Day out in Greenwich

There is so much to see and discover in London that when I have a free weekend day I honestly don't know where to begin. My fall back is always shopping (mostly window) but I really want to get out more and explore neighborhoods that I am less familiar with. My first attempt was a stroll around Greenwich on a fine sunny day.

Greenwich is of course home to the National Maritime Museum, The Royal Observatory and the Meridian Line but it is also home to some cute and funky cafes, an absolutely stunning common and a great market. If you have a day to wander around then do it! Here are a few highlights from my day out.

An Inn by Greenwich station

Beautiful blue sky

George Cafe
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Amazingly rich chocolate cake at George Cafe

Stroll through the market

Greenwich Market

The mister and I couldn't resist picking up some coffee for our
coffee loving mothers.



Brought me back to my Brazil days and churros with doce de leite 



Yum!



After a short walk up the hill (much needed after ridiculous sugar in take) we reach the Meridian Line (and the long line of tourist waiting to get their photo taken)



What a beautiful city



Veneto Region Style Gnocchi

The weekends are the only time the mister and I have to cook proper meals. While we both make an effort on the week nights, there just isn't enough time to do anything too elaborate. Ever since I met the mister he's talked about his Dad's amazing gnocchi recipe and the other weekend we finally got a chance to make it. The mister did the majority of the cooking. Not liking to be idle in the kitchen, I made some bruschetta and snapped some pictures. I've provided the family recipe below.

 

 

 

 Ingredients:


Potatoes - (The best quality - gnocchi requires potatoes which have a low moisture content.)


Eggs, Flour, Salt.

1. Peel potatoes (about 4 good sized potatoes for two people)


2. Boil potatoes in salted water (about 2 teaspoons) until cooked through, but don’t overboil to ensure potato texture remains on the slightly firm side.


3. Mash the potatoes thoroughly ensuring that no lumps remain.


4. Break two eggs and fold thoroughly into the potato mash.


5. Take a cup of flour and use sufficient to achieve a flour coating on a flat working surface.


6. Knead the mash thoroughly, adding flour during the kneading process until the mash texture reaches a state where the mash can be separated into several parts and binds without sticking to the work surface or breaking apart.


If the right potatoes have been used the amount of flour required to get the mash to the needed texture will be relatively low, but it is important, if necessary, to continue to add flour to ensure the correct texture is achieved.

7. When Step 6 is complete divide the mash into four parts. You will keep using flour around the mash to ensure that the mash does not stick to the working surface.


8. Roll each portion of mash into a tube-like form with a diameter of around 15 mm (a little over ½ inch). Cut off lengths from the mash tube of about 45 mm (a little over 1¾ inches). Keep using flour as required around each individual gnocchi to ensure no ‘sticking’ to the work surface.

9. Prepare a good size pot of water and bring to the boil (keep the pot on the boil while the gnocchi are cooking). Drop around 6-8 gnocchi into the boiling water and wait for them to rise to the surface. Remove the gnocchi with a strainer and place into a pan being kept warm on the stove, combining with sauce as you go. (It is crucial for the gnocchi not to ‘stick’ together - and they won’t if the ingredients are right and the process is followed.


Repeat the process until all the gnocchi have been cooked.

 The Sauce

Many options here, but the classical Veneto Region sauce is to soften chopped onion in olive oil then add chunks of veal (do not mince). When veal is browned add a small amount of tomato puree and let cook until veal is tender. (Veal is a key meat in Italian cooking.) If you can’t get veal, steak will do.

Brunch at Hackney City Farm

On Sunday I met some friends for brunch at Hackney City Farm. Frizzante, the restaurant on the property was buzzing with young families, cute little dogs and the smell of bacon. I was thrilled to try Frizzante and also proud that I was finally venturing out and going to a place on my "To see and eat list" which so rarely happens. (And I don't really know why).

The food was great, although I did wonder about the hash browns. Those neat little triangles look an awful lot like they came from the frozen section. If this is true (which I think it is) it is incredibly disappointing. If I wanted frozen food I would have gone to Iceland.

 

 

 

 



 biggest pig I have seen ever. ever.

 

 

Extraterrestrial

This song is completely addicting.

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Katy Perry - "E.T." (Feat. Kanye West) by MFR

Get your Globe tickets

Yesterday I randomly decided to see if tickets for this season at The Globe had gone on sale and dammit, they had. Last year the mister and I were very late to the game and missed out on all the Shakespeare classics but were thankfully able to get 2 seats at Anne Boleyn. (Anne Boleyn was such a success that it's back this year. I would definitely recommend it.)

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The mister and I managed to nab 2 seats for Much ado about Nothing but seat selection was limited. Buy your tickets soon!

Valentine's Day present

The mister and I have no real tradition of exchanging presents on Valentine's Day. Some Valentine's we have exchanged presents and some we haven't. This Valentine's Day the mister surprised me with a small gift that I absolutely LOVE and that suits me perfectly.

adorable tag

 

Champagne is the answer sign. spot on.


Now, I just need to find a good place to hang it.

Sing it Florence

As I packed into the northern line this morning, this song came on the pod. This song was the theme of my hen party so it has a special place in my heart and well, what can I say, I am completely addicted to my love.

Entrée

On Valentine's evening the mister treated me to a lovely dinner at Entrée. I had actually chosen the venue and while I am usually not a fan of going out to eat on V day (overcrowded, set meals, total rip off) entrée was running a promotion so I decided to go for it. For £35 each we got 3 courses and for an additional £5 I got a glass of prosecco. (I actually had 2 glasses, but I bet you had already guessed that.)

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I forgot my camera and my phone that day so I wasn't able to snap any pics and I'm actually really glad. The mister and I were completely focused on each other, the way it should be.

The food was good, not excellent, but what was lacking in food was made up by the atmosphere. I had the foie gras to start followed by the sea bass. I would say the highlight of the sea bass was actually the mussels it was served with. The sea bass was rather bland and the shell fish added a little something to the dish. The mister had the crab tortellini followed by the steak for a main. He thought the steak could have been a bit warmer but overall was pleased.

The atmosphere at entrée is what I enjoyed the most. Candles lit everywhere, rose petals on the table and a live piano downstairs playing all the great love songs, including our wedding song.

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Stumbling around and Pinterested

This evening I finally signed up for Pinterest. Pinterest is, "a social catalog service. Think of it as a virtual pinboard — a place where you can post collections of things you love, and "follow" collections created by people with great taste." This reminds me so much of Etsy's Treasury section but obviously Pinterest is limited to whats available on the web (meaning, no limits) while Etsy is limited to their seller's stocks. Of course, Etsy has a pinterest. Just as a warning, the site is incredibly slow. Incredibly.

I wanted to share a few of my finds here. You can also view my pinterests here.

Since the mister and I will likely be making the move into a tiny flat, this immediately caught my eye. There aren't enough teeny tiny beautifully designed and decorated flats photographed to serve as inspiration for us 501 square foot dwellers.


All images via Pinterest

Exposed brick is just so romantic and ooooh that chandelier!

I think I might be developing a bit of a wood object obsession (as opposed to a wood obsession which sounds slightly more risqué). Iphone case is on sale here.



I don't love the color but everyone needs one of these.

I could definitely DIY this for a house warming present.

 

 

 

If I owned more jewelry (and had space to hang something like this) I would definitely steal this idea.

 

I need a low maintenance plant for my desk at work. 

 

Be my valentine...

I'm a little late for a gift guide (plus I think time is the best gift to give on Valentine's day) or a wish list, so consider the following a list of cute and adorable Valentine's related things. I love Valentine's day and I hope this day reminds you, dear reader, how much better life is when you take time to celebrate the people you love. xxo

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