A Saturday Note From Nicolas

A Weekend Letter on Rest, Beauty, and Celebration

Happy Saturday.

There is a certain poetry to the weekend, isn’t there? After the bustle of the week, Saturday arrives like a deep breath: a time to slow down, to savour, and to celebrate. I have always believed the weekend is not only about rest but about elevating the ordinary. A simple breakfast feels special when enjoyed slowly. Flowers look brighter when you actually have time to admire them. Even the smallest rituals, like lighting a candle, or brewing a pot of tea, take on new significance.

For me, weekends are about reclaiming time. Today I am keeping things gentle: a walk in the garden with Sophie, a little baking in the afternoon, and perhaps an hour with a good book. Nothing elaborate, just a reminder that beauty often lives in simplicity.

Something to Bake

This weekend, why not make a Madeleine Cake? It takes the spirit of the classic French madeleine and transforms it into a single, elegant loaf — easier than fussing with individual moulds, yet just as delicious. Serve slices warm with tea or dressed up with berries and a dusting of icing sugar for dessert.

Ingredients

• 150g unsalted butter, melted

• 3 large eggs

• 150g caster sugar

• 150g plain flour

• 1 tsp baking powder

• Zest of 1 lemon

• A splash of vanilla extract

Method

1. Preheat oven to 170°C. Grease and line a loaf tin.

2. Beat the eggs and sugar until pale and fluffy.

3. Gently fold in the flour, baking powder, lemon zest, and vanilla.

4. Stir in the melted butter until smooth.

5. Pour into the tin and bake for 30–35 minutes until golden and risen.

6. Cool slightly before slicing.

Simple, fragrant, and with that madeleine nostalgia we all adore.

A Few Weekend Pleasures

✨To Watch: Call Me By Your Name — With summer coming to a gentle close, this will give you one final dose of La Dolce Vita.

📖 To Read: The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim. A timeless novel about four women who trade their grey London lives for a month in a sunlit Italian castle. It is tender, witty, and filled with the kind of escapism that makes it ideal for weekend reading.

🍸 To Sip: An Amalfi Collins. Bright and refreshing, it evokes sunshine on the Italian coast. Shake together 50ml vodka, 25ml limoncello, and 20ml fresh lemon juice with ice. Strain into a tall glass filled with ice, top with soda water, and garnish with fresh basil leaves.

🌿 To Do: Make a lavender wand. With fresh lavender stems and a ribbon, you can weave a fragrant little bundle to place in drawers, hang in wardrobes, or give as a small gift. It is a simple and meditative craft, and the scent will linger beautifully for months. Click here for a full how-to guide

Something New

I am delighted to share that Nathan and I have been working quietly behind the scenes on a new project: our very own podcast, A Dose of Dandy. Over ten episodes, we will be opening the doors to our world of elegant living, sharing stories, advice, and a few light-hearted debates along the way.

The first series will launch this September, and I cannot wait for you to hear it. If you would like to be among the first to listen, simply click below and make sure you are ready for the launch.

Click here to be ready for the launch

Wishing you a weekend filled with rest, beauty, and a little indulgence.

With love,
Nicolas