Living Alone Behaviour

Hot chocolate with Amaretto, watching 'Girls' on the laptop in bed. This is becoming something of a habit.

Miss P's Ultimate Mexican Hangover Toast

Ok this isn't really Mexican I guess. But it's spicy and has avocado, and is great for soaking up too many tequilas from the night before.

I don't think I need to give you too much instruction here as it's essentially cheese on toast, topped with half a  sliced avocado, a fried egg, some seasoning and a generous drizzle of chilli sauce. Ay caramba!

Creperie du Monde

Creperie du Monde, Chatsworth Street, Hackney - a must visit if you're in the area. This popular local hang out is the perfect brunch destination, so as a big group of hungover gals last weekend we were very lucky to manage to get a table to fit us all. We sought solace in the freshly made crepes, juices and smoothies, whilst pondering whether shots the night before had been a bad choice.

The menu has a wide selection of savoury and sweet options, from an Eggs Benedict folded crepe to the humble maple syrup with berries. Some of the sweet options border on the obscene, such as 'Samba Banana' with cinnamon, hot sliced banana and toffee dulce de leche, or the New York Crunch  with biscuit, nuts, cream and butterscotch. A bit heavy for the morning after the night before, but perhaps another time.

I had the 'Brunch Favourite' - smoked salmon, scrambled eggs and asparagus with hollandaise sauce, and washed it down with a freshly made orange and carrot juice. A pretty damn good hangover cure I'd say.

It did make me wonder, why do I never think to make savoury pancakes at home?

   *adds to my to-do list*

The Dove, Hackney

We stumbled across The Dove on Broadway Market last week and felt like we'd discovered a hidden local gem. The deceptively large pub couldn't be more inviting, filled with old wooden furniture and vintage lamps, and jovial crowds around the bar. The Belgian-inspired menu contained British classics such as my delicious fish pie, as well as Belgian twists like the Flemish beef stew cooked with Bruges Zot Brune, and an Antwerp seafood stew in a creamy sauce. In a very non London fashion, the prices are more than reasonable - mains come in at £10-£12, with steak being the most expensive option at £15.95. A glass of very decent house wine, if I remember correctly, will cost you a little under £4.

Their homemade sausages sound like reason enough to make a return visit - I think I'll be trying the wild boar with apple, marinaded in blonde beer. The roasts also are "legendary" apparently, and I imagine it gets booked up fast as the cosy atmosphere is very conducive to a Sunday afternoon of meat grazing.

Anyway, it turns out it's got quite the reputation and is always packed, even more so since celebs like Katy Perry have been spotted hanging out there. So we didn't exactly discover a hidden gem, but certainly a favourite new eatery in the East end.

London

Just returned from a great weekend in London, celebrating a dear friend's birthday and having a really good catch up - so much so that I have lost my voice completely. Those who know me will know that's just about the worst thing that could happen to me! Besides from a crazy amount of chatting and giggling, lots of shopping, eating and drinking also took place. I'll share some of my new foodie finds with you in my next couple of posts.

If I can help it, I can't really go to London without popping into a Hummingbird Bakery. We went to the Soho branch and picked up some Red Velvet Cupcakes for the birthday girl. We also gave her a bottle of Zubrowka - because cupcakes and vodka are the best kinds of presents.

  

Meeting Mary Berry

 

This week I got the chance to meet a true cooking icon - Mary Berry! She did a book signing in Bath, before which she spoke to an enraptured audience about her highlights from the past year. Mary (I feel as if we're on first name terms now) held everyone's attention for about an hour, and was a warm and witty storyteller. 

Gourmet Burger Kitchen

I experienced my first GBK this weekend...and I'm pretty certain it won't be my last. Here's a few top tips if you decide to make a visit...
1. Whatever burger you choose (we had classic cheeseburgers with American cheese), make sure you opt for a brioche bun.
2. Try the Oreo milkshake - made with organic vanilla ice cream, and so many Oreos you'll find yourself chewing on chunks of the stuff. My current new favourite thing in the world.
3. If you're a student, download the app to get 30% off your food bill. This last point could prove to be very, very dangerous...