Category: Lifestyle
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CAR REVIEW | Mercedes AMG A38
As potential performance cars go, the first generation Mercedes A-Class is not a vehicle that immediately springs to mind.
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CAR REVIEW | Mitsubishi ASX
Launched in 2009 to high expectations, the Mitsubishi ASX failed to make an impact on the competitive Sports Utility Vehicle sector which at present is dominated by the Nissan Qashqai and Toyota Rav4.
However according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders, in 2014-2015 sales grew by as much as 20% for the ASX. This is already on top of Mitsubishi sales, in general, rising over the last 3 years. This might account as to why we are seeing more and more ASX’s on the road. Now 7-years-older and finally finding love on the forecourt, can it now start worrying the competition? I had one for a week to find out.
Visually she’s aged well. It is still striking to look at and in a carpark full of small SUVs from the likes of VW and BMW it demonstrates a victory against the bland.
Sadly the interior cannot be said to have impressed as much. While the seats were supportive and comfortable with an impossible to locate switch to heat them, the plastics were of the hard wearing type similar to what’s used in the man machines from Mitsubishi like in their L200 pick up. There lacked a soft touch feel about the cabin. This soft touch was further lacking in stupid imprinted signs on the door pockets and centre console saying “no cups!” Most annoying after all it’s my car and I’ll put cups where I want them. Bottles were allowed in the door pockets.
Further annoyances were found with the lack of illuminated switches on the doors for windows and mirrors except for one flimsy light for the drivers switch. You forget how much you take for granted an illuminated switch in the dark. So instead of giving these lights, Mitsubishi added some sunshine lights into the glass roof panel and it screamed cheap electrical light tape found on a famous auction website. That said when the roof panel was open it did make the spacious cabin even more tardis like. It wasn’t an unpleasant place to be if I am honest.
And then there was the satnav and its illumination horrors. In the day the system was like Dr Jekyll. However, come dusk and nightfall it became Mr Hyde. At night in day mode it was just too bright. Thankfully there is a switch that turns it to night mode. It then becomes too dark using blacks and blues in colour.
So far there isn’t a lot to recommend this 7-year-old car and then you drive it. Two things stand out as negatives. Firstly there is an almighty amount of road roar in the back. At first, I thought I had the window open. Secondly, from a standing start, there is an awful delay that catches you out when pulling into traffic. This can be over come by trying to get a slight roll going before you push down hard on the accelerator. It is then that the 2.2-litre diesel engine mated to one of the smoothest 6-speed automatic boxes l have tried makes you feel like you’ve spent a million dollars. Mitsubishi gives you paddle shifts on the steering wheel too but unless you are really into spirited driving there is very little need to use them. The gearbox was always in the right gear.
This impressive gearbox and power unit managed to further impress in its economy in 4WD where l found it at its best as a driver’s car and in road behaviour.
In 2WD the economy according to the onboard computer was exactly the same over the same route of 31MPG. As you would expect in 4WD, traction was increased and it was also felt that the traction control system was less needed in keeping it where it was pointed. And then there are the headlights. Nothing fancy about these units, they didn’t even swivel. What they did give you though was a beautiful beam pattern and crystal clear view on even the grimmest of road conditions. Commuting through the wildness of Surrey I found there was little need to use the main beam.
So the ASX was starting to make me appreciate it and its appeal so quickly lost on taking delivery was starting to make sense. There is bags of room inside and the cabin does have a tardis feel about it. The boot is very generous for this size of vehicle and rear seat leg room with my 6-foot frame behind the wheel was more than adequate. With this opulent amount of space must come a good heating system and it was good. And then it was bad. and then it was perfect. Call it what you like but there were times l felt like Goldilocks. Set to 19 degrees it would heat the cabin until it was as hot as the sun and then cool it down with blasts of cold. Only then would it settle to a perfect temperature. This lasted around 10 miles per journey and opening a window would only confuse it.
Where this ASX really excels is in its price. The top end £24,899 model is £1400 more expensive that its 1.6-litre sister and that only comes in manual. You do pay more at the pumps if you go by official figures of over 10 MPG worse for the 2.2 but only 4 MPG over the extra urban. I, however, was not able to match even its lowest figure of 39.8 for the urban dash. Compare the top of the range ASX to its lowest family member and it £9,000 saving doesn’t make the 1.6 ASX 2WD look good at all unless you are after an estate looking vehicle with no functions. The ASX is already 10 years out of date, don’t do yourself a disservice and make it worse by opting for the lesser model.
Overall all is not lost for the quite likeable ASX. According to the 14 owners on the Autotrader website, it scored 4.6 stars out of 5 and prices are set to become even more competitive with talk of a new model ASX coming in 2017. Need yourself an SUV with a 5-year warranty? Now is the time to talk to Mitsubishi.
Pros
Automatic gearbox
Headlights
Standout looks
Cons
Poor switch gear
Road noise
Throttle response from standing start
The Lowdown
Car – Mitsubishi ASX
Price – £24,899 (as tested)
MPG – 39.8 urban
Power – 147 bhp (at 3500 rpm)
0-62mph – 10.8 seconds
Top Speed – 118 MPH
Co2 – 152 g/km
by Stuart M Bird
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RECIPE | Brussels Brunch
Prep 5 mins | Cook 30 mins | Serves 2
It’s a little bit bubble and squeaky. It’s a little bit hashy. It’s even a little bit hair of the dog. But it’s definitely got the cure factor. Whether your shrouded in a hangover darkness you can’t seem to shake or if you just want a bloody good brunch with the boys- this is yours.
The sprouts supply a fantastic amount of vitamin K to help your achy bones, and vitamin C / copper to give your immune system a kick in the right direction. On top of that, one medium potato on average will contain 20% of your recommended intake of vitamin C & copper, along with 31% B6, which helps the liver detox. Chorizo’s B-12 and thiamine will also pick up our energy levels for the day ahead.
BRUSSEL SPROUTS – Around 155g of sprouts will supply you with the following of your recommended daily intake; 243% vitamin K (great for bones), 128% vitamin C, 23% folate, 16% vitamin B6, 16% fibre, 14% copper (good for immune system). To name a few. Glucosinolates are a plenty in sprouts, and it’s this that activates detoxification of carcinogens in the body. (SOURCE: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=10 ).
BEER – Beer has small amounts of protein, fibre and B-vitamins. But what is going to work alongside the sprouts and the Vitamin K, is the silicon within the beer. Silicon is a compound to help maintain strong bones. Phosphorus and Magnesium are also in beer which are renowned for their healthy bone and teeth properties. (SOURCE: http://blog.cookingchanneltv.com/2013/09/23/health-benefits-of-beer/ )
CHORIZO – One serving of chorizo contains 0.6mg of vitamin B1 (thiamine), which helps us convert our food into energy. Another great energy boosting benefit of chorizo is it’s 2mg per serving of vitamin B-12. The daily recommended intake only being 2.4mg. Chorizo is not only delicious but will certainly help us get the getup and go feeling much needed if you’re choosing to cook this on a hangover. (SOURCE: http://www.livestrong.com/article/466148-what-are-the-benefits-of-chorizo/ )
Ingredients.
½ link chorizo, skin removed and sliced into rounds or wedges
150ml beer
240g trimmed sprouts (packet of), bottoms removed & halved
2 potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 shallots, finely chopped
2 sage leaves (optional), finely shredded
2 eggs
Method.
- Get 2 pans of boiling water on the go and par-boil the potatoes for 10 minutes. Drain & set aside.
- In the other pan blanch the sprouts for 3 minutes, then drain and refresh by running under a cold tap. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat a tablespoon of oil in a large, deep frying pan over a medium to high heat. Cook the chorizo chunks for 5 minutes.
- Add the shallots and cook with the chorizo for a couple of minutes.
- Add the garlic and the sprouts and cook for 7-8 minutes. Stirring only occasionally. You want to get some crispy, charred bits on the sprouts. Don’t worry if it’s looking very dry as we will add beer in a bit. If the ingredients are starting to burn too quickly then reduce your heat.
- Add the potatoes to the pan with a bit of black pepper. Stir to combine and cook for a couple more minutes.
- Add the beer (and sage, if using) and let it bubble out undisturbed for a minute, then stir and have a go at any parts stuck to the bottom of the pan.
- You want all the beer to be absorbed before serving, and then let it continue to cook to get a bit of crisp on the potatoes. You can either fry an egg however you’re used to cooking eggs or you can follow my method which guarantees no broken yolks!
Eggs Tip!
Pre-heat your grill to high. Heat a dash of oil in a frying pan over a high heat, crack your eggs is so you cook the underneath of the egg, then shove the pan under the grill to cook the eggs on top. Once the egg looks pearly and cooked remove from the grill and use a spatula to pop on top of your chorizo hash on plates. A few drops of hot sauce if you like it spicy and you’re ready to gorge.
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RECIPE | Herby Turkey Samosas
Antioxidant Rich / Digestion Helper
Makes 32 small samosas – good for a crowd
An abundance of lively fresh herbs, anti-oxidant power houses sweet potatoes & red onions, heart helper garlic, lean turkey mince and super spice turmeric fused to fill my delicious nutritious baked samosas. Utilizing flour tortillas in place of pastry, and feel free to go with your personal preference of tortilla.
Turmeric can rapidly increase the antioxidant capacity in your body, which will really work along side the sweet potato, red onion, coriander, parsley, and mint as all these are abundant in anti-oxidant ammo!
CORIANDER – A great source of vitamin K (great for bones and teeth). It’s also high in antioxidant vitamins A & C, which promote healthy immune system function. Coriander is also beneficial for people suffering with skin disorders (eczema and dryness). Coriander is also good for stimulating our digestion system.
PARSLEY – The vitamin C content is higher than oranges (53% of your recommended daily intake in 30g of fresh parsley). Within the same 30g you will get 553% of your daily intake for vitamin K (healthy bones). It’s packed full of antioxidants, vitamin A, folate, iron. and can help neutralize carcinogens. Containing a high amount of enzymes, parsley benefits digestive activity .
FRESH MINT – One of mint’s best attributes is it’s anti-oxidant properties. Fresh mint also may help healthy digestion due to it being an anti-inflammatory. Mint also stimulates digestive enzymes which absorb nutrients from food, consuming fat and converting it into usable energy, which may help with weight management.
RED ONION – Any dark fruit or vegetable is going to be anti-oxidant rich, but with the red onion it also contains a bioflavanoid called Quercetin. Quercetin has been found to contain anti : fungal / bacterial / inflammatory, and cancer fighting properties. One study suggests that half an onion a day could reduce the risk of stomach cancer by 50%. (SOURCE:
Ingredients.
2 packs of 8 white flour tortillas
60g fresh coriander, finely chopped
60g fresh parsley, finely chopped
10g fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
2 red onions, finely chopped
5 garlic cloves, finely chopped
200g frozen petit pois
3 small sweet potatoes, peeled & chopped
500g turkey mince
1 tbsp turmeric
1 tbsp chilli flakes
Method.
Preheat your oven to 200c / 180c (fan) / Gas Mark 6
- In a small saucepan get your sweet potatoes in boiling water and cook until soft. Mash with a tsp of coconut oil if you have it, alternatively a tablespoon of olive oil- along with some salt & pepper. Set aside.
- Next fry your onions in a little olive oil, with the turmeric and chilli flakes, over a medium heat until they are translucent and soft (around 5-7 minutes).
- On the final minute of cooking the onions add the garlic. Remove from the heat and set aside.
- Brown the turkey mince until completely cooked through and then add the peas continuing to cook for a couple more minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl now combine your cooked sweet potato mash, onions, turkey & peas, and now add your fresh chopped herbs. Mix well with a spoon to combine thoroughly.
- On a clean surface, lay a tortilla down and run a knife vertically down the centre, creating two semi-circles. Place a tablespoon of the filling in the centre of each semi-circle. Dab water around the edges of the tortilla. Fold the tortilla vertically and squish the edges together to seal the samosa. You could also crimp the edges, pressing hard, if you have any difficulty sealing the edges. Repeat this step until all your tortillas have been transformed into samosas.
- Brush both sides lightly with olive oil, place onto baking sheets and into the oven for 20 minutes, turning once at halfway mark.
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RECIPE | Firework Chickpea Salad
Serves 2 (or 4 as a starter) Prep 10 mins Cook 30 mins
This far from boring warm chickpea salad has a beautiful array of colours and flavours, hence the name firework. It goes amazingly well with grilled meats. I usually would have minted lamb meatballs, pita bread, and houmous to create a Middle-Eastern theme for the table. You could add some feta after all the cooking has been done. Or a handful of raisins. The recipe could easily be doubled and is bound to get attention at the table. Leftovers are fab the next day for lunch whether you add feta, a few olives and cucumber and make it into something Greek-Chic, or slapped between two pieces of bread with some ham. To get the most out of your shopping why don’t you use the other half of the fennel and cabbage in my Fennel & Red Cabbage Slaw.
FENNEL – Fennel contains a healthy amount of flavonoids that give it strong antioxidant properties. When researchers tested the impact of fennel on animals, it has repeatedly shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and help prevent cancer. Fennel is a very good source of fibre too, as fibre helps flush out potential carcinogenic toxins, fennel could be useful in the treatment of colon cancer. High in potassium, this vegetable is another winner for helping lower blood pressure. (SOURCE; http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=23 )
RED CABBAGE – The deep purple colour of red cabbage denotes high amounts of antioxidant properties. Red cabbage is more than 90% water so could also be a useful aid in weight management if you are watching calories. When cooked, 150g of cabbage will provide the following of your daily recommended intake; 79% vitamin K , 68% vitamin C, 20% B6, 16% manganese, and 15% fibre- to name a few. (SOURCE: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=19 ). Cabbage has also had extensive research into it’s prevention and in some cases treatment of cancer. This is due to it’s ; antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and glucosinolate properties. (SOURCE: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=19 )
FRESH MINT – One of mint’s best attributes is it’s anti-oxidant properties. Fresh mint also may help healthy digestion due to it being an anti-inflammatory. Mint also stimulates digestive enzymes which absorb nutrients from food, consuming fat and converting it into usable energy, which may help with weight management. (SOURCE; https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/health-benefits-of-mint.html )
Ingredients.
Olive oil
1 carton chickpeas (230g drained weight)
1 lemon, juice and zest of
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
½ fennel bulb, thinly sliced
1 small carrot, grated
¼ head red cabbage, finely shredded
20g mint, finely shredded
2 cloves garlic,crushed 1
tsp dried marjoram
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried thyme
More lemon zest & lime zest for decoration (optional)
Method.
Preheat your oven to 140c / 120c (fan) / Gas Mark 1
1. In a bowl mix the drained chickpeas with the marjoram, oregano, thyme, lemon juice / zest, and two teaspoons of olive oil. Place in a shallow baking tray, give a good shaking of salt and a bit of pepper, and bake for 10 – 20 minutes. *The outer shells should turn crispy and leave a soft centre due to the low cooking temperature. Set aside once done.
2. Meanwhile, pop a glug of oil in a small frying pan and shallow fry the red onion slices until they have turned a deep red colour and look crispy. Remove from the heat and drain using kitchen towel. You will use the crispy onions to decorate the
top of the salad.
3. If the rest of the ingredients will fit in the frying pan you used for the onions then use it again (saves washing up!) when you heat about a tablespoon of olive oil on a high heat and add in; red cabbage, carrot, fennel, and garlic. Cook stirring regularly
for 5 minutes.
4. Take the heat off, and stir in the chickpeas and mint (I usually leave some behind to scatter on top for presentation).
5. Move the salad to your desired plate / platter / bowl – top with remaining
chickpeas, any remaining mint, crispy red onions, and more lemon / lime zest. Taste -
COMMENT: Do We Need Gay Sports Clubs In 2016
As a sportsman (or someone who is not very good, but really enjoys it) I am someone who plays cricket for a ‘normal’ straight team and football for a gay team.
The question is often asked now if we need to have gay teams, or if the gay community is becoming too inclusive?
It doesn’t need me to tell people that a number of sports have ‘moved on’ in attitudes such as Rugby and cricket, which now have openly gay professional players. I also don’t need to comment that it’s a shame no British based professional football players feel that they can come out and be open with their sexuality. Of course, there may not be any gay footballers, but then pigs might fly as well.
At a recent European Gay football tournament that I had the pleasure of playing in for Village Manchester in Hamburg, Thomas Hitzlsperger (ex Aston Villa, West Ham and German International to the uninitiated) attended the closing ceremony and presented the awards. Hitzlsperger came out as gay after his career finished and is now championed by many in the gay sports community, but one of my colleagues felt differently. He asked why if Hitzlsperger is so proud of his sexuality, then why did he wait till his career finished before he revealed it? There may be numerous answers, but I felt it was a poignant question.
In a small way I can understand this. I personally didn’t come out until I was 31 for fear of being rejected by my cricket team. My fears were extremely ill-founded. I do get a bit of banter now, but it’s all pretty harmless, and I’d rather people feel they can joke about it, rather than be afraid to mention anything.
The changing rooms for any sports teams are sacred places where all sorts of things (non-sexual for the dirty minded amongst you) go on. So it’s important that all sports people trust and have a respect for each other. Everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation should feel comfortable in what they are doing, and I’ve heard a number of stories from guys at Village Manchester that they have felt uncomfortable in ‘straight’ football teams. I believe that’s why gay teams work. People are free to be themselves, talk freely about who they are and enjoy each others company.
I joined VMFC in 2014 and I can honestly say that its one of the best things I’ve ever done. That is where gay teams and clubs have a place in society. VMFC also has a number of straight members as well, making it fully inclusive for anyone who loves football. Now there is a perfect world – INCLUSIVE
by Dan Fish | @rava1979
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Restaurant Review: Slug and Lettuce @ Brindley Place, Birmingham
Slug and Lettuce is a cocktail bar that serves food, and it is a place where I have always had a good time, having booked it for my birthday a couple of years ago. Last night was the first time I had ever eaten there, and it was my guest’s first time there too. (more…)
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Tomorrow Is The Day Our New Year Good Cheer Runs Out
Tomorrow, (Saturday, Jan 16th) is the day our ‘New Year’ optimism starts to fade, a study has found.
Millions of Brits claim to start 2016 feeling positive and full of hope for the year ahead, but see their upbeat thoughts take a downturn after just two weeks.
By 16th January, we become gloomy and fed up thanks to a struggle to stick with New Year’s resolutions, the cold, wet weather and trying to keep bank balances afloat until the next payday.
The study, of 2,000 adults by Thomas Cook, found 77 per cent start January with a positive mind-set, looking forward to the year ahead and making plans to make it a good 12 months.
But 85 per cent of those have already given up on their hopeful outlook before the end of January, with one in twenty admitting their happy mood is over before they’ve even got through the first week.
Almost half blame the drop in their mood on the cold, wet and dreary weather getting the better of them, while 31 per cent struggle once any leftover Christmas cheer is forgotten.
Around one in six find it difficult to stay positive as their money starts to run-out, with payday still weeks away.
But to try and perk themselves up, 31 per cent book a holiday for the year ahead, with nine in ten saying this helps them to get through the long first month of the year.
Chris Mottershead, Managing Director, Thomas Cook UK, which commissioned the research to launch its ‘Beach Holiday Ready’ campaign, said: “Everyone starts out with the best of intentions to make this year the best yet, full of positivity and optimism that the 12 months ahead will be great.“But unfortunately, once life gets back to normal over the Christmas break and we go back to our day-to-day routines, it doesn’t take long for our happy mood to fade. The weekend before ‘Blue Monday’ is our busiest of the year. Named ‘Jet Set Saturday’, we saw bookings reach their peak as the Great British public fight back against the winter blues”
“January is a long month, but doing little things, such as making sure you have something to look forward to during the year ahead such as booking a holiday, can really help to keep your good intentions and positivity going.”
Twenty-seven per cent also blame their fading optimism on a failure to stick at New Year’s resolutions, with more than one in ten of the three quarter who make them, lasting less than a day.
Almost four in ten have gone back on their resolution within the first week of January.
Seven in ten admit they have even had years where they had every intention of making a New Year’s resolution, but have given up before they even started trying.
It also emerged 57 per cent of Brits reckon they suffer from the January blues.
Another six in ten would also like to try to avoid the January blues by seeing in the New Year abroad if money was no issue, with New York, Australia, Barbados, Las Vegas and the Canary Islands the most popular destinations.
Chris Mottershead, Managing Director, Thomas Cook UK added:“This New Year, Thomas Cook is helping the British public turn the January blues into blue-skies and sunshine by helping them get ‘Beach Holiday Ready’ for 2016 – with the help of a panel of experts.
“The panel includes Celebrity Personal Trainer and Singer, Michelle Heaton; Life Coach and TV Presenter Anna Williamson; Editor of children’s newspaper First News, Nicky Cox OBE; Fashion Editor, Stylist and Writer, Bonnie Rakhit; Universal Music; and Waterstones .
“As the nation’s leading holiday company we have enlisted an expert panel to help you feel positive, inspired and motivated in the run up to summer while resolutions to be healthier, lose weight or focus on yourself more are top of mind.
“Are You Beach Holiday Ready focuses on what you can do before you travel to ensure you can indulge while away.”Thomas Cook asked Anna Williamson, a qualified counsellor, life coach and NLP Practitioner to provide tips on how to stay positive in the new year and stay on track with your resolutions.
1 – Set yourself a GoalIt’s important you keep the goal realistic and achievable, don’t make your goal too unobtainable as it’ll only serve to de-motivate you should you veer off it slightly. Start small, then increase your goals each time you’ve completed one. It’s best to start with a series of short term ‘mini-goals’, and then have a think about setting a more long term one when you’re getting the hang of it. This is proven to help resolutions stick.2 – Take some ‘Me’ Time
We often spend so much time making sure everything and everyone is ok, that we can accidentally neglect our own needs and mental health. Have a think about what you can do, just for you, and make a ‘deal’ with yourself to dedicate some time each week for yourself. So, maybe it’s reading a favourite book or trashy magazine, it could be having a leisurely browse online at your favourite destinations and planning your next holiday. Go on, you deserve it.
3 – Get up and get ActiveAt this time of the year, the last thing we often feel like doing is to jump around in the cold or sweat it out in a gym. However, exercise is proven to boost your feel good hormones and brain chemicals, and really can make all the difference to our mood and motivation. So, if sweating it out in a gym class isn’t for you, that’s ok, have a think about what you’d enjoy, maybe it’s swimming (with a nice hot sauna afterwards) or a calming yoga class…boosting our physical health really can help with our overall happy and positive vibes.4 – Plan something Fun- When we’re juggling work, family and keeping New Year’s resolutions, we can sometimes hit a wall and feel a little overwhelmed. Making plans for the near future is a great way to lift your mood and look forward to something fun. A holiday is an obvious and a great tried and tested way to boost your outlook and keep you on track with the job in hand. You can use it as a reward for achieving a goal or motivation to keep fit and show off that bikini body. So go on, have think about some Summer sun or a cosy winter chalet – a short break, or a long holiday.
5 – Have a chat and cuppaWe’re all so used to checking our smart phones and social media umpteen times a day that it can be really easy to forget the importance and benefits of having a proper face to face chat with someone. Have a think about who you could have a cuppa and natter with, maybe it’s a family member, or that friend you keep putting off – the positive benefits of having a chat with someone and offloading any worries, and in turn listening to theirs, can have such a brilliant and positive effect on your wellbeing. So go on, ditch the mobile and put the kettle on! -
RESTAURANT REVIEW: Las Iguanas in Resorts World Birmingham
Last night, I travelled to the exotic and vibrant Las Iguanas with high expectations, for I had already been before, and had always had a good time.
This visit, however, exceeded every expectation I had. It was my friend’s first time, so was great to relive the Las Iguanas experience once more.
A fiery start was had when we arrived at the bar to understand it was happy hour, slogan of which read: “Create Your Happy Hour”, with a choice of 25 cocktails to mark 25 years of Las Iguanas. With mixologist Kevin’s help, the first hour was a truly happy one, imbibing rum and ginger based cocktails that had some heat kick.
The happiness ensued as we finished our cocktails (Dark’n’Stormy x2, and a Ginger and Orange Caipirinha) to be escorted by a very friendly front of house member of the team who took us to our table, enthusiastically explaining everything on the menu ensuring we knew what to do.The mixture of Latin music and the effervescent energy of the staff contributed to an atmosphere worthy of the tropics. The mood was certainly heightened once Josh, our waiter, had introduced himself and by offering to help us choose some Tapas to try for starters. We took Josh’s recommendations and ordered Gambas (king prawns in garlic, lemon and chillie sauce); Nachos; and Pato Taquito (roasted duck with caramelised onion rolled in a flour tortilla, with a spicy cranberry salsa), all of which only cost £15. The prawns were a sensation with an incendiary edge that lingered warmly on the palate, with a zest that equalled the fire of the chillie. This was my plus-1’s favourite dish of the night, having spooned the remains of the sauce and come close to asking the waiter to doggy-bag the rest. For me, the duck was the winner with tender and meaty chunks, dipped in a cranberry salsa ingeniously corrupted by chillie. After many a dip, I don’t think cranberry and chillie should ever be divorced from each other again!
Being a returnee, I went for my favourite dish at Las Iguanas which was Marinated strip-steak Fajitas (£15.95), while my guest had the Sea Bass (£13.50). The sound of the steak sizzling was part of the Fajita experience at Las Iguanas, where you can hear it come before you see it. It was accompanied by generous sides (guacamole, soured cream, jalapeños, tomato salsa, cheese) all to go on my warm and soft wheat tortillas. The Sea Bass, according to my friend, was of a rustic nature, appeared and tasted fresh and was as comforting as a stew on a cold winter’ day (appropriate of course!)
After finishing all our food, I was teased by the dessert menu, but had no room for more; a shame as I would have loved to have tried either the Dulce de Leche Macadamia Cheesecake, or the Aztec Chocolate Fudge Cake, which appeared particularly special with it being made with spiced orange sponge.
Las Iguanas did itself proud again, with an excellent atmosphere, to-die-for food, and second-to-none service, especially from Kevin and Josh who both went out of their way to satisfy our queries and make us feel at home. We are already talking about the next trip. If you want a hot experience in a wintery season, go to Las Iguanas!Reviewed by: Alex Da Silva | @AlexMDaSilva
Address: Las Iguanas – Ground Floor, Resorts World Birmingham, Pendigo Way, Birmingham, B40 1PU
Website: http://www.iguanas.co.uk/
Star Rating: *****
Cost Rating: £££
Tipping Policy: An optional 12.5% service charge will be added to your bill.
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CAR REVIEW | Volvo V60
★★★★ | Volvo V60
Estates have taken a bit of a battering in the last few years.
It seems that these days the default choice for those needing more room for cargo, dogs or dead bodies is a chunky crossover rather than a long-roofed car. All is not lost though, Volvo (who else?) is now offering a dash of off-road appeal to its V60 estate with this Cross Country model.
So what does it take to make the Cross Country variant? First, the suspension is jacked up by 65mm, not a vast amount but enough to give a noticeably loftier viewpoint on the world. Next, Volvo add silver skidplate effect bumpers front and rear with matching side skirts. Finally, you get chunky mud and snow tyres beneath plastic wheel arch extensions. All-wheel drive is an option but only on the most powerful engine.
While those changes may not sound like much, they do toughen up the V60 by a significant amount giving it a little more presence on the road. That the normal V60 is a pretty handsome thing doesn’t hurt at all. Inside feels very well put together and is attractive in a sober, Swedish kind of way. It may not immediately appeal but it proved to be a wonderfully calming, well-made environment in which to clock up the miles. This was helped by excellent seats with plenty of adjustment, clear instrumentation (especially with the optional TFT dials) and easy to follow sat-nav.
Our test car came with keyless entry and start. As long as the key was on you, you could unlock the car with a tug of the door handle and fire up the engine with the push of a button. You could even lock it again without the key fob in your hand. Nice. Once I was inside and ready to set off, I did notice the gearstick seemed a little bit too far back in the cabin with the cupholders unhelpfully beneath your arm as you changed gear.
On the road, the gearchange action itself was long but not unpleasant. Not that you had to stir the stick much, even with the lowest power engine the V60 CC proved surprisingly rapid. The 150hp unit may have been a little loud (although easily masked by a quality sound system) but had plenty of grunt; it always seemed faster than the 9.1 second sprint to 62mph suggested. Unfortunately thanks to those chunky tyres, there was a bit of torque steer and a fair amount of wheelspin even in second gear.
Pushing the V60 CC around bends highlighted the issues with putting a car on stilts. Turning the car into a bend over a crest could unsettle the rear while it did float a little over bumps too. The steering was well weighted but lacking any real feedback. To be fair though, it’s unlikely you’d buy one of these for its handling prowess. In a relaxed cruise it proved effortlessly comfortable, refined and pretty economical too. Over my usual mixed route, I was averaging around 44mpg. It’s just a shame that rough road surfaces did make things get a little jiggly. Yes, you can call it that.
I was also a little disappointed with the load space, or rather the lack of it. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still plenty more than something like a Ford Focus hatchback but not anywhere near as much as you’d think for a car of this size. Unfortunately in giving the V60 its svelte shape at the rear, boot space has been sacrificed. At least the cargo bay is a decent shape with no lip. On the subject of negative points, while the V60 CC range starts at £30,000, you’re looking at around £35,000 for an AWD model.
In summary, there’s a lot to like about the V60 Cross Country. The driving experience and high-quality interior combine to offer a relaxing experience while real world economy is more than acceptable. While you could argue that not offering AWD with all engines is a bit of an oversight, most people will buy these for the looks rather than for any off-road ability. Rivals may be cheaper but I doubt they’d feel quite this plush. Is it worth the premium? I think for many the answer will be yes.
Loves
Relaxing to drive
Performance
Looks
Loathes
Boot smaller than expected
Lack of traction
The Lowdown
Car – Volvo V60 Cross Country D3 SE Nav
Price – £30,995 (£35,545)
Power – 150hp
0-62mph – 9.1 seconds
Top Speed – 127mph
Co2 – 111g/km