Weekly Musings

2015 - Week 13 
'I'm searching for cheap thrills some way and somehow'
(Fluffy - Wolf Alice)

This week began with a Sofar Sounds on Monday, this time it was inside an office block on New York Street, and I took Jason as he has never been to one before. There were four artists who played: Danish Kristian Harting, a band called Glass Tides, travelling American Alina Ly and Benjamin Yellowitz. I personally loved the band as they used strings as part of their performance and, being a huge fan of Florence and the Machine for that reason, it added the same dreamy aspect that I love.

On Wednesday I went out for dinner with Laura at a Japanese place in Manchester called Samsi. We started with tempura vegetables and then I had a seafood udon noodle dish. It was nice to catch up, and even though the prices were reasonable anyway, the best part was the food was free as she had a voucher from Christmas!

On Thursday I saw Wolf Alice at The Ritz with my friend Lauren. They did a great performance, good on stage charisma and talented musicians. I was surprised at the large venue choice but they definitely did it justice, I am expecting big things from them.



Friday marked the official start to my week off work, woohoo! I started as I mean to go on with a fantastic brunch yesterday with Abi courtesy of the adorable Sugar Junction in the Northern Quarter (latte and pancakes with blueberries and clotted cream if you were wondering) followed by an event at Warehouse where we recieved cute little bracelets with our initials on and could have our hair done in a choice of 5 up dos. I was babysitting that evening so decided a hair style may be a little OTT, but it was fun watching Abi get hers done, complete with pastel pink chalked plait! 



Today I have had a nice relaxing Sunday, hangover free with some yoga and a good ol' fashioned roast at my parents. Bring on time off!

Travellers' Tales...

Dublin!

I have just got back from an amazing weekend in Dublin! We set off on Friday (conveniently at 9.35pm so no time off work needed!) so were touched down in Ireland just before 11pm. Flights were only £26, so an absolute steal. We got a taxi to our hostel (£35 each for the two nights) and after a quick change/ makeup refresh we went out to a club called Everleigh, as a guy called Andrew that I met in Croatia who lives in Dublin had recommended it. He was out there with his friends so was cool to catch up. The music was amazing in there, proper old school r&b classics, so we all had a good boogie. The drinks weren't cheap, vodka mixer was about £8, so I stuck on wine which was about £6.50 a glass so not too bad. We stayed out until pretty late, and then I went back to Andrew's house for an afterparty, but ended up passed out on the sofa after about half an hour, despite the loud music!

The following morning I got a taxi home and got ready for a day exploring the city. We walked to the spire in the centre, it was drizzling slightly but we weren't perturbed. We were going to get some breakfast, but it was closer to lunchtime once we were out of the hostel so we decided to head to Wagamamas for something more substantial instead. Afterwards I was feeling really ropey and tired, so Lizzie and I headed back for a couple of hours nap!

That evening after spending a while trying to ring round for a restaurant that had space for six people on a Saturday night at the last minute, we ended up in the Irish version of Pizza Express called Milano. It was still really nice, we shared a bottle of wine and I had a meat feast calzone, which was definitely what the doctor ordered! Afterwards we went for a few drinks in a bar called 37 Dawson Street, which was dark and luxurious, with animal heads on the walls and flocked velvet wallpaper... and expensive drinks! At one point I was going to get a mojito, but stuck to a gin and lemonade when I heard they were 15 euro.

A few of the girls wanted to go home then, but Lydia, Lizzie and I decided to stay out and go to a bar on the same street called Cafe En Seine. It was a similar style to the last place, but huge, with glass ceilings and chandeliers like something out of Moulin Rouge. They played some great music so we had a boogie and then got a rickshaw home which was so funny!

The next day we had a lazy one, and packed up ready to leave before going for breakfast. We went to a cafe called The Elephant and Castle, where I had French toast with berry compote, maple syrup and whipped cream - so good. We wandered around the shops for a while and got a coffee before the taxi came to pick us up (rather late - we actually had to steal someone elses!) and I was back home for 6pm after such a fun weekend with all the girls!

New Tastes...

Sapporo, Manchester

Yesterday for Emily's birthday, a group of us went to Sapporo in Manchester, a teppanyaki restaurant on Liverpool Street off Deangate. I had been recommended it by one of Jasmine's friends from university, so suggested it to Emily as it sounded like a good venue for a celebratory meal.

We arrived at 8.30pm, and waited at the bar with some drinks for a while whilst our table was prepared. Because there was a large group of us (13 in all) we had two sides of one of the large tables - they are arranged in a horseshoe shape around a cooking area in the centre, where the chefs prepare your meals in front of you.

I didn't really fancy the teppanyaki as I wasn't that hungry, although it did sound delicious; instead I went for a sharing platter of sushi, which was amazing. It had spider, crunch and dragon rolls on which I have had at the Country Club before, but then there were also a few other rolls that I hadn't tried before, so it was a good mix. I even attempted to use chopsticks for the first few, although I am so slow at using them I gave up after a while. 

Hannah and Tasha next to me both chose giant prawns as their meal, and they were huge! I thought they were langoustines when they were first brought out. The teppanyaki dishes included sauteed potatoes and vegetables which were also cooked in front of us - the potatoes they tried to throw in our mouths!

Aside from the yummy food, it was a real experience to eat there, as it is like watching a show when the food is made. Our chef did tricks with eggs, throwing them in the air and catching them in his hat, pocket, and even cracking one straight onto the hot plate by throwing it up and making it land on his knife! I would recommend it if in a large group or for a special occasion. Prices aren't extortionate (I suppose you pay more for the theatricals) - my meal was £23 and that included a tip, a glass of wine and then a bottle of wine shared between 3 people. I'd love to take my parents and Jasmine there - I'll have to suggest it for the next meal out we have.

Homemade Recipes!

Homemade Sushi!

Last night Abi and I went round to Emily and Smeed's house to put into action a night that we planned whilst in Marbella together - sushi and fizz! Em very kindly went shopping for the ingredients; king prawns, tuna, smoked salmon, cucumber, pepper, sugar snap peas, ginger, cream cheese, sushi rice, nori, wasabi paste and soy sauce, and it only came to £6 each with 2 bottles of sparkling wine - bargain! 

We had borrowed a mat from our friend Ellie, and each took it in turns to make a roll. Emily went first, placing the nori shiny side down and spreading the sushi rice over, leaving a slight gap at the edges. The rice is quite stodgy so it was easier using two spoons to spread it, as it often stuck together. She chose to use prawns with cucumber and cream cheese, then Abi went next with salmon and orange pepper, then I made a couple, one with tuna and sugar snap peas, and one with the remainder of everything!!

We learnt as we went along that you had to put quite a lot of fish into the middle for it to amount to much when cut into pieces, and it looked more appetising with more in as it showed off the colours once rolled. We tried and tested a few different rolling techniques, but found the best to be putting the mat over rather than tucking it in, and squashing the roll down, then removing the mat to roll the nori further before squashing again and repeating until finished. Some came out quite thick, but overall I was really impressed at our efforts, considering we were all sushi virgins, and we made loads to eat!

We had already been drinking the wine whilst making the food, but enjoyed the rest whilst eating, accompanied with a noodle, soy and vegetable salad that Emily had made. I will definitely be trying making sushi again at home, as it was quick, easy and looked like it took a lot of effort, perfect when trying to impress people... may do some for my flatwarming!

New Tastes...

Australasia, Manchester

Last night Hannah, Abi, Tasha and I went to Australasia in Spinningfields in Manchester. I have wanted to go for ages, especially as Aum has been a few times and told me about some of the tasty things he has had there. It is a bit more highly priced than a standard restaurant so we wanted to go for a slightly special occasion. Abi is about to move to London for a while, so we thought a 'last supper' would be an appropriate reason to venture there.

We booked a table a week in advance (places go quickly) for 8pm, and got the metro there as it is a short walk from either Deansgate-Castlefield or St Peters Square. The doorway is a glass pyramid that opens to reveal a stairway down underground, and we had our coats taken and were given a table at the foot of the stairs, right in the centre of the bar and restaurant areas, which was a great position. The table and chairs are in quite a relaxed, almost outdoor style, with pale wickerwork and big squishy cushions to sink into.

We were given the food and drinks menus, and shortly afterwards brought an iPad to show us the expansive wine and champagne list, which could be organised by price, region, or colour. This was a pretty novel idea and at first I thought it seemed a little show-offy, but when I saw the amount available it did make sense rather than printing a 20 page menu for each table. We opted for a bottle of an Italian white, which was one of the cheapest, but not the house, priced at £20. It was medium dry, and had a really lovely subtle fresh taste that was perfect when sampling lots of different food as we were.

The waiter was very attentive, and explained the concept of the dishes to us; there is the choice of getting a small plate and a large one (equivalent to a starter and main) as in a traditional restaurant, or if there as a group as we were, it is recommended that each person chooses two or three small dishes as a main and they are brought out all at once and shared in a tapas style.

We decided to do this and get a starter as well, so chose a big sharing platter of fourteen pieces of mixed sushi, the contents of which vary everyday dependent on the chefs' recommendations. Ours included California rolls and nigiri with salmon, yellowfin tuna, and kingfish, garnished with vegetables made to look like flowers. It arrived after about twenty minutes which I thought was perfect, and was an ideal size for four of us to have a nibble yet not get too full.

About fifteen minutes after that had been cleared away our 'mains' arrived. I got soft shell crab tempura with courgette flowers which was beautiful! There were four crab legs and then a few deep fried flowers, so it wouldn't have been enough on its own, but together with the bok choi (I love this stuff!) in oyster sauce that I chose as well it was spot on.

The girls got a variety of other small dishes including teriyaki beef skewers, prawn tempura, squid tempura, spicy chicken skewers, chilli edamame beans and pork wontons. Noone had any complaints, it was all gorgeous.

The others got another bottle of wine, but I was driving so got a fruit juice instead. Not wanting to ruin my experimental streak so far, I went for apple, carrot and ginger juice, which was unlike anything I have had before. I drank it all but wasn't too sure of the taste, I think it was slightly too gingery for me.

Abi and I shared a dessert of sweet sushi which was incredible, the rice was sweetened like rice pudding and rolled with fruit in the middle, garnished with a peanut brittle type horn filled with cream and fruit. There were also two pieces that tasted like apple pie; pastry rolled with chopped apple in the centre dusted with cinnamon.

We sat and chatted for a while after we had finished eating and then asked for the bill, my section of which came to £38 with a tip, which I was more than satisfied with for what I had eaten. Unlike a few other high end restaurants I have been to, we were not made to feel like we were being rushed so they could reuse the table, they simply waited for us to go over to collect our coats and bid us farewell.

Overall this was a very pleasurable dining experience, luxurious yet comfortable surroundings, great service and delicious food, I can't wait to have another occasion to go back for. On a weekend it turns into a 'club' later on, which I can't imagine, but I am definitely willing to give it a try, especially as some of the cocktails on the menu looked very tempting!

Traveller's Tales

Liverpool

Yesterday, a group of us went to Liverpool for a night out with a bit of a change of scenery. Abi and I got a train from Manchester at 2pm (lucky for us it was delayed, as we'd have missed it otherwise!) and we walked to the hotel we were in to check in and dump our bags. We walked to the wrong Travellodge to begin with, but luckily ours was only around the corner!

We had a quick cup of tea and then went out for a wander around the shops. There wasn't much to see, and we'd only been shopping in Manchester a couple of days before so didn't need anything, so after a while we gave up and headed towards Wagamama for some tea. We had a nice glass of wine and shared some duck gyozas (that were free as they were so late arriving) and then I had the chicken and prawn pad thai, a new addition to the menu that was very much appreciated!

Afterwards we went to an off license to buy some wine, and then went back to the room to start getting ready and crack open the booze! Emily and Natasha didn't arrive until half nine,  so they got ready speedily and we finished our drinks and headed out at just gone eleven. We went out on Seel Street, starting in a bar called Aloha, that was downstairs and Tiki themed. We had as couple of cocktails and a dance before moving on.

Emily and Abi went to another bar called Saltdog Slims whilst Tasha and I went to a cash machine, but by the time we got there the queue was huge, so we moved onto the final place, Heebie Jeebies, and the other two met us in the queue once they had finished their drinks. Drinks weren't that cheap, but it was fun and the music was decent, and two of the boys I went to Benicassim with were out that night, so they came to meet us in there which was cool. Unfortunately we then realised that Abi had had her phone stolen, so her and Tasha went off on a wild goose chase to find it, and we all met up later back at the hotel.

This morning we were all feeling the after-effects, and so once we had checked out we went for breakfast at a place next door to the hotel called New York Diner. I had a bagel with mushrooms, bacon, cheese and scrambled eggs, which went down a treat and sorted me out in time for us to get the train home at 2pm. A fun adventure!

Traveller's Tales...

Paris (part 2)

On Saturday I woke up at half eight as Mo text me, and I didn't feel too bad, though I had a bit of a headache. I eventually got up at half ten and had a shower, and then felt awful! We headed out at around twelve toward Le Marais, which is the vintagey shopping area, which I love, and picked up a sandwich along the way (ham, chicken and creme fraiche - yum!) and a Starbucks. I found a really nice men's checked shirt for 5 euros, but apart from that didn't buy anything, although Claire got a pair of black leather shorts like mine. 

After that we headed towards Notre Dame. Although I have seen it twice before I have never been inside, and Claire said it is amazing so I thought we'd pop in. It was a mistake though, as it was absolutely heaving (we later learned it was the first ringing of the new bell to mark 850 years of it standing) so we didn't make it inside after all! Once we had eventually squeezed our way out we got a Nutella crepe and then went to the shop to get some food and drink for that evening. I bought a bottle of champagne for under two euros to mix with some fruit juice, absolute bargain!

We had little cheese and ham pancakes with quinoa and green beans for tea, and then started getting ready for a night out. Elliot and Gez came round to Claire's for predrinks, and we played drinking games and generally larked around getting drunk. It got to half one and we decided to make a move so ordered a taxi and went to an Irish bar again where we were supposed to meet some more friends. However, we couldn't find them anywhere, so left after twenty minutes, to find that it was impossible for us to flag down a taxi , and it was freezing! We eventually caught a bus, and collapsed into bed at 4am.

Yesterday I actually felt fine, but Claire was pretty hungover. We stayed asleep in bed until gone twelve, and then got up and dressed ready to do something with my last day. We were intending going to L'opera Garnier, a theatre and museum that is supposed to be gorgeous, but they were doing renovation work so we go there after it had shut for the day which was frustrating - we had checked online and everything! Instead we went to Les Invalides, where Napoleon is buried, which was huge and had pretty architecture and statues inside.

On the way back to the metro we noticed that a few stops were closed, and discovered that there was a protest against gay marriage and adoption going on, which was a bit scary, we nearly got trampled on quite a few times! It was quite eerie too, as the Champs Elysée was completely closed off to traffic. As we had to walk all the way back, we stopped and had a quick look in Abercrombie, which was insane, five floors of clothes and lots of half naked men wandering around! 

We then went to an exhibition centre where there was a wine tasting event happening that we had been given free tickets for. We were handed a glass and shown into one of three halls all choc-a-block with stalls each offering four or five types of wine, it was enormous! We tried three red wines and two champagnes before calling it a day, as we were so tired from walking everywhere. On the way back to Claire's flat we stopped and got some sushi for tea - twelve pieces with salad and soup was only 12 euros, incredible! It tasted really good, and we watched a film whilst I finished packing and set my alarm for 6.30am ready to leave the next morning. Paris never disappoints!

Days Out...

Cheshire Oaks

Now that I don't work at the pub on Saturdays I have the novelty of a two day weekend, so today my mum ad I decided to go to Cheshire Oaks for a shop and some lunch. I have been looking for a nice winter coat for a while now, so thought that I may be able to get a decent one a bit cheaper with it being an outlet village.

We set off at just gone ten so arrived at eleven, and managed to get a car parking spot close to the shops, which is definitely a bonus. The first purchases of the day were from Warehouse, a really nice pair of red and black print silk trousers that are pyjama style, and a nylon burgundy track jacket with a gold zip that has a sport-luxe feel. I then found some really nice Miss 60 jeans that were stonewashed denim and had leather laces down the calf. They were £68, which isn't bad for a good pair of jeans, but with it being a fairly substantial buy I left them so that I could have a little think about it!

I got a top for the gym for £4 from the Nike shop, and then found my perfect coat - in Next of all places! It is corally red, the exact colour of the strap on my Mark Jacobs bag, so it seemed like a good omen. I had budgeted about £120 for it, but this one was only £30, so I felt less guilty for buying lots of other things that I didn't desperately need. 

By this time it was around 2pm, and we were both feeling peckish, so stopped at Wagamama for some food. I love the place, but my mum had never been, so it felt like the perfect opportunity. I chose the new dish called asai udon: flat noodles in a tamarind sauce with egg, tofu, prawns, lime and garnished with peanut, while my mum went for my favourite, cha han, a rice dish with mushroom, sweetcorn, mangetout, spring onions, prawns and chicken. It comes with a side order of pickles and a bowl of miso soup - an acquired taste, but I love it! 

My first purchase after lunch was a pair of brown leather flatforms with leopard print on the front and a buckle across from Soled Out- they are gorgeous! I also bought a pair of dark purple tights from M&S, and two t-shirts from Vans that were buy one get one half price, so it was only £10.50 for them both! They are fairly simple, but will be perfect to wear with jeans for work.

By this time we were flagging, so stopped at McDonalds for a coffee and cake, (everywhere else was packed full and it was too cold to sit outside) and then we drove home; but not before I sneaked back to Miss 60 for my jeans!

New Tastes...

Wagamama, Manchester

Last night, three friends and I decided to go for a meal and a few drinks in Manchester, as we are all heading back to uni soon. It is a tradition amongst us all to go to Wagamama, as it's cheap, a bit different and really tasty! We hopped on a train, and were soon sat in the warmth of the restaurant on their trademark communal benches. For those that haven't been before, Wagamama serves Asian food, with a few quirky culture differences to how you dine.

For a start, as mentioned before, rather than having individual tables, there are long benches to sit on, so everyone sits together in rows. I personally like this, as it means

even dining alone you can get talking to people, and it makes it feel sociable and informal. As well as this, the food is served when it is ready, regardless of English tradition, so often one dish appears, and others in the group may be waiting ten more minutes before they get theirs. This could be awkward if you were eating with someone who is strict with etiquette, but I tend to go with friends, so we just start while it's hot! The menu is split up into different categories depending on what the dishes mainly consist of (rice, noodles etc) and then you can order various sides as well.

I ordered Cha Han, which I have had before and really like. It is 'stir-fried rice with chicken and prawns or tofu, egg, mangetout, mushrooms, sweetcorn and spring onion' AND IT comes with a little bowl of miso soup, and pickles. My friends had all ordered the Chicken Katsu Curry (they get it every time!) and mine happened to arrive first, so I tucked into the miso soup while we waited for theirs to come. It was all gorgeous, and I don't think it would come as a surprise to people I know that I would head back there in a flash. It is also relatively healthy, and has plenty of veg in it, so I feel less guilty for eating out!

After the meal we went for a few drinks in the Northern Quarter, which then turned into a few more drinks on Deansgate, and a night ending in 5th Avenue. But then the unplanned nights are always the best!