Hendrix comes to Chelsea

A children's book launch invitation plopped into my inbox recently that had all the makings of my kind of event.  It promised Hendrix gin and a Pomeranian called... Hendrix (starting to sense a theme?).  My friend and I were greeted at Beaufort House private members club in Chelsea with a specially blended raspberry and gin cocktail and a gorgeous 4-year-old dog running around.  Hendrix is the muse for Angie Foxx, writer and musician.  Angie uses Hendrix's exploits to write stories for early years children.  Her charming tales are gaining notoriety, with awards being won left right and centre.   Launched in September 2013, Angie is already working on the fifth story in the collection.   Check them out online and in all good book shops.  Thanks to Helen at literally pr for a fab evening!

@literallypr / www.literallypr.com

The Clapton Pot

Last night I ventured far far East of London to Clapton to take part in an internet-organised supper club called The Clapton Pot.  Run by French designer Violaine and my friend-of-a-friend, Anna, this was one cool cats affair, designed to bring like-minded foodies together.   Arriving in Clapton (thankfully not in the rain) I rang the phone number as asked in my one of two emails.  Horror movie thoughts entered my mind slightly but once the door was opened by the lovely Violaine and I'd been led up the stairs, I knew all would be a-ok.

When I reached the flat, I was greeted by four girls all with open hands and friendly smiles.  I was concerned the others would be intimidating, but they really weren't - we are all of similar age and life experience.  A little about the initiative: The Clapton Pot is a free supper club that is run once a month and is held either at Violaine's or Anna's house.   The only 'condition' is that you come brandishing a bottle of wine.  Brandished I did, and within moments I was poured a glass.  

The final count of potters was six girls, all designers I believe, and one guy, 32-year-old Ed, an actor (look out for him as Micha Barton's boyfriend in a horror film coming out soon).   Once we'd all made our acquaintances we sat down and the food and conversation took over.

For the starter we had beet root and mozerella salad.  The beet root and cheese worked beautifully together and the dressing was made of the pickling juice slicked with oil.  It worked beautifully.    Beet root is one of my favourite ingredients, even if it does stain everything it comes in contact with fuscia (not always a bad thing...).  

For the main course, we had a Mexican dish passed down to Anna from her mother.  It was a sweet potato and squash bake with eggs cracked onto the top.   A squeeze of lime and a sprinkling of coriander, and you have the dish vegetarians and carnivores alike dream of.  It was absolutely delicious and a wonderful surprise (I would not think to put lime, potatoes and eggs together.  Ever!). As side dishes we had wilted spinach with pine nuts and a black bean mash (which, even with probing, the hosts didn't really know what was in it).

And finally, for the pudding, a blood orange cheese cake with a milk chocolate topping.  Again, another triumph as far as I'm concerned; others thought it was too rich, but I had no complaints, although I did have a smaller piece.  What makes this cheesecake slightly different is the base was made with oats and there was goat's cheese mingled in the cream.  This made the whole combination slightly tarter than a conventional New York cheesecake.  The real gem was the rounds of blood orange decorating the top: perfect to counteract the rich creaminess.

Along with the food there was copious amounts of wine and entertaining (and intelligent) conversation - we covered all sorts, including grammar, accents, writing, acting and, of course, Micha Barton (she's great, apparently). 

The beauty of being in a room of strangers is that you can't 'fall back' on gossip as is so often the way with meals with close friends.

An absolute triumph, I can't wait to go again!

@claptonpot
www.theclaptonpot.com

Introducing the world's first donutterie!

Today I learnt about something that certainly requires some recognition.   A bakery, but only for doughnuts.   Yes please.   Dum Dum Doughnuts is the brainchild of Artisan chef Paul Hurley, or 'Mr Doughnut Man', as he is so affectionately called by fans.  His exquisite creations are freshly baked, (not fried, health fans), handmade and significantly lower in fat than your average doughnut. Amongst his selection, is the world-famous Dum Dum Cronut, as well as the Baked Croissant Doughnut; a creation exclusive to Dum Dums.    A big thumbs up from me is that these doughnuts  have *only* 6g of fat in comparison to the frankly terrifying 17g in traditional American doughnuts; this means you're tea-time treat won't require you to eat lettuce for the rest of your life in compensation.  

Following their unprecedented success at Westfield Stratford Shopping Centre during the latter part of 2013, Dum Dum Doughnuts are readying to take London by storm on 25th February when they launch Dum Dums Donutterie in Box Park, Shoreditch. See you in the queue (along with Tom Daley and Peter Andre who are fans apparently).  

@MrBakedDoughnut / #MrBakedDoughnut

Sober January: the results

So I have just embarked on one of the biggest challenges of willpower of my life: not drinking for the whole of January. Sober January / Dry January / Dryathalon. Whatever you want to call it, it proved to be quite an eye-opener for me. Being a person who enjoys a tipple or two, always within a social context mind, I chanced upon Cancer Research UK's Dryathlon page and decided to have a go at going alco-free for 31 days. It just so happened that along with going 'dry' for the month, I was also surprisingly single (again) and so getting back on the dating game again, invited to numerous dinner parties and launches where copious amounts of booze would be served, for free. I knew all these sources of temptation would be tricky but, with steely determination in tact, I managed to consume ginger beer, soda water and many a 'mocktail' (shudder).

Now that the month is done and dusted, I have learnt a good number of things.
1) I enjoyed my sober date, although it was with a friend of a friend, so I didn't need Dutch courage
2) I can go full on clubbing without the merest drop of alcohol and yes, I can dance. However, this does depend on the people I am out with. With my lovely colleagues I have a hoot, with some piss-head acquaintances who are yelling in my face saying the same thing again and again, less so.
3) Free alcohol is just that. Free. If I don't drink it, it doesn't really matter. Although, going to two events where the most amazing looking fizzy cocktails were on offer, I did cry a little internally.
4) Ice-cold fizzy water with elderflower cordial and lots of ice is DELICIOUS.
5) I have an awful lot more willpower than I'd originally thought. Even with friends wafting all kinds of beverage under my nose, I had the strength of mind to simply say 'No thanks'.
6) People can't tell whether I am drunk or sober anyway. Still fabulous (obnoxious?), regardless.
7) It is OK to ask for non-alcoholic options although, as in the case of one event, the barman looked at me as if I was speaking broken Klingon.
8) There are not enough non-alcoholic options of offer in bars.  I will be doing some research and heading to Dragons Den with alternatives to champagne.  
9) The weekend goes on for so much longer when there isn't a hangover involved to take over most of the daytime.
10) I don't loose weight, even without alcohol (boo!).

At 12.05am on February 1st I had my first drink. It was indeed welcome but tasted so so strong!

Looking forward, I will be drinking again, but it will be in much more moderation that previously and I will savour each drop (and not forget to say no once in a while). Let's face it, this has been the closest thing to a sporting event that I am likely to ever do and I'm proud of myself.