The Glittering Art of Falling Apart...

1980s Soho is electric. For Eliza, the heady pull of its nightclubs and free-spirited people leads her into the life she has craved - all glamour, late nights and excitement. But it comes at a heavy cost.

Cassie is fascinated by her family's history and the abandoned Beaufont Hall. Why won't her mother talk about it? Offered the chance to restore Beaufont to its former glory, Cassie jumps at the opportunity to learn more about her past.

Separated by a generation, but linked by a forgotten diary, these two women have more in common than they know . . .

Every now and again you read a book that you really struggle to get into. Maybe you don’t like the characters or you just don’t like the plot and you decide to give up.

I almost did that with Ilana Fox's The Glittering Art of Falling Apart. I found it a little slow to start and it just wasn’t grabbing my attention. But not one to give up I decided to plough on – and I am so glad I did.

From not wanting to read it to suddenly not wanting to put it down – this book is brilliant. The characters are great and the ending? Yeah, you won’t see it coming at all.

A beautiful, romantic, enchanting story - it’s 100% worth persevering with.

Turning 29 - disgracefully

On my 28th birthday I celebrated by drinking lots of cocktails with my lovely friends and downing a lot of shots. 

The night ended by me demanding that Soldier and I get a cab home. After making him pay for said cab once we arrived at the flat I then proceeded to throw up in someones garden. Nice. 

What followed the next day was possibly the worst hangover of my life. I fell asleep standing up whilst leaning on a man on the Central line and on arriving at the office inhaled two Greggs sausage rolls and a diet coke in 00.2 seconds. Unfortunately this only made me feel worse so I spent the next hour basically crying at my desk. 

So with this memory still fresh in my mind I was determined my 29th birthday wouldn't follow the same pattern. 

And surely it wouldn't? After all I was about to turn 29. Ever closer to 30. Surely it would be a small gathering with just a few drinks, right? WRONG. 

My first mistake was picking a bar with a two and a half hour happy hour where EVERYTHING on the menu was half price including my favourite Champagne, Pommery, which was going for £25 a bottle. My second mistake was feeling the need to drink as much as possible before the end of happy hour chimed at 7.30pm. 

So I arrive and my best friend Sarah had arranged for a bottle of Pommery and a balloon with a pic of her face to be brought over. Soldier also bought a bottle as did Elaine. You can see how this is going can't you? 

Then came the inevitable round of shots of Sambucca that I can never, ever turn down. So now I'm drunk. And when I'm drunk I feel the need to be elevated above everyone (I think it's a being short thing.) I stood on a chair and my housemate Rachael followed me up. Then I decided to take it one step further and comb on the table… Which tipped over spilling every ones drinks. Not ideal. 

Not long later I step outside for 'air' and proceed to throw up in the street. Classy. I then try and get back in the bar but the two bouncers stop me and tell me I'm a 'security risk'. They could have had a point… 

One of them goes to get Soldier who brings up my stuff and we flag down a cab - a cab which I have to keep stopping so I can be sick. Again, less than ideal. 

I don't remember much after that. I DO remember waking up the next day unable to lift my head from the pillow and looking like a model for an anti-binge drinking advert. Oh and being relieved that I had booked the day off work this time…

So it seems despite being a year older, I'm none the wiser. Here's to next year. Maybe moving into another decade might mature me. Then again, I highly doubt it…. 

Afternoon tea with free flowing champagne - yes really!

There is something so decadent about an afternoon tea. I really love them but have only had been a couple of times simply because they turn out to be just so expensive. 

Enter the Mandeville Hotel's Reform Social and Grill with there fabulous offer of afternoon tea with FREE-FLOWING Moutard Champagne. 

Sound to good to be true? I know. I thought so too. I booked immediately and got my friends Elaine, Kate and Harriet involved, but I was nervous. It was a brilliant offer - so what was the catch going to be? When is an offer ever really THAT good? 

Well trust me, it was that good, and then some.

We arrived just before our 1.30pm booking. It's an amazing venue, really luxurious and the staff couldn't have been more friendly and helpful. 

We ordered the vintage afternoon tea and  started off with peach and green apple Bellini's before the Champagne, well, literally flowed. 

I thought we'd have to keep asking for a top-up of the Champagne but not at all. They staff suddenly appeared, bottle in hand, as soon as our glasses were only half empty. Nothing was too much trouble. They were efficient without being too in our faces and we felt completely relaxed. 

As Kate pointed out, it wasn't stuffy like some afternoon teas. She told one horror story of paying £19 for an extra glass of Champagne!! 

The sandwiches and treats came out really quickly. The sandwiches were cut into fingers and were v tasty, especially the salmon and horseradish on beetroot bread.

But the cakes were the really treat! The scones were fresh and warm - you could tell it had come straight from the oven. They were served with the most amazing clotted cream and jam. We had one each but I could easily have had another! 

We also had pistachio macaroons (which I LOVE) and a slice of mini battenberg, a slither of chocolate cake and a little cherry cupcake. The staff even sang happy birthday to me - v cute and a nice touch. 

Before we knew it our two-hour seating was up and we'd lost count of how many glasses of Champagne we'd had. But the staff didn't rush us out, instead they just asked if we'd mind moving into the lounge area and gave us another top up of Champagne. 

I asked for the bill, and did hold my breath a little, but it was all fine. For over fours hours of lovely food, great Champagne and wonderful company, with service charge which we were more than happy to pay, it was just £36 each. BARGAIN. 

I can honestly say it's the best afternoon tea I've ever had - and not just because of the free-flowing Champers! The atmosphere and the good staff were what made it and I'll definitely be going back. 

The offer is only on for a few more weeks but one of the waitresses said it's sure to be back in January, so keep an eye out on their website.

Right, now I'm off to deal with my Champagne head. Bacon butty anyone? 

Pizza, Pals, Prosecco = Perfect

My favourite thing in the world to do is eating alfresco, with friends, drinking Prosecco and eating pizza. 

Last Sunday my friend Alex invited us to her private little garden by her house in Borough which you needed a key to enter. VERY The Secret Garden… 

Alex, Shauna, Kate and I spent the day reading magazines, chatting and eating crisps and houmous. Amazing.

But then the day got more perfect.

Alex suggested ordering pizza from Pizza Lupa, a pizza chain with two restaurants and a delivery service only in the London Bridge area.

I had never heard of them, but how I don’t know. I love pizza. Everyone knows I love pizza. And this pizza is award winning for God’s sake!

We decided to eat it in the garden as the sun was still warm. I love eating al fresco and will do it whenever I get the chance. Eating award winning pizza al fresco however was a new one on me…

Alex was adamant that we had to order the Funghi di Bosco – tomatao and mozerella base with truffle paste, roasted field and porcini mushrooms, taleggio cheese finished off with a drizzle of truffle oil. It sounded incredible so I certainly wasn’t going to argue with her.

We also order the Diavola – hot pepperoni and fresh chillies – the Parma – porcini mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, finished with Parma ham, wild rocket and Parmesan cheese and the Venicio – tomato, mozzarella and green pesto base, roasted chicken breast, goat’s cheese, caramelised onions and basil oil.

Sounds amazing? It was.

We put in our order and less than 45 minutes later the delivery man arrived at the gate. To say we were excited would be an understatement. 

The boxes were HUGE and the smell was amazing. All the pizzas were done half and half and we had some homemade coleslaw to have with them. 

 

The pizza slice was possibly the biggest I’ve ever had. It was definitely bigger than my head! 

 

The ingredients on them all were so fresh and rich tasting without being too full on. It put every take-away pizza I’ve had to shame.

My favourite was without a doubt the Diavola as I love spice and the Funghi do Bosco. The truffle oil really made it  – good work Alex on recommending.

The pizzas were all eaten very quickly and washed down with lots of Prosecco. Could a Sunday evening get any better? I don’t think so. 

So, if you live in London I urge you to check out Lupa ASAP. You will not regret it. I’m reaching for the menu to order more as I type… 

Check out Pizza Lupa here and follow them on twitter here.

Galeto - Brazilian street food

It was a drizzly, not at all summer like, June evening when Elaine and I headed to Soho's newest restaurant Galeto.

A Brazilian restaurant serving South American authentic street food, the miserable night was soon forgotten about though as soon as we caught sight of the multicoloured striped awning. 

And inside the bright colours and music lifted our spirits even more with the walls adorned with pictures of colourful kites, butterflies and shapes, the work of Brazilian graffiti artist Milo Tchais. 

We were seated in the window which was perfect if you're a people watcher and as we saw the staff bring out gorgeous looking food to neighbouring tables, we knew we were in for a treat. 

The staff were unbelievably helpful - but not in a pushy way. We were unsure about what wine to pick so the waitress gave us her advice and even allowed us to try a wine before ordering. 

We settled for a crisp Chilean Sauvignon Blanc and also on her advice ordered the Coxinhas de fringe (soft potatoes dough filled with shredded chicken) and the Bolinhos de bacalhau (salted cod fish cakes.) 

They arrived quickly and were amazing, the cod fish cakes being our favourite as they were so moreish. 

At this point Elaine pointed out that the tables were nicely spaced out. We weren't all on top of each other which happens all too often with restaurants desperate to squeeze as many people in as possible so you end up having dinner with complete strangers. In Galeto you can actually have a conversation without the fear of the person next to you sharing every word. 

Once our starter plates were removed, we looked properly at the menu. 

Our obvious choice was to order the signature dish, Galeto ('little chicken' in Portuguese.) It's marinated for 24 hours then grilled to perfection. 

Luckily the manager came over to help after seeing our confused faces about what to pick. 

On his his advice we went for the Picanha (8oz rump steak), the Cassava wedges, a side salad and all three dips on offer - tropical fruit barbecue, hot and spicy coriander and garlic cream. 

Our mouths were watering when the food came out - we didn't know where to start. 

The steak was perfectly cooked (medium/rare) and the salsa really complimented it. The chicken was the best I've tasted in a long time and the fries they were served with were really crispy. 

The Cassava wedges were fluffy on the inside and went perfectly with the tropical fruit barbecue sauce.

We ate in silence apart from the odd appreciative noise until there was nothing left on our plates. We were full and happy.

So then came the problem....

Dessert. Would there be room for the amazing dishes on offer? Luckily, yes.

Alongside ordering two of Brazil's signature cocktails, the Caipirinha, we also ordered the banana fritz (sliced banana, pan friend in orange and lime, topped with vanilla ice-cream) and Pave-de-Limao (layers of cookies topped with cream and limes.) 

Now a lot of restaurants concentrate so hard on their starters and main courses being perfect that their desserts are left as a bit of an after thought. Not Gelato. 

The desserts were FABULOUS. The flavours were intense and delicious and easily washed down with the refreshing Caipirinhas. 

And for three courses each, a bottle of wine and a cocktail each it came to just over £70. An absolute bargain especially when restaurants in the surrounding area can be so pricey. 

So if you're looking for somewhere pretty fabulous to go this summer, Galeto is your place. 

Galeto - 33 Dean Street, Soho, London - 0207 434 1409 @galetouk

Cointreau Fizz Garden Party - rooftop lovin'

What could be better on a sunny Tuesday night, than getting together with your friends and drinking FREE cocktails on a pretty rooftop garden underneath the Shard? Er, not a lot…

On Tuesday my friends Rachael, Harriet, Laura, Kate, Nicola, Ashley and I, all headed to The Skyroom in London Bridge for the Cointreau Fizz Garden Party.

The sun was shining on the secluded rooftop which had been transformed into a lush flower garden and the Cointreau cocktails were flowing. Opinons were mixed as to which was the fave cocktail - the original Cointreau fizz which was made with Cointreau, lime juice and soda water and the Cointreau Fizz with strawberry and mint which included Cointreau, lime juice, strawberries, mint and soda water came out on top though. Perfect summer drinks which went fabulously with the gorgeous canapés - the asparagus with crab was possibly the most amazing thing I have ever eaten. 

The evening was so mild it was easy to forget we were even in London but looking up we were quickly reminded as we were right under the Shard.

As the sunset we headed home merry and very happy. It was a fabulous night and I have found my new favourite drink!

The Cointreau Fizz Garden Parties at The Skyroom, London Bridge are running every Tuesday until 2nd July 2013. Register for free here. Enjoy!