Dinner, a party and cocktails in Manchester...

I was excited to be invited to the Manchester fashion Industry Gothic Romance party which was held at San Carlo Fumo restaurant recently, followed by an after party at the Milton Club. We arrived in Manchester early and we were wandering through Spinningfields and we decided to go for dinner first because we had arrived so early. I love spontaneous dinner plans when you do not have a reservation, it always seems like so much fun just to choose somewhere on a whim!

The last time I was at Iberica restaurant was for the Nacho Manzano press dinner earlier this year, and that was a lovely occasion. I decided that tapas would be ideal as we did not have much time, so we decided to visit Iberica on this occasion too. It was cold and blustery outside but the welcoming ambience and candlelit tables inside immediately cheered us up as we were led to a table by the window.

I love tapas because they are such a quick meal and ideal to share, so we proceeded to order a few things which all sounded mouth-watering. The traditional Spanish omelette was served in a generous portion with a hearty potato filling and plenty of flavour, whilst doorstop sized hunks of artisan bread with olive oil were delicious. The fried chorizo lollipops with pear alioli sauce were crispy and moreish whilst the Padrón peppers with Maldon salt were sweet and tangy in equal measure.

Chicken with chilindrón sauce and rosemary potatoes had a great flavour profile which reminded me of a mini roast dinner and patatas bravas were so good with one of the best bravas sauces I have ever tasted, creamy and rich with a good kick of spice. A dish of chickpea purée with chorizo, pancetta and tomato salad was deliciously fresh with interesting taste combinations.

We had a couple of glasses of wine and soaked up the ambience of the restaurant, with its sweeping bar and lofty ceilings the space makes you feel really at home.
Before long it was time for us to leave and make our way to San Carlo Fumo for the party. We made our way through the blustery night and we were glad to arrive at the party which was already in full swing. Everyone looked amazing in their Gothic Romance themed attire and we were greeted with delicious Cointreau cocktails which were just the thing to take away the chill of the night air.

We enjoyed the party atmosphere, with cupcakes and champagne and later in the evening it was time for the fashion show to begin, with stunning style showcases of men’s and women’s fashion. The models all looked gorgeous in their glamourous gowns and we had such a fun time at the party.

We decided not to attend the after party as unfortunately we both had early meetings the next day so we needed to get back to Liverpool, but there was just enough time to pop to The Alchemist on Spinningfields for a couple of cocktails to round off our evening in style. I love The Alchemist which is such a cool and stylish bar with an amazing cocktail list. I chose a white cosmopolitan and we watched as the bartender mixed it with an artistic flair, pouring it over balled ice which contained a real flower. After ending the night with another glass of champagne we finally headed home happy to have enjoyed such a fun evening in Manchester.

So that is all from me for now, what do you all think, do you love long evenings out where you go for dinner then a few drinks too? Do you have any special nights out planned for the holiday season?
As always, I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post. Where we went on our night out:

Iberica Manchester 

14-15 The Avenue 

Spinningfields, 

Manchester 

M3 3HF

The Alchemist 

3 Hardman St,
Manchester
M3 3HF

Manchester Fashion Industry
http://mcrfashionindustry.com/

Until next time,

Camille 

xo 

The perfect holiday gift with Daniel Wellington...

Can you all believe how fast this year seems to have flown by? It seems only moments ago that it was the middle of summer and suddenly, Christmas has crept up on us again!
Every year I tell myself that I am going to be well prepared for Christmas and get all of my shopping done in plenty of time, but of course that never happens and I always feel terribly unprepared when December begins! So here we are and already Christmas is only around the corner again, and I am left looking around for ideas for the perfect gift. I was delighted to get the opportunity to work with Daniel Wellington* again as their watches make the perfect Christmas gift for that special person (or even just as a gift to yourself!)
I have an exclusive discount code to share with you my lovely readers, which entitles you to a 15% discount on purchases from Daniel Wellington from now until January 15th. Simply enter the code cococami when you make your order and 15% will be deducted from your purchase when doing your holiday shopping at www.danielwellington.com it is so simple to order online and it is a lot less stressful than walking around the shops at this busy time of year!

If you are anything like me you probably struggle to think up good present ideas for friends and family and I think that a watch makes a really special gift. Not only is a watch incredibly useful when you lead a busy life, it dresses up any outfit and makes you look more polished. I also love the idea that the person you gift the watch to will think of you whenever they look at their watch. I love the fact that Daniel Wellington create luxurious timepieces which are still affordable. The classic style of their watches means that they go with everything and they always look stylish and elegant. 

This is a good excuse to treat yourself or somebody else. With this in mind I selected watches which would make the ideal Christmas gift for somebody. The Dapper Sheffield is a gorgeous and classic gentleman’s watch, with a luxurious leather strap and blue hands which give it a really stylish pop of colour against the eggshell white dial. It is available with either silver or rose gold finish.

I have chosen this as a present for my partner and I think that he will love it! The watches can be gift wrapped and if you choose this option they arrive in a beautiful box wrapped in ribbon complete with a tag for you to write for your loved one. The gift wrapping makes this an extra special present which anybody would be delighted to unwrap on Christmas morning!

The second watch I chose was the ladies Classy Sheffield, a beautiful watch which is good for the party season as it is studded with stunning Swarovski crystals, so it makes the ideal accessory to go with that little black dress! Again, this is available in a rose gold or silver finish, so you can choose which you prefer.

Although this particular watch is in fact a gift for me, it would also make a special present for somebody. I cannot live without the Daniel Wellington watch I already own, it makes sure that I am on time for all of my meetings and events and I feel so lost without it, so I am looking forward to wearing my new one which I have decided to keep for special occasions. 

What do you all think, do you think that a watch makes an ideal Christmas gift and have you done any of your holiday shopping yet? Do not forget that you can use your special discount code cococami to receive an amazing 15% off your purchases at Daniel Wellington from now until January 15th 2016. Happy shopping and I hope that you are all in the festive spirit. As always I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post!

www.danielwellington.com

Until next time,

Camille 

xo



*Disclaimer

I was invited to collaborate with Daniel Wellington on this holiday post, the watches were complimentary for the purposes of this article. All opinions expressed herein are my own and honest. 

Festive afternoon tea at the Hilton Liverpool...

It is that time of year when the nights draw in, it seems to rain almost every day and it can generally feel a little bit gloomy. With this in mind, I was delighted to receive an invitation to a festive afternoon tea at the Hilton hotel in Liverpool last week, which I was certain would put me in the Christmas spirit. The event was held to mark the launch of the festive afternoon tea which will be available throughout the Christmas period.  

Outside a storm was raging, but as soon as I walked in to the Exchange Restaurant at the Hilton I was whisked in to a world of Christmas cheer, festooned with traditional Christmas Trees and decorations as well as a projection of Christmas movies on the wall. It was so cosy and welcoming that I felt as if Santa Claus himself might appear at any moment! 

The tables for the afternoon tea had been beautifully set with Christmas crackers and there was a lovely cheerful feeling in the room as we took our seats and sipped delicious mulled wine decorated with orange. I love mulled wine, it never fails to put me in a better mood! 

The afternoon tea soon arrived and there were plenty of gasps at how cute and delicious everything looked! The food consisted of a range of dainty sandwiches including turkey and cranberry, scones served with clotted cream and mini pots of jam, delicate cakes and Christmas themed petit fours such as chocolate Christmas pudding and mini squares of Christmas cake. 

We had a good chat and the festive mood was really in the air throughout the afternoon as we pulled our crackers and sipped the mulled wine. There is also a choice of coffee available with the afternoon tea if you prefer a caffeine fix to a pot of tea. I think that this festive afternoon tea would be just the ticket to revive you after a long morning of Christmas shopping! It is the perfect treat for two people to share and there is plenty to go around. 

The event was so much fun and it really got me in to the Christmas spirit. The cakes were so delicious and I also loved having a scone smothered with cream and jam…well it is the festive season so a little bit of self-indulgence is good for the soul! 

What do you all think, do you like afternoon tea and do you like the idea of a festive themed one? As always I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post!

Hilton Liverpool

3 Thomas Steers Way,

Liverpool,

L1 8LW,

0151 7084200

www.hiltonliverpool.co.uk

Until next time,

Camille 

xo

Reds True Barbecue Liverpool Press Launch...

Last week I moseyed on down to the press launch for the new Red’s True Barbecue restaurant in Liverpool. Red’s is famous for meat which is ‘smoked low and slow’ using authentic American techniques, rubs and smokers to create succulent barbecue meats. The long process ensures that the meat retains plenty of flavour and becomes extremely tender. 
I was looking forward to checking out this new addition to the Liverpool restaurant scene, and we arrived to find the restaurant already packed with guests who were tucking in to platters piled high with a taste of all things barbecue.  

Heavenly aromas filled the air and after a friendly welcome, we were shown to the upstairs bar and restaurant area which is low-lit with funky 1970’s interior design including patterned lamps, striped curtains, quirky furniture and even a fish tank! The curved bar area was busy and the skilled bartenders were shaking up cocktails with polished efficiency. I ordered a strawberry daiquiri and we took our seats at a high table which gave us a great view of the action!

Before long we were presented with a tray groaning under the weight of delicious Red’s True Barbecue goodies such as pulled pork, beef brisket, ribs, slaw, mustard ‘caviar’, cheese and jalapeno sausage, cheese and jalapeno cornbread, creamed corn and BBQ pit beans. Phew, even the sight of this meaty platter was enough to let us know we were in for a treat! 
The meats were all so tender and juicy with plenty of flavour and just in case you want to add more, each table has a rack of signature Red’s True Barbecue sauces to choose from. My favourite was the South Carolina Barbecue sauce which was so delicious, described as a ‘mustard based tangy sauce with a spicy kick’, it was sweet and smoky at the same time. The food was so delicious and I really loved the cheese and jalapeno cornbread which was so tasty and complemented the meat perfectly. The BBQ pit beans were so smoky and rich whilst the corn was creamy and sweet, real comfort food! 

We were given wristbands at the start of the night which allowed us six cocktails or a choice of other drinks and we were so well looked after by the lovely team who were friendly and helpful. The party continued long in to the evening, and there was live music which added even more atmosphere. The neon signs which are hung all around the restaurant are so cool and there is a really American feel to the whole place, including part of a retro truck hanging from the ceiling! Red's True Barbecue has got such a great atmosphere and it somewhere that is really relaxed, the type of place that you can drop in for some delicious food and cocktails knowing that it will be a casual experience which is chilled out and fun.

The menu has some good options, so even if barbecue meat is not your thing there is also plenty on the menu to tempt you such as burgers, loaded ‘swine fries’ and mac n’cheese balls as well as brined sticky chicken and barbecue chicken wings. So much indulgence! This would be a great place to go with a group of friends or for a laid-back date with someone special. The relaxed atmosphere is just so attractive and a complete breath of fresh air in comparison to a more formal style of dining. This is a 'roll your sleeves up and get stuck in' type of place which is sometimes exactly what you want!

There are plenty of craft beers and ales on offer at Red's as well as a great cocktail list with diverse options such as Honey Berry Smash and Basil Bramble Sling. It is a good place to just pop in to on a whim for a few drinks, as the bar area has a really cool vibe. I can see that I will be spending a few evenings there soaking up the relaxed ambience! My last cocktail of the evening was the intriguingly named Georgia Hobo Juice, corn whiskey with lemon, lime and sugar served in a jar wrapped in a brown paper bag!

What do you all think, have you ever dined at Red's True Barbecue, or would you like to in the future? As always I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post!

Red's True Barbecue 

51 Hanover Street

Liverpool

L1 3DN

http://truebarbecue.com/

Until next time,

Camille 

xo