London Dreaming

This weekend has been spent gallivanting around our glorious capital city with my beautiful Performing Arts girls! This has been in the planning for some weeks now and it was safe to say that the excitement was overflowing by the time I stepped of the train at Paddington. I hopped over to Covent Garden (the designated meeting place) and after a huge group hug and A LOT of girly squeals...so un-chic...we headed off for lunch at Belushi's , a cocktail bar and cafe which can be found all over Europe. However, with posters and adverts mashed together all over the walls and the neon signs above the bar it has a most unique feel to it. The menu is much like your average American diner but with a few twists on the traditional and the cocktail menu is extensive. Just tucked away off the side of Covent Garden it was perfect for re-fuelling and a much needed catch up before gallivanting around for the rest of the day!

We criss-crossed are way through the shops with only one mission in mind: cake! And boy, did we find some! Candy Cakes was just hiden away in a little alcove underneath all the shops looking all innocent...go through the door and BOOM! It felt like I had walked into Willy Wonka's factory and I never wanted to leave!!! The rage of cakes, ice creams and shakes was incredible but the taste was sooooo much better!

 

Peanut Butter Cupcake complete with glitter  *

I truly recommend hunting this shop out, you will not be disappointed with it even if you are the fussiest person in the world!

We headed back to our dearest friend Megan's house with the plan of getting ready for a huge night out however, it was not to be. We gorged ourselves on flatbread and olives, recreated 'Santa Fe' on the tube like any good Performing Arts girl would and strolled around the great city dreaming of someday calling it home. Which has to happen. We high-fived on it at Baker Street.

Any chance to pose! L to R: Me, Hannah, Anna,  Rosie

Day two of our grand adventure began rather reluctantly but a cheeky Subway soon sorted that out. We jumped on the tube and head straight to Spitalfield Market, we amble around for an hour or so discovering different trinkets and clothes for sale and lost ourselves in amongst the stalls. I was unsuccessful in my quest for a Campbell's Soup tshirt but I will continue to search!  However, one thing had the ability to focus all 6 of us...yes, it was food. Yes, it was cake. BUT oh my days what a cake it was!!! I know I said this about the other ones but, the sounds that were released from our mouths as we devoured the beauties were the only proof needed that these were the best cupcakes in London. Possibly the world.

Flavourtown Bakery Carrot Cake Cupcake

We moved down Brick Lane towards Absolute Vintage, a huge warehouse filled to the rafters with items from the 1920s onwards. I picked myself up a little yellow '60s number and a headscarf, I will be rocking them in Italy for sure. If you haven't been there...GO! I promise you will find something fascinating to prance around in for weeks. We also visited Rough Trade to flick through rows upon rows of records and mess around in the photobooth, a much needed momento for the wall of my new bedroom.

Soon our bellies cried to be filled and we headed off to the new branch of Pho just outside of Liverpool Street Station. It is a Vietnamese restaurant serving all kinds of authentic dishes; soups that come with a side of herbs for you to create your own, noodles with the crispiest spring rolls in town and curries (which I have yet to try). I love Pho, it is great for a quick lunch or a relaxing dinner but I will leave that choice up to you! If you are looking for something different then hunt it down and you will not be disappointed. I may do an actual review on it one day when I have learnt to take pictures of food so watch this space!

We dashed to the All Star Lanes Bowling Alley, a Fifties style bar/restaurant/bowling alley for cocktails in jam jars, although I went for the cocktail glass instead. I'm a sucker for a strawberry cocktail and a dash of basil and I'm yours!

If you drink from a jam jar at any other time you would be frowned at. *

Unfortunately, we had to leave our beautiful London town and go our separate ways to less exciting lands/ more foreign lands. I was on the verge of tears saying goodbye to my lovely ladies as, I won't be seeing them until Easter but I didn't want to ruin the amazing weekend. If you want to read more about our Great London Adventure then my friend Hannah's blog is here.

So ladies, I will meet you in Paris.

The pictures with * on them are not mine but Hannah's and Anna's.  Pin It

A little bit naughty...

I started out wanting to share one of my favourite family puddings with you and it quickly evolved into 3 super easy, super quick desserts which are perfect to whip up in times of need! (Trust me, you will need these) Chocolate orange trifle, Grown-up Eton Mess and Blueberry Cheesecake.

First up the trifle...
You'll need:
400g custard
200g milk chocolate
200g double cream
biscuits (enough to cover the base of your dish, they can be any type cookies work best though)
300ml orange juice (enough to soak the biscuits)

Start by pouring some orange juice into a bowl and soaking the biscuits on both sides (not so it is a soggy mess!). Place the biscuits into the bottom of a bowl/dish/champagne flute. Melt the chocolate and add it to half the custard, mix together well and pour over the orange biscuits. Add the double cream to the rest of the custard, it should be a white mixture when it is whisked together. Pour it over the chocolate layer and grate some chocolate on top. Stick it in the fridge and let it set a while.

Grown-up Eton Mess
You'll need:
4 Meringue nests (you could make your own but, if you are short on time it might be easier)
300g Strawberries
100g Chocolate Double Cream (as much as you want on it!)
Caramel Vodka (not too much, but depends on you really!)

Break up the meringue nests and pop into glasses. Slice up the strawberries and layer them on top. Add some more meringue and strawberries in layers until you have filled the glass. Chop up a few chunks of chocolate and sprinkle on top. Just before serving add the double cream and the caramel vodka. If you can't find any vodka use amaretto instead! If you are making this for the younger generation it works just as well with caramel sauce over the top.

And finally the Blueberry Cheesecake
You'll need:
200g Cream cheese
150g Double cream
50g Icing sugar
Vanilla Essence (Add to taste)
70g Blueberries Flapjack squares (the kind you get in the plastic boxes at the supermarket)

Place the flapjacks in the bottom of a dish/tin/champagne glass. Whip together the double cream, icing sugar and cream cheese, add the vanilla essence and blueberries (you might want to crush them up a bit first). Pour the mixture over the flapjacks and then pop it in the fridge for later.

See super quick and easy so if you and your friends decide to have a spontaneous BBQ this week then you can whip up one of these in no time at all, leaving you more time to spend in the sun! Enjoy! Pin It

Finger food

I feel as though I have somewhat neglected my blogging duties over the last week or so but, I have many a tale to tell! This week I have had the boyfriend down and made an attempt to share some of the cultural delights of Plymouth whilst cramming in some work as well. The weather initially looked like it would ruin all our plans but, luckily the sun forced it's way through the clouds to shine gloriously down upon us!

We started on the Hoe (a classic for tourists) and strolled down the sea front to one of my newly acquired favourite restaurants, Maritimo. From the street you wouldn't even realise this gem exists, there is a coffee shack surrounded by a few metal tables... Like District 13 in The Hunger Games, the real hive of activity lies beneath. As you descend the stairs the essence of Spain comes seeping through every aspect of the restaurant, from the art on the walls to the wooden panelling and wicker chairs. Now, heed my advice, if it is a dry day (not necessarily sunny!) sit out on the terrace and you will fall in love with Plymouth all over again. Sitting with a glass of wine watching the boats sailing around the sound...perfect!

Of course the main factor for my complete adoration of this place is the tapas! There is a huge selection of bread, olives, fish, meat and vegetable dishes served with various dressings and sauces.

From left going clockwise: Sun-dried tomato salad with mozzarella pearls, fig and goats cheese parcels,  pan fried  scallops and chorizo,  deep fried white fish, spanish olives, crab cakes with salad, all served with garlic mayonnaise and olive oil and balsamic vinegar. 

Yummy olives...I don't even like olives!

Nothing can compete with that.

Now you see it..now you don't

Seriously this was the best meal I have had in a long time! Go and check it out! We went at lunchtime so there was no need to book however, I am not sure if you would need to in the evening either as they have plenty of tables. It is the perfect place for a date, catch up with friends or just an afternoon beverage with spectacular views. Here is the website if you want to check out some of the best tapas in Plymouth! Pin It

Optimus Alive 2012

A few weeks ago I had a coming of age moment...I attended my very first festival! Optimus Alive is held just outside of Lisbon, Portugal in mid July and is still new enough to be solely about the music, and not the razmataz that normally follows at many festivals now. The line up was packed full of Portuguese and British bands which resulted in an eclectic mass of people coming together for one awesome weekend.

Snow Patrol 

Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle,wiggle...YEAH!

There are 3 stages to visit: the main stage, the clubbing stage and the Heineken Stage (which was my absolute favourite!). There was also a whole load of food tents and bars...I got extremely excited about having cider at a festival. It tasted amazing!

In love with Noah and the Whale

Marcus Mumford

Lisa Hannigan. Beautiful.

The music lasted all night and so, we were free to spend our days lounging in tents, having spontaneous picnics and sunbathing until the bands struck up once again. To say I had heard a few horror stories about festival campsites would be something of an understatement! However Lisboa Campsite, although packed to bursting point with people, was actually good. There is a pool, restaurants, mini-market, tennis courts and most importantly showers (although they were freezing)! If you are truly bored of mingling with foreign music lovers and thinking of new ways to make ham and cheese sandwiches exciting then there is a shopping centre nearby. Also, there is a huge camping shop so, no need to worry about carrying your tent on as Easyjet hand-luggage. I saw so many different bands, met loads of people from all over the world and had an incredible time doing it. I even ended up with a crush on this band The Kills, they were absolutely awesome. If you ever get a chance to see them then do it as they made my last night in Portugal epic! Also, if you ever have a chance to go to Optimus Alive do that too!

So how about you? Have you been to any festivals yet this summer?

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