over that one.  But for now, let’s keep ingredients that we can’t even pronounce OUT of our mouths and on our feet!

Chemicals in bread?  NO THANK YOU!  So NOT ‘it’ and in fact, worse than **it.

Vani Hari’s conviction followed by action?  A very we-owe-her-big-time ‘it’.

P.S.  Subway, we know you are not the only one using this chemical in our foods.  So thank you for being a leader and removing it, but please don’t replace it with another ingredient, that’s just as bad, down the road! Deal? Deal.

Hola Malaga!

Why didn’t I discover you sooner, Malaga?

This is a ‘hit and run’ post folks! Let’s just say, not many words needed!  Enjoy…

Playa de la Malagueta

A typical ‘local’s’ breakfast, at Café Central

Anywhere where they take their coffee this seriously, is so my kind of place!

Love it!

Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga.  The Picasso Foundation’s exhibition doors.

Churros de Chocolate

Ok, so this freaked me out a little.  Not a hint of clear plastic in sight! But I think I figured out how they did it.  Can you?

A fish stall in the local food market

A Sangria and Tinto de Limon toast to capture the moment!

Lunch at the fish bar in the food market.  Fresh off the boat. Literally.

This was very yummy!  I just followed the crowd to this bar!

The architecture was something else!

A tiny hint of heaven on earth!

I wonder if you can ride this?

My new favourite bag spotted in Old Town Marbella

Puerto Banus

The Donkey Taxis in Mijas, a beautiful little village near Malaga.  Can I just say that donkeys are the most undervalued animals! LOVE them!

My kind of street art!

What an entrance

Beautiful lights at a shop in Malaga

Museo Carmen Thyssen Malaga

And this is how I felt after my stay in Malaga!

(Carmen en Malaga, by Mercedes Lasarte – 2011)

TE QUIERO MALAGA! Thank you for the ‘it’ memories!

All photographs via ME

IT Squared

The ‘it’ IT List 

Savouring ‘one’ macaroon at  Pierre Herme.  Sorry Laduree, I do love you, but when it comes to macaroons, these simply are the best!

Olympic fever in London 2012.  Whatever your team, take note from these guys!

All images via Me.

Happy 100 Followers!

Happy Birthday thecircleofit! You are 100 followers old! 

Happy Birthday candles! What’s not to love?

What an ‘it’ number 100 is, and what ‘it’ followers you all are!  Thank you for making me 100 followers old!

By the way, HAPPY BIRTHDAY rainbow candles…very fun, very happy, very ‘it’.

Image via Me

LOVE IT

I love tea.

The glass teapot

Tea anyone?

Persian Rose Petal Tea (or chai as it’s called – pronounced cha-ee) to Indian Chai  (my grandmother used to make it for me  from her days living in India), relaxing Camomile Tea to healthy Green Tea, fresh Mint Tea and dates to detoxing Nettle Tea, English Breakfast Tea to Earl Grey Tea.  This tea to that tea.  Well, you get the idea.  In fact, I once thought about having a blog about ‘tea’ called…(stay tuned!)

Shall we?

A colourful treat

In particular, I love drinking it when it is pretty to look at.  Half the experience is in the eyes.  That is why I love the glass teapot.

Too steamy!

It is a simple, sensible and modern design.  It’s perfectly pleasing on the eyes, especially for drinking herbal teas (imagine the beauty of a Jasmine flower blooming in the hot water).  And it makes an ordinary experience feel like an extraordinary one.  The glass teapot, very ‘it’ indeed. Oh, and I just LOVE IT.

You can get yours here or here.

All photographs via Me

A Royal Affair

Boy meets girl.  Boy likes girl.  Boy marries girl.  Girl becomes ‘it’.

The morning after the night before

One year ago today,  everyone wanted to be a guest at the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.  I was lucky enough to have front row seats, as a guest of the BBC that is!

Bunting for the special occasion

Setting the London 'scene'

Everything about it was magical.  From the extra Bank Holiday Friday that we were all given off, to the revival in British pride that saw neighbourhoods hosting street parties, you could literally smell English roses everywhere you went!

Outside a pub in Hampstead

And then, the dress. That dress. No matter which angle it was photographed from, it was the perfect dress for the perfect wedding.  Sarah Burton did the late Alexander McQueen proud.  And Kate did her future history proud.  Those photos will live on forever, and with a dress like that, let forever reign!  Happy one year anniversary W & C!

The 'it' couple

Will they? Won't they?

Heston Blumenthal's 'Royal Trifle' for Waitrose - in honour of the special occasion

Quite a 'rich' trifle, rose petals and all!

The morning papers and an amaaazing cup of cappuccino!

Breakfast with the newlyweds

 All Photographs via Me

A Sexy Kind of Crazy

I first heard about Kris Carr on an episode of Oprah to do with death and dying.  Despite the theme of the show, it was one of the most inspirational hours I had ever watched on television (watch the amazing clip here).

My new copy of her latest book

In her early 30s, Kris was diagnosed with a rare and untreatable form of stage 4 cancer. Her future was not promising.  After her ‘wtf’ meltdown, she decided that she would face it head on, completely overhauling her diet and lifestyle, leading to her healing journey.  

She catalogued this journey in an inspiring documetary and  book called Crazy Sexy Cancer, which started an international revolution.  Along the way, she gained many followers and fans, including Sheryl Crow, Marianne Williamson and Deepak Chopra.  Almost a decade on, although she still technically has the tumours, she is healthier than ever before.  One ‘can be healed without being cured’.

Kris believes that we should all ‘aim’ for prevention over early detection (hear it here in her own words).  Thus, her latest book:  Crazy Sexy Diet (foreward by Dr. Dean Ornish, Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California – San Francisco). 

In it, she discusses the vital role the foods we eat play on our level of health.  Although most of us ‘know’ this, her very captivating and refreshing writing style raises our awareness to a whole new level.  Only she can compare our ‘acidic’ fixes to the rebell boyfriend; the one who is always fun and exciting in the short term, but never returns calls and is unreliable in the long term.

Pages 20-21, pHabulous indeed

She explains the  important role of having a slightly alkaline pH Balance, ideally 7, on one’s overall wellbeing.  An acidic environment, which is the result of a western diet, is a breeding ground for cancer cells and other illnesses.  Sugar (and that includes alcohol) is one of the BIG culprits, and actually ain’t that sweet!  One simple way of increasing pH balance is by juicing green drinks.  Green is the new white.  Mooooo anyone? No thanks! (that is a whole other blog entry!)

Pages 104-105, Invest in a great juicer

A home pH balance testing kit

(It’s easy to get your own pH Balance testing kit.  I ordered mine from Amazon.co.uk  or (Amazon.com))

Pages 40-41, What we think 'boosts' us, actually 'hurts' us

Kris Carr, is a true example of what can happen if we turn our circumstances into our defining moments.  For all that, and for having taken her life sentence and turned it into a Crazy Sexy Life instead, her new diet book is actually the ‘it’ life book.

All Photographs via Me

Cappuccino Alla Cavalli

This entry is courtesy of my dear friend T.S. who has allowed me to re-blog this italian masterpiece.

Via Tornabuoni

In Italy it’s fairly hard to go wrong when you order a cup of cappuccino.

But I can say without hesitation there is one café in Florence, which surpasses all others when it comes to brewing a frothy and creamy cup of perfection.

Owned by famed designer Roberto Cavalli, the Caffè Giacosa is nestled in a cozy side street – 10R Villa Della Spada – just off of the city’s designer shopping strip, via Tornabuoni. Situated right next to the Cavalli store, the café seems quaint from the outside yet impossibly chic and decadent upon entering thanks to the trademark Cavalli leopard and zebra print décor captured in the plush seating as well as the tapestries and picture frames adorning the wall.

Many of the locals sing the praises of the cafés warm beverages as well as their pastries and lunch specials which is a sure sign that tourists are going to be impressed. Should you choose to sit, there is a lovely albeit small patio outside where you can enjoy the fresh air and the passersby. Of course, as with most bars and cafés in Italy, there is an added charge for seating which is why most patrons (particularly the locals) prefer to head indoors and stand at the bar. Upon entering there is a cashier seated near the door, be sure to pay here first and then present your receipt at the bar.

The barista will expertly whip up your cappuccino into a dainty white porcelain cup and right away you’ll notice how delightfully thick and frothy it is on top. But it doesn’t stop there. The finishing touch is to adorn the froth with a swirl of rich dark chocolate syrup in the shape of a “C” (for Cavailli of course). As if being in Italy isn’t already enough, the first taste will feel like a sip of heaven. A touch more creamy than the typical Italian cappuccino, this smooth and milky creation is always served at just the right temperature to please the palate. It’s the perfect perk before a long day of sightseeing or shopping in the city.

Tip: Italians only drink cappuccinos first thing in the morning, but if you wanted to enjoy a cup at the end of the day, no one would blame you!

When it comes to Cappuccino, the Cavalli way seems to be the ‘it’ way.