THEGAYUK

Category: Lifestyle

  • GARDEN| Here Is To A Colourful New Year

    January – The tinsel’s gone, the lights are back in the box and we’re all feeling a little bit fatter!

    There’s a real danger at this time of year to wish time away. To urge spring to burst into life and leave the cold winter behind. Don’t do it!

    A friend of ours, a keen gardener, once told us that winter is his absolute favourite time of year in the garden. The land isn’t bleak, it’s waiting. Life is hovering just beneath the surface, biding its time, waiting for the perfect moment to emerge.

    So while you’re waiting for the spring shoots to show, now’s a great time to make plans, because as soon as the weather warms up you won’t have time to do much at all!

    As you may remember Andy and I are on a mission this year – a mission to learn new things and brighten up our garden. So after doing all our usual veg growing jobs for January on the smallholding, we’ve turned our attention to the garden. We love colour outdoors and decided we didn’t want winter to be boring.

    We all know spring, summer and autumn have their own incredible bursts of colour. Spring snowdrops and daffodils give way to summer flowers and fruits, followed by the golden hue of autumn leaves. But what about winter?

    With a little bit of research and some garden centre vouchers we got for Christmas (thanks Nan) we set off to brighten up the garden.

    Winter flowers make your garden beautiful all year round. Intersperse winter flowering plants into your borders and pots to give you year round colour. A great way to build up your knowledge of what is in flower at what time is to visit your local garden centre or nursery at different times of the year.

    Staff are usually friendly and will be full of advice – plus if they have outdoor sections you can see the plants flowering for yourself at their preferred time of year.

    Recently we did just that – after deciding we needed some colour in the garden – we headed to a garden centre. After a few minutes wandering around we found some heathers that were in flower – perfect. In addition to the flowers we also discovered a few evergreen plants that had vibrant yellow and green leaves.

    The other great thing about buying plants from a nursery is that the staff can give you advice on the care and maintenance of your purchases. For example heathers need to be potted in ericaceous (acidic) soil.

    So we got home, potted up and boom! Instant colour! The pots sit just outside the front door welcoming visitors in from the cold.

    The advantage of putting these particular plants in pots is that they can be moved around the garden during different times of the year. When all the summer flowers are in bloom these pots can be moved to a different area of the garden. Both the evergreens and heathers are hardy (meaning they should be fine outside all year round) so they can be put almost anywhere.

    The other way we’ve found to brighten up our garden in winter is with outside lights! Perfect for illuminating the new pots but also great for lighting the way on nights when the fire-pit is lit and we’re enjoying a few drinks in the moonlight.

    This month we’ve learnt that when it comes to gardening in winter just a few simple, carefully chosen plants can make your garden look cared for and vibrant. We’re spending the rest of the month clearing leaves and tidying the garden in preparation for our busiest year ever. Good luck with yours – and get in touch if you fancy a chat. We’re at @andyandadams on Twitter or search ‘Andy and Adam’s’ on Facebook.

     

    Happy Planting!

     

    by Adam Willcox

     

  • The Dos And Do Nots Of Being A New Dad

    The Dos And Do Nots Of Being A New Dad

    If you’re a new dad or are planning to start a family soon, it can be a very exciting time.

    the do's and don'ts of being a dad
    © DGLimages Depositphotos

    It is, however, very important that you start to engage your dad mode in the months leading up to being a real daddy. No matter how many fatherhood books or dad guides you read, nobody is ever really fully prepared for what is to come with having a new baby. It is true that much of the enjoyment from parenting is learning from your mistakes, which in turn, makes you an even better parent, but this being said, there are certain things that are better off knowing before you dive head first into parenting.

    Below I have listed 8 top tips regarding the “Dos and Don’ts” of being a first-time daddy:

    Number one, and maybe most importantly, don’t forget to record everything in the early years. I don’t mean buy an expensive video camera and film your little one 24/7, I just mean make a permanent memory of anything that is significant to you, such as first steps, first tooth etc.

    Many dads actually blog about their fatherhood experience, so if you really wanted to document everything about your baby’ first years you could think about writing it all up or video blogging. To get an idea of how it works check out Cisions top UK Daddy Blogs.

    Don’t ever, and I mean ever, change a nappy without suitable protection for both the surroundings and yourself! Babies have a tendency to hold just a little bit of wee in, just to surprise you when you start to change their nappy. So unless you want to be covered in your little one’s urine, I would suggest preparing beforehand.

    This being said, I would recommend taking a nappy changing bag everywhere you go, as you never really know when your little one will need to go! iCandy actually do Man Bags for dads that need something stylish and convenient to carry everything baby related around with them.

    Don’t ever take your eyes off them! This may sound silly, but once they start to crawl they can disappear in a second, so you could quite easily go to make a drink and come back to the baby playing their own game of hide and seek with you.

    Don’t ever wake a sleeping baby. Sleep is massively important to your baby’s development. Plus, I am sure you will realise when you become a full-time daddy that every second of their sleep is precious, due to the fact you get some peace and quiet yourself!

    Don’t turn into a panicked maniac if your little one happens to give themselves a little bump or scrape. By this I mean don’t jump around and create a huge fuss, this is likely to scare your baby even more, and thus the hour long cries begin.

    It is important to remember that even trips and falls go toward a baby’s mental and physical development. I would recommend being much more gentle and trying to calmly sooth your baby and reassure them as much as possible.

    Do make sure you are constantly talking to your baby. It helps them develop in terms of speech, as well as helping to create a bond between your little one and you. WebMD have a really useful article for more information about how to talk to babies and what it does for their development.

    Do set up a daily routine. It is always better, in my opinion, to have a daily routine for you and your baby. It helps your baby feel more stable and secure, and makes your life a whole lot easier, especially if you develop a regular bedtime.

    Do let them explore. I know that many parents are extremely protective which is completely understandable, and normal, however, children, especially at a very young age need to explore the world (maybe just your front room). It is a huge learning curve for babies and massively improves the development of the mind as well as the physical aspect. Just make sure you are keeping an eye on them wherever they happen to wander off too.

    Each of these points are things that I have picked up from my own experience as a dad, however, the last thing I would recommend is finding a suitable balance that is right for yourself. You may find that certain advice doesn’t really suit you, and that is okay. As long as your own techniques are best for your little one, any parenting style is perfect.

    by JAMES P

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Tozi

    RESTAURANT REVIEW | Tozi

    Everything about Tozi oozes something smooth.

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  • MOTORING: Ten Soft Tops For Summer Under £5k

    You might think I’m insane for suggesting you buy an open car in the middle of winter but there is method to my madness.

     

    Quite rightly you’ll be thinking that you’ll barely ever get the roof down and you might as well get something with more than a bit of canvas between you and the elements. Unsurprisingly, everyone else will be thinking the same ensuring demand is low as are prices. Just £700 will get you into the cheapest car on the list while others have hard roofs that leave them feeling very similar to a regular car. Whether you just want to look good and catch some sun or if you want something that carves through corners and devours straights, there’s a car on the list for you. If not, please feel free to share what you’ve found!

    1. Volkswagen Golf Mk3 Convertible – £700

    http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/volkswagen/golf-mk3-mk4/volkswagen-golf-2-0-avantgarde-convertible-manual-only-two-owners-good-condition-mot-till-october-2015-electric-hood/2688004

    Topless thrills don’t have to cost thousands, this Golf is cheap to buy, cheap to insure with a classic policy and should prove pretty reliable too. Although it’s 20 years old it still has plenty of toys although don’t expect it to be the most exciting car to drive. With an MOT till October, you could use it until autumn next year and sell it for what you paid for it. Alternatively, tidy the car up and it could be a reliable retro ride for many years to come.

    1. Ford StreetKa – £1476
      http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/ford/streetka/ford-streetka-1-6i-2dr/3035341

    Don’t just think of this as a regular Ka with the roof sawn off, Ford spent a lot of time and money re-engineering this with a bigger engine and wider, stiffer suspension. It’s no rocketship but it’ll still feel quick enough around town and be a hoot round bends. You do lose 2 seats compared to the hatchback but you gain a much more stylish rump. Being a Ford, it should be cheap to run and pretty reliable. If it does go wrong, parts are cheap.

    1. Fiat Barchetta – £1950

    http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/fiat/barchetta/fiat-barchetta-convertibl-1998/2441591

    Fancy a sexy Italian for the summer? How about the Fiat Barchetta? A rare sight on UK roads, probably thanks to them being left hand drive only, they’re a good looking alternative to the ubiquitous Mazda MX-5. Underneath it’s based on the Fiat Punto meaning predictable front wheel drive handling and fairly cheap running costs. It also means that if it does go wrong, which it might, bits are cheap. A lively 135 bhp engine makes the car pretty nippy and they handle well too.

    1. Toyota MR-2 MK-3 – £2795

    http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/toyota/mr2/toyota-mr2-mk3-roadster—————–2003/3021610

    If your main reason for buying a sports car is that you love driving, the MR-2 needs your attention. Although it’s not the prettiest car here, it’s light, mid engined and rear wheel drive. Add feelsome steering and an engine with just enough power to make things interesting and you have the ingredients for serious fun. Being a Toyota, it’ll be endlessly reliable and servicing shouldn’t be too costly either. It won’t be overly practical and there’s only room for one passenger but hey, your friends can always take the bus.

    1. MG Midget £3450

    http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/mg/midget/1979-mg-midget-1500/3088628

    You don’t have to spend a great deal to get a proper classic like this MG Midget. You do have to be careful to avoid buying a rusty old money pit, however this dry stored example should be a good bet. The mechanicals are simple (the engine is shared with the original Mini) so don’t expect modern levels of grip, braking or safety. The upshot is that you don’t have to go fast to have fun and the kind of looks that you just don’t get anymore. Be prepared to get your hands dirty though, MGs can be temperamental.

    1. Smart Roadster £4500

    http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/smart-car/roadster/smart-roadster-80-rhd-2dr-auto-fsh-low-mileage/2826209
    In many respects this Smart Roadster is the modern day MG Midget. It’s similarly tiny, shares its engine with an economy car and is cheap to run. Available only as a semi-automatic, it could be argued the slow witted and clumsy gearbox ruins the car. Learn to work with it and you’ll find a chuckable chassis, accurate steering and a great sounding turbocharged engine. The looks are Marmite and storage limited but they are bloody good fun. It’s easy to squeeze a few more horsepower from the engine too.

    1. Jeep Wrangler – £4450

    http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/jeep/wrangler/jeep-wrangler-4-0-petrol-limited-edition-65k-mileage/3222334Just because you’re buying a car to enjoy in the summer doesn’t mean it won’t prove invaluable in winter. This Jeep Wrangler offers a removable roof for the sun and 4 wheel drive with chunky tyres for the snow. The brick like aerodynamics and massive 4.0 litre engine will mean you’ll be very friendly with your local petrol station attendant but they are at least pretty reliable. Wranglers are very much an old school 4×4 so don’t expect the best road manners either.

    1. Mercedes SL320 £4490

    http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/mercedes-benz/sl/mercedes-sl-320——————1994/3102387

    If I was picking the classiest drop top from this list, the SL would win every time. This immaculate 1994 car comes with one of the smaller engines of the range which should save a few quid on petrol and servicing. Besides, the SL is not really about going fast, it’s about looking good. It also comes with a removable hard top to keep the heat in and car thieves out. Classic insurance won’t be expensive and old SLs tend to go up in value if you look after them….

    1. BMW M3 Evo – £4995

    http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/bmw/e36-m3-92-99/bmw-e36-m3-evo–low-mileage–3-keys/2895944

    Here’s a convertible that’ll really put the wind in your hair thanks to over 300 bhp from a brawny straight 6 engine. This 1996 example has been well looked after and comes in the best colour too. Inside is leather and luxury while you can even seat 4 at a push. Being an M3, parts and servicing will be on the expensive side as will the fuel bills. If you like the looks but don’t need the performance or expense, consider the lower powered 318i, 320i or 325i, they’re much cheaper to buy and run.

    1. Renault Wind – £4988

    http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/renault/wind/renault-wind-1-6-vvt-dynamique-s-2dr/3199982

    Once you’ve stopped laughing at the stupid name, the Wind is well worth your consideration. For a start, this is only 4 years old with just 36000 miles. For seconds it shares a lot with the Renaultsport Twingo, a great little hot hatch and for thirds it’s actually practical for a 2 seat roadster. A clever folding hardtop gives plenty of boot space that isn’t impacted when the roof is stowed (unlike a Merc SLK or Peugeot 308CC) and avoids a massive arse. The name killed sales in the UK so they’re rare but well worth tracking down.

  • Union Jack To Be Featured On Driver Licences

    British motorists will be able to fly the flag with pride in the new year thanks to government plans to display the Union Flag on driving licences.

    Anyone applying for a new licence or changing their personal details will be issued with a licence showing both the British and European Union flags.

    The changes will apply to motorists in England, Scotland and Wales and provide road users with a symbolic sign of their national identity.

    Transport Minister Claire Perry said:

    “People in this country rightly take pride in our national flag which is why I am delighted it will now be displayed on British driving licences.

    “Celebrating Britain strengthens our sense of national identity and our unity. I will feel proud to carry my new licence and I hope others will too.”

    The inclusion of union flags on licences is one of a number of improvements being made for motorists. On 25 October this year, the DVLA announced a dramatic drop in licence fees for those who apply online. In the interests of reducing unnecessary red tape, since 1 October this year the paper tax disc is no more and motorists can pay their vehicle tax by direct debit. From 8 June next year the paper counterpart of the photocard licence will no longer be required.

    DVLA has also introduced a service to allow the public to check the most up to date information on their driving record.

    The European Union flag has been displayed on full driving licences since photocards first came into use in July 1998. More than 127 million photocard licences have been issued since they were introduced.

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Mews Of Mayfair

    A short walk from Oxford Circus tube, tucked behind shopping chaos is the tranquil Mews of Mayfair. The clientèle appeared to mainly be tourists which is not surprising as the menu design is a marriage of classic familiar dishes (Fish & Chips, Burger, Club Sandwich etc.), alongside more refined sophisticated dishes including Duck Egg, Salt Baked Cotswold Chicken, Superfoods Salad, and rare breed beef.

    The team within Mews of Mayfair were all really lovely, welcoming and engaged in conversation with us both. I find especially in London that service can be almost robotic and cold at times, but the team here were faultless and this was consistent as I observed the service with the other diners.

    To start my friend ordered the Mosaic of Wild Duck & Red Deer- and why wouldn’t you want to order the mosaic to start? Their creative flair continued through to the taste of this well-constructed starter. Essentially a pate paired with a raisin bread, and the flavours in this were superb.

    I chose the Orkney Isles Scallops served with pork belly and artichoke. Again the Mews of Mayfair showcase their expertise in the execution and presentation of this dish. Butter-like scallops served in a shell on top of a rock/seaweed filled bowl it was great to see their presentation going that extra step further. I was really impressed with the scallop and would highly recommend it.

    For the Winter period the restaurant have come up with their take on a Bambi Burger, on the menu as Venison Burger. With this dish only being available til Christmas I went for this and had it cooked medium. Served in a brioche bun with a gin and redcurrant sauce, this really was a good burger. My friend opted for their traditional Mews burger but with added meaty chunks of lobster atop the meat, which was cooked to her liking perfectly.

    With so many new restaurants opening with meat as their headlining dishes it’s important to be able to get a burger right, which the Mews of Mayfair have done so here. There were plenty of caveman flesh in face style grunts from us during eating the burgers. Always a good sign.

    Dessert. Here is where the show was stolen. I would come back here just to have the desserts alone, and I do not have much of a sweet tooth so this is really a big credit to the restaurant. I chose the Chocolate Delice served with honeycomb, yoghurt and hazelnuts. Pow in their presentation and an “oh god” moment with the first mouthful. The Chocolate Delice really is something special. Rich and mousse-like with subtle orange notes and light honeycomb with globes of cream and yoghurt.

    We also had the Roast Williams Pear served with croissant ice cream. The pear was perfection and such a great match with the ice cream- seriously good ice cream, and I should know after many a summer spent in Italy.

    I will definitely be back, not only for the dessert and friendly service, but to next time try something a little more adventurous with their main courses. Portion sizes throughout were good value for money, especially with the desserts (£7.50 most expensive for one) and the food arrived at the exact right amount of time between courses, making this a good venue not just for dinner but lunch (we dined over lunchtime).

    REVIEWED BY: Jordan Lohan
    ADDRESS: 10 Lancashire Court. New Bond Street, London, W1S 1EY
    VENUE PHONE: 0207 518 9388
    WEBSITE: www.mewsofmayfair.com
    RATING: ★★★★ (explained)
    PRICE: ££££ (explained)
    TIPPING POLICY: Discretionary service charge of 12.5% added to bill

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | The Manhattan Grill

    The Manhattan Grill sits very comfortably on the West India Quay of Canary Wharf. This place is brimming with style, but most importantly a talented team who know exactly what they are doing, and you can tell that they love what they do. With head chef, Damian Trejo having cooked for the likes of Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama, the Manhattan Grill provides a star factor at every angle from start to finish.

    Our experience starts in their G&Tea bar where we have a gin tasting session with the lovely Sam. Sam takes us through the tasting and stories of 7 gins where we hear of London’s first distillery, olden porn sellers, and where “Soho” originates from, to name a few.

    Tasting highlights for me were the French Saffron gin, the Monkey47 (a Black Forest German gin sold only in 500ml bottles, giving it the exclusive edge), and the Opihr (a gin where the recipe was based on a spice being taken and infused into the gin from every port on its journey).

    The bar was fairly busy for a Tuesday evening with a mix of cosy couples and booted businessmen. The restaurant was extremely quiet with the majority of tables being taken by solo suited chaps.

    We couldn’t decide what to have for starter so our friendly (and rather good looking, a recurring theme in the staff) offered to have the kitchen do us a tasting platter of the starters. Juicy King prawns in mixed chilli garlic butter, Black pearl scallops with pea puree, Devonshire pork belly, and Baked Blue Swimmer crab cake. So pretty all together on the plate this should feature on their menu as a tasting platter.

    The pork belly was far too salty for me although it was matched with a fruity cabbage- the flesh itself was heaven. The scallop with pea puree was insanely good – if I had to pick just one out of their starters, it would be this. Very closely followed by the crab cake; meaty, light and just the right amount of herbs. I also tried the clam chowder which tasted like a holiday I once had in the U.S – lovely.

    In between courses you are invited to join a sommelier (free of charge), to try some classic wines and some interesting wines from South America, South Africa and Australia. Again, here the Manhattan Grill reinforces that they know their stuff and are going to make you feel special along the way. It also came to light that this company invest in their employees, sending them on courses and trips that are of interest, which clearly adds to the staff’s happy and passionate buzz.

    Following our waiter’s suggestion on his favourite main I went for the Rib-Eye and my friend had the Fillet. The meat was superb and cooked to perfection- I asked for mine to be cooked however the chef wanted me to have the meat and it was a winner. Restaurant’s such as the Manhattan Grill that revolve around one important ingredient, means that it has to be on point. The meat was faultless.

    For sides we had the macaroni cheese (although I wish we had opted for the version they do with lobster), seared mushrooms, and onion rings. I am a sauce monster – gravy, dips, marinades the lot. So I naturally asked to taste a selection of the restaurant’s sauces; Chimichurri, Bearnaise, Bourbon Peppercorn, and red wine. Unfortunately, the sauces were a let down- I found the Chimichurri over oily and the Bearnaise bland. Bourbon Peppercorn saved the day on the sauces and it went particularly well with the Mac N Cheese.

    After both gin and wine tasting, a starter platter and a hunk of meat we decided to share the restaurant’s Key Lime Pie for dessert – light pastry and super citrus filling it was the perfect way to end the meal.

    The experience from start to finish was 5 stars, there is no doubt about that. However I cannot forgive the issue with the sauces and over salted pork I’m afraid, hence a star has been deducted. You will certainly both arrive and leave with a smile on your face, and a slightly bigger belly than when you entered! Both myself and my friend said we would be back to dine and drink again. We had a fantastic time.

    REVIEWED BY: Jordan Lohan
    ADDRESS: 22 Hertsmere Road, Canary Wharf London, E14 4ED
    VENUE PHONE:
    WEBSITE: http://manhattangrill.co.uk
    PRICE: £££ (explained)
    STAR RATING: ★★★★ (explained)
    TIPPING POLICY: Discretionary service charge of 12.5% added to bill

  • RECIPE | Cannellini & Fennel Dip

    For me and my kitchen stress head it’s all about taking it easy in the kitchen and not overloading yourself with too much to do before your guests arrive. Getting up early and prepping is key. I decided to make my own bread which is laced with pureed beetroot, later turned into my Camp Crositini served alongside a warm Cannellini & Fennel Dip.

    We have aniseedy fennel with garlic, rosemary, lemon parmesan, white beans and smoked cheese, blitzed then baked in the oven making this one hot yes!

    Ingredients.
    2 fennel bulbs, outer leaves removed and cored cut into chunks
    4 cloves garlic
    440g cannellini beans, cooked
    1 sprig rosemary, leaves removed and finely chopped
    1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
    45g parmesan, grated (with extra for topping)
    45g smoked cheese, grated (with extra for topping)

    Method.
    Preheat your oven to 200c / 180c (fan) / Gas Mark 6

    On a baking sheet combine the fennel chunks and 2 of the garlic cloves with a drizzle of oil. Season. Roast for 30 minutes, having tossed around once during. Set aside and raise the oven temperature to 230c / 210c (fan) / Gas Mark 8.
    In a frying pan, pour 120ml of olive oil in over a medium heat. Add the remaining 2 garlic cloves and cook until golden.
    Add in the beans and rosemary, cooking for a couple of minutes more. Remove from the heat.
    In a food processor, blitz the beans and garlic, fennel and garlic, lemon juice, smoked cheese, parmesan, and 60ml more of olive oil, until smooth.
    Transfer the blitzed mix into a small casserole dish, sprinkling with some extra grated cheeses. Bake until bubbling and gold for around 30 minutes.

  • GARDEN| Gifts From The Garden

    Christmas – I love it. I love the music, the dark cold nights in the pub with friends, driving for hours to be with family, too much food, way too much drink. It also feels to me like throughout December people are nicer to each other.

    The Christmas spirit definitely exists – Christmas parties, funny jumpers and strategically hung mistletoe all play a part in cheering us up and making us think a little bit more about how we treat our fellow men and women.

    However – (there had to be a but!) my feelings towards giving and receiving of gifts is mixed. Somewhere along the way gift giving has become a bit crass and tacky.

    Before Andy and I began trying to make a living from our smallholding we were as guilty as anyone. We bought horrendous amounts of gifts for friends, friends of friends, close family, distant family, work mates we liked, work colleagues we didn’t, the postman and even our pets. We had no reason to do it – it was just part of Christmas.

    So once we moved and the purse strings became tighter we made a rule – If we can’t afford to buy someone a gift, we don’t.

    For us now Christmas is simpler, It’s about sharing our lives with the people we love. We make (almost) all of our gifts and have a real sense of satisfaction when sharing them with our loved ones.

    Having learnt a lot about keeping poultry we’re raising turkeys to give to our parents.

    We’ve kept our bees happy – so we’ve got honey to give.

    The Polytunnel has given us some great produce to turn into gifts like spiced courgette chutney.

    Our favourites, the pigs, mean we’ve got homemade sausages and pork chops to delight our friends

    Scrambled eggs and smoked salmon is the best way to start your Christmas Day. (We can’t provide the salmon this year – but onwards and upwards!)

    A lot of people have given up their time to help us over the last three years so we’ll be giving out vouchers for a free weekend in the holiday cottage.

    Using the herbs from around the smallholding, these simple oils make great gifts.

    The gifts we’re giving this year are specific to our situation and place – not everyone has the space to raise turkeys! But you could use home grown herbs to make flavoured oils, or use some of your homegrown veg to make chutneys.

    It’s about experiences – everyone has received something they don’t want for Christmas. Something stuffed in a drawer that never sees the light of day. But what if you give them a new taste that changes the way they see food – or take them somewhere they’ve never been.

    The best gift I’ve ever been given is a photocopy of a friend’s favourite recipe. It sounds simple but when I cooked the meal a few months after Christmas (spiced potato cakes with halloumi and pineapple relish – in case you’re wondering!!)) it felt like eating it was the second part of the gift -like my friend had chosen that recipe because they love it and thought I would too. Really special.

    So this year think outside the (money) box. If you give your parents a voucher for a day’s help in the garden, or your sister a promise to help her decorate her lounge or your best friend a note to say you’ll be over in the spring to help them plant up their new flower beds (We’re giving a lot of people that one this year!!) I guarantee you’ll have a healthier wallet in January and lots of things and experiences to look forward to in 2015. Win, win.

     

    So have a great time everyone – be merry, be safe and be present savvy!

     

    See you in the new year x

     

    By Adam Willcox

     

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW: Rosa’s Thai Cafe, Chelsea

    Rosa’s Thai Cafe which have venues situated in; Spitalfields, Soho, Westfield Stratford, and Carnaby, recently opened their first restaurant that has a bar inside in Chelsea, which I visited recently with a friend.

    The restaurant was quite busy with clientèle appearing to be well off, middle-aged socialites. The restaurant eventually reached maximum capacity which felt a little cramped at times. As much as the large novelty Christmas tree adorned with quirky cute toy stuffed crabs was a talking point, and good show, it probably didn’t help with the spatial availability.

    Obviously inspired by their festive deco, my friend ordered the Soft Shell Crab – crispy crab topped with Thai herbs, shallots, and spicy fresh chilli sauce. This starter came served with a fresh salad of peppers which was a really nice cool contrast to the crispy spicy crab.

    I went for the Spicy Pork Patties – lightly deep fried spiced marinated minced pork with galangal, lemongrass, garlic and chilli. These were cooked really well being uber crisp on the outside and tender, herby and well spiced on the inside. It came served with a smokey honey sauce that was so good I could have done with the double the amount served. Lovely.

    In the space between courses, even with a busy restaurant, the staff were so attentive always ensuring that our water and wine were topped up as required and done so with such stealth it almost gave the impression we had magic never ending glasses.

    For a main I chose the Grilled Jumbo Prawns with spicy fresh chilli sauce, and cooled steamed vegetables. Unfortunately, this dish was really underwhelming. My reason for this being that the prawns had been butterflied and cut in half and not stated to be served in that manner on the menu. I felt they were overcooked and awkward to eat picking the flesh out of the charred outer half shells. It took the fun out of jumbo prawns for me. The cooled steamed vegetables were verging on raw, however, I would much rather vegetables be overly al-dente than mush. The side I chose was Garlic Brown Rice- and considering the amount of crispy garlic it had on top of the rice, it was rather bland unfortunately.

    After then seeing and tasting my friend’s main course, however, I would be interested in going back to Rosa’s Thai and exploring the other curries they have on offer. My friend had Salmon Red Curry- deep fried salmon fillet in light batter in Thai red curry and Thai herbs. The fish was beautiful and the curry sauce it came in was superb. An array of flavours elegantly executed with nothing too overpowering which so many curries can be. The coconut rice that we paired with this was also delicious.

    Lacking a dessert menu the restaurant do offer a coconut or green tea ice cream (not homemade unfortunately) of which we had and shared both. Both these flavours beautiful, my favourite being the green tea. They don’t appear on any menu so you will have to ask and I recommend that you do as it was a really lovely end to the meal.

    It’s a shame my main was not what I was expecting, but the flavours of the other dishes we tried were really good and the fact the restaurant was packed mid-week with locals shows that the Rosa’s Thai in Chelsea must be doing something good. Next time I visit a Rosa’s Thai I will most certainly be having one of their curries.

    REVIEWED BY: by Jordan Lohan
    ADDRESS: 246 FULHAM ROAD LONDON SW10 9NA
    VENUE PHONE: 020 3773 8384
    WEBSITE: http://rosasthaicafe.com/chelsea
    STAR RATING: ★★★ (explained)
    PRICE: ££ (explained)
    TIPPING POLICY:

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Señor Ceviche

    Peruvian pitanza comes to Soho in the form of Señor Ceviche

    Recently a friend and I were lucky enough to try out the pop-up turned restaurant, Señor Ceviche and their fine Peruvian dishes. Originally a pop-up restaurant touring round London, it has now made its home in the heart of Soho. Inspired by his time working in Peru’s top ceviche restaurant, Señor Ceviche himself, Harry Edmeades, will transport hungry Londoners to the sights, sounds and tastes of the Peruvian capital. The interiors have been designed around the bohemian and artistic streets of Lima’s party district, Barranco, which is home to some of Lima’s most exciting bars and restaurants, and where Harry stayed while in Peru.

    As you enter the restaurant, in the very impressive Kingly Court, you soon realise that the restaurant hasn’t lost its edge. With a truly Spanish downtown feel, you are transported to the mean backstreets of Lima (where we all know, the truly good food is). We were seated by the brightly and bubbly, Ariana who truly added to the Hispanic experience, serving us with the perfect balance of attentiveness and yet not too attending.

    We soon had a chance to look over the mouth-watering menu but our eyes were naturally drawn to the cocktails and we were not disappointed. We enjoyed Miraflores, Ayahuasca, Señor’s Frozen Sour and Mamaquilla; the perfect accompaniments to a truly tasteful meal. So onto the best bit, alongside the numerous amounts of cocktails, we were delighted to be presented with various dishes. We chose Chifa Chicharonnes (slow cooked, crispy pork belly with sweet soy sauce), The Spaniard (sea bream & king prawn ceviche with tomato tiger’s milk & crispy chorizo), Tamarind BBQ Chicken Anticuchos (chicken skewers with sticky tamarind BBQ sauce & aji amarillo anticucho sauce) and the best-selling Super Chicken (marinated & chargrilled chicken served with aji rocotto mayonnaise) as well as Patatas Fritas with Huancaina & Tomato Fondue (skin on fries covered in spicy Peruvian cheese sauce & tomato fondue) and Cusco Quinoa (roasted vegetables, edamame beans, giant choclo corn & crumbly queso). Now that may sound like a lot of food and yes, it was. But we were so happy. I’m an incredibly slow eater so the opportunity to go through these delicious dishes at my own pace was perfect and by the end, I was rightly stuffed (although I did enjoy their brownie and coconut ice cream).

    Founded in 2012 by Harry, the roots of Señor Ceviche lie in pop-up innovation; just five ceviche dishes and his now-signature Pisco Sour featured on the original menu for a one-off fusion of art and cuisine at The Art Cellar, and saw other takeovers at The Doodle Bar and Dukebox. Since then, Harry has continued his culinary journey, spending extensive time in Peru to bring new flavours and tastes to Señor Ceviche’s experimental menu. As well as working in some of the Lima’s top restaurants with Peru’s most acclaimed chefs, Harry has worked tirelessly to source the very best of Peruvian produce. Through meeting with an array of chilli farmers to pisco producers across Peru, Harry ensures Señor Ceviche will serve authentic dishes made from the highest quality and freshest Peruvian ingredients.

    Overall opinion:
    The whole experience was amazing; the food, drinks and staff were incredible. The dishes are served in a tapas style, so if you like that style of dining where ‘sharing is caring’ (and who doesn’t to be honest) and you don’t mind the dishes arriving as soon as they’re cooked, you’re going to love Señor Ceviche. The restaurant that celebrates the vibrancy of Peruvian culture with authentic Chicha street art adorning the walls including posters commissioned exclusively for Señor Ceviche. It is a restaurant that I will definitely be returning to and that I would definitely recommend.

    REVIEWED BY: Matt Peake
    ADDRESS: 1st Floor, Kingly Court. London, W1B 5PW
    VENUE PHONE: 0207 842 8540
    WEBSITE: http://senor-ceviche.com/
    RATING: ★★★★★ (explained)
    PRICE: ££ (explained)
    TIPPING POLICY: Optional Service Charge