Toronto International Film Festival - The Best Parties with Grey Goose & Soho House

If you are into films, then Toronto International Film Festival is THE place to be! Every year thousands of film-lovers flock to the Festival to wittiness the latest flux of Oscar-claibre films! But in-between the screenings and compelling dramas, it's one hell of a place to party!

For the fifth consecutive year, Grey Goose have hosted the most spectacular parties, mainly in partnership with Soho House Toronto, to celebrate the best in film and the achievements of some of the most talented filmmakers.

Over the week, Grey Goose hosted parties for the premieres of Parkland, Michael Sugar, Horns, You Are Here, Can A Song Save Your Life, The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby, The Invisible Woman and Don Jon to name but a few!

As always, the parties were attended by an array of high profile guests whom enjoyed a selection of bespoke award season cocktails that were specially curated by Joe McCanta, Grey Goose's Global Brand Ambassador. 

As it's Friday... you don't need any excuses... start your weekend in style with the Torontini cocktail...

TORONTINI 

A sophisticated cocktail with Grey Goose at its heart complemented by rich, honeyed fruit and notes of liquorice.

Ingredients:

50ml Grey Goose

50ml fresh apricot juice

20ml freshly squeezed lemon juice

15ml maple syrup

5ml apricot brandy

Dash of absinth 

Method: 

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake and double strain into a martini glass. Garnish with orange zest. 

greygoosetaste.com

Maje - the go to destination for stylish originality

I love the French label Maje... with a Parisian style sensibility, the collections are effortlessly chic and wearable.

Founded by Judith Milgrom, a Moroccan-born designer and self proclaimed 'lover of bohemian, feminine fashion', Judith is a fashion child who has applied the knowledge she gained from her mother and grandmother, to produce a striking brand that is synonymous with cool-girl chic.  

I love the combinations of fabrics and textures used as well as the attention to detail. My favourite pieces in the collections though are always the leathers! From the leather trousers, skirts and jackets to the winter coats with leather panels, the quality is always exceptional and deliciously soft!!!!! Season after season, Maje manage to get it just right.

 

Whilst the brand is by no means cheap, it's definitely a place to shop in for investment pieces where you can be confident that you are buying something original and stylish.

www.maje.com

Brissi Boutiques

Brissi is one of my favourite boutiques to shop in not only for luxury treats for my home but also for lovely gifts for friends. I love their signature style, fusing classic and modern styles to create elegant and timeless products. 

The boutique has a wide range of quality home furnishings... elegant sofas, armchairs, unique chests,  a wide selection of chic mirrors, lighting fixtures, dining accessories, as well as gorgeous present ideas including  cake stands, photo frames, candle arbres, crockery, vases  etc! and all at amazingly affordable prices.

There are four stores around London, Notting Hill, King's Road, Marylebone High Street and Northcote Road... you can also shop online. I recently ordered a few accessories which arrived beautifully packed and the next day!

A gorgeous boutique and a great place to have a wedding list too!!!

http://www.brissi.com/

Red Dog Saloon

Introducing THE DEVASTATOR... 3 x 6oz patties, 200g pulled pork, 6 rashers applewood smoked bacon & 6 slices American cheese!!!!! If you think you can take this bad boy down, then you've got to check out Red Dog Saloon... nestled in Hoxton Square, this American style rib shack boasts some of the best hickory smoked ribs and wings in London!

For anyone brave enough to take on The Devastator and embark on your very own Man vs Food moment,  then the challenge is simple... you have 10 minutes to eat the burger, side of fries and milkshake... if you are victorious, you earn a spot on the wall (and a t-shirt ha ha)... fail and well, you've just eaten 3,000 calories for nothing!!!!! 

It's not for the feint hearted, but there is a great selection of other treats to choose from including sthe delicious pulled pork made in their imported award-winning smoker or smoked blackened salmon, bar-B-Q chicken or selection of salads... it really is the ultimate meat feast and definitely gets my vote!

And to top it all off - why not ask the lovely manager to try one of the tequila slammers - a combination of tequila, sambuca and chilli... 

http://www.reddogsaloon.co.uk/

Bling Rings From Monica Vinader

I've always been a sucker for statement jewellery.... and have fallen in love with these gorgeous rings from Monica Vinader which are part of the new Baja Collection. They are a great way to accessorise any outfit.

Available in a variety of colours, these art deco inspired 18ct gold plated rings, can be worn on their own or stacked together with different colours to make your own look. I also love these other ones in the same collection...

Prices start from £100

http://www.monicavinader.com

Eat Ento

It's a bug's life!! 15-17 August will see the launch of Eat Ento... the Insect Fine Dining Pop Up restaurant, supported by Grey Goose Iconoclasts of Taste, a pioneering project which champions new movements in food and drink.

Ento is the brainchild of four graduates from the Royal College of Art and Imperial College London who have a unique vision, ‘to introduce insects to the Western diet as a delicious sustainable source of protein.’  Promoting a message of forward looking sustainability, Ento and Grey Goose will host an unforgettable one-of-a-kind dining experience encouraging guests to challenge cultural taboo by sampling fine insect cuisine. In some ways, the challenges Ento face are not dissimilar from those trying to get consumers to buy sushi a few years back!

I am really looking forward to sampling the four course menu which is set to include dishes such as honey caterpillar and grasshopper medallions, which are known for their creamy pistachio nut flavour and will be served alongside wild mushroom ravioli, girolles and black truffle. The menu will be accompanied by a selection of delicious Grey Goose cocktail including the Ento inspired ‘Entomology’ cocktail. 

  

Tickets for Eat Ento are priced at £75, and can be purchased online via greygoosetaste.com with all proceeds going to Ento in support of their vision.

If you aren't able to visit the pop up, you can still try the 'Entomology' cocktail which will be served for a limited time in September at the Covent Garden Cocktail Club, priced at £9.

Unique Wedding Favours

It's always tricky finding wedding favours that are unique and personal to you. For me, I want something that's traditionally Kenyan and so I recently scoured the local markets in Nairobi and have decided that these lovely beaded Massai bracelets would work perfectly for the girls!

Other lovely ideas are the local kikoys that come in a multitude of colours and can really add colour and interest to your tables. They are not only very fashionable, but also unisex... although they can be rather pricey if you have to be large quantities.

You don't have to go to Kenya though to buy the kikoys... check out the selection here.

Now what to get for the boys... any suggestions?