Cocktails and sushi at Neighbourhood Liverpool....

Last night I went along to Neighbourhood in Liverpool to enjoy a press tasting of some of their food and cocktails. Neighbourhood is a stylish restaurant and bar located on Castle Street; this area of Liverpool is one of the best places to go out for food and drinks as there is such a good selection of restaurants and bars in the vicinity. I have visited Neighbourhood in Manchester many times and I am happy that there is now a Neighbourhood in Liverpool too, adding another cool venue to the wide range of bars and restaurants in Liverpool. 

Neighbourhood has a strking design aesthetic which is sympathetic to the history of the building which was once a bank. There is a sense of grandeur about the place, with lofty ceilings and a mezzanine level with a stunning private dining space. Many of the original features of the building are still visible, which gives it even more of an air of elegance. 

We were welcomed with Prosecco and given some hints about what the evening would entail, including tastings of food and drink as well as a surprise.  We took our seats in the opulent private dining area, which has a vast table with wraparound plush leather banquette seating. In no time at all we were served delicious cocktails and platters of dainty food began to arrive at the table. We were treated to a selection of goodies including mini burgers, succulent lobster tacos and prawn tempura in a light and golden batter. 

The Prosecco continued to flow as more bottles arrived at the table, complete with sparklers which created a festive atmosphere. The surprise of the evening was revealed as Neighbourhood chef Jordan arrived to give us all a sushi masterclass. He talked us through some fascinating information about the origins of sushi and the history of this popular delicacy, before he started to make us various sushi rolls to enjoy.

We were given the chance to join in, making our own sushi. I enjoyed seeing the various types of sushi being prepared and we also sampled some vegetarian sushi, avocado rolls which were so tasty and perfectly complemented by the cocktails and Prosecco. After so many delicious dishes, the evening concluded with a plate of tempting desserts including chocolate brownies which had a deep flavour and a rich and chewy texture.

Thank you very much to Chloé, who hosted us for the lovely evening. I met some great people and caught up with some friends, it was a fun night and we heard all about the legendary Neighbourhood Nights with live music and cocktails flowing until the early hours so I definitely need to go along soon to enjoy Neighbourhood again.

Neighbourhood 

62 Castle St, 

Liverpool

 L2 7LQ

www.neighbourhoodrestaurant.co.uk/liverpool/

What do you all think, have you dined at Neighbourhood 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

Banana loaf with Madagascan vanilla icing...

I was excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with Ape Snacks recently, who sent me a box of their healthy coconut snacks which come in several tasty sweet and savoury varieties and they are full of fibre and gluten free too. I have always loved baking banana bread and my family always enjoy it when I bake a loaf of it, which usually means that it does not last for very long! This weekend I thought it would be fun to bake a banana loaf topped with some of the snacks which Ape Snacks sent to me. I used my favourite banana bread recipe, which I always go back to again and again; it makes a very moist loaf which is just irresistible and I find it is great for breakfast or served as a dessert.

This time I wanted to make it more as a cake which we could all enjoy with some afternoon tea, so I decided to bake banana bread with Madagascan vanilla buttercream icing, topped with walnuts and Ape Snacks crispy coconut curls with salted chocolate. This recipe is so simple, and it turns out well every time I bake it.

Ingredients 

2 free range eggs, beaten  

140g self-raising flour

140g sugar (I use ordinary granulated sugar, caster sugar is not necessary) 

1 teaspoon baking powder 

2 ripe bananas, mashed 

140g butter or margarine

Icing and Topping

140g butter, softened

280g icing sugar

1-2 tbsp milk

Ape Snacks crispy coconut curls with salted chocolate

Walnuts 

1 teaspoon Madagascan vanilla extract 

Method

In a mixing bowl, cream the softened butter or margarine and sugar together with a fork until fluffy, beat in the eggs and then add the mashed bananas. Add the flour and baking powder to the bowl and mix everything well until it forms a smooth mixture which drops from the end of a wooden spoon. Meanwhile heat the oven to 180°c (gas 4) lightly grease your loaf tin and line it with baking parchment.

Pour the banana bread mixture in to the loaf tin and bake on the top shelf of the pre-heated oven for about 30 minutes, until the loaf looks golden and springs back when you press it gently and a knife or skewer comes out of the loaf clean.

Make a batch of Madagascan vanilla buttercream icing, by creaming together the icing sugar, butter and milk in a bowl along with a teaspoon of good quality Madagascan vanilla extract. Add a little more milk to make a more fluid icing (which I wanted for this loaf cake).
When the loaf has cooled, turn it on to a plate and layer the icing over it, smoothing out with a palette knife. Decorate with walnuts and a sprinkling of the Ape Snacks crispy coconut curls with salted chocolate, and there you have it, the perfect cake to accompany your afternoon tea.

http://www.apesnacks.com/

What do you all think, have you baked a banana loaf recently and would you like to try Ape Snacks?As always, I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post.

Until next time,

Camille

xo

A sunny winter stroll...

I enjoy going out for long walks and I find it more appealing than ever on those winter days when the air is crisp and clear and the sun is shining. January is the perfect time to blow away the cobwebs and get outside to enjoy those bright days which seem to herald all the promise that a new year can hold. Last year I purchased this grey coat at the end of the winter season in Zara and I am so glad that I got it, because it is the type of coat which is so easy to throw on with jeans and a t-shirt. It is structured enough to add a polished edge to a casual outfit and it is warm too. I do not share fashion content with you very often because I do not always feel confident, I would rather keep it real with you and admit that, instead of pretending that I feel vastly confident every day. This is the real me and I know some of my readers struggle with confidence, as you tell me so in your comments and emails daily. Personally speaking, there is no magic formula for confidence but I just try to embrace my shape, wear clothes which suit me and most importantly relax...ultimately life is too short to worry about what anybody else thinks, so be happy and find something to smile about every day. There is always something.

We live close to the water and when the sun is shining there are some beautiful reflections to enjoy, so we headed to the marine lake close to where we live, to soak up the afternoon sunshine and the incredible views. 

It felt so good to go for a long walk after so much time spent relaxing over the holidays.
I teamed the Zara coat with high waisted skinny jeans and over the knee boots from Primark, an Iron Maiden t-shirt from Pull and Bear, a Zara chain handle handbag and my favourite pair of Balmain sunglasses. I love outfits like this which are easy to put together, comfortable and casual.

The sunset over Hilbre Island was breathtaking, it is moments of pure tranquility like this which make me pause and think about things...we get so caught up in the rush of life that it sometimes seems impossible to take a moment to appreciate our surroundings, but indeed it is vital to do so. 

The new year is a time to reflect, to measure how far we have progressed over the past year and to look at what we want to achieve over the next twelve months. In all honesty, I find the thought of the blank canvas of the year ahead exhilarating; there is always something to enjoy despite the challenges life presents us with. 

There is always so much to think about in life, but nevertheless sometimes it is important to think about absolutely nothing...to simply stand and look at a beautiful view and to breathe in the sense of possibility. That is what this walk was all about, unwinding and appreciating our surroundings...taking a moment to seek solace in nature. 

When it comes to clothes I usually resort to a particular default look when I do not have work events to go to. My weekend casual look often consists of jeans, boots, a t-shirt and a coat paired with a smaller handbag (I use a bigger handbag in the week to carry my laptop in) it is funny how I own so many clothes and yet I usually end up resorting to the same style formula! 

Outfit details:
Coat and bag- Zara
T-shirt- Pull & Bear
Sunglasses- Balmain
Boots and jeans- Primark

In seemingly no time at all, the day gave way to twilight and the last of the golden light disappeared in to the hazy blue sky.

It was a lovely afternoon and the fresh air and peace and quiet was just what I needed. It was so calm and relaxing and the stunning views were unforgettable. It was nice to press the reset button and to welcome 2017 in a way which seemed only fitting, enjoying each moment in a way I sometimes neglect to do. 

What do you all think, do you like going on walks and what aspirations do you have for 2017? As always I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post. 

Until next time

Camille 

xo

Winter vegetable casserole...

Happy new year everybody, I hope you all had a good time over the holidays. At this time of year, I find that there is nothing more comforting than a hearty one pot dish to enjoy on those cold and gloomy evenings. After all of the excitement of the holiday season, January seems like a cheerless month, devoid of the vibrancy and the sense of anticipation which abounds in the approach to Christmas. Another challenge January can present is a lack of spare time; I have spent the past week catching up and as a result I have not had much time to cook. I decided that this weekend was the perfect time to revisit one of my favourite recipes, winter vegetable casserole.

At first glance, this does not sound like a very inspiring dish but it has so much going for it because it is easy to make, it requires simple ingredients, it can be made in one pot and it is so rustic and satisfying on a cold winter evening.

Ingredients 

One diced onion (I used red onion)

2 tablespoons olive oil

1-2 tablespoons curry powder (depending how spicy you like your food)

salt and pepper

1 medium swede, peeled and chopped

3-4 carrots, peeled and chopped

3-4 parsnips, peeled and chopped 

3-4 potatoes, peeled and chopped 

200g red lentils 

2 litres vegetable stock 

Sour cream (to serve)

In a good quality stockpot (I used a cast iron casserole dish), heat the olive oil over a medium heat and gently fry the onion until softened.

Add the various vegetables, stir well with a wooden spoon to combine them, fry them until slightly browned and then add the curry powder.

At this point, add the vegetable stock and turn up the heat to bring the pan to a boil. Add the red lentils and turn the heat down to a simmer, stir well again and then cover the pan. Leave to simmer for a good 20-25 minutes (or until the vegetables are tender), popping back to stir occasionally.

The stew will begin to thicken nicely due to the lentils (which is why stirring it often is important to prevent it from sticking to the pan), taste it to check seasoning levels and ensure that all the vegetables are tender before serving. It may not look pretty, but trust me when I say this is such a filling and delicious dish for this time of the year!

When it is ready, ladle in to serving bowls and top with a little sour cream or plain yogurt.

Crusty bread, naan bread or garlic bread all work well as accompaniments and you can also serve this with boiled rice, chips, couscous or a jacket potato. It is so warming, filling and tasty that this is the type of recipe I just love to eat on a chilly night. I made a large tray of extra crispy roast potatoes to go with this and we heated up some vegetable samosas to accompany it too.

Once cooled, this can be stored in the fridge for a couple of days, or frozen in a lidded container for later use. I also find it goes well with a stack of poppadoms and chutneys as a curry alternative, or simply served on its own for a speedy lunch or supper. This is one of those go-to recipes which does not require much time or expenditure, exactly what I like when it comes to a lazy one pot winter meal.

What do you all think, do you like one pot dishes and which recipes are your favourites during winter? As always I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post.

Until next time, 

Camille 

xo 

A festive night out in Manchester...

I always like to make time for a relaxed night out before the holidays begin, so we went to Manchester last week for drinks and dinner. We headed to The Refinery in Spinningfields first, a stylish new bar from the Drake and Morgan group, where we decided to unwind with a round of espresso martinis which are always one of my favourite drinks on a night out. 

http://drakeandmorgan.co.uk/the-refinery-spinningfields/

The space has a contemporary interior, with a sweeping bar area and tables adorned with romantic candelabras. After another round of drinks at The Refinery we headed off to Asha’s for our dinner reservation. I have been eager to dine at Asha’s for a while; I love Indian food and I have heard good things about it. 

The first thing that struck me was the elegant interior of Asha's; the low lighting, polished dark wood and spacious booths gave it an understated yet glamorous air. We settled in at our table and I selected a bottle of Acacia Tree Chenin Blanc which was the perfect partner to our meal, with light citrus layers. We ordered poppadoms to begin with and the accompanying chutney selection was tasty, I especially enjoyed the apple one which was zesty and bright. The cream cheese naan bread was a treat too; soft and doughy with a good amount of cheese filling. 

My main course of paneer jalfrezi had a fiery kick of spice and plenty of fresh pepper and paneer in a thick sauce. My dining companion opted for his favourite Murg (chicken) korma, which was creamy and mild with a sweet coconut flavour and tender chicken. 

All of the dishes were well presented with refined flavours and service was excellent too. 

It was time for dessert and we shared a warm chocolate chilli tart which had an intense chocolate flavour and a hint of chilli which was not too overpowering. 

Asha's

47 Peter St, 

Manchester 

M2 3NG

http://www.ashasrestaurant.co.uk/

We enjoyed a coffee to complete our meal before we set off in to the night having enjoyed a festive evening in Manchester, with great cocktails and delicious food. Happy holidays! What do you all think, do you like to make time for a festive night out before the holidays begin? As always, I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post.

Until next time,

Camille

xo