In Bruges

Oh Christmas, where have you gone?! I do that thing of doing another thing straight after the main thing so you still have something to look forward to. Last year we popped off for a rainy weekend in Brighton, and this year booked two nights in Bruges in order to ease the pain of post-Christmas blues.

Ever since watching the film In Bruges, I've felt a need to go and see if I can rescue Colin Farrell. Unfortunately Steve hadn't seen the film, but dutifully put up with my shouts of 'that's where so and so happened and I'm SURE it doesn't look like this in the film...

After arriving and heading straight out for a bowl of mussels the size of a small boat and a chocolate beer, (I know), we went for a tour round De Halve Maan Brewery. Recommendation number 1. Great tour, and beer at the end. Perfect!

There are probably three main attractions in Bruges - the Cathedral, The Church of Our Lady, and The Belfry. Oh and Jesus' blood. We did all four, and The Belfry is a definite must. It's the one that features quite heavily in the film and is over three hundred steps, but you get a lovely, if not pretty nippy, view from the top.

The Basilisca of the Holy Blood contains a phial said to contain a cloth with the blood of Jesus that was brought to Bruges during the second crusade. It's only on display at certain times of the day and is a bit of an unusual experience, but whatever you believe you can't not go and see it.

Everyone we met was so friendly, and unsurprisingly spoke perfect English. That always makes me feel so guilty. So guilty in fact, that in an attempt to look slightly less English touristy I thanked a waiter for my meal in Spanish.

We'd booked in at a restaurant on the final night that had been recommended to us called Bierbrasserie Cambrinus. The food, atmosphere and thousands of beers was wonderful. I ordered a traditional Felmmish stew cooked in beer, which would honestly have been beautiful if I hadn't pre-bloated myself up on a selection of taster beers. But again, highly recommended. Just don't do the beer part.

It's such a beautiful place to wander around, and being such a small city, you can't get lost. Even I managed it.

I'm now on to the next mind-occupier which is trying to find a flat in Manchester. We've got one day and one day only to find a place. Wish me luck!

x

My first... Pumpkin.

This weekend roundup is a bit of a cheat, as it actually starts on Thursday. But I reckon all weekends should start on a Thursday.

We were meant to go and see Mickey Flannagan live but the show got cancelled, so instead we joined the queue on Wardour  Street for Busaba Eathai, which ended up being a pretty good second best. I'd been recommended the Thai calamari, and so dutifully ordered it as a side alongside a prawn and coconut stir fry. Honestly? I could have eaten 3 bowls of the calamari and not have felt an ounce of remorse. Quite honestly the best calamari I think could exist. So soft, slightly spicy and ridiculously moreish. Go, go, eat.

We spent the weekend at my cousin's, who has the world's best 2 year old as well as her own handmade card company - Ruby Rose Cards. Saturday morning consisted of dancing to One Direction, playing hide and seek, nattering over craft ideas, making cards and eating wayyy too many chocolate fingers. 

This was before... PUMPKIN CARVING!  I got a bit lot carried away and insisted on top secrecy of designs until the big reveal. Amelie the world's best 2 year old naturally pointed at my moustached design as her favourite. But then she also pointed at it when I asked which was the most rubbish. Hmm.

All this was topped off with coming home and making flapjack for work's version of GBBO today.

I was rather hoping the office might have been blown away Wizard of Oz style, but sadly not.

 Oh well, at least there's cake...

x

The Food Baby Returns: Embankment Real Food Market

This evening I met up with the rather wonderful Shu from shulikesclothes, who I haven't seen for approximately AN AGE. She is my fellow food baby friend, the girl who introduced me to the delights of banana pancakes, and the only person who shared in, and sympathised with my unhealthy peanut butter obsession for a good few months. We also made a rather brilliant fluffy bunny video together. I did worry for a while that our friendship was based solely on food, but then we also realised we had a shared love for cocktails. Hmm.

Anywayyyy, she recommended we head to the embankment for a romantic Friday night food session, (maybe I was right...). Tucked away behind the Southbank Centre by the Thames, I had an incredible Korean burrito full of spicy pork belly and rice, followed by cinnamon sugar-dusted churros and chocolate dipping sauce. (She made me.) Shu had a confit duck brioche with goats cheese made by some lovely French boys. I'm a sucker for the French accent. Definitely heading there next time s'il vous plait.

We then stumbled across the Shouthbank Centre shop, which is ALMOST as good as Tiger. Think duvet covers you can draw on, books about angry crayons and cloud and scissor shaped cushions!

Although nowhere near as big as Borough Market, it's a lovely place to pop down to after work, and is full of deli stands, sausages, cheese, chorizo, beers and cake stalls... basically all the things you need of a Friday evening.
Also, you can guarantee a nice romantic walk back over the thames afterwards. 

I think at night, lit up by all the twinkly lights, is the only time I fall in love a little bit with London. 

Anyway, enough mush. Byeeee!

x

This Week's Obsession: Eggs and Teacups

Last night I got treated to dinner at a new restaurant that's opened just off Oxford Street, called Whyte and Brown.  I read a review on it in Time Out magazine and was intrigued by its 'chicken and egg' concept. But this 'aint no ordinary chicken shop lovely readers, oh nono, there's not even a hint of Nando'sness in sight.

The restaurant is nestled (no pun intended), in Kingly Court off Carnaby Street, which is a great little location for a restaurant like this, and the interior is decorated beautifully.

To start we shared half a dozen chicken and pancetta croquettes, which were gorrrrgeous. Creamy, crispy and all round pretty pretty great. I then had a risotto ball (there was definitely a spherical theme going on), served on a bed of wilted spinach with... A DIPPY EGG INSIDE! Okay so I think the technical term is soft-boiled egg, but you all know where I'm coming from.

Steve (I don't know how to refer to him on here?! ... he's my boyfriend, but let's just stick with Steve), right, anyway... he chose the brick chicken, which was served as chicken three ways with homemade gravy and the most incredible mash. (Which I ohsokindly helped him out with).

Despite being ridiculously full of chicken and egg, I can NEVER turn down a pudding. I am addicted to sugar, and ordered their take on the classic Eaton Mess for dessert.

It came served in the biggest bowl known to man, was full of meringue and berry goodness, and sprinkled with lemon flavoured popping candy. Yes, popping candy. I don't really need to say any more. For two of us (including a glass of wine), the bill came to around £45.

Mumma Shaw's visiting next week and I'm dragging her back there whether she likes it or not. Their chicken and leek spaghetti and homemade brownie is calling...

In non-related food news, I bought these gorgeous teacup earrings yesterday by Layla Amber from Magma in Covent Garden - are they or are they not the cutest earrings you ever did see?

I'm genuinely a bit in love with them! Make sure you check out her website - I've already decided my Christmas list is going to be a good 86% full of her products.

Anyway, I'm off to make a clutch bag out of a book... 

x

Food Baby.

It's my brother's wedding in t-25 days, and after failing to fit in my bridesmaid dress at the last fitting (blates the wrong measurements) , I decided to sort out my eating habits. But I've come to the conclusion that I have the willpower of a gnat. This week so far has consisted of bacon sarnies, a Mexican feast, churros and salted caramel ice cream. And it's only Wednesday. Waa.

I did make a mean banana and blackberry smoothie though so that makes up for it, right? (Banana, blackberries and half a tub of fat free onken honey yoghurt all mushed up. Gorrrrgeous.)

Back to the not-so-good'ness, and tonight I went for dinner at Wahaca, which is becoming one of my fav food finds since moving to London. They do Mexican street food which you order in mini portions, sorta like Mexican tapas. Pretty mighty fine.
I've also decided that frijoles is my new favourite thing - who knew mushy beans could be so good?! I get stuck into a rut of visiting the same restaurants when I know they're good, so if you have any recommendations I'd loove to hear them.

Anyway, me and my food baby are off to conjure up recipes for a weekend of attempted wedding cupcake baking.
Watch this space for the blog post...

x