Red Door Manchester preview...

I love to hear about new openings which will be happening, so I was excited to hear that Red Door will be joining the thriving Manchester bar scene early this June. Red Door serves an array of delicious cocktails which are developed with a sense of theatre in mind, and often a little sense of humour! I thought that I would bring you a little bit about what you can expect when Red Door opens in Manchester as I recently tried some of their most popular cocktails at Red Door Liverpool.
Located on Deansgate, Red Door Manchester will occupy 2800sqft with a capacity of 250 guests and it will be open from 8pm until 2am seven days per week, making it the go-to destination for those evening or late night cocktails. The bartenders at Red Door are highly trained and knowledgeable, so I enjoyed watching the creation of some of their cocktails and of course tasting them!

The aesthetic of Red Door is cool and understated, with low lighting and a sweeping bar area which forms the focal point of the venue, with an impressive menu including plenty of those bespoke cocktails as well as a great choice of rum.
First up for me to sample was Mrs Jones, a refreshing blend of grapefruit, elderflower, gin, Aperol and lemon juice served with a dusting of sugar around the rim and a garnish of orange. This was a zesty delight sure to brighten any day of the week with its summertime flavour.

I can never resist a French Martini, so I was eager to try the Red Door spin on this classic, which delivered a tropical taste which was topped with a delicious foam. 

Some of the cocktails Red Door is arguably the most renowned for are their sharing glitter balls, and I watched in awe as one was prepared consisting of  Rebellion Rum, Goslings Black Seal, Santa Teresa Orange Liqueur, La Fée Absinthe Parisienne and Luxardo Maraschino poured in to a huge glitter ball. Pineapple, grapefruit and passionfruit juices were then mixed in as well as grenadine and lime juice, before the giant creation was topped with fresh fruit. It tasted as good as it looked and this would be the ideal order for a night out. 

The Old Smokey is always a good choice to order at Red Door, due to the smoky taste and the sheer theatre of the way this is prepared. A classic bourbon old fashioned smoked with oak, this is billed as ‘an experience for whiskey lovers old and new’ and watching the wood chips being smoked before your eyes is spectacular as the resulting clouds of smoke add to the depth of flavour of the Old Smokey. 

I always find it hard to wake up in the morning, so I appreciate the quirky humour of the Rise and Shine a blend of gin, blueberry jam, bergamot infusion, lemon juice and crème de mure which is heated up before your eyes and served in a beaker. This cocktail was refreshing, sweet and fruity. 

I had a great time sampling some of the most popular cocktails, thank you to the Red Door Liverpool team! I think that Red Door will make a popular addition to the Manchester bar scene, with live music and plenty of drinks to appeal to everybody. 

Red Door 

78 Deansgate,
Manchester
M3 2FW
www.reddoor.uk.com

What do you all think, would you like to visit Red Door Manchester when it opens in June and which of these cocktails would you like to try? As always I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post!

Until next time, 

Camille 

xo 

Petiscos at Fazenda....

One aspect of writing about food which I love, is having the chance to try new foods which I have not eaten before. I have dined at Fazenda Rodizio Bar and Grill in Liverpool in the past, in fact it was one of the first restaurants I wrote about for this blog, so it was a pleasure to be invited along to sample some of their new Petiscos menu last week. Petiscos are essentially the Portuguese and Brazilian equivalent of tapas. Food served in portions ideal to share, a small plates concept which means that if you are out having a few drinks at Fazenda, you can easily order some food without having the full seated Rodizio experience Fazenda is renowned for.

We arrived on a sunny afternoon and the outdoor terrace was full of people soaking up the afternoon sun. Fazenda is located in Liverpool’s Exchange Flags, a well-proportioned square situated behind the Town Hall in the heart of the business district of the city.
We took our seats at a table in the bar area which gave us a great view of the Town Hall as we browsed the menu. First on the table were sumptuous Pão de queijo, fluffy dough balls filled with mild cheese with a slightly spicy dip on the side.

These were a great dish to start the meal and I could happily have gone on eating these all day. Next up was Picantonas, these spicy sweet potato wedges topped with a sour cream dressing delivered heaps of flavour and a fiery zing which I loved.

Tropeiro, sausages with black beans topped with a perfectly cooked fried egg was another taste sensation and I imagine this would make the perfect brunch dish served with some of the Pão de queijo. I loved the way the spicy sausage combined with the egg yolk and the black beans rounded this off well.

A slate of Picanha sliders arrived, beautifully presented mini burgers in doughy little buns with a fiery topping. These were bitesized treats which delivered an exciting taste combination.

We enjoyed cassava chips, which were crisp on the outside with a fluffy texture on the inside, perfectly paired with a spicy dip. These reminded me of polenta chips in texture and they were ideal to share.

Coxinhas, crunchy croquettes filled with beef were just melt in the mouth and so moreish. The flavour of these was also rich and slightly smoky, I would imagine they would go well with a nice glass of red or two!

We were thoroughly spoiled by the selection of savoury Petiscos, and there was still dessert to enjoy. A brown paper bag of some of the best churros I have ever tried arrived. Still warm, filled with chocolate inside and served with a rich melted chocolate dipping sauce. Bliss.

Lastly, Brigadeiros were served to us in a box, balls of fudge rolled in chocolate and chilled. Oh my goodness, no other words are needed!

I was enraptured by the wide selection of flavours we experienced and every dish was excellent, I can see that Petiscos and drinks at Fazenda will quickly become a new favourite on the Liverpool dining scene, especially now that summer is finally here!

Fazenda 

Horton House,
Exchange Flags,
Liverpool
L2 3PG

http://fazenda.co.uk/

What do you all think, do you like the idea of Petiscos and which of these dishes would you like to try? As always I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post.

Until next time,

Camille

xo

Cocktails at Turtle Bay...

I don't know about you, but all this sunshine has put me in the mood for some cocktails, so I was pleased last week when I saw a Turtle Bay cocktail masterclass in my diary.
I really like the holiday feeling of Turtle Bay, as soon as you step through the doors of this bar and restaurant, you are transported to the Caribbean by a colourful aesthetic, chilled out tunes and a cocktail and food menu inspired by what the region has to offer. I have been feeling in need of a holiday lately, so I was happy to pop along to the Hanover Street location of Turtle Bay to capture that summery feeling at a cocktail masterclass hosted by Bar Manager Kieran. We took our seats at the bar after a warm welcome and ordered some Marley Mojitos to get the party started, a refreshing blend of Appleton special rum, Midori, fresh mint, watermelon and homemade ginger beer.

Kieran gave us a ‘pour test’ which is something every bartender undergoes, so we all had a turn at counting out spirit measures after having been shown how to hold the bottle correctly by the neck.

After the pour test it was our turn to go behind the bar and have a go at making some cocktails of our own under Kieran's watchful eye. First up, I made one of my Turtle Bay favourites, the Bay Bramble which is a blend of white rum, blackberry liquor, fresh lemon and club soda poured over crushed ice.

It felt good to be on the other side of the bar and it was fun to get going on making my own cocktail! I love the Bay Bramble which is a sweet and refreshing blend. My friends at the event took their turns making cocktails and we all sat back to sip the results whilst Kieran told us all about the history of different rums and cocktail ingredients.

Next it was on to making our second chosen cocktail and I stepped behind the bar again to make a Classic Mojito, a drink which most of us know and love, consisting of Blackwell rum, fresh mint, lime and club soda.

As far as cocktails go, a good Mojito cannot be beaten in my opinion, and once mixed this one tasted as good as I had hoped. Everyone else had a go at making a second drink and then Kieran treated us to some other Turtle Bay favourites and a few off menu options too which were all mouth-watering.

Later we ordered a selection of food, which we could hardly fit on to the bar when it arrived such was the abundance! We enjoyed jerk chicken wings with sour orange chutney, fiery sweet corn fritters with scotch bonnet chilli, garlic n’ herb flatbread, sweet potato fries, ribs, chilli fried squid and fried chickpeas.

The food at Turtle Bay is full of fire, vibrancy and flavour and it never fails to make me smile delivering that Caribbean personality and warmth in every dish. We sipped the last of our drinks and enjoyed the ambience. I had such a great night at the Turtle Bay cocktail masterclass and it was fun to try my hand at making the cocktails as well as drinking them!

What do you all think, do you like the idea of making your own cocktails and which of these would you like to try? As always I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post.

Turtle Bay

59-61 Hanover St,
Liverpool
L1 3DY

http://www.turtlebay.co.uk/

Until next time,

Camille

xo

The Merchant and Nightcrawler Pizza launch...

Pizza, prosecco on tap and plenty of gin...sounds like a good combination to me, so I popped up to Slater Street in Liverpool last week for the launch party of The Merchant and Nightcrawler Pizza. I was excited to attend this launch party after walking past earlier in the week and seeing the venue taking shape. The Merchant is a cool new bar, canteen and garden serving an array of craft beers and an impressive choice of gin goblets including watermelon and juniper berry infused versions. Low bench style tables were decorated with vases of wildflowers and candlelight flickered softly in the windows as guests chatted. The exposed brickwork, neon signs and shelves of pot plants dotted here and there contribute to a vibe which is cool without being self-conscious and the wooden clipboard menus add a touch of fun. Nightcrawler Pizza is located through an adjoining door, meaning that tasty pizza is available to enjoy alongside your drinks at The Merchant. 

I got myself one of those tantalising gin goblets from the bar area, which features a cool aesthetic of stripped back walls and eye catching light fixtures. There is a light and bright feel to the venue during the day whilst at night the lights are turned down low creating a more intimate and hidden atmosphere. 

I sipped another gin goblet with juniper berries before sweeping up the steps to try Nightcrawler Pizza. This fun pizzeria serves freshly baked rustic pizza by the slice and the options were mouth-watering including Louie Louie, with buffalo mozzarella, tomato and basil. I love the idea that you can have a drink in The Merchant and grab fresh pizza by the slice from Nightcrawler Pizza when hunger strikes! It is a fresh and interesting concept which feels really appealing. 

The décor of Nightcrawler Pizza is stylish, with a lightning bolt of tiles, stools where you can enjoy your pizza by the window and a large glass topped counter where you can see the delicious pizzas on display. The chefs cook the pizzas before your eyes in the large oven, before serving them up on brown paper. We headed on to the outdoor terrace, which is sure to be a popular choice of hangout this summer. I tucked in to my slice of Louie Louie which was topped with flakes of sea salt and fresh basil. There were lots of choices, such as Meat Wave topped with Nduja and mascarpone and Hot Damn topped with salciccia picante. Yum! 

The pizza was irresistible with a thin yet doughy base, tangy tomato sauce and heaps of melted mozzarella. Trays of Dirty Burgers from Patty Smiths were also on offer during the evening, steak mince burgers topped with cheddar, chipotle mayo, American mustard, vine tomato, baby gem lettuce and pickles. The whole feel of The Merchant and Nightcrawler Pizza is fun and informal and I will definitely be popping in regularly for a slice of sumptuous pizza and a goblet of gin (or two!)

There was a DJ playing and there was a really great atmosphere as the venue filled up. I like being able to grab a slice of hot pizza on a whim and take it through to settle at one of the benches or in a cosy window seat where you can watch the world go by. This feels like a concept which would be suited to New York and I am delighted it has come along to join the thriving Liverpool restaurant and bar scene. 

The Merchant /

Nightcrawler Pizza

Slater Street 

Liverpool 

www.themerchantliverpool.co.uk 

What do you all think, do you like the idea of a bar, canteen and garden in one cool venue? As always I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post!

Until next time,

Camille 

xo 

Sweet treats from Squidges Bakery...

Sometimes, the simple things can be the most satisfying when it comes to food and there is something about freshly baked cookies which is just irresistible. I was recently given the opportunity to review Squidges Bakery, the ‘little bakery with a big heart’ which makes cookies and tiffin. Squidges products are all freshly baked to order, using ingredients which are locally sourced, organic and Fairtrade where possible. No preservatives are used and Squidges won a Great Taste Award recently. Katie, owner and Director of Squidges started baking aged just 5 (with help from her aunt) and her passion shines through in quality, attention to detail and of course taste. 

Katie hand delivered some Squidges goodies to my front door and it was a pleasure to meet her in person and chat about Squidges. They carry a tempting range of cookies such as caramel and pecan, luxury chocolate chunk and seasonal varieties as well as handmade tiffins such as dark chocolate, pistachio and ginger. It felt like a shame to unwrap them, as everything was beautifully packaged. 

This weekend I served the cookies with chocolate milkshake topped with cream and settled down in the garden for some relaxation whilst sampling the Squidges delights. First up was a moreish pecan spice cookie, followed by the decadent salted caramel, chocolate and peanut butter variety. Next I moved on to trying the chocolate, fruit and nut cookie which was so big and chunky with lots of flavour. I could have happily eaten them all myself, but the family gathered like wolves as I cut the rest into halves for us all to share! The intense chocolate was a hit with everyone, with huge chocolate chunks whilst the oat honey and raisin seemed to melt in the mouth with a delicate and buttery flavour complemented by the zesty raisins. Each of the cookies was so good in its own right, that it was difficult to choose a favourite! 

The luxury chocolate chunk cookie had a soft and chewy texture with large chocolate pieces, a cookie I could happily eat daily. The chocolate orange was a treat with a zesty flavour from the orange and tasty chocolate pieces, perfect with a cup of coffee. The quality of ingredients in the cookies such as organic flour and Madagascan vanilla was reflected in the taste. You certainly do not need to be hungry to eat Squidges and they are a treat at any time of the day as well as being the ideal gift for a special occasion or thank you. I love to champion independent food businesses like Squidges and it is great to see them succeeding and gaining recognition which is very much deserved. You can see that heart and soul goes in to every product and Squidges deliver their goodies by mail order and they also cater to parties and events, with cookies and milk parties in the Cheshire, Wirral and North Wales area. 

Thank you very much to Squidges for these delicious treats!

Squidges Bakery

http://www.squidges.com/

info@squidges.com
07972798871

Follow Squidges on Twitter and Instagram:

@squidgesbakery

What do you all think, do you like the idea of freshly baked cookies and tiffin, and which of these flavours would you like to try? As always I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post. 

Until next time, 

Camille 

xo