From Jeep safaris up winding mountain roads, venturing into beautiful caves, jumping off pirate galleons in the Mediterranean Sea and chasing sunsets, to witnessing traditional village life, sampling the best in Turkish cuisine and meeting some of the friendliest people on the planet. We really packed a lot into three days.
My first visit to Turkey was in April this year.
When I was researching routes from Milan Malpensa airport to Lake Como, it became clear this was a route taken regularly by people with large budgets. Yes, there are trains and buses, but they aren’t particularly direct to the main tourist towns in the centre of the lake. The simplest way to travel – by car. I decided to test out one of the transfer services on offer, to find out if it was worth splashing the cash.
I’d recommend reading my guide to travelling from Milan to Lake Como for other ways to reach the lake. Plus if you don’t want to splash the cash, be sure to check out my guide to visiting Lake Como on a budget.
I booked my transfer with Lake Como Transfers – a company with an impressive set of Trip Advisor reviews. In fact, they’re rated number one of things to do in Menaggio. The email exchange with Jenny on the concierge team was friendly, and although I was booking just a few days before my trip, they had availability and my transfer was booked with ease. With everything confirmed, I was informed my driver would be waiting at the airport with a sign.
I was met in arrivals around 6.30pm by Lorenzo, a young, impeccably dressed Italian holding a sign saying “Mrs Chloe”! He wore a suit and instantly reached for my luggage and wheeled it out of the terminal. He was very welcoming and spoke perfect English.
Recently I wrote about London’s love of single-ingredient restaurants, after my visit to Balls & Company. But, just when I thought it was all about balls, I discovered a contender for the crown – the bao!
The traditional Chinese steamed buns, filled with a variety of ingredients, have popped up for a special week at Soho Kitchen and Bar. Chef and creator of Little Bao, May Chow, has brought her burger-style steamed buns all the way from Hong Kong where they’ve earned quite a following
For a Monday night in Soho, the restaurant was buzzing, and it seemed I wasn’t the only foodie who was curious to try them. It had the feel of an American diner, but with an Asian twist. Chopsticks lay where a knife and fork usually would, and the ‘Little Bao’ logo was emblazoned on the waiters’ t-shirts, menus, and even the squeezy chilli sauce bottles on the tables.
For a balanced meal, we were encouraged to choose a bao each, along with a few items to share.
While deciding what to eat we sipped on Chinese inspired cocktails and gazed out at bustling Old Compton Street (it’s a great people watching spot). The Yuzana cocktail (sake, yuzu and prosecco) was a radioactive shade of yellow, with a citrus perfume flavour. Gin & Juice (gin, cucumber, ginger and lime) was refreshing, with a fiery kick of ginger.
With a Scandi-Japanese-Korean fusion menu, an open kitchen, and a love of foraging, Flat Three is one of London’s intriguing hidden gems.
As I ventured through an understated doorway on Holland Park Avenue, and downstairs to the restaurant, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The room I entered was a sophisticated basement – simple décor, elegant table settings and glassware all working with the original structure of the room. Within the archways were intimate alcoves, perfect for seating small groups. I took my place, and prepared for the main entertainment.
