London Food | BRGR.Co

Inbetween all the crazy Disney planning and organising, we managed to squeeze in a mini trip to London to see Benedict Cumberbatch in Hamlet. Of course, we decided to make the most of our stay in the capital by eating at some interesting places!

If you've read my blog for a while, you'll probably know that I love afternoon tea and it's almost become a bit of a tradition when we visit London.  This time though, Dena uncovered a gem and that was afternoon tea at BRGR.Co!

We had a reservation at the Chelsea restaurant, which sits prettily on Kings Road and if you can grab a tablet outside, it's a perfect spot to people watch (I love London for that very reason!).  I didn't spend much time inside but the restaurant looked modern with an open kitchen/bar area which is reminiscent of 'real' American diners.

What really made this meal special was that it was afternoon tea with an American twist... The perfect way to get in the mood for the upcoming move to Florida!  No finger sandwiches or scones here, you get a selection of typical American dishes.

To start off with, we ordered drinks - an iced tea and homemade lemonade (deliciously sour) - and then we were brought the tea part of our afternoon tea which was a fizzy bellini cocktail.  It was fruity with a touch of alcohol, not too overpowering and perfect to enjoy in the London sunshine.

The main part of our afternoon tea was so much fun.  I loved the twist on this essentially British tradition.  Instead of sandwiches you are served mini fries (as good as Five Guys fries), a cheese and beef slider, prawn and salmon slider and a southern fried chicken slider.  The cheddar and beef slider was to die for; the meat was juicy and succulent and the bun was lightly toaster.  My favourite though was probably the southern fried chicken slider; crispy bread crumbs, perfectly cooked chicken breast and lashings of coleslaw.  A million miles away from salmon and cucumber sandwiches but so light hearted and tasty!

Instead of scones and cakes, you're served a lemon tart, chocolate brownie, white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake and a mini vanilla ice-cream.  Once again, it was all so tasty.  The lemon tart filling was sour and complemented the buttery pastry and the cheesecake was served in a mini shot glass, with generous layers of biscuit and cheesecake topping.

Another great thing about this afternoon tea experience was that it was so relaxed!  Although I have very much enjoyed afternoon tea at The Ritz, it was great to turn up in jeans and a comfy top and relax.  It really gives off a fun-loving vibe!

The staff at the Chelsea restaurant were polite, friendly and attentive and we left feeling thoroughly full and satisfied.  I would definitely recommend!

Have you ever eaten at BRGR.co?





   

London Food | The Disney Café by Harrods

We were in London last weekend and took the opportunity to visit the Disney Café in Harrods.  Naturally, I was filled with so much excitement to be experiencing a bit of Disney in Harrods, and being Harrods, I had extremely high expectations. 

The Disney Café is situated on the fourth floor, just off the children's wear section and a stone's throw from the afternoon tea court.  The café is suitably decked out in Disney memorabilia - from Mickey Mouse outlines on the back of the chair to Tinkerbell over Big Ben, beneath a starry night sky.  We visited on Sunday afternoon at around 3pm with the hope to have a cream tea and when we arrived, the café was quite quite so we were able to choose where we were seated.

Once we sat down, we discovered that afternoon tea didn't start until 4pm but thought since it was quite quiet and we were all used to exemplary Disney service, we thought we would ask if we could have afternoon tea.  The waiter asked the chef if this would be possible and we were told no as it was too busy.  I was quite disappointed but I was equally tempted by some of the desserts, so in the end, we went for a dessert and a drink.

The adults menu was reasonably priced for London (around £10 a main) and offered a fairly extensive and tempting menu.  The drinks, on the other hand, were very expensive (£5 for a coke!) but I suppose that's an easy way to increase their spend per head. 

I had heard the dessert menu offered Mickey waffles but I fancied the chocolate brownie so went for that.  Dena and Kerrie went for the waffles and we all waited with anticipation for our delicious Disney fare.  I was a little perplexed when I saw a waiter bring my chocolate brownie in through the restaurant entrance, but tried to remain open minded.

When our desserts arrived, they were beautifully presented.  Mickey waffles and my portion of brownie had been transformed into Mickeys!  Hurrah!  The Disney food I was expecting!  

However, upon tasting, honestly, we were all very disappointed.  My brownies were okay. They weren't gooey and chocolatey like I like them, they were quite dry and the chocolate taste wasn't as a decadent as normal brownies.  The ice cream was creamy and delicious but I was unsure about the fruit puree served with it.  The much-coveted Mickey waffles didn't fare much better: they were served with a berry compote which  turned out to be half a dozen berries on their own and they weren't sweet waffles, they were pretty tasteless and bland.  I understand waffles not having to be loaded with sugar but if you are ordering dessert, it's usually to satisfy a sweet tooth so in my humble opinion, the waffles needed some kind of sauce, whether it be fruit puree, maple syrup or chocolate sauce. 

I think the problem was we were expecting quality food since it was not only Disney but Disney by Harrods. Of course, I can't speak for the mains but the desserts were distinctly mediocre. Whether they think they can get away with okay food because people come for the experience or it was a bad day, I don't think the experience was really good enough.  It's a real shame.  

All in all, it seemed like it was all style and no substance; beautifully presented but really lacking in taste.

Have you ever visited the Disney Café?  Did you enjoy it more than I did?  

Review | Mousetrapped : A year and a bit in Orlando by Catherine Ryan Howard

I first read about Mousetrapped a while back and naturally, I put it on to my to-read list and I finally got round to it after reading a couple of heavier fiction books.  Mousetrapped follows Catherine as a young, Irish twentysomething who is feeling a bit at a dead-end in her life and decides to chase one of her childhood dreams: to go and work at Walt Disney World.  You can see why I was intrigued by this, right?

However, it is interesting to point out that Catherine isn't actually working for Disney, she's working for another company which operates the Swan and Dolphin (or the Duck and Tuna) hotels within the resort so I was weary about reading her experiences working in Disney.

Understandably, Catherine details her life a little bit pre-Florida and while she was out there.  We learn her motivations and her pixie dusted dreams before she steps onto the flight to Orlando.  While in Orlando, we follow her ups and downs while adjusting to her new life:  awful apartments, loneliness, once in a life time experiences and more.

Catherine is actual quite a likeable writer and her enthusiasm is contagious.  For example, although I have always wanted to go to the Kennedy Space Center, I'd never really felt bothered about seeing a Shuttle launch there and now, after reading her recount of one, I really want to see one!  Even in her lowest points, she clings onto a tiny piece of Disney magic which helps get her through those more challenging times.

However, at times, I wanted to scream at her for being so naive when it came to her lack of planning and her reaction to certain things within the book.  Oh, and also the fact she was happy to drive around illegally pretty much for the duration of her stay.  Like I said, it was just naive.

I would have liked to read about the ins and outs of working in the Disney resorts and its perks; although, working for this hotel didn't even grant her free park access so I guess she only had a limited view of the parks and in some ways was a 'regular' tourist.

Overall, I did enjoy this book although it's definitely not a "warts and all" read about being a cast member.  It's a pleasant retelling of Catherine's eighteen months in Florida, documents her highs and lows.  I like reading about the inner and outer workings of places like hotels and theme parks, so perhaps I would have liked to read a little more about that, rather than just casual overviews of her time working there.  All in all, it has got me even more excited and my year as a cast member!

Disnerds, have you ever heard of or read Mousetrapped?

Sunday lunch at Le Talbooth

Last Sunday started a week of my birthday celebrations (getting old has some perks!) and to kick it all off, we went for lunch at Le Talbooth in Dedham.  Situated in the beautiful countryside of the Suffolk/Essex border, Le Talbooth is a fine dining restaurant that offers award winning food and has been on my "must eat at" list for so long. 

As soon as we arrived, we were welcomed by the hostess and asked if we would like to have a drink on the terrace while we waited for our table, it was a lovely, sunny, albeit blowy day so we decided to see outside and enjoy the spring weather.  The terrace overlooked the river and it was such a relaxing start to our meal! We enjoyed a glass of champagne (the stars bottled!) and canapés of toasted almonds and olives which really whetted my appetite! 

The Sunday lunch menu is different from the rest of the week but offers a range of mouth watering dishes. We ordered whilst on the terrace and then asked to come to our table inside.  The restaurant is immaculately presented while still retaining its historic charm. 

For starters, we had cumin scented cauliflower velouté with a crispy chicken wing and cumin oil. Firstly, the most delicious and tasty chicken wing was bathed in a creamy, thick and luxurious velouté sauce. We enjoyed the starter with a selection of fresh baked bread; perfect for pulling apart and dunking. 

We were now ready for the main course! I had ordered the roast rack of Dingley Dell pork with truffled pomme purée, glazed carrot and sprouting broccoli. It was outstanding; the pork melted in the mouth and the crackling was crunchy and flavoursome.  The pomme purée was to die for: creamy, and perfectly seasoned. Dena ordered cod fillet with herbed gnocchi and spring vegetables, which she assured me was incredible - crispy topped cod which fell apart in the mouth and worked really well with the spring vegetables.  The portions were generous too, we felt very satisfied after our main but with only a little bit of room for dessert! 

However, the desserts were so tempting we just couldn't say no! I went for strawberry and white chocolate cheesecake and Dena opted for the banana and toffee pudding. The cheesecake was light and creamy with a crispy base served with strawberries, oranges and mini pistachio macarons.  It was sensational and really got me in the mood for summer! The banana and toffee pudding was sticky, sweet with chunks of crunchy toffee served with caramel sauce, decadent and naughty! 

At this point we were extremely full but the waiting staff appeared with coffee and a large wooden box... Very intriguing indeed. The box was filled with a variety of homemade chocolates and truffles. I couldn't possibly choose so we were recommended the salted caramel chocolate, Chef's special truffle, raspberry, and marmalade chocolates. The chocolate was dark and bitter cut through with the different flavours. I surprised we could fit anything else in but we managed! 

I thought we were done with food but then a birthday cake arrived for me! It was a chocolate cake beautifully presented and it looked incredibly tempting! I couldn't possibly manage a mouthful more so we took the cake home and I'm sure it'll make an amazing dessert for tea!! 

Le Talbooth is a beautiful restaurant with incredible food. The atmosphere is stylish while being comfortable and welcoming. I can't wait to go back! 

Reading American Literature : The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

I just finished my first Ernest Hemingway book, perhaps one of the most famous and influential twentieth century American writers.  It was really interesting to read this book straight after House of Mirth as they are so different in style yet are both tragic and both novels feature some desperately unhappy characters. 

source

Interestingly, The Sun Also Rises is on so many different "books to read before you're 30" lists so I'm glad I got there in the nick of time! With Hemingway, you're able to stumble through drunken youth and all of its highs and lows, in both Paris and Pamplona during the San Fermin festival.  The Sun Also Rises centres around a group of friends from the "Lost Generation" in the 1920s and the repercussions of the First World War, the effect it has on people both physically and mentally.  Jake, our protagonist, and his friends drink, gamble and generally debauch their way through life and yet, it doesn't make them happy.  They believe that one more absinthe will take away their depression or unhappiness, yet it never does.  The heavy weight of the effects of the War presses onto them and perhaps causes them to lead their pointless and to a certain degree, aimless life. 

I'm not sure why but I didn't really warm to many of the characters; I found Jake quite endearing, he's hopelessly in love with Brett who refuses to be tied down to one man.  Brett is an extraordinarily independent woman - something that struck me as very different to the females in House of Mirth - however, at times, Hemingway condemns Brett's behaviour, suggesting that her female presence is disruptive and poisonous amongst a group of male friends.  As a woman, I'm not entirely sure how that makes me feel!

I really enjoyed Hemingway's style of writing.  He uses prose sparingly and you don't have to contend with endless flowery description.  It's very dialogue heavy and this can help envelope in the characters' world.  However, I found it quite difficult to passively read this book: you need to be aware  of what's not being said as well as the words written on the page.

I'll be honest and say that I only really realised the impact of this novel after I sat down and thought about it.  While I was reading, I tended to take it on surface value (perhaps I wasn't in the mood to read such a book) but on reflection, it's clear the impact that Hemingway wanted to have.  The ending, to me, is so desperately sad and poignant, without being explicitly so and it's Hemingway's ability to convey feeling and emotion without being obvious that means this novel is powerful. 

Have you ever read any of Hemingway's works?

Reading American Literature : The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton

I've read another book related to my exploration of American culture through literature and this time, the book was The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton.  The House of Mirth covers another era of American history - between 1876 - 1905 - and deals with the elitist, upper crust sector of society in New York.

source

Our protagonist is Lily Bart, a beautiful, young, single twenty something who is on the hunt for a rich husband, so she can stay living amongst the high fliers of society.  It sounds quite Gossip Girl-esque and at times, it does feel like that only with more serious undertones.  Lily may be schmoozing with the people-to-know but she's more than aware that they will drop her at any given moment.

It's often hard to know whether to feel sorry for Lily or be angry at her; she desperately wants to stay a part of this society and we watch her struggles and demise, however, she is more than aware of how the cruel machine works.

Life among the wealthy is as opulent and luxurious as it is moral-less and unethical.  People lie, cheat, gamble, gossip and backstab.  Lily tries to navigate all of this to keep in with the rich and powerless and unfortunately crosses of one the main players which leads to her downfall.  It's almost painful to watch her fall from wealth and decadent parties to her impoverished life as a failed hat maker.

The House of Mirth offers an interesting look into the American class system:   it's purely dictated by wealth.  If you have money, you have power.  If you lose your money, or cannot marry into money (as Lily wishes), you have nothing.  It contrasts so much to our own class system; money is a part of it but here, it's more to do with nobility and 'breeding'.  It seem to be a common notion in this time that the rich get richer while the poor get poorer and once you've lost your footing in the wealthy world, you're out.

It also makes you think about the role of women within society.  Lily is beautiful, intelligent and adept yet she is still judged on her lack of husband.  She reasons that no one will take her seriously or that she will not have a fulfilling life if she doesn't marry a wealthy husband.  She forgoes true love in search of a husband that can offer her more materialistically.  Her reputation is ruined because of gossip yet the men in the novel can act how they please without repercussions.  Is this something that still occurs today?  I think, to a certain degree, it is.

I can imagine that Lily is one of those love-hate characters.  I personally liked her a lot, she's bright, funny and interesting.  She gets lost in a society that she cannot control or manage, and that in turn, destroys her.  The House of Mirth is a tragic, period story that still resonates today.

Next up: Ernest Hemingway!

I fell in love with a burger | Five Guys Birmingham Bullring

I'd been wanting to try Five Guys after reading and hearing so many good things about them.  On Saturday, I finally got to cross it off my list, it was so worth it and I'll definitely be going back! 

Five Guys is much, much more than your usual burger joint (well, here in England, anyway).  To me, it encompassed the all-American delicious burger that we don't often see here.  In fact, the whole diner experience is something we try to replicate here but the lack of free refills and sorry excuses for a patty or cheap, nasty bread lets us down.  

Maybe it's because Five Guys was started in Washington, DC or perhaps it's because, even though it's now a massive chain, it manages to stay true to its roots: fresh, quality ingredients, endless ways to customise your burger, and good service.  Seems pretty impressive for a fast food restaurant, right?

We ordered our food on the online app, chose our pick up time and this meant that we skipped the massive lunch time rush queue.  We grabbed a seat and the lovely manager released our order early and brought it to us.  I definitely wasn't expecting that.  All we had to do was collect our drinks which was from one of those AMAZING Coca Cola machines that has over 100 drink possibilities (took me straight back to Universal Studios!).  This meant that we could have Vanilla Coke Zero and Cherry Coke Zero (hurrah!).  

The food was mouth wateringly delicious.  We had a cheeseburger, hot dog and shared a portion of large fries.  The cheeseburger was simply incredible: two succulent, juicy burger patties that actually tasted like beef, fresh sesame seed toasted bun, melting cheese and personalised with my toppings of choice: lettuce, tomato, grilled mushrooms and BBQ sauce.  Dena's hotdog was equally good; she added all the pickles, mustard and relish.  The chips were perfectly fried without being greasy and the large portion was definitely enough to share.  All in all, the food was faultless.  

The whole experience felt really personal; even down the fact your food is wrapped in silver foil and popped into a plain paper bag.  It sounds so simple but you want to rip open the packaging and delve straight in (I challenge you not to). 

We spent £22.50 between the two of us and although you may think this sounds like a lot, it was worth every penny.  Because Five Guys uses such good quality ingredients, you are truly satisfied, it's not that kind of 'fake full' you get from other fast food chains.  

As I have said, I thoroughly enjoyed my first Five Guys experience and I can't wait to go back!  My only complaint is that there isn't a restaurant closer - Cambridge is the closest one... Although, I know it'd be worth the trip!

Have you tried Five Guys? 

London Food | The Breakfast Club

Brunch really is all the rage right now, isn't it?  And to be honest, what's not  to love?  For me, brunch is up there with afternoon tea; you can freely combine all the best parts of breakfast and lunch!  Before our trip to London, we researched some of the best brunch places to eat in London and The Breakfast Club came up (think it was this Buzzfeed list) as somewhere that seemed reasonably priced, walkable distance from our hotel in Tower Bridge and utterly delicious.  

I am happy to confirm that The Breakfast Club served probably the tastiest pancakes I have ever had, and in my books, that's high praise indeed as I'm going through a bit of a pancake craze at the moment.  Better than M&S, better than iHop!  

So, anyway, we managed to get to the Spitalfields' TBC at around 8.45am on a Saturday morning and managed to beat all the queues.  We were shown to our table inside the restaurant, which is hidden away down a side street, and we sat down just in front of the bar.  I loved the feel of TBC, it's quirky and 80s without feeling like it's trying too hard.  I adored the mismatched memorabilia on the walls, from the neon sign to the Commodore 64 box and all the hand written messages pasted onto the walls. 

The brunch menu is pretty extensive and delicious; I had a hard time choosing between the Posh Sausage Sandwich and the pancakes.  They also had your typical English fry-up, eggs galore, porridge, granola, French toast.  There is so much choice!  In the end, I choose pancakes with vanilla cream and fresh berries and Dena ordered pancakes with sausage, bacon, eggs and maple syrup.  We also ordered a pitcher of freshly squeezed orange juice to wash it all down.  

When our breakfast/brunch arrived, we were not disappointed.  Dena's bacon was perfectly crispy, the sausages were high quality, seasoned, real meat, the maple syrup deliciously sweet. My pancakes were soft and fluffy, the berries fresh and sweet and the vanilla cream was perfect.  Words do not TBC pancakes justice.  My mouth is salivating just thinking about them.  The orange juice was fresh and slightly sharp, a perfect wake-you-up.  

The portions were pretty big too and I only just managed to finish my pancakes, and they saw me through 'til about 3pm later that day.  A good brunch well done.  When we were getting ready to leave, we noticed the massive queue waiting for a table, it was queued way down the street so I think we made a good call getting there earlier.  

I definitely, definitely want to go back to The Breakfast Club again, to eat pancakes.  Can you tell I liked the pancakes?

Where's your favourite place to have brunch?

London Food | Wahaca St. Pauls

If you know me, then you'll know that eating out is probably one of my favourite ways to 'explore' a place and London is no different; in fact, Dena and I had a conversation about how great London is for food as you can find whatever your heart's desire!  

As great as living in Suffolk is, it's not so great for finding Mexican food so whenever I go to London I try to eat Mexican at least once!  My usual haunt is Lupita, in Charing Cross, but we decided this time to try out Wahaca, which seems to be growing in popularity and its name is becoming more well known (I guess bringing out salsas in the supermarket helps a lot!).  The restaurant chain was founded by Masterchef winner Thomasina Miers, and she has a passion for Mexican food and the restaurant prides itself on it's sustainability - it serves authentic Mexican street food but made with locally sourced ingredients.  

I've been itching to try Wahaca for years and we opted for the St. Paul's branch, a stone's throw away from the cathedral, as the decor is based on the Zócalo, which is the main plaza in Mexico City.  Of course, that holds a special place in my heart and I have visited Mexico City many times so it was natural to choose there.

I was, for some reason, surprised that the restaurant was in a large shopping centre but we were welcomed and shown to our table on the upper level, which was great for me as I'm such a restaurant people watcher!  The waitress asked if we needed any help with the menu but we declined, deciding to order a selection from their 'street food' section and mix and match.  It was so great to see some of my favourites from Mexico on the menu: horchata, agua de jamaica (or as they called it, hibiscus water),  totopos, tostadas and Baja-style fish.  

We ordered totopos (nacho-style fried tortilla chips) which guacamole and salsa.  The salsa was lovely; the tomatoes were so fresh and ripe that the flavours burst in your mouth.  I enjoyed the guacamole but it was quite heavy on the garlic and I prefer mine with more lime and salt but the flavours were straight out of Mexico.  

As I said, our main was a selection of street food, it's great that you can order a few dishes at a time, they arrive where they are ready and then if you want, you can order more.  I love that type of eating; almost  grazing over a meal, picking at whatever you fancy.  We ordered black bean tostadas, pork tacos, chipotle chicken quesadillas, spinach and corn tacos and a side of sweet potato fries.  The dishes look quite small but they are surprisingly filling; I think my favourite was the quesadillas, lovely melted cheese goodness!  I also really enjoyed the fact I could eat frijoles (beans) again... they were a staple in my diet in Mexico.  The food was delicious, I think it has been slightly British-icised for our palates over here but you were really able to try and taste the combination of flavours that are important in Mexican cuisine.  The only thing I wish I could have had was plenty of lime to squeeze over everything! 

We managed to squeeze in churros for dessert, they were good; not too greasy and the chocolate sauce hit my sugar craving in the right spot.  In Mexico, I tended to have churros filled with chocolate instead of with dipping chocolate; I was quite surprised it was served like this. 

I thoroughly enjoyed my meal at Wahaca and it was very reasonably priced too.  The menu is pretty extensive and you can adapt your dining experience to your own personal preference.  I would say the food is fairly authentic: they even had deep fried crickets on the menu (a traditional Mexican snack)!  I would love to go back and try the Baja fish tacos.... maybe next time I'm in London! 

Have you ever been to Wahaca?


 

Benefit Make Up Lesson

I was lucky enough to receive a Benefit Make Up lesson for Christmas and since then, I have been bursting with excitement waiting for the day to arrive.  On Friday, the day finally came around and Dena and I made our way to the Benefit global flagship boutique on Carnaby Street, in London.

Benefit is a brand that I have loved since I pretty much got into make-up and I still covet their new (and old!) products so stepping into this boutique was like a little paradise.  As soon as we stepped inside, we were welcomed by the friendly Benebabes.  First up on my pampering agenda was an eyebrow arch and tint.  Although I've visited a Benefit Brow Bar many times, I'd never had my eyebrows tinted.  Tahlia, who was looking after me, was very helpful and friendly and reassured me that the eyebrow tint would just enhance and give my brows extra definition. I love the Benefit brow arch as they always take into account what you want and don't want and tell you what will make a difference.  The wax and tint was painless, quick, and really enjoyable as we were able to have a giggle with Tahlia, who was very lovely and funny and I loved the tint as well!  The difference is subtle but it really does help to define your brows.  

After that, we were taken downstairs into the Champagne Bar area.  As this was a Red Letter Day experience, we had exclusive use of this space, and I imagine it would be a great environment for an occasion where you want to have a pampering.  There were booths looking over the bar and the make up table and it had the usual 50s vibe that Benefit has going on.  I was brought over a lovely cold glass of Rosé champagne and Kara, the make up artist, chatted with me about what I wanted to have done, what make up I liked etc.

However, me being me and although I love make up, am generally clueless, I left it up to her with only minimal guidance.  I explained that I liked the smoky eye look but more on the natural than dramatic side.  Kara seemed to understand my vague instructions and got to work!  She used the products that I already owned, liked and that worked for me whilst introducing me to a few others that I wouldn't necessarily think to pick up.  

As a base, Kara used Porefessional and then Boing concealer to hide my reddish eyebrow areas!  Then, she used Hello Flawless! Foundation - a foundation that I love, it seems to agree with my combination, blemish-prone, sensitive skin.  Next up, my eyes.  the smokin' eyes palette was on my lust list for a while and I received it at Christmas but only used it a couple of times since I didn't feel entirely confident, but Kara was happy to talk me through the techniques and tips of applying the shadow.  

For my cheeks, Kara used Watt's Up to highlight my cheekbones and then Sugarbomb blush, and finally Hoola for a little contouring.  We had a chat about contouring and what would be the best thing for my lifestyle and personality, and didn't do anything that wouldn't suit me, as a person, which I think was great; instead of piling on any old thing just because it looked amazing.

Benefit isn't a brand that I tend to associate with lip products and I was pleasantly surprised with the look that Kara used.  It was just a sweep of the oldie but goodie, Benetint and followed by the Benetint balm to give the lips and extra pop of colour. 

Finally, she applied the They're Real! eyeliner (again, which I love) and a couple of sweeps of the new Roller Lash.  I love Roller Lash; it's a great every day mascara that can be built up for an evening look.  I think that I even prefer it to They're Real!

... and after!

Before...

In the experience, a giftcard was included and Kara helped me to pick the products that I would use and again, fit into my lifestyle.  She was very honest and helpful with any questions I had and was in no way pushy or forceful with a hard sell.  She filled my bag with lots of extra testers and goodies which I look forward to trying!

Overall, the day was such a perfect and unforgettable experience; the Benebabes were friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable.  I felt truly spoiled and the day has reaffirmed everything I loved about the brand in the first place.  I would not hesitate to recommend this experience and I really hope I can go back and try out the other treatments that they offer at the Carnaby Street store!  

Have you ever tried any Benefit treatments?

 

  

Exploring American culture through literature : East of Eden by John Steinbeck

Source

I've just finished the third book on my list that deals with American culture, East of Eden by John Steinbeck; perhaps one of the most well-known American authors.

My initial reaction is that I enjoyed this book, I picked it up and put it down over the course of six days and I managed to get through it.  I anticipated it taking me a lot longer to read since it's over 700 pages long so the fact I read it in less than a week speaks volumes to me. 

Steinbeck considered this book to be his greatest work and it does have an air of grandiosity (although I understand why others may say it's pretension!).  

The book meanders across a huge time span, from the American Civil War until the First World War.  We follow the stories of two families throughout the course of a few generations, which means that you are quite invested in the characters' lives and their journeys.  The only downside, for me, was that, a few of the characters weren't present throughout the whole story and they were monumental characters that had a huge impact on me and the book.

The book also alludes to a lot of biblical references; it's called East of Eden, characters have parallels to Adam and Eve and Cain and Abel.  Even as someone who is not particularly well versed when it comes to the Bible, the themes running through the book were pretty clear.  You also have the fact one of the main characters is called Adam and others Cal and Aron.  It obviously gives the book a solid moral backbone.

The book explores the idea of identity as well and this gave me an insight into the melting pot of American culture.  Lee, who is a Chinese immigrant in the States, stated that he got treated as a foreigner in the States and when he went back to China after growing up in the States, he was a foreigner there as well.  It's a very interesting concept as I imagine it's something that a lot of people can relate to.

As I said, I enjoyed this book but the heavy religious symbolism and themes made it a little inaccessible for me.  However, I can see why it is said to be one of the most revealing pieces of American literature.  It reveals the progress of American culture from the Civil War to the First World War, both on an industrial/technological and a family level.

Have you ever read any of Steinbeck's novels?  

Exploring American culture through literature : Let The Great World Spin by Colum McCann

Source

I've just finished reading the second book on my pre-USA reading reading list:  Let The Great World Spin by Colum McCann.  This one is a little different in that it's a relatively recently written book, published in 2009, and McCann is an Irishman currently living in New York.

The first thing that really struck me about this book is it's portrayal of New York being a living, breathing entity.  The city is described with such precision and life, it really reminded me of A New York Winter's Tale.  New York, it seems, can either be a beautiful creature, presenting its inhabitant's with countless opportunities and pleasures, or a beast that can eat you up, suck out your soul and then spit you back out, and even though it treats you like this, you still  belong to the city and the city belongs to you.   

The novel is set in post-Vietnam, mid 1970s, just after the construction of the Twin Towers.  The World Trade Center acts as a kind of focal point which joins together all the stories and lives of the characters.  The Twin Towers unite people from all creeds, colours and backgrounds, and it seems extra poignant to me that we found ourselves in similar situation only forty years later.  

Let The Great World spin is a multi-layered portrait of life in this area and as I said, overlays and weaves together the lives of very different people, from the a judge and his wife living in the Upper East Side, to prostitutes in the Bronx, ex-pats and more.  It really drives home the message that although these people are incredibly different, they all live through the same fundamentals in life: they love, they grieve, they make bad decisions.    

I really enjoyed this book: it was challenging without being hardwork; it was beautiful, yet gritty and real; it gave a honest insight into a city that struggles to be contained onto pages.  The protagonists came to life in their own chapters, some more likable than others, but all genuine and believable.  There are no less than eleven main characters in this story and it seems like a feat to drive the story forward when you are creating so many in-depth and three dimensional characters.  This book has made quite an impression on me and I'm sure that if I ever get the opportunity to visit New York, I will think more about its complexity and facets as it continues to grow and evolve.

Next on my list is John Steinbeck's East of Eden.  

Red Rose Chain's Wuthering Heights

Red Rose Company theatre company has been around for many years now and I have always wanted to see one of their productions.  I knew that they put on Shakespeare plays in Rendlesham Forest during the summer and pretty much every year, I have hummed and harred about getting tickets and then before I knew it, it had whizzed through July and August and I had missed the productions.

But not this year, I'm pleased to say!  I managed to pick up tickets from Groupon to see their production of Wuthering Heights at Jimmy's Farm in Ipswich, and I was thoroughly impressed.

I will be honest and say that I have never read the Emily Bronte classic but I was aware that it is a dark, brooding, Gothic tale that centres around one of literature's most famous couples, Heathcliff and Cathy, a story that seems perfect to be reenacted with the sun setting over a forest.

It seems that Red Rose Chain's productions have moved from Rendlesham Forest to Jimmy's Farm and upon arrival at the farm, we knew that we were in for a very special evening.  We arrived at around 6.30pm; parking was effortless and we walked along side the animals to the edge of the forest, all the way guided by extremely helpful, friendly, and polite staff.  The pathway into the 'theatre' snaked through the woodland which was to be lit up with twinkling fairy lights, setting the mood.  You already felt as if you were miles away from the usual humdrum of daily life.  We were told we could sit where ever we liked; there were three stands, and an area for you to bring your own seats in front of the stage.  There was a bar on site and many people were enjoying picnics (such a great idea - wish we had thought of that!).  The cast members were already in costume and character, chatting to audience members, which gave the production a lovely intimate, familiar feel.

The set was very simple, but the backdrop of the forest meant it was stunning and eerie enough for this brooding story.  The actors and actresses were simply phenomenal, it was a very small cast and they were simply outstanding.  I was worried that I would struggle with the dialogue but the story and production was so involving that I could not take my eyes off the stage.  The first act was very, very dark but interestingly, the second act managed to lighten the atmosphere amongst many deaths and other despair (no spoilers!).  As the sun set, the stage and play became even more haunting and this added to making this an unforgettable experience.

Red Rose Chain seriously impressed me with this production.  I am very disappointed that I won't be able to make it to their other production, Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors this summer.  They are an independent company based here in Suffolk and I feel that by setting plays in such unique environments, they are making theatre accessible to all.  Sitting in the forest, surrounded by woodland and the sounds of nature is a million miles away from the sometimes stuffy and very regal theatres that Bronte and Shakespeare would usually be set in.

A wonderful way indeed to spend a summer's evening!  Check out Red Rose Chain's website.

Twitter | Bloglovin | Instagram | Goodreads

A review : Prime Deception by Carys Jones

I received a free copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review. 

I'm a big fan of crime thrillers, especially those with strong story lines and twists and turns that keep me guessing every step of the way. I would never have thought that crime thriller would blend very well with a romantic story line, but Prime Deception manages to mix the two quite nicely. 

We learn that the Deputy Prime Ministers' lover has supposedly committed suicide, but her twin sister and the Minister himself find that difficult to swallow. We follow the characters trying to unravel the truth, which in turn, slowly reveals each characters intimate thoughts as well as their flaws and shortcomings. 

Jones' writing drives the story along and takes us from one situation to another fluidly and with great ease. I love the way Jones' moves smoothly from one character to another, linked by a thought or an idea. To me, it's almost like a stream of thought on the page; the move from one character or setting flows seamlessly, it doesn't feel forced and still allows the reader an omniscient-like view of the situation. 

The characters were pretty well developed: I felt the main characters were multi-faceted and there seemed to be a sinister side to Charles, the Deputy Prime Minister, which was hinted at but not really developed, and I think it could have been unearthed or maybe built upon a little more. I also had a few issues with some of the minor characters: there seemed to be lots of little characters introduced who then just disappeared. A journalist, for example, who seemed poised to be a major and influential character, but who just turned into a dead end. 

The suspense didn't really build until the very end of the book, but honestly I was okay with that. I'm happy to guess the culprit without big flashing, neon signs pointing to the clues. It isn't a traditional thriller book, but an almost 'softer' thriller; there is more development in the characters feelings and emotions, as opposed to unravelling the mystery bit by bit. 

My major gripe with this book is that my copy was very, very poorly edited. I can forgive one or two mistakes, but the book seemed to be littered with typos. I find books with that many mistakes difficult to read as I become fixated on the errors instead and struggle to see past them. 

Overall, it is a fairly solid book. Jones' writing style is interesting, likeable, and for me, the asset to the novel. The story line is good, not as many twists and turns as my favourite crime books and I did predict the killer, but a fine book to dip in and out of when you fancy an easy read.

You can buy Carys Jones' Prime Deception from Amazon.

Twitter | Bloglovin | Instagram | Goodreads

Maleficent (2014) : a mini review.

It's Disney Wednesday again, hurray! The movie of the moment, Maleficent, has been released with mixed reviews. It's proven to be a box office hit; overtaking X-Men for the number one spot in the UK a couple of weekends back.  The critics however, haven't been so kind.

As for little ol' me, I enjoyed it. It's a Disney movie, full of Disney magic and the Disney fan in me was pleased. However, the more critical side of me was left with an overwhelming feeling of "is that it?"

The highlight of the film was Angelina Jolie: she plays Maleficent with the perfect, devastating beauty and evil that I would expect from her. She lifted Maleficent from the animated movie into live action effortlessly. I enjoyed seeing the tale of Sleeping Beauty from her point of view; we were able to understand her motives a little better and the lead up to the curse itself. The scene where she realises she has lost her wings is heartbreakingly sad, Jolie acted beautifully. I also liked seeing the development of her relationship with Diaval the raven/man, he acted as the conscious to Maleficent's evil schemes. 

Aurora herself is played by one of my favourite young actresses, Elle Fanning. Aurora is likeable enough but slightly annoying (was that just me?), Fanning plays the role as the usual wide eyed affability of a Disney princess and the character is given a little more depth than in the animated version. She holds up well against Angelina Jolie's scene stealing performance. 

As for the whole matter of True Love's Kiss, I like the route that newer films and TV shows (Once Upon A Time, Frozen) have taken towards this very important fairy tale tradition. The newer "twist" presents a much more realistic view of true love; it comes from a deeper bond than just the initial attraction of the fairy tale favourite, love at first sight. Some people have argued that it has been overdone recently, but I'm all for shaking up the somewhat antiquated views of real, true love. 

My main problem with this film is that it wasn't sure what it wanted to be. At times, it was dark, but then this darkness wasn't consistent and wimped out of what could have been some disturbing scenes. Sleeping Beauty is a dark story and I would have liked to have seen a return to that in this live action interpretation. 

As I suspected, the film was visually beautiful. Some amazing, sweeping shots of the Fair creatures Moores and impressive, shadowy portraits of Maleficent with her wings in all their glory. However, like with Oz, at times it just wasn't satisfying enough, wasn't dark enough, wasn't impressive enough. 

Have you seen Maleficent? What did you think? 

Four Seasons Mexico DF : a review.

Every now and again you stay in a hotel that can blow you away. The Four Seasons in Mexico City did that to me. The Four Seasons is a luxury hotel chain that commands brilliant locations and often hefty price tags, and sometimes, with other hotels of similar reputation, you can be disappointed. However, not with this hotel located on the central Paseo de la Reforma on the edge of Chapultepec forest in Mexico City.

 

From the moment we arrived, we received five star service. Welcomed with a delicious agua fresca (cold water flavoured with mint tea and lemon) and impeccable service from the bellboy and reception staff, we knew that we would have a fantastic stay. 

The room was spacious and lovely, with all the necessities and more. The beds are incredible, the toiletries L'Occitane, and luxurious extras such as bath robes and interactive televisions come as standard in this hotel. The housekeeping was also flawless; with a turn down service as well as the standard housekeeping.

The other areas of the hotel are also kept immaculately clean and tidy and every member of staff goes out of their way to make you feel welcome and assured that every need is catered to, without being overbearing or interfering. 

The food was also very good and reasonably priced for a hotel of this calibre, for example, the breakfast buffet served in the bar was $300 (around £15) and the extensive menu during the day and evening offer a wide range of food and drinks.

We enjoyed the hotel's outdoor swimming pool and whirlpool, it was so lovely to be in an outside swimming pool during the rain and we were provided with towels and bottled water upon going in the deliciously warm whirlpool with water jets. It's small touches like these that make this hotel stand out.  The spa also looked very inviting with a range of massage and other beauty treatments. 

This hotel was an oasis of calm and tranquility in the huge metropolis of Mexico City and gave us the perfect opportunity to wind down and contemplate over the past year in my second home, Mexico. 

Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick : a mini review

Graphic source

I picked up this book after visiting El Museo de Memoria y Tolerancia (the Musuem of Memory and Tolerance) in Mexico City; a museum that teaches about genocide and describes the unimaginable horrors of this crime against humanity, and encourages tolerance amongst human beings. Of course, the Killing Fields of Cambodia featured in the museum, the same subject of this novel and for that reason, this book shocked, saddened and inspired me even more than if I had read it without any prior knowledge.

That's definitely not to say that this book wouldn't have hit home, it's a truly harrowing, real life story of how a young Cambodian survives the tortuous regime of the Khemer Rouge in the 1970s for four years. The story is narrated by Arn, who is eleven years old when his whole world is turned upside down when the Khemer Rouge (the communist movement, led by Pol Pot) comes into his town and marches everyone into the rice field to work as slaves and provide for the Angka.  Men, women, and children are all murdered during this regime, either in cold blood or they waste away and die of starvation or illness. The fact we see the se horrors unfolding through Arn's initial child eyes, for me, makes it extra disturbing. Arn quickly has to grow up in the most awful of ways, he encounters horrors on a day to day basis that most of us cannot, and will never be able to, understand. His innocence and youth are ripped away from him; his story had a profound effect on me. 

The book is written in patois but it is not difficult to understand, you quickly get used to Arn's Cambodian English. This dialect allows you to be transported into Arn's shoes and really captures his voice and the setting. McCormick states in her authors notes that she tried to impose grammatical rules and structure onto Arn's story but it lost a lot of his personality, and retaining the patois makes the book even richer and the story even more realistic, drawing you in. 

The book, understandably, contains a lot of violent imagery. At times, it's not easy to read and the violence and death of the times is portrayed crystal clear through the pages. Again, though it may make for uncomfortable reading, it's important that these facts and ordeals are preserved in plain, violence language in the same way they were committed, for both the story and humanity.  Arn found himself in situations that fortunately, the majority of us will never have to deal with, and McCormick does great justice to his story with her telling.  She is able to artfully and respectfully pad out Arn's story where his memory is vague and the story flows, heartbreakingly along. 

There has been a lot of discussion whether this book is indeed situable for the young adult audience to which it is aimed. I think it could potentially be a difficult read for an early teen, not so much becaus of the language, but because of the content. However, I would encourage any young adult to give it a try, after all, the Khemer Rouge regime was real, thousands of people, children included, lost their lives during the genocide and it would be disrespectful to downplay their story and lives. This subject matter should be difficult to read, thought provoking and challenging. 

Overall, I couldn't put this book down and I read it in two short sittings. Once again, I did find it incredibly difficult to digest at times and heartbreakingly sad, but with glimmers of hope through various 'characters' in the book. Arn is truly a testament to the strength of human spirit. An incredible, reflective journey through an harrowing era of our World's history. 

The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker : a mini-review

Graphic source

The Age of Miracles is another book that was subject to a lot of hype around its publication. From the description, it does indeed look promising; the story is told from the protagonist Julia's point of view, who is eleven years old when the Earth's rotation starts to slow, days and nights lose their meaning as each rotation slows to seventy plus hours. It is indeed a terrifying concept and one that could be real. Humans are discovering and learning as much about the planet and space but we rely so heavily on the concept of our 24 hour day and night. Initially, it seems that Thompson Walker has delved into a fascinating and scary prospect.

However promising this book seemed, it disappointed me overall. It could have been so much more,  Thompson Walker raised some interesting points about how society would react under these circumstances but then quickly brushed over them and we, the reader, just have to learn to accept them. It would have been so interesting to go into further detail about how the human race copes with an uncontrollable change. Unlike dystopian novels that are set in the future, this novel had the opportunity to dissect what happened during that change, and in The Age of Miracles, it just wasn't made the most of and felt like a lot of missed opportunities. 

Another issue that I have with this book is the voice of Julia. At times, there are wonderfully descriptive and well written prose that capture the mood and thoughts of our protagonist. However, at other points, I felt like Julia's voice was too young for the readers. Things were simplified and condescended the reader. This is a young adult book and I'm pretty sure I don't qualify as a 'young' adult anymore but readers do not need to be treated like small children. Maybe Thompson Walker wanted her protagonists voice to feel like the 11 year old's she was describing, but for me, language from the young adult genre do not have to be overtly simple.

Finally, the science. This novel is, of course, fiction and I am not a scientist nor do I particularly understand physics but there seemed to be gaping holes in the physics of the story. Please, feel free to correct me if I am wrong, but it doesn't seem logical that the slowly of the Earth's rotation would affect gravity. At the end of the book, there is a throwaway comment about centrifugal force which makes a little more sense (to me) but there seems to have been no research about the science. It's not a sci fi story, it's a coming of age tale, but it needs to be logical. The readers are not stupid. So many times I found myself wanting to google the different sciency aspects because it made so little sense to me. 

Overall, I was disappointed by this book. It felt anti climatic and at times, the story dragged along with flimsy, whimsical subplots. It's a shame because it could have been so good, the idea of the Earth slowing and the effect that could have leaves you with so many what ifs and pondering thoughts that could have been addressed. It's a catastrophe that would affect everyone, and Thompson Walker missed out on a great opportunity and a fascinating idea.