Summer essentials with Batiste...

Hi everyone I hope that you are all well. It is not often I find the time to share a post which includes beauty products these days, but I want to share with you a few things that I have been loving lately. These are not all beauty related and there are a couple of other things thrown in which I just can't get enough of at the moment! I have been a massive fan of Batiste Dry Shampoo for as long as I can remember, it is a total hair saviour when you have been out for one or two (or even six!) cocktails the night before and you just do not have time to wash your hair the next day, this never fails to refresh and volumise my tired locks. I was so excited recently to be sent two new products from the Batiste* Stylist range. These are brand new on the market and they are perfect to throw in your bag for a weekend away or a holiday. The Heat & Shine spray is designed to protect your locks from the dreaded ill effects of heat styling. It does the job amazingly well and it smells divine. Winner!

Meanwhile, the Frizz Tamer is designed to keep your hair glossy and frizz free for up to 12 hours, which is pretty darn impressive if you ask me. My hair is naturally wavy so I blow dry and straighten it most days. Due to intense styling, keeping my hair looking glossy can be a nightmare, but this product does the job, leaving it shiny and lightly scented with no frizz in sight when I tried it for a night out recently. I also love the packaging of these two items which looks so vibrant and cool. The Batiste Stylist range is a welcome addition to my hair-drobe (a wardrobe of hair products for those unfamiliar with the term!) and I can see that I will be using these products just as often as I use the Batiste Dry Shampoos.

Oh Berocca, how do I love thee, let me count the ways. This fizzy vitamin boost is the best pick-me-up ever if you feel a little exhausted (read if you decided to sample all of the cocktail menu the night before...!) all joking aside, this is my go-to for when I feel like I need ten hours sleep and a fry up. Job done.

I am obsessed with the Nivea in shower moisturiser in 'pampering honey' which is a quick and fuss-free way to moisturise whilst still in the shower. It smells amazing and I use it after washing with my new favourite the Dove pro age body wash, which leaves your skin silky and feeling divine.
I am a sucker for new products and when I saw the new Nivea purifying cleansing gel with ocean algae and hydra IQ, I just had to invest. Ok I bought this mainly because I thought it looked cool (I know, I know...!) but it is just dreamy and it leaves my skin refreshed and glowing, which trust me is no mean feat when I get up early...yep, not a morning person, never will be!
I have also been loving the Lush ocean salt face and body scrub. I find this a good treat for my skin and a little goes a long way. Using it once per week is ample though, as it is quite an intense scrub which leaves skin sparkling. There is no denying I am getting a bit older (sob, wail etc !) so I do need to care for my skin to try to evade those pesky lines and wrinkles (I do not see the point in Botox...injecting a toxin into my face, no thanks!) instead I swear by wearing sunscreen daily or using foundation with SPF 15, at the moment I love the Rimmel wake me up foundation in shade 'true ivory'. After washing my face I use Olay firm and lift, this 2 in 1 moisturiser has anti-wrinkle complex and firming serum. This is like 8 hours sleep in a bottle and if you shop around you can usually find it on offer for £5. Trust me, you will high five yourself for investing in this purple bottle of goodness!

 I do not feel we say thank you enough in life, so to remedy this I recently bought these oh-so-cute thank you notes in Paperchase, the fact that this also gave me an excuse to buy more stationary for myself at the same time is of course immaterial, it is the thought that counts after all!
Vogue is of course mandatory reading for anyone with even a passing interest in fashion, and I have included it here because it is a magazine which never fails to inspire me and I always pick it up when I have a chance.
Twinings Green Tea is a new discovery of mine, I find traditional Green Tea a little bitter for my taste so I love these flavoured versions in mango and lychee and orange and lotus flower. They taste so sweet and they are very fragrant.
I love LOVE love C.J. Sansom, he writes cracking  historical yarns centred around the character of Matthew Shardlake and his sidekick Jack Barak. The stories are set in the Tudor and Elizabethan times and his narrative is so gifted and evocative that he simply brings history to life with these mysterious and thrilling stories.
I have been loving The Hairy Dieters by Dave Myers and Si King, this is full of great healthy recipes and even if you are not dieting, this is a superb cookbook.

So that is all for now lovely readers, please tell me what you have been loving lately and do you like any of the same things as me? As always, I can't wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post!

Until next time,

Camille 

xo 

*Disclaimer

I was sent these products on a complimentary basis for review purposes, all opinions expressed herein are my own and honest. 

Dinner at Gusto Manchester...

So I am having a bit of a theme at the moment sharing a couple of my favourite Italian restaurants with you and one of my all-time favourites has to be Gusto. This gem of a restaurant is one I always go back to over and over when I want delicious food and exceptional service. I often dine at the Liverpool Gusto and I have reviewed it before, but I was pleased to be given the opportunity to review Gusto Manchester* on Sunday as I had not been to the Manchester Gusto before.

Situated just off the bustling Deansgate, Gusto Manchester is an elegant looking restaurant which has a classic charm to it. We arrived looking forward to some amazing food and we were led straight to a spacious booth which gave us a superb view of the restaurant and bar area. There is a 1920’s glamour to the restaurant, with an Art Deco grandeur and a square bar situated right in the centre of the dining room. An atmosphere of elegance and glamour abounds and you could easily imagine this as the setting for a film! 

We were warmly welcomed by the team and I sipped a superb Pinot Grigio blush whilst we perused the menu. Sticklers for tradition, we started off with a Garlic Pizza Bread topped with heaps of melted mozzarella. This was just divine and the perfect way to start off a decadent meal! I love the Bruschetta and the Fritto Misto at Gusto too, but it just had to be garlic bread on this occasion! 

The Honey Dew

Garlic pizza bread.

My dining companion sipped a non-alcoholic cocktail called the Honey Dew, a refreshing muddle of apple juice, ginger, honey, lime juice and mint.
For the main course I chose the wonderful sounding Roast Chicken Breast served with creamed leeks and butter fried gnocchi. I cannot resist gnocchi, so combining them with roast chicken and leeks was a winning combination. I think that leeks are such a delicious and underrated vegetable, they are so mild and versatile and they worked so well in this dish with the tender chicken placed on top of the creamy leeks to create a perfect flavour combination.

Roast chicken breast.

My dining companion meanwhile opted for the Caprino pizza, which I have enjoyed at Gusto on previous occasions. I love this pizza because it is much lighter than many pizzas due to its toppings of goat’s cheese, roasted red peppers, pine nuts, caramelised onions, pesto, mozzarella and rocket. These toppings combine to create a fresh, summery flavour and the goat’s cheese provides a salty tang which offsets the peppery rocket and sweet onions whilst the pine nuts provide a welcome crunch of texture. Sides of fries and Italian fried courgettes (as recommended by our friendly server) complemented our main courses and we enjoyed everything immensely. 

 Caprino pizza.

Italian courgettes and fries.

On to dessert and my dining companion was tempted by the Baked Flaming Alaska, we have seen this served before to other diners at Gusto and regretted not ordering it ourselves. The ceremony of the way this is served (alcohol is poured over it and the dessert is set alight) makes it a pure delight and spectacle. Happily it also tastes as good as it looks, which I managed to discern for myself by stealing a spoonful before my partner wolfed the whole thing down rapidly! 

 Baked flaming Alaska.

I meanwhile ordered one of my favourite ever desserts, the legendary Gusto Nutella and Mascarpone Calzone served with vanilla ice cream. Words cannot describe how sinfully delicious this dessert is and if you have not tried it I recommend that you run to your nearest Gusto right now (or phone up to book a table which may be a better option!) 

This is just dessert perfection, with rivers of rich warm Nutella and Mascarpone encased in a crescent of perfect dough. The sensation of hot and cold from the warm Calzone and the cool ice cream is quite something and each Calzone is baked fresh to order. This is sheer heaven, I just can’t resist ordering it every time I am at Gusto!

Nutella calzone.

The whole meal was so delicious and we were thoroughly spoiled by the lovely staff including the one of the managers Mike who we had a long and interesting chat to at the end of the meal.

We had a super time and it was the perfect way to spend a relaxing Sunday afternoon. Thank you so much to the team at Gusto Manchester for making us so welcome and we look forward to seeing you again soon! 

What do you all think, would you like to have a delicious meal in such opulent surroundings? Which of these dishes do you like the sound of? As always I can’t wait to read your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post!

Gusto Manchester

4 Lloyd Street

(off Deansgate)

Manchester

M2 5AB

0161 832 2866

http://gustorestaurants.uk.com/

Until next time,

Camille

xo

*Disclaimer

We were kindly invited to review Gusto Manchester, our meal was complimentary for review purposes. All opinions expressed herein are my own and honest.

Dinner at Piccolino Stockton Heath...

There is something so rustic and comforting about classic Italian food and one of the restaurants I love to visit time and time again is Piccolino which never fails to deliver excellent food and service. Usually I dine at the Liverpool Piccolino, but I was recently fortunate to dine at the new look Piccolino Stockton Heath * thanks to my friends at Individual Restaurants.
It had been a while since I had enjoyed a delicious Italian meal and I was extremely excited to check out the new look restaurant which boasts a Mediterranean style outdoor all-weather roof terrace and a sweeping open-plan restaurant and bar with plenty of outdoor tables at street level.

We arrived on a sunny Friday evening to find that the restaurant was already bustling with diners and people enjoying a few cocktails at the bar. I was immediately struck by how chic and stylish the interior design of the restaurant is, with a cool neutral colour scheme complemented by baby blue leather seats, marble tables, wood panelling and luxurious booths. The smell of irresistible Italian food filled the air as waiters whirled across the busy restaurant floor balancing their plates with impressive skill!

We were warmly welcomed and led to the bar area where we sipped an excellent Prosecco whilst we soaked up the ambience. I always know a restaurant has got it just right when I feel relaxed as soon as I walk through the door, and Piccolino manages that every time. I felt all the stress of the working week fade away as we relaxed and enjoyed the atmosphere of sophistication.
I was delighted that we were lucky enough to be seated on the outdoor roof terrace for dinner, as I love alfresco dining and I think food never tastes better than in the open air. The terrace is simply stunning with baby blue booth seats, a live DJ spinning mellow tunes and even striped pashminas to keep you warm when the weather gets chilly. 

There is a retractable roof awning and patio heaters which makes this the ideal place to get a holiday feeling whatever the weather. I felt as though we had been whisked away to Portofino without even leaving the UK. I always appreciate attention to detail at restaurants and Piccolino always go the extra mile with linen napkins, impeccable service and superb presentation. Our server was extremely friendly and knowledgeable, talking us through the specials and recommending certain dishes.

We started off our meal with an old favourite which we always order at Piccolino, the Pane All’Aglio, hand-stretched garlic bread with Buffalo mozzarella and fontina cheese. This is by far the best garlic bread I have ever tasted, with the perfect amount of melted cheese, plenty of flavoursome garlic oil and a crispy base. It is irresistible trust me, and once you have tasted this no other garlic bread can ever come close! 

For the main course we could not resist ordering pizzas and fries. We were just in the mood to be indulgent as it was Friday evening and the pizzas at Piccolino are truly out of this world. Cooking a pizza in a wood fired oven is for me the secret to perfection, as it creates the most delicious base every time, and Piccolino use a charcoal and wood burning grill fired with lump wood charcoal.

My dining companion chose the Quattro Salami pizza with Finocchiona, Milano, soppressata and ‘Nduja, a favourite of his. I chose the Pollo Parmigiana with chicken, tomato, mozzarella, basil & Parmesan. We both enjoyed every bite of the delightful pizzas which were cooked to perfection. 

After the pizza it was time for the standard moral conundrum of whether we should really order a dessert after having already eaten so much! Naturally this struggle did not last long and I chose Tortino al cioccolato, warm chocolate fondant & salted caramel ice cream. This is a truly sensual dessert and it is pure pleasure on a plate with the salted caramel ice cream providing the perfect cool counterpart to the warm melted chocolate.  Meanwhile, my dining companion chose the classic Italian dessert of Torta Caprese, dark chocolate & almond tart with vanilla ice cream, which was equally lovely.

After this divine meal, we retired to the bar downstairs for after dinner coffee, which for me took the form of an excellent Espresso Martini! In the name of a thorough review, I thought I would just have to sample a couple more cocktails, so I had a classic Pornstar Martini and the Improved Clover Club, an amazing blend of Hendrick’s gin and Lanique rose liqueur spirit shaken with raspberries, lemon & sugar and topped with rose petals. 

I sipped my final cocktail and we chatted to some lovely Individual Restaurant people! Feeling very happy and full of delicious food and great memories, we slipped off into the night and bid Piccolino Stockton Heath a fond farewell.

We had a perfect night and we will definitely be returning very soon, thank you so much to the team at Piccolino for having us!

What do you all think, would you like to enjoy pizza on the terrace here? What is your favourite pizza? As always I can't wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post! 

Piccolino Stockton Heath 

Unit 6 Victoria Square, 

London Road, 

Stockton Heath, 

Warrington, 

WA4 6SG

http://www.individualrestaurants.com/piccolino/stockton-heath/

01925 211 190

Until next time,

Camille 

xo 

*Disclaimer

I was kindly invited to enjoy dinner at Piccolino, the meal was complimentary for review purposes. All opinions expressed herein are my own and honest. 

Dinner at Cau...

I was delighted recently when another new restaurant opened in Liverpool, we are enjoying such a flourishing dining scene at the moment with so many excellent new places opening of late. Cau secured one of the highly prized units on Castle Street right in the shadow of Liverpool Town Hall. This historic street is one of my favourite streets in the city, both for its architecture and for the selection of restaurants in and around the area.
I have been eager to dine at Cau  for a while now and we recently reserved a table for dinner on a Friday evening. I was already looking forward to going out to dinner, and the fact that I went with my partner Tim and my lovely friend Hana made it even more special. We were given a warm welcome and shown to a spacious table in the restaurant which was already bustling with contented diners during the height of Friday evening service. Our reservation was fairly late because we had all been to a party first, so we had worked up a good appetite! We were kindly sent over Prosecco by Kate the lovely manager of Cau, which we enjoyed as we nibbled on fresh bread with chipotle butter and perused the extensive menu.
Cau is an Argentinian style restaurant so there is a wealth of steaks and burgers on the menu alongside several small plates which are ideal to share. We decided to sample a few dishes such as quesadilla, smoked haddock and manchego croquettes,Argentinian flatbread with sweet onion, mozzarella and oregano and hummus with aubergine caviar, chilli and crispbreads. Tim meanwhile opted for the Ribeye steak with Chimichurri sauce and fries.

 The quesadilla was delicious, stuffed with roasted vegetables, manchego and mozzarella and served with handmade guacamole. The smoked haddock croquettes were irresistibly moreish meanwhile, with a delicious caper mayonnaise dipping sauce. The presentation of all the dishes was really pleasing to the eye, with slates used to serve the sharing dishes and baskets for the fries. Tim adored his steak which was perfectly cooked with crispy fries and piquant chimichurri.

The Argentinian flatbread was dreamy, with the sweet roasted onion providing a lovely zing against the rich melted cheeses. These dishes were ideal to share and Hana and I also ordered some triple cooked chunky chips which were perfectly cooked and so indulgent! We loved the tasty and fiery hummus too, and the aubergine caviar was a delightful touch.

 Argentinian flatbread with sweet onion, mozzarella and oregano.

Smoked haddock and manchego croquettes.

Hummus with homemade aubergine caviar, chilli and  roasted nuts, served with crispbreads.

Ribeye steak with fries.

The homemade guacamole was a real treat!

Ribeye steak with chimichurri sauce.

What a feast!

 Quirky lighting!

The cool interior of the restaurant creates a great ambience.

We decided to forgo a dessert because we were so full and the food was hearty and flavoursome. Service was excellent throughout the meal and the ambience of the restaurant was warm and vibrant. I really like the decor of Cau which is modern and minimal with eye catching touches such as white booth seats, display wine cases and quirky lighting. It is elegant and simple, the ideal place to head to for a special meal. I love discovering new restaurants and I am certainly glad to have found out for myself what all the fuss is about surrounding Cau. We all had such a fun evening and it was lovely having dinner with my friend Hana. We will definitely be returning to Cau again soon and I think it is just the place to go out for dinner before continuing the evening with some late night cocktails in the city!

Do you like to order small sharing plates when you go out to a restaurant or do you prefer ordering a main course? Have you ever dined at Cau, and what dish would you have eaten first from what we ordered? As always I can't wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post!

Cau 

3-7 Castle Street,

Liverpool

 L2 4SW

 01512 271 818

Until next time,

Camille 

xo