tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65707922792781013672024-03-18T21:28:47.645+00:00Me & Mr JonesI am Twickenham based blogger with a serious passion for all things food. If I'm not in the kitchen on my latest recipe adventure I'm on the hunt for inspiration, ideas and new things to try. Get in touch - it'd be great to hear from you!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772525612879991342noreply@blogger.comBlogger212125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570792279278101367.post-4370984370687604362017-08-27T14:03:00.001+01:002017-08-27T14:03:07.322+01:00A Seaside AirBnB in Kemp Town, Brighton<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This isn't something I would normally write about but after a recent trip to Brighton I wanted to tell you all about the stunning little flat we stayed in. I'm no travel expert and certainly can't tell you what to do and where to go in Brighton BUT I really had to spill the beans on this place, just in case you need somewhere stunning to stay when you're in the area!</div>
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The flat was easy to find - it's right on the main road that runs parallel to the beach. This is it - the building on the end...</div>
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This is the view looking down the street towards the sea with the flat we stayed in right at the end of the terrace. Although it looked pretty from the outside, nothing prepared me for the absolutely stunning views (a bit of sunshine helped as well!).</div>
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Not only were the views stunning, the actual interior was as well with lots of fun little details...</div>
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There was a large and airy double bedroom that my mum and sis shared, I used the sofa bed in the living room which was surprisingly comfy! I was hoping to be able to drift off to sleep with the sound of the sea but alas, even though traffic on the road outside wasn't heavy, it blocked the sound of the waves.</div>
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As far as location, it wasn't right in the centre of Brighton but in Kemp Town which had some lovely little shops, cafes and pubs (and a <a href="http://www.meandmrjones.co.uk/2017/08/metrodeco-tea-rooms-brighton.html" target="_blank">cute tea room</a>!). Getting into the town centre wasn't too hard though - a 15/20 minute walk or a few minutes on the bus and there was a bus stop practically outside the flat.</div>
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If you are visiting Brighton, there are so many things to do but be sure to add taking a wander through the Lanes to your list..</div>
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There are also LOADS of places to eat in Brighton that cater for every diet you could imagine! We stopped for a break at Wai Kika Moo Kau which is a well known and popular vegetarian/vegan cafe...
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After a long day exploring Brighton it was time to head back to the flat where I sat on the window seat with a glass of wine and watched the sun set behind the pier, already planning my next trip to this lovely place!</div>
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If you fancy spending time it this gorgeous flat, (or any other AirBnB place!) use our "<a href="http://www.airbnb.co.uk/c/catherinel345" target="_blank">friend code</a>" when you're booking (so I can save up to go back to Brighton!)/</div>
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Link to the flat we stayed in on AirBnB can be found <a href="https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/9092459" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*we paid in full for the two nights we stayed in this lovely place and have not been asked to review our stay but it was just so lovely I had to share!</span></div>
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</script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772525612879991342noreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570792279278101367.post-26897366841081137682017-08-19T14:09:00.001+01:002017-08-19T14:16:50.534+01:00Metrodeco Tea Rooms, Brighton<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: left;">It's no secret that I'm a fan of a proper afternoon tea so when mum, my sis and I visited Brighton for a few days, we thought an afternoon tea would be a nice girly treat for us.</span><br />
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After a little last minute research, we decided on the quirky <a href="http://metro-deco.com/" target="_blank">Metrodeco Tea Salon</a> which was a short stroll from the flat in Kemp Town we had found on AirBnB.</div>
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There was seating available outside but even though it was a beautiful sunny day, the inside was too lovely to miss with its eclectic furniture, mismatched crockery and dark wooden floor.<br />
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We chose the classic afternoon tea (there are also prosecco, gin and cocktail options as well) which included savouries, sweets and naturally, scones (because is an afternoon tea an afternoon tea without scones?!) all washed down with your choice of tea from their extensive <a href="http://metro-deco.com/Menus/TeaMenu.pdf" target="_blank">tea menu</a>. I don't know about you but I always love drinking lapsing souchong with afternoon tea - I love the smokiness of it!</div>
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To start, the savoury layer of the cake stand...mini open rolls with smoked salmon, brie with an onion marmalade, ham with tomato relish, cream cheese and cucumber and a vegetarian quiche. My mum wasn't keen on the brie so when I phoned to book our table I asked if they could substitute that with something else and they were more than happy to do so (I can't remember what it was though, some sort of veggie pate perhaps!)<br />
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The scones came out still warm from the oven so had to leave them for a while to cool down before piling on the clotted cream and jam (from a local farm, <a href="https://www.paynesbeefarm.co.uk/" target="_blank">Paynes Bee Farm</a>). I sit firmly in the cream first then jam camp...<br />
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The top layer was filled with the "tarts and fancies" - mini macaroons from a <a href="http://www.realpatisserie.co.uk/" target="_blank">local patisserie,</a> champagne marshmallows from the wonderfully named <a href="https://missmillars.com/" target="_blank">Miss Millar's Marvellous Marshmallows</a> (also a local supplier), a Bakewell inspired slice and the chewiest florentines I've ever had.</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Metrodeco isn't your fancy pants afternoon tea that you would find in some grand seafront hotel. It's a cosy, welcoming and bohemian little gem of a place where you'll get a warm greeting, great service and some super tasty treats. If afternoon tea isn't quite your thing, they also serve sandwiches, cream teas, cakes, pastries and cocktails.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://metro-deco.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Metrodeco</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">38 Upper St James Street,</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Brighton, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">01273 677243</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Afternoon tea (minimum 2 people) - £20 per person</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*we paid for our meal in full and I was not asked to review Metrodeco, I just wanted to share the afternoon tea love</span></span></div>
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</script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772525612879991342noreply@blogger.com59tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570792279278101367.post-37459038577072960612017-06-11T15:03:00.002+01:002017-06-11T15:08:57.346+01:00Gyoza Bar, Covent Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPs-lgs8x99vR6hRoRc8qp66WJI5_GEYMe9vvgy-UricqjGhlUeJZruI0wBdL75x5piZZ8VeXsR8S-H0H_GLszw-rU5ApDGvmQJAHlGmNx_RdY-KGezLsziNBdkr47WMFyP-m60uuw3MU/s640/blogger-image-980520490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPs-lgs8x99vR6hRoRc8qp66WJI5_GEYMe9vvgy-UricqjGhlUeJZruI0wBdL75x5piZZ8VeXsR8S-H0H_GLszw-rU5ApDGvmQJAHlGmNx_RdY-KGezLsziNBdkr47WMFyP-m60uuw3MU/s640/blogger-image-980520490.jpg" width="560" alt="Gyoza Bar, Covent Garden review - a small menu of gyoza, bar and ramen can be found in the heart of Covent Garden" /></a></div>
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You know when you've been Instagram stalking somewhere because you have an unconditional love for gyoza and they are always posting porn-ish pictures of their dumplings? I found <a href="http://gyozabar.uk/" target="_blank">Gyoza Bar</a> when I was looking for somewhere to get some lunch before my <a href="http://www.meandmrjones.co.uk/2017/03/spun-candy-masterclass.html" target="_blank">candy making class</a> but alas, the class was in a completely different area to where I though it was so didn't get to visit.</div>
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That is until I semi took control over where two primary school pals and I were going to meet...</div>
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I keep in touch with these two friends on Facebook and although I'm terrible at texting or sending regular messages to them, when we meet up it's as if no time has passed at all. We just seem to start off the conversations from where we left off last time which I think is so special and love it!</div>
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C moved to the States shortly after getting married but was back in the country with some free time so me, C and H arranged to meet for drinks and some grub. The drinks were drinks - we covered every topic under the sun, set the world right and then gossiped some more so were huuuuuungry! I'd already suggested Gyoza Bar as somewhere to go for food and knowing that the pub we were in wasn't too far, I suggested it again. I'm pushy when it comes to gyoza. Not sorry at all for that.</div>
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It's very well located if you're in the Covent Garden area but very small so blink and you might miss it! </div>
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There's nothing fancy about this place - everything is very simple but simple in a clean cut, no nonsense way, if you know what I mean.</div>
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Even ordering food is pretty straight forward - the menu just focuses on gyoza, small plates and ramen so there's not to much to mull over and once you've decided what you fancy you just tick the boxes!</div>
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The gyoza are exactly how I love mine cooked - fried so they're golden brown and slightly crispy on the bottom and then steamed so the dough is soft on top. I love that they are served in teeny tiny little cast iron skillets, so cute!</div>
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The pork dumplings were some of the best I've had to date - nice, smooth pork (no sign of gristle that you sometimes get in mass produced gyoza) and a zingy garlic vinegar and soy dipping sauce.</div>
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Next up was the massive vegetable ramen. Seriously, it was epic and a case of "eyes bigger than my stomach". Next time I'd probably want to share it with someone...<br />
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I sometimes find the broth in ramen is either bland or too salty and don't often come across a broth that is just right for me but the broth at Gyoza Bar got double thumbs up. The combination of the inari tofu, kikurage mushrooms, nori, broccoli and spring onions was well balanced with the broth nd noodles and somehow I managed to slurp my way through the whole damn thing. By the way, has anyone got any top tips on how to eat ramen without it ending up all over your chin/splashing across the table?!</div>
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There were options for dessert but old greedy guts here didn't have any gaps left for the cheesecake or fried ice cream...shame because I love some fried ice cream! </div>
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The laid back atmosphere made Gyoza Bar the perfect place to catch up with dear old friends - food came out when it was ready and didn't feel pressure to eat quickly (so had plenty of time for more gossiping!).</div>
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<a href="http://gyozabar.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Gyoza Bar</span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">63-66 St Martins Lane </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">London</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">WC2N 4JS</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Pork Gyoza (6 pieces) - £5.50</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Vegetable Ramen - £8.50</span><br />
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<span style="colour: #999999; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: x-small;">*we paid for our meal in full and I was not asked to review Gyoza Bar, I just wanted to share the gyoza love</span>
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</script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772525612879991342noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570792279278101367.post-73055308878236287132017-05-13T19:49:00.003+01:002017-08-19T14:08:24.158+01:00Birthday Adventures aka Best Day of my Life!<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_f7FBYEVTUfoCSEKc3Z74vIgvj17F7ikMkZ4BAXMvEg45zL1NV3LS-DEdIHeWARZwHDItV2mKZtFiGiXgz2ARTnppt2qE2A9XAbT6oHcBrio209vLYjVT9Cr1Hfps_8xYwQz-EfkGyY/s640/blogger-image-73193099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Birthday adventures in London - a trip to a cat cafe in Shoreditch, Don Juan in Soho at the Wyndhams Theatre and finally, Moulin Rouge at Secret Cinema." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_f7FBYEVTUfoCSEKc3Z74vIgvj17F7ikMkZ4BAXMvEg45zL1NV3LS-DEdIHeWARZwHDItV2mKZtFiGiXgz2ARTnppt2qE2A9XAbT6oHcBrio209vLYjVT9Cr1Hfps_8xYwQz-EfkGyY/s640/blogger-image-73193099.jpg" width="560" /></a>
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Boy, oh boy have I had the best birthday, no, DAY of my life! </div>
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Mr Jones is ridiculously good at present buying and always manages to find me the perfect things no matter how small or large - a book he thinks I'd love from a charity shop, a candy making class, a beautiful necklace...I was particularly excited for my birthday this year after he emailed me a detailed itinerary with three adventures involving three of my favourite things and an intriguing "costume change" at the end of the day. Yes, I had an itinerary for my birthday. We love a good itinerary.</div>
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But I was stumped. A day with three of my favourite things? Hell, I couldn't even think of three of my favourite things (except kittens, that's a given!). What on earth would I be doing?!</div>
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The day arrived and I was still clueless as to what we'd be doing for the day. All I knew was that we were starting the day with a trip to the local greasy spoon. A birthday princess needs fuel for a day of adventuring, right?!</div>
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Food consumed, train boarded and it was time for my first "briefing"...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXk_IgcSFu1nr-t-7an9rnsLojARJ0-Px1gGOtrIhUa4sHgp6SEsfXjmIolZUd1z_qvlyEMz6i2DJZZWwDyLuaNjsesLX8-1VEcPm8RrNk4e84vUI6ws_xdbMss0Jhyy1r9lfZUj1-HgU/s640/blogger-image--2028613071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Birthday adventures in London - a trip to a cat cafe in Shoreditch, Don Juan in Soho at the Wyndhams Theatre and finally, Moulin Rouge at Secret Cinema." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXk_IgcSFu1nr-t-7an9rnsLojARJ0-Px1gGOtrIhUa4sHgp6SEsfXjmIolZUd1z_qvlyEMz6i2DJZZWwDyLuaNjsesLX8-1VEcPm8RrNk4e84vUI6ws_xdbMss0Jhyy1r9lfZUj1-HgU/s640/blogger-image--2028613071.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6uoD6sa4bSXsNzxPZ2Qm16RiSU3GUNL9SBTH7XnjPsKjCH_7rl6LFVBYI7iiEtnPxKMEdeuOHhWUasukKGjcNFuhyoqbE3T08RUzKCfuwTFLag9Zcn1DMDy3PCrxRSasWqg1nhM_IDp0/s640/blogger-image-1121559521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Birthday adventures in London - a trip to a cat cafe in Shoreditch, Don Juan in Soho at the Wyndhams Theatre and finally, Moulin Rouge at Secret Cinema." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6uoD6sa4bSXsNzxPZ2Qm16RiSU3GUNL9SBTH7XnjPsKjCH_7rl6LFVBYI7iiEtnPxKMEdeuOHhWUasukKGjcNFuhyoqbE3T08RUzKCfuwTFLag9Zcn1DMDy3PCrxRSasWqg1nhM_IDp0/s640/blogger-image-1121559521.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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Whaaaaaaaaat?!?! <a href="http://www.londoncatvillage.com/" target="_blank">Cat cafe</a>?! Yes! I've wanted to go to one for aaaaaaages!</div>
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We took a wander from Old Street station then down some very "Shoreditch" lanes and then all of a sudden - cats!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjssgIlVrNOnKVAe_QBq4lHozit-0ik_ZBcbZp11P59YRUVXAaoi9RRCAWpAQh__WsMYxEP-RYjuytamG0fNmR2jlQRT4cwdxGzEHRLjkPe23aTLlxJxy_zwmcElduL7aRE5iIfX3AEw/s640/blogger-image--1165351498.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Birthday adventures in London - a trip to a cat cafe in Shoreditch, Don Juan in Soho at the Wyndhams Theatre and finally, Moulin Rouge at Secret Cinema." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjssgIlVrNOnKVAe_QBq4lHozit-0ik_ZBcbZp11P59YRUVXAaoi9RRCAWpAQh__WsMYxEP-RYjuytamG0fNmR2jlQRT4cwdxGzEHRLjkPe23aTLlxJxy_zwmcElduL7aRE5iIfX3AEw/s640/blogger-image--1165351498.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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Mr Jones made it quite clear that I was not allowed to take one home which was just rude considering it was my birthday but to be fair, I don't think I actually had enough space in my bag for all of them.<br />
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Before we got to eat cake and hang out with furry friends we had to take off our shoes and sanitise our hands. We were then led downstairs past a giant cat tree to our table which was made out of a giant slice of tree trunk.<br />
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This is Misty - she wanted to join in the birthday celebrations as well...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2P3JSzqqKFwC-hebb780WYjGA3xbpjafRDC-Qiv5MkL7eP2V7Y-gMzFL3hHL14TfZtthvGHLUio43JRZwz2PM0t52INRRb-GHqmDWZEA-c1a_X7YwNmQ73TuZU4uF6QOv8khtYb3qXY/s640/blogger-image--644251354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Birthday adventures in London - a trip to a cat cafe in Shoreditch, Don Juan in Soho at the Wyndhams Theatre and finally, Moulin Rouge at Secret Cinema." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2P3JSzqqKFwC-hebb780WYjGA3xbpjafRDC-Qiv5MkL7eP2V7Y-gMzFL3hHL14TfZtthvGHLUio43JRZwz2PM0t52INRRb-GHqmDWZEA-c1a_X7YwNmQ73TuZU4uF6QOv8khtYb3qXY/s640/blogger-image--644251354.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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The kitties had a "safe spot" which is where they can go and nap in peace without pesky humans bothering them. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsWDil-Ou_5JTGxYm6teOhCZxiObwJFgB-fqg2K68fB0KRvJpm3uRqGncd2rsSXifwQ7XjPUoMsQBcoALM-q6XDEhIio0Lz1M4QNrHp1w_odfdNX_qcB619R2lVzagUayBmFwGvV1A9U/s640/blogger-image--926664483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Birthday adventures in London - a trip to a cat cafe in Shoreditch, Don Juan in Soho at the Wyndhams Theatre and finally, Moulin Rouge at Secret Cinema." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsWDil-Ou_5JTGxYm6teOhCZxiObwJFgB-fqg2K68fB0KRvJpm3uRqGncd2rsSXifwQ7XjPUoMsQBcoALM-q6XDEhIio0Lz1M4QNrHp1w_odfdNX_qcB619R2lVzagUayBmFwGvV1A9U/s640/blogger-image--926664483.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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We had another visitor who rudely tried to steal some of my "Unicorns are Real" cake which was rich and sweet and massive and sooooo good with the chai tea latte I ordered so don't blame the attempted theft...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7djZFqo3yAjzCtWZL_sRFGlkNNkkS2FkzjDkOcImk8i7BrQdZ4FOhqxr7bo5Q9KuDnYaln0ODE_3Ll1od8TW5nHoBRFOKYGgqEWDZWzIIo-OYezZP9A-48XcFLDuR7YWuVs2_fH_X4d0/s640/blogger-image-796879241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Birthday adventures in London - a trip to a cat cafe in Shoreditch, Don Juan in Soho at the Wyndhams Theatre and finally, Moulin Rouge at Secret Cinema." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7djZFqo3yAjzCtWZL_sRFGlkNNkkS2FkzjDkOcImk8i7BrQdZ4FOhqxr7bo5Q9KuDnYaln0ODE_3Ll1od8TW5nHoBRFOKYGgqEWDZWzIIo-OYezZP9A-48XcFLDuR7YWuVs2_fH_X4d0/s640/blogger-image-796879241.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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It was so much fun watching the cats come and go, stroking them as they passed and then getting cat envy when one went and sat on the lap of the guy sitting behind us. Mind you, I did have a pretty full on cat experience when I visited the facilities. Having two kitties at home I'm completely used to not being able to go to the toilet without a cat wanting to come into the bathroom but have to say it was quite the experience to have two very friendly cats in a strange loo wanting to make friends! The crazy cat lady in me was pretty chuffed though.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTqlUDt5ey3oOu11Q2gdymENlv3sHp40fEtrO9sCWpvJviQvi9DobqVFFEr2m5MPYubaNeUaJivqKw1_ivovbUyRiWzCPwOglfk6vle2y8OkYtGJhSytW95VMkmMkE7yI6ElBszxhD6I/s640/blogger-image--1181440872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Birthday adventures in London - a trip to a cat cafe in Shoreditch, Don Juan in Soho at the Wyndhams Theatre and finally, Moulin Rouge at Secret Cinema." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTqlUDt5ey3oOu11Q2gdymENlv3sHp40fEtrO9sCWpvJviQvi9DobqVFFEr2m5MPYubaNeUaJivqKw1_ivovbUyRiWzCPwOglfk6vle2y8OkYtGJhSytW95VMkmMkE7yI6ElBszxhD6I/s640/blogger-image--1181440872.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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With our hour finished at the cafe it was time to move on to the next "briefing".</div>
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Still completely unaware of what was coming, I followed Mr Jones to Covent Garden where we stopped for a refreshing pint.</div>
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And then came adventure 2...</div>
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Oh. My. God. I was going to be in the same room as David Tennant! Ok, I'd be watching him play the title character in "Don Juan in Soho" but <i>I was going to be in the same room as David Tennant</i>!!! I was *this* close to having a bit of a happy sob if I'm totally honest.</div>
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Having only been to the theatre once before I wasn't really sure what to expect but what a beautiful place Wyndhams Theatre was! The seats were awesome and it gave us a perfect view of the stage. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_qr3o8AxbA1SqZMNE6T8u5xCec2jP_KiwEHQGa_8EU47hLggfJgbBiImcucOqqnXgxBfH3IOSM4KXHltUXciREnAu7XumTcStq3v9foKHCOgdIIkaElkj5DUb5AbRpY9Rq1Lo0nzlSI/s640/blogger-image-1305575439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Birthday adventures in London - a trip to a cat cafe in Shoreditch, Don Juan in Soho at the Wyndhams Theatre and finally, Moulin Rouge at Secret Cinema." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_qr3o8AxbA1SqZMNE6T8u5xCec2jP_KiwEHQGa_8EU47hLggfJgbBiImcucOqqnXgxBfH3IOSM4KXHltUXciREnAu7XumTcStq3v9foKHCOgdIIkaElkj5DUb5AbRpY9Rq1Lo0nzlSI/s640/blogger-image-1305575439.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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The play was absolutely brilliant - funny, lively and very naughty - and it was David Tennant as I've never seen him before (I saw his pants). I loved it so much I'm considering going back to see it again before it closes...</div>
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On an utter high, I was then taken to the next and final "briefing". Mr Jones took me to a pub and said to order some drinks, he just needed to go and collect something. That something was the mystery costume change.</div>
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When he returned 10 minutes later with a bag, he asked me if I wanted to change first or find out where we were going first. Considering I'd be changing in the loos and then walking back through the pub, I wanted to get an inkling of what I would actually be emerging in.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgQ5uRY0I8fHMnuc9WowalUS11-TCdiTnSEWLMx9TGQRAQXyEdBvzcP-8czbTeyKiBiEWtwLzVdTuAdbnn9VdlVRIS5xIj_30xQRxPVtX8bQrQUPbT1G1fW5R7DJfF8BkpYl_DptlQTE/s640/blogger-image--1848167697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Birthday adventures in London - a trip to a cat cafe in Shoreditch, Don Juan in Soho at the Wyndhams Theatre and finally, Moulin Rouge at Secret Cinema." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgQ5uRY0I8fHMnuc9WowalUS11-TCdiTnSEWLMx9TGQRAQXyEdBvzcP-8czbTeyKiBiEWtwLzVdTuAdbnn9VdlVRIS5xIj_30xQRxPVtX8bQrQUPbT1G1fW5R7DJfF8BkpYl_DptlQTE/s640/blogger-image--1848167697.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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And so the final briefing was...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLniIslaM3WRTt72tbyqMDqn3LIiNFW1QoDX9AUc6ox3t4z07vNdtQsso_wLcrmtGXVMtXP3Pu0W4D0UhZJCy1C13pX_M9tKTYgK_cOwlF4H-hzKUgKyUK6KtSfl7R2pNdUWkY2DQFf58/s640/blogger-image--1793954072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Birthday adventures in London - a trip to a cat cafe in Shoreditch, Don Juan in Soho at the Wyndhams Theatre and finally, Moulin Rouge at Secret Cinema." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLniIslaM3WRTt72tbyqMDqn3LIiNFW1QoDX9AUc6ox3t4z07vNdtQsso_wLcrmtGXVMtXP3Pu0W4D0UhZJCy1C13pX_M9tKTYgK_cOwlF4H-hzKUgKyUK6KtSfl7R2pNdUWkY2DQFf58/s640/blogger-image--1793954072.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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And don't you think he did an excellent job getting the costume together?! He even secretly got my mum and sis involved to help out and everything was planned down to the tiniest of detail!<br />
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I'm so glad we were in a city like London because at first I felt really self conscious sitting on the tube wearing the outfit but no one batted an eye and I quickly embraced the new Moulin Rouge me!</div>
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I hadn't known anything about <a href="https://www.secretcinema.org/" target="_blank">Secret Cinema</a> before so really had no idea what to expect or even what was going to happen. I assumed it was sort of a Moulin Rouge sing-along with everyone in costume watching the film but it was so, so, so, SO, much more. I would love to rave about every single detail and thing but the absinthe fairy swore me to secrecy. All I <i>can</i> say is that once we walked down the steps of the Metropolitan we were transported to 1899 Montmartre, we drank champagne, danced like loons, sung as loud as our lungs would let us and I haven't stopped smiling since...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuNWgKL-ljn23ANRP3hJev7Nq3jVunmBNkKXvvlBfjCJkp95IZbVLXwC6z-Tmna44oYQSujgO2ipMa1IM7P419C3tCKDt4eUYhsc7y71NWynFrF5bXtwEvWcXwz3libG9E-aPWkuKUN0/s640/blogger-image-1991780163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Birthday adventures in London - a trip to a cat cafe in Shoreditch, Don Juan in Soho at the Wyndhams Theatre and finally, Moulin Rouge at Secret Cinema." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuNWgKL-ljn23ANRP3hJev7Nq3jVunmBNkKXvvlBfjCJkp95IZbVLXwC6z-Tmna44oYQSujgO2ipMa1IM7P419C3tCKDt4eUYhsc7y71NWynFrF5bXtwEvWcXwz3libG9E-aPWkuKUN0/s640/blogger-image-1991780163.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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Mr Jones, you did good. You're my hero for planning such a stunning, spectacular and special day for me - love you!
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What a beautiful month! Spring is my favourite time of year - flowers are blooming, the sun is out (but not so warm that I start to melt) and everyone seems to be more cheerful than in the gloomy winter months.<br />
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After living in Twickenham for just about a year and a half, I finally went to my first rugby game! I was lucky enough to watch the Harlequins vs Newcastle Falcons from the comfort of one of the boxes (thank you Mr Jones' job!) which was a real treat - a proper dining table, delicious buffet and plenty of wine! The wine and food was a bit of a distraction but I managed to sit through the first half of the game. I still don't really understand how it works though...<br />
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I was also super lucky to have dinner for the second time at Hakkasan in Mayfair and I was just as impressed with the whole experience as I was the first time. All I have to say is "sea bass" - read all about it <a href="http://www.meandmrjones.co.uk/2017/03/review-hakkasan-mayfair.html" target="_blank">here</a>!<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6570792279278101367" name="more"></a><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Food</b> </span>- without a doubt, the entire meal at <a href="http://www.meandmrjones.co.uk/2017/03/review-hakkasan-mayfair.html" target="_blank">Hakkasan</a>. I mean, gold leaf on the dim sum? And sea bass that I will probably still be talking about a year later? It was pretty special!</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Film</span></b> -I wasn't bowled over by the description in Netflix but the ratings were pretty high so had to give it a chance - <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2452386/" target="_blank">"The Fundamentals of Caring"</a>. I loved the humour and it was an all-round touching story!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Music</b></span> - I'm back listening to Richard Ashcroft on repeat...my favourite at the moment is "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMjgA_EslBY" target="_blank">Hold On</a>" from his new album.
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You know a restaurant is good when you're still raving about one of their dishes over a year since you last visited (Chilean sea bass...). So when an invite popped up in my work inbox and I saw the magical word "<a href="http://hakkasan.com/locations/hakkasan-mayfair" target="_blank">Hakkasan</a>", I instantly opened the attached menu, scanned down the set meals and hurrah! Sea bass! Invitation accepted!<br />
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Hakkasan was founded in London in London in 2001 and there are now 13 locations dotted around the globe (maybe next time we can go to the one in Vegas?!). I visited the Mayfair restaurant which was opened in 2010 and has been awarded a Michelin star every year since 2012.</div>
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A post shared by Laura @ Me & Mr Jones (@lauraeclupton) on <time datetime="2017-03-15T19:09:11+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Mar 15, 2017 at 12:09pm PDT</time></div>
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Things inside the restaurant hadn't changed since last year - the long corridor with the coat check desk, the musky incense burning at the top of the stairs with the trip water-like projection which leads down to the dark and moody dining room (hence the dark and moody photos)...</div>
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Obviously the extensive cocktail menu needed to be tested so I ordered The Hakka. Very coconutty with a hint of lime and lychee and a refreshing way to start the meal.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dPuKpCmZ8PoAS6GiqwYXHMMxH1zZjOMET7t4CPe15_1Mzy2pYd1fymMI1J78Z7lTCBwO_Oz-EESLW-dGBeHiqHgTmrY9YSi8ac7gbWnRBdYu2Phojf6mF16A5oGPAz0H0CePGoFPsQA/s640/blogger-image--1503030031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dim sum at Hakkasan, Mayfair - Lychee and lobster, abalone with caviar, King crab, dover sole with black truffle." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dPuKpCmZ8PoAS6GiqwYXHMMxH1zZjOMET7t4CPe15_1Mzy2pYd1fymMI1J78Z7lTCBwO_Oz-EESLW-dGBeHiqHgTmrY9YSi8ac7gbWnRBdYu2Phojf6mF16A5oGPAz0H0CePGoFPsQA/s640/blogger-image--1503030031.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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Then came the food, oh the food...as there were 5 of us, we ate from their signature menu which is designed for groups of two or more to share. There are various signature menus which are priced between £58 and £128 per person and have a variety of vegetarian, fish and meat dishes to choose from.</div>
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Our meal started with some crispy squid and dim sum. Aren't the colours just amazing?! Lychee and lobster, abalone with caviar, King crab, dover sole with black truffle...perfectly steamed and so pretty to look at. Yes, that's gold leaf.<br />
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<img alt="Hakkasan, Mayfair (Bruton Street) - a review of the second Hakkasan restaurant to open in London. Michelin star cantonese cuisine." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiScyrWbkDLEBL9KLCZL0DVuRcWehYReRuGQF2G4rzXzbvCGyXksfQCa4I4FSNVtV7eDKux948jKXwLQcPupBgtOw2uwlUQG_YmZ_67T5ALkDnkU9XxawqVpCVUakRg2XRCxeoeMrke7bI/s640/blogger-image--1097592949.jpg" width="560" /><br />
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The meal seamlessly transitioned from dim sum to the main event (the service at Hakkasan is outstanding, by the way).</div>
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I love that they bring you several dishes and everyone can help themselves to whatever they fancy. First to arrive, Mongolian style lamb chops. I don't think I've ever had lamb so tender and the sticky sauce was smoky and rich.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhec7rKRwDi9UFzvm_BB8Ns7NJFXMlLhD-mP4ZuPqBqw2HNyo2hr9YmCUR1HXXtP_cKumTsytyBl1LWRPaMXkm8VVQn7YOPZLjbPLbEzdgDl6BCt9LT4NAUrTHof1fd68S6Y3T3FATrrw/s640/blogger-image-1347858936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Chilean sea bass at Hakkasan, Mayfair" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhec7rKRwDi9UFzvm_BB8Ns7NJFXMlLhD-mP4ZuPqBqw2HNyo2hr9YmCUR1HXXtP_cKumTsytyBl1LWRPaMXkm8VVQn7YOPZLjbPLbEzdgDl6BCt9LT4NAUrTHof1fd68S6Y3T3FATrrw/s640/blogger-image-1347858936.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNZpqji_q46HqAAvrGLYYHcavGkjvt1ts0Hnno2ctYZJ63B4Jjr_dCrTlcyD0VDu5B7fjUXXurBpJIUNBCxzGbY9mnm-3vyfKd7u2dNTLz8IHWqWnRRYbXHt7QKy8TQ3nkDh4X9qL4NE/s640/blogger-image--1015269224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hakkasan, Mayfair (Bruton Street) - a review of the second Hakkasan restaurant to open in London. Michelin star cantonese cuisine." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNZpqji_q46HqAAvrGLYYHcavGkjvt1ts0Hnno2ctYZJ63B4Jjr_dCrTlcyD0VDu5B7fjUXXurBpJIUNBCxzGbY9mnm-3vyfKd7u2dNTLz8IHWqWnRRYbXHt7QKy8TQ3nkDh4X9qL4NE/s640/blogger-image--1015269224.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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Right. Let's just take a moment to gaze adoringly at the sea bass. It wasn't the same as the one I had <a href="http://www.meandmrjones.co.uk/2016/01/mayfair-cartizze-hakkasan.html" target="_blank">last year</a> as this came with a gorgeous buttery honey sauce but look at how beautiful this piece of fish is! It tasted delicious, had the perfect texture and went really well with the garlicky asparagus we were also served.<br />
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Also served (but missing photographic evidence) was a seafood dish (which I gave a miss as I was pretty much done with seafood after the dim sum and bass) and some stunning duck which had strips of crispy skin - amazing!<br />
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<img alt="Hakkasan, Mayfair (Bruton Street) - a review of the second Hakkasan restaurant to open in London. Michelin star cantonese cuisine." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FCZfUC_Y1PsE20NK-sVqkhgSqg2_1QueEa5zaWWXrSzIi2tHyCqeQecpcfkAr5tlO8StnsRXsOWlr9j2ayZFMzVYdrLGGeuTTE4UxbF-aiLI-nTEqQrs0ztrrmyDVFz7xvCrCwrV4hY/s640/blogger-image--1257018925.jpg" width="560" /></div>
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A chocolate and olive oil ganache finished off the meal. It was very rich and fudgy so the raspberry sorbet was nice to have on the side. I'm not sure the candied dried olives were really needed as to me (and most of the other people at the table) they did not taste very nice at all...<br />
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Hakkasan delivered everything you would expect from a Michelin starred Cantonese restaurant - quality ingredients, excellent service and a really special atmosphere. Oh, and the best sea bass in the universe which I will undoubtably be still going on about next year!<br />
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<a href="http://hakkasan.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Hakkasan</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">17 Bruton St,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">London</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">W1J 6QB</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><a dir="ltr" href="tel:020%207907%201888" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" x-apple-data-detectors-type="telephone" x-apple-data-detectors="true">020 7907 1888</a></span>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><a dir="ltr" href="tel:020%207907%201888" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" x-apple-data-detectors-type="telephone" x-apple-data-detectors="true"><br /></a></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><a dir="ltr" href="tel:020%207907%201888" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" x-apple-data-detectors-type="telephone" x-apple-data-detectors="true"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: x-small;">*our meal was paid for in full and I was not asked to review Hakkasan but my opinions of the place are all mine and entirely entirely true!</span></a></span>
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The sun has got his hat on, the daffs are in full bloom and the shops are full of Mini Eggs - spring is here!<br />
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February wasn't too busy a month for me (I'm still claiming to be recovering from the busy nightmare at work that was Christmas) but managed to fit in a few fun things - <a href="http://www.meandmrjones.co.uk/2017/02/review-giggling-squid-berkhamsted.html" target="_blank">Thai food</a> with my pal Loulou, a <a href="http://www.meandmrjones.co.uk/2017/03/spun-candy-masterclass.html" target="_blank">candy making</a> masterclass and taking part in <a href="http://www.auntpeaches.com/" target="_blank">Aunt Peaches</a>' final Valentine Swap (it was so lovely to get a little crafty and to receive snail mail!).<br />
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How was your February?<br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Food</b> </span>-Agedashi tofu at <a href="http://www.fengsushi.co.uk/london-locations/southbank/" target="_blank">Feng Sushi</a>. To be fair, I could eat agedashi tofu every single day with the mix of sweet miring, salty soy sauce and umami packed dash and I have tried quite a few versions of this but the one I had at Feng Sushi just before my candy masterclass was definitely one of my favourites!<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Film</span></b> - As a big Roald Dahl fan I'm always a little wary of his wonderful stories being made into films but "<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00H368TBQ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B00H368TBQ&linkCode=as2&tag=mmj0e-21" target="_blank">Fantastic Mr Fox</a>" didn't disappoint me. It was charming, funny and I think it really did the original story justice.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Music</b></span> - "<a href="https://youtu.be/XQl5KYiiFDI" target="_blank">Magnificent (She Says)</a>" by Elbow<br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Book</b></span> - I've been really bad this month with my reading challenge...I've not finished a single book this month :/<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Product </span></b>- shhhhh...don't tell anyone but "Best Kept Secret" from <a href="https://www.urcheeky.com/" target="_blank">Cheeky Nails</a> is my absolute favourite "nude" colour. It's a really good colour on my skin tone and lasts forever! I had one of Cheeky's advent calendars over Christmas and it was an utter delight to see what fab colour was waiting behind the door each day! There are so many colours that I loved but have found that Best Kept Secret is the one I've been using the most.
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Mr Jones is a most excellent present buyer so when I opened an envelope on my birthday, a candy making class at <a href="https://www.spun-candy.com/" target="_blank">Spun Candy</a>, I was over the moon! I'm pretty good a cooking, I'm not so bad at baking but making candy?! One of the options was making candy flowers which to me was a no brainer (pretty AND edible!)! So fast forward 9 months to when I had some time booked off work, I found myself walking from Aldgate East station and into the sweetest smelling place I've ever been to! Is this what Willy Wonka's factory smelt like?!
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Spun Candy launched in 2013 and not only offer classes such as the flower making one I booked but also candy face making, a confectionery masterclass, parties AND they make bespoke sweeties for companies (the guy who taught me had been making chicken, curry and onion bhaji ones for a customer earlier in the day) AND they have a normal shop that you can buy their sweets from.<br />
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When I arrived ( had to restrain myself from eating everything in the shop at the front of the building), I was greeted by the lovely chap who was going to be teaching me all about sugar and sweets and we headed to the back of the shop. What's great is that you can see it all from the shop so if you were to pop in to pick up a bag of sweets, you can watch them in action (or me making my best effort to make sweets as good as them...)<br />
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First I was shown the [rather intimidating] pot of boiling water and sugar that would start to become my candy flowers once it hit the very specific temperature of 155C. <br />
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While the sugary lava was bubbling away I got to choose what flavour my sweets would be...Lime? Lemon? Rhubarb? Strawberry? (I could go through the whole list...there were a lot of flavours...) After having a sniff of most of the flavours I went for a combination pineapple, coconut and banana - perhaps not flavours you would associate with flowers but hey, it smelt amazing and why can't candy flower taste like a tropical island?!</div>
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Once the sugar had reached the right temperature, the flavouring was added, stirred and then the scalding mixture was poured into a metal frame on a granite surface. The cooler temperature of the granite allows you to mix in colours and slowly cool the sugar so it becomes a safe temperature to handle (with gloves).<br />
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I wanted my sweets to be red, pink, purple, blue and white so to start with the sugar mixture was coloured with red, white and blue and then once the base colours were properly mixed and kneaded, they were split up to make the pink and purple. I kind of got colour envy when the two little lads behind me were twisting rainbow coloured lumps of sugar into their own lollipops...</div>
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My first lesson was how to make sugar roses. I've never worked with any sort of thing like sugar before but once I got the hang of how the warm surface kept it pliable, how it stretches kind of like dough and how quickly it cools, I formed some petals and my roses started to take shape!</div>
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The chap who was teaching me said that the two hours I had for my lesson <i>could</i> be used just making flowers but it might start to feel like I was working on a production line so how about we make some lollipops? Yep! Let's do it! Strips of the coloured sugar were rolled out into sausages and then flattened. </div>
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White strips were put in-between the colours and then the whole thing was rolled around a giant sausage of white sugar. </div>
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Using skinny rolls of the sugar (kind of like bendy stick of rock), I made heart shaped, cat shaped, star shaped and even snail shaped lollipops. Oh, and not forgetting that MASSIVE lollipop in the picture at the top of the page. With a few rolls left over, I rolled them on the granite surface to cool and then holding the sticks on top of a metal block, chipped off little chunks that were a more mouth friendly size than the other lollipops.</div>
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I honestly had so much fun! Learning about how hard candy is made, learning how to work with and shape different types of sweets and an insight to how difficult it can be to get those little pictures inside hard candies. Not to mention the two bags laden with lollipops and flowers that travelled home on the tube with me...</div>
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If you're not lucky enough to be able to book your own masterclass, fear not! You can also buy their delicious sweets from their website or you can even have your own personalised sweets made for weddings, birthdays, valentines, ANY special occasion! </div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><a href="https://www.spun-candy.com/" target="_blank">Spun Candy</a></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">58 Wentworth Street, </span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">E1 7AL </span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><a dir="ltr" href="tel:020%207377%202419" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" x-apple-data-detectors-type="telephone" x-apple-data-detectors="true">020 7377 2419</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: small;">*this candy making masterclass was a fantastic gift from Mr Jones and this review of my visit is not in collaboration with Spun Candy. As always, my opinions are open and honest and entirely mine!</span></div>
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</script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772525612879991342noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570792279278101367.post-41514855750294129062017-02-25T14:33:00.001+00:002017-03-11T17:22:16.479+00:00Giggling Squid, Berkhamsted<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmep0h5tYDA_xkJbiPiqqW8cVPjxXyEsvaozY9JSOMndDCBUafQ_EDI71MSE2wBZx_4WBTPg2eJ-WsHXVE9KN1V_hPFpNRZVX9eRx6iE3AppFvJQ3wJ94KxY64PDfL6rHE_sSzoWObl8/s640/blogger-image--608386646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Giggling Squid, Berkhamsted - a review of the Berko branch of this Thai restaurant group." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmep0h5tYDA_xkJbiPiqqW8cVPjxXyEsvaozY9JSOMndDCBUafQ_EDI71MSE2wBZx_4WBTPg2eJ-WsHXVE9KN1V_hPFpNRZVX9eRx6iE3AppFvJQ3wJ94KxY64PDfL6rHE_sSzoWObl8/s640/blogger-image--608386646.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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A catch up with my favourite lady, Loulou, was LONG overdue so when some training for work was put in my diary in her neck of the woods I said "hey lady, let's go and eat food!". <a href="https://www.gigglingsquid.com/" target="_blank">The Giggling Squid</a> in Berkhamsted seemed like a good option as neither of us had visited yet, they had vegan-friendly options (Loulou) and Crohn's friendly options (me)...</div>
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Berkhamsted is such an old town and there are some real gems of buildings that are hundreds of years old. I guess with 20 branches of the Giggling Squid dotted around the country it would be considered a "chain" but when I entered the restaurant I was so pleased to see that they had managed to keep so many of the old features (exposed beams, low ceilings) but also created an airy and modern atmosphere.<br />
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I'd already studied the menu in great detail - I'm one of those people that takes forever to decide what I want so to spare my dining companions the painful wait while I make up my mind I tend to have a good read of what's available before I arrive. Their menu is one of the most fun menus I've read as most dishes have an anecdote which sets the scene for the meal or a cheeky little comment:<br />
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<i>"DIY BUNDLES
My husband hates DIY because he’s useless at it. But he does love DIY food. These bundles are fun to create and you can make them just how you like. You’ll be served with chopped tiger prawns, shallot, lime with skin on, peanut, lemongrass, chilli, salad leaves, mint and a hot and sour chilli, garlic dressing. Now enjoy bundling it all up in lovely wraps!"</i></blockquote>
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First up - starters! There weren't many vegan-friendly appetisers to choose from. Loulou went for the vegetable tempura which was a fairly substantial pile for a starter. The peppers, mushrooms, courgettes and beans were snuggled in a crisp tempura batter and served with a sweet chilli sauce.</div>
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I naturally chose the pork dumplings because, well, dumplings! The pastry was the perfect thickness and I really liked how the pork inside was so smooth plus look at how cute they are sitting in their own little spoons!</div>
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With the appetisers so tasty, we had high hopes for our main courses especially as other dishes were being delivered to the tables around us and they all looked and smelled delicious!</div>
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There were a fair few vegan options for main courses, Loulou picked the beautifully named Glorious Morning - leafy greens (ong choi), red chilli, garlic and oyster sauce (she did check that there would be no fishy sauce going in there). She also asked for tofu to be added which was £1 extra. The sauce was very flavourful but we both felt it was a little too salty.</div>
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I've been keeping most veg out of my diet due to fibre, skins, seeds, etc. not agreeing too much with my Crohn's disease so wanted something that wouldn't have too many, if any at all veg, but a tasty sauce. I picked the Pad Khing which had a mild sauce with ginger, spring onion and black mushrooms. Normally you would pick from having it served with chicken, prawns or vegetables but I asked if I could have it with tofu. The waiter asked if I wanted it with vegetables and I said no, thinking of the chicken/prawn/veggie options on the menu, I just wanted it with the tofu. I think there were some crossed wires about the veggies as when the dish came out it had nothing but tofu and ginger. Never mind! It was still delicious with the sauce gently flavoured with ginger but as with my friend's sauce, this was also a little too salty.<br />
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So the main dishes weren't the best I've ever had in a Thai restaurant but I judging by the other dishes that were whizzing around to other tables, it was probably down to what we chose. The appetisers were spot on and so wouldn't say no to another visit, especially when I'm ready to add a few more veggies into my diet! They also managed to give us the wrong bill which was almost double what ours was...apparently they swapped table numbers at some point through our meal?!<br />
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There are branches of Giggling Squid <a href="https://www.gigglingsquid.com/restaurant/" target="_blank">dotted around the country</a> so there's probably a branch near you - if you've been to one, I'd love to hear what you had and what you thought (and prove to me that they are indeed as good as their menu promises!)<br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><a href="https://www.gigglingsquid.com/" target="_blank">Giggling Squid</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">296-298 High Street,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Berkhamsted, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">HP4 1AH</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">01442 866 087</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Vegetable tempura - £5.50</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Pork dumplings - £6.65</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Glorious Morning - £7.95</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Pad Khing - from £8.50</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #999999;">*we paid for our meal in full, ourselves and were not asked to review Giggling Squid but my opinions of the place are all mine and entirely entirely true!</span></span>
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</script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772525612879991342noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570792279278101367.post-67121924517420854462017-02-12T13:28:00.003+00:002017-02-12T13:28:51.996+00:00What I Got Up To: January 2017Hey! How's your 2017 been so far? Work was utterly ridiculous in the run-up to Black Friday and "peak" (hashtag retail life) but I made it and it's been nice to be able to just have some time to take a breath and get back to "normal" (if there is such a thing in retail...).<br />
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Weekends have been mostly spent just relaxing on the sofa with a blanket and something entertaining on the telly. There has been an increase in cinema trips though because Mr Jones gave me the BEST present ever for Christmas, a <a href="https://www.odeon.co.uk/limitless/" target="_blank">Limitless</a> pass for Odeon cinemas which lets you go and see ALL the films as many times as you like, as often as you like.<br />
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I'm now in my third year of collecting a "photo a day" and am still *mostly* actually sticking to it. For me it's a really nice way of being able to look back over the last months/years and remembering what I've been doing, where I've been, what I've been eating, etc. <br />
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<b style="font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">January Favourites</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Food</b> </span>- not a specific meal BUT an excellent discovery...kid's meals. In particular, kid's meals from the local chippy. Why is this an excellent discovery? Well, even a small portion of cod and chips defeats me and it makes me sad but the kiddie portion is just right. And cheaper. Oh, and it comes in a cute box with a drink and activities :D<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Film</span></b> - even though we have watched quite a few films, both in the cinema and at home, T2 has to be my film of the month. Trainspotting is up there as one of my all time favourite films so naturally had to go and see what Renton, Sick Boy, Begbie and Spud had been up to over the last 20 years. Although I didn't think it was as good as the original, I did really enjoy it - the way it was filmed was excellent, the soundtrack saluted the original soundtrack nicely but was also very much 2017 and the ending was perfect!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Music</b></span> - sometimes you hear a song and instantly fall in love with it. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01C2RZE3G/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B01C2RZE3G&linkCode=as2&tag=mmj0e-21" target="_blank">"These People"</a> by Richard Ashcroft was one of these songs. I had it stuck in my head for most of the month and for once, I wasn't annoyed with my ear worm!<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BO9qNXXDtcI/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">New book for my #readingchallenge - not a girly book like the first two but a "psychological thriller", "Before I Go to Sleep". Thanks @xsenix for the recommendation AND the actual book! #read52in17 #read52in2017 #books #bookstagram #bookworm</a></div>
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A photo posted by Laura @ Me & Mr Jones (@lauraeclupton) on <time datetime="2017-01-07T12:38:16+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jan 7, 2017 at 4:38am PST</time></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Book</b></span> - <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1784160016/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1784160016&linkCode=as2&tag=mmj0e-21" target="_blank">"Before I Go to Sleep"</a> by SJ Watson. I could barely put this psychological thriller down! Christine loses her memories every time she goes to sleep so every morning she wakes up not knowing who she is, where she is, nothing. A doctor recommends she keeps a journal so as she writes in this every day she is able to piece together parts of her life. As I said, I found it hard to put this down and I don't want to spoil anything but the ending...wow.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Product</b></span> - I don't know why but got it into my head that I <strike>needed</strike> fancied a pillow mist, preferably something lavender-y but so many lavender sprays just smell like chemicals and toilet cleaner and not actually like lavender...Neal's Yard's <a href="http://www.nealsyardremedies.com/aromatherapy/aromatherapy-oils-and-blends/essential-oil-blends/0353.html#tab3" target="_blank">Goodnight Pillow Mist</a> has nailed it so treated myself to a bottle! It has a mild lavender scent (that actually smells like lavender!) which isn't overpowering and is so nice to drift off to sleep to.</div>
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</script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772525612879991342noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570792279278101367.post-60856640493778285502016-12-31T19:04:00.002+00:002017-01-01T17:54:41.171+00:00Blogger Identity Issues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">I'm having identity issues as a blogger</span></b></h2>
I'm a "food blogger". I slipped into that label not long after I started my blog as most of my posts were about food. I love food, I love cooking, I love visiting places that feed me and I love trying new things that are food related.<br />
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But I also like cats, candles, history, nail varnish, books, dresses, wine, films, technology, face creams, exploring London and napping. Not so much make up - I'm utterly rubbish at that.<br />
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I didn't set out with the idea to start this blog as a food blog.<br />
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I've been a "food blogger" for so long and felt that every post needs to be food related but I'm starting to feel it's really limiting me on what I post and how often I post. Lately I've been so busy with work that I can't even be bothered to make a meal from scratch, never mind coming up with a new recipe, taking pictures of it and writing about it. I've been a pretty crappy food blogger lately which is what made me think about what sort of blogger I want to actually be and why I want to do it.<br />
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<b style="font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">So here are my thoughts about my blog (and blogging in general)</span></b><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6570792279278101367" name="more"></a>I started this page back in 2011 as a sort of online diary. My grandad always kept diaries and wrote notes about things and observations and I wanted to do something like that for myself. When I wrote my first post back in 2011, my only intention was to do the same as my grandad but online rather than in notebooks.<br />
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Since then I kind of grew into being a food blogger, posting recipes for things I'd created. As time went on I realised my writing and photography needed some work so aimed to improve both but also enjoyed both very much.</div>
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I got wrapped up in the food part of it, I made some fairly delicious thing if I do say so myself. I was pretty good at posting new recipes on a regular basis and my photography went from "ugh" to "yeah, that's not too bad".<br />
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One of my first food posts from 2012...gyoza...really doesn't give one of my favourite foods justice...</div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1A-2PloxpIf5mX1BTsJa6vuxzrNfN-U5wwjrgjtyCrTSH-5nz1ftlTIvHyxwU_kLKzjnfjC6TJDyHIE1_hI3oQI0RreZODecSJcrF4da_5qlsNxCxcefBEHTg9wwofTv6-_zaM-VNmPE/s640/guacamole_recipe_3.jpg" width="560" /> </div>
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...to one of my more recent posts for another main food group, guacamole - photography still needs work but I'm proud of how I've improved so far.</div>
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Anyhoot, I'm now thinking back to my early blogging days and the reasons I started. Back in 2011 I don't think I understood what this whole blogging was or could turn into. For some it's a hobby, for others they can and have made a career out of it. I've made friends because of this blog, I've tried new foods and I've visited places I would have never been because of my little space on the internet. Thank you social media and internet!</div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">So what's going on for 2017?</span></h2>
2017 is going to be the year when I don't really want to fall into any blogging category or hashtag. I'm going to post about what I like and love, where I've been, what I'm doing...it's not about the hits or visits (although the number nerd in me does love a good stat, graph or pie chart!). I want to post because I simply enjoy writing and photography. I've missed not posting more frequently because I've not made a new dish. I don't want to limit myself from doing something I enjoy!<br />
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Blogging for me next year will be getting back to basics and what the term for blogging actually came from..."web logging", an online diary.<br />
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What are your blogging goals for 2017? Anyone else thinking about changing what they post about or their blogging style?</div>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BKNb_hvjz5J/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by Laura @ Me & Mr Jones (@lauraeclupton)</a> on <time datetime="2016-09-11T09:04:55+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Sep 11, 2016 at 2:04am PDT</time></div>
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Not normally one for New Years resolutions, I set myself a 2016 "challenge" rather than a resolution because I think that maybe the word "challenge" will make me more likely to do something...That challenge was to read 52 books in 2016. That's one a week for people who might be mathematically impaired like me...I thought this was a sensible goal as once I curl up with a book, I can easily fly through the whole thing in a day.<br />
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So how did I do?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGojUM-8On7Xd86Ojou4nW_hCNu3u4Q8wokgM_m46ETEbWM7WGQnmRQYS-6qgUwvDXEJLXGGJyer3sPBYaY7ifYH-oCKchstz3FGEV1zN6lcX7NuYlys0H8mxLNokzjt0PiL3DzZOYq9A/s640/blogger-image-187907762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGojUM-8On7Xd86Ojou4nW_hCNu3u4Q8wokgM_m46ETEbWM7WGQnmRQYS-6qgUwvDXEJLXGGJyer3sPBYaY7ifYH-oCKchstz3FGEV1zN6lcX7NuYlys0H8mxLNokzjt0PiL3DzZOYq9A/s640/blogger-image-187907762.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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I don't want to be hard on myself but come on, Laura! Just over half of the challenge?! </div>
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Not one to give up, I'm going to set myself the same challenge for 2017 and I AM going to read more and I AM going to smash my target. I'm stubborn like that.</div>
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I tried out a few apps to keep track of my reading challenge which might be helpful if you are thinking of setting yourself a reading challenge.<br />
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<img border="0" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxjXE1xw2zqcP9hsHJ1ElmsA10qYNvv8TzCMGEVOVyltXkLYWs-86nJE1UefpyGVQRUeSF_j9GZdvubDuEFhIVWxgHeTxk_odpvXC6_b0QV1pz-2GAMco6hBRVhsKLB7cX4aMZiKN76w/s320/blogger-image-1466023894.jpg" width="320" /><br />
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I'd been a member of the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> website for a while but had completely forgotten about it until I was looking for an app to track my reading. It's super easy to add books to your "shelves" by using the handy barcode scanner.<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNEemI3HEAnjUMO7xZGUZsF3eW2Vl3X95AXvTZo9E02eRm0NpIiHnFUgAeKnfUA34TaBBY0mBuVCruUGbzVeIQnP8tPo3fsjedeM0-9sNhMh1tkW8qgkd87tZiOyGCj9rSdHygt9nO_6U/s640/blogger-image-1384061769.jpg" style="text-align: center;" /></div>
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You can also keep a list of books you fancy reading.</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyXeO9Az4cXU8IVUpfxfwdVCEhLVpL9Xp-XnY_c6H0hkUY_Qi_6hrDx6f-Jsitmo0S5QL2rwso36DU9q7HHeGL-aEnf2pfVvzG12R6GsjG3lQi61kwrBVen-KQv_0zpXhXEf0y_izBlM/s640/blogger-image--365400798.jpg" /></div>
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Once you've added the book you've started reading you can update which page you're on and it will show you how far you are through the book.<br />
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When you've finished reading, you can award it stars and write a review.</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2kRfoN3g6XapF_FDEOJNSe4wQ2xfd88WokUTSuLtggcF1s0ETcT-i7H7H0g2Ui3ZvhyAJPU-Cbq8HljYb4oYiU8-Ri249TKDF7rWuFYXIeOGuaGHNdZNYHll01_HiYY7bBVSh2d26jk/s640/blogger-image-305673719.jpg" /></div>
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The app will keep track of how many books you've read for your challenge and you can even add friends and see how they're doing (and possibly cheer each other on or share book recommendations).<br />
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Goodreads is great if you want a simple app that keeps track of your books and can search other books that you might like but for me being the data and graph loving nerd I am, I would have liked more analysis around the books I read. Which leads me nicely on to the second app I tried...<br />
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<img border="0" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5Zx8znksSfRrniuagRZ2W9R0_M4nsqgz6lSahBPmWFVPoZQyjxsZm_4014QC4MbIkOwSb6DDyRxqF-Y_Q39iVfyZ_U3xfJylp77YiPgPfKrS7zPUtcDmiCA3nAwRLFkO9Rf3_VX2xjM/s320/blogger-image--2102645229.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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Like Goodreads, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/ireaditnow/id349773058?mt=8" target="_blank">iReadItNow</a> has a "scan" feature so you can easily add a book when you start reading it but I found that it's more geared towards bookworms in places that don't recognise too many UK ISBNs so had to mostly add my books manually.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_i87eLc7cYifFLogeuSaDM0q9fF55DRWt-k-0KQL8XC6st1KBY_lzooPedkofXr8v0aExDeRWFKMq2BBdzOGRWB1g_HsKJ-b3CfUQYy0M1rGU0AbFzQmmEOFasxQnhX2NjCjJgzoMhU/s640/blogger-image--186307604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_i87eLc7cYifFLogeuSaDM0q9fF55DRWt-k-0KQL8XC6st1KBY_lzooPedkofXr8v0aExDeRWFKMq2BBdzOGRWB1g_HsKJ-b3CfUQYy0M1rGU0AbFzQmmEOFasxQnhX2NjCjJgzoMhU/s640/blogger-image--186307604.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Books can be categorised into "read", "unread" and "wishlist"...I wasn't that organised when I used this app so my books are either "read" or just not on there.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">This app also allows you to keep track of what page you're on and rate the book once you've finished it.</span></div>
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This is where I prefer this app to Goodreads - there's a statistics page. I *heart* pie charts and graphs. On this page you can see how many books you've read by month, ratings over the last 7 days and the ratings distribution across the books you've read.<br />
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As I said, I preferred this app but only slightly. The downside to iReadItNow is that it's not got any way to track a specific reading goal.<br />
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<img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHgZD4SnBhm8TLcQDcm7DXZ2q2kp9bc3yqUQdvFWfRKXCrIgfHjUSDX_Td7XcLVAIEX3fENT0K-4WJim_Auv2Q_6Ou6Hhs9lHDXCQqo1f9oSUiyUeBwS0ky5KbrZfCwd_R7nPrrrSJ3DQ/s320/blogger-image--1698198951.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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I quite liked Booking at first as it was simple to use, pretty to look at, had a unicorn on it and was pretty good at keeping track of how I was getting on towards my reading goal. Then it deleted all of the books I'd logged. Not being childish or anything, I felt it only right to delete it back! </div>
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So what was my favourite read of the year? This one...<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BMtWIbij9RE/" style="colour: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">Perfect for a rainy Saturday morning read. Devoured "Me Before You" last Sunday so looking forward to getting stuck in to this! . . . . . #reading #bookstagram #bookworm #read52in16 #readingchallenge #book</span></a></div>
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A photo posted by Laura @ Me & Mr Jones (@lauraeclupton) on <time datetime="2016-11-12T11:32:11+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Nov 12, 2016 at 3:32am PST</time></div>
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Is anyone up for a "52 in 2017" challenge? I'll be using the hashtag #read52in2017 on twitter and Instagram so use the tag if you're going to give it a go, I'd love to see what you're reading!
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr7XpU0ONDnowBAmQEIfimKlOT-IpYngzzjORgpM_BVsbVSbdS2cXHwfjoD8JSKVVV0w8E1VRsXwXuRVyINQTNJqw-SUSt15ObY2tswG2YlGu-IlHK24_RR7jB_Ly1zJYQ66d8Z8TN6MU/s1600/pigs_in_duvets2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A twist on the classic Christmas pigs in blankets - chipolatas wrapped in streaky bacon snuggled with cranberry sauce in flaky pastry" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr7XpU0ONDnowBAmQEIfimKlOT-IpYngzzjORgpM_BVsbVSbdS2cXHwfjoD8JSKVVV0w8E1VRsXwXuRVyINQTNJqw-SUSt15ObY2tswG2YlGu-IlHK24_RR7jB_Ly1zJYQ66d8Z8TN6MU/s640/pigs_in_duvets2.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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Pigs in blankets are pretty special, right? What's not to love about mini sausages wrapped in bacon, aka "pigs in blankets". I'll tell you what - pigs in duvets. And not just pigs in duvets, pigs in duvets snuggled up with a cranberry sauce hot water bottle.<br />
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I had a lightbulb moment when I was dreaming back to last Christmas. We had some leftover pigs in blankets (what kind of monsters are we to have leftovers?!) and I made sandwiches with them and they were the best thing my tastebuds experienced that Christmas. Honestly, give it a go! Anyway, I was thinking about pig in blanket sammies and then I was also thinking about sausage rolls and then thought how amazing it would be to combine the two.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>It took me a little while to get the balance of baking right - first attempt ended with overdone pastry and underdone sausages but the second attempt was spot on. I admit now that I cheated completely as I not only used shop bought pastry but had pre-bacon wrapped chipolatas...if you're making these for yourself I think you'd probably be much better than me and have your own excellent recipe for flaky pastry and would actually be bothered to do that oh so difficult task of wrapping mini sausages with strips of bacon...<br />
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Here's what you need: to make 6 pigs in duvets:<br />
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- 6 chipolatas<br />
- 3 strips of smoked streaky bacon<br />
- 320g puff pastry (I used 1 sheet of <a href="https://www.jusrol.co.uk/products/light-puff-pastry-sheets" target="_blank">Jus-Rol puff pastry</a>)<br />
- 2-3 tablespoons cranberry sauce<br />
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Cut the bacon strips in half and wrap once around the chipolatas. I found that part-baking the chipolatas made sure that they were fully cooked after being wrapped in pastry without the pastry over-baking so baked them for about 10 minutes in a fan oven that was preheated to 200C.<br />
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While the piggies are baking, slice strips of the pastry (rolled to about 1 1/2mm thick) to the width of the sausages and long enough to wrap around the sausages once.<br />
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Spoon a little cranberry sauce in the middle of the pastry strips and once the sausages have been part baked, wrap them up in the pastry and return to the oven for around another 10 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxN-nwacA7okN55Z6aVlAbPgikpfD2jwwBvpSvW6_-d_t5pmOda_PcIx9R4VybWvacs2WyrqM22c66cJkEeOK3wd8Ynw3fytqAgV9M4S5jvJgfAEPYE1FfYj9bFMXWmfq1ClM1K4j1Je4/s1600/Pigs+inDuvets+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A twist on the classic Christmas pigs in blankets - chipolatas wrapped in streaky bacon snuggled with cranberry sauce in flaky pastry" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxN-nwacA7okN55Z6aVlAbPgikpfD2jwwBvpSvW6_-d_t5pmOda_PcIx9R4VybWvacs2WyrqM22c66cJkEeOK3wd8Ynw3fytqAgV9M4S5jvJgfAEPYE1FfYj9bFMXWmfq1ClM1K4j1Je4/s640/Pigs+inDuvets+%25281%2529.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVxbYDd_ZZrGfEXdwATfbVl2ynGyE3KY9IJxfMlSf8hyphenhyphen1z4ILpMP5HHMMuujh5n0W0uhWLBMohkAnU__9kOoQEXZQdd4Yg10VeYZnVTBzz-DVqIW8_Eg84FpwG6BB9P9OkyVmbZ8hcjY/s1600/assumption_abbey_fruitcake3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Assumption Abbey fruitcake - a rich, dense cake loaded with soaked fruits, nuts and spices made by Trappist monks in Ava, Missouri" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVxbYDd_ZZrGfEXdwATfbVl2ynGyE3KY9IJxfMlSf8hyphenhyphen1z4ILpMP5HHMMuujh5n0W0uhWLBMohkAnU__9kOoQEXZQdd4Yg10VeYZnVTBzz-DVqIW8_Eg84FpwG6BB9P9OkyVmbZ8hcjY/s640/assumption_abbey_fruitcake3.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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It seems as though most people, especially avid bakers, have their "go to" traditional recipe for Christmas fruitcake. Not this family. We don't want to spend hours in the kitchen soaking fruits, baking, sloshing alcohol over a cake at regular intervals or anything like that. This family gets their Christmas fruitcake baked by monks. When I say "we", I mean my mum and this is all about her <strike>obsession</strike> newish tradition of getting a 2lb fruitcake from <a href="http://www.assumptionabbey.org/fruitcakes.asp" target="_blank">Assumption Abbey</a>.<br />
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Now you may think that the monks are baking a cake especially for my mum but this isn't the case - they bake around 25,000 a year! My mum loves their cakes so much that I'd like to think they can sense that when her yearly order comes through and when it's time to top the cake being sent to her with fruit and nuts that they add a little extra love to it.<br />
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So what's the big deal about these monk-made fruitcakes? Well, besides them baking (and selling out of) around 25,000 cakes a year without a single penny going to marketing or advertising, the baking, packaging and posting of the cakes is all done right there at the <a href="http://www.assumptionabbey.org/" target="_blank">abbey</a> in Ava, Missouri. The profit from the cakes supports the costs of living for the monks as well as running costs of the abbey. What's also kind of a big deal is how delicious the cakes actually are. I've read so many glowing reviews for them online and having tried the cakes myself can totally vouch for how good they are (particularly with Bird's custard...).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1fdw9g9qqVl8eoLYJZ8ISmGri-YxYAmThso-i4x67mnzrnWfPa5EEWh0E7Rq5PxpZ9p6S9bmQBmmIvXDBujAvvsFfk9EIsNvAqMW2YbEGCnQNZXLfN6RnrR-XipYUuez-xTLk0pSHvk/s1600/assumption_abbey_fruitcake6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Assumption Abbey fruitcake - a rich, dense cake loaded with soaked fruits, nuts and spices made by Trappist monks in Ava, Missouri" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1fdw9g9qqVl8eoLYJZ8ISmGri-YxYAmThso-i4x67mnzrnWfPa5EEWh0E7Rq5PxpZ9p6S9bmQBmmIvXDBujAvvsFfk9EIsNvAqMW2YbEGCnQNZXLfN6RnrR-XipYUuez-xTLk0pSHvk/s640/assumption_abbey_fruitcake6.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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The cake itself is a rich, dense ring cake packed with nuts, dried fruit and spices. Once baked, the monks inject it with rum and then the cakes are left to age for 3 months. Before being shipped off to various corners of the world in their Assumption Abbey tins, the monks say a simple prayer over the cakes (is this the secret to how good they are?!).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6oWYSnQJag_jk3BCrh4L3rsc4YvMYHnBym-bSulvmzhEJGSuhBdRfcsmrMXuPUVzDVxg-PHuSqN8BQaA1hqg2OKvEKZVf1cdOFXbhY2nvGxpDZj2ceNmds1d_3NryZTNzaJRQSolEbQ/s1600/assumption_abbey_fruitcake1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Assumption Abbey fruitcake - a rich, dense cake loaded with soaked fruits, nuts and spices made by Trappist monks in Ava, Missouri" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6oWYSnQJag_jk3BCrh4L3rsc4YvMYHnBym-bSulvmzhEJGSuhBdRfcsmrMXuPUVzDVxg-PHuSqN8BQaA1hqg2OKvEKZVf1cdOFXbhY2nvGxpDZj2ceNmds1d_3NryZTNzaJRQSolEbQ/s640/assumption_abbey_fruitcake1.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGsan9F0N3GxFJnsH9EojI1BPHXQTQd5mw5YdDUyIwn3YWW5VzHo9_6uu1iUEVOpGVkg0lcAvWIOZ5KBGxzC3Kdt6K_tDQbwY_tsm8sga-N2tCJij7c5H9wJ5EAJwdzIZZNbc8WOdGrM/s1600/assumption_abbey_fruitcake2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Assumption Abbey fruitcake - a rich, dense cake loaded with soaked fruits, nuts and spices made by Trappist monks in Ava, Missouri" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGsan9F0N3GxFJnsH9EojI1BPHXQTQd5mw5YdDUyIwn3YWW5VzHo9_6uu1iUEVOpGVkg0lcAvWIOZ5KBGxzC3Kdt6K_tDQbwY_tsm8sga-N2tCJij7c5H9wJ5EAJwdzIZZNbc8WOdGrM/s640/assumption_abbey_fruitcake2.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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So instead of slaving away in a hot kitchen or settling for a store bought cake, get your <a href="https://www.trappistmonks.com/Assumption-Abbey-Fruitcake_p_9.html" target="_blank">order</a> in for a monk cake before they run out!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uCfknxmVofnx2HbjrDdDNQfmmEFHM9Q2Yyivh1VNb2aurVtkozV9jAvyirCNXsAknAgRuzvF1Yehtqi_jf1TRhU5hxML0s3Ba_c4bzs47KgOiOoyjsH8VYYOnAfImQ_-r3mZAohDUtw/s1600/assumption_abbey_fruitcake7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Assumption Abbey fruitcake - a rich, dense cake loaded with soaked fruits, nuts and spices made by Trappist monks in Ava, Missouri" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uCfknxmVofnx2HbjrDdDNQfmmEFHM9Q2Yyivh1VNb2aurVtkozV9jAvyirCNXsAknAgRuzvF1Yehtqi_jf1TRhU5hxML0s3Ba_c4bzs47KgOiOoyjsH8VYYOnAfImQ_-r3mZAohDUtw/s640/assumption_abbey_fruitcake7.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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Do you have any family fruitcake traditions?
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I've hit the time of year where everything I do and think about is work related as I work in the glorious world of retail. We've now hit "peak" so the whole team have been furiously planning for the most epic time of the retail year. The plans are now being put into action to make sure our wonderful customers have some fantastic products to choose from and will hopefully be impressed with some of the great deals that will be happening!</div>
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So yeah...blogging (and most other things) have been put on the back burner for the moment but have still been having a *bit* of fun - here's what I was up to in October...</div>
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<b>Tv of the month</b>: Busy weeks = lazy weekends on the sofa with Mr Jones. Soon many good box sets have been watched this month including <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2243973/" target="_blank">Hannibal</a> (gory) and <a href="http://www.channel4.com/programmes/married-at-first-sight" target="_blank">Married at First Sight</a> (my guilty pleasure at the moment, don't tell anyone!) but the absolute best thing I've watched this month was <a href="https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/70264888" target="_blank">Black Mirror.</a> Did you see the first two series on Channel 4? The third series is on Netflix and the tech-y themes and slightly awkward storylines utterly sucked me in.</div>
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<b>Film of the month: </b>"Supersonic", a film about Oasis in their prime, was showing for one night only at my local cinema so absolutely had to be there to relive my youth! Probably not the best viewing if you're not an Oasis fan but having completely obsessed over them in the 90s, I loved every minute of it. It's still showing in a few cinemas but if you can't get out to see it, it's being released on <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01KK40YY2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B01KK40YY2&linkCode=as2&tag=mmj0e-21" target="_blank">DVD</a>! Woo hoo! Just in time for Christmas wish lists!<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BLExgUxjhNM/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">What an absolute cracker of a film - #Supersonic. No, I wasn't filming his during the actual film because that's just naughty. This was just what was on the screen before it started. #oasis #Britpop #90s</a></div>
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A video posted by Laura @ Me & Mr Jones (@lauraeclupton) on <time datetime="2016-10-02T20:51:07+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Oct 2, 2016 at 1:51pm PDT</time></div>
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<b>Ear worm of the month: </b> I'm a bit indifferent to the Kaiser Chiefs but I've had their latest song going through my head from the moment I first heard it. <br />
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<b>Book of the month: </b>That reading challenge I started at the beginning of the year...not going so well...<br />
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<b style="text-align: center;">Favourite food of the month</b><span style="text-align: center;">: We headed up north to visit Mr Jones' family for an early Christmas meal as his parents will away on a cruise this year (lucky ducks!). Rather than everyone trying to squeeze into his parents' bungalow, the 16-strong gang headed to their local pub. There was a lack of Christmassy dishes on the menu (it was October to be fair...) but spotted something that was pretty close to a roast dinner. Introducing the "beef Yorkie burrito"! Juicy roast beef snuggled in a Yorkshire pub duvet. Perfect comfort food and potentially something I need to try making at home!</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">I use </span><a href="http://thelenslab.com/collect/" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Collect</a><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;">to gather and sort out all of my "photo a day" pictures but do tend to also upload them to Instagram…want to see each picture from the last month? Let's be</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><a href="https://instagram.com/lauraeclupton/" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">friends</a><span style="text-align: center;">!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772525612879991342noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570792279278101367.post-34930580267858922582016-09-20T01:14:00.000+01:002016-09-24T11:33:51.064+01:0030th Celebrations in London<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've been saving this post for a while because although it's about birthday celebrations, the birthday in question wasn't actually happening until today...<br />
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My little sis turns 30! Happy B-day, B!<br />
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A few years ago we all met up in London to celebrate my <a href="http://www.meandmrjones.co.uk/2012/08/a-london-birthday.html" target="_blank">mum's birthday</a> so plans were made to do the same again this year.<br />
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First up was to get everyone in the same country - mum flew in from the States, B from Finland and me...well, I didn't have much of a journey because they were both coming to me! Naturally pizza was involved in the reunion...<br />
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nstead of travelling into central London from my house each day, we rented an Air BnB. Not something any of us had done before so were a little unsure of what to expect but it was the cutest little house/flat (who could resist a pretty pink door?!) and being within spitting distance from Barbican it was really convenient.<br />
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With base camp set up, we set off to Covent Garden to see the sights. Covent Garden is definitely one of my favourite places so far in London with so much to see and do (and buy)...<br />
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Then it was time for B's birthday surprise from me...<a href="http://www.meandmrjones.co.uk/2016/07/afternoon-tea-bb-bakery-covent-garden.html" target="_blank">afternoon tea</a> at BB Bakery!</div>
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I don't look too happy about being there but I think I was just concentrating reeeeeeally hard on what to try first!<br />
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Feeling completely stuffed after all of the sweet and savoury treats we headed back to the Air BnB to recover and recharge for our bus tour the following day.<br />
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If you ever find yourself as a tourist in London or already live in London and want to try something fun, I highly recommend one of the open top bus tours. Most of them are hop on/hop off so it's not only a great way to see the sights but they cover a lot of the central part of London so are great for getting around. We booked with the <a href="https://www.theoriginaltour.com/" target="_blank">Original Tour</a> and hopped on just outside St Paul's Cathedral. Looking good, St Paul's!<br />
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I plugged headphones into the audio guide (child version is miles better than the grown up one, by the way!) and off we went! We weren't on the bus for long when it was time for our first "hop off" - Borough Market. It's been on my London "to do" list since I moved here and wasn't disappointed! From baked goods to spices to cakes to drinks to noodles to veg, it really had it all! It was absolutely packed even though it was a weekday so hate to think what weekends are like! Lunchtime Pimms is ok when your little sister has never tried it before, right?!</div>
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If you are going to Borough Market, it's worth taking a quick walk around the corner to the "<a href="http://www.thegarret.org.uk/" target="_blank">Old Operating Theatre Museum</a>". Tucked up in the roof of a church, they have on display some gruesome looking old surgical tools, herbs that were used to treat illnesses as well as the original operating theatre. Sounds gory but it was really interesting!</div>
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A lot of the tour bus companies also offer a boat ride down the Thames as part of the package. Definitely give this a go - it's a great way to see the classic landmarks without having to deal with crowds and traffic. We made our way to the Tower of London and took the tour from there to Embankment. </div>
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 560px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BHmY3jnDAj-/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Thames boat tour featuring the London Eye, MI5 and parliament. It was considerably slower in real life #london #tourist</a></div>
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A video posted by Laura @ Me & Mr Jones (@lauraeclupton) on <time datetime="2016-07-08T12:04:27+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jul 8, 2016 at 5:04am PDT</time></div>
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Back on the bus and to Parliament we headed! You're not a proper tourist if you don't take an obligatory selfie with Big Ben...I think we just about got it - note the windswept look. If you sit on top of the tour bus, it gets a little windy!</div>
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You're also not allowed to visit London and not go to Liberty. I'm not sure I could afford much there but it's a stunning building and was looking particularly "Ab Fab" when we visited.</div>
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Back to the Air BnB again for some proper birthday celebrations. As with mum's birthday, I made some party bags because why should kiddies have all the fun?! Contents: birthday balloons, face masks, curly straws, special edition Peter Rabbit coins, union jack scarves, nail buffers, little notebooks, wooden fans (in case we needed to stay cool on the tube)...</div>
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And no birthday is complete without cake. Not just any cake. Rainbow chip cake. Betty Crocker seriously needs to get her arse in gear and start selling this stuff in England so my mum doesn't have to bring cake mix AND frosting in her suitcase!<br />
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Good birthday cakes also need candles. I think it's safe to say mum outdid herself on this one...turn up the volume to hear my sister's reaction...</div>
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 560px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BHnTHlTjYBB/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">"Whaaaaat?!?!" Have you ever seen such a crazy birthday candle?! #birthday #candle #lotus #musicallotus #birthdaycandle</a></div>
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A video posted by Laura @ Me & Mr Jones (@lauraeclupton) on <time datetime="2016-07-08T20:33:27+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jul 8, 2016 at 1:33pm PDT</time></div>
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Happy 30th, B!<br />
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</script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772525612879991342noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570792279278101367.post-3994284174682673842016-09-18T13:46:00.000+01:002016-09-18T14:42:49.678+01:00Simply Ice Cream - I Scream for Ice Cream!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mq2B-awzsddqaYsI8qBkgb41jmsyb0L82adbCGb5QeF34ZxPml6lfcGk95MsjUcKq1hquOz4gl7cbCQ1l2hXNkBD-lQu0vXuzIejLm1N-n6Z8a1n_4_uZ5-9pwSazGsFkJ3SDp7lSRs/s1600/simply_ice_cream_review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Simply Ice Cream review - a range of ice creams from Kent produced by hand in small batches using local, quality ingredients." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mq2B-awzsddqaYsI8qBkgb41jmsyb0L82adbCGb5QeF34ZxPml6lfcGk95MsjUcKq1hquOz4gl7cbCQ1l2hXNkBD-lQu0vXuzIejLm1N-n6Z8a1n_4_uZ5-9pwSazGsFkJ3SDp7lSRs/s640/simply_ice_cream_review.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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If someone asks you if you want to try ice cream in one of the hottest weeks of the year, there isn't much decision making to be made. Not for me anyway because I'm somewhat of a sucker for ice cream.<br />
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<a href="http://www.simplyicecream.co.uk/" target="_blank">Simply Ice Cream</a> got in touch with me to see if I would be interested in reviewing some of their natural ice cream. I loved the sound of their <a href="http://www.simplyicecream.co.uk/flavours.php" target="_blank">flavours</a> (I'll get to those in a bit) and how all of their ice creams are made by hand in small batches using only simple, natural and local ingredients. Obviously I said, "yes please!" and then waited excitedly for my delivery to arrive as instead of asking for specific flavours (or ALL of them...), I asked them to surprise me so had no idea what was coming.<br />
<a name='more'></a>Fast forward a week and six little pots of ice cream arrive. It was another hot day so thought it would be wise to try them all immediately to cool myself off...<br />
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Good quality ice cream made with real cream will be rich, creamy and smooth - it will probably feel like it's coating the inside of your mouth a little and you will be able to still taste the flavour once you've finished a spoonful. For the sake of not repeating myself for the rest of the post, I have to say that all six flavours I tried were like this. I've had a lot of ice cream in my time but can honestly say that these were quite possibly the richest, smoothest and creamiest ice creams I've ever had. No one's twisting my arm to say this, honest! They were that good!<br />
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So on to the flavours...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionhJNVTcTqn1CR0_bbxfRhD-43Zv4E2OelsBBwoAuS-O89I8_jK6zs8u7EAFm6P0dBKkBwN2lEGUEMpsQvj7KmLCYKpevbSGFL57UDkVXgfxmJOgKLCqD7wRtDJsoKTVBnsGH_eHtGmE/s1600/simply_ice_cream_honeycomb2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Simply Ice Cream review - a range of ice creams from Kent produced by hand in small batches using local, quality ingredients." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionhJNVTcTqn1CR0_bbxfRhD-43Zv4E2OelsBBwoAuS-O89I8_jK6zs8u7EAFm6P0dBKkBwN2lEGUEMpsQvj7KmLCYKpevbSGFL57UDkVXgfxmJOgKLCqD7wRtDJsoKTVBnsGH_eHtGmE/s640/simply_ice_cream_honeycomb2.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<b>Honeycomb</b> - honeycomb flavoured ice cream dotted with chunks of homemade honeycomb pieces. I found the flavour of the honeycomb to be quite strong and very sweet. You would not need too big a serving to satisfy your sweet tooth!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCc4J6rlkWBnJMvO5vwaePIffK8MIXzdDdx99sj1K6mKgi1eESWKf2qUjljySnEnaLPwbLkJWk-rLE8LKktb5EaLibI7ibtorYxn76q5lNErAr2PIZqfDM0ftYw5SLZeQ-jI0nQ4fjME/s1600/simply_ice_cream_coffee_cobnut2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Simply Ice Cream review - a range of ice creams from Kent produced by hand in small batches using local, quality ingredients." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCc4J6rlkWBnJMvO5vwaePIffK8MIXzdDdx99sj1K6mKgi1eESWKf2qUjljySnEnaLPwbLkJWk-rLE8LKktb5EaLibI7ibtorYxn76q5lNErAr2PIZqfDM0ftYw5SLZeQ-jI0nQ4fjME/s640/simply_ice_cream_coffee_cobnut2.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<b>Coffee and Kentish cobnut fudge</b> - I was pretty excited about this flavour as you don't often see cobnuts anywhere, never mind ice cream and Kent (where Simply Ice Cream are based) is well known for cobnuts! I do love the smell of coffee but have never been a fan of the actual flavour however this ice cream somehow tasted of everything I love about the coffee aroma. My only disappointment was that the cobnuts weren't obvious at all, either flavour or pieces.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieG6cHl6EKzOK8SIaNZcaPv_zztv_tenlIyfLcY5mvh-RxpxsmHD5-kPV-nsIMhyT3Y6ROUou0JNp0qrQ6ps2oRGhtdvDlPed1qe-QtRzly0EobG1Cs4G-qJvKv0Zfv9QqA5YR0HFlnHs/s1600/simply_ice_cream_vanilla2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Simply Ice Cream review - a range of ice creams from Kent produced by hand in small batches using local, quality ingredients." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieG6cHl6EKzOK8SIaNZcaPv_zztv_tenlIyfLcY5mvh-RxpxsmHD5-kPV-nsIMhyT3Y6ROUou0JNp0qrQ6ps2oRGhtdvDlPed1qe-QtRzly0EobG1Cs4G-qJvKv0Zfv9QqA5YR0HFlnHs/s640/simply_ice_cream_vanilla2.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<b>Dreamy vanilla</b> - not much to say about this except it was indeed dreamy! I've never tasted anything with such an intense and creamy vanilla flavour and can see it sitting atop a piece of apple pie, fresh from the oven.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPigexovzV7A7FLMaJQx5sM1l5Dyn4q5FukvMVsO6gZAF4_O5zGSSguuucEG8C-hH28pX2RsDux9YX38T7PV3Q47cEujG86ij3EKWWE1CjTM-0ciP2IVZnyfmKwV6yL4GeK75JykfSok/s1600/simply_ice_cream_raspberry2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Simply Ice Cream review - a range of ice creams from Kent produced by hand in small batches using local, quality ingredients." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPigexovzV7A7FLMaJQx5sM1l5Dyn4q5FukvMVsO6gZAF4_O5zGSSguuucEG8C-hH28pX2RsDux9YX38T7PV3Q47cEujG86ij3EKWWE1CjTM-0ciP2IVZnyfmKwV6yL4GeK75JykfSok/s640/simply_ice_cream_raspberry2.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<b>Raspberry</b> - if I hadn't have known what flavour this was, I would have immediately known from the first taste. It actually tasted like fresh raspberries and the tartness cut through the creaminess really well - so refreshing!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6XN0Fjn_ltFRqqAe3tcfbb0d6CCRYLigsfeWHND2hEOpkc3gxdEtqS0L81Fem9_BsO7OCBjkzt7AWs3T0wSY1Cfv9fXsWXJ1zhbFJWbHtK45mjp8IAIyPPsNw6hdx6VkOZqGPwgMyHg/s1600/simply_ice_cream_lemon_curd2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Simply Ice Cream review - a range of ice creams from Kent produced by hand in small batches using local, quality ingredients." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6XN0Fjn_ltFRqqAe3tcfbb0d6CCRYLigsfeWHND2hEOpkc3gxdEtqS0L81Fem9_BsO7OCBjkzt7AWs3T0wSY1Cfv9fXsWXJ1zhbFJWbHtK45mjp8IAIyPPsNw6hdx6VkOZqGPwgMyHg/s640/simply_ice_cream_lemon_curd2.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<b>Lemon curd</b> - I don't know if it is but the lemon curd flavour felt even more creamy and rich than the others which is possible a good thing because it was wonderfully tart and zingy so the creaminess balanced this out.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdHgrWf-UsbbCGNCEsYqV6pRAvUTNjg1O-oAZrPxK9O8o9Qyiq2Zinxx3ZVi9D6LLgbfQtoZ6Voz3PbhaahE3GInjIYxtPykZiQ0YA0iknJSvUDrFNBN-IxfgDlOB-tDtgW_0kOvLZL0/s1600/simply_ice_cream_christmas_pudding2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Simply Ice Cream review - a range of ice creams from Kent produced by hand in small batches using local, quality ingredients." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdHgrWf-UsbbCGNCEsYqV6pRAvUTNjg1O-oAZrPxK9O8o9Qyiq2Zinxx3ZVi9D6LLgbfQtoZ6Voz3PbhaahE3GInjIYxtPykZiQ0YA0iknJSvUDrFNBN-IxfgDlOB-tDtgW_0kOvLZL0/s640/simply_ice_cream_christmas_pudding2.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<b>Christmas pudding</b> - I was really excited to try this flavour because I was curious how ice cream could taste like Christmas. Well, if it's made with sherry, rum-soaked raisins and spices (basically everything you would get in a Christmas pud!) then a spoonful will get you feeling festive even if it is in the middle of the summer. Absolutely delicious!<br />
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On their website, Simply Ice Cream explain that they believe that simple, natural food tastes best. I think they've pretty much nailed it! They started selling from a local farm shop and luckily for us who don't live in Kent, their ice cream is now available across nearly 400 outlets across the south of England including Waitrose so I highly recommend you <a href="http://www.simplyicecream.co.uk/wheretobuy.php" target="_blank">check to see</a> where your nearest shop is so you can try some too!<br />
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Have you tried Simply Ice Cream before? What is your favourite flavour (I can't decide what flavour to try next!)<br />
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<span style="color: #999999;">*Thank you to Simply Ice Cream for getting in touch and sending me this ice cream to sample. As always, this review is open, honest and entirely my own opinions!</span><br />
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I've been slacking again. I skipped two months of my "photo a day" posts, I've hardly spent any time in the kitchen and I'm well off track on my 2016 reading challenge. It's been super busy at work and it's been hot and...ok, ok, I'm just making excuses...</div>
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August is kind of the bridge between my least favourite season (summer) and my favourite season (autumn) but it's been a hot month and has only now started to feel that autumn is actually on its way. I love autumn because you can wear more layers, you can snuggle up under a blanket and tis the season for comfort food! Oh, and Great British Bakeoff starts again...hurrah!</div>
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<b>Tv of the month</b>: I FINALLY got all caught up with <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B019ON07JW/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B019ON07JW&linkCode=as2&tag=mmj0e-21" target="_blank">Pretty Little Liars</a> (I worked it out that in total I watched 3 1/2 days worth to get through all of the seasons...) and then BOOM! The announcement that after this season there won't be any more. What now?! </div>
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<b>Film of the month: </b>"<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0051NH5MC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B0051NH5MC&linkCode=as2&tag=mmj0e-21" target="_blank">Insidious</a>"<b> </b>- I do like a good creepy film. Not the gory ones but the ones that have you on tenterhooks for ages then all of a sudden something makes you jump. "Insidious"<br />
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<b>Book of the month: </b>I'm not sure this counts as a book but I saw it on one of my favourite Instagram-ers posts and HAD to order it...<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BJRDS9eAYR7/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Never never never stick your head out of a moving train. Our third #dahlalong post is his very amusing 24 page illustrated pamphlet published by British Rail in 1991, just after Dahl died in 1990. British Rail had asked him to write the text and Quentin Blake to illustrate it just in time and thousands of children enjoyed his marvellously funny and completely appropriate guide. For example "The child is surrounded by GIANTS and the trouble with these beastly GIANTS is that they seem to spend most of their lives telling the child WHAT TO DO and WHAT NOT TO DO." We have four of these for sale £4 each including postage. DM us your email and we can send PayPal invoice or get cc details. #roalddahl #guidetorailwaysafety #quentinblake #britishrail #trains #bookstagram #instabook #bookcollector #booknerd #bookworm #bibliophile #trainjourney #bookaddict #bookaholic #oldbook #bookshop #book #books</a></div>
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A photo posted by Addyman Books (@addymanbooks) on <time datetime="2016-08-18T22:14:41+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Aug 18, 2016 at 3:14pm PDT</time></div>
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<b style="text-align: center;">Favourite food of the month</b><span style="text-align: center;">: <a href="http://www.meandmrjones.co.uk/2016/08/guacamole.html" target="_blank">Guacamole</a>! It's one of my favourite snacks, especially when you have home made tortilla chips to dunk.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1A-2PloxpIf5mX1BTsJa6vuxzrNfN-U5wwjrgjtyCrTSH-5nz1ftlTIvHyxwU_kLKzjnfjC6TJDyHIE1_hI3oQI0RreZODecSJcrF4da_5qlsNxCxcefBEHTg9wwofTv6-_zaM-VNmPE/s1600/guacamole_recipe_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My go-to recipe for fresh, homemade guacamole. A simple mix of avocado, spring onion, coriander/cilantro, tomato and lime - perfect for dunking chips in, topping a burger with or as a side for brunch." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1A-2PloxpIf5mX1BTsJa6vuxzrNfN-U5wwjrgjtyCrTSH-5nz1ftlTIvHyxwU_kLKzjnfjC6TJDyHIE1_hI3oQI0RreZODecSJcrF4da_5qlsNxCxcefBEHTg9wwofTv6-_zaM-VNmPE/s640/guacamole_recipe_3.jpg" width="560" /></a>
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<span style="text-align: center;">I use </span><a href="http://thelenslab.com/collect/" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Collect</a><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;">to gather and sort out all of my "photo a day" pictures but do tend to also upload them to Instagram…want to see each picture from the last month? Let's be</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><a href="https://instagram.com/lauraeclupton/" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">friends</a><span style="text-align: center;">!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1A-2PloxpIf5mX1BTsJa6vuxzrNfN-U5wwjrgjtyCrTSH-5nz1ftlTIvHyxwU_kLKzjnfjC6TJDyHIE1_hI3oQI0RreZODecSJcrF4da_5qlsNxCxcefBEHTg9wwofTv6-_zaM-VNmPE/s1600/guacamole_recipe_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My go-to recipe for fresh, homemade guacamole. A simple mix of avocado, spring onion, coriander/cilantro, tomato and lime - perfect for dunking chips in, topping a burger with or as a side for brunch." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1A-2PloxpIf5mX1BTsJa6vuxzrNfN-U5wwjrgjtyCrTSH-5nz1ftlTIvHyxwU_kLKzjnfjC6TJDyHIE1_hI3oQI0RreZODecSJcrF4da_5qlsNxCxcefBEHTg9wwofTv6-_zaM-VNmPE/s640/guacamole_recipe_3.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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I love snacking, don't you?! It's even better when what you're snacking on is actually pretty healthy and not just a bag of crisps or other junk, right? Cue fanfare and enter homemade guacamole and tortilla chips! The best thing about both of these is that you can make a fairly decent size batch of both which will keep for days in airtight containers so you always have something to hand if you need something to nibble on.<br />
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Everyone who loves guac probably has their own prefect recipe. I'm sure it's tasty but I'm telling you, mine is the tastiest ;) I've been lazy and bought guacamole from the supermarket but it really doesn't compare to making it from scratch - homemade is much more fresh and zingy taste than anything made on a production line.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylLUfCIOOoho9GpiTNVsn1olHDcQDcrp-TNoayOHL4qtUbKTVy7tEybNOb3LAQXQry36jvCJivItz7jYb7k9XtAlkyVOFadlqMlDC1t4p7vmeg7Fj2_sijtH_jGtWm4_16P3sInxO3CY/s1600/guacamole_recipe_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My go-to recipe for fresh, homemade guacamole. A simple mix of avocado, spring onion, coriander/cilantro, tomato and lime - perfect for dunking chips in, topping a burger with or as a side for brunch." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylLUfCIOOoho9GpiTNVsn1olHDcQDcrp-TNoayOHL4qtUbKTVy7tEybNOb3LAQXQry36jvCJivItz7jYb7k9XtAlkyVOFadlqMlDC1t4p7vmeg7Fj2_sijtH_jGtWm4_16P3sInxO3CY/s640/guacamole_recipe_4.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSAr9Mr8BOfyFLMMrim_ZuC74ItPtn3sLfwKLx40TVA7y3TZhJSzMGaIyRPN-jEQOGFORNfV78N0WP7LdDp3wc1gD9X1FwT0fuDsFRKRSdPsVihnNz5OP1C3eGJIHW5W_7hEArHABiAg/s1600/guacamole_recipe_sq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My go-to recipe for fresh, homemade guacamole. A simple mix of avocado, spring onion, coriander/cilantro, tomato and lime - perfect for dunking chips in, topping a burger with or as a side for brunch." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSAr9Mr8BOfyFLMMrim_ZuC74ItPtn3sLfwKLx40TVA7y3TZhJSzMGaIyRPN-jEQOGFORNfV78N0WP7LdDp3wc1gD9X1FwT0fuDsFRKRSdPsVihnNz5OP1C3eGJIHW5W_7hEArHABiAg/s640/guacamole_recipe_sq.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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All you need to whip up your own guacamole is:<br />
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8 small vine tomatoes, de-seeded and chopped into small pieces<br />
4 spring onions, finely chopped<br />
1 ripe avocado, cut into small cubes<br />
1 lime (use to taste, I use about half while I'm cutting the avocado up and up to another half while mixing)<br />
about 15-20 coriander leaves, finely chopped<br />
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Now this is just a guideline - if you prefer guac to be more onion-y, add more spring onions. If you like it spicy, add some finely diced chills. It's a really versatile recipe and so easy to make it "your own". This will make about two decent servings (depending on how hungry you are!).<br />
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Put everything in a bowl and mash up with a fork to the consistency you like (I like mine chunky). I sprinkle lime juice on the avocado straight after I cut it up to prevent it from browning so find I don't need to add to much more to the bowl once I've mashed everything up.<br />
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So easy! <br />
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As for the homemade tortilla chips, these are also super easy. I like to use corn tortillas as they seem to have a better texture than plain flour tortillas. <br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BJJAKFZj6Ue/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Guess what I'm making... #tortillas #oldelpaso #snack #healthysnack</a></div>
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A photo posted by Laura @ Me & Mr Jones (@lauraeclupton) on <time datetime="2016-08-15T19:13:20+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Aug 15, 2016 at 12:13pm PDT</time></div>
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Heat the oven to 180C. Rub a little olive oil on each side of the tortillas, stack them up, slice them into triangles. Place the tortilla triangles onto a foil lined tray, sprinkle with salt and bake for a few minutes. I can't be more specific than "a few minutes" because it's the sort of thing you need to keep an eye on. Once the edges start to turn golden brown, take them out of the oven and let them cool on a wire rack. They will feel a little soft once you take them out of the oven but they crisp up once they cool down.<br />
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MUCH healthier than fried tortilla chips and you can control the amount of salt you put on them (or not, in my case - I like 'em salty!).<br />
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So there you go! Besides dunking chips in, what else do you smother with guacamole? Burgers? On your brunch plate next to toast and eggs?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_K2nFZdXwiZjZbDlJDDSl_gl_wtd2hkFHGyi5BPiKtbuxvA2OKq3fae2Sck0AI87JUjEv38KbfLpqWdiuT1-d9s4THX3srS7r1KjY8Zwuik6WFlWWXnz2XraJOLvvjkFpnEt48aTWY0U/s1600/guacamole_recipe_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My go-to recipe for fresh, homemade guacamole. A simple mix of avocado, spring onion, coriander/cilantro, tomato and lime - perfect for dunking chips in, topping a burger with or as a side for brunch." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_K2nFZdXwiZjZbDlJDDSl_gl_wtd2hkFHGyi5BPiKtbuxvA2OKq3fae2Sck0AI87JUjEv38KbfLpqWdiuT1-d9s4THX3srS7r1KjY8Zwuik6WFlWWXnz2XraJOLvvjkFpnEt48aTWY0U/s640/guacamole_recipe_5.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzZ8MD8PBHmmd2LgbSiXUUkYcYGXtYBMOfuKDWi8KnzB4pGgSGa8U0uypnheET7_qK_0y91y8zi2e5hvyIzam9j7FrvOTdfV3P0XU2M-D3cLfYnacp69igR9mMkKuvsTeevv7Wp6_RU4/s1600/BB_Bakery_Covent_Garden5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A review of afternoon tea at BB Bakery in Covent Garden. Tea, savoury treats, cakes, pastries and scones are all part of the experience in this cafe just around the corner from the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden Market." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzZ8MD8PBHmmd2LgbSiXUUkYcYGXtYBMOfuKDWi8KnzB4pGgSGa8U0uypnheET7_qK_0y91y8zi2e5hvyIzam9j7FrvOTdfV3P0XU2M-D3cLfYnacp69igR9mMkKuvsTeevv7Wp6_RU4/s640/BB_Bakery_Covent_Garden5.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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We all love afternoon tea, don't we? It's one of those totally English things that tourists and locals alike enjoy doing - teeny tiny sandwiches (crusts cut off, of course!), dainty little cakes and pastries, a pot of steaming tea and let's not forget the scones! Before I continue, clotted cream or jam first? If you tell me you like jam first then we're just not going to be friends. <br />
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So afternoon tea started around the reign of Victoria - dinner had been pushed back to 6-ish so everyone needed something in the afternoon to get them through to the main meal of the day. It was also a great opportunity to get together with your chums for a bit of a chin wag or, as it wasn't such a formal meal as dinner, you could invite your daughter's potential suitor over to weigh him up.<br />
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I booked a table at <a href="http://www.bbbakery.co.uk/" target="_blank">BB Bakery</a> in Covent garden not for any of these reasons but for another excellent reason - to celebrate a birthday!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9ZrJkw8lWHd_r764eokrcpJh9ub1mPO1RZDsfGm335ePrtN6epGfsaY-MLQVCU9GMb-PSiZdMdMNiZPQt6KWDyID7WPb_-kdtNMY8qyzMMDxf4ovOQxo1Wtt2E7YBI3cm7LmIoe7SC0/s1600/BB_Bakery_Covent_Garden2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A review of afternoon tea at BB Bakery in Covent Garden. Tea, savoury treats, cakes, pastries and scones are all part of the experience in this cafe just around the corner from the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden Market." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9ZrJkw8lWHd_r764eokrcpJh9ub1mPO1RZDsfGm335ePrtN6epGfsaY-MLQVCU9GMb-PSiZdMdMNiZPQt6KWDyID7WPb_-kdtNMY8qyzMMDxf4ovOQxo1Wtt2E7YBI3cm7LmIoe7SC0/s640/BB_Bakery_Covent_Garden2.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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There she is, the birthday girl!<br />
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I'll let you in on a secret - she will be having a special birthday this year but it's not for a few months...July was the only time me, my mum and my sister could get time off together as they both had to plan in travels from American and Finland!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDiz8oqnfzjrjrRlp_5C582eF8b7LikqzyzeBftmK8VpdLOtRJFlzChtMMdWfG2vbkx9Ix-0itmAZl88bYQM7DgJE-qcui6JbjPdv5TMWYK1nco3KS8worezffdLAk82qJdi19FYd3DE/s1600/BB_Bakery_Covent_Garden1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A review of afternoon tea at BB Bakery in Covent Garden. Tea, savoury treats, cakes, pastries and scones are all part of the experience in this cafe just around the corner from the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden Market." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDiz8oqnfzjrjrRlp_5C582eF8b7LikqzyzeBftmK8VpdLOtRJFlzChtMMdWfG2vbkx9Ix-0itmAZl88bYQM7DgJE-qcui6JbjPdv5TMWYK1nco3KS8worezffdLAk82qJdi19FYd3DE/s640/BB_Bakery_Covent_Garden1.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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The bakery is located just around the corner from Covent Garden - far away enough to be away from the touristy hustle and bustle but close enough to still be able to watch the world go by through the large windows that are decorated with massive jars of macarons, towers of pastel pastries and flowers. <br />
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We were seated in what I thought was the best seat in the house - around a small dark wood table in the corner, right by the windows.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">First we ordered tea - I went for the Pettiagala Ceylon as I like quite an aromatic tea but there are other options including green teas, fruit teas and coffee.</span><br />
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Our teas came out in beautiful mis-matched vintage looking teapots...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdYrp5hFbUQ4G7NJ69xeP2C5gB1dP-eVvMzwIRDsTVEHoXFj6MfBzXn3JvvC02Tjl3ZUTbDnUZFkwhzxlskCz0Ukn6Eng7X8aK_QWR2spjKu7s-TEg1S_Xq5lsSNZDpNBkg61ZCJK7KY/s1600/BB_Bakery_Covent_Garden6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="A review of afternoon tea at BB Bakery in Covent Garden. Tea, savoury treats, cakes, pastries and scones are all part of the experience in this cafe just around the corner from the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden Market." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdYrp5hFbUQ4G7NJ69xeP2C5gB1dP-eVvMzwIRDsTVEHoXFj6MfBzXn3JvvC02Tjl3ZUTbDnUZFkwhzxlskCz0Ukn6Eng7X8aK_QWR2spjKu7s-TEg1S_Xq5lsSNZDpNBkg61ZCJK7KY/s640/BB_Bakery_Covent_Garden6.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8sDfrQBJyxi_dsdMGUmdN_6GzUausMzGDehyphenhyphenuTwHkLdE3A1pAlfVNj1cgbFoRL-MVHuSEQsecy1HJAElEUwhCrfbkjhjtGCAMbyPTb0UcqFEo6UPcZHc-u6isFyUomqNLsRAttG1oEzs/s1600/BB_Bakery_Covent_Garden7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A review of afternoon tea at BB Bakery in Covent Garden. Tea, savoury treats, cakes, pastries and scones are all part of the experience in this cafe just around the corner from the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden Market." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8sDfrQBJyxi_dsdMGUmdN_6GzUausMzGDehyphenhyphenuTwHkLdE3A1pAlfVNj1cgbFoRL-MVHuSEQsecy1HJAElEUwhCrfbkjhjtGCAMbyPTb0UcqFEo6UPcZHc-u6isFyUomqNLsRAttG1oEzs/s640/BB_Bakery_Covent_Garden7.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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Then came the food...there were "ooooh" and "ahhhhh" from around the table and you can see why...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SeZ0ZN_IIGJnOv-H-HaLR7APIRHZH4aFfe4m8gT98WOrOy8qowXceu7GVF81f-BVY8NOML5x3FS_A5B1e_-O3KOr9Vd9EDDwgpO5ljKY4TnSoRevMZ08z82g79Y28KMDegHEeUK8HuQ/s1600/BB_Bakery_Covent_Garden12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="A review of afternoon tea at BB Bakery in Covent Garden. Tea, savoury treats, cakes, pastries and scones are all part of the experience in this cafe just around the corner from the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden Market." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SeZ0ZN_IIGJnOv-H-HaLR7APIRHZH4aFfe4m8gT98WOrOy8qowXceu7GVF81f-BVY8NOML5x3FS_A5B1e_-O3KOr9Vd9EDDwgpO5ljKY4TnSoRevMZ08z82g79Y28KMDegHEeUK8HuQ/s640/BB_Bakery_Covent_Garden12.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCB5F8J79pmaBbxbp1ArOq3qEPC8r9xrbJoPlXByjNFEvCHRiKfBjkzyOxK2g0A5zVLI1hyphenhyphenOUKSNozxo2ickJReHes3ynas_Us3l_NXphvRySTl4UYr2eVho4mq0-9awAXEhwPRIlzCuE/s1600/BB_Bakery_Covent_Garden9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A review of afternoon tea at BB Bakery in Covent Garden. Tea, savoury treats, cakes, pastries and scones are all part of the experience in this cafe just around the corner from the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden Market." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCB5F8J79pmaBbxbp1ArOq3qEPC8r9xrbJoPlXByjNFEvCHRiKfBjkzyOxK2g0A5zVLI1hyphenhyphenOUKSNozxo2ickJReHes3ynas_Us3l_NXphvRySTl4UYr2eVho4mq0-9awAXEhwPRIlzCuE/s640/BB_Bakery_Covent_Garden9.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwAgg3j3oD4iqk-kk8L2CHHG_O77aMWQqsXj57BkOOF-888RtgCCn3bVY5ixogkIEPlN58UCl-zRIxP8UeYU8pMWn0CaNvoOUHQ6ZdHQxJP6s12VOGO04dTVoW6FGAeqKmc81tsa_dzE/s1600/BB_Bakery_Covent_Garden11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A review of afternoon tea at BB Bakery in Covent Garden. Tea, savoury treats, cakes, pastries and scones are all part of the experience in this cafe just around the corner from the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden Market." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwAgg3j3oD4iqk-kk8L2CHHG_O77aMWQqsXj57BkOOF-888RtgCCn3bVY5ixogkIEPlN58UCl-zRIxP8UeYU8pMWn0CaNvoOUHQ6ZdHQxJP6s12VOGO04dTVoW6FGAeqKmc81tsa_dzE/s640/BB_Bakery_Covent_Garden11.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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I was a bit sneaky and when I booked the table I asked if they would be able to add a candle or something for the birthday girl, which they did!<br />
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So what tasty treats did we get?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoO3KoHoQ7xg1N92uUKd3sKkkK-IzgL7BILVbNvbE_sqyhDuheoxRsrypBD5wTahSEftyaj5X8oAnbO9AO7Fm3zGxZti_GO4tIWUNHgI1I_voGEdMmfq9S9dB0JZDMyK9G7zO5Ib8AU2w/s1600/BB_Bakery_Savoury.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A review of afternoon tea at BB Bakery in Covent Garden. Tea, savoury treats, cakes, pastries and scones are all part of the experience in this cafe just around the corner from the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden Market." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoO3KoHoQ7xg1N92uUKd3sKkkK-IzgL7BILVbNvbE_sqyhDuheoxRsrypBD5wTahSEftyaj5X8oAnbO9AO7Fm3zGxZti_GO4tIWUNHgI1I_voGEdMmfq9S9dB0JZDMyK9G7zO5Ib8AU2w/s640/BB_Bakery_Savoury.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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The savouries:<br />
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Smoked salmon on a blini with (I think) creme freche, a polenta "finger" with roasted peppers, roast chicken on a sun-dried tomato studded ciabatta roll and a veggie quiche (served warm).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8YagQsyUTvFqEwja1OcDAQ07nPMfpx_x8_g-5LTm4H0I0ivyb9_oi6w9RfVc6oTs1092lUX_wMO8dmsOvxEysK5Xf6bcRN9MVJSfeO7BIIkZCVyQVilNQJlWQ2fLANlYeZ9iYZ2MDME/s1600/BB_Bakery_Sweet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A review of afternoon tea at BB Bakery in Covent Garden. Tea, savoury treats, cakes, pastries and scones are all part of the experience in this cafe just around the corner from the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden Market." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8YagQsyUTvFqEwja1OcDAQ07nPMfpx_x8_g-5LTm4H0I0ivyb9_oi6w9RfVc6oTs1092lUX_wMO8dmsOvxEysK5Xf6bcRN9MVJSfeO7BIIkZCVyQVilNQJlWQ2fLANlYeZ9iYZ2MDME/s640/BB_Bakery_Sweet.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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The sweets:<br />
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A perfectly baked macaron, lemon/lime meringue tart, a crumbly based, vanilla creamed topped cake and a mini chocolate cupcake. This was my absolute favourite (which is why it deserves a picture on its own) - a crispy almond-y pastry filled with the most delicious custard I've ever had.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-icG8jLbWd4wuBph9hRiuq27-zjP9WsmV6ARi7mDiEC7ajhTYdyh1JZZDSa3CdL_NUsB_XaxWezQ4SW_pCYVB5SY41B4x1uksykfq_bQ2gMXxcoUhfsZYiPbr9r5NknULncT-LC7fzbk/s1600/BB_Bakery_Covent_Garden18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A review of afternoon tea at BB Bakery in Covent Garden. Tea, savoury treats, cakes, pastries and scones are all part of the experience in this cafe just around the corner from the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden Market." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-icG8jLbWd4wuBph9hRiuq27-zjP9WsmV6ARi7mDiEC7ajhTYdyh1JZZDSa3CdL_NUsB_XaxWezQ4SW_pCYVB5SY41B4x1uksykfq_bQ2gMXxcoUhfsZYiPbr9r5NknULncT-LC7fzbk/s640/BB_Bakery_Covent_Garden18.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif03MNL-rNkW4CRmTnz1PmPQyO_UGAg1OMIvHTQ3wv3RitKtqI_sTAr1hTq1zieTq3yv_7C5jlPA3Daq6ev4OmRVHQ0Cxkmx-8_R38DZxnghS1i7Q0QZK_p118dXcqKx3aLSeT_pJeiR0/s1600/BB_Bakery_Covent_Garden23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A review of afternoon tea at BB Bakery in Covent Garden. Tea, savoury treats, cakes, pastries and scones are all part of the experience in this cafe just around the corner from the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden Market." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif03MNL-rNkW4CRmTnz1PmPQyO_UGAg1OMIvHTQ3wv3RitKtqI_sTAr1hTq1zieTq3yv_7C5jlPA3Daq6ev4OmRVHQ0Cxkmx-8_R38DZxnghS1i7Q0QZK_p118dXcqKx3aLSeT_pJeiR0/s640/BB_Bakery_Covent_Garden23.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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Then came the scones...shiny glazed top, warm and perfectly crumbly when sliced open...top with clotted cream and strawberry jam and you have the perfect finish to an afternoon tea!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mKivyV8XZ1YvBNHbQ-1EwW2w4chGUbFiFt5d8N1FcF-ZCfvsqi3tkDzBBPNdq7g6a5bkOBsNelYLtrT9_znymLw8-wapf3KohCGnGc-vyvWiVUNpl1C3yinn1H_RliqnJK9fUyiOAbw/s1600/BB_Bakery_Covent_Garden4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A review of afternoon tea at BB Bakery in Covent Garden. Tea, savoury treats, cakes, pastries and scones are all part of the experience in this cafe just around the corner from the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden Market." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mKivyV8XZ1YvBNHbQ-1EwW2w4chGUbFiFt5d8N1FcF-ZCfvsqi3tkDzBBPNdq7g6a5bkOBsNelYLtrT9_znymLw8-wapf3KohCGnGc-vyvWiVUNpl1C3yinn1H_RliqnJK9fUyiOAbw/s640/BB_Bakery_Covent_Garden4.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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The atmosphere was delightful, the service was spot on and don't let the daintiness of the cakes and savouries deceive you - we had to ask for a doggy bag because we were all absolutely stuffed! I would definitely visit BB Bakery again although they have afternoon <a href="http://www.bbbakery.co.uk/afternoon-tea/afternoon-tea-bus-tour/" target="_blank">bus</a> AND <a href="http://www.bbbakery.co.uk/afternoon-tea/afternoon-tea-boat-tour/" target="_blank">boat</a> tours which both look brilliant so think next time I might have to try one of those!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Afternoon tea starts at £29 per person</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><a href="http://www.bbbakery.co.uk/" target="_blank">BB Bakery</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">6-7 Chandos Place</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Covent Garden</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">London</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">WC2N 4HU</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">020 3026 1188</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="color: #999999;">*we paid for our meal in full, ourselves and were not asked to review BB Bakery but my opinions of the place are all mine and entirely entirely true!</span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50qYRiEdo7i_tcjPMdzdo-7x6PbYfjnIFIzmgjCN2ynF2b9YuRTlwDWipskIOER2d-8CwNWFUoDZYXjAQd5HpLfioEnNQMWjKJJpleMztr6rE2owiX0yHuHqHZH-YGozIaPypzTWeMT0/s640/blogger-image-424669570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kintan Japanese BBQ in Holborn review. Kintan is the first yakiniku-style restaurant in London. Cook your own bite sized pieces of meat or seafood on the grill set in the table and enjoy with other small dishes, rice and noodles on the extensive menu" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50qYRiEdo7i_tcjPMdzdo-7x6PbYfjnIFIzmgjCN2ynF2b9YuRTlwDWipskIOER2d-8CwNWFUoDZYXjAQd5HpLfioEnNQMWjKJJpleMztr6rE2owiX0yHuHqHZH-YGozIaPypzTWeMT0/s400/blogger-image-424669570.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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We had tickets to see Bill Bailey at the Hammersmith Apollo (he is a very talented and funny man, by the way!) so I met up with Mr Jones for some post-work/pre-show chow. As it was not far from work and close to the tube station we needed, Mr J suggested going to <a href="http://kintan.uk/" target="_blank">Kintan Japanese BBQ</a>. Japanese? BBQ? Yes please! Normally when I visit somewhere new I pour over the menu hours (or days...) before I get there and read up on the place so I know what to expect. As this was an unplanned stop I had no idea what to expect and didn't even really realise that it was a BBQ until we got to our table..."ooo...what's that? A grill? In our table?! Awesome!"<br />
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Kintan is a little deceiving from the outside - quite narrow and simple. Once you walk through the door it's completely different. Cozy booths, modern decor and surprisingly spacious with the dining area split across two floors. The kitchen is open which I always think is a good sign as you can have a bit of a nosy at what's going on in there!<br />
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We were seated downstairs and started to try to make sense of the menu. I was a bit confused. I've not been to a BBQ like this before so it took me a while to figure out which bits would come to us cooked and which ones we would have to grill ourselves. Luckily the menu had a step by step guide which cleared things up for me!<br />
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<img alt="Kintan Japanese BBQ in Holborn review. Kintan is the first yakiniku-style restaurant in London. Cook your own bite sized pieces of meat or seafood on the grill set in the table and enjoy with other small dishes, rice and noodles on the extensive menu" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJD1rN47qX7kcGJbaxsTAuiVvUc4a56mDXxni0tUFFe8kbNvuQj4JS5RfmH4QHZ0CwIrBXzGZQYo_nj5X7dPZ1JnS8drp8iyCvDTbZq3Tm11CSF7GxNwGq1li9652VlEhjymylxfkxSA/s640/blogger-image-421689452.jpg" width="560" /></div>
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Our timing was pretty good - we got there at around 6pm which just happened to be within their "happy hour" so were able to take advantage of some of their discounted dishes. Oh and beer. Cheap beer!<br />
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The happy hour menu was massive. Ten soups and salads, 30-odd appetisers, 20 different types of meat for the grill, seafood, noodles, rice, veggies...not to mention the sharing options!<br />
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I wasn't overly hungry so ordered a couple of starters, mushrooms and rice. Mr Jones started with chicken gyoza followed by spicy chicken and Japanese wagyu beef kiriotoshi, both to be grilled at the table.<br />
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<img alt="Japanese wagyu beef kiriotoshi from Kintan Japanese BBQ in Holborn. Kintan is the first yakiniku-style restaurant in London. Cook your own bite sized pieces of meat or seafood on the grill set in the table and enjoy with other small dishes, rice and noodles on the extensive menu" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmhZ_H5YijUQeVvixd12_0QZM_fVBbiJWd2rDWpfANZKVQi2hub8cRC2MjAMIqQFgkI_0HGlPJIccHkOagvwAWVy7z7mCRGNMzlggDFriK3ghQfqGMZiVYCkB2PhwKbkagaYI9d3j9nA/s640/blogger-image-729540973.jpg" width="560" /></div>
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My wakame seaweed salad was spot on - crunchy sesame seeds, a light soy dressing with a hint of sesame oil...<br />
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<img alt="Wakame seaweed salad from Kintan Japanese BBQ in Holborn. Kenton is the first yakiniku-style restaurant in London. Cook your own bite sized pieces of meat or seafood on the grill set in the table and enjoy with other small dishes, rice and noodles on the extensive menu" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQYcgdH5sRD8X1bdp2tFdY3jgNAScFSrPdWmhG4qnE32i2yNBnVXWAgwcsnoTTyc_N3c8SdLLvCV-PWBpSxtkLOuro1Zv1DNPQkCnPT8Cm6G4T4GwHFtIruaXESbztt22yiF80ym-zOQ/s640/blogger-image-434254499.jpg" width="560" /></div>
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The spicy tofu was a little bland even though it was topped with kimchi and a spicy sauce. I'm happy to eat plain silken tofu on its own but the size of it didn't seem balanced with the amount of sauce and didn't get much flavour or spice from the sauce.<br />
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<img alt="Spicy tofu from Kintan Japanese BBQ in Holborn. Kintan is the first yakiniku-style restaurant in London. Cook your own bite sized pieces of meat or seafood on the grill set in the table and enjoy with other small dishes, rice and noodles on the extensive menu" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWxu3fsHiqmWRpMOahft7Xe7kI9OndnUwQo3RxNnBed0FqHmwuY-CkZLCl1IWQkPZ33z_mN46C60fUA_eTRBwlXhYvaRgpibaafhcZWKuziLH4o51gl0DLp7l028R36ibiBXpXnAFaHY/s640/blogger-image--1675704208.jpg" width="560" /></div>
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As we both ordered garlic fried rice they served the two portions together. Our waiter brought the rice out with an egg yolk on top which he then stirred in at the table. The thick metal bowl it was brought to us in was sizzling hot which cooked the egg and crisped up some part of the rice that were touching the sides.<br />
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<img alt="Garlic fried rice from Kintan Japanese BBQ in Holborn. Kintan is the first yakiniku-style restaurant in London. Cook your own bite sized pieces of meat or seafood on the grill set in the table and enjoy with other small dishes, rice and noodles on the extensive menu" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6h46-CCCFsFPJDPVutM0qOVa0l5AZCSEcHqEG3bMqeYR7WeNmylLS8ORZ8YaUo67k5fp0aHpDJzxqUWd6CC7XUaNo7oBR_mjaJ590ixT1iUeOqomJNfBYQGRMbWlX0bfz0UN3KfZ0A4/s640/blogger-image--378674996.jpg" width="560" /></div>
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As I wanted to keep my meal a little light I opted for the assorted mushrooms - eringi, shiitake, portobello and white mushrooms drizzled in what I *think* was a miso dressing. <br />
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<img alt="Assorted mushrooms from Kintan Japanese BBQ in Holborn. Kintan is the first yakiniku-style restaurant in London. Cook your own bite sized pieces of meat or seafood on the grill set in the table and enjoy with other small dishes, rice and noodles on the extensive menu" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5VyN96V6NkzLWvnGwRSI37WPeCpD0ekEjEL9Xpyro0P-VJkI2U9N1qraHbwmN8uPFwbPerPM2g_rdQ1RUCTyfx9Nuo8PevIIUJBCgZhY3pJFhUG5wh2vfTfoKquES471HVz4vIyg_7Y/s640/blogger-image-875017819.jpg" width="560" /></div>
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And then it was time - the grill was switched on. Small things amuse small minds, right?! Within minutes I could feel the heat radiating off my face. Using the special tongs on the table I placed my mushrooms on the grill and they instantly started sizzling. Mr Jones' chicken and beef made an even bigger sizzle and as the grill was so hot, the meat started smoking within a minute.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDx1q_Nmi25fi1OHXmQjWmBGtPpZoGkAkEibC1dAJbLITKKcMyhrU47iHvlo6pkQ4j8yWNzz5F1zEg7aHwRsFANAbEb0BtVZJxh4gMA4kTjRhsmkb27tb2wiZJaQyYnA4BAT40Licgjak/s640/blogger-image-471127823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Wakame seaweed salad from Kintan Japanese BBQ in Holborn. Kenton is the first yakiniku-style restaurant in London. Cook your own bite sized pieces of meat or seafood on the grill set in the table and enjoy with other small dishes, rice and noodles on the extensive menu" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDx1q_Nmi25fi1OHXmQjWmBGtPpZoGkAkEibC1dAJbLITKKcMyhrU47iHvlo6pkQ4j8yWNzz5F1zEg7aHwRsFANAbEb0BtVZJxh4gMA4kTjRhsmkb27tb2wiZJaQyYnA4BAT40Licgjak/s640/blogger-image-471127823.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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The charred lines on the mushrooms from the grill added a really lovely smokey flavour which went beautifully with the garlic rice.<br />
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<img alt="Wakame seaweed salad from Kintan Japanese BBQ in Holborn. Kenton is the first yakiniku-style restaurant in London. Cook your own bite sized pieces of meat or seafood on the grill set in the table and enjoy with other small dishes, rice and noodles on the extensive menu" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHDgfK3agq48shGShjCzjo8VKLgHebD7okT4pF67JJ9SwQyfoess6eApt6daw0efIV2Kxf_owjfu80G345-UFZVuGy_GxS5DC2uf_AjCbs8SGUxyNqlZgdCOOZ153AL0_8109_TZTOjg/s640/blogger-image--1483316950.jpg" width="560" /></div>
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After the first round of grilling I did feel like my face was going to melt and the smoke started going in my eyes. I was so distracted by actually eating that some of the mushrooms I'd put on the grill may have been a little over-grilled. <br />
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I did enjoy my meal but left feeling as though because I'd been paying attention to the grill so much I couldn't focus enough on what I was actually eating. Was I doing it wrong? There are many more Korean BBQs in the capitol so maybe I need to get out to some and practice more? Suggestions are welcome!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><a href="http://kintan.uk/" target="_blank">Kintan Japanese BBQ</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">34 – 36 High Holborn </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">London </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">WC1V 6AE </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">020 7242 8076</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Wakame seaweed salad - £2.00</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">S</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">picy tofu - £3.00</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Assorted mushrooms - £5.00</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Garlic fried rice - £6.00</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">(Happy hour prices)</span>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="color: #999999;">*we paid for our meal in full, ourselves and were not asked to review Kintan but my opinions of the place are all mine and entirely entirely true!</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772525612879991342noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570792279278101367.post-52150210637692261312016-06-12T12:24:00.002+01:002016-06-12T12:24:57.562+01:00Photo a Day 2016: May<center>
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May is always a pretty good month for me, mostly because it's the month I add another year to my age and usually get to celebrate being "birthday princess" with all sorts of fun things and treats. This May saw us taking a river boat ride to Kingston, a trip to the aquarium followed by our first ever theatre show ("Woman in Black", highly recommended!) plus a foodies festival just around the corner.<br />
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<b>Tv of the month</b>: I'm still working my way through Pretty Little Liars... </div>
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<b>Film of the month: </b>Never mind film of the month, "<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01DDF9XBU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B01DDF9XBU&linkCode=as2&tag=mmj0e-21" target="_blank">Zootopia</a>" was quite possibly my favourite film so far this year! Yes it's an animation but there are so many clever "blink and you'll miss them" moments, great characters and jokes for little and big kids alike!
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<b>Book of the month: </b> "<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1609611810/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1609611810&linkCode=as2&tag=mmj0e-21" target="_blank">America the Edible</a>" by Adam Richman of "Man vs Food" fame. This book takes you to some of his favourite foodie cities and talks through his travels there, off the beaten track places to eat and some of the people he met along the way. I was delighted to read about his time in Cleveland as I've either been to or recognise most of the places he went to!<br />
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<b style="text-align: center;">Favourite food of the month</b><span style="text-align: center;">: A tough one because I had some amazing agedashi tofu when we took a trip to Kingston but I have to say that the dumplings from The Ugly Dumplings at the <a href="http://www.meandmrjones.co.uk/2016/05/foodies-festival-syon-park.html" target="_blank">Syon Park Foodies Festival</a> win the prize this month. They were everything I love in gyoza - golden crispy bottoms, soft steamed tops and packed with delicious fillings! </span><br />
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<b style="text-align: center;">Best day: </b><span style="text-align: center;">Mr Jones bought a "dinner and theatre" experience and as we managed to both get a half day we thought we'd see some sights before dinner and the show. We had an impromptu visit to the London aquarium which was excellent and then took a leisurely stroll to Covent Garden where we chowed down on some steak frites, a most excellent creme brûlée and then went to watch "The Woman in Black". I've never been to the theatre before, I had no idea what to expect but I was utterly captivated by the story, how they made the most of the small stage to really bring everything to life and loved the parts that made us jump out of our skin!</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BFRrVRZy4OM/" style="colour: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">The best bit is cracking the top... #cremebrulee #dessert</a></div>
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A photo posted by Laura @ Me & Mr Jones (@lauraeclupton) on <time datetime="2016-05-11T17:58:57+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">May 11, 2016 at 10:58am PDT</time></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">I use </span><a href="http://thelenslab.com/collect/" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Collect</a><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;">to gather and sort out all of my "photo a day" pictures but do tend to also upload them to Instagram…want to see each picture from the last month? Let's be</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><a href="https://instagram.com/lauraeclupton/" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">friends</a><span style="text-align: center;">!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3PYxDOXRe9DSv77N741aC1oKV_LgSE1_f8A760UUkJFkEUAn4HEoL0BR28tI0OpsPjpOf1hiON20NPoogqv2gnpkuAUxZSIueuLCv-2muJ6Ll5A9MWk2E0rI2x9sqzsnGA1Ehxfe2Uc/s1600/magic_baking_tin1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Magic Baking Tin - imagine being able to bake multiple shapes with only one tin...It comes with 21 pieces which can be linked together with 12 connecting pins enabling you to mould your cakes, cheese cakes, breads and pies into over 100 different shapes" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3PYxDOXRe9DSv77N741aC1oKV_LgSE1_f8A760UUkJFkEUAn4HEoL0BR28tI0OpsPjpOf1hiON20NPoogqv2gnpkuAUxZSIueuLCv-2muJ6Ll5A9MWk2E0rI2x9sqzsnGA1Ehxfe2Uc/s640/magic_baking_tin1.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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The trend for baking has really taken off since The Great British Bake Off hit our screens in 2010, with over 2 million people tuning in for the initial showstopper challenges and a whopping 12 million people waiting to see Nadiya crowned the latest queen of baking last year. It's no surprise that baking equipment has also seen a growth in popularity with retailers seeing sales in cake tins, cookie cutters and other tools double, triple, quadruple...<br />
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This is all great news for budding bakers and kitchen connoisseurs alike but with all of these nifty things available but you might start to find your cupboards become a bit jam-packed with different shapes and sizes of cake and bread tins. What if you could find one tin that could magically transform from one shape to another so you didn't have to have one mould for every occasion? Let me introduce you to the <a href="http://www.themagicbakingtin.co.uk/" target="_blank">Magic Baking Tin</a>!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_VTMG1AjBbNCEHLkAIOaLP0K8QDP6TrWYLR2tEmXxD_JhQ50a2Nt2mxatuAoX27B7XE87B3osPlCVo4aMqbOaEZBqiAFPJBkU2k7EHb3UvX4yBN1XCgQVXMELF-wdLwmonNXG6sTfMQ/s1600/magic_baking_tin2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Magic Baking Tin - imagine being able to bake multiple shapes with only one tin...It comes with 21 pieces which can be linked together with 12 connecting pins enabling you to mould your cakes, cheese cakes, breads and pies into over 100 different shapes" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_VTMG1AjBbNCEHLkAIOaLP0K8QDP6TrWYLR2tEmXxD_JhQ50a2Nt2mxatuAoX27B7XE87B3osPlCVo4aMqbOaEZBqiAFPJBkU2k7EHb3UvX4yBN1XCgQVXMELF-wdLwmonNXG6sTfMQ/s640/magic_baking_tin2.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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Open the sturdy box and you will find 21 metal pieces (curves, angles and straight edges), metal pins that hold the pieces together and a silicon baking mat.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMmPGFcKeToCoU1tSstmL4jgcahprvQYGKTje13_A_J9_El8zSqz5DzdN0hVK328wXLtqs86SCQwTX-x9FvT4pwJ4P9XSX2-BT1-wh6aiWvUd3hSIxLRYffcqomU7JyeI6910bKAEreo/s1600/magic_baking_tin3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Magic Baking Tin - imagine being able to bake multiple shapes with only one tin...It comes with 21 pieces which can be linked together with 12 connecting pins enabling you to mould your cakes, cheese cakes, breads and pies into over 100 different shapes" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMmPGFcKeToCoU1tSstmL4jgcahprvQYGKTje13_A_J9_El8zSqz5DzdN0hVK328wXLtqs86SCQwTX-x9FvT4pwJ4P9XSX2-BT1-wh6aiWvUd3hSIxLRYffcqomU7JyeI6910bKAEreo/s640/magic_baking_tin3.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugOXJUAaRwasl0JahIcSepuzMYAtUB4tstdAKT2cBwxRrU6DDszuLBRvfJUYgZfnS0HIISTHCPyj4fPwcSWcjdnmFneDVmhcv0ppBqgDFsypQXBGyvetvXcwcVBrTFu6KVV_kO-cwtUE/s1600/magic_baking_tin4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Magic Baking Tin - imagine being able to bake multiple shapes with only one tin...It comes with 21 pieces which can be linked together with 12 connecting pins enabling you to mould your cakes, cheese cakes, breads and pies into over 100 different shapes" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugOXJUAaRwasl0JahIcSepuzMYAtUB4tstdAKT2cBwxRrU6DDszuLBRvfJUYgZfnS0HIISTHCPyj4fPwcSWcjdnmFneDVmhcv0ppBqgDFsypQXBGyvetvXcwcVBrTFu6KVV_kO-cwtUE/s640/magic_baking_tin4.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2Mb4pko449z25WWps9EHCIsNgln9ZYRTqFkDBUIz4bzY-18PVlImuhVh0333nlzkvPfWaQA2mEEEUUK-cAJrVm2zqfw7iRlG2EZ-vW9AOndrCjDL90m26Jed4I03BHVQWTPPyr4_NGc/s1600/magic_baking_tin5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Magic Baking Tin - imagine being able to bake multiple shapes with only one tin...It comes with 21 pieces which can be linked together with 12 connecting pins enabling you to mould your cakes, cheese cakes, breads and pies into over 100 different shapes" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2Mb4pko449z25WWps9EHCIsNgln9ZYRTqFkDBUIz4bzY-18PVlImuhVh0333nlzkvPfWaQA2mEEEUUK-cAJrVm2zqfw7iRlG2EZ-vW9AOndrCjDL90m26Jed4I03BHVQWTPPyr4_NGc/s640/magic_baking_tin5.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhweKbj5UHbypUWzqnjXG4eEJ_CanMpPIWrHqT3nVTWmfGvoBYY4zXKlz4QFnTseL-3OfJQ7sdrr7AZfL0JVICzeTuEftU2y40UA6yMGrWZTBIGJwOJ_CAgcZq3BZEsiAN5jBA5rsb990Q/s1600/magic_baking_tin6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Magic Baking Tin - imagine being able to bake multiple shapes with only one tin...It comes with 21 pieces which can be linked together with 12 connecting pins enabling you to mould your cakes, cheese cakes, breads and pies into over 100 different shapes" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhweKbj5UHbypUWzqnjXG4eEJ_CanMpPIWrHqT3nVTWmfGvoBYY4zXKlz4QFnTseL-3OfJQ7sdrr7AZfL0JVICzeTuEftU2y40UA6yMGrWZTBIGJwOJ_CAgcZq3BZEsiAN5jBA5rsb990Q/s640/magic_baking_tin6.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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The website says that these pieces (and a little imagination) can create over 100 different shapes. I didn't try to make 100 but think beyond the simple shapes, letters and numbers you might need to be quite creative on the decorating front for the cake to actually look like say, <a href="http://www.themagicbakingtin.co.uk/shapes/handcuffs/" target="_blank">handcuffs</a>, <a href="http://www.themagicbakingtin.co.uk/shapes/flying-saucer/" target="_blank">a flying saucer</a> or <a href="http://www.themagicbakingtin.co.uk/shapes/flute/" target="_blank">a flute</a>.</div>
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Some of the shapes I did try were really easy to put together - you just need to make sure that the joints of the pieces are smooth on the inside and fix them all together with the metal pins. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOEBhyphenhyphen5AMFry1VKFrjsF9IO-E02DV_Rc2FzpITJFA27UOaPX3pqPagjchiaqmjZfAq_SqEBKBiLgq1F-HTLhaJL56-hJqIXNRgCq_2FdhZPXH_cJ0mVOwCbYDpVegIktUqu1bVQQcsn4/s1600/magic_baking_tin7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Magic Baking Tin - imagine being able to bake multiple shapes with only one tin...It comes with 21 pieces which can be linked together with 12 connecting pins enabling you to mould your cakes, cheese cakes, breads and pies into over 100 different shapes" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOEBhyphenhyphen5AMFry1VKFrjsF9IO-E02DV_Rc2FzpITJFA27UOaPX3pqPagjchiaqmjZfAq_SqEBKBiLgq1F-HTLhaJL56-hJqIXNRgCq_2FdhZPXH_cJ0mVOwCbYDpVegIktUqu1bVQQcsn4/s640/magic_baking_tin7.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMs_Dg_zcxcrZodEf8RnlrDUrnuAye0xBJpmYxvH_7Vxqqg0xajsFiDxQTlmwkWeDUk31JbeVBorvz7PTEVwg7ChTLOHY3Iodh3tI3VPDY0qlMoeh2WED0fU2szBP4QTyiXb8YmqQU1MY/s1600/magic_baking_tin8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Magic Baking Tin - imagine being able to bake multiple shapes with only one tin...It comes with 21 pieces which can be linked together with 12 connecting pins enabling you to mould your cakes, cheese cakes, breads and pies into over 100 different shapes" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMs_Dg_zcxcrZodEf8RnlrDUrnuAye0xBJpmYxvH_7Vxqqg0xajsFiDxQTlmwkWeDUk31JbeVBorvz7PTEVwg7ChTLOHY3Iodh3tI3VPDY0qlMoeh2WED0fU2szBP4QTyiXb8YmqQU1MY/s640/magic_baking_tin8.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6oQrj6kO4nfzRdvpwNki8Ik678rQeDi3ZFo7683EIp6J5xqkSaQ_qDcfMWCuMNbzfoUbheQGLdBgbX_7VhwPoG3WkrHZ0513oaLtfgONASaUEH0UID6YsVWLYFGMFSD3yJv0WvZ0PdA/s1600/magic_baking_tin9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Magic Baking Tin - imagine being able to bake multiple shapes with only one tin...It comes with 21 pieces which can be linked together with 12 connecting pins enabling you to mould your cakes, cheese cakes, breads and pies into over 100 different shapes" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6oQrj6kO4nfzRdvpwNki8Ik678rQeDi3ZFo7683EIp6J5xqkSaQ_qDcfMWCuMNbzfoUbheQGLdBgbX_7VhwPoG3WkrHZ0513oaLtfgONASaUEH0UID6YsVWLYFGMFSD3yJv0WvZ0PdA/s640/magic_baking_tin9.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRlq6FaoUZJw33nw5y74ZswX0UaU-9Cee3VoDBsVRR5qHhhxRObWwIW8KSRnM5izVpl0DWzrkWaYuBA23iaGcAvbcEsmF8gT6uLgbAedRMUEbxzMqhiojMGF1kAeW1EgBzC30aehLXbY/s1600/magic_baking_tin10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Magic Baking Tin - imagine being able to bake multiple shapes with only one tin...It comes with 21 pieces which can be linked together with 12 connecting pins enabling you to mould your cakes, cheese cakes, breads and pies into over 100 different shapes" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRlq6FaoUZJw33nw5y74ZswX0UaU-9Cee3VoDBsVRR5qHhhxRObWwIW8KSRnM5izVpl0DWzrkWaYuBA23iaGcAvbcEsmF8gT6uLgbAedRMUEbxzMqhiojMGF1kAeW1EgBzC30aehLXbY/s640/magic_baking_tin10.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6KWB0DKFVnR3HA_b8VoIMErc7TK4L6WtQdSAH2k9_KwYQgAYhLv_btYhmF7_koHymgEla737b5qw9Fa0aRmN22EQQhislzqLDMKhCGqcuIPS71bqCDo_Uy9d76lVLEJQwOUIENCw-DI/s1600/magic_baking_tin11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Magic Baking Tin - imagine being able to bake multiple shapes with only one tin...It comes with 21 pieces which can be linked together with 12 connecting pins enabling you to mould your cakes, cheese cakes, breads and pies into over 100 different shapes" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6KWB0DKFVnR3HA_b8VoIMErc7TK4L6WtQdSAH2k9_KwYQgAYhLv_btYhmF7_koHymgEla737b5qw9Fa0aRmN22EQQhislzqLDMKhCGqcuIPS71bqCDo_Uy9d76lVLEJQwOUIENCw-DI/s640/magic_baking_tin11.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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To try out the baking tin I wanted to bake something that was fairly straightforward so thought about doing a simple bread but I've seen so many mouthwatering posts on Pinterest about pull-apart garlic bread so decided that was what needed to christen my Magic Baking Tin. A cloud shape seemed the logical option to encase some fluffy garlic bread!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69nA4Ak8TaITdZY7i4LOWCjN8pdlS8OfGiCcbQvC3eiFDSRr0ezI-FhvN3lGwe83PyZuNExMu8Uhhnh9851jlXnIvSb-1RbLWgedUoUR0Ml6IF1yKRmoArRnSJarqTkSjJLmYMGOAmI8/s1600/magic_baking_tin12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Magic Baking Tin - imagine being able to bake multiple shapes with only one tin...I made a cloud shaped tin for my garlic pull apart bread" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69nA4Ak8TaITdZY7i4LOWCjN8pdlS8OfGiCcbQvC3eiFDSRr0ezI-FhvN3lGwe83PyZuNExMu8Uhhnh9851jlXnIvSb-1RbLWgedUoUR0Ml6IF1yKRmoArRnSJarqTkSjJLmYMGOAmI8/s640/magic_baking_tin12.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KixeKmLN33lx-OSSPZykHq5UFqm3yDPc9YvAdEoMuD6i2MPuTVK7pj-Ti1MBERP_vVRbUMaXTH5fNZd9mT3CECNMwgLKKg9FlbKYGN7Ge7qnMPPenxQdJNBcntqdF93MGp4S5Tk68rI/s1600/magic_baking_tin13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aalt="The Magic Baking Tin - imagine being able to bake multiple shapes with only one tin...I made a cloud shaped tin for my garlic pull apart bread" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KixeKmLN33lx-OSSPZykHq5UFqm3yDPc9YvAdEoMuD6i2MPuTVK7pj-Ti1MBERP_vVRbUMaXTH5fNZd9mT3CECNMwgLKKg9FlbKYGN7Ge7qnMPPenxQdJNBcntqdF93MGp4S5Tk68rI/s640/magic_baking_tin13.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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The recipe was simple - I just used the recipe from the side of the strong flour packet (there are also about a zillion bread recipes online that would also work), let the dough rise, roll into balls, dunk into melted butter and garlic then put inside the baking tin. Simple! I put two layers of dough balls in the tin and then let them rise again. I followed the baking instructions from the side of the flour packet and was delighted with what came out!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXpZQvjLN2O3wpWQd4DvtR2kQDV0QOVxvHEtzrX8X-B1Bu2IRlC3XGrJWTTTTiC8Ma9m6uvTuWloLrPyj3iYYlQa1F3GcBBgEsMGqhs3Nnbn8wuPsftJpV3tVRTVsh9xYprqbUaJeDj0/s1600/magic_baking_tin14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Magic Baking Tin - imagine being able to bake multiple shapes with only one tin...I made a cloud shaped tin for my garlic pull apart bread" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXpZQvjLN2O3wpWQd4DvtR2kQDV0QOVxvHEtzrX8X-B1Bu2IRlC3XGrJWTTTTiC8Ma9m6uvTuWloLrPyj3iYYlQa1F3GcBBgEsMGqhs3Nnbn8wuPsftJpV3tVRTVsh9xYprqbUaJeDj0/s640/magic_baking_tin14.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZhDzCv-4zjEi0h3pHUh0iqJ5LyxsNq7FTSBuRN24Vskc4K8VOQC1e6_sK47ljYp4URJBexQHSQ2c8-d3d5RN0agNQb5V34asFwRegWOCmYC4qB9iNokYoq7Yr_bpw7RfRNLzcC5dLDIM/s1600/magic_baking_tin15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Magic Baking Tin - imagine being able to bake multiple shapes with only one tin...I made a cloud shaped tin for my garlic pull apart bread" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZhDzCv-4zjEi0h3pHUh0iqJ5LyxsNq7FTSBuRN24Vskc4K8VOQC1e6_sK47ljYp4URJBexQHSQ2c8-d3d5RN0agNQb5V34asFwRegWOCmYC4qB9iNokYoq7Yr_bpw7RfRNLzcC5dLDIM/s640/magic_baking_tin15.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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It was super easy to get the bread out of the tin - I just took out the metal pins and pulled away the side pieces.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnzsbxXIYssCWGAVGqp26JwmQV8rrnRJHh0ilJlW6z0ycXcRetEyf3zGa-4PuV5GPM9lq0pxEzlNM3WnHJyq0OAWhmAqfmkuTbimgU38Wn3faojv2Gplc26b56ICskZ7JKKHXB7XTPb8/s1600/magic_baking_tin17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="The Magic Baking Tin - imagine being able to bake multiple shapes with only one tin...I made a cloud shaped tin for my garlic pull apart bread" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnzsbxXIYssCWGAVGqp26JwmQV8rrnRJHh0ilJlW6z0ycXcRetEyf3zGa-4PuV5GPM9lq0pxEzlNM3WnHJyq0OAWhmAqfmkuTbimgU38Wn3faojv2Gplc26b56ICskZ7JKKHXB7XTPb8/s640/magic_baking_tin17.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQZEOPEcF1cR-1rK5FAepB5MfZDxQVA72fnDiOn7LR1OAa0G_3OVBREe3sO-YefnytCLTN_y1YImeIOCvNGzZlaulZTLUtuKx7vqpYYytd0W9ggIxd5gfsPwWWIZew512rKlZjyTkD8s/s1600/magic_baking_tin16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Magic Baking Tin - imagine being able to bake multiple shapes with only one tin...I made a cloud shaped tin for my garlic pull apart bread" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQZEOPEcF1cR-1rK5FAepB5MfZDxQVA72fnDiOn7LR1OAa0G_3OVBREe3sO-YefnytCLTN_y1YImeIOCvNGzZlaulZTLUtuKx7vqpYYytd0W9ggIxd5gfsPwWWIZew512rKlZjyTkD8s/s640/magic_baking_tin16.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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As I was baking bread I didn't line the tin but as there are a few little gaps in the joins of the tin the instructions that came in the box recommend lining with baking paper.</div>
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If you're a baker, what do you think? Does this sound like something you'd want to try? The good people at from The Magic Baking Tin company have given me a link to use so you if you did want to try it out, you can get <a href="http://www.themagicbakingtin.co.uk/or-mbt-10-off" target="_blank">10% off</a> (you just need to fill in your name and email address on the site).</div>
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<b>The Good Stuff:</b></div>
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- because you can make so many different shapes, you don't need a different baking tin for every different shape you want to make</div>
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- the box it comes in is sturdy and keeps all the pieces together</div>
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- nonstick and dishwasher safe</div>
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- good quality; it feels tough!</div>
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- really good price considering what you get from it</div>
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<b>The Not So Good Stuff:</b></div>
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- the instructions were very basic and you need the website for ideas on shapes</div>
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- it's a bit gappy by the joints so you would have to line the tin for any runny batters</div>
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- if you lost any of the pieces it would limit the shapes you could make (maybe they need to start selling individual pieces and pins?)</div>
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*The Magic Baking Tin sent me this for free to try in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.</div>
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</script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09772525612879991342noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6570792279278101367.post-5721758074709256932016-05-28T21:54:00.000+01:002016-07-30T15:44:50.373+01:00Foodies Festival, Syon Park<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqARKcJL29I9nqFYCsKP2mk-nP1x5Jxkrp25FVPBJxVdMCUVEprBHOM2s2yZHYcofzQLwqMRIa-KiVpSzd_NFdfehnEahEVtaW4v6XuDmFDLNW4FGY_ma8kOb0IwzKe73ysn9kUbL0vdQ/s640/blogger-image-2100975332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Foodies Festival, Syon Park - Masterchef chefs doing cooking demonstrations, street food, drink tents, BBQs...everything you love about food in one beautiful park!" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqARKcJL29I9nqFYCsKP2mk-nP1x5Jxkrp25FVPBJxVdMCUVEprBHOM2s2yZHYcofzQLwqMRIa-KiVpSzd_NFdfehnEahEVtaW4v6XuDmFDLNW4FGY_ma8kOb0IwzKe73ysn9kUbL0vdQ/s640/blogger-image-2100975332.jpg" width="560" /></a>
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A beautiful sunny May morning and I had a date with ALL the food. Today was the first of three days of the Foodie Festival at Syon Park so smothered myself with sun screen and headed over to the park to see what foodie delights awaited...</div>
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If you've never been to Syon Park, it's a real gem of a place - the big open green space smack bang in the middle of Isleworth somehow feels like you're in the middle of the countryside even though Heathrow airport is only about 7 miles away. Wafts of BBQ hit me before I even got to the road leading through the park so I quickened my pace to get to the food!</div>
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I'll just warn you now; there are quite a few photos, all of my favourite bits, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed seeing everything in real life!</div>
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There were not one but two stalls with epic amounts of meat being grilled, both right next to each other - <a href="https://twitter.com/boymeats_grill" target="_blank">Boy Meats Grill</a> with ridiculous hunks of meat and <a href="https://twitter.com/FlaminRooster" target="_blank">Flamin' Rooster</a> with gorgeous looking ribs and wings...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNuIEBNMCpFVuizf-Mh4bYKDTMnZJ94Z9SJGtFnM8YpThEBTVEkyVJjEnJd3vlC-QIZ5CNggADsYdMIeRLfOEBPeXphnyYvczAomx8y6u2lAMiyT7unzjq5TPaCOymJjaj2z4Qrw3QKQ/s1600/syon_park_foodies_festival1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Foodies Festival, Syon Park - huge amounts of BBQ meat from Boy Meats Grill" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNuIEBNMCpFVuizf-Mh4bYKDTMnZJ94Z9SJGtFnM8YpThEBTVEkyVJjEnJd3vlC-QIZ5CNggADsYdMIeRLfOEBPeXphnyYvczAomx8y6u2lAMiyT7unzjq5TPaCOymJjaj2z4Qrw3QKQ/s640/syon_park_foodies_festival1.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQp9aqRDofGwfMuNSktenIyMivVfpyDIQf50HlBmv8ePPlADpTBkpueVfhjs47y5LLlp_Aj2fW7ockDHyr2wGJJgcGBNMdPpf3SANkukWavuq4pOqUBZh3B1i8T0Uz7RlPYH3hqcfmJRo/s1600/syon_park_foodies_festival3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Massive slabs of meat from Boy Meats Grill at the Foodies Festival at Syon Park" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQp9aqRDofGwfMuNSktenIyMivVfpyDIQf50HlBmv8ePPlADpTBkpueVfhjs47y5LLlp_Aj2fW7ockDHyr2wGJJgcGBNMdPpf3SANkukWavuq4pOqUBZh3B1i8T0Uz7RlPYH3hqcfmJRo/s640/syon_park_foodies_festival3.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehNbaV51DzoxGBPiIKZdU2UK39_2HA4hmAYBhYogak-yz95HQfx2U_7Nf4IiCflLCRnZLpqYosMLkQXpXvpCSTlWbSbZ4O6nUf4y-2ofbGAN1mAkQjXGGsCq6nnsIktDzfCFQWJlmW_o/s1600/syon_park_foodies_festival5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehNbaV51DzoxGBPiIKZdU2UK39_2HA4hmAYBhYogak-yz95HQfx2U_7Nf4IiCflLCRnZLpqYosMLkQXpXvpCSTlWbSbZ4O6nUf4y-2ofbGAN1mAkQjXGGsCq6nnsIktDzfCFQWJlmW_o/s640/syon_park_foodies_festival5.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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There were drinks of all kinds, pop up bars and samples galore (thanks, <span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><a href="https://www.teapigs.co.uk/" target="_blank">teapigs</a> </u></span>for a full sized super refreshing matcha tea drink!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHGKT6nHewGwwGTG5ieAW25eaLUDHHJL-dnHBxOE3OP44k3WqPWgykY09rMdi4dWvl5ZCPFAez8X7LA0-gpVeriZCpDl4XQN9L4RBFcVJ76GXofwUxT04b4h5EJxXrKFQukX770Zq39I/s640/blogger-image--2016207594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Foodies Festival, Syon Park - refreshing teapigs matcha tea sample" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHGKT6nHewGwwGTG5ieAW25eaLUDHHJL-dnHBxOE3OP44k3WqPWgykY09rMdi4dWvl5ZCPFAez8X7LA0-gpVeriZCpDl4XQN9L4RBFcVJ76GXofwUxT04b4h5EJxXrKFQukX770Zq39I/s640/blogger-image--2016207594.jpg" width="560" /></a></center>
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I spent a little while in the demonstration tent (they also had drinks and baking demonstrations in other tents) and really wish I'd leapt up to try the salad they made when they asked for volunteers!!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq31rWtk_ZR6IPb6IcR5DOU4u3mvmW29_HZPUe558w6Luj4tcQ4EyFq4bpQByJ6BsXrQE2-jataLQ5eqrq0Vx-THk5lEM9g6SY_9HAUezU_VOc3cEe7hm6tG4l0OaG3CgIskyOQKsmFTQ/s1600/syon_park_foodies_festival10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Foodies Festival, Syon Park - Masterchef chefs doing cooking demonstrations, street food, drink tents, BBQs...everything you love about food in one beautiful park!" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq31rWtk_ZR6IPb6IcR5DOU4u3mvmW29_HZPUe558w6Luj4tcQ4EyFq4bpQByJ6BsXrQE2-jataLQ5eqrq0Vx-THk5lEM9g6SY_9HAUezU_VOc3cEe7hm6tG4l0OaG3CgIskyOQKsmFTQ/s640/syon_park_foodies_festival10.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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After the cooking demonstration I wandered around the stalls on a foodie cloud nine - fudge, bread, cakes, meat, every type of sauce under the sun, wine...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVA7VTuK-Q9R7HEr7gVTdCpLo3VWn8SZFTuL6e3elGxbgGr2keaqWT_Vv1J02kEvHov-TL4FWPV2fnPmbhZ5gkSe7laBD7naI_fmB4_FmMkpGG0vAF2tTKkc4_-1QaQULankioBKBMmdg/s1600/syon_park_foodies_festival13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Foodies Festival, Syon Park - apparently the best brownies n London from Bad Brownie" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVA7VTuK-Q9R7HEr7gVTdCpLo3VWn8SZFTuL6e3elGxbgGr2keaqWT_Vv1J02kEvHov-TL4FWPV2fnPmbhZ5gkSe7laBD7naI_fmB4_FmMkpGG0vAF2tTKkc4_-1QaQULankioBKBMmdg/s640/syon_park_foodies_festival13.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5hBbWbAm68f8Vq2eJaMTdTkA9Q8qJG1Dwm6LzvDueKlkBI2MZ5gBYN2GIFH_u-B3tiKrQG7fCg3BScvDH20-yEuCiiui8AubXQJWpuKixNPWkKbgKX3sTKJitx-y2hRJ_QiS54g0gro/s1600/syon_park_foodies_festival12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Foodies Festival, Syon Park - stunning home made pies from Brockleby's" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5hBbWbAm68f8Vq2eJaMTdTkA9Q8qJG1Dwm6LzvDueKlkBI2MZ5gBYN2GIFH_u-B3tiKrQG7fCg3BScvDH20-yEuCiiui8AubXQJWpuKixNPWkKbgKX3sTKJitx-y2hRJ_QiS54g0gro/s640/syon_park_foodies_festival12.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_T1PKlthlD7KzjmAU91V59yT1xo-_6VePNyIYbe7XMliVbFwC4EcQf-D4xfalKkv9SXMbEJrquoNXSUjwk9G8RdADhqRBOYhfDGEUgzATs6EYfYxoHwRSsOPjLyL6OQlb1I3ajHth5QM/s1600/syon_park_foodies_festival17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_T1PKlthlD7KzjmAU91V59yT1xo-_6VePNyIYbe7XMliVbFwC4EcQf-D4xfalKkv9SXMbEJrquoNXSUjwk9G8RdADhqRBOYhfDGEUgzATs6EYfYxoHwRSsOPjLyL6OQlb1I3ajHth5QM/s640/syon_park_foodies_festival17.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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I couldn't help but dive for my purse when I saw these beauties. How could I resist not taking some champagne and strawberry, salted caramel, or banoffee macarons from <a href="http://www.dimkin.co.uk/" target="_blank">Dimkin's Patisserie</a> home with me?!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfkSIeB36PWjMGdY1ZGDElNndCFnUah2hu0F_obbYXIpH91mdofY6iXOWJUXjXx92yAt9fwTWcUpzAWAuINAC_PObTduIEQY-rSRxkbAWsS5Ne5w5-qzlo30GE6Yg6YZUKAgiB_wv5fI/s1600/syon_park_foodies_festival11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Foodies Festival, Syon Park - delicate but boldly coloured and flavoured macarons from Dimkin's Patisserie" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfkSIeB36PWjMGdY1ZGDElNndCFnUah2hu0F_obbYXIpH91mdofY6iXOWJUXjXx92yAt9fwTWcUpzAWAuINAC_PObTduIEQY-rSRxkbAWsS5Ne5w5-qzlo30GE6Yg6YZUKAgiB_wv5fI/s640/syon_park_foodies_festival11.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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Dotted around the festival were food stalls and vans with flavours and food from every nook and cranny of the world...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBEEmsV4p-FSJ-jKDOXXZnOIXElQ5tOTrZsycAQwm4qGImWhhTB1rR1yZEXp1HYZBJg68jmF2kIdpwpmXszfXISuw6WMEPKmC80JLYmGq7ZQ4XkawwruNBkUM0n_yITHrWUIu8LRAE05M/s640/blogger-image--344300988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: centre;"><img alt="Foodies Festival, Syon Park - Masterchef chefs doing cooking demonstrations, street food, drink tents, BBQs...everything you love about food in one beautiful park!" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBEEmsV4p-FSJ-jKDOXXZnOIXElQ5tOTrZsycAQwm4qGImWhhTB1rR1yZEXp1HYZBJg68jmF2kIdpwpmXszfXISuw6WMEPKmC80JLYmGq7ZQ4XkawwruNBkUM0n_yITHrWUIu8LRAE05M/s640/blogger-image--344300988.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmzAf22B7trtDqu3ZTNEDyoDXnAS8x7FLAOuRaOtXWs0ARhH3LI8Z9x0dI3iSZ_B8RydnwI9V0MdP2jhbkgwnqyHKTU3_lueWygXdoCRsWkLlVZmOlQ2DLXDUyFr8H0m1cpvAEgaOOKU/s640/blogger-image-1369523363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Foodies Festival, Syon Park - Masterchef chefs doing cooking demonstrations, street food, drink tents, BBQs...everything you love about food in one beautiful park!" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmzAf22B7trtDqu3ZTNEDyoDXnAS8x7FLAOuRaOtXWs0ARhH3LI8Z9x0dI3iSZ_B8RydnwI9V0MdP2jhbkgwnqyHKTU3_lueWygXdoCRsWkLlVZmOlQ2DLXDUyFr8H0m1cpvAEgaOOKU/s640/blogger-image-1369523363.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_Pjn3epmiUKq4d5vlgOtXtONrSzVNj0U08gFKlZZOMCA0LvXffMt1bOCVRydslsFOzDaNWn45XoFe8M8x4aCC0DIMjcuGVlV_BEPyzYKRt0SoXs2UrWZfT6MpClqwULo9tFmznC-Yfs/s640/blogger-image-2045329795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Foodies Festival, Syon Park - Masterchef chefs doing cooking demonstrations, street food, drink tents, BBQs...everything you love about food in one beautiful park!" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_Pjn3epmiUKq4d5vlgOtXtONrSzVNj0U08gFKlZZOMCA0LvXffMt1bOCVRydslsFOzDaNWn45XoFe8M8x4aCC0DIMjcuGVlV_BEPyzYKRt0SoXs2UrWZfT6MpClqwULo9tFmznC-Yfs/s640/blogger-image-2045329795.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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And hold on a minute...these massive platters of salad, veg and pickles and <i>that</i> chicken all looked very familiar! I'm pretty sure I had a gorgeous wrap from World Food when <a href="http://www.meandmrjones.co.uk/2014/06/exeter-street-food.html" target="_blank">I was in Exeter</a>! The huge queue proved just how delicious and filling the wraps were!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7Dag96-CQbSB-Mvlk75x5dp6Rc2CdJtaI_5ruHNAJnjZsd1GuycThOcyXLnEqjYRxaUD4lIdMZYeinb_DyZTKvsFPeFG1-BZ_lLuIOQI2G3EdlCbrztraggO652XXnb3FKL2JkSudsE/s1600/syon_park_foodies_festival9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Foodies Festival, Syon Park - delicious wraps from World Food who I'd had food from before in Exeter!" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7Dag96-CQbSB-Mvlk75x5dp6Rc2CdJtaI_5ruHNAJnjZsd1GuycThOcyXLnEqjYRxaUD4lIdMZYeinb_DyZTKvsFPeFG1-BZ_lLuIOQI2G3EdlCbrztraggO652XXnb3FKL2JkSudsE/s640/syon_park_foodies_festival9.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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And then...be still my gyoza loving heart...I found the <a href="http://www.theuglydumplings.co.uk/" target="_blank">Ugly Dumplings</a> stall. I make no secret of the massive crush I have on dumplings and when I saw on Twitter that my one of my favourite foods would be at the festival I couldn't wait to try them. I was not disappointed and have to say that they are probably some of the best dumplings I've ever had, cooked my favourite way with a little frying and a little steaming. There were five different types (check out their website for what they have to offer) and I can highly recommend, well, all of them but the spinach and tofu one was my favourite.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPV_NXVIdADTu3bVEYkw68N6AhBbyTNyRw2Bwyr1odCE2FrBdG9NkhUvWGm0vSLLd3eWZITSIKILnclqo4cNRvNjBM73ziMiKpJg3M_f3QesDM9XZbn6KeczxsXQhUnzoe0d7TbfuyN0/s1600/syon_park_foodies_festival15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Foodies Festival, Syon Park - I found a stall selling my dream gyoza, The Ugly Dumplings. Crispy fried bottoms, perfectly soft steamed tops and packed with juicy fillings!" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPV_NXVIdADTu3bVEYkw68N6AhBbyTNyRw2Bwyr1odCE2FrBdG9NkhUvWGm0vSLLd3eWZITSIKILnclqo4cNRvNjBM73ziMiKpJg3M_f3QesDM9XZbn6KeczxsXQhUnzoe0d7TbfuyN0/s640/syon_park_foodies_festival15.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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And if things couldn't get any better, I stumbled upon the <a href="http://www.harrybromptons.com/" target="_blank">Harry Brompton's</a> tent so the obvious thing to do was get one of their alcoholic iced teas, have a seat and get stuck in!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZPr13ub5All3UagE4FhHdNIQksMqqyYrQNCjEtJJa7BCflX0T2fJZFqoSN_K2NlxvLnifOj_jKGD53_5XHoryDnd7wFdvdep90Rhyphenhyphenw_-cGJi_FScKRTmADhf1NuPywWtHAxQZ6jqZpDo/s1600/syon_park_foodies_festival16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Foodies Festival, Syon Park - gyoza from The Ugly Dumplings teamed with alcoholic ice tea from Harry Brompton's" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZPr13ub5All3UagE4FhHdNIQksMqqyYrQNCjEtJJa7BCflX0T2fJZFqoSN_K2NlxvLnifOj_jKGD53_5XHoryDnd7wFdvdep90Rhyphenhyphenw_-cGJi_FScKRTmADhf1NuPywWtHAxQZ6jqZpDo/s640/syon_park_foodies_festival16.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vBNLAPV-3Pv6i7Zf-7gfFuPCcHhm3iXW4-XHsIjEAx745l-FBMfsMl6WQAWDCTs15KFkASSQuIn8oYZVRWxTP7liuJlzTaLtJwkgEjQWiPOFwCI1DVvd1MIG0BIakAPU7Xx9JzIVyEw/s1600/syon_park_foodies_festival18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Foodies Festival, Syon Park - I quickly found the tent that served Harry Brompton's alcoholic ice tea. Perfectly refreshing for a summer afternoon!" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vBNLAPV-3Pv6i7Zf-7gfFuPCcHhm3iXW4-XHsIjEAx745l-FBMfsMl6WQAWDCTs15KFkASSQuIn8oYZVRWxTP7liuJlzTaLtJwkgEjQWiPOFwCI1DVvd1MIG0BIakAPU7Xx9JzIVyEw/s640/syon_park_foodies_festival18.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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Feeling happy, well fed, a little sun-kissed and BBQ-scented I did a final lap of the festival to make sure I hadn't missed anything and was about the make my way home when I saw the cider stall. I love cider probably as much as I love dumplings so thought it would be rude to leave without having some proper Somerset cider, especially when it was served like this...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOL1HFC3-QJGSyaDU7HQ6y0-pWb4aV4VOltdHE1NQoqcgLyc4lGFvTRUYXkZDgfRPPiBeL4YIdPnTj3XI2NHHt7xXnf7y2rwDA2rmT6TbhvLDpohxgWdq7rBr2EAubKgnAHFijZgobMs/s640/blogger-image-1514459529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Foodies Festival, Syon Park - Masterchef chefs doing cooking demonstrations, street food, drink tents, BBQs...everything you love about food in one beautiful park!" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOL1HFC3-QJGSyaDU7HQ6y0-pWb4aV4VOltdHE1NQoqcgLyc4lGFvTRUYXkZDgfRPPiBeL4YIdPnTj3XI2NHHt7xXnf7y2rwDA2rmT6TbhvLDpohxgWdq7rBr2EAubKgnAHFijZgobMs/s640/blogger-image-1514459529.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/FlaminRooster" target="_blank">Foodies Festival</a><br />
There are festivals across the country up until 4th September 2016 - be sure to check if there's one near you!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliT5s6z9CLhE8h6wr_VHCLHFZe8FjbOdoUjwj-miLPNeinfBdCYU4ongnYx6zgaaa8KW56Dl4FW13YP078aVVpN-0AyY1E8CHJz8-89UxD46UBN8eEloCiBoxPBy1THwXn9WBiXV2F_k/s640/blogger-image--1619820453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliT5s6z9CLhE8h6wr_VHCLHFZe8FjbOdoUjwj-miLPNeinfBdCYU4ongnYx6zgaaa8KW56Dl4FW13YP078aVVpN-0AyY1E8CHJz8-89UxD46UBN8eEloCiBoxPBy1THwXn9WBiXV2F_k/s640/blogger-image--1619820453.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Happy May, everyone! It's finally beginning to feel a bit more like spring and Instagram is "blossoming" with everyone's pictures of flowers and green things. There's been a lot of things popping up in social media about wild garlic - I need to find out where I can find some locally because I'm desperate to try some as this is the best time of year to pick the stuff.<br />
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April was a pretty quiet month but seemed to feature a lot of food...burgers, steak, baked treats at work and quite a bit of katsu! How was your month?<br />
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<b>Tv of the month</b>: Woah, was I late to the party on this one! Again. This seems to happen a lot. I've been absolutely glued to "<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0144E0S0O/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B0144E0S0O&linkCode=as2&tag=mmj0e-21" target="_blank">Pretty Little Liars</a>" and when I say glued to, I mean I watched about 10 episodes in one day. It's a little bit "Gossip Girl" with some mystery and suspense thrown in for fun. So who is "A"..? (don't tell me, I'm just starting series 2...)</div>
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<b>Film of the month: </b>Mr Jones being the lovely man he is and knowing that "<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000092W9R/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B000092W9R&linkCode=as2&tag=mmj0e-21" target="_blank">Trainspotting</a>" is/was one of my all time favourite films he bought it on DVD for me. We finally watched it and it was still as excellent as the very first time I got to know Renton, Sick Boy, Begbie and Spud. I cannot WAIT for Trainspotting 2 to come out!</div>
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<b>Book of the month:</b> I've been crap this month. REALLY crap. As in I've not finished the book I started last month.</div>
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<b style="text-align: center;">Ear worm of the month: </b><span style="text-align: center;">SO many good songs this month but the one that's been truly suck on repeat in my head is "<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01BUERK70/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B01BUERK70&linkCode=as2&tag=mmj0e-21" target="_blank">Hold On</a>" by Richard Ashcroft. It's not really the sort of song I would have expected from Richard Ashcroft but it's really catchy and I may have been caught by other drivers on the road singing along with all my might!</span><br />
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<b style="text-align: center;">Favourite food of the month</b><span style="text-align: center;">: The <a href="https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering/local-group/south-east/south-west-london-croydon" target="_blank">SW London and Croydon Crohn's and Colitis</a> group have an "<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ccukswlc/" target="_blank">Alphabet Dining Club</a>" and I finally made it to one. This dinner was "G for Greek" and held at Sappho Meze on Clapham High street. My favourite food this month isn't a single thing but the entire meal. There was pretty much no menu except meat eater, vegetarian or vegan as you pay a set amount for lots of little dishes to share across a couple of courses. It was all utterly delightful and it was so nice to meet other people with Crohn's and Colitis from all different ages and backgrounds.</span></div>
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<b style="text-align: center;">Best day: </b><span style="text-align: center;">It's been a pretty quiet month but there have been a few highlights - dinner (and an amazing steak) at Buenos Aires in Richmand with Mr jones, meeting for burgers at Patty and Bun with a <u>real life blogger</u> and going out to a "gaming" bar with the guys from work (dark, lots of screens showing stuff I didn't get and Mario Kart...) </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">I use </span><a href="http://thelenslab.com/collect/" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Collect</a><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;">to gather and sort out all of my "photo a day" pictures but do tend to also upload them to Instagram…want to see each picture from the last month? Let's be</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><a href="https://instagram.com/lauraeclupton/" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">friends</a><span style="text-align: center;">!</span></div>
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