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   ![My Perfect Autumn Weekend: Ixta Belfrage ](/sites/sheerluxe/files/styles/max_800x800/public/articles/2022/10/my-perfect-autumn-weekend-29-10-thumb.jpg?itok=dwL2E4kE)

  

 

 



 

  Images: BRAWN; @IXTA.BELFRAGE 

 

 

 

[Culture](/culture)

 /  28 October 2022  

#  My Perfect Autumn Weekend: Ixta Belfrage  


Cosy knits, pub roasts and long walks – we love autumn, so we’ve asked a handful of our favourite women to share what they’re most excited about this season. This time, Ixta Belfrage – chef and one of Yotam Ottolenghi’s right-hand women – talks us through what a perfect autumnal weekend in London looks like for her.  


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  Images: BRAWN; @IXTA.BELFRAGE 

 

 

 

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## FRIDAY NIGHT 



  

**For me, autumn is a time of year for getting back in the swing of things** – like cooking more and getting back into an exercise routine. I tend to get up quite early during autumn and winter, so I have more time to be active in the morning and get those endorphins going. I'll do a class at my local gym or if I have less time I'll go on a very short run (I hate running and I'm quite bad at it). Apart from that, I’m not a big fan of winter or Christmas and often look to get away somewhere sunny. I am escaping the cold to work in Bali at the end of November. I can’t wait!

**On Friday evenings, I love an earlyish dinner with friends** followed by a couple of drinks at a pub like [The Spurstowe Arms](https://www.spurstowearms.com/) in London Fields or [The Plimsoll](https://www.instagram.com/the.plimsoll/?hl=en) in Finsbury Park, before being tucked up in bed by 10.30pm. Last Friday night, we went to [Decimo](https://www.decimo.london/), at the top of [The Standard hotel](https://www.standardhotels.com/en-GB/london/properties/london) in King’s Cross, where the food highlights were manchego quesadillas, roasted red pepper tartare and octopus ceviche. It was wonderful – incredible views, great food and service and the décor was bonkers and beautiful. My idea of a perfect cocktail at this time of year is mezcal shaken with fresh clementine juice, lime, honey, cinnamon and scotch bonnet.

 

 [ ![Decimo, Kings Cross](/sites/sheerluxe/files/styles/max_800x800/public/articles/2022/10/sl281022-autumn-weekend-ixta-belfrage-layoutcontentmain-2.jpg?itok=KlW05Y63)

 

 ](https://www.decimo.london/) 

 Decimo, Kings Cross 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

## SATURDAY 



  

**I love going for a weekend walk through Hackney and Walthamstow marshes** – you feel like you’re in the countryside and it’s such a beautiful way to escape the madness of the city. In this weather, I’ll probably wear my bright pink beret and a new blazer by [Sandro](https://uk.sandro-paris.com/), which I can’t get enough of. I might stop by [Bake Street](https://www.instagram.com/bakestreetldn/?hl=en) in Stoke Newington, which serves incredible coffees and cakes – not to mention great tacos and burgers later in the day.

**I often like to head out for an early lunch.** Last weekend, I went to [Koya](https://www.koya.co.uk/) on Broadway Market and had the Japanese breakfast set, which consists of smoked mackerel, pickles and dashi, as well as an extra order of onsen egg. After lunch, I returned to the safety of my sofa to nurse my hangover for a few hours, before heading to the pub for a few drinks. Hair of the dog always works.

**Other restaurants I love** include [Bright](https://www.brightrestaurant.co.uk/) in London Fields, [Brawn](https://www.brawn.co/) on Columbia Road, The Plimsoll in Finsbury Park, [Xi’an Impression](http://www.xianimpression.co.uk/) in Highbury and [Testi](https://www.testirestaurant.co.uk/) in Stoke Newington.

**Once home, I might read a book before bed.** Right now, I’m reading [*Grand Union* by Zadie Smith](https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=3787&awinaffid=69421&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Fgrand-union%2Fzadie-smith%2F9780241983126), and [*The Best of Me*](https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=3787&awinaffid=69421&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Fthe-best-of-me%2Fdavid-sedaris%2F9780349144603) by David Sedaris. Both of these books are more like collections of short stories and essays, which I love dipping into before I go to sleep.

 

 

 

 

 ![](/sites/sheerluxe/files/styles/max_1920x1920/public/articles/2022/10/sl281022-autumn-weekend-ixta-belfrage-layoutcontentmain-3.png?itok=IzmH3nqf)

 

 

 @IXTA.BELFRAGE 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

## SUNDAY 



  

**On Sunday, I love to get on my bike.** Last weekend, I cycled to Chinatown for dim sum at Dumplings Legend – we ordered Xiao long bao, roast duck, prawn cheung fun and cucumber salad. Sometimes, I’ll head out for a roast. Elliot Cunningham at The Spurstowe Arms does an incredible Sunday lunch. It’s pretty huge and the quality of the ingredients is outstanding. All of it goes down well with a glass of red.

**I also like to get ahead and do a bit of meal prepping for those busy weekdays.** I recently teamed up with lentil and pulse brand [Merchant Gourmet](https://www.merchant-gourmet.com/) to create a lunchtime meal planner – I’ve found this really helpful to plan out my meals for the week ahead and plot what ingredients I need to buy. I’m lucky to have a brilliant Turkish shop that has almost everything I need for the pantry, and a health food shop where I can get great veg and meat – all within walking distance from my house in Clapton.

**At this time of year, I love cooking with dried porcini mushrooms** – you’ll see these cropping up in my recipes time and again because they are so versatile. They add incredible depth to ragus and sauces and are super easy to cook with. I used them recently in one of my go-to recipes, one-pot spicy porcini orecchiette.

**I’m always making warming broths and stews.** One I’ve been making loads recently is a plantain and coconut stew with Jamaican grains – it’s the perfect autumn comfort food and it’s so easy to make.

 

 [ ![](/sites/sheerluxe/files/styles/max_800x800/public/articles/2022/10/sl281022-autumn-weekend-ixta-belfrage-layoutcontentmain-5.jpg?itok=JNqiPpqw)

 

 ](https://www.instagram.com/koyalondon/?hl=en) 

 @KOYALONDON 

 



 

 

 

 

 

> [View this post on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/reel/Chogp4YIlpU/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading)

 

 

 

**My favourite cookbook is [*Hartwood* by Eric Werner and Mya Henry](https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=3787&awinaffid=69421&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Fhartwood%2Feric-werner%2Fmya-henry%2F9781579656201).** It’s all about Yucatan cuisine, and includes incredible pictures of the rainforest and the Caribbean. It's totally transportive and inspiring.

**I’m terrible at routines and regimes – I don’t have the patience for them.** I wash my face with water then moisturise with [Weleda Skin Food](https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=2082&awinaffid=69421&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lookfantastic.com%2Fweleda-skin-food-75ml%2F10540680.html%3Faffil%3Dthggpsad%26switchcurrency%3DGBP%26shippingcountry%3DGB%26thg_ppc_campaign%3D71700000088329924%26adtype%3D%26product_id%3D10540680%26gclid%3DCj0KCQjwteOaBhDuARIsADBqRehiGQ_z1shBwF9wz6g2D_9UP7vr6UybBqgraZVqw9MdoMBbrmEVMCkaAgIpEALw_wcB%26gclsrc%3Daw.ds). It’s absolutely incredible and all I need. In terms of make-up, I use a tinted moisturiser with SPF by [Ultrasun](https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=2041&awinaffid=69421&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.boots.com%2Fultrasun-face-tinted-30spf-sun-protection-50ml-10306311), which ticks a lot of boxes too.

**On Sundays, I love to spend the evening on the sofa.** I’ve just started watching *Will &amp; Grace*, which is hilarious and great to have on in the background while you’re doing other things, especially cooking. If I was on my own one weekend, I would curl up on the sofa with a blanket with a takeaway from Koya (I'd order beef shin udon, nama yasai salad and an onsen egg) and watch a good TV show. Unsurprisingly, right now I'm watching *The Bear*.

For more ideas and inspiration, follow Ixta at [@Ixta.Belfrage](https://www.instagram.com/ixta.belfrage/?hl=en) &amp; order her new cookbook Mezcla [here](https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=3787&awinaffid=69421&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Fmezcla%2Fixta-belfrage%2F9781529148091).

 

 

 

 

  

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