Lele's

28/10/2024

Arrivederci amore ciao. You will be forever my best friend.

24/10/2024

It’s a Roman kinda affairs. Sun and olive oil.
What else

16/10/2024

I’m exhausted, I haven’t slept well in weeks, and I’m in a bad mood - no applause here; I’m simply doing my duty to care for Ugo, along with my mother, at the moment when he needs us; sadly, he is increasingly not self-sufficient, and, among other things, he must drink with a syringe.

I wish there were more animals than people around me. Ugo, despite his illness, has shown me so much love. Thank you 🙏♥️.

Today, I witnessed some children being really abusive with a small dog on the street. It appears to me that there is a serious gap in the education of these folks, and I am not talking about the children but the parents.

Love your pet and animals in general, teach kids how to treat them with love and respect.

We understand a lot of someone character from how they treat animals.

Be kind xx

05/10/2024

Please remember to laugh, it’s the strongest medicine of all.

You can’t change what happens to you but you can decide how you deal with that. Be strong, respect your fragilities and above all - LAUGH.

Happy weekend folks xx

29/09/2024

Happy Sunday everyone! I couldn’t be more happy spending it with my bestie Zz.

What’s is your plan for the day? Of course ate cake and…?

18/09/2024

Ciao! I am Valentina - usually you can catch me eating or laughing 😜

Happy mid week guys, I don’t know about you but I am feeling already tired and dreaming of the weekend!

Let me dream a little, what’s your plan this weekend??

10/09/2024

I am ready for autumn 🍂 who is with me???

Ready?

30/08/2024

29/08/2024

Hello beauties, how’s life treating you?

It’s been ages, hasn’t it?

This September, It will be two years since I close down LELE’S. It was a tough decision, and the aftermath was rough. I battled anxiety for a while, and on some days, I felt like I had failed.

However I was, and I am forever thankful for the chance to open the cafe, meet amazing people, learn to cook, and contribute a bit to promoting vegan food. 🍲 🥑

After six years of running my own venture, saying goodbye to the team and customers was hard. I’m glad I did it, especially for my mental well-being and the much-needed break.

I was handling LELE’S solo, I started the cafe after my dad passed (the cafe was named after him), with almost no funds and no cooking experience (I didn’t even know how to cook!). Six years later, LELE’S became a great cafe, a wholesale business supporting Planet Organic’s supermarkets, a catering service for the likes of Adidas, New Balance, and Paul Smiths.

LELE’S also served as a welcoming place for people to gather and learn cooking, and I was proud to offer free classes with Hackney Council’s support. Then, the TV series with Gordon Ramsay - WHAT A JOURNEY.

The business boomed, and I wasn’t skilled enough to handle the expansion. I worked tirelessly, believing I did my best, so no regrets. I’m filled with joy.

If you allow me tthe spare my two cents - don’t be upset when things change, they change because you CHANGE. YOU’RE great.

Moving back home was tough; finding a place to live, making new friends, and navigating the ups and downs of work - it was a rollercoaster of emotions, so I kept things private.

This journey was one I had to undertake on my own terms, avoiding the pressure to constantly perform and be seen.

Many of you have been sending me sweet messages since I’m sharing my stories again! Your love and support mean the world to me and are truly precious.

So, here’s a quick update: I’m now working in communication strategy as a freelance, still cooking and baking cakes, teaching myself about flower design, and drawing more often.

Here you’ll see some of my cakes, flowers, and sketches, and of course, my dogs. 🐶

Love, Valentina

22/08/2023

Awww Greece you are SPECTACULAR!

As a vegan I was preoccupied about having to eat at the hotel every night - missing out on dinners with friends, instead there were plenty of options for me.

Here is my guide of Antiparos!

A small island in the heart of the Cyclades, very close to Paros (also very beautiful!).

The island is getting very popular and it is considered a bit of a party island by the greeks.

There are plenty of restaurants and bars to keep you entertained, but it also offers incredible beaches where you can relax and swim without feeling overwhelmed by the amount of tourists around you.

Where to sleep: 😴


It is family run, clean and friendly.


Great hospitality, excellent location.

Food on the go:
Fav spot for breakfast their flat white was as good as the ones we made at LELE’S!

Lunch delicious vegan sandwiches 🥪

Aperitivo
Best sunset at Sunset - yep pardon the pun no food for us apart from a delicious focaccia, but hey you are not going there for the food as the name say it clearly you are after the SUNSET

Restaurants:

Hands down to one of the best meals I had while on holiday. Excellent service, great food and cool interiors this restaurant has it all.

Taverna Kyklades
Our ultimare favourite! Very small, family owned and happy to accommodate my vegan needs! Very cheap


A very nice seaside spot. Don’t expect many vegan options here, you want to go for the view and the chill vibe.

Beaches:

Faneromeni Beach
The locals refer to it as 'The pool'. To get there you need a car or a scooter.

Fanari Beach
Offers sun beds - perfect if you want to relax and have everything at hand

Monastiria Beach
The best we have visited. The water is clear and there are only few people there - why? IT IS A NIGHTMARE to get to! You have to drive on a rocky uneven road!

Drink after dinner? Sorted ✔️
Nice cocktails in a beautiful yard
antiparos
Apparently this is the place to be. Bit posh but the music is nice

Full list in my stories and highlights 😘🙏

14/08/2023

My friend Giorgio would say “ma che te ridi?!” Why do you laugh for?

Well, impossible not to be happy in this beautiful place. The people, the landscape and places.

I have discovered so many yummy spots and I am working on a super guide for you, from beaches to bars and restaurants… can’t wait to share it.

Thanks so far so good 🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷

Meanwhile:
PLEASE STAY WILD
Hug each other
Drink plenty of water
Eat cake
Kiss strangers