A food nirvana if ever there was one. The heart of Catalonia, a city on a beach – my kind of place.
We visited late summer on this occasion while the mid day heat haze still hangs heavy in the air and the Mediterranean sea retains it’s welcoming warmth after several months of sunshine. Continue reading Barcelona
“Is it beer o’clock?” enquires one of the group sprawled on sunbeds…
Some murmurs of agreement and then “who has the kitty?”…I struggle to my feet, The DJ is upright and blinking against the Catalonian sun. We shuffle off…10 feet to the little beach bar, placing our order in Spanglais before we ferry mojito’s, beers and café con leche back to the prone bodies with outstretched arms. It’s hard going this holiday lark. Continue reading A Pintxos of Catalonia
I recently went for dinner to Daniel Clifford’s Midsummer House restaurant in Cambridge.
Myself and the Marmoset had planned the trip for her birthday – we’d long held a desire to try the food at this 2 Michelin star establishment. Continue reading A Midsummer House Dream, with celeriac
My friend DJ Ozz passed a meaningful milestone the other day….so we kidnapped him, for our own entertainment.
The DJ had specified ’just a breakfast in London’, but our group of ‘know alls’ felt a collective sense that ‘just out for breakfast’ was a little dull and this momentous occasion was worthy of a little more sparkle. Continue reading Mystery at the Atlantic Hotel
There aren’t really words to adequately describe the events in Paris this weekend, except to say that those carrying out these attacks are not doing their deeds in the name of any religion I recognise and that in fact they are quite simply insane.
The repercussions of such things reverberate through the lives of people who have been close to such events, making you question your safety and that of loved ones in new and unpleasant ways, it leaves a legacy which is hard to shake and that lasts, as does the grief for those who have been lost. Continue reading We’ll always have Paris
Lying in bed on a Sunday morning a few weeks ago, appreciating the fact that my partner Rocket was home from Scotland after an extended trip away and even more so because he was to return to the beautiful highlands again the following week….I was flicking through the blogs I follow when I very much enjoyed a post by The Londonist, to be found here. In the article they describe where a good Sunday lunch can be found in London – and whilst I have my own views on those I’ve tried so far, Rocket and I are always keen to hear of others. Continue reading The Canton Arms, London SW9
It’s been a bit of strange week, returning from an extended trip in France. On our return, my Uncle Little D suffered stroke although thanks to swift action by my aunt, Little P, a miracle stroke drug administered at an early stage and some stonking NHS care he is doing well and is already back home with few ill effects…..amazing.
The working week ended on a high note as Rocket’s boss, had kindly arranged for us to have a meal out in town as his birthday gift for this year so last night was elected as a fine time to dine out at Cafe Murano. http://www.cafemurano.co.uk/ Continue reading Friday date night
The Bluebird Restaurant – Kings Road, Chelsea, London.
Anyone who knows me understands that I am a Chelsea girl, by which I mean I am a lifelong follower of Chelsea Football Club, along with generations of my family. It’s not a choice, I didn’t wake up one day and say I think I’ll like Chelsea…it’s something that was predetermined and “what is done, is done and cannot be undone”. Continue reading Chelsea Chelsea! Chelsea Chelsea!
Whole baked Brill with Clam Broth
I’m not a fan of Valentine’s day, on the grounds that it is almost entirely a commercial exercise, a recipe for rip offs, and most importantly kind of smug. When single you may feel like everyone else is in this loved up club and there are times in life when that may be a bit depressing…and I don’t like to think that someone might feel lonely or low.
However I don’t have anything against people enjoying themselves…loved up, single or otherwise.Neither do I think everyone who is single is sad and lonely, having spent many happy single years – and I am definitely not against romance. That’s my position, just thought I’d clarify it! Just to prove I am romantic, the soundtrack for our lives and the backdrop to our lovely Saturday was courtesy of Van Morrison – here you go…listen along while you read… Continue reading A Simply Brill day
Well, need a little time to wake up, wake up
Well, what’s the story morning glory?
Well, need a little time to wake up, wake up.
We have been bad…very bad. For the last week or two, no healthy eating for us, just lots over indulgence and a degree of junk. We are feeling the worse for it and so something colourful and some seafood has become a necessity. Continue reading What’s the Story?
I must open this post by saying that if ever you are fortunate enough to get the chance to travel to Marrakesh – DO IT!
We had planned our trip celebration for both Rocket and Mata Hari’s birthday’s although we kept the plan from Rocket for about a million years in order to heighten suspense. This decision caused me, in particular, to almost give the game away but we made it to his actual birthday without letting on so…. Continue reading We are riding on the Marrakesh express
Rocket’s death cell supper was consolidated on our trip to Thailand last year. He had been hankering after this oyster omelette of which he had heard tell, and he had spoken about it to us all at length.
When, one evening whilst in Bangkok, the opportunity to go and eat in China town presented it self he soon had us all rounded up. Continue reading French Produce, Thai Style…
Crushed velvet seats
Riding in the back, oozing down the street
Waving to the girls
Peeling out of sight
Spending all my money on a Saturday night
Honey, I just wonder what you do there in back of your pink Cadillac
Pink Cadillac
I had a really strange day…. culminating in dinner at the establishment featured here. It is the Pizzeria Miniport near Lannemezan, France. We did eat there once before many years ago before their theme was changed to Tex Mex. We discovered however that it was Tex Mex with a great big dollop of Gascony in it… Continue reading I love you for your pink Cadillac
Rocket and I made the 3.30am departure this morning to commence our French adventure.
We rocked up in the Limousin Region, famous for all kinds of culinary delights such as Ceps, Truffles, outstanding steaks and many many more. Continue reading On The Road Again!
of the Looe
River Estuary
Guest Blogger!
Rocket here! Thanks to Poppy (what WOULD I do without her?!?!) I’m staying at the Barclay House Hotel in Looe. Continue reading Postcards from the edge…….
Found this sandwich,what a beauty!
This is the salt beef Rubens from “KIOSK” in Kings Cross. Continue reading I am the Catcher of the Rye
There is great excitement in London SE11– well there is in our house anyway!
There is a new kid on the block in the form of ‘The Duchy Arms’ and sneak previews have revealed a beautiful and classy job has been done on this old pub at the end of Courtenay Street. Yes, I am aware it has had a few incarnations in recent years, but this time it’s a proper job… Continue reading Pass the ‘Duchy’….No! Don’t pass it, go inside!
When I met up with my friend Marmoset the other day, she reminded me that it has been a year since she left Robben Island (our former place of employment). Meaning that is has been over a year ago since we took ourselves on a girls weekend to celebrate her escape. We visited The St Enodoc Hotel for dinner at ‘Nathan Outlaw’. A reminder of the year gone past spurred me to write about it before the memory fades too much further, because it is very worthy of a post. Continue reading Outlaws, Poets and High Flying Birds
We know how to go out for lunch – mob handed….
There is a pub near where my family live the ‘silver’ lunchers always use it for their regular get togethers.
We had occasion to meet up there yesterday and to the credit of the staff they cope with a table of 22 people with aplomb. The team were outstanding at guiding our large group through really efficiently. Continue reading Pub Lunch?
In my spotty youth my ‘boyfriend’ for a few years was of Pakinstani origins, his father having been born in Lahore and his mother being from south London.
As you do in your teens, we spent time just loitering, and often around and about his father’s business premises. Masood, would often finish his work, load his workers and ourselves into some battered old vehicle and cart us off to the east…..that is the east end of London. Aldgate to be precise. He liked a taste of home and the Lahore Kebab house in Umberston street, E1 was just the thing. Continue reading Memories of Lahore…
In Search of the Catfish Café... 