Give Quiche a Chance...

When puff pastry, eggs and bacon come together...

Awhile ago (it could have been a year or so...) I made a promise to one of the guys I work with that I would make him a quiche. I think it came about during his quiche eating phase and my getting upset at his Sainsbury/M&S version.

Last night (Sunday is apparently becoming my Bake Day) I finally made them.

I kind of free-style with this recipe but in general:

Base:

• Puff pastry (yeap, I use pre-made) - a lot of people use shortcrust but I am a puff pastry lady through and through.

Filling (varies on what I have in the fridge/pantry):

• Bacon - 1 pack of 8 pieces cut up into squares
• Spring Onions - 2 bunches
• Cheese - 1-2 handfuls, any that you like, I used Edam for a bit of a subtle, creamier flavour. I used square pieces that I then chopped up myself. Some people like to take the easy way out and use shredded cheese.
• Sweet corn - 1 small can
• Double cream - I used 1 tub/container of this stuff. You can use milk if you're a little more health conscious with just as yummy results.
• Eggs - 5, a lot but it's what makes it fluffy!

Basically you can have what ever filling you want... (besides cream and eggs)

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 180°c
2. Fry together the filling ingredients and place aside in a bowl - have a taste and decide whether you need seasoning. Generally I find that the bacon and cheese provide enough flavour without having to add extra salt.
3. In another bowl, mix the eggs and cream together with a pinch of pepper
4. Cut the puff pastry into squares and pop them in your lightly greased cases - I've used larger muffin tins/trays and they have worked just as well.
5. Place your desired amount of filling into each case - usually go 2-3 tablespoons
6. Fill cases with the egg and cream mixture
7. Pop in oven for about 15-20mins or till golden.

So give quiche a chance... you won't regret it!

VERDICT: Baking Success!

Home Made with Love...

When crafting is cool again...

On Tuesday night my pregnant friend and I rocked out at Homemade London. 8pm craft workshop. Hardcore.

I'm not sure how (often the case...) but I stumbled across Homemade London and their Mystery Workshops! As a lover of crafting (since an early age) and a bargain (I'm Asian), it was hard to pass up on a £10 workshop where I'd go home with something that could potentially involve sewing, glitter and/or pretty paper. So I booked myself and my fellow craft nerd friend into a session and proceeded to get excited as the week to the event drew close.

Located in between Edgware Road and Oxford Street in I guess what would be classified as Marylebone is Homemade London. A 2 floored crafting haven. 

The particular night we attended, there was a class of 22 people who were split into 2 groups - upstairs and downstairs. What was the mystery crafting session you excitedly ask? Hand sewn notebooks! I'll be honest... I was a bit 'meh' when I discovered this but by the end walked away with a smile on my face and 3 pretty notebooks!

The classes last for 60 mins each and provide plenty of time to do something quick and easy. The group was big/small enough to participate properly (and not fight for tools and materials) and for the teacher to give 1:1 time as needed.

The finished products...

Future mystery workshops are booking now (generally one every fortnight) and we're already planning to attend the next 2. I made sure to ask that there was no risk of attending a repeat class and was assured this would not happen. Classes for the remainder of the year have already been planned and there are no chance of repeats till sometime next year. Make sure to keep an eye out for Christmas themed workshops that are due to be announced in the next few weeks!!!!! 

Someone's excited. Yeap, that would be me! (and my pregnant friend)

SO many crafting tools and supplies!

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Homemade London is located at:

21 Seymour Place,
Portman Village,
London W1H 5BH

Opening Hours are generally:

Tues - Fri: 12 - 5pm

They do however ask that you check in before popping in (other than for a workshop) as they run private events.

Nightmares in the Backyard

Horror movie, bean bags and blankies under the stars...

A few weeks ago, some friends and I went to Backyard Cinema's screening of Evil Dead II. I'd never seen the film before and my friend was adamant I had not lived if I hadn't seen it. As luck would have it, a couple of days after our conversation I stumbled across Backyard Cinema's screening list and there it was. At £10 a pop in a convenient location - Camden Lock, it was a no brainer.

I won't go into a review about the actual movie (though it was quite entertaining in a 'oh it's so ridiculous it's funny!' kind of way) and carry on with the actual experience.

We got to Camden Markets early to take advantage of their summer late night trading and took advantage of the food stalls for some dinner and desserts.

Arriving at the venue of the 'cinema', I was immediately impressed. There was bunting - enough said. On top of that, what lay in front of us were rows and rows of different bean bags and deck chairs with a blanket to share between 2. This was going to be a comfy night out... (so comfy in fact, that some of us may have taken a quick test nap... or 2... ahem)

The vibe of the event was casual and the organisers really friendly. It truly felt like you had popped over to a friend's place for a movie night out.

Easy and fun. What else could you ask for, for a mid week night out?

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Backyard Cinema have previously run events in London Fields Brewery, Beach Blanket Babylon in addition to Camden Lock Markets.

They're all done on their current run of screenings but keep an eye out for future events!

Like Ama used to make...

Quick and tasty does the trick...

Last year I gave myself a challenge of baking something every month... then quickly realised how expensive it was and promptly stopped. (sorry peeps!)

This Sunday past I had the need to bake and with the reason that one of my teams at work had been doing it tough; the moulds, trays and spatula came out.

My go-to recipe is coconut macaroons purely for their ease to appreciation ratio. Quick and easy and always goes down a treat. Even when you burn them slightly... or as I call it, caramelize them. 

The particular recipe I use has been handed down from my Grandma to my Mum and now my Sister and I. For this reason, I can't share the recipe... Here's hoping I have a daughter/son who likes to bake to keep this going! The macaroons are sweet, light and definitely moreish - even more so when they've just popped out of the oven and are hot and crispy... I have to do everything I can to stop myself from eating them all!

I made 2 batches which yielded about 60+ little macaroons. Yes, they're in heart shaped moulds (bought from Poundland thank you very much!) which I love... Nothing sweeter than seeing grown men eating heart shaped treats with a smile on their face!

I've looked up a few recipes online and none really come close to the one I use so I'm not sure if they can really be called cocounut macaroons as people know them. People don't seem to complain or throw them back in my face so I guess we're ok...

VERDICT: Baking Success! 

Happy baking all!

When Once Isn't Enough...

Once, Twice, Three times a Musical that you need to see.

Opening in April 2013, Once: A New Musical has had a rather successful run in The West End's Phoenix Theatre. Seeing the movie a few years ago, Once was immediately added to my 'must see musical' list and last night, a friend and I finally got the chance.

Purchasing tickets for £19.50 each (we're on a budget!), we were prepared for the nose bleed section. What a lovely surprise when we were instead directed into the stalls, six rows from the front! We knew it was going to be a good night...

Once is based on a movie (made famous by Glen Hansard of The Frames fame) which also sparked a book by Irish writer/playwright Enda Walsh. The story centres on a broken hearted Irish busker (hoover fixer guy by day) about to give up on his music and a young Czech woman down on her luck who has the ability to see the brighter side of things. An unlikely pair and it's not till the end did I realise (even after having previously seen the movie) that neither lead characters are actually given names.

Not many (or any?!) musicals where the audience can actually get on the stage and order a drink!

The story follows the couple over a few short days in which their shared passion of music sparks an amazing relationship developing from friendship to yes... love.

Throw in a few quirky characters (different from the movie), a clever use of set/space/lighting, a generous handful of beautiful songs and some multi-talented actor-musicians and you've got Once. I laughed and I blubbered and I got up at the end to clap and cheer the cast.

Speaking of the cast, wow. 

Declan Bennett plays 'Guy' and Zrinka Cvitešić plays 'Girl' - their interactions and chemistry is incredibly believable and their musical abilities awe inspiring. My favourite lil' grandpa, Michael O'Connor, gets a special mention as I love grandpas and he was cute and cuddly in his green vest. 

How else did I know I absolutely loved it? I listened to the soundtrack on my iPod on repeat all the way home and all of today at work. I even looked up all the actors and random facts about it. Essentially, I got obsessive. Good signs.

I'll be honest... there were a couple of 'hmmmm...' moments when I thought interpretive dance isn't really necessary in this scene but hey... let's go with it. I also thought that the 'Girl' character was hammed up a little too much making her 'foreign-ness' almost comical. (I've listened to an interview with Zrinka and she sounds much calmer in real life) The character is much more natural and 'normal' in the movie but perhaps it's necessary for the stage. It wasn't exactly a bad thing but I would have preferred a subtler performance. (ha! listen to me... the critic!)

All in all, it was incredibly enjoyable and even if you know the ending before hand, you will cry. I thought I'd shed a tear or 2 discreetly but alas, no. You've been warned.

The last snap before being yelled at... it was a beautiful theatre!

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Phoenix Theatre is located at:

110 Charing Cross Rd,
London WC2H 0JP

The musical is currently booking till 31 May 2014 so would seem to be around for a little while longer. None the less, don't risk missing out and grab your tickets ASAP!

You can grab tickets through Last Minute or ATG Tickets to name a few...

Two Guys, a Van and a Pizza Place...

When a pizzeria opens in Soho, you make the pilgrimage!

Through humble beginnings come greats things and that's certainly the case for Pizza Pilgrims. 

After an epic pilgrimage from London, to and around Italy, France and back to London, the 2 guys set up 'shop' at Berwick Street Markets in Soho serving up amazing pizzas to the Media and Visual Effects crew from the back of their much loved pizza van, Conchetta. Within what can only be deemed a short time, a pizzeria was added to the mix a short walk away.

I first visited Pizza Pilgrims down on Berwick Street last year when I was meeting a friend for lunch. She recommended we pick up a pizza, head to the park and talk about knitting. Pizza, sunshine in the park and knitting. No 2 questions about it really...

I knew we were on to a good thing when she casually mentioned she'd been there on Monday that week. It was Thursday.

With pizzas around the £6 mark a pop, our pizzas were freshly made within minutes and quickly devoured in about the same amount of time. The flavours were simple but intense, the crust just right and the service always with a smile. We'd started an amazing new love affair...

Napoli Salami up top, and the Nduja down below.

Since then, Pizza Pilgrims have set up an actual shop on Dean Street where you can grab a take away or sit in. You can choose to sit upstairs and watch the people of Soho walk by while sitting on bar stools or take a table downstairs. As much as I love people watching, I encourage you to take a table downstairs as you get the whole Pizza Pilgrim experience. School inspired chairs are laid out, green checkered table cloths adorn the tables while Italian inspired artwork adorn the walls. (Make sure to check out the pizza box art on the walls too!)

The place has a lovely vibe and buzz that's friendly and casual, the wait staff are attentive and helpful and the pizzas still come out relatively quickly. Checkout the menu here. You'll want to go prepared... even if you'll probably change your mind at the last minute because there's too many you want to try all at once. Either way, you know you'll eventually make your way through the whole menu and back again so it's not too traumatic an experience.

Would we go back again? Yeah... already have! The pizzas at the Pizzeria are a little more exxy ranging from £7 - £11 but it's definitely well worth it. It's an almost never ending pizza and by the time you actually get to the end, you're liking your lips and just the right level of full.

Better get in touch with my Pizza Pilgrim friend... it's been at least a couple of weeks since we've been back... I mean, caught up!

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The Pizza Pilgrim Pizzeria is located at:

11 Dean Street
London  W1D 3RP

(corner of Dean and Carlisle)

Opening times:

Mon - Fri: 12pm - 3pm & 6pm - 10.30pm
Sat: 12pm - 3pm & 6pm - 10.30pm
Sun: CLOSED

Pizza Pilgrims only take bookings for groups of 8 or more so give them buzz on 07780 667258.

They also have 'The Crypt', a back room that can seat 8-16 people. There are 2 bookable sittings a night at 7pm and 9pm. You can also email them directly on: bookings@pizzapilgrims.co.uk

The Van - 'Conchetta' can be found at Berwick Street Market 

Tues - Fri: 12 noon - 3pm  

or 

Roaming the land at events, check out her location here.

Lights, Camera... POP!

When the screens pop up you've got to pop in!

I found Pop Up Screens by accident... a cheap accident mind you! There was a cheap deal on Wowcher for £4 tickets so I popped on over to their site and saw a couple of screenings I wanted to see and in a location that was easily accessible!

On Saturday 31st August, a friend and I headed to Coram Fields to see Baz Luhrman's Romeo + Juliet (can you believe it was made in 1996?!) with picnic blankets and goodies galore.

Let's not pretend the truth we all know... it wasn't the first, second, third or even fourth time I would have seen that movie. I was a teenage girl in the late 90's. Leo. Enough said.

Fun facts about the movie kept us entertained as the sun set.

Without gushing further about Leo and the amazingness of the movie - direction, music, costumes, actors... ahem... let's talk about the actual experience.

Pop Up Screens is a still a relatively small organisation which is not actually a bad thing. The customer service is friendly & personal, the vibe laid back & casual and the locations low key. Best of all, it wasn't rammed to the brim (even though it was sold out!) and there was plenty of space to lay out our picnic blankets and goodies without sitting on our neighbours. People brought all manners of blankets, low seats, bean bags and the all important blanket when the sun set and movie rolled.

Picnic for 2. Not enough really is it?

Tickets are usually £8 a pop which considering other outdoor pop up cinemas is still super cheap. Would we go again? Definitely! Looking forward to the summer season once again... in 6mths...

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Pop Up Screens are down to their last few screenings so checkout if there's anything of interest here. They do screenings all over London so you're have even more options!

They've also just released their Halloween Special line up so don't delay getting tickets! Tickets are a little pricier at £14 a pop but screenings are held in a church and will include other things that 'go bump in the night'!

Check out my tabs...

Look up top! There's some new tabs to be explored!

MAKE: baked goods, craft projects, stuff.
Things I cook and bake, things I knit and sew and everything I glue and glitter in between. The successes and yeap, even the failures. It's all a learning experience right? Right?

GO: side trips, day trips, short trips!
Trips in and around the UK - how to get there, where to eat, what to do yadda yadda. Being a tourist is the best of fun!


COMING UP: see what's on the cards for the rest of the year!
Events will be updated as they're booked into the calendar so you'll always know (is that kind of creepy?) what's coming up and can check back when I've posted about it!

As it says, if there's something of interest to you that's not on the list then just let me know! I'm always keen to try new things and places so am more than willing to go on an adventure on your behalf.

Nobody puts Baby in the corner...

Pair Future Cinema with a classic 80's film and you've got a match made at Kellerman's!

Over the weekend of 30th August to 2nd September Future Cinema held their latest event - Dirty Dancing: The Live Cinema Experience.

Thousands (and I mean THOUSANDS!) of people (admittedly women outnumbered the men significantly but it's not really a surprise) descended on Hackney Downs. A very different looking Hackney Downs mind you, which had been transported back to the Summer of '63 and into a summer holiday resort that would be Kellerman's for the weekend.

The scene was set: lights were strung up, guest cabins built, activity areas dotted around the 'resort' and a massive screen set up. Then there were the actors... Let's not forget the Kellerman's crew ranging from all types of resort staff and of course... dance instructors! Ahh... dance instructors... Oh Johnny...

The guests came over the whole weekend and they came prepared. Armed with beach balls, luggage, love letters and watermelons (a couple even came as watermelon slices!) we were all dressed for the summer holiday of our lives. 

Future Cinema didn't disappoint. For £35 + booking fee a pop, you'd certainly hope not. Things to take into consideration when you go to an event in the future:

1. If going on a weekday (i.e. like us who came straight from work on the Friday) make sure you get to leave work early so that you get there on time. This will allow you to avoid the LONG queue (we were in it for about 30mins) and get into the event to start taking advantage of all the fun ASAP.
2. Wander and explore all the fun before going for food. Even if you're prone to getting 'hangry' - bring a muesli bar or some trail mix. We were in the Mac & Cheese line for over 45mins which meant that by the time we had our pots of delicious it was dark and the movie was starting. (on the upside, the food was worth the wait if you didn't count on missing out on everything else?)

As the sun set the atmosphere became electric and almost everyone (bar the handful of men) became giddy. Johnny was about to arrive...

True to the Future Cinema formula, key scenes of the movie were reenacted in numerous areas around the crowd and kept the excitement going. Famous lines were repeated in unison, songs sung with passion and with all the rights words and people danced. Boy did people dance! By the end of the movie everyone was up and dancing and singing at the top of their lungs about the time of their lives. It was THAT good. As I've always said... you can't really go wrong with Dirty Dancing.

Checkout Future Cinema's Flickr account for more (& better) photos of the weekend.

Just for the hell of it, here's THAT scene for you to 'gawwwwwwww' over! I said it before, I'll say it again... Oh Johnny...!

Right... anyone else think THAT dance needs to be taught somewhere in London?!

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Keep an eye out for the next event as I'm sure it'll be a good 'un!

Kiss the Cook...

Opening in May 2013, Cookhouse Joe has steadily gained a fan base and I'll be quick to say I've joined the club after just one lunch time visit.

The decor is laid back with a homey charm - big wooden tables and mismatched chairs fit out the place making you feel instantly at ease and at home.

The special lunch menu  isn't extensive but has enough options to satisfy our mixed group with rotisserie chicken meals (healthy option also available) in addition to  meat (chicken or lamb kofta) and veg (falafel or halloumi) wraps. Best of all, all options were at the bargain price of £6 for the chicken and £5 for the wraps.

Many of us went for the rotisserie chicken option which was half a free range rotisserie chicken with fries and a choice of salad, corn on the cob or coleslaw. (is there really a question there?)

1/2 chicken lunch special with corn on the cob. Yum.

Was it value for money? Hell yes! As someone in the group said, it's not often you get a meal in Central London for £6 and be left full or unable to finish it at the end. But was it tasty and juicy you ask? It was. Did it come off the bone easily? It did. Will you be left full for the rest of the day? Yeap... I didn't even eat dinner that night!

All meals were served up (pretty quickly may I add) in metal trays and sides in tin cans. I'm quick to go 'awwwwwww!' and call it cute but I'm sure that's not quite the look they were going for. I liked them nonetheless and so did the gents in the group!

Would we come back again? Yeah, I think we all know the answer to that one. As the saying goes... Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner! 

We didn't even begin to look at the normal menu and it's just plain rude to ignore those...

(apologies for the lack of photos on this post - someone... ahem, was too busy eating chicken to take time to do it)

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Cookhouse Joe is located at:

55 Berwick Street,
London
W1F 8SP

They are open:

Mon - Sat: 7:00am - 11:00pm

There's not much info on their actual website but you can checkout their Facebook page for more details.

Rare in Soho, you can book a table at Cookhouse Joe! Give them a buzz on: 07970 555 355

Honest to goodness...

I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth... and nothing but the truth.

Honest Burgers is pure and simple my favourite burger joint in London. 

Recent years have seen burger joints popping up like crazy all over London town with many more I'm sure to arrive. Not many however, are actually any good based on taste, service and value for money.

Honest ticks all the boxes: 

Taste - amazing. Service - friendly, knowledgeable and attentive (in a non over bearing, annoying way). Value for money - sure is!

Honest keeps things simple with a limited menu but you never feel like you're missing out or left to settle. There's a chicken option, 3 beef, a vegetarian (your Vegie friends need not be left at the door!) and an ever changing 'special'. Added extra? The amazing house chips with rosemary salt on your plate at no extra cost! (unlike a nearby located burger place!)

The 'Special' - Beef, manchego, brindisa, chorizo, chimichurri and jalapeno salsa.

The food menu can be found here, and the drinks here. My tip, go for the 'Honest' or 'Special' and definitely have the homemade lemonade which is served in a jam jar with a stripey straw. I've yet to make my way through the whole menu but I've no doubt every option is as good as those I've tried.

Homemade lemonade with a stripey straw to boot!

Would I go back again? As someone once said... is the Pope Catholic?

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I've only visited the Soho location but you can also find Honest Burgers at Brixton Village and Camden Lock Markets.

Rumour has it they're due to open on Notting Hill's Portobello Road soon... stay tuned!

Opening times (at time of print):

BRIXTON

Mon: 12 - 4pm

Tues - Sat: 12 - 10.30pm

Sun: 12 - 10pm

SOHO

Mon - Wed: 12 - 11pm

Thu - Sat: 11.45am - 11pm

Sun: 12 - 10pm

CAMDEN:

Mon - Sat: 11.30am - 11pm

Sun: 11.30am - 11pm

Honest doesn't take bookings so at peak times make sure to get there early. Alternatively, you can always leave your name and they'll give you a buzz once your table is ready.