Leeksandhighheels

Love lux, low spend.
Let’s talk water jugs or as the French say, la carafe d’eau – the quiet little show ponies of your tablescape.

This mini series is all about the table pieces worth investing in, the ones you’ll reach for every time you have friends around your table. Today: humble water jugs those quiet workhorses that keep everyone hydrated and make your table feel instantly more generous and welcoming.

I like my carafes to do more than hold water: they add a fun element, spark conversation, and bring something a little quirky and unexpected to the table.
From a simple IKEA pitcher to a vintage crystal wine carafe, a pumpkin‑shaped pottery jug or a colourful flea‑market find, they’re all absolutely splendiferous.

Start looking at the jugs you already own with fresh eyes, you might just find your new favourite tablescape hero hiding in the back of your cupboard. And if you’re new here, hit follow for more slow‑living hosting tips, seasonal recipes and budget‑friendly tablescapes from my Brussels kitchen and garden.

Tips for choosing water jugs:
- Make it a fun element
Choose a jug with a strong personality: a pop of colour, an interesting texture or a playful pattern instantly lifts a simple table and makes even plain water feel special.
- Pick a conversational piece
Look for pieces with a story: a vintage market find, a jug inherited from family, or something picked up on a trip. Guests will ask, and it becomes an easy ice‑breaker at the table.
- Go for quirky and different
Don’t be afraid of slightly unusual shapes or repurposed items: a small ceramic vase, a lab‑style bottle or a classic glass jug with an unexpected handle can all work, as long as they pour well and feel sturdy in the hand.

Save this for your next table setting and tell me in the comments: what are you using as a water jug at home – classic glass, colourful ceramic or a quirky flea‑market find?”

Too hot to cook but still craving something chic and satisfying? Say bonjour to my sun‑filled Niçoise salad , a trip to the South of France on a single plate.

When Brussels feels more like the Riviera, I skip the stove and build a generous salad instead. My sun‑filled Niçoise is all about simple prep, beautiful colours and those briny, South‑of‑France flavours we love.

Soft‑yolk eggs, baby potatoes, green beans, radishes, crunchy salad leaves and good tuna all get layered up, then finished with a bright vinaigrette. It’s a complete meal that still feels light when it’s boiling hot outside. Serve it family‑style in the garden or as an elegant weeknight dinner for two or prep for your to-go-office-lunch.

Check out how I par‑cook the veg ahead, then assemble just before serving so everything stays crisp and fresh. Save this post for your next heatwave and hit follow for more seasonal recipes and effortless table ideas, and tap the link in my bio to find the full Niçoise recipe on leeksandhighheels.com

I wrote a book!! I ve jotted down some childhood memories full of food (of course) and adventures. Go to leeksandhighheels.com , my memoir and download it for free. Happy reading! Just as in the video my memoir is faff free of make up - a hair brush apparently too - just stories about my family and me.

Love lux, low spend!
This mini series shows you the table pieces worth investing in.
Today silver, is it really worth the fuss of cleaning silver for your table?

Short answer YES, absolutely

1. Start with small pieces like cake forks or coffee spoons.
2. Consider serving pieces like for salad, cheese,or sauce.
3. Think of fish forks and knives often never used and just gorgeous.
4. If you are a tea lover - or HINT need a hostess gift for a friend - think tea strainer or sugar spoon.

Next in series: water jugs. Hit follow to not miss a thing!

What if your weeknight dinner tasted like a chic Belgian bistro but was on the table in 20 min.

With late Spring and warmer lighter days, what we crave changes. The perfect moment for my Flemish-style cod with crunchy herb breadcrumbs crust. This one-pan classic feels restaurant-fancy yet is absolutely doable on a Thursday eve, even after a long day at the office.

It’s a great template recipe: keep the technique and swap in whatever is best at your market now. Think asparagus now, courgettes in summer and butternut in the fall.

For the recipe, comment below and i will send it to you! Or click link in bio and search cod.

Follow for weekly seasonal easy dishes and elegant tables.

Love lux, low spend!
This mini series shows you the table pieces worth investing in.
Today BIG serving platters and why you should invest in them!

1. Instant generosity at the table assured.
2. Frames your food beautifully; food styling worthy of pictures.
3. One platter, many occasions using it for aperitif nibbles, a big salad, roasted veg, or dessert.
4. Helps you mix vintage with modern and create your personal style.
5. More time with your guests as time in the kitchen is saved by switching individual platting to large platters to share.

Next in series: silver. Hit follow to not miss a thing!

Not a great baker? Neither am I ! but you can’t mess up this strawberry dessert.

Strawberries are in season now and when you bake them, they turn soft, jammy, and extra fragrant, exactly what you want for a comforting French dessert.

For the recipe, comment below and i will send it to you! Or click link in bio and search strawberry

Follow for weekly seasonal easy dishes and elegant tables.

“My kingdom isn’t a grand garden. It’s a small Brussels terrace with pots of herbs, a few determined vegetables, and far too many pink flowers.
After growing up watching my dad obsess over ingredients, it feels grounding to have my hands in the soil, even if it’s just a container of mint and a stubborn tomato plant that refuses to ripen on time.
I compost kitchen scraps, talk to my plants more than I probably should and feel a quiet thrill every time I snip a sprig of thyme I grew myself. It’s my way of keeping his farm‑to‑table philosophy alive, but softened—less pressure, more pleasure.
No brigade. No critics. Just me, some soil, and the simple joy of watching something grow, then bringing it to the table.”

“High heels in the Kitchen” launching online 15 May, hit follow to not miss it.

Luxe feel, low spend!
This mini series shows you the table pieces worth investing in.
Let’s talk table linens.
1. Start with what you love! A style, a colour, a vibe and build on that. Not sure where to start, pick a neutral like white.
2. Play with texture, fabrics and patterns.
3. Mix and match , have a little fun.
4. Guests will spill so invest in machine washable maybe even bleach-able linens

Save this for your next dinner, comment which linens are on your wishlist?

Next in series: serving platters for instagram-able food styling. Hit follow to not miss a thing!