If you are a food lover then you have to experience the delicacies Brat has to offer. Based in London’s Shoreditch, the vibe of the restaurant was so relaxed and there’s always something extra special when the chefs cook the meals in an open kitchen. It shows professionalism and excellence as well as allowing diners to admire the chefs expertise.
We started with a variety of different small plates, each and every one was excellent, and couldn’t tell you our favourite dish as they were all so tasty.
The small plate portions were just right and consisted of Maldon Oyster with Cucumber & Seaweed, Grilled Bread, Grilled Padron Peppers, Spider Crab Toast, Scarlet Prawns, Green Salad followed by the Beef Rib and Smoked Potatoes. We were so stuffed and actually asked for a doggy bag! The food was too good to just throw away and would have regretted that in the morning. We shared dessert which was the Caramel Cream and was delicious.
Instead of us typing away, we’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. Enjoy.
Bath is the largest city in Somerset, England, known for and named after its Roman-built baths. Fun fact, It is said that Jane Austen lived in Bath in the early 19th century, and used the city as a setting for some of her novels. Bath has also been home to many more impressive residents over its long history and has over 6 million yearly visitors, making it one of ten English cities visited most by overseas tourists. Attractions include the spas, canal boat tours, museums, galleries and Royal Victoria Park which hosts carnival and seasonal events. It’s such a quick and easy journey to Bath, it took us less than 2 hours from London by train.
We stayed at the Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel that sits on 7 acres of private grounds. If you’re looking to unwind or just enjoy a few days of peace and quiet then this is the ultimate destination. The rooms are so cosy and the facilities include an award winning restaurant, breathtaking landscaped gardens, leisure club, hydrotherapy pool, and thermal spa. A lot of our time was well spent relaxing in the sauna’s and steam room. There’s also an ice room where we smothered our bodies with the crunchy ice, it was of course freezing, but always good to do as it closes the pores and cools you down after a steam. One of our evenings was spent out in the hydrotherapy pool which was so calming. It was absolutely freezing outside but the hydro pool was so warm. It was great to just lie back and watch the stars in the nights sky.
Bath is a city where you can relax and discover new things. We took a long winters stroll, taking in the scenery and getting lost in the surroundings and came across a very interesting building called Victoria Art Gallery, which is a public art museum. We walked up a spiral staircase and viewed the galleries collection of paintings, sculpture and decorative arts. The Gallery was named to celebrate Queen Victoria’s sixty years on the throne. It includes over 1,500 decorative arts treasures, including a display of British oil paintings from 17th century to the present day.
If you decide to visit Bath you must try Hudson Steak house. It’s one of the best steaks we have ever eaten! The gravy and mash was so tasty. Hudson steak house specialises in prime dry aged steaks, and some mouth watering classic dishes.
Brighton is famous for its seaside resort and Palace Pier. It is one of the two main areas of the City of Brighton and Hove in the country of East Sussex, England. Its location has made it a popular destination for tourists. Known for its diverse communities, music and arts scene and shopping areas. Brighton has been called the UK’s “hippest city” and “the happiest place to live in the UK”.
We stayed at The Grand Hotel, that stands on Brighton’s iconic seafront. The location was perfect, it’s a stone’s throw from the famous West Pier and the i360, and a 10-minute walk from the Royal Pavilion, the lanes, and all the fun of Brighton Pier. If you’re a fan of afternoon tea like us then this hotel is one for you. Their award-winning afternoon tea includes 3 tiers of sweet and savoury delights that include freshly made sandwiches, pastries, scones, cakes, they have over 30 teas to choose from, and we of course washed this down nicely with a glass of Moet.
The Brighton Zip was a great experience and a way to conquer any fear you may have with heights. Before being fully kitted out in safety gear you are given a briefing by the instructor. You will climb a spiral staircase which takes you 32m above sea level. And then set off flying 300m across Brighton beach down the longest zip wire on the south coast. It was brilliant! The adrenaline is on another level, and is an experience not to be missed.
Ghost Walk Of The Lanes was something different to what we would usually do but we enjoyed every minute. It took place on a cold winters night which made the ghost walk extra spooky. Usually there is a group of people on the walk but we had the tour all to ourselves which was really nice. We joined ghost walker Jasper for a 70 minute walk around Brighton’s famous Lanes visiting eight haunted sites. Alongside the chilling tales, the walk takes in much of the area’s rich and varied history. It includes eight macabre tales of brutal murders, hideous apparitions, wandering nuns and Brighton’s infamous Jack-the-Ripper connection.
We spent our last night in Brighton dining at The Ivy which is located in the lanes. We toasted to an incredible couple of days and with more memories made.
We spent a couple days in Cardiff recently, which was lovely. A friend invited us to her wedding and we thought why not turn this into a mini break. We’ve started to explore the UK a bit more, and really enjoy learning and discovering new places a little closer to home. Especially when we find those hidden gems.
Just a few minute walk from Cardiff City Centre, we stayed at the Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel & Spa which was very comfy and cosy. It offers a great spa if you fancy a day, or a few hours of relaxation, away from the hustle and bustle.
Cardiff is the capital and largest city of Wales, it’s the eleventh-largest city in the UK. One of the main tourist attractions is Cardiff Castle. When Queen Elizabeth II passed away a 96-round gun salute was fired on the castle grounds to mark every year of the Queen’s life. A 21-gun salute was also held to mark the proclamation of King Charles III.
Packed with so much history which spans around 2000 years. The castle has secret underground tunnels which were used as air-raid shelters during World War II, with room to protect well over 1,000 people. This part of the tour was our favourite. We walked the tunnel grounds whilst an audio played of air-raid sirens. It really made us feel as though we were taken back in time.
Inside the castle was just spectacular. With grande rooms, Victorian interiors and the best home library we’ve ever seen! It is said that the castle underwent a transformation carried out in the late 19th century, with some of the most lavish interiors in Britain, inspired by Gothic, Mediterranean and Arabian styles.
It also has nearly 150 acres of green space that surrounds the castle, and trees from all around the world.
We had the shortest but best time spent celebrating, eating, drinking and exploring. And we’ll definitely be back, hopefully for a longer stay next time.
If you’re in the UK and fancy an unforgettable night out filled with circus acts, burlesque artists and fire breathers then Proud Cabaret is the place for you. You can choose different shows to see from Cabaret Underworld, Drag Brunch, or Cabaret All Stars. We chose Cabaret All Stars and loved it so much, we went twice! Cabaret All Stars has a celebrity host to lead the stellar cast of performers. From boyband Blue’s Duncan James, Love Island’s Amber Davies, and actresses Denise Van Outen, Claire Sweeney and many more.
Cabaret All Stars is a Vegas-style show introduced to London’s West End, so be prepared for an unforgettable night out. Proud Cabaret have glamorous venues around the UK including Embankment, Brighton and Proud City, which is located in the city of London.
You can enjoy a delicious three-course meal whilst watching the show sipping on Prosecco, wine, or a cocktail of your choice. The seated burlesque entertainment usually starts from 7pm until 10.30pm. You won’t be seated for long, by the end of the night you will be up on your feet dancing along to great tunes sung by the celebrity host to close the night on a high.
As the weather begins to brightening up, and as cake lovers we thought what better way to enjoy the new season than baking and eating cake! Packed with gooey chocolate chips throughout, we chose to make our go to chocolate chip cake which is so easy to make and is perfect for any occasion. You could serve with a dash of cream or ice cream, as a sweet dessert, or simply lovely to enjoy with a cup of tea. This chocolate chip cake can also be made into chocolate chip muffins (see one of our previous posts).
Ingredients:
250g self-raising flour
2 tsp Baking powder
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 cup of Milk
1 tsp vanila extract
200g Unsalted butter
200g Granulated sugar
3 eggs
100g chocolate chips
100g white chocolate chips
Method:
1: Pre-heat the oven to 200°F, then combine all of your dry ingredients which includes the salt and baking powder to the flour. Whisk through thoroughly so it has a smooth effect with no clumps.
2: Pour the vanilla extract into the milk. In another separate bowl add your butter and sugar, then whisk until your batter is light and fluffy. Next crack in your three eggs one at a time. The egg helps combine the mixture and also adds moisture.
3: Add a third of your dry ingredients into the butter and sugar mixture. Then add half of your milk and vanilla extract mixture and mix it in. You want to alternate the dry ingredients and the milk and vanilla mixture until it’s all eventually in, and mix with your hand mixer. Your batter should look smooth and creamy.
4: Now it’s time for the chocolate chips. Put a fare amount of both chocolate and white chocolate chips into your bowl. But leave a little bit of your chocolate chips to the side to add at the end. Begin to mix so your chocolate chips are thoroughly distributed into the mix. Next pour your batter into your greased baking tin. Always make sure you have greased your baking paper before adding your batter, as it prevents your cake to stick. After placing your mix evenly into the tin, sprinkle the last of your chocolate chips on to the top.
5. Lastly, place your mix into your pre-heated oven for 30 minutes, or until a tooth pick inserted into the cake comes out clean and not sticky.
Invest in yourself: Always make time for you, it may sound a bit cliche but not taking care of yourself won’t give you the ability to be your best self in everyday life. This is easier said then done, as the days can disappear before our eyes so quickly… I mean we are at the end of January already! Try and find ways to show yourself some love and keep your stress levels down, whether it’s getting your hair done, buying that new outfit or a piece of jewelry you’ve had your eye on. Retail therapy can be a good remedy to feel good. Lastly investing in your wellness, for example vitamins is a good way to get through those long winter days. We have a lot of vitamins and minerals in our foods, but if you are suffering with those January blues and needing that extra boost, invest in the vitamins you need to help give you energy.
Make time for sleep: Getting enough sleep is one of the most important health benefits ever! It reduces stress and improves your mood, leaving you refreshed and alert for the day ahead. Without enough sleep the brain cannot function properly. A healthy sleep also helps the body remain healthy. It’s not easy for us all to drift off to sleepy land straight away and to get in the recommended six to nine hours a night, but if you try getting into bed at a decent hour most nights, and making it a point to shut out all the distractions such as phones, you may see a difference. Enjoying a hot bath with your favorite bath salts is a great way to help sooth the muscles, unwind and clear the mind. We love spraying lavender mist on our pillows before sleep which helps get us to sleep quicker. If that’s not for you, you can never go wrong with a good book before bed.
(Photo credit: Susan Wilkinson)
Choosing healthier food options: We’re not fans of diets and tend to eat what we want and also enjoy, all in moderation of course! If you are watching what you eat then the best way to monitor this is by evaluating the time of day you have your meals. We find that when we make time for breakfast, lunch and dinner we snack less during the day. A substantial breakfast is not on the cards for us every day due to busy mornings. When on the go grab that banana or fruit pot so you don’t miss out. Try eating at fixed meal times daily, this will help control your hunger. Just have fun with your meals, we are foodies and like a variety of different cuisines. Experiment more in the kitchen and bring fresh tastes to your dining room table.
(Photo credit: Claudia Soares)
Exercise: Being able to fit the time in to even get to the gym a few times a week is a miracle. So when life gets hectic, being physically active throughout the day helps. You don’t need to hit the gym every day to burn calories, deciding to take the stairs over the lift, taking a half an hour brisk walk at lunchtime. And even try a ten minute quick Yoga and Pilates session first thing in the morning or just before bed at the end of the day. Sticking with this routine will keep your fitness levels on track.
Mind and soul: We all have our own way to de-stress, clearing the mind is also important for overall health. Learning to switch off from your day fully is a mindset, to achieve this, you can meditate, pursue a hobby, listen to music and watch a great tv series. Why not treat yourself to the cinema or theatre. Put yourself first, when you try to do that you will feel happier and be able to tackle whatever life throws at you.
If you fancy a chilled evening dining out, and to experience exquisite dishes filled with great herbs and spices. Then Mint Leaf Lounge is the place for you. The cosy restaurant provides a great atmosphere with soft lighting and relaxed music.
Based in the City of London, the restaurant offers a variety of different menus to suit everyone, from a romantic meal for two, to a group dinner, and even business lunches.
Diners have the choice from a selection of set menus as well as an à la carte menu to choose from. And as always great cocktails, wines and spirits are on offer. We chose to sip on chardonnay wine for the evening which went down nicely with our meal.
To kick start the evening we chose the Chilli Calamari which was perfectly crisp fried and tossed with roast cumin and green chilli. Alongside a plate of Tiger Prawns with black onion seeds and spiced yoghurt. Both dishes were so tasty, we wanted more!
It took a little longer than usual to choose what we wanted to eat, as everything on the menu looked too good. So we decided on a dish each, and to share the love lol.
We enjoyed the Murgh Tikka Makhani which is a free range chicken, chargrilled in fresh tomato and fenugreek sauce. With Lamb Rogan Josh that included a braised leg of lamb with brown onion, tomato and Kashmiri chilli and Saffron Pulao Rice. Both dishes tasted really well together.
Mint Leaf Lounge is located near to the Bank of England in the heart of the City. If you are based in London the restaurant is easy to travel to, and a great choice to enjoy chic and sophisticated dining.
Pixar is the brains behind many film classics such as Toy Story, The Incredibles and they have now gained yet another classic to add to their franchise. Pixar’s latest release Soul was a great but emotional watch. The award-winning animation skipped the cinemas and was released by Disney+ on Christmas Day last year, becoming the first Pixar movie to debut exclusively on the streaming service.
Soul is Pixar’s first animated film to feature an African American lead character. The film hosts the voices of a stellar cast including Jamie Foxx, Graham Norton, Angela Bassett and many more. I was pleasantly surprised when I heard Norton’s voice, appearing as Moonwind, a spiritual sign twirler. I’m so used to watching him on the Graham Norton show, it was good to see Graham make his first ‘voiced’ movie debut.
Soul tells the story of 46-year-old Joe Gardner (voiced by Jamie Foxx), a music teacher who isn’t totally happy with his career and is still waiting on his life to begin. He has a lifelong love of jazz music and fortunately gets the chance to play the piano at one of the best jazz clubs in New York City, for the legendary jazz musician and band-leader Dorothea Williams (Angela Bassett). Joe cannot believe his luck as he begins his walk through the streets of Queens, New York with an extra spring to his step. But he is on his phone, distracted and not paying any attention to what’s going on around him. Joe’s walking into roads without looking, nearly getting knocked over by several cars on his travels. This scene left me feeling quite nervous and on the edge of my seat as Joe narrowly misses death several times, until he falls into a deep open manhole.
My first thought was “Is Joe dead or alive?” then “Really… he’s actually died so early on in the film?” It turned out though, that he isn’t quite dead. Joe has crossed over to The Great Before – this is a place in the clouds where unborn souls are living – and are assigned different personalities before they go to earth.
The ‘souls’ reminded me of characters in the 90s classic ‘Casper the Friendly Ghost.’ Their mentors are allocated to souls that need a little help to give them the push and encouragement they need to truly live.
Joe, who wants to return to life, is paired with Soul 22 (Tina Fey), who has the total opposite view to him and is adamant that she wants to stay put. But Joe learns that she is a lost soul and tries his best to explain and show her the joys of living. Soul 22 accompanies Joe as they evaluate his life and embark on a wonderful journey. Throughout the film they end up being mentors to one another as Joe reminds Soul 22 of her time on Earth. She eventually goes back to Earth and Joe accompanies her until he heads back in line for the Great Beyond. As he awaits his turn, Joe is stopped by “counsellor” Jerry who works at the Great Beyond and tells him that he gets a second chance at life.
I had to stop myself from blubbering as Soul is most definitely a film that pulls at the heartstrings. It really gets you thinking about life and portrays the Great Before, as many of us have only ever heard of the afterlife and not life before your own human existence. It was a great watch, which can be enjoyed with the whole family. There is one thing that Joe says in the film that will stick with me forever “Life is full of possibilities, you just need to know where to look.”
The Coronavirus Pandemic has had an impact on all of our lives one way or another. Making our anxiety and stress levels reach that all time high. Some of us, feeling worried as we are not sure what tomorrow’s news may bring, bored by staring at the same walls day in and day out. You may live alone and feel lonely, which can then turn into frustration as all you want to do is see and hug your loved ones. For most of us, these feelings will pass and we have for you a few easy little steps you can do in the comfort of your home and to help point you in the right direction.
Meditation: Finding time for you is always beneficial and meditation is a way where you can do this. Meditation can be practiced at any time of the day, we’re not saying to spend hours meditating but, ten minutes a day will keep those cobwebs at bay. A good time to practice is first thing in the morning or just before bedtime. Even If you need a few minutes to yourself during the day, doing a short meditation on your lunch break will give you that time out you need. There are great meditation apps for mindfulness such as Calm and Headspace. YouTube is a great way to find short meditation videos too.
(Photo credit: Lesly Juarez)
Stay connected with friends and family: We have all been using Zoom more than ever this past year. Whether that being holding evening quizzes, meetings, celebrating birthdays and baby showers. We all need to feel connected, so keep in touch with friends and family and try reconnecting with old friends. Doing this more times than not should make you feel a little better as you can catch up and have a good laugh, which is so needed.
Physical health: Our physical fitness has a major impact on how we feel, so looking after our bodies the best way we can is important. It’s so easy to fall into unhealthy patterns in lockdown but you have to just have the mindset to keep your physical fitness going. Try to exercise regularly, this can be as easy as an online ten-minute Yoga and Pilates class, a high intensity half hour cardio session, hitting the pavement for a jog, a daily walk or bike ride helps with fitness and also clears your mind. Eating healthily and preparing a well-balanced, nutritious meal always makes you feel great. As well as drinking lots of water.
(Photo credit: Greg Rosenke)
Make time for yourself: This can include anything, think of things that you really enjoy and that relaxes you. Listening and dancing around to your favourite music always helps, as well as releasing those feel good endorphins. Doing this for as long as you want whilst dancing around like no one is watching is the best thing ever! Reading books can make your mind wonder to a different place. A great book is a good feel factor and whilst doing this why not run a hot bath and enjoy your book whilst soaking your body at the same time. Pamper yourself. This can be facials, giving yourself a manicure and pedicure, masks and hair masks. Looking after you is the way forward. Lastly try out that new recipe you have seen. Cooking a great meal or even baking for yourself and for those you live with is a good way to get those culinary skills on point as well as having a full stomach too!
(Photo credit: Sam Loyd)
Organising your space: They say an organised space is an organised mind, the more clutter you can see around you, the more easily you’ll find yourself distracted. Start by getting rid of the things you don’t need. There is a variety of different online ecommerce websites where you can sell clothes, electrical goods and many more. You may fancy a little revamp, why not give a room in your home a whole new makeover. Doing this will make you feel as though you have got something done, whilst feeling great about yourself at the same time.
Shelley&Michelle 