Passages, Stockholm

Photos of mid-April Stockholm. I was a bit lucky with weather this Sunday afternoon. There are many reasons to spend a weekend in Stockholm but a wind-down walk in Gamla stan before catching the train is a good way to end it. 

Gamla stan, Stockholm

One of many narrow streets in Gamla stan, Stockholm

Restaurant in Gamla stan, Stockholm

Langoustine sashimi

Langoustine tails

Sashimi is a good solution if you don't know how to prepare a certain dish. It save a lot of time preparing. The original fresh flavour is preserved as well. Unless it's a tried recipe expensive seafood is wasted if not done properly. Langoustine sashimi has a light round flavour. For this meal we dipped it with soy sauce and wasabi, simple and good.

Langoustine sashimi

The shells were used to cook soup base for udon noodles and the claw meat.

Powder wasabi

 Powder wasabi mixed with water

"La mode et la musique, c'est identique"

SomethingALaMode, a French electro-duo, combines classical with electro in an interesting way. I discovered this group in the Chanel Cruise 2010 show where they played this song. Other good pieces are Little Bit of Feel Good and 5 AM. If baroque or renaissance influences can be seen in contemporary fashion, why not in music.

Focus on interior lighting

New York Bar, Park Hyatt Tokyo. Image: Flickr.

I recently watched Lost in Translation again and thought about what gives it the cozy ambience. It feels like the pace of the movie resets each time Bob and Charlotte returns to the hotel (Park Hyatt) after their eventful experiences of Tokyo city. So it must be the hotel. At least it's a vital part of the explanation. The interior design in Park Hyatt Tokyo is the work of John Morford. In a recent interview with Monocle he expresses that lighting is very important in interior design and therefore also his first element of focus in every project. 

Staircase, Park Hyatt Tokyo. Image: Flickr.

Library, Park Hyatt Tokyo. Image: Flickr.

Thinking about it lighting affects everything from small objects to furniture in a room. It also affects the mood in a way that other elements don't. Next time I re-organize a room, lighting first.

New York Bar, Park Hyatt Tokyo. Image: Flickr.

Kusmi Tea

This is an interesting tea brand I recently discovered. With roots from Russia the company is now based in Paris. I bought the green tea blend with ginger and lemon flavour. Though I rarely drink flavoured tea this was quite good. Light taste with hints of ginger and lemon. The strong fragrant scent is probably what makes it a Kusmi tea. This is a tea I will try more of. Next time I will buy one of the original blends.

Whole tea leaves.

Visual Cortex stimulation

First Impression

First impressions leave an impact, sometimes blown out of proportions.