Tag Archives: Food

Blog Club Monday!

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Hello & welcome to #BookClubMonday. While today’s blog is still all about reading, it’s more of the blog variety rather than books…

Today’s #5aday features 5 #blogs that I recommend following – talking food, fashion, fitness and more… Welcome to #BlogClubMonday!

  1. Fitness & Wellbeing from Fit Chick Tori. Follow her blog here for inspiration about running & life. Screen shot 2013-05-13 at 12.29.35
  2. Relationships from The diary of West London Girl. Follow her blog here for amusing anecdotes about relationships. Screen shot 2013-05-13 at 12.29.56
  3. Food from We Love Food It’s All We Eat. Follow this couple’s blog here for great reviews on restaurants in London & beyond. Screen shot 2013-05-13 at 12.30.26
  4. Bars from Hot Bar Chick. Follow her blog here for best guide to drinking in London (& elsewhere). Screen shot 2013-05-13 at 12.30.38
  5. Fashion & Lifestyle from Alex Loves. Follow her blog here for super cool styling advice & inspiration. Screen shot 2013-05-13 at 12.31.11

5 brilliant blogs covering different themes but which is the most blog-tastic in today’s #BlogClubMonday #GTopSpot?

Today’s #BlogClubMonday #GTopSpot goes to #5 Alex Loves - for down-to-earth fashion & lifestyle insight! G x

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Drinking in the View

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Welcome to #ThursdayFriday! We’ve been enjoying some glorious summery weather over the last few days… though sadly it’s not here to stay.

On Tuesday, Luci & I went to see A Chorus Line at the Palladium, & met pre-theatre opposite for drinks & tapas on the terrace of Aqua.

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Today’s #5aday is London rooftop/terrace bars with a view. With summer around the corner, get dreaming of where to sip those sundowners.

  1. Aqua Nueva or Kyoto on the 5th Floor, for cocktails or saké & incredible views towards Marble Arch - entrance from Argyll Street. 
  2. Madison Restaurant, Tapas & Cocktail Bar, at the top of One New Change for cocktails & a sensational view overlooking St Paul’s Cathedral.
  3. Queen Elizabeth Roof Garden (designed by the Eden Project) on the Southbank for Pimms & stunning riverside views.
  4. SUSHISAMBA on the 38th & 39th floors of the Heron Tower, Bishopsgate for champers or saké & breathtaking views of London.
  5. Tom’s Terrace at Somerset House for cocktails, nibbles & magnificent views of the Thames.

5 fabulous places to enjoy drinks & a view this coming summer… but which stands head & shoulders above the rest in today’s #GTopSpot?

Today’s #ThursdayFriday #GTopSpot goes to #4 SUSHISAMBA on the 38th & 39th floors of the Heron Tower - an exotic location for a special evening & view. (And venue for my leaving drinks tonight, I’ve just discovered!) G x

SUSHISAMBA

Running on Empty

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Hello! Over the last few weeks I’ve been feeling run down & full of cold. Not great preparation for my run this coming weekend!

I have been popping so many pills I’m rattling! So, today’s #WellbeingWednesday #5aday features great supplements to keep you fighting fit.

  1. Boots Pharmaceuticals Cold & Flu relief Echinacea – a herbal medicine to relieve cold symptoms @ £5.99 for 30 capsules.
  2. Sun Chlorella “A” - a high quality & balanced nutritional supplement, rich in many nutrients @ £21.95 for 300 tablets.
  3. Holland & Barrett Skin Hair & Nails Formula – a naturally inspired supplement providing vital nutrients @ £4.99 for 40 pills.
  4. Boots Value Health Non-Drowsy Hayfever & Allergy Relief – a good remedy for hayfever symptoms @ 99p for 7 tablets.
  5. Protex-H – Extract of prickly pear speeds up muscle recovery during strenuous activity (marathons) @ £29.85 for 12.

5 supplements to keep illness at bay & promote health & wellbeing everyday & during training but which will win today’s #GTopSpot?

Today’s #WellbeingWednesday #GTopSpot goes to #2 Sun Chlorella “A” - For all your Iron, Vit B12, Vit D & Folic Acid needs! G x

Sun Chlorella A

Go West!

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Welcome to #ThursdayFriday! On Sunday I featured some top eateries to visit in South West London on the Thames between Putney & Barnes.

Today I’m heading further west along the Thames to my current stomping ground & featuring 5 more must-visit places this coming summer…

Gaucho Richmond

  1. Kew – Rock and Rose – one of my favourite haunts & The Glasshouse – for something more special (one Michelin star).
  2. Richmond-upon-Thames – Gaucho & The Bingham - if you’re wanting to go all out at these fab river-side locations this summer.
  3. St Margarets – Brocca Antica – my fave Italian & Brula – for some very traditional French cuisine.
  4. Petersham – The Dysart Arms – lovely on a summer’s day & Petersham Nurseries - for an experience & one Michelin star!
  5. Kingston-upon-Thames – Jamie’s Italian – top atmosphere & Italian food & Las Iguanas Mexican - buzzing atmosphere & yummy Mexican.

5 great places out west… you must visit them all but which area receives today’s #ThursdayFriday #GTopSpot star?

Today’s #ThursdayFriday #GTopSpot goes to #2 Richmond-upon-Thames - Gaucho & The Bingham - If you’re coming upstream, push the boat out! G x

The Bingham

Row Row Row Your Boat

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Happy Easter & welcome to #SundayTimes & today’s #GTime… Today is also the day of the 159th Oxford v. Cambridge Boat Race on the Thames between Putney & Mortlake.

Boat Race

So, having lived in the area over the last 14 years, today’s #5aday is a pub crawl of great watering holes & eateries along the course.

  1. Putney (The Start) - the Boathouse Putney – great for drinks al fresco in summer & the Jolly Gardeners - perfect for winter drinks.
  2. Hammersmith – the Old Ship - lovely for all day drinking & River Cafe - for a special lunch or dinner, especially in summer.
  3. Barnes – The Sun Inn – get cosy with a glass of red in winter & the Brown Dog - lovely for a Sunday lunch.
  4. Chiswick – Annie’s - great spot for brekkie & High Road Brasserie - for lunch outside on a beautiful day.
  5. Mortlake (The Finish) – The Depot Brasserie - for a fabulous evening meal & Mango & Silk - for a delicious curry.

5 great areas to enjoy a drink or a bite to eat in South/West London. I do a lot of my running along the Thames towpath… It’s such a beautiful part of London & I can’t wait to enjoy it this coming summer.

Happy Easter everyone! Enjoy the rest of the long weekend.

G x

All Aboard the Gingerline Express!

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Welcome back to #GTime & today’s #ThursdayFriday blog post! I feel refreshed & ready for today’s #5aday after a couple of weeks of #GTimeOut! Today’s #5aday looks back to the Thursday before I went skiing & March’s #MysteryNight when I embarked on a ‘Gingerline’ adventure with my fab friend Luci…

Gingerline is a clandestine, theatrical dining experience which takes place on the East London Overground line between Highbury, Islington or Crystal Palace. The location remains secret until 1 hour before when you receive a text with instructions of where to go…

Gingerline

This is the 2nd time I’ve jumped aboard the Gingerline Express & as the current mystery dining experience continues until the end of March, my lips are sealed on the details of the theme & location. So today’s #5aday review is based around my 1st Gingerline experience from November last year.

  1. Mystery – there’s something intoxicating about venturing into the unknown. On this occasion the mystery theme was an illicit casino ‘Gingerline Royale’, entered via an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ style door & tunnel. First Course
  2. Theatre & Entertainment – you can expect colourful performances from cabaret singers & actors cum waiting staff dressed provocatively and crazily!
    Second Course
  3. Delicious Food – the menu is always creatively presented, this time on a pack of cards… it did not disappoint over 4 scrummy courses…
    Third Course
  4. Cocktails – cleverly themed and presented in keeping with the Gingerline concept. My choice – always something with Gingerbeer! Fourth Course
  5. Something Different – if you’re looking to do something a bit ‘different’ this is a great place to go with a group of friends, but be prepared for a little bit of audience participation and a lot of crazy! thank you

All in all, it’s a thoroughly eclectic experience – expect the unexpected! It may seem quite pricey at £50 per head when you don’t know what you’re letting yourself into or where you’ll end up… but it’s definitely worth it… All aboard? Next stop: Gingerline! Casino Cards

So, now let’s see what April’s #MysteryNight brings. Over to you Luci! G x

Mother of all Gifts

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“Happy Birthday to me!” Well it’s not actually my birthday but one year ago today, Ginger and Spice was born on Twitter!

My first #5aday was all about sofas. One year on & to mark this occasion, today’s #TuesdayTreats is dedicated to…

… my mum! Without her ‘Ginger’ would not be here. So today’s #5aday features 5 gifts to say thank you this Mother’s Day (10th March).

  1. The Cutlery Commission ”Mum you spread joy” Butter Knife - Silver Plated Butter Knife with handstamped words @ £14.Butter Knife
  2. Meg Rivers Clementine & Almond Cake - Made of high ground almond content to give moist, dense texture @ £16.Meg Rivers cake
  3. Biscuiteers Butterfly Mini Collection - Beautifully decorated butterfly chocolate biscuits @ £30. Biscuiteers Biscuits
  4. Notonthehighstreet Grapevine Gift Set by The Gluttonous Gardener - More original than a bottle of wine @ £44.Grape Vine
  5. Amara Neom Scent With Love Travel Candle Gift Set - 4 scented candles to stimulate body & mind @ £50.Amara Candles

5 lovely gifts to thank our wonderful mothers this coming Mother’s Day but which is the mother of all gifts in today’s #GTopSpot?

Today’s #TuesdayTreats #GTopSpot goes to #3 Biscuiteers Butterfly Mini Collection - Mum’s the word!

G x

Passion inspires Purpose

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Afternoon! Welcome to #TheFridayInterview and today’s #TheChainofInspiration… Friday is the perfect day to enjoy an inspirational interview, at the earlier time of 4pm, with that last cup of tea before the weekend!

Two weeks ago Noura El-Imam was my second interviewee in #TheChainofInspiration. I’m delighted this afternoon to welcome Noura’s chosen interviewee, Erica Blitz. Over to you Noura!

Erica Blitz

“Erica, originally from Vancouver & now residing in the US, is passionate about nutrition, teaching yoga, holistic living and sailing. Erica is an international adventuress & is always visualising, planning big & seeking a healthier & happier life. She is soon to launch her own nutritional business ‘nubeleaf’ based on whole foods, nutrient dense & natural ingredients.

  1. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? A trapeze artist! I didn’t run away to join the circus but did go to Trapeze School – one of my most exhilarating experiences!
  2. What are your 2013 hopes & dreams? I’m committed to building conscious business (through nubeleaf) that supports the health of people, pets & the planet.
  3. What makes you get up in the morning/inspires you? Sunshine! And when the sun isn’t shining: love, purpose & passion.
  4. How did you get interested in nutrition? I travelled to India when I was 18 & decided I wanted to learn how to heal the body naturally. I just knew it was my path. 
  5. What is it you love most about eating healthy & mindfully? I love the energy that food gives us – it goes beyond calories. However, the QUALITY of the food is absolutely everything! 
  6. What tips can you give to any passionate individual looking to branch out in the nutrition side of business? Passion inspires purpose: follow it! Become the expert in your field, but never pretend to have all the answers. Don’t be afraid to fail. 
  7. What advice do you have for anyone who wants to set up a business doing what they love? Just do it! You’ve got to take the initiative to make things happen. Work hard (but don’t struggle) & be persistent. Ask questions & ask for help when you need it and above all have fun!
  8. What other passions take up your time? Aside from making green smoothies, roaring up my juicer, & yoga, I spend a lot of time writing, reading, cycling, sailing, taking long walks along the beach, art gallery hopping & travelling.
  9. Who would be your fantasy 5 dinner party guests? My number one guest invite would be Oprah! Next up would be the Obamas, Ghandi, Steve Jobs &Madonna.
  10. If you were stranded on a desert island, what 5 items would you wish you had? An unlimited supply of water, my man, spirulina, lip balm (with SPF),  & a knife – gotta crack the coconuts! 

If you fancy learning more about nutrition, inspired living or if you fancy connecting with Erica to collaborate or discuss all things health, nutrition & yoga, connect with her at www.ericablitz.com. Erica will be launching her new business, nubeleaf, very soon so stay tuned on how you can elevate your health & your life to the next level.”

Thanks Noura & Erica! Really looking forward to hearing more about nubeleaf. Best of luck & big respect for following your dream!

Erica now takes over the baton & will interview someone that inspires her for the next #TheChainofInspiration on Friday 8 March.

Have a wonderful weekend!

G x

C is for…

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Evening! This past week has been busy with celebrations galore from Chinese New Year to the BAFTAs, NYFW, Pancake Day & Valentine’s Day.

C is for-1...

If I were to sum it up in 5 words they’d be - Chinese, Cinema, Catwalk, Crepes and Cupid… Tonight’s #ThursdayFriday theme is ‘The 5 Cs’. So whether you fancy dim sum in Chinatown or a romantic cocktail, tonight’s #5aday features places to go in London, for things beginning with C!

  1. Chinese – New World, Gerrard Place for cheap & cheerful dim sum or Yauatcha, Broadwick Street for chic-er dim sum.
  2. Cinema – Watch Lincoln at the Curzon Cinema, Chelsea or Casablanca at Curzon Cinema, Richmond.
  3. Catwalk - London Fashion Weekend, Somerset House 21-24 Feb for highlights from London Fashion Week & designer bargains.
  4. Crepes - Crepes Affaire, Spitalfields for lunch or Chez Lindsay, Richmond for dinner & cidre.
  5. Cupid - William Curley Chocolate Classes in Belgravia or Cocktails at Duck and Waffle, on the top of Heron Tower.

5 ideas of what to do & where to go to enjoy the 5 Cs in London over the coming weeks but which will claim tonight’s coveted #GTopSpot?

Tonight’s #ThursdayFriday goes to #3 Catwalk - London Fashion Weekend, Somerset House 21-24 Feb. See you there #CanonFashion! G x

p.s. Happy Valentine’s Day! x

London Fashion Weekend

Pukka Pasta

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Evening! Welcome to #ThursdayFriday. Tonight’s #5aday is a little different with more of a #SpotLight on my first #MysteryNight of 2013.

On Monday evening, my friend Luce & I went to Jamie Oliver’s Recipease in Notting Hill, to learn how to cook ‘Unbeatable Filled Pasta’ from scratch! Newly opened last August, Notting Hill is the 3rd & largest venue of the franchise, with the original at Clapham Junction & Brighton, the 2nd. The surroundings are light, airy & modern with cafe style seating for other diners around the edge of the ‘kitchen’ area in the middle.

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If at first you feel self-conscious ‘performing’ for the other diners, you soon forget. Maybe this is what it’s like to be on a reality TV show?! We were a class of 15 – made up of groups of girls & one couple. After a glass of vino, we donned our aprons & got stuck in! 

Today’s #5aday follows our 5 step progress from basic ingredients through to scrummy dinner of Jamie Oliver’s ‘Unbeatable Filled Pasta’!

  1. We each started with 1 free range egg & 100 gms of tipo ‘oo’ flour which we beat vigorously to form our lump of dough.IMG_3238
  2. Next we kneaded the dough thoroughly (to develop the gluten), back & forth in all directions, until it was smoother in consistency.IMG_3272
  3. After resting the dough (in clingfilm) we rolled it out through the different settings until thin enough to read a paper through it! IMG_3243
  4. Then on to the shapes! We made caramelle, tortellini & ravioli filled with a mix of spinach & ricotta which was pre-prepared for us.IMG_3271
  5. Finally we cooked our beautiful parcels for 1min 30secs in boiling water before adding to melted butter, sage & parmesan & serving.
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It’s all pretty easy, but you may wish to download the full recipe for Jamie Oliver’s Unbeatable Filled Pasta here.

It was a fantastic evening. I learnt a new skill, had heaps of fun (while making a mess) & enjoyed a delicious meal, all for only £40 pp!

So, now let’s see what February’s #MysteryNight brings. Over to you Luce! G x