Add to List - #92
McMichelin, Mayer&McConaughey, and all the bars before Marbs
Hello, thank you, and welcome. I love you for being here!
Add to List is my Sunday round-up. It’s the small things that brought me joy, evoked an emotional reaction, or became some short-lived stability in the past seven days.
Obsession
Sorry but my tiny little adolescent heart just exploded. This man + this man = my teenage obsessions squared.
Confession
Happy meals.
I went for a Michelin star meal on Friday— then ended up drinking for few hours afterwards. After copious amounts of food (see below), I was somehow hungry again by the time I came to travel home. So, I got myself a baby McDonald’s. Two happy meals, two very different price points.
Shook
Pasta Grannies is ITV Food bCreator of the Year.
The lovely company I work for won food content creator of the year at the ITV bcreator awards on Thursday! Quite a lovely shock.
Of course, the real stars are the lovely ladies we film. Some have since sadly left us, others are now frailing, while many remain full of beans. All of them live in remotest Italy— and with well over 400 who have welcomed us into their homes in the past decade, it’d be hard to have them all there even if they could make it. They attended in spirit. So happy to see wonderful grandmothers are getting the love they deserve. Forza le nonne!
Cook
I’ve been out a lot again this week. So with the exception of a butter bean and squash soup (inspired by
’s most recent post), I’ve barely done much on the cooking front. A few other highlights:Lagana, Shoreditch — The latest hot spot from the Pachamama group sees sexy interiors paired with laid back food and the house music soundtrack to boot. I visited for a restaurant write up on Wednesday. How do you feel about a place where you can doodle on the table? Spoiler: I loved it. Full review on Square Mile soon.
Dippy eggs, my house — This recent little penchant of mine is going nowhere. It’s such a great start to the day. Healthy, easy, high protein. Add a sprinkling of maximalist pattern clash. It doesn’t add to flavour or nutritional value but does add to the vibes.
Dorian, Notting Hill — Any restaurant with a checkerboard floor immediately has my heart— but combine it with varying soft greens, an Italian marble bar bejewelled with brushed brass lamps, a wine wall, and some leather banquettes? Well, you’ll basically have to beg me not to move in.
Horny for these interiors This place is as cool as a cucumber (though you won’t be if you sit at the counter— the open flames from the kitchen will soon keep you warm). The snack section of the menu is comprised Einsteinly-inventive röstis. A blue fin tuna and sea urchin tostada was truly special. I’ve honestly never seen a scallop as large as the one we ate. And the steak? A groaningly unctuous, flavourful masterpiece. The whole place is glamorously creative in that sort of laid-back way— much like the linen-wearing, bespectacled celebrity clientele dining here.
And, thanks to Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts, Notting Hill will never not be a place people flock to. As such, it appears animal-labelled pubs are bringing in the bohemian elite right now. We stopped by The Pelican with its washed walls and open fire for a quick drink amidst the in vogue. Then spent the rest of the evening at The Fat Badger, a wood-panelled, deliciously dark den. Elevate your night as you climb the stairs to the top floor, challenge your companion to a game of stylish backgammon or elastic-flinging PUCKET (honestly, it’s dizzingly addictive), before singing along to some soulful live music. Such fun.
Book
Nobody Belongs Here More Than You, Miranda July
Short story collection from a blisteringly unique voice. July writes with the debaucherous height of a hectic summer month and the revelatory depths of a winter. A collection of snapshots through an oddballs’ lens. Laugh out loud funny and tender.
Look
Scrubbed up for the awards ceremony on Thursday. Great outfit when standing. On sitting? Slightly more dangerous— many cases of potential nip-slip.
Can’t Stop Scanning
The ITV content creator awards was an unexpectedly moving event. So many winners spoke to how owning their stories had changed their life and those of others along the way. I particularly loved
’s acceptance speech: ‘I’m really passionate about clit massages’. It started with perfectly-executed gags but she went on to emphatically speak about women’s rights, the orgasm gap, and the need for diverse voices in media. Since, I’ve had the pleasure of catching up on her Substack, .On a contradictory vein, I adored this longer read from
about the dangers of turning all experiences into mindless content.Forward Planning
As this reaches you, I’ll be on a beach in Marbella. I booked my tickets on Friday (and scheduled this post yesterday). She’s a spontaneous (yet organised) girly this week.
Plus,
and I are announcing our next writer plug in. This time, it’ll have an open mic element. Subscribe to for details on how to get your tickets. We’re excited about this one!I’ll be working remotely from here for a few days and have a couple of deadlines on the horizon. So it’s adios it’s until next week— when I’m sure I’ll be sharing all the carbs I happily consume in Marbs.
Michaella, you are a G! How are you balancing two Maccy D dippy sauces on your left knee while on a moving bus!! 👌🏾