GIRLY DAY OUT: JAMIE OLIVER'S + CARLUCCIO'S

As the temperature continues to drop, it's always best to layer up! 
Single digit temperatures already, oh dear...

Here's today's outfit:

Met up with Stacey for some morning coffee at Costa and started to read Reflected In You by Sylvia Day, the second book in the Crossfire series that just came out a couple of days ago - back to some sexy reading!

We then both met up with the lovely Theodora and made our way to Jamie Oliver's - a place that I've avoided for quite a while due to some mixed reviews, but thought I'd try it out anyway to find out for myself!
We did have to wait for (over) half an hour, during which we were given a beeper that buzzed to tell us when out table was ready. 

I ordered the Black Angel Spaghetti, Stacey had the Start Bay Crab Risotto, and Dora had the Baked Shetland Salmon. We also ordered a couple of starters to share - Sweet Mini Chilli Peppers and Crispy Squid.
And not forgetting to order most importantly...a bottle of wine x
They had run out of house wine (!!!) so we settled for a cheaper alternative.

Cheers x

Crispy squid

Sweet mini chilli peppers

We were sat near the entrance so it was quite chilly, but warmed up after we started eating. I did like the starters - the squid was nice and crisp which went well with the garlicky mayo, lemon and chilli, and the mini chilli peppers were quite cute, though it would have been better if they were spicier! 

The squid ink pasta was good but I felt the portion of scallops was pretty pathetic - it looked like only one or two scallops were used which were thinly sliced. Tasty sauce, but so stingy with the ingredients - shame.

The waitress that served us seemed quite abrupt and not-as-friendly when taking our orders. And when asking her to split the bill she made some sarcastic remark like 'Oh, you did not divide it yourselves and would like me to do it?' - excuse me lady is that not part of your job (?!)

Nonetheless, we left some tips anyway - because we're such nice people haha.

We didn't stay on for dessert but instead went shopping round town - amazingly I did not buy anything today!

Ended up at Carluccio's at St Christopher's Place for some sweeties... 

Moscato d'Asti mmm...

Torta di frutta

Formaggio

Meringa con panna al frutta della passione

I had the fruit tart which was ok, but nothing special. I LOVED the Moscato d'Asti - I think I'm becoming quite an alcoholic these days ha x
And not forgetting to mention that the staff here were SO much friendlier.

It's been an awesome day with the girls, and now spending some quality time at home with...x 

My tummy has been having a good time today, though I'm not too sure about my hips...and bum!

SO glad it's not snowing with hailstones in London.

Oh how I miss the north...NOT!

Have a good night everyone x

 

BARED TO YOU - WHAT FIFTY SHADES COULD HAVE BEEN

As you may have seen in my previous posts about my Fifty Shades experience, I have now discovered a refreshing new read.

The other day, whilst browsing the book aisle at work I spotted this - Bared To You, a New York Times Bestseller.

And it had a sticker on the front - 'If you liked Fifty Shades of Grey then you'll love this'. 

Well I can't say that I 'loved' Fifty Shades, it was rather interesting in the beginning, but then my interest started to wane towards the end.

So, lets now put Fifty Shades behind us.

Apparently, the literary world is now to be taken over by a series of books written by Sylvia Day. I've just finished reading the first book of the Crossfire series, and am now quite a bit impatient having to wait for the second book Deeper In You which is meant to come out in October 2012!

From my point of view, after reading this first book I would say that it is MILES better than Fifty Shades, and probably what Fifty Shades could have been.

The storyline is quite similar to Fifty shades, the main characters Gideon and Eva, both from rather dysfunctional family backgrounds, come together in this erotic romantic novel.

Gideon Cross, the very attractive multimillionaire businessman who appears as a tortured, dominating, sexually charged, passionate lover becomes attracted to Eva Tramell, a headstrong 24 year old girl trying to make it on her own in the world.

I'm still not quite a fan of the name 'Gideon'...but I guess it'll start to grow on me at some point (?)

Despite their rocky relationship, their fiery chemistry perseveres as you would expect in a romantic novel.

Guilty indulgence of a sexually graphic fictional literary masterpiece, who could resist?

Here's some juicy quotes from the novel, just to get you hooked...


"He was the kind of guy that made a woman want to rip his shirt open and watch the buttons scatter along with her inhibitions."

“It's probably best for me to work off some energy before I get you naked. I'm sure you'd like to be able to walk tomorrow.”

"I'll make you say it again...you'll scream it by the time I'm done with you."


A couple more months to go to the sequel.

Until then I'll be on the prowl for more delicious reads x