The January R.E.P.O.R.T.
A stack load of new recommendations
In case you’re new here, hi! This is the Salad Days R.E.P.O.R.T.
We know you love recommendations, want to discover more independent brands and are keen to hear about cool things to do in London, so we hope our monthly R.E.P.O.R.T which covers everything we’re reading, eating, playing, obsessing over, recommending and treating ourselves to, will make for useful and interesting reading.
This content is exclusively for you, our gorgeous subscribers, and we’ll strive to fill it full of top tier suggestions every single month. It will always remain free. Thank you so much for being here.
READING: THE REDEMPTION OF BOBBY LOVE
Do you like the kind of non-fiction books where the story is so wild you can’t believe it’s true? If so, this book is for you. On Sunday I found myself in the Foyles flagship store on Charing Cross road and although I don’t usually like buying books at bigger chains (local bookshops are the best) this place has the best True Crime section.
This book, The Redemption of Bobby Love, immediately caught my eye because the blurb sounded unbelievable. It tells the story of Bobby (real name Walter) who featured on the much-loved Humans of New York Instagram page last year where he first shared his incredible life story, keeping readers hanging on his every word and waiting desperately for the next part of the 11-post installment.
In this book he shares all the details of how he escaped from prison in 1977 with only $100 in his pocket and then spent the next 37 YEARS leading a secret new life on the run from re-capture. It was only when the FBI finally came knocking, literally knocking on his front door in 2015, that the lies all came out and his family discovered the truth.
EATING: HIGH DIVE IN MARGATE
Have you ever had a decent breakfast burrito in London? I already know the answer is no! If there’s one gripe I have with this city it’s that great breakfast burritos catagorically do not exist here. Last weekend we went all the way to Margate in search of a good one (and to visit our friend’s beautiful new gift store On A Whim) and I’m so pleased to report that High Dive was definitely worth the trip.
This place, which has LA meets Mexican vibes, has the sort of small menu where every single thing is something you want to order. I went for the Breakfast Tacos and they were everything I dreamt of; soft, herby, citrusy, spicy, extremely satisfying. Dan had the Crunch Wrap which is that big fried boy at the back which was similarish to mine but with the additions of white beans and avocado. Crunchy, herby, citrusy, spicy and also extremely satisfying. Divine!
The interior is gorgeous and the service was super friendly, so I’m already planning to go back. 10/10.
PLAYING: FLEISHMAN IS IN TROUBLE
Am I really out of touch or is literally no one talking about this show in the UK? I have never heard anyone so much as utter the name Fleishman is in Trouble but it is genuinely one of the best series I have ever watched.
I DEVOURED it in two days and when the final episode ended I had that feeling you get when you emerge from the cinema after dark and are irrevocably changed because of what you’ve just seen. That sounds dramatic, it isn’t, but if you’re looking for something enthralling to really hold your attention THIS IS IT. It’s so well cast with loads of big names, but as a lifelong Clare Danes fan it was her I was buzzing to see; she was just as captivating as in Homeland.
The story twists and turns and remains mysterious all the way through but the gist of it: after recently divorcing, Toby Fleishman’s high powered agent wife Rachel disappears leaving him to look after their two kids in New York. I watched it on Disney+ so there’s also no adverts which is a big bonus.
OBSESSING OVER: VINTAGE LOUIS VUITTON BAGS
Does your inner teen need a treat? We are obsessed with using our adult money to buy the things we never got to have as teenagers. Take that parents, I’ve got my own money now and I will not necessarily be spending it wisely!! Harking back to the golden era of velour tracksuits for us that means finally getting to own our “very own Louis Vuitton” bucket bag (did you also say that the way Jennifer Hudson does in the Sex and the City film? It’s all I’ve been able to think about for days) As a Noughties teen the classic monogram speaks to something deep deep deep within my soul. It might have been a teenage obsession but all of my very real adult needs are met - it goes with everything, the handles sit over my shoulder and it fits a water bottle. It was a surprise engagement gift from Liv that she bought on Vinted, and something I can’t wait to style forever.
If I had even bigger grown up adult money, right now I *would* be buying a vintage Louis Vuitton X Murakami bag. I’ve been sick with love for them since my eyes were filled with visions of Regina George carrying her teeny little pink one in Mean Girls. LV recently reissued the collaboration with Zendaya as the face of the campaign, and like every sane person I am obsessed with the whole thing, except the actual product!
For me there’s something more alluring about the idea of owning one of the original pieces. In my humble opinion the original collab is one of pop cultures most iconic moments and defines the heyday of my favourite fashion era. If I had a few spare grand and the ability to spend money with reckless abandon I’d be buying this 2006 Speedy and waiting for someone to compliment me on it.
RECOMMENDING: A REAL PAIN
I’ve done that thing where I get obsessed with an actor and then go down a rabbit hole of watching every show they’ve ever been in. In case you couldn’t guess based on the fact he’s in this mere newsletter not once but twice, at the moment it’s Jesse Eisenberg. His new film A Real Pain just came out and I hurriedly went to Bromley Vue (the only cinema I’ve ever been to where they sell Hagen Daz huge bonus!!) to watch it! Kieran Culkin just won a Golden Globe for his performance in it, so my hopes were high.
I like true stories, but I don’t like too much jeopardy or sadness, which is a difficult line to walk given that most stories that are interesting enough to be made into films are sad, or worse “bitter sweet”. Although the wider context of this film deals with topics that could be really harrowing, this ultimately is the tale of two cousins who love each other but are complete opposites, and together embark on a road trip to Poland together to honour their beloved Grandmother. The story didn’t quite come together for me in some places, but overall I really loved it. It was gentle and funny and heartwarming and a cute January watch.
TREATING OURSELVES TO: A LIVE PORTRAIT
Do you dream of having your very own portrait drawn? Dream no longer, because the extremely talented artist Olivia Tse will be trading with us for the first time this February, where she’ll be offering beautiful live portraits for just £20. With past clients including Fendi and Chanel we can’t believe our luck that for one day only she’ll be offering portraits at our market on Saturday 1st February.
Each portrait takes around 10 minutes and will be complete ready for you to take home on the day. Her style is so elegant and charming, like illustrations that used to grace the pages of Vogue; I’d love to see myself in her artwork. This is an incredible opportunity to get your very own custom piece for just £20, such good value for money. Book your slot via her website.
