Fashion Et Moi

November 10, 2016

Lola Rosa Vegetarian Restaurant Review

Lola Rosa vegetarian and vegan restaurant review Montreal

Montreal has so many restaurants that even if you ate each of your three meals a day at a different one, it would take you over four years to eat in every restaurant in the city. With that crazy tidbit in mind, the fact that vegetarian (and vegan friendly) restaurant, Lola Rosa, is ranked in the top 20 on Trip Advisor is a pretty telling sign of how good the food is.

Originally I wanted to save this review for a ‘Top 5 Vegetarian Eateries In Montreal’ post or something similar but a) that could take an age to test and compile and b) I just wanted to share it already. I may still do the aforementioned post but a bit of repetition never hurt anyone – am I right? OK, back to the review – Lewis and I actually visited Lola Rosa twice in the space of six days back in October because we had already planned to take my mum and stepdad there when they were visiting and then decided we should “test it out” a few days before and treat ourselves to a “pat on the back” meal for having painted and decorated our new flat. Anyway, it was certainly good enough to eat at twice in six days is basically what I’m saying so let’s get on and review our second visit as A LOT more food was consumed that time round.

Lola Rosa’s menu is mexican influenced so to start, the four of us shared what was almost quite literally a mountain of nachos. I mean, just look at the size of it! Piled on top of homemade nachos and melted cheese (vegan option also available) were the usual lashings of refried beans, sour cream and guacamole as well as chopped tomato, sweetcorn and a deliciously warm tomato sauce. This is actually a main course which we ordered as a starter and there is no way that you would want to share this between just two people, let alone have it, well, alone! Definitely up there with the best nachos I have ever had so grab your mates and head down to Lola Rosa.

The first time Lewis and I went to Lola Rosa we shared two different main meals. Normally I bloody hate agreeing to share meals or even puddings because I get the fear that I will like one more than the other and then begrudgingly have to trade. I agreed that time because I could tell Lewis also wanted the grilled tempeh and vegetable green curry that I had chosen but we thought it was silly to order two of the same thing from such an excellent menu. So we ordered that and the black bean, mozzarella and 5 veg burrito and this is exactly what we did on our second visit.

The black bean burrito is a delicious take on a classic, jam packed with vegetables, mushed sweet potato and black beans. I warn you now that it is quite spicy but if Lewis (AKA biggest spice wimp) can handle it then I am sure you can too! The burrito is served with the same warm tomato sauce that was on the nachos, some wild rice and a side salad drizzled with an amazing strawberry dressing! So if you like flavours, I would highly recommend this taste explosion – it’s got everything going on.

The vegetable green curry is a nice, mild compliment to the spicy black bean burrito which is why sharing these two dishes worked so well for us. The Thai-style curry comes with a bed of wild rice and it topped with two pieces of tempeh. As a Quorn lover through and through, I am not mad about tempeh but Lola Rosa do it the best I have ever had it – marinated in a rich maple and tamari sauce, which goes perfectly with the curry.

Having post-nachos binge guilt and growing food babies, we decided to just order two puddings. Lewis and I shared a gooey chocolate brownie topped with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce – a classic but for good reason, it was delicious. Mum ordered a ginger and basil crème brûlée, which gave me serious food envy because ginger and basil are both my ultimate smells and tastes. Luckily she let me have some as she’s generous like that and also the food coma was imminent.

Lola Rosa prides itself on being “the favourite vegetarian restaurant for non vegetarians” so I would definitely recommend trying it out even if you are a meat eater! What “lacks” in meat is made up for in the gorgeous flavours, which is something vegetarian food should be recognised for so thank you Lola Rosa for leading the way! I cannot wait to go back and try something new – although I am a creature of habit so no promises there! Happy eating!

LOLA ROSA | 4581 Avenue du Parc, Montreal

Other location | 545 rue Milton, Montreal

November 7, 2016

What A Bargain!

An on-trend AW16 outfit for bargain price

Coat – vintage (SIMILAR), Top – vintage (SIMILAR), Jeans – old ASOS (SIMILAR), Boots – discontinued CLARKS (SIMILAR), Beanie – vintage (SIMILAR)

Location: Westmount

It is no secret that I love a good bargain. While some people may get that rush when spending hundreds or thousands on that must-have designer piece, I get my kicks finding that hidden, on-trend gem for a tiny price in vintage shops, outlet stores or online sales. Sure, it requires patience, perseverance and a good eye but the reward is so much sweeter when you’ve put the effort in.

So, how much do you think this whole outfit cost? For some wool lined leather boots, a blue faux fur coat, ripped knee jeans and a statement turtleneck? £200? £300? More? I bet you are not even close…this whole look cost me approximately £55. What a bargain, eh? And what’s more, this outfit looks like it could have come right off the high street but – with the exception of the ASOS jeans, which were only £13! – all these items come from some hard-earned thrifting.

Today I’m mixing some new purchases with some old favourites. You guys have seen this pastel blue teddy bear faux fur coat before but that will not stop me from wearing it with different outfits because it is surprisingly versatile! Faux fur seems to get more massive and even weirder each year and that is ok with me because I am always ready to whip this baby out. The pastel blue colour goes perfectly with my new beanie, which was thrifted in its current state with that net veil and bow on top. Of course I will never know if the beanie was originally made like that or if it’s previous owner got all DIY on her hat but that is part of the beauty of buying secondhand – you can only guess its story. I absolutely love how this beanie has been accessorised as it is such a simple way of adding that extra something weird and statement to an outfit.

I kept the rest of the look simple for a lovely Sunday afternoon exploring a new area of Montreal. As I mentioned above, the jeans are from the ASOS January sales and they are probably the comfiest jeans I own. Their mid rise fit looks perfect with the black turtleneck with the most amazing bell sleeves and ruffle hem – I was very chuffed with this vintage shop find and it was love at first sight with this bang on trend top. Finally, lets talk about my boots, which have already featured in a couple of blog posts but have not yet been given the time they deserve. I bought these boots back in summer at the Clarks Village outlet store in Somerset for just £25 with the thought that wool lined leather boots would be great for a Montreal winter – and I was right. They are so comfy and snuggly that I am sure you will seeing a lot more of them this season.

Are you a bargain hunter? What has been your best vintage shop find?

Ce n’est pas un secret que j’aime une bonne affaire. Il y a des gens qui se sentent un accès de joie en dépensant des cents ou des milles sur une pièce de marque must-have. Cependant, mon kiff à moi, c’est de fouiller dans des friperies, aux dépôt d’usine et dans les soldes en ligne pour trouver LA pièce, le bijou super tendance pour un tout petit prix. Bien sûr qu’il prend de la patience, de la persévérance et il faut avoir l’oeil pour la mode mais il vaut la peine quand le prix est si délicieux.

Alors, c’est à vous de deviner maintenant – combien pensez-vous que cette tenue entière m’a coûtée? Pour des bottes en cuir avec une doublure en laine, un manteau en fausse fourrure bleu pastel, un jean déchiré et un col roulé avec des manches en cloches…200€? 300€? Encore plus? Je parie que vous n’êtes même pas proche car ce look total m’a coûté environ 60€. Quelle bonne affaire, non? En plus, cette tenue est vraiment à la mode sans avoir coûté si cher que si j’aurait l’acheter à neuf.

Le look d’aujourd’hui mélange des nouveaux achats avec des vieilles pièces préférées. Vous avez déjà vu ce manteau en fausse fourrure bleue mais je n’arrêterai pas à le porter! Il me semble que la fausse fourrure devient de plus en plus populaire et bizarre avec chaque nouvelle saison et cela me va quand j’ai déjà ce manteau tellement magnifique. La couleur bleue pastel du manteau va super bien avec mon nouveau bonnet que j’ai acheté comme ça avec le voile à filet et le nœud, dans une friperie. Je ne saurai jamais si le bonnet était fabriqué comme ça ou si sa propriétaire précédente l’a fait mais cela est la beauté de l’occasion – on ne peut que deviner l’histoire d’une pièce. J’aime bien comment ce bonnet a été accessoirisé car il est une façon simple d’ajouter quelque chose d’extra et marrant à une tenue.

La reste du look est simple pour un bel après-midi de dimanche en explorant un nouveau quartier de Montréal. Comme j’ai déjà mentionné, ce jean vient des soldes d’ASOS en janvier et il est probablement le jean le plus confortable que j’ai. Sa taille à mi-hauteur va super bien avec ce col roulé noir avec des manches à cloches et son ourlet de ruches – je suis trop contente avec cette trouvaille de friperie qui est super tendance. Pour finir, il faut qu’on parle de mes bottes que vous aurez déjà vu dans d’autres postes. Je les ai achetés en été au dépôt d’usine de Clarks en pensant que sa doublure en laine serait parfaite pour l’hiver à Montréal – et j’avais raison. Ils sont super confortables and chauds que je suis sûr que vous allez les voir beaucoup cette saison.

Est-ce que vous aimez trouver des bonnes affaires? Quelle est la meilleur pièce que vous avez trouvé dans une friperie?

November 6, 2016

Vintage Haul And Try On

November 3, 2016

A Lifelong Love Of Tartan

Dress – vintage (similar & similar), Top – H&M, Coat – vintage (similar), Boots – Clarks

Location: Le Plateau Mont Royal, Montreal

I am pretty sure that I will be a fan of tartan all my life (as the self-explanatory title suggests – duh!). The love began aged 17 when I bought the most gorgeous vintage sixties tartan mini dress, which I wore non-stop throughout my first two years of uni and is sadly feeling rather tight these days. A few years ago I found a red knee-length kilt in a charity shop, at the time when tartan had its last revival in the fashion world, and I just had to have it. And last season I rocked a tartan lined Harrington jacket à la This Is England, which was the perfect way of injecting a bit of one of my favourite motifs into an outfit in an understated way.

With 90s grunge being one of the key trends this season, tartan is back, baby, and I could not be happier. Enter my latest tartan purchase – this adorable pinafore dress, which reminded me of the Vetements AW16 collection with its focus on grey Prince Of Wales checks and school girl style pleats. I was particularly drawn to this dress because of its more subtle, dark colour rather than opting for another bold and bright red piece similar to my current tartan collection. I also love the dropped waistline, which is charmingly unflattering on my hourglass shape and somehow, it just works.

Are you loving tartan this season? Or perhaps you are also a lifelong fan?

Je suis sûre que je serai fan du tartan toute ma vie. Mon amour de ce motif a commencé quand j’ai acheté une mini-robe tartan vintage magnifique à l’âge de 17 ans. J’ai beaucoup porté cette robe pendant l’université mais malheureusement elle est un peu serrée maintenant. Ensuite, j’ai trouvé un kilt rouge dans une friperie il y a quelques années – la dernière fois que du tartan est revenu à la mode – et je devais le prendre. Puis la saison dernière, j’ai porté une veste Harrington avec une doublure en motif tartan à la This Is England, qui était parfait pour ajouter un peu d’un de mes motifs préférés à une tenue mais dans une façon discrète.

La tendance grunge 90s est super à la mode cette saison, c’est à dire que du tartan est de retour et j’en suis tellement contente. Voici mon nouvel achat du tartan – cette robe adorable qui m’avait fait penser à la collection automne-hiver 16 de Vêtements qui se concentre sur des carreaux gris de prince de Galles et des plissées du style écolière. J’étais attirée par cette robe grâce à sa couleur plus subtile et sombre par rapport aux pièces rouges vives que j’ai déjà dans ma collection de tartan. J’aime aussi la taille basse qui ne me flatte pas trop à cause de ma morphologie en huit mais je trouve qu’elle marche quand même.

Vous aimes du tartan cette saison? Ou peut-être vous seriez toujours fan du tartan?

October 31, 2016

I’m Wearing Brown – What?

Shearling coat – vintage, (SIMILAR), Shirt – vintage (SIMILAR), Trousers – vintage (SIMILAR), Boots – DR MARTENS

Location: Mile End, Montreal

Today I’m wearing brown (twice) – can you believe it?! Ok to understand this little shocker, it is crucial to know that as a child, my sister and I would tease our grandma about her favourite colour being brown – “it’s so boring” we would say – well just look at me now.

I think there are two reasons why I am starting to get on board with the colour brown and this outfit showcases these perfectly. Firstly, I have long been obsessed with this gorgeous tan brown shearling coat that I picked up a few years ago. I am so chuffed that I get to wear it again after its little hiatus during the mild winter I spent last year in Barcelona and it is keeping me super warm now the temperatures have plunged in Montreal. Secondly, I have discovered that blue is the perfect colour to wear with rich, autumnal brown and golden shades and and I have a lot of time for the colour blue. I am absolutely loving the way this blue and white striped shirt – borrowed from Lewis’ recent thrift store shirt haul – looks with these deep brown cigarette trousers. Oh and finally – yep, that’s a third reason, my bad – brown is “in” don’t you know? My grandma will be pleased to know that she is so bang on trend this season.

What do you think of the colour brown? Have you been trying any new colour palettes or pushing your fashion boundaries recently?

Aujourd’hui je porte la couleur marron (deux fois) – est-ce que vous pouvez en croire?! Bon, pour comprendre mieux ce “choc”, il faut savoir que quand j’étais petite, ma sœur et moi nous moquions de notre grand-mère parce que sa couleur préférée est marron – “c’est une couleur ennuyeuse” nous la disions – mais regardez cette tenue!

Je pense qu’il y a deux raisons pourquoi je commence à aimer la couleur marron et ce look vous les montre parfaitement. Premièrement, ça fait longtemps que je suis obsédée par ce manteau marron en mouton magnifique que j’ai acheté il y a quelques années. Je suis super contente que je peux le porter encore après son hibernation l’hiver dernier pendant que j’étais à Barcelone et il me tient très chaud maintenant que la température a plongé à Montréal. Deuxièmement, j’ai découvert que du bleu est la couleur parfaite pour aller avec des teintes chauds de marron et mordoré et comme une de mes couleurs préférées, cela me va très bien! J’aime beaucoup comment cette chemise à rayures bleues et blanches – que j’ai emprunté de Lewis – va avec ce pantalon costume en marron profond. Oui et finalement – une troisième raison, en fait – la couleur marron est à la mode, vous ne le savez pas? Ma grand-mère sera très contente qu’elle est super tendance cette saison.

Que pensez-vous de la couleur marron? Essayez-vous des teintes différentes que normal récemment ou peut-être vous poussez vos limites de mode dans une autre façon?